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On a weekly basis I receive emails, Facebook messages, and tweets from people all over the world who work in creative fields. Some people send me pages worth of their life stories, others are looking for quick tips to optimize something very specific in their lives, but most often the messages I receive are from people frustrated with where they are in their career who don’t know where to go next.

It occurred to me recently that the advice I’m providing to an individual privately might be beneficial to many others struggling with similar obstacles in their own lives. So here goes my first attempt at a new series called ‘Dear Zack.’ If you find this beneficial, please let me know in the comments below or send me a quick message letting me know you’d like to read more of these in the future!

Dear Zack,

I've been editing pretty consistently for the past year and more, but recently I've been having trouble finding work and I want to make sure that I'm doing everything I can to better my chances. I've reached out to people that I have a good relationship with in the past (directors, producers, line producers, editors, etc.) to let them know that I'm available. I've also reached out to agencies with not much luck except for being hip-pocketed at [two big-name agencies].Of course, I'm staying positive since I believe that I've been turning out good cuts and people have enjoyed working with me. But I just wanted to take the extra steps and see if I can learn from a person of your experience.

Is there anything more that you did during a time like this other than have patience?

Thanks,

Martina

Hi Martina,

There is no doubt that patience is a required virtue when working to build a fulfilling career. One of the fundamental mindsets I teach in all of my online programs is that life is game of chess, not a game of checkers. You have to be willing to play the long game and stop looking for the next easy move - just because a quick jump is available doesn’t mean it’s the best strategy to win the game.

Don’t confuse patience with complacency, however. Often times people reach a certain point in their careers where they believe they have earned the right to their next job, and all they have to do is wait to be discovered. No matter the level you’re at in your career, every single strategic move should have one singular objective: Putting yourself in the right place at the right time so the right people discover you, and thus you “get lucky.”

“Luck” is simply the intersection of hard work and opportunity.

I’m not implying in any way whatsoever that you are sitting around waiting to be discovered, clearly you are reaching out to past contacts and you’ve built a relationship with not one but two big-name agencies. This is a great start! But you definitely haven’t reached the point yet where there’s nothing else that can be done except sit and be patient.

If you follow my podcast and blog then you may already know I spent years jumping from one random indie project to the next (often unpaid), and I was also unemployed for long stretches before finally landing my dream job editing Burn Notice (something I dive into in great detail in my ‘Ultimate Guide to Making