What’s Your 1%?
TL;DR
In an unpredictable industry, focusing on what you can’t control often leads to frustration and a feeling of helplessness.
Shifting your attention to your 1% — the actions within your power— can create a sense of agency and drive real progress.
My 5-year-old daughter, Lucy, is studying power in her preschool class.
They started with the basics—the sun, the wind, and food as energy sources that give us power. Then, of course, came the endless fascination with electricity.
But things got really interesting last week when a friend of Lucy’s was unkind to her and tried to “take her power” away.
It’s a wild thing to see the same dynamics playing out in a preschool classroom as they do in the highest levels of government. I think that statement speaks for itself.
Luckily, Lucy has an incredible teacher, Ali (seriously, everyone should have an Ali for these moments), who gave her a simple but profound mantra to hold onto:
“I am love. I am love. I am nothing but love.”
Hearing Lucy say this with all the conviction a 5-year-old can muster might be the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.
But it also got me thinking about all of you—navigating this unpredictable, often ruthless industry. How often do you feel powerless in your career? Not just because of external forces, but in the way your own thoughts spiral and chip away at your confidence?
Are you driving your career, or just reacting to it? 🤔
In an industry full of uncertainty, it’s easy to slip into reaction mode—waiting for the next audition, the next email, the next opportunity to show up. But the truth is, 99% of this industry is out of your control. The good news? You are 100% in control of your 1%.
And that 1%? That’s everything.
Your 1% is where your power lives.
I say this all the time in the coaching room. Artists, writers, actors, and creatives of all kinds feel stuck because they’re focused on the 99%—what the industry is doing, who’s getting opportunities, or when the “right time” will come. But dwelling on what you can’t control only leads to frustration.
Instead, I help creatives shift their focus to their 1%. Because the truth is, everything that moves your career forward lives there.
So then, what’s in your 1%?
You can’t control casting decisions, market trends, or which projects get greenlit. But you can control:
The quality and consistency of your work
How you build and nurture relationships
The way you structure your time and priorities
Your mindset and resilience
How often you put yourself out there
Instead of asking, Why isn’t the industry giving me opportunities? ask, Am I doing everything I can within my 1%?
For example, if you're an actor, you can’t control when your dream role comes along or how many auditions you book this year. But you can control:
Keeping your materials (headshots, reels, website) sharp and up to date
Training regularly so you’re always at your best when opportunities come
Sending thoughtful follow-ups to casting directors you’ve worked with
Creating your own work—whether that’s a short film, a self-tape challenge, or a creative collaboration with friends
If you're a writer, you can’t control when your script will get sold, but you can control:
Writing consistently and finishing your drafts
Researching and sending targeted pitches to agents or publications
Building relationships with other writers and industry professionals
Self-publishing, starting a blog, or submitting to smaller platforms while working toward bigger goals
Here’s what I know: some of my most successful clients didn’t wait for permission. They built their own projects, collaborated with their friends, or used alternative platforms to showcase their work. They stopped waiting for doors to open, and instead, they built their own damn doors.
And maybe that’s the real lesson. No one—whether it’s an industry gatekeeper, a political leader, or someone trying to make you feel small—can truly take your power. Not unless you hand it over.
Lucy’s teacher gave her a mantra: "I am love. I am love. I am nothing but love."
Maybe yours is different. Maybe it’s: "I am here. I am capable. I am in motion."
It’s easy to feel helpless when so much is out of our control—whether it’s in our careers or the world at large. We’ve seen real harm in recent months. People are struggling, losing access to things they need, feeling more isolated and uncertain than ever. That’s real. But what’s also real is our ability to move forward, together.
That’s why, in moments like these, it’s just as important to recognize what not to do.
Don’t isolate. Connection is power. When you reach out, you remember you’re not alone.
Don’t spin out in future-tripping. Stay present. You can only act from where you are, not from an imagined worst-case scenario.
Don’t underestimate yourself. You’re more capable than you think. You have more agency than fear wants you to believe.
Don’t wait for permission. Move. Build. Create. Even small actions taken in your 1% add up over time.
So, what’s in your 1%? What’s one action you can take today?