I spent the last 20 years of my life in a career that I got no satisfaction from. Something that I eventually hated doing but when you get into your 50s you come to terms that most of your adult life is gone and, being so close to retirement, it was too late to start over.
When I lost my job last year, a day shy of my 52nd birthday. I felt a moment of panic and then after a couple days reflection, felt a sense of excitement that I could now go and do whatever I wanted to do.
After making a list of everything I was qualified to do (it was a short list). I remembered my dream of acting when I was a teen. It was always in the back of my mind, but I shoved it away and ignored it, thinking I would never do it.
So I added acting to my list; the very end of my list. And the more and more I looked at it, I realized I wanted to try it. I wanted to see if I would enjoy acting and I wanted to make sure that I didn’t end up on my deathbed with that one regret, because it always gnawed at me.
So I moved to ATL and started class, but it wasn’t until I did a scene in theater class with my instructor where I got lost in the moment, I realized I loved it.
It’s been 10 weeks now and I haven’t been this happy in a long time. I have an agent, I’m getting auditions and somehow I got attached to a project that got picked up by Buffalo 8 Productions out of Santa Monica.
What motivates me. The thought of all those wasted years on offshore vessels. Doing what I had to do for 20 years instead of what I wanted to do. Knowing that time is running out and trying to make my mark before it does.
The beautiful thing is when people see your drive and motivation, it attracts people with the same drive and motivation. Or, it becomes contagious and it helps others become more motivated.
What’s your motivation?
Simon Shih 