This week’s episode is all about doing the damn thing. Inspired by Jen Sincero’s You Are a Badass, we explore how to move from wishful thinking into real, consistent action.

Because let’s face it:

• Epiphanies are useless without execution.

• Self-help without follow-through is shelf-help.

• Trying to be an actor isn’t the same as being one.

Many actors fall into the trap of passive self-help habits. That looks like reading books, journaling, or attending seminars but never actually taking the uncomfortable, messy steps that move your career forward.

Here’s the three-part shift:

1. Awareness – Notice your thoughts, excuses, and passive habits.

2. Acceptance – Own them without judgment.

3. Action – Act your way into right thinking and build your courage muscle.

Every day, ask yourself: Am I going to the gym… or am I really going to the gym?

Here’s a sobering stat: only 5% of SAG-AFTRA members qualify for health insurance. And of all the people who take courses (in any field), only 5% ever implement what they learn.

We want you in that 5%. The ones who suit up, show up, and keep going. The ones who build resilience, embrace discomfort, and grow stronger by being brave.

Waiting is the perfect recipe for self-sabotage. If you want a career, start now. Start messy. Start imperfect. But start.

At Acting Business Boot Camp, that’s why we’ve built:

• The Weekly Accountability Group – so you don’t just learn, you follow through.

• Monthly Classes with Mandy – so you keep sharpening your tools and confidence.

• The Weekly Adjustment Group – to help you build bravery into your daily life.

Because knowledge without action won’t book you jobs. Action will.

• Epiphanies without execution don’t create change.

• Awareness + Acceptance + Action = Transformation.

• Success is about getting comfortable being uncomfortable.

• Build your courage muscle daily.

• Don’t “try” to be an actor. Be an actor.

• Book mentioned: You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero

• Join us in the Weekly Accountability Group or the Weekly Adjustment Group to put this into practice.

If you’re enjoying the Acting Business Boot Camp podcast, please leave us a 5-star review wherever you listen. It helps us reach more actors around the world who are ready to stop waiting and start doing the damn thing.

Okay actors, here it is—your end-of-summer pep talk. I don’t know how we got here so fast, but summer’s basically over and it’s time to stop stalling. Time to get your act together.

In this episode, I’m giving it to you straight. Yes, I even drop a few swear words, because honestly, sometimes that’s what it takes to shake things up. I’ll share the story of Bowie the cat (our very cautious little housemate) and how it perfectly connects to where so many of you are stuck in your careers. The question is: are you going to stay scared Bowie… or step up and be brave Bowie?

And I’m not just talking theory here. I’m breaking down the exact things that matter most right now: your resume, your headshots, your reels, your website, and the way you correspond with agents and casting directors. These are the details that decide whether we keep looking at you—or hit delete in under three seconds.

• Why being “brave Bowie” matters more than you think

• The three pillars of Acting Business Boot Camp: training, business skills, and mindset work

• How to make your resume speak the “Language of Agents and Casting Directors”

• What your headshots and reels are really saying about you

• Why your emails to agents and CDs often get ignored (and how to fix it)

• The one website mistake that can literally cost you a job

• Why being 98% committed isn’t enough—and how going all in changes everything

If you’re serious about becoming a working actor, you don’t have to do this alone. That’s what I built Acting Business Boot Camp for: to give you structure, tools, and support from someone who knows this industry inside and out.

So here’s my offer: book a free 15-minute consultation with me. Let’s see where you’re stuck, what’s holding you back, and how to get your act together once and for all.

If you’ve worked with me before and feel like you need a reset, click the link in the show notes and let’s reconnect. If this is your first step, perfect. Let’s get started.

Click the link in the show notes to grab your free consultation.

Because you don’t want to spend the next season of your career like scared Bowie, hiding in the corner. You want to be the one who finally steps out, explores the whole house, and discovers just how good it feels to be brave.

I’m Peter Pamela Rose, a casting director and certified life and career coach. Through Acting Business Boot Camp, I help actors cut through the noise, build confidence, and create careers that actually work. Every week, I share real tools, mindset coaching, and industry insights to get you from feeling stuck to becoming a working actor.

👉 Click here to schedule your free 15-minute session.

I’ll be honest, the first time a casting director asked me for three takes in the same vibe, my brain short-circuited. The first one felt okay. The second? I made it louder. The third? I whispered and hoped for divine intervention.

Sound familiar? If you’ve been there, you’re not alone. No one really teaches us how to do this. We just… guess.

But over the years, I’ve learned that “three takes” doesn’t have to be torture. It’s actually an opportunity to show range, subtlety, and intention — if you know where to focus.

Here’s what I rely on:

1. Change the environment. Close your eyes and imagine where you are. A noisy coffee shop shifts your energy in a completely different way than a quiet office.

2. Add human sounds. We don’t speak like robots. A breath, a chuckle, a little “mm-hmm” makes your read feel alive.

3. Play with pauses. I love a pause. It can create tension, warmth, or surprise. Same words, totally different rhythm.

4. Change your listener. Who am I talking to? A best friend feels different than a five-year-old. A stranger feels different than a coworker.

5. Shift your motivation. This one’s huge. Maybe I’m trying to inspire. Maybe I’m trying to tease. Same emotion, new motivation — and suddenly the take has layers.

These adjustments keep me from falling into the “loud-soft-whisper” trap. Instead, each take feels intentional.

Here’s the secret I wish someone had told me sooner: improv isn’t about being funny. It’s about being present.

When a casting director says, “Make it feel more natural,” what they really mean is, “Stop performing and start reacting.” Improv trains me to do that. It helps me:

• Make stronger choices quickly

• Stay grounded when I mess up

• React honestly instead of overthinking

• Give multiple takes that feel genuinely different

As Kristen Wiig said, “Improv is about listening and not trying to be funny. It’s about being honest.” I’ve found that to be absolutely true.

I know improv scares people. It used to terrify me. My brain would scream, “Don’t mess this up. Don’t look stupid.”

But here’s what shifted everything: fear means I care. Fear tells me I’m right at the edge of something interesting. If I can use it, not run from it, that’s where the magic happens.

Now, I remind myself: I don’t have to be clever. I don’t have to be perfect. I just have to be available. And ironically, that’s when my best work happens.

If you’ve been frustrated by the 1-2-3 take request, know this: it’s not about pleasing the casting gods. It’s about showing them you can be flexible, creative, and real.

With these five tools and an improv mindset, you’ll stop guessing. You’ll start delivering takes that feel grounded and alive — and most importantly, like you.

If you want help practicing this, I’d love to work with you. I offer free 15-minute consults, and I’m always excited to help actors build confidence in the booth and on the mic.

👉 Book your free consult here