"If you are a creative person committed to a successful career in the entertainment industry, I want to acknowledge you for holding this book in your hand. You're a true seeker attempting to increase your wisdom about something you love -- YOUR CAREER. Many Show Biz folks I talk to these days are too busy to read anything that isn't a script, a contract, or a piece of sheet music. They race frantically from one interview to the next, rushing off to rehearsal, or working on that all too familiar 'project in development.' They seem consumed by their career, almost at the 'effect' of it, and absolutely at the mercy of the phone, waiting anxiously to hear whether or not they got the gig. Some folks may say 'that's just the nature of our biz,' however, I don't always agree with that statement because such a belief places all the power in others, and leaves you, a waiting victim. Nevertheless, I congratulate you for going against your nature and buying this book. I promise, you did the right thing.

"The title of this book does not say 'how to break into the biz;' it implies how to MASTER it. It doesn't suggest conquering Show Biz from the head, where opinion and conformity live; it proposes mastering it from the heart, which is where the truth resides. My goal does not include taking you further into the vagueness of hope and luck, and I don't intend to spew out more of the same old worn-out Show Biz tips or fictitious industry standards. Rather, my intention is to simply remind you of what you may have forgotten amidst the drama and hoopla that thrives in this business. And, to restore your confidence in the crystal clarity of your own 'internal wisdom,' so that the critical career choices and decisions you make are sourced in reality and facts, as opposed to hearsay and rumor."

"All the great masters of the world have one thing in common: a sense of arrival. They know the career they've chosen is it for them; it's their destiny, their purpose in life. That 'knowing' grants them a sense of freedom -- the freedom to express their creative talent and share it with the rest of the world, without compromise.

"Left to his art, a master is seldom at odds with his own work. His only real challenge is people that criticize everything about him except his work, most often, attacking the 'cocksure' attitude in which he does it.

"The biggest problem that faces most modern day Show Biz artists is not the work; it's the bank officials, star-struck executives, financial advisors, and corporate board members, who really know little, if anything, about the art they finance. That's because Show Biz today is not about art, it's about profit -- and nothing more than that. Saturday Night Live Producer Lorne Michaels once said 'They don't call it "Show Art," they call it "Show Business,"' and he's right. Thank God for the artist, because the banker cannot produce a movie, a record, or even a television commercial, without him.²

"There's an old myth that says, 'Children born in the circus have sawdust in their veins.' It means that they were born to be circus performers, and that their life was pre-planned for them. Erstwhile circus people so honored their profession, they were so devoted to the circus, that it was not only customary that their children become part of the traveling troupe, it was expected. And, in some cases, whether or not the kids agreed! And while most circus people never got rich or famous entertaining audiences from town to town, they loved it anyway. Because this was their destiny, this is what they were born to do, this was their vocation in life!

"Once you've found your true vocation, the pursuit of money and fame becomes secondary to the quest for personal excellence. And when you're pursuing excellence, abundance and acknowledgment come banging at your door."

Note: This chapter also prompts you to answere a few probing questions to determine whether or not show biz is the right career path for you.

"Show business is not for the weak, the fragile, or the insecure. If you intend to remain true to your vocation, you're going to need a steadfast Spirit, a plethora of patience, a warehouse of confidence, and a truckload of fortitude.

"Show Biz is the only biz that you 'break into.' You donıt 'break' into plumbing, and you donıt 'break' into nursing or the medical profession, however, you 'break' into Show Biz. Why? Because we assume the door is locked, therefore, we have to break it down to get into the building, then, after we're in, people say, 'What a lucky break!'

Note: This chapter discusses the good news and the bad news regarding your career in show business.

"Those of us who work in creative fields often find it difficult to create anything without being victimized by the constant commentary of the 'inner critic.' For example, musicians are often faced with the dilemma of whether or not to make music that is compatible with today's commerical trends, or to create the music they hear in their hearts. Often, the result of this ensuing debate is a common phenomenon known as 'writer's block.'

"'Creative block' is simply the head interfering in what the heart wants to say.

"There are far too many genuinely creative people selling out their talent in all areas of Show Biz today -- from TV producers lured by networks to maintain the acceptable status quo, to the actors and writers themselves, who sell out to mundane scripts that have the potential to inadvertently subject us and our children to disturbing violence and mindless drama."

"The truth is, the risk-takers in this business, who have followed their own personal Creative Spirits, are praised and rewarded in life for being the pioneers of the industry, for being the ones who paved the way for the rest of us to follow. They're the ones who have opened doors so that others may fully express themselves."

"Whether you're a comedian, script writer, actor or musician, it's your ultimate responsibility to respect and honor your craft by being the best you can possibly be. There's no guarantee that your degree of talent will land you a job, however, it stands to reason that the more proficient you are at your chosen profession, the better odds you'll have of maintaining success in this business.

"And, if you absolutely love what you do, the mastery of it should be effortless. Even the tedious, painful repetition of practicing guitar scales can be an event you look forward to. You'll get high off the pure joy of getting better, and you know as well as I do, that it takes no time at all, to begin to achieve personal results in anything you enjoy doing. Whether it's working out at the gym, or rehearsing a scene over and over, the more you practice, the better you get. And each progression will advance you to the next level, and each level holds new, exciting career possibilities and opportunities."

NOTE: This chapter offers suggestions on how to choose the best class or workshop for you.

