When I started my career as a performer, I was terrified about auditioning.
For actors, there is no other vulnerable moment than when you show strangers your capabilities, passions, and everything you've dedicated yourself to learning only to be dismissed with a "Thanks for coming. Next."
But something a wise colleague told me forever changed my outlook about auditioning and it made a huge impact on my career.
He told me to stop thinking about auditions as essentially job interviews and go into the room and convince myself that I'm performing for a small audience.
Once I stopped focusing heavily on the prospect of booking the gig and treated auditions like I'm on stage, my confidence took over.
I didn't land every job with successive auditions, but I learned to enjoy the process – and it certainly didn't go unnoticed.
I didn't land every job with successive auditions, but I learned to enjoy the process – and it certainly didn't go unnoticed.
Curious to hear about great advice, Redditor SauceyStan asked strangers on the internet:
"What is the most life-changing piece of advice you've received that has molded you into who you are today?"
Positivity
Having a positive outlook on life benefited the following Redditors.
"A Ray Of Sunshine On A Cloudy Day"
"Not specifically advice, but something my grandfather said when he was in the hospital: that his nurses were like a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day. I became a nurse after he passed, and I try to hold on to that ideal. I try to be the ready of sunshine in my patient's cloudy day."
Kindness Matters
"Never underestimate your ability to have a positive impact."
"To add to the OP; be a nice person wherever you can. Temper your cynicism and snippiness where possible, and try to either be neutral or positive in your interactions with people. Or at least, make it a goal to approach your responses that way - it's obviously not always going to work."
"You'll feel like a better person, and people will notice even if they don't mention it specifically."
– joe-h2o
Value Of Humor
"Don't underestimate the value of humor. It's so much more than laughter, it's a tool. New job? Make some solid jokes, you will go far. Make your boss genuinely laugh? You will automatically be on their good side. Meeting new people or on a date? Will instantly make the other person more comfortable."
"Humor is a life hack."
– JZPotter
Putting Yourself In Their Shoes
"Two things:"
"First, imagine others complexly. The influences they have that move them through life are most definitely different from those that move me through mine. Motivation to do that which doesn't make sense to me is much easier to understand through the imagination of others with complexity."
"Second, everybody is thinking about themselves as much as you are thinking about yourself. This is something I tell myself every time something embarrassing pops up late at night or when I screw something up that I'd much rather forget. Remind myself that with very few exceptions, everyone who might have witnessed it will forget it ever happened, so I should, too. The absolutely massive burden that lifts off my shoulders is always welcome."
Key To Success
Going out of your way to achieve tasks and being adventurous can yield better productivity.
Managing Expectations
"Under promise and over deliver. Former boss."
"I've learned this the hard way. I deliver software and when i can rapidly improve the admittedly crummy first version, it almost feels like cheating. But I end up getting double the credit: once for delivering on time, and then for improving it. It's not as if it's something I try to do, I just learned that the cycle is inevitable, so it's best to plan for the worst release-refine-release cycle that seems reasonable and then maybe sometimes you can beat it. 🙂"
Be Adventurous
"The biggest risk in life, is risking nothing at all"
"For those of you who are in your 20's don't be afraid to go on weird and wild adventures. If you want to try and build an online blog, do it. If you want to be a content Creator, do it. If you want to switch programs, do it. No matter how weird it sounds to other people just do it! Even if you fail let's say after 3-4 years of trying, you're still young enough to do other things."
"Sincerely, a dude in his 20s"
"Edit: the quotes from a guy named Vinh Giang but I'm pretty sure it's a variation of mark Zuckerberg's quote."
"Feel free to check Vinh out though! He's a keynote speaker/ motivational speaker who uses magic tricks to get his point across. He has a YouTube channel and I believe there's a video of his ted talk."
Sticking To The Truth
"If you never lie, you won't have to remember anything."
"First saw this and thought it wasn't solid advice, like some situations require lying. But I couldn't think of one. Being straightforward is really the best and only way to do things. Wise man."
Don't Be Left In The Dark
"Don't be afraid to ask if you don't understand something."
"There is nothing embarrassing about not knowing or not understanding something. We're all human. Don't be afraid to ask questions and be inquisitive."
– kukukele
Endure The Pain
"Breathe through the pain. A nurse told me this while I was in the hospital as a teenager. He said it won't necessarily make the pain go away but it'll help to keep it from worsening, and it'll help you keep your head (stay in control). Simple advice, but it's something that stuck with me and I've applied it to both physical pain and the mental 'pain' of anxiety attacks."
Outlook On Life
Having a different perspective on various life obstacles could open new doors.
Age-Old Adage
"Treat others the way you want to be treated. Learned that when I was 11 from weird old lady. Sticked with me since then."
Knowing Limits
"You can't save the world. -my mother"
"I didn't take her advice and learned it the painful way instead."
Taking Opportunities
"When I started chinese classes at my High School in Minnesota, my teacher said «You are lucky, for in this class, you will have NO TESTS!» Cue the cheers, as we were happy. «We call them opportunities, and we will have them EVERY Friday!» Cue the laughter from the teacher and the disappointed groans from us easily fooled students. Then he said «We call them opportunities, because they are an opportunity to show me, but most importantly yourself what you have learned.»"
"What a dumba**, right? Well, we always talked about these as opportunities, we never called them tests, and it actually did something to the attitude we had towards them. I had never taken chinese classes before, and I got a full score on every single one of those opportunities."
"Lately I have been remembering this, and started to think of my exams and assignments as opportunities, a way to show the professors but also myself what I have learned. AND IT WORKS. I got an A in economics with that attitude! I had never done any economics classes before that. It takes a lot of the «danger» and frustration out of the tests and assignments. So helpful."
You Only Get One
"Life is good, life is bad. Regardless, life is. One should rejoice in that fact because everything that's ever happened everywhere has led to you being you, so it's worthwhile embrace it."
Ride Of Your Life
"Live in the moment, while simultaneously seeing your life with a sense of detachment - it's like a good movie, full of heartache, pain, moments of inspiration, and most importantly comedy from the sublime to the absurd, light and silly to twisted and dark. It's just a ride."
People imparting their wisdom onto you are like little gifts.
Whether you think they may not apply to you at a given moment, it helps to keep an open mind about listening to people who have more life experience than you.
Who knows, you may end up applying the helpful guidance in the future when you really need it.
But as one Redditor mentioned earlier, embracing humor – in addition to treating others the way you want to be treated – is something that will always strengthen your character.
@jman42/Bluesky
@SecretaryBurgum/X
@Doug Ellin/X
@evanrachelwood/Instagram