“If money solves your problem . . .
. . . you don’t have a problem.” – my mentor. When my mentor said this, I thought she had lost it and simply couldn’t understand, because money was my problem. Making money cost time, and at that moment, it was taking all my of time. Work at 8:00am, to my next job at 5:00pm, done by 12:00am, and in bed by 1:00am. But I got what she was saying (she was right), there are problems that no amount of money can fix, but I still had a problem, and something definitely needed to change.
After much prayer, planting my foot (setting my mind), taking a step of faith, trusting God, and making some arrangements with my first job, I was able to leave the restaurant, and oddly bookings started happening.
This past Monday, I was driving on Highland Avenue to class, and started to tear up. I use to be on Highland Ave., around that time to head to the restaurant. Getting the restaurant job came out of fear in the first place (that’s for another post, hello Israelites 40 years vs. 11 days). I started thinking . . . first I was just filled with gratitude for how God blesses me, and then I started reflecting on some of what I’ve done in pursuit of acting.
Once, I walked 5 miles to print one headshot from a FedEx Kinkos (I took the bus back), and when I was 18 years old, I got a credit card specifically to go to New York, (for one night), for a cattle call role in a movie! These moments were endearing and naive, but that’s another post.
Money is easy in comparison to hard work. I was thinking about all the books and scripts purchased, classes, photo sessions, resumes and headshots printed, website fees for submissions and hosting, master classes, opportunities taped, postage for mail outs, and miles driven, etc., that I’ve spent on this art. None regretted, but I had a question.
Have I spent as much time, as I have money?
Some people spend a ton of money on an experience, but receive nothing tangible. That doesn’t make the experience or money wasted, but was it just the experience that they wanted for their investment?
Accessibility, doesn’t grant ability, only access to opportunity.
Money can pay for the class, but won’t buy the education. And I would argue that with self-discipline, you could forego several of the classes, and find real experience in your field through observation or hands on.
So many are lost in class, wanting to be shown the way. There should be a searching, researching, and discovering, not all the diagrams of how to, this worked for me and should for you, which in our age of I can know everything and anything right now, searching is hard to do.
“Money only buys time.” – Derrick Lindsay
And you better hope that time on the right side. Don’t kid yourself into thinking because you paid for the gym membership that you’re getting muscles.
I am in total agreement with Robert Henri, “All education must be self-education.” Class, fellowship, counselors, instructors, are all necessary, but they cannot close the gap between knowing and doing for you. People work so hard for money, and sometimes spend it so easily.
Self-education is the only education.
So, if you think money is your limitation, you’re wrong.
“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” – Isaiah 43:19
“And my righteous ones will live by faith. But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.” – Hebrews 10:38
“It is senseless to pay to educate a fool, since he has no heart for learning.” – Proverbs 17:16
“So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.” – James 2:17
