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Transcript

All Acting Work is Real. · The Aligned Actor

• 0:00
  Hello,
• 0:00
  friends,
• 0:01
  and welcome back to more fun on the Aligned Actor PodTube
• 0:05
  Stack.
• 0:06
  SPEAKER_00: I'm Amy Schlerb.
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  I'm a professional actress and a mindfulness and mindset coach
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  helping actors ride
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  SPEAKER_00: the roller coaster,
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  SPEAKER_00: all the ups and downs,
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  SPEAKER_00: all the twists and turns.
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  SPEAKER_00: Oh boy, are there a lot of being an actor.
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  All of that nonsense and stuff that we put ourselves through
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  and stuff that just
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  SPEAKER_00: happens to us in our careers.
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  SPEAKER_00: All of that.
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  SPEAKER_00: We do this without throwing up as best as possible.
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  SPEAKER_00: Once again,
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  we are here to explore a letter that I wrote a few years ago to
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  younger actor Amy,
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  SPEAKER_00: the woman who had just arrived in Los Angeles.
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  So this is a letter to young actor Amy,
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  part three,
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  all about how all acting work is real.
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  So let's see what I wrote back then and see how this advice
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  holds up today.
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  SPEAKER_00: All acting work is real.
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  SPEAKER_00: Enjoy it.
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  Don't treat any acting job like a stepping stone or a practice
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  session for a real job.
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  SPEAKER_00: They are all real jobs.
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  SPEAKER_00: And I wrote that all in caps so you know I was serious.
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  SPEAKER_00: Different budget levels may be, but your job is always the same.
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  SPEAKER_00: Know your lines, know what you want in each scene, and do your work.
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  SPEAKER_00: Rinse and repeat.
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  Any idea that,
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  oh,
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  this is good practice for when I'm really working,
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  is nonsense.
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  SPEAKER_00: You're really working now.
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  Stop missing out on all the fun you're having right now by
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  continually telling
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  SPEAKER_00: yourself that this job doesn't count.
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  SPEAKER_00: It counts.
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  SPEAKER_00: Enjoy it.
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  SPEAKER_00: Celebrate them all.
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  SPEAKER_00: Yes, absolutely still love this advice.
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  SPEAKER_00: Absolutely still love this advice.
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  SPEAKER_00: Shocking, of course, that I agree with my younger self.
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  SPEAKER_00: But yes, I still love this advice.
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  SPEAKER_00: And I want to expand on this idea of
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  even more so that it includes all acting that we do paid and
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  unpaid on set and in
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  class auditions and silly stuff that we throw up on the
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  internet just because it's
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  SPEAKER_00: fun everything because when we say this isn't real
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  SPEAKER_00: This doesn't count.
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  SPEAKER_00: This is just a stepping stone to the real work.
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  SPEAKER_00: In a way,
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  we're disparaging the work we're currently doing by comparing
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  it to other work that
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  SPEAKER_00: we deem as better because it's real.
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  SPEAKER_00: And what we're really saying is this isn't good enough compared to that.
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  So like this scene in class,
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  this isn't good enough compared to having a real audition.
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  Or this audition isn't good enough compared to having a real
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  job on a real set.
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  Or this co-star role that's one line isn't good enough compared
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  to having a real
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  SPEAKER_00: role as a guest star.
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  Or this guest star role isn't good enough compared to having a
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  real role as a serious regular.
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  SPEAKER_00: I mean, where does it end?
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  SPEAKER_00: That compare and despair mindset can cause a lot of stress,
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  SPEAKER_00: self-criticism,
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  SPEAKER_00: and even shame because it's a really,
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  SPEAKER_00: really,
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  SPEAKER_00: really,
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  really slippery slope from this isn't good enough to I'm not
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  good enough because
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  SPEAKER_00: this is all I have and I don't have that.
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  Whereas the mindset that says all acting work is the same,
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  it all counts,
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  it's all real,
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  SPEAKER_00: can really set us free to enjoy our acting career in a whole new way.
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  SPEAKER_00: Because I'm guessing that you got into acting because you love it.
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  SPEAKER_00: It's fun.
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  SPEAKER_00: It's creative.
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  SPEAKER_00: You get to express yourself.
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  SPEAKER_00: You love playing characters.
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  SPEAKER_00: You love making people laugh.
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  SPEAKER_00: You love making people cry.
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  SPEAKER_00: You love that performance high that you get when you're acting.
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  SPEAKER_00: So why not give yourself permission to really love your acting work,
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  SPEAKER_00: all of your acting work,
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  SPEAKER_00: right now?
