There are no shortcuts in this business. If you take one, odds are you’ll just hit a speed bump, roadblock or dead-end later on down the line. You can’t skip the line or purchase a fast pass to success.

Yes, there are some people who sky-rocket straight to the top. Sometimes without any training or playing by the rules. Is it fair? It doesn’t matter, it’s life. It happens for a select few, but for most it doesn’t. If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Don’t let the stars in your eyes cloud your vision.

Here’s some food for thought…

• You’ve sent your information over to the best agents in town for representation. That agent may not call you back right away. Most of them are inundated with calls, emails, and snail mail everyday. Keep a record of when you contacted them and via what method and make a note on your calendar to revisit them in 3-6 months. Don’t take it personal, it’s anything but personal. Yes you know how great you or your child are, but they have needs, goals and a vision too and it may not match your timetable.

• If someone is asking you for your total household income before deciding if you are “worthy” of doing business with, RUN! If you’re taking a class or signing with an agency, how much income your house makes is of no concern to them.

• You’ve been on 1 or 2 auditions and are feeling the “I don’t understand why I’m not booking Blues?” Get over it. Rejection is the ultimate test to see if you will last in this business. No more trying to rationalize why you didn’t get the part. The casting director has favorites, they looked like they only wanted blonde kids, I saw Melissa there and she books everything. If you want it bad enough, you’ll keep at it. Once you leave that audition it’s over, time to mentally and physically prepare for the next one.

I could go on, but you get the idea. Getting off my soap box now:) Remember there’s only one way to the top, hard work-dedication-sacrifice.