Sunday, August 14, 2011

Build Your Own Breakthrough

"I was given an opportunity, and I cherished it."

"I looked in the mirror and didn't like what I saw. So I sold the mirror." - Sam Worthington, star of Avatar

Worthington was an obscure, homeless Australian who sent a tape to James Cameron and ended up fronting the highest-grossing movie of all time. That short sells the relentless work he put in to be ready for his break when it arrived.

During bit parts in American movies that shot scenes in Australia, he saw every day at work as an opportunity to learn. Standing in blinding rain 50 yards from the actors, he strained his neck to search for something to purloin. The lesson: No matter how bad your day is going, find something, anything, to take from it.

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