Career advice and Porno

Someone once mentioned to me that being a singer is perhaps, "the most difficult job in the entire world," that I am a part of something of "tremendous hurdles and impossibility."  I snickered a little and shrugged since this individual is prone to dramatic sensibilities. Granted, it's not easy to always pay the bills, save for retirement, or go on that dream vacation at the start of one's vocal career; but, is it easy to do that anyway, regardless of one's profession? My vote is no. After all, singing is not neurosurgery, finding cures, or initiating world peace. As singers, or any artist for that matter, we aren't responsible for people's lives. When we create work, planes don't crash, babies don't die, and diseases don't spread! Every career path will have difficulty, no matter what.

In broader terms, what does mounting a successful career really take, despite the field a person is in? Some say luck....hmm, bleh. Others, might say networking...perhaps. And some might even say fate or destiny...ok. In some capacity all these ingredients are necessary, BUT in less lofty and esoteric ways these terms can be whittled down, leaving something simpler, basic, and more identifiable in their place.

Step 1: What on earth do you want?
Answering this question honestly and openly is, literally, 95% of the battle and this is the most general area from which a career is born. In quiet moments, we learn that what we really want are the very things that also make us happy and enrich our lives and professions. Once you've done your work here, say it out loud and right it down somewhere.

Step 2: What do you love?
The key word is love. Not like, enjoy, or appreciate, but outright LOVE. Without this special something you literally go crazy and would volunteer to pull your teeth out. Write it down in the same place, after saying it out loud. 

Step 3: What are you really good at doing?
For one week, look in the mirror once a day, and ask yourself this. I guarantee that by week's end you'll be a lot closer to knowing, if you didn't already. What are you good at? Figure it out, write it down in that same place...affirm it by saying it out loud.

Step 4: Say all your words out loud. 
This is a tell-all step. Once your words are on paper starting back at you, look at them, scrutinize them. Do they make sense? If not, go back and rethink any ambivalent area. Ideally, these thoughts should be a sound place for identifying your ambitions.

It's not always an easy to hash out answer to these questions; in fact sometimes you might find that the answers you derive contrast and do not relate. This is normal, a way the brain is attempting to make connections for you. Have patience and really commit to finding answers. With time this simple exercise will help you discover something. If not, maybe this anecdote will help:

I once had the chance to meet a very famous adult film star. We chatted for a few minuets before he was whisked away to an interview. Before we parted I ask him, "...Why porn? How did you decide on this career?" He put down his martini, flicked his bangs, cleared his throat and gave me a firm but friendly glare." ...because I love sex; I'm terrific at what I do, and fortunately it makes me a lot of money too."