WINS.

Autumn is here. There's a nip in the air. Leaves are changing. Best of all: college football is playing on TV. I felt an impulsive, irrational urge to get in the car this morning and head towards my alma mater's football stadium...without tickets...to a game that was starting late, ending later, and would put me home in the wee hours of the morning of a fully-scheduled Sunday. Totally irrational, like I said.

These teams are measured in many ways, but only one matters to a sports-loving-but not sports-analyzing fan like me: WINS & LOSSES. Before you try to argue this point with me, let me ask you this: If your team wins all the stats (yards, passing yards, running yards, interceptions, penalties--you get the picture) and loses the game, are you a happy fan? That's what I thought. Point made.

There are WINS in every area of our lives.

Acting is no exception.

You must celebrate your WINS or you will be tempted to give up. To do that, you must understand what an acting win looks like. Is it winning an Oscar? YES. Is it being nominated for an Emmy? YES. Is it booking a role as a lead character? YES. Is it shooting a commercial? YES. Is it getting an agent? YES. Is it self-taping an audition for a role? YES. Is it sleuthing to find your next role? YES. Is it locating an accent-reduction coach in your area? YES. YES. YES.

You get the picture. An acting win is anything that can advance your acting career or help you overcome hurdles to a successful career. That could be losing weight, developing confidence, organizing your home office, or finally telling your parents your life-long dream.

Here is the fun part: CELEBRATE each WIN. Does this mean dinner at Morton's? Not necessarily. It might mean purchasing your favorite tea or springing for a bouquet of fresh flowers during your next trip to the grocery store. It could mean a yummy dessert or new outfit. Each win will be as unique as you are.

Just be sure that each one is recognized, documented, and celebrated.

It is as important as anything that you will do in your career. When the discouragement comes, you have a record of wins. When the perceived LOSSES threaten your joy, you have tangible evidence that you are closer to your goal than you were a year ago...and you will not give up.

GET TO WORK (c).