SUCCESS STORY
Amy Adams: 10,000 Hours and the Keys to Success
By Beret Leone | Communication Major, Theatre Minor
Amy gruffly buckled her character shoes and strutted to her director’s office. This is the third time this week she has been summoned for a “talk.” She has been nothing but the perfect cast member of Boulder, Colorado’s dinner theatre production of A Chorus Line, yet, once again, she has been pulled into her director’s office. This time, it’s a strict lecture about her lack of professionalism. It was quite ironic really, because it wasn’t Amy who has been acting (no pun intended) unprofessionally, but instead her cast member who was spreading rumors about Amy’s actions and behavior. It was wonderfully woven web, however, Amy chose to ignore this catty behavior and kept her head held high. Not understanding the reason for this kind of competition between cast members, Amy decided to have no part in it. She was just there to work hard and do her part. It was not long after this debacle that she got a call to from a dinner theatre director in Minnesota to fill in for a part; this was the start of her upward climb to stardom and success. Amy Adams is a living example of success that was paved by the theory of 10,000 hours, her ability to stand out, and her tremendous special opportunities.
The theory of 10,000 hours is an intriguing concept mentioned in the novel “Outliers: The Story of Success.” Basically, the theory of 10,000 hours states that in order to become a success in your field, you must put in 10,000 hours of work and experience towards your craft. Once you do that, you are considered an expert. It was described that 10,000 hours can be finished in five years if you put in an average workweek of 40 hours to your craft. (Gladwell 39–41)
Students attending the Los Angeles County High School of Arts (LACHSA), are putting in their 10,000 hours at an early age. In a documentary titled ‘Fame High,’ four students enrolled in LACHSA had their stories and experiences at this prestigious high school told and explored. These kids have been set on pursuing a career in the performing arts from a young age. A freshman focusing on piano performance, Zak Rios, states, “You only see the end result. You know, you don’t really see the beginnings and the middles. You just kind of see the end. And it’s so much work. To spend 24/7 to learn about music and break it down.” Although it’s daunting, students at LACHSA have the outstanding opportunity to fulfill a substantial chunk of their 10,000 hours before they even graduate high school. (“Fame High”)
Only seeing the end in mind can cause many people to give up. 10,000 hours is an enormous amount of time and may seem overwhelming to some. Amy isn’t a fan of school, but she may have enjoyed it more if she had an opportunity such as the students at LACHSA. Amy started pursuing a career in musical theater after she graduated high school. After working as a waitress at Hooters, Amy decided to take the place of a friend at a non-paying position at a dinner theatre in Colorado, solely for experience and the love of the art. “The job didn’t pay, which was why the friend was leaving — she’d gotten one that did — but it was a chance to dance, sing, and say a couple lines.” (Shnayerson 6) It was during her time at the Colorado theatre when a theatre director from a Minnesota theatre noticed her and asked her to come and fill in a role for another actor. Adams agreed and spent three years at the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre doing eight shows a week. After a period of time, a film director noticed her and asked her to be apart of a film in Minnesota titled ‘Drop Dead Gorgeous,’ in which she met co-star Kristie Allen who convinced her to move to Los Angeles, California and pursue film. In L.A., Amy started serving at a restaurant and scored an acting manager within two days — she still has the same manager to this day! But before she could snag any big breaks, Adams had to put in more of her 10,000 hours of work by taking acting classes. (Shnayerson)
To put in 10,000 hours of effort towards a craft, a person has to be extremely dedicated. Brian Lehman, a photographer journalist from Nebraska, finally achieved his goal of having a story in National Geographic. Lehman put his 10,000 hours in with a cost. In order to give his craft everything he had, he had to leave a lot of his relationships in the dust. He would be so into his photography that he would often times ditch out on plans or take days to call someone back. (Lehman) Amy had similar experiences while fulfilling her 10,000 hours. Adams admitted, she was “so focused on her work that phone messages from her friends go unreturned for days.” (Shnayerson 2) Sometimes success comes with a cost. Amy Adams completing her 10,000 hours in musical theatre was crucial to her expertise and success.
Amy Adams knew how to take the spotlight, even when she wasn’t standing directly underneath it. “Adam’s enthusiasm for the world is infectious — it’s what makes her so charismatic on-screen.” (Combre 4) This skill is not only is useful for wooing a potential director at auditions, but is also a particular skill that will allow you to talk your way out of murder. Psychologist Robert Sternberg refers to this skill as “practical intelligence,” and Amy has plenty of it. Sternberg states that practical intelligence includes things like “knowing what to say to whom, knowing when to say it, and knowing how to say it for maximum effect.” (Gladwell 101) Miss Adams was a master of practical intelligence, making her undeniably loveable.
It was not only Amy’s spunk and social skills that helped her get to where she needed to be, it was also her hard work ethic. 34-year-old Dan McLaughlin decided to test Malcolm Gladwell’s 10,000 hours theory and see if he could reach his dream of playing in the Masters Golf Tournament, regardless of the fact that he had not swung a club once in his life. Since this impulsive decision to become an expert golfer, McLaughlin has logged in 4,000 hours toward his 10,000-hour goal and has lowered his handicap to 7. In other words, he’s better than almost 85% of American male golfers. Although pursuing 10,000 hours in hopes of reaching his goal of playing in the Masters, Dan states, “as alluring as the 10,000 hour rule has become, the number of hours you put in might not be as important as what you do with them.” (Gregory 2–3) Amy’s work ethic suggests that she agrees with McLaughlin in that work should not only be measured in only quantity, but also in quality.
In 2008, Amy was a supporting actress in the film ‘Doubt.’ In order to grid herself and prepare for the film, she went back to the original script from the play ‘Doubt’ and matched it line by line against the script to see what was in and what was out. This shows a glimpse of the work ethic she has put into her craft. Amy’s co-star in the film, Meryl Streep comments on her work. “Everyone has a different approach, but she was very, very well, prepared. I have to tell you: it’s not common with younger actors.” (Shnayerson 2) Once again, Amy stands out.
Amy is aware that in order to be remembered, you have to be different. She brings this aspect to all of her auditions and she is known amongst her actor friends for doing so. One friend caught her at an audition in a costume that portrayed a “full hooker-with-a-heart-of-gold regalia” look. For her ‘Catch Me if You Can’ audition, she wore teeth-whitening trays to capture the character’s brace-faced lisp — and yes, she did win the role of Brenda Strong. As for the role of Giselle in the musical movie ‘Enchanted,’ Amy was just one of 300 women who auditioned for the role. In her audition she took the character in a different direction than any other by playing her more as a drama rather than a comedy. This made the character, Giselle, more believable and in turn made her more comedic. (Combre 2) Whether it is her charismatic personality, hard work ethic, ‘dressing up’ for auditions, or even her originally-blonde-now-red hair, Amy knows how to command the attention of a room and stand out gracefully, just by walking into it.
It does not matter how talented or skilled a person is; it all comes down to their source of opportunities. Amy had plenty of special opportunities. Not only did she receive special opportunities, but she made them for herself. Her first work in the film industry starring in a Minnesota local film ‘Drop Dead Gorgeous’ was all due to the director of the film noticing her onstage at the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre. Amy always had her heart set on going for Broadway and it was her co-star of ‘Drop Dead Gorgeous,’ Kristie Alley, that convinced her to go for film instead. But Amy doubted herself “I just never associated myself with the people I saw on screen. It’s not that I didn’t want to do it; it was just such a leap.” (Combre 5) Once Amy took that leap, she took it without hesitation. Amy convinced her brother Eddie to move to Los Angeles with her and they drove by van to the city famed as the center of the nation’s film and television industry. Amy clearly knows how to move quickly, like when she was able to land a manager in L.A. after only two days. (Combre)
Amy Adams created opportunities for herself and did not give up on a chance to pursue what she was passionate about. A time she demonstrated her passion was when she was told to forget about the role she so gracefully nailed in the film ‘Doubt.’ There was another actor attached to the part and she was told to blow it off. (Shnayerson) Amy did no such thing. Adams admits, “I didn’t audition — I hounded! I hounded producer Scott Rudin and John Patruck Shanley for months!” (Shnayerson 3) It was Amy’s persistence that helped her snag the role of Sister James in ‘Doubt’ and other future roles.
Sequins from long formal dresses flash as if a picture is being taken as the bright lights of the stage sparkle upon the nominees of Best Supporting