How to Bounce Back from Failure – Alec Baldwin
By leadership author and keynote speaker Ross Shafer
I want to talk about people who were on top of the world…but got knocked down hard…and THEN came back stronger than ever.
Today, I have a bounce–back story of resilience that will surprise you..and hopefully inspire you. I should tell you I’m doing this story from my room at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas – where I just interviewed actor and activist Alec Baldwin. We talked for an hour, in front of 2,300 people. Regardless of what you think of his political ideology, or what you may have heard about his public temperament, to survive and thrive like he has in the world’s most unpredictable business makes him a poster child for resilience. In his 20’s, a handsome Alec Baldwin got a role on the soap opera; The Doctors. That led to being cast in the prime time hit, Knots Landing.
It wasn’t long until he became a leading man in movies like The Hunt for Red October, Beetlejuice, The Edge, and Glengarry Glen Ross. But when his storybook marriage to Kim Bassinger crumbled, the five-year custody battle over their daughter, devastated his health and his career. Alec says, the exhausting courtroom drama and travel demands drained all of his energy. He didn’t have time to stay in his usual top physical shape. The leading man roles dried up and he fell from Hollywood’s A list. He says, the pressure to make money and the relentless spotlight on his private life caused him to snap…and when you’ve been that famous, the press loves to accelerate your fall from grace. So what did Alec do? He faced reality and did every other thing he could. He took theater roles. He took small supporting roles in movies like Aviator, Cat in the Hat and, Pearl Harbor, The Departed. He worked for Turner Classic Movies Essentials. He became the radio voice for the New York Philharmonic. He took small roles on Wil & Grace and
Saturday Night Live. He did commercials for Capital One. What I admire about Alec Baldwin’s resilience is that he didn’t complain. He just worked harder. Saturday Night Live producer Lorne Michaels was so impressed by Alec’s work ethic that he cast Alec in his new show 30 Rock. The show was a hit and Alec’s character, Jack Donagie, put him back in high demand in movies like Mission Impossible, Concussion, and It’s Complicated. Today, Alec does a fascinating podcast series called HERES THE THING…he hosts the game show Match Game (something he and I share in common) and of course his Donald Trump impression has given SNL their highest ratings in years. So if YOU have experienced the high life but got knocked down, get up every day and push on……humble yourself…don’t let your pride get in the way…live up to your responsibilities…try new things to make a living…and it’s very likely your efforts will be noticed by people who can help you get you back on top.
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Ross Shafer is the author of (9) popular business books and (14) human resource training films. In a former career Ross won (6) Television Emmy awards for his work as a TV host, writer, and producer. Today, Ross is a sought after keynote speaker and consultant for Fortune 500 companies worldwide.