"In our everyday interaction with people in the entertainment industry, precision provides a no-hype, straightforward path to career success and personal achievement. Precision insists on cooperation, quickens response time, provokes clarity, and delivers exceptional results...Fast! However, there's so little precision in our daily interactions with each other in Show Biz. Hasty, half-ass communication seems to be the accepted norm, while deficient, administrative procedures are the conventional office protocol. Exchanging rumors has become the prevailing preference of daily conversation, while the virus of gossip spreads uncontrollably throughout the industry. The result of this conversational apathy, is that ordinary discussions are misunderstood, urgent documents are poorly written and hastily proofed, important meetings are carelessly organized, deals don't go down, and the money never makes it to the bank! Meanwhile, attorneys get rich, sorting out the sea of miscommunications and misunderstandings that abound in this industry. Ultimately, it all leads to stress, frustration, anxiety, and, needless to say, a total waste of time and money. Not to mention the fact that your career gets entangled in the 'drama' and 'hoopla' of it all! A probe into the average use of our communication skills may be useful in determining the reason there are so many misinterpretations and communication breakdowns in our business."

Note: This chapter offers 10 suggestions to increase your communication skills.

"The autonomous practice of standing alone, on your own two feet, and taking responsibility for your career, independent of the opinions of others, is a courageous act that most people avoid like the plague. In fact, some would rather opt for the plague. Not unlike the walking zombies in Night Of The Living Dead, it's much easier to follow everyone else, in a hypnotic daze, down the futile path called, 'I hope I make it someday,' chanting that infamous prayer, 'Please God, make me rich and famous. If you do, I'll build a home for wayward children.' It's the path of least resistance, and the one with the least amount of personal accountability.

"To protect us from the challenge of personal career liability, and, to keep our ego from being bruised, and more importantly, to thwart off the possibility of looking like a jerk, we've developed a secret, internal security system that's been honed and tweaked to perfection. Not unlike a tattered, old, security blanket a child carries around, until he's too embarrassed to be seen in public with it, our security system is a BAG!"

"Knowledge is the sum total of what's been learned through study and education -- which is a good thing, so long as itıs factual information, and not mundane gossip. However, wisdom is understanding what's true, right and lasting, which is all you really need to know. The truth about how Show Biz works is plenty -- the remaining hearsay doesn't matter anyway.

"Quite often, we experience flashes of wisdom, although we may not realize it at the time. Some call it 'natural knowing,' others call it 'insight;' however, it's simply the truth, bubbling up to the surface. It's actually your Creative Spirit, revealing itself to you, in wisdom make-up, without drama, and without ego. That's why it's so subtle when it surfaces, and that's why you instinctively know certain things without learning them from a book, or hearing them through the grapevine.

"Begin to accept the fact that you do possess wisdom. That you simply know things about your craft, and this industry, that you were never told, you never read, and you never saw on television."

"If Wisdom is understanding what's true, right and lasting, then intuition is the voice of wisdom. It's the way wisdom communicates with you, and it's the technique wisdom uses to surface through the 'silly putty.' Intuition is the voice of the heart, and the only thing your heart expresses is truth. Your mind fabricates the rest.

"Whether you call it ESP, psychic phenomenon, clairvoyance or spiritual insight, you know exactly what I'm talking about, because you've got it, and you've experienced it. Who said the gift of intuition was reserved exclusively for fortune tellers, mothers and gypsies? You have sensory perception, too. It may not be enhanced sensory perception, because you havenıt enhanced it yet, but you've got it, it simply needs to be developed."

Note: This chapter includes 10 Steps To Enhance Your Intuitive Awareness.

"Commitment is finally getting to that place where PETTINESS is something you are no longer willing to tolerate. And when you finally stop tolerating the pettiness of this business, people stop fooling around with you. And when people begin to take you seriously, results begin to happen.

"Whenever vocation, intention and commitment meet there is action. Wherever there is action, there is result. If your intention concurs with your vocation, and your commitment aligns with the action, there will be an 'extraordinary' result. There can't be anything else. It's impossible for there to be anything else. Producing extraordinary results in your career, becomes a wonderful dance between vocation, intention, commitment and action. If the results are anything but absolutely extraordinary, then there is a covert intention going on."

Note: This chapter offers Five Steps To Manifest Extraordinary Results

"Integrity's a funny thing. It's as elusive as luck, as valuable as money, and as important as your social security number. You won't get hired simply because you've got it, but it could cost you your career if you lose it. Sometimes you care about it, sometimes you don't. You never weigh it, because it represents the shape your character is in, and when was the last time your character had a complete physical? However, if it's total bliss and happiness we want, if we're looking for a smoke-free, crime-free, AIDS-free, cancer-free, clean, loving, wonderful environment, where all humans are sheltered and fed, and rain forests flourish, we're going to need something much bigger than even integrity (and integrity's pretty big). We're going to have to move up to PROBITY!

I don't know exactly when it happened; however, for the first time in history, filmmakers, television networks, writers and producers, songwriters and publishers, record companies, etc., worldwide, now possess all the resources necessary to clean up the world's past 'poop,' and redirect humanity toward a more enlightened future. The only thing missing is the courage and selflessness to do it.

"In the Academy Award-winning screenplay for Dead Poets Society, Robin Williams' character, Mr. Keating, says, 'And the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse...what will your verse be?' To use your career to make a difference in the world powerfully demonstrates in no uncertain terms that you are one of the fortunate few that has found your true vocation in life. Because each and every one of us possess the same covert desire -- to make our mark in the world before we leave. And our vocation, our career, is the path to fulfill that destiny. One way to achieve that desire is for you to begin to contribute your 'verse,' from wherever you're standing right now."