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  SPEAKER_00: And here's the fun bonus.
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  I've seen so many videos of famous actors saying stuff like
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  that when they stopped
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  SPEAKER_00: thinking of auditions as something they had to do to get an acting job,
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  SPEAKER_00: a means to an end,
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  SPEAKER_00: and started seeing them as the acting job,
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  SPEAKER_00: I get to act today.
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  SPEAKER_00: This acting work counts just the same as being on set.
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  SPEAKER_00: That's when things transformed for them in their careers.
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  And I have some examples linked up for you so that you can go
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  watch people who are
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  SPEAKER_00: far more famous than me,
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  SPEAKER_00: people you've heard of,
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  SPEAKER_00: people who are names,
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  SPEAKER_00: people who your aunts and uncles and grandparents have heard of,
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  SPEAKER_00: probably.
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  SPEAKER_00: People who are famous,
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  SPEAKER_00: famous actors saying exactly that,
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  SPEAKER_00: saying that all acting work is real and it counts.
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  And I really think that this mindset can make our work better
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  because we're more
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  committed and we're not half-assing anything or holding
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  anything back because this
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  SPEAKER_00: doesn't really count.
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  When all acting work counts,
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  I am motivated to show up different in my acting work.
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  SPEAKER_00: in a deeper way.
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  SPEAKER_00: And I feel like my work just gets better and better and better.
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  It also takes some of the pressure off of booking because when
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  we believe that all
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  SPEAKER_00: acting work counts and therefore we can enjoy acting anytime,
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  SPEAKER_00: we then suddenly have full control over our own access to our own craft.
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  SPEAKER_00: There are no gatekeepers between us and our passion.
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  So just like a painter can pick up a palette and brushes and go
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  to a piece of paper
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  SPEAKER_00: or a canvas and access the joy of painting at any time,
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  we can pick up a scene or a monologue and access the joy of
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  acting at any time.
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  SPEAKER_00: And sure,
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  SPEAKER_00: I mean,
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  SPEAKER_00: there might be people,
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  SPEAKER_00: there definitely are people out there who will say,
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  SPEAKER_00: well,
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  SPEAKER_00: actors need an audience.
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  SPEAKER_00: to witness their acting.
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  SPEAKER_00: Otherwise it doesn't count.
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  SPEAKER_00: But do we?
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  Because maybe that's just another example of this acting work
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  doesn't count because
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  SPEAKER_00: I'm just doing it for me.
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  SPEAKER_00: What if even acting just for ourselves counts?
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  I have a monologue which I've adapted from a Martha Graham
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  quote and sometimes I do
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  SPEAKER_00: it just for me.
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  SPEAKER_00: Because it speaks to my soul in a really profound way.
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  SPEAKER_00: And it speaks to all the things that I want to do in this world,
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  SPEAKER_00: both as an actress and as a mindset and mindfulness coach.
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  And it affects me in a deep way and in the same deep way that I
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  would hope it would
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  SPEAKER_00: affect an audience.
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  SPEAKER_00: So that counts for me.
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  SPEAKER_00: I count.
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  SPEAKER_00: I'm an audience that counts.
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  SPEAKER_00: And look, you can go as deep or not deep with this as you want to.
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  You're allowed to hold your own opinion about audience and
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  actors needing it or not needing it.
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  SPEAKER_00: But my point is that in my book, all acting counts.
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  SPEAKER_00: It's all just your body of work,
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  SPEAKER_00: your acting practice,
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  very much like a mindfulness practice or a yoga practice or
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  anything like that.
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  SPEAKER_00: And in fact,
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  a mindfulness practice can help you with this mindset shift
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  because mindfulness is
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  SPEAKER_00: all about staying focused on the present moment.
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  And in this case,
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  that would be the acting work that you're currently doing.
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  And then gently returning your focus to that work whenever your
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  mind starts to
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  SPEAKER_00: wander off and you notice like,
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  SPEAKER_00: oh,
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  SPEAKER_00: I'm thinking,
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  SPEAKER_00: eh,
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  SPEAKER_00: this doesn't really count.
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  SPEAKER_00: This is just class.
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  SPEAKER_00: This is just whatever.
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  SPEAKER_00: Oh, oh, oh, no, no, wait.
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  SPEAKER_00: I'm getting to act right now.
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  SPEAKER_00: I'm getting to do what I truly love to do.
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  SPEAKER_00: So let me get present to that and let me really enjoy this.
