I had a conversation with someone this past week who talked to me about statistics. He was breaking down the idiocy of playing the lottery with the ever famous comparison to getting struck by lightning. Why do the statisticians always make that comparison? Thought it was just a stereotype but NOPE! He said it. What we also discussed was the odds of having a career in acting. He pointed out that if you look up stats they are misleading saying the average actor makes almost 50k a year. The problem is this is the statistic for working actors. This stat does not take into account all the actors who are out there not working. He said he was glad I had another job because the odds of actually working as an actor full time are almost as high as, yup you guessed it, getting struck by lightning.
This reminded me of Han Solo in the Empire Strikes back when C-3PO informs him of the odds in successfully navigating an asteroid field to which he responds “never tell me the odds.†Statistics are a very interesting subject. You look at them and can make a decision based on the probability of success regardless of the situation. You could be looking to buy a car and see the odds of a specific brand lasting 10 years are better than the other brand. That the odds of you actually finding parking downtown/uptown are very low so you should stay home. Statistics can have an effect in every facet of your life. So do you always take the safe bet?
Statistics are there for guidance but they are by no means the be all and end all in the decision making process. The odds were completely against Steve Jobs when he began building computers in his garage. Did that stop him from trying? The odds were against Barack Obama winning the presidency of the United States. Did that stop him from running? Joe Shmoe won the lottery where the odds were better of him being struck by lightning than winning but did that stop him from buying that ticket?
There is a great saying which we can all live by “You never know until you try.†While stats can assist you, do not let them stop you from taking risks. The most successful people in the world would not be where they are today if they did not take some form of a leap of faith. They let their belief in their abilities govern their decisions, not the odds of their success. They looked at the statistics and scoffed. They didn’t care what the odds were. That their chances at success were so low that it didn’t even justify trying. They took the risk and reaped the rewards. Of course not every risk will end in success. Those same people who made it have had many pitfalls along the way. Just ask Donald Trump.
Maybe you are not a risk taker. Maybe you play it safe and stick to the main road. Let me ask you a question. If someone told you the odds of finding a 100$ bill today were 1 in 1 000 000 but that you would be that one, would you look for the 100$ bill? What if you are that one? While statistics can guide you there is always the other side of the coin. There are those in the minority. There are the few or the one who buy that lottery ticket and win. And yes there are the few who actually do get struck by lightning. Have faith in yourself. Do not live your life by the odds. What if you see a beautiful man or woman and the odds are 1 in 100 that he/she is single and 1 in 10 000 that he/she would want you but this is your future husband/wife and you have no idea?
I know the odds of me being a full time actor and making 50k a year are very remote. Does that mean I am going to stop trying? Hell no. I know in my heart I am in the minority. I know one day acting will be my full time job.
What’s your dream? Take the risk. Scoff at the odds. You never know until you try.
