worth the effort
“Love yourself enough to be disciplined in the pursuit of your goals.”
I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately and how we often think discipline comes from being hard on ourselves. Being strict.. But maybe real discipline comes from believing you’re worth the effort.
Worth waking up early for. Worth practicing when no one is watching. Worth taking another shot after getting told “no.” Worth showing up on time. Worth knowing your lines.
Your goals don’t need a perfect version of you. They just need a version that’s willing to keep showing up. Keep pursuing a dream.
Love yourself enough to become the person you’ve been dreaming about.
I think we often misunderstand discipline. We treat it like a punishment or something reserved for people with endless motivation. But the older I get, the more I see it as an act of self-respect.
When you truly believe your dreams matter, you start protecting them. You make time for them. You show up even when you don’t feel like it. Not because someone else expects you to, but because you’ve decided your future is worth investing in.
There will always be distractions. There will always be reasons to wait until tomorrow. And there will always be moments when quitting feels easier than continuing. That’s normal. The difference is remembering why you started in the first place. Every workout, every audition, every difficult conversation, every hour spent learning your craft is another vote for the life you’re trying to build.
Be patient with yourself. Growth rarely happens overnight. But if you can keep showing up, even imperfectly, you’ll be amazed at where those small, consistent choices lead.
Say this back to yourself multiple times this week until it sinks in
“Love yourself enough to be disciplined in the pursuit of your goals.”
TRY. That’s It.
If you've trained with me, you've probably heard me say one word over and over again: TRY.
It's simple, but it carries a lot of meaning. Trying doesn't guarantee success, but it creates opportunities that wouldn't exist otherwise. Some of the best moments in my career came from taking chances I wasn't sure I was ready for. Acting is full of uncertainty, and no one knows exactly how an audition or opportunity will turn out. What you can control is whether you show up and give yourself the chance. The worst outcome is that you gain experience.
The best outcome is that one decision changes the direction of your career. Sometimes, all it takes is being willing to try.
“You can fail at what you don't want, so you might as well
take a chance on doing what you love.”
―Jim Carrey
WHY AM I TEACHING
A lot of people ask me why I teach acting. I mean… I’m nobody. I’m ALSO a working/ struggling actor.
The answer has actually changed over the years. When I first started, I just loved talking about acting. Breaking down scenes, watching movies, figuring out why something worked and something else didn't. I could do that for hours. But after working with tons of actors, I realized something. Most people don't quit because they aren't talented.They quit because they get overwhelmed looking at this MOUNTAIN coming at them. Oh wait It’s a lot of work?
Nobody tells you where to start. Or what headshots you actually need. Or when/if you should get an agent. Or if your reel is even helping you. Everyone has advice. Most of it contradicts itself. That's frustrating. I don't have all the answers. I never will….
But I've made enough mistakes that maybe I can help you avoid a few of them. What worked for me won't necessarily work for you. And honestly... that's okay. Every actor has a different story. My job isn't to hand you MY roadmap. It's to help you build yours. If you leave one of my classes acting a little better, thinking a little differently, or feeling a little more confident than when you walked in... I'd call that a pretty good day.
Welcome to tucson acting
First off, thanks for being here. If you received this your are/were a student at Tucson Axcting or requested to be added to our new Blog/newsletter. Hello!
I'm excited to finally launch the new Tucson Acting website and introduce Wayfinder. An acting blog and newsletter where I'll be sharing thoughts from the studio, lessons I've learned throughout my career, acting tips, industry insights, and maybe even a few casting calls along the way. It's a place to have honest conversations about both the craft and the business of acting.
I don't claim to have all the answers, but if my experiences can help you avoid a few wrong turns or encourage you to take that next step, then Wayfinder has done its job.
I also want Tucson Acting to be more than just a website. If you ever have a question, need advice, or just want to talk through something you're working on, don't hesitate to reach out. You can email me, call, or text anytime. I'm here to help however I can.
Thanks again for being part of this journey. I hope you'll follow along, read a few entries, and maybe find something that helps you on your own path.
See you in class,
Austin Buchanan
Founder, Tucson Acting