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  SPEAKER_00: Let me enjoy my acting work right now.
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  SPEAKER_00: Look, you know this.
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  SPEAKER_00: Mindfulness and mindset shifts are my jam.
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  This is the kind of coaching work that I love to do with my
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  one-on-one clients and
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  SPEAKER_00: in my workshops using mindfulness and
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  SPEAKER_00: to become more present in our work,
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  SPEAKER_00: more aware of where our mindset might be holding us back,
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  and learning to gently shift those thought patterns so that we
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  can approach our
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  SPEAKER_00: craft and our career with more confidence,
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  SPEAKER_00: have more fun,
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  SPEAKER_00: and really enjoy being actors,
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  SPEAKER_00: despite how crazy making this career that we've chosen can be at times.
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  SPEAKER_00: So if you're ready to transform your actor mindset, we should chat.
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  SPEAKER_00: I would really love to talk to you.
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  SPEAKER_00: I offer a complimentary session and trust me, it's not a sales call.
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  SPEAKER_00: I'm not trying to close you.
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  I don't get in there and try to convince you of what a great
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  coach I am and let's
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  SPEAKER_00: close this deal and let's get you into coaching sessions.
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  SPEAKER_00: It's not at all like that.
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  SPEAKER_00: It's not Alec Baldwin and Glenn Gary, Glenn Ross.
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  SPEAKER_00: This is a chance for us to connect as human beings,
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  SPEAKER_00: connect as fellow actors,
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  SPEAKER_00: and for you to walk away with some specific actionable ideas,
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  SPEAKER_00: whatever comes to me in that moment,
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  SPEAKER_00: noticing what you're maybe going through,
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  SPEAKER_00: and then I go,
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  SPEAKER_00: okay,
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  SPEAKER_00: how about you try this?
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  SPEAKER_00: So maybe think about it in this way.
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  Here's a couple of tools you could use starting right now to
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  start gently shifting
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  SPEAKER_00: and strengthening your actor mindset.
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  And you could even maybe think of it like an audition where
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  you're the production
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  SPEAKER_00: team and I show up to this audition.
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  SPEAKER_00: And you get to be on that other side of the table, right?
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  SPEAKER_00: You're the producers.
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  SPEAKER_00: You're the director.
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  SPEAKER_00: You're the production team.
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  SPEAKER_00: You're the casting director.
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  SPEAKER_00: And I show up.
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  and the role of coach and you see what I do with the role of
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  coach and I'm actually
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  SPEAKER_00: coaching you so that you experience that for yourself.
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  And then I go away and you get to sit and you get to think
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  about it and you get to
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  SPEAKER_00: go,
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  SPEAKER_00: okay,
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  SPEAKER_00: does my production need a mindfulness and mindset coach right now?
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  SPEAKER_00: Is that something that is interesting to me?
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  Is that something that I think would help my career right now
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  and help me as an actor?
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  SPEAKER_00: And then is Amy the right person for that role?
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  SPEAKER_00: Because there are other mindfulness and mindset coaches out there,
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  and maybe this just gets you going so that you find the right
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  person for you.
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  SPEAKER_00: It might be me, it might be somebody else.
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  SPEAKER_00: I don't know, but we should chat.
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  SPEAKER_00: I would love to talk with you.
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  SPEAKER_00: There are links to get that complimentary session
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  all over the place i mean you probably you'd like trip and you
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  trip over it because
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  it's everywhere uh but one of the most reliable places that you
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  can get it would be
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  on my website thealignedactor.com but then also in the Substack
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  also in the show
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  notes also in the youtube description you can find that link
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  it's pretty easy to
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  SPEAKER_00: find
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  SPEAKER_00: And then the next thing I want to tell you about is that in the meantime,
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  especially if you have like an audition coming up or you have
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  some kind of any kind
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  of acting work that you want to be doing and you want to make
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  sure you're staying
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  SPEAKER_00: focused on that and not thinking about anything else.
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  SPEAKER_00: I have a pre audition focusing meditation.
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  It's a free meditation for you and it's going to help you get
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  out of your head and
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  SPEAKER_00: get into your character so that you can rock your next audition.
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  I'm going to help you calm your nerves and let go of
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  distracting thoughts.
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  SPEAKER_00: All those distracting thoughts that like to perkle up,
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  SPEAKER_00: perkle up when we get into auditions,
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  SPEAKER_00: like how can I book this?
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  SPEAKER_00: I really want to make insurance.
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  SPEAKER_00: What do they want?
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  And then let go of those gently and then focus in on what
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  really is happening in
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  SPEAKER_00: that scene,
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  what your character really wants in that scene so that then
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  you're able to present
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  SPEAKER_00: your best work.
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  SPEAKER_00: So I have that for you.
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  SPEAKER_00: Again, there are links everywhere that you would expect to find links.
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  SPEAKER_00: And you can go pick that up for yourself.
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  SPEAKER_00: And it's completely free.
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  SPEAKER_00: It's my gift to you.
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  SPEAKER_00: And then speaking of calming your nerves and getting ready for auditions,
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  SPEAKER_00: I have an e-book,
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  SPEAKER_00: Accessing Calm,
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  SPEAKER_00: that is full of simple,
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  SPEAKER_00: practical things.
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  Fun mindfulness life hacks that I use every day to calm down
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  when my stress gets
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  SPEAKER_00: high,
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  SPEAKER_00: when like I feel either stressed or anxious in my body.
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  SPEAKER_00: I use them with my kid.
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  SPEAKER_00: These are tools that help me release tension from my body.
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  SPEAKER_00: They help me keep my mind from like spinning out of control.
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  SPEAKER_00: They help me get through the morning rush, off to school.
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  SPEAKER_00: They help me calm down before a big audition.
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  And they help me deal with all the stress of the world,
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  which that's a lot.
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  SPEAKER_00: And nothing is enough to deal with all the stress of the world right now.
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  SPEAKER_00: But these are going to help at least.
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  a really quick read and it includes video demonstrations so
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  you're not just having
• 13:37
  to read through how to do something you get to watch a video of
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  me showing you
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  exactly how to do it applying it in the moment for myself which
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  is helpful and it's
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  all just seven dollars so seven dollars to get a bunch of tools
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  that can help you
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  in your day-to-day life to access more calm in your body and in
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  your mind and again
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  SPEAKER_00: there are links everywhere
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  SPEAKER_00: There's always links,
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  SPEAKER_00: always links,
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  all the places to find all the things that you'd want to find
• 14:07
  related to me and my
• 14:08
  SPEAKER_00: work.
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  SPEAKER_00: And then the last thing I want to let you know about,
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  I do have some upcoming mindfulness workshops happening at the
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  SAG-AFTRA Los
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  SPEAKER_00: Angeles Conservatory in October and in November.
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  SPEAKER_00: They're exclusively for Los Angeles Conservatory members from SAG-AFTRA.
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  So it's mindfulness 101,
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  empower your craft and your career with your presence.
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  Come learn about mindfulness and the many advantages it offers
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  performers,
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  SPEAKER_00: experience a guided mindfulness meditation,
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  SPEAKER_00: explore the benefits of developing a daily mindfulness practice,
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  SPEAKER_00: and learn some quick centering tools to use in auditions and on set.
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  SPEAKER_00: There's some of the same tools that are in Accessing Calm.
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  SPEAKER_00: Just a little fun Easter egg, I guess, maybe I could say.
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  So if you're a member of the SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles
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  Conservatory,
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  you can head to their website.
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  SPEAKER_00: It's linked up in the show notes.
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  SPEAKER_00: It's linked up in the Substack post.
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  SPEAKER_00: And you can get on the calendar there and you can sign up for those.
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  SPEAKER_00: And if you're not a member, I encourage you to join.
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  SPEAKER_00: So you both have to be a member of SAG-AFTRA,
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  SPEAKER_00: the larger actor union for screen and,
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  SPEAKER_00: yeah,
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  SPEAKER_00: screen.
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  SPEAKER_00: So you have to be a member of that.
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  And then you have to join the LA SAG Conservatory and that is
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  $45 for the year.
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  SPEAKER_00: And you get access to a ton of workshops.
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  SPEAKER_00: I mean,
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  SPEAKER_00: there's just everything from business stuff to probably branding,
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  SPEAKER_00: to classes,
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  SPEAKER_00: to audition stuff.
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  SPEAKER_00: Like there's just a ton of stuff.
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  SPEAKER_00: And then what I bring is a lot of mindfulness.
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  SPEAKER_00: Uh, I have other classes that I'm considering putting together.
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  around mindset and various things but right now the class that
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  I teach there is
• 15:58
  mindfulness 101 all about getting present and how that helps
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  your craft in your
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  career so that's what I have for you today and I hope you're
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  having a wonderful day
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  and I hope that you continue to have a wonderful day and go
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  forth with yourself and
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  SPEAKER_00: you're awesome