Chapter 21Show Biz Survival Techniques

It took me a long time not to judge myself through someone else’s eyes.

—Sally Field

A TEFLON COAT COMES IN ALL SIZES

Anyone who’s been in this business for a while or any “how to make it” book you pick up will tell you that if you’re going to work in this industry, you’ve got to develop a thick skin. Linda Buzzell (author of How To Make It In Hollywood) calls it “rhino skin.” For the sake of being different, call it a Teflon coat. It’s guaranteed to keep anything negative from sticking.

As exciting and fun and rewarding as this line of work can be, none of us is immune to some measure of rejection, disappointment, ill-tempered personalities, sure-thing deals and jobs that fail to materialize or any ...

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