42-day Book a Job Challenge wrap-up

I embarked on the 42-day Book a Job Challenge at the suggestion of the lovely and indispensable Dallas Travers. Over the course of 6 weeks, I booked a ton of paying tv jobs and learned a lot... here's a little overview. I'd love to hear your thoughts!

1. I got SUPER CLEAR about what I want most (to work in television) - you can only have ONE number one priority. This allows me to:

2. Make quick, effective decisions I can feel great about. Does this serve my number one goal? Does it serve one of my other top goals? If not, gotta say no.

3. I don't need everyone to support me. Dallas always talks about your NYPs - Not Your People. These people just don't see why you're special. THAT'S OK. If you know it, it's true, and it doesn't matter what they think. And that brings me to...

4. Believing in myself. Knowing in my core that I am exactly where I need to be and trusting the universe to hold me. Doing my part and then releasing the need (the illusion really) of control.

5. Accountability - I publicly declared my BIG GOAL and the daily actions I was taking to get there. Knowing others would see my daily goals, making sure the goals really did relate to my big goal, and making sure I did them because I knew I was accountable. So helpful!

6. Connecting with others. This was great - I magnetized those who believed in me, and those who were seeking the same outcome for themselves. Who knows who "unliked" my page during those 6 weeks - and who cares? I made new friends and contacts and I contributed to the industry as a whole, not just through the paid jobs I booked but through my advocating of action, positivity and focus.

YES!

Now that the 42 days are over, am I going to go back to my old ways? Not a chance. I've gotten so clear, so focused. It feels great.

Learn to say no

At the beginning of every workshop, my inspirational meditation teacher Charu says "saying yes to yourself might mean saying no to your partner or no to the exercise."

I remember the first time I heard this, I just could not imagine sitting across from someone and saying no to them. That would be so selfish, so rude, so... bitchy! But over time, exercises did come up that didn't feel right, or partners that didn't feel right, and I finally got past that self-judgment and have been able to eke out the word "no." In those moments, I find that I am my best advocate and that through standing up for myself I become stronger and clearer.

Saying no is not really part of our culture. We get a lot of messages that the answer is not to say no, but to manage our time better. And yet experts at the top of their fields will all tell you that saying no is the key to moving forward. Call it focus, call it making choices or call it tough love... but saying no is a must.

What thing or person or commitment is no longer serving you that you need to say no to? I'm a huge overcommitter, and there has been a pride in that "accomplishing" that I have not wanted to let go of... and yet I know in saying no is the key to my getting the things I really want and need.

non-negotiables

During my tantric meditation retreat in Ojai with Charu last month I made a new commitment to myself to do my meditation practice every day. In the past, I've made similar "commitments" but the difference was, they were always negotiable...

"oh, I would meditate today but it's already midnight and I'm so tired, and I have to get up at 6am to be on set tomorrow. I'll just skip a day because this is a special circumstance."

Well, we all know how that goes... three weeks later you haven't done it at all and you said you were going to do it every day!

So this time, I made the commitment to myself to do it EVERY day, even if it means doing it at 1 am because the day "got away from me."

Having this non-negotiable is teaching me an important lesson about the true limitations of my time. I cannot do it all, as much as it pains me to realize that! But through the non-negotiable, I have become aware of how much time I really have, and I can consult my list of goals to assign priorities to things that come up.

"Hey, would you like to go to this film premiere on Wednesday night?" -Yeah, I'd love to. Let me consult my list of goals for the week, see how they serve my 1-year goals and my overall career goals, and decide whether that's enough of a priority. Sometimes the answer is no.

Anyone who knows me has heard me talk about FLYlady - she says that it takes a month to form a new habit, and that you should only add one habit at a time. I couldn't agree more. I'm only 3 weeks into this new habit so I'll be adding another habit in a week when this one is solid.

Are you trying to do it all at once? Trying to be everything to everyone (and least of all, yourself?) Commit to yourself with one non-negotiable and let me know how it goes!

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"Success in LA" - multihyphenate actress-writer-producer Harmony Rebecca Jupiter thinks outside the box. If you enjoyed this column please share it, and become a follower over to the right... Here's to your success!