“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” - Lao Tzu

Ever have that moment where you look at the road ahead of you and think, “How on earth am Iever going to get this done?”

As actors, we dream big [LINK: 2015 Year in Review]. We have to! If we didn’t have a strong vision of seeing ourselves on stage at the Oscars winning the golden statue, we might not have the fortitude to continue getting up early every day to brew coffee for cranky nine-to-fivers. It’s all in service to our grand vision.

The vision is fantastic – but sometimes when a dose of reality hits (say, you don’t get a part you want or auditions are slow), it can be really overwhelming.

If you’ve ever had thoughts like, “I can’t believe how much hard work this will take,” or even “This feels impossible,” then this blog post is for you!

Courtney RiouxMarch 17, 2016goals, overwhelm, dreams, vision, actorsComment

Are You Down with the Know/Like/Trust Factor?

Let’s face it: people want to do business with people they KLT. That is, people they know, like and trust.

That’s how it works on the playground, that’s how it works in the business world, and that’s how it works in the acting world! Think about it this way: imagine that you’re a casting director and the production company hired you to present them with the top three actors to fill each role. You want to do a good job so you can get paid and continue working as a CD.

So you’re not going to bring them complete strangers, are you? No way! You’re going to bring them excellent people who you know will show up on time, are likable and personable, and who you can trust to get the job done right the first time.

But... when you’re an actor trying to book more work (and you don’t have 20 years’ worth of carefully cultivated relationships under your belt) where can you start?

Courtney RiouxFebruary 16, 2016KLT, know, like, trust, networking, relationships, social media Comments

How to Get Things Done (Even When You Really Just Want to Watch Game of Thrones)

No matter what business you’re in, no matter what stage of life you’re in, there will inevitably be moments when you need to get something done that you just don’t want to do. That’s exactly why I’m excited to share the concept of Activation Energy. I wish I could take credit for this incredible idea that changed my approach to business, acting and productivity...

Courtney RiouxFebruary 3, 2016actors, success, procrastination, tasks, goals, time, career Comments

My BIG Year- Vision 2016!

I once read that the people who are most successful at manifestation are those that have a clear sense of where they’ve been, where they are now, and where they want to go.

The end of December is a perfect time to take a few days to reflect on your year, an important activity if you’re interested in moving forward in 2016. Follow these steps to lovingly honor the year that just passed and openly embrace the incredible year to come!

The Year End Review has become one of my favorite things to do each year!

Collect Your Records

Sometimes when we think back on our year we forget how much has really happened. Do you catch yourself thinking, “Huh. I think it was a pretty boring year”?

It wasn’t! If I know anything about life, it’s not “boring” for very long. This is why, before you sit down to do your 2015 Year in Review, you’ll need a few things to help you remember what went down. Here are some suggestions:

Courtney RiouxDecember 30, 2015GOALS, VISION BOARD, YEAR END REVIEW, COURTNEY RIOUX, THE WHOLE ARTISTComment

5 Ways to Enjoy the Holidays Even When Your Family is Nuts

Mom keeps hinting that it’s time to get engaged. Auntie Margie asks when you’ll finally get a “real job.” Uncle Phil is already drunk and making weird comments about the neighbor’s Yule log.

Sigh. The holidays. Sure, the cozy winter weather is awesome and you can’t really make an argument against candy canes (well, unless you’re a dentist, maybe), but spending extensive time with family can be really darn stressful.

This year when you start feeling anxious during the holidays, try one of these 10 techniques to keep you calm, centered and present – even when Cousin Bobby tries to shave the dog (again!).

Courtney RiouxDecember 22, 2015 Comments

Best & Worst Holiday Gifts for Agents and Casting Directors

Just like that, December rolled around and it’s time to send off some holiday gifts to your industry contacts. Of course, we all want to acknowledge our hard-working agents and managers, and who could forget about the casting directors who called you in over and over again this year?

I get this question from actors all the time: what is an appropriate gift for my agent/manager/publicist/that awesome CD who booked my first co-star role?

So, I decided to go directly to the source and ask some of my industry contacts what they enjoy receiving as gifts during the holidays. Check out their comments below for some great ideas!

Courtney RiouxDecember 8, 2015Comment

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