Are you hiding your dream?

You might already know that in addition to wielding around my PR magic wand I also love to act.

I happily admit this to you today, but I wasn’t so open with my “second life” years ago.

I actually used to hide the fact that I was an actress like it was some kind of shameful secret.

There were three reasons I resisted coming out to the world for so long about my knack for the dramatics.

Maybe you can relate to one, or more, of them.

REASON #1

Because everyone told me I needed to have ONE focus or ONE path. Think about it. We’re taught from the tiny age of 5 to proclaim what we want to be. We all shout “doctor!” or “astronaut!” or “princess!” or “professional Barbie doll!” How the heck are we supposed to know that young what we want to be for the rest of our lives?!

I’m pretty sure my favorite activities when I was 5 included scribbling hearts on a chalkboard and dancing to Madonna’s Lucky Star in my living room while wearing fishnet gloves my mom bought me at a flea market. This likely would have led to quite the unsuccessful future.

Today, I know the “one path” thing is total baloney.

REASON #2

Because, in business, we’re often told that we will confuse our customers. Like, confusing our customers is this horrible disease that we’re always on the verge of catching. Tell me you haven’t heard from somebody, somewhere that if you say or do “this or that,” your customers will just be so confused they will shun you forever.

Phooey. If you’re a legal badass by day and a piano singer at night, people WANT to know that. Your customers WANT to know that. Revealing those little bits + pieces + passions with people make you exciting…riveting…unforgettable.

REASON #3

Because when I revealed that I was an actress, I would hear one of the following responses:

“Really, YOU’RE an actress?”

Yes, this is a turd-like thing to say. No, I’m not sure if they meant to be mean.

“Really, what have you been in?”

Since I basically work on super low-budget indie films with no distribution, regional commercials for flooring companies, and am penning a screenplay that one day may be produced by Ben Affleck but, for now, sits on my laptop unformatted – my answer inevitably would make their eyes glaze over. I learned quickly that most people equate acting to fame, instead of equating it to art.

“Really, so can you get my daughter/sister/boyfriend/cousin into acting? Everyone tells her/him how gorgeous they are, so they have to be an actor.”

This I never wanted to touch with a 10-foot-pole, but I would try to be kind and let them know it’s hard work + dedication, yet the conversation always circled back to them being the next to be “discovered” and they would just instantly catapult to fame without any experience or knowledge. Meh…ok.

As eye-rolling as these experiences were (and sometimes, still are) there’s a whole world of people out there that do support you and encourage you with no ulterior motives, ill will, or grandiose delusions. These are the people that will still cheer when you get an audition and lose the role, when your novel gets turned down by every publisher, when your comedy routine takes a nosedive, or when no one shows up to your open mic or your art show. These people rock.

It took me a long time to learn these lessons. These situations used to give me hives (literally, like red welts – not cute.)

While I was busy keeping that part of me a secret, I also felt like my life had a big, gaping void. Like a huge hole was punched through my chest. (yes…I just quoted Twilight: New Moon.)

So, a few years ago I started experimenting. Little by little I started introducing my acting world into my PR world. I fully imagined a huge blow back with people unfollowing or unfriending me, walking out of my speaking engagements, or dumping me as a coach.

But it never happened.

What did happen was this.

It all started in a live workshop where I was teaching a group of business owners how to create more memorable brands. I asked them, “what would be your holy-cannoli A-List dream?” and made each person read it out loud. As I heard person after person talk about their dream in a dull monotone, I was beginning to think this was a total dud of an exercise…until I pushed. I turned to one woman and said “is that REALLY your dream?” She answered a trembling “yes.” Then I asked “so, the only thing you’re passionate about is graphic design and making websites?”

“No,” she whispered under her breath. “I also want to sing in a rock band. I used to when I was in college but gave it up.”

And – BOOM – there it was. Her secret dream. The one she probably daydreamed about as she was typing code, day after day. The one she gave up years ago because of one of the three reasons I listed above.

After that, every single person in that group revealed their secret dream.

And, now it’s your turn. I want you to LEAVE A COMMENT below and let me know what YOUR secret dream is. I promise the minute you reveal it to the world, you’ll want to do ballet spins all across your kitchen floor in glee.

Stop Hiding Behind your Dream. Start Living It.

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