Not long ago, I had the opportunity to see Leslie Odom, Jr. perform in concert. Best known for playing Aaron Burr in the original cast of the smash Broadway hit, Hamilton: An American Musical, Odom’s talents go well beyond the theater stage. He has spent years acting in theater and television, as well as performing solo concerts.
Although the theater held several hundred people, the night felt like an intimate performance in a 1940s New York jazz café. Odom Jr., along with a five-piece band, sang some of the Aaron Burr songs from Hamilton, to the delight of many. But his passion for storytelling through music came through in renditions of songs by Nat King Cole and other classic performers, along with his own original songs.
While Odom Jr. has found success in many areas as a creative performer, the road to stardom hasn’t been easy. In his recent memoir, Failing Up, he outlines key moments in his creative journey that took him from a pre-teen who got into trouble at school to becoming an award-winning actor and singer. The lessons presented in the book apply not only to anyone pursuing creative endeavors, but also anyone looking to pursue any dream and live a more fulfilled life.
FIND A MENTOR
Growing up in Philadelphia, Odom Jr. struggled to find an outlet for his creative energy. Often getting in trouble at school, it was a teacher who first directed him to the stage. His first foray into the arts was through public speaking competitions. Although speaking in public was outside of his comfort zone, Odom found the more he practiced, the more he enjoyed the work. Public speaking competitions eventually led him to taking theater classes, where other teachers guided him towards his future calling.
At 17, he got his first big break, earning a supporting role in the cast of RENT on Broadway. As a young actor, he looked to the veterans in the cast. Several of the cast members became mentors for his early professional career. Later, as a more seasoned professional, he still sought out mentors within the entertainment industry to help guide him through the highs and lows of being a professional performer.
Whether a teacher, someone who takes you under his wing when you’re starting out in a career, or a spiritual leader, mentors provide professional and personal advice to guide your path. While a mentor is invested in your well-being, he isn’t as directly invested in the specific situation challenging you. As a result, they can offer more clarity as you make decisions.
NEVER STOP LEARNING
During the early years of his career, Odom Jr’s talent led him to a variety of roles. He slowly built up his resume. But casting directors weren’t beating down his door for roles as leading men on television or movies. He soon began to consider leaving the entertainment industry.After a discussion with one of his mentors, Odom Jr. realized that he could be doing more. While he trusted his agents to get him auditions, he started investing more of himself into his career. During the time in between auditions, rehearsals, and performances, he started making phone calls and sending emails to contacts in the industry. He took classes to hone his speaking voice for potential television commercial gigs. By spending more time developing his creative and entrepreneurial skills, he took charge of his career.
Regardless of your personal or professional goals, investing in your own skills and knowledge are always a good investment. You don’t have to take formal classes or earn a special certification. You learn by reading, by talking to others, and by asking questions. Taking time to improve your skills and knowledge shows others you care and are willing to put in the work needed to succeed.
DON’T BE AFRAID TO FAIL
When he earned his first Broadway role at only 17, Odom Jr. faced the decision of pursuing theater full-time or attending college. After discussions with his family, he attended Carnegie Mellon University. Upon graduating, he then faced the choice of returning to New York to chase his Broadway dreams, or moving to Los Angeles to pursue television opportunities. Ultimately, he chose Hollywood. Eventually, he found himself going back and forth across the country to pursue multiple offers.
For every success, however, there were plenty of failures. There were roles he didn’t get, television pilots that weren’t picked up by a network, and theatrical performances that made his doubt his skills. But through those failures, he learned about craft, vision, and work ethic. He developed new skills, tried new strategies, and learned to trust his instincts.
After a decade of small roles on television and building his reputation within the musical theater world, the biggest success came when he took what was possibly the biggest risk of his career. Odom Jr. had done some preliminary readings with Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator of Hamilton, before the musical was even finished, let alone drawing audiences to a Broadway theater. But when he landed a television role, he had to choose between the steady job in Los Angeles or taking a risk to follow his belief in the Hamilton project. He chose the risk. Instead of taking the television role and a steady paycheck, his belief in Hamilton’s potential lead him to putting aside the fear of failure. Ultimately, that risk paid off. Big time.
Fear of failure holds you back from taking chances that might lead to big things. Even if you’re unhappy, staying in your comfort zone is safer than stepping out to make a change. But in order to grow, you have to take chances. Unless potential failure involves an extreme outcome like death or the safety of others, taking a risk on something you believe in results in either success or learning. Either of which is good. You either get what you hoped for, or you learn how to do it better next time.
*** What are you willing to risk in order to pursue a dream? What can you do today to start making progress towards living the life you dream of? ***
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