Put yourself in a position to win.
This obviously does not guarantee anything, of course.
It puts you in a place to capitalize on any lucky breaks that might come your way.
And I like how Cranston puts it at the end here.
No want-to-be-actor – that has never acted – has been asked to act in anything professionally.
And no want-to-be-writer – that has never written – has been asked to write anything professionally.
Understand: Artists ready to take advantage of opportunities, are artists that do the work.
I put myself in the position to see if I had it, and something happened. I showed up and I put the work in and I got a reaction. I made something happen. Luck also played a part. Any successful actor or writer or artist will tell you that luck is a crucial factor. But the only way to get lucky is to be prepared for luck to find you. Writers write. Actors act. If you’re not constantly applying your talents to your craft, no one is going to stop you on the street and say, “Hey, come write this TV show!” Or, “I want you to star in my movie.”
Bryan Cranston, A Life In Parts
