The Necessity of Specificity

Hey Shining Starrs. I have to first thank you all for the awesome feedback from the last blog, Your Live is Your Call. It blesses my spirit when you all tell me that the words I write help, inspire and encourage you. 

This week I want to talk about being specific and how incredibly important that is. From your goals to your prayers, to your career, to your brand; specificity is key to much of your progress. When applied to your life, specificity can give you a true foundation. 

As an actor, specifics are vital to creating genuine characters. I tell actors that I work with and that I direct as well, when you get a script, no matter how brief or extensive your role is, creating specifics about the character will only strengthen your performance. Especially if all you have to go on are the sides that you are given, like in auditions. There is often very little back story and you likely won't have the whole script to know all of the context. So for the moment, creating your own backstory and being as specific as possible will set you up with choices. Asking yourself who are you in this scene? Why are you having the conversation right here, right now? What provoked the moment before we see your character? What exactly does your character want and what are they willing to do, say, give up or endure to get it? The more you drill down, the more you bring out. And even if you are not correct in your intent, casting directors and directors can adjust you. But you showed up with the work done and with choices, so you show yourself as a professional and someone they want to work with. All because you made it your business to be specific. 

In business or your brand, are you being specific? You can say I want to be successful, but that needs more detail. What specifically are you seeking to accomplish? How much do you want to net the first quarter? The first year? Who is your target demographic? What is your budget for marketing or continuing education? Is expansion or franchising something you want to do down the line? Do you intend to create a DBA (Doing Business As) or another company that operates under your initial company? What do you want your logo to convey when people see it? What colors are best for what you are doing? Have you picked a specific font? What IS your brand? What is NOT your brand?  Again, the value of specifics will aid you in building what you desire. Also, specificity provides a built in cushion for flexibility. If you know exactly what you want, when the universe disrupts you (as is often the case), those specifics give you an outline of how far outside of the initial plan you are willing to go. 

Where I feel specifics are most needed are in goals and prayers. Let's say you are praying for a mate. Is any old body ok? Or do you have certain things that are mandatory? For me, I must be with a man that believes in a higher power. A man that understands being with a creative is like being on a laptop with 2349492749834 apps running all at once, lol. Someone who appreciates how super domestic I am, but also will help. And the list goes on. I am not as specific with looks, though I have an affinity for cocoa brothers. But I want a man that works out and eats well and will encourage me to do the same. A man with some style and some originality about him.  A man that prays with and for me. A man with some level of entrepreneurial spirit and drive, that is understanding that I want more because we both do. Someone who will be willing to take emotional responsibility for my bruised and battered heart and help nurse it back to life, even if he is not the one that did it. A man that is open enough to allow me to do the same. A man that will TEACH me how he needs to be loved and learn my methods as well, but will work with me as we figure it all out because we feel we are worth that.  Someone who is good with money. And if he is not, he's humble enough to know that I am, so he will let me manage our finances while he contributes.  I pray specifically for a man who is affectionate and compassionate. One who knows when to hold me and when to hold me accountable. Again...specifics! 

What do you need to apply specificity to? The list is endless. The details are yours to create and apply.  Is it your career path? I know that this year for me, Okema the actor is top priority, with Okema the writer/producer right behind that. Is it your spiritual life? I want to get back into regularly attending church, tithing consistently and being more adamant about my prayer and meditation life. Do you need to put specifics into your health and wellness goals? I want to get into a better regimen for my workouts, meal preps and eating. For my actors, are you prepping for a role and need to get specific training? I want to play a jazz singer in a film, and while I do sing, that is a different genre, so I have to start training for it. Directors, do you want to learn how to communicate with your actors better on set? Directing Actors is an amazing book that could help! 

The long story short is...

BE SPECIFIC IN ALL YOU DO AND YOU WILL BE PROGRESSIVE! 

Let me know what you are being specific about Shining Starrs. How can we help you? Email me at info@moorethanenuff or respond to the blog.  We are specifically here to assist in your greatness! 

Yours in Light and Luv! 

~Miss O