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Dear John

How can I utilise my resting time more effectively?

First published 6th July 2006

Question:
I'm currently between acting jobs. I know that's all part of the business and I should be using this time polishing my skills, etc. Trouble is, with little money and no routine, I spend most days watching TV. What can I do?

Answer:
You could do absolutely anything you want to do. For most of us performers and freelances it's the very fact that 'we could do anything we want' when we're not working that often results in us doing absolutely nothing day in day out instead. Contrast this with the experience of being in, say, a West End show, filming a TV drama or playing a one nighter in some remote pub at the opposite end of the country. Once we're working for someone else, we have something to focus our efforts on, motivation to follow through and the pressure to do anything else that's vitally important in whatever spare time is left over. So how do we keep that focus when the only one we're working for is ourselves? Like everyone else I'm wary of coaching advice which doesn't take into account the particular insecurities of the performer's lot, so here is some advice from two people who have trod the boards as well as the boardrooms.

What the experts say:

Jasmine Birtles

Jasmine Birtles can often be found on TV and in the press making financial issues comprehensible and even (gasp) fun for those of us not born with a calculator in our brains. She has also presented BBC1's Homes Under the Hammer and financial series and reports for ITV Scotland and UK Style TV and BBC Radio. Her 36 books include her latest, The Money Book - Control Your Money, Control Your Life. However, she has also paid her dues as a comedian on the stand-up circuit.

"Firstly, use a couple of those spare hours to do something about that money deficit. For instance you can go through all your expenses and cut them back. And no, this doesn't mean wearing a hair shirt. Quite often it simply means taking the time to find better deals on existing spending. Get on the computer and go to websites like moneysavingexpert.com, uswitch.com, moneyextra.co.uk, switchwithwhich.co.uk and switch your electricity and gas suppliers, your phone and mobile suppliers, your bank, your insurance, your credit cards and any other essential expenses until you have slashed your bills. You can save literally thousands per year this way, particularly if you switch your mortgage too.

"Next, go to the library and borrow my book (don't buy it, you're saving money) A Bit on the Side - 500 Ways to Boost Your Income. Read it and write a list of the various jobs you could do with all your spare time. Put yourself on the lists of mystery shopping companies and get paid for going to restaurants, pubs and hotels, do some focus groups for money, set yourself up as a local 'sitter' for people who need someone to wait for a big delivery, get into dog-walking, occasional waitering, temp work in offices, etc.

"Also, go through all your possessions and put all the things you don't need or want any more into big boxes and sell them on eBay, Amazon and at the local car boot sale. Scour car boot sales for collectibles and sell them for a profit on eBay. Or set up an online business that you can run from your computer when you're not on stage. Talk to your local Business Link for free help and advice. There are so many opportunities to make money, you won't have time for EastEnders anymore... well not until you're appearing in it."

Rasheed Ogunlaru

Rasheed Ogunlaru is a leading life coach, business coach and motivational speaker. He works with people from all backgrounds but as a former singer, particularly understands the challenges performers face. He is author of the self-coaching CDs Become Who You Are and Create Your Ideal Life. Rasheed regularly appears in the media - including several appearances on ITN News and regular guest appearances on BBC London 94.9fm.

"It's perfectly possible to coach yourself. But to do this you will first need to develop a motivating, rounded picture of what you want in life and your career.

"Develop a detailed three-year plan of where you want to be - not just as a performer but in all areas of your life. You may not have given this much detailed thought, so you might be surprised when you see what emerges as you plan.

"Then work backwards from this goal and identify the steps you'll need to take to achieve it. This may include research, planning, networking, gaining skills, building contacts and gaining the support of people who you know already and others you'll need to seek.

"From here you may find lots of creative and practical ways of moving on. It may be that then you'll have a more specific idea of how coaching could help you and if so don't rule it out just because of the cost. You may spend more on a hairdo than on a coaching session and the coaching benefits may last you a lifetime - unlike the hairdo.

"Trust your instincts. You and your happiness is the long-term goal. If you feel coaching will help then perhaps your first task might be to find the finance to pay for it. There are also some self-coaching books and CDs on the market - a smaller investment and a chance to dip a toe in the water. Of course no book, CD or even the most expensive coach will help you if you don't switch off the TV and get off that sofa."

John sums up

Having worked with both Jasmine and Rasheed, I can vouch for the fact that their current successful performing and media careers are a result of hard work and following their own advice themselves. However, I'm sure they would agree that not every piece of advice works for every person and also that it doesn't all work at once. Rather than trying to turn into such a whirlwind of positive thinking and focused activity, simply decide on one small task you would like to do, whether it's sorting your money or identifying a class you'd like to attend and then decide to spend one hour less in front of TV and do it. Physically writing out a contract with yourself and signing it can help. Taking the plug off the TV so you can't watch it till the job's done helps even more. Just do whatever it takes to force yourself into action. Once you've got the task done, then you can relax. You might feel like trying another task and another until your TV watching time becomes an occasional luxury.

* You can visit Jasmine Birtles’ website at www.jasminebirtles.com and check out her regularly updated blog.

* Rasheed Ogunlaru coaches by phone, in person and also runs motivation talks. Visit www.rasaru.com or call 020 7207 1082

* Feedback/queries are welcome to dearjohn@thestage.co.uk

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