Welcome to 2023! If you’re anything like me, the start of a fresh year prompts us to evaluate the previous 12 months, highlight successes, acknowledge areas that might need attention, and dive into the new year with fresh horizons to discover and new mountains to conquer.
But how can one set career goals in an industry where success is partly determined by just good timing and sheer luck, as well as skills and abilities? The unfortunate truth is being the most talented person in the room doesn’t guarantee you employment, and factors that are out of our hands such as which shows are chosen, casting briefs and potential pre-casting can influence individual success.
Basically, how can we achieve more in 2023 when career accomplishment is partly out of our control…?
First up, we need to differentiate between dreams and goals. Although we assume they’re the same, upon closer inspection we can see they are very different beasts.
Dreams are often based on our deepest wishes and desires, and usually only consist of thoughts which are often ambiguous, subjective and unrealistic.
On the other hand, goals create clear objectives, requires structure, and most importantly - prompts action!
Having a dream for 2023 such as, “I want to play a lead” is vague and possibly unrealistic. Not attaining these dreams can then lead to disappointment, loss of confidence and questioning your ability or place within the industry.
So let’s talk goals! When setting goals, many people use the popular SMART goal setting method, which requires goals to be -
S - specific
M - measurable
A - achievable
R - relevant
T - time bound
Let’s break it down!
BE SPECIFIC!
“I want to play a lead” is quite vague. Be clear and precise! Ask yourself the who, what, where, why, and how questions. Is there a specific role? Which show? What company is producing it and where? And most importantly, what skills are needed to accomplish this goal? NOTE - having a large, overwhelming objective such as “I want to play a lead” may need to be broken down into smaller, more attainable goals such as first developing the skills needed for this to happen.
HOW WILL YOU MEASURE YOUR GOAL?
Is your ONLY measurement of success playing a lead? How about the ensemble? Can this lead be in a pro-am production or are we just talking about large commercial shows? Clarify what achieving this goal looks like, and HOW you will know when you have been successful. And be honest with yourself… Do you want to be a lead for the experience and to flex your creative muscle, or are we only aiming for the perceived fame and notoriety of being a lead in a big show? Success takes many forms. Be clear about what your definition of success looks like.
TOUGH QUESTION… BUT ARE THESE GOALS ACTUALLY ACHIEVABLE?
Determining whether or not your goal is achievable is a crucial conversation to have with yourself. It can be very confronting to ask yourself whether this goal is realistically possible for you, but this is a necessary step when setting goals. If you’re just starting out in the industry, is aiming for a lead setting yourself up for disappointment? We’ve all heard stories about relative unknowns being catapulted into leads of productions, but they are rare occurrences. Could you do well in setting more realistic goals for yourself, like developing new skills/improving current skills that will increase your chance of employment in the future, expanding your industry network or setting your sights on the ensemble?
ARE YOUR GOALS RELEVANT?
Are the goals you’ve set for yourself worthy of your time and energy? If you’re a tenor wanting to work for Opera Australia, are those tap classes necessary? Will they truly serve you to achieve what you want to achieve? WHY are you setting this goal? Goals should align with your values and long-term objectives. Will achieving these goals help or hinder you in the long run? It is important to be honest with yourself in this step of the goal setting process.
HOW LONG WILL YOU GIVE YOURSELF TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOAL?
Set a realistic end date to achieve your goal. A year in the arts is actually very short, so maybe you need longer than 12 months to achieve it? Having an end date keeps you motivated yes, but again, make sure these goals don’t tarnish your self-confidence by choosing an end date you that makes sense and benefits you.
Goal setting requires asking yourself some hard hitting questions and prompts an honest conversation with yourself about your current situation and your long term objectives, but setting goals are necessary to achieve more in both your personal and professional life.
** If you need assistance setting personal or professional goals for 2023, reach out - Centred Stage is here to help! Centred Stage offers coaching as well as counselling to assist those in the arts achieve more. Get in contact today for a free 15 minute chemistry chat! **
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