{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Episode 372: Underestimation, Overestimation, and Grounded Confidence","description":"Self-Perception and Where We Decide We Belong I want to talk about something we reference a lot in acting, but usually only vaguely. Self-perception. It sits at the center of almost every actor\u2019s journey. It shapes how you talk about yourself, who you reach out to, what rooms you think you belong in, and how far you let yourself go. Most of the time, we don\u2019t even notice it happening. Why This Matters So Much I was thinking about 10 Things I Hate About You and that line about being overwhelmed and underwhelmed, and asking if you can ever just be whelmed. It made me think about actors. We know we can underestimate ourselves. We know we can overestimate ourselves. Both are a problem. But what about just estimating ourselves accurately? Because everything depends on how we see ourselves. How Underestimating Yourself Shows Up This is one of the most common patterns I see. It sounds like: I\u2019ll wait until I\u2019m better I just need one more class I\u2019ll reach out when I\u2019ve booked something bigger Agents like that would never sign someone like me I recently spoke with an actor who told me they wouldn\u2019t reach out to a top agent because they didn\u2019t think someone \u201clike them\u201d could ever be with an agent like that. That belief is a cage. When you underestimate yourself, you pre-reject yourself. You become your own no. Your own locked door. You cannot build a career while actively shrinking inside of it. Agents don\u2019t sign the perfectly ready actor. They sign the clear actor. The specific actor who understands what they bring to the table and how they fit a roster. Most of the time, the only person who believes you don\u2019t belong is you. The Other Extreme The pendulum can swing the other way. Overestimation sounds like: I don\u2019t need more training My demo is fine I\u2019ll just wing it I already know what I\u2019m doing That\u2019s just as dangerous. Overestimation blinds you to growth. And growth is essential in this industry. One extreme keeps you small. The other makes you sloppy. Both keep you stuck. What We\u2019re Aiming For The middle ground is grounded confidence. Confidence that says: I belong here And I\u2019m still sharpening my craft That\u2019s where momentum lives. Why Reaching Out Feels So Hard When actors don\u2019t reach out, it\u2019s usually not logic. It\u2019s fear. Fear of rejection. Fear of being seen. Fear of success. But self-abandonment hurts more than rejection. When you don\u2019t give yourself a chance, you reject your future before it has a chance to recognize you. You say no to rooms that haven\u2019t even had the opportunity to say yes. A Better Question to Ask Instead of asking, am I good enough for that agent, Ask, do my materials and brand match what that agent represents? This isn\u2019t about worth. It\u2019s about alignment. You might not be ready for a specific agent yet, and that\u2019s okay. That doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019re not talented. It usually means your materials, brand clarity, or positioning need work. That\u2019s strategy. And strategy is learnable. Something I Want You to Try Identify one agent, director, or producer you\u2019ve labeled as \u201cout of your league.\u201d Then ask yourself what actual evidence proves that. Most of the time, there is none. And if there\u2019s no evidence, you\u2019re not protecting yourself. You\u2019re stalling your life. Actors who move forward act before they feel ready. Ready is a choice. You belong in the room. But you still have to walk through the door. If this episode brought something up for you and you want to share it, you can always email me at mandy@actingbusinessbootcamp.com. I love hearing where things clicked and where things still feel sticky. And if you want to know when the next class or training is coming up, keep an eye on your inbox. There\u2019s more support on the way. ","author_name":"Acting Business Boot Camp","author_url":"http:\/\/actingbusinessbootcamp.libsyn.com\/website","html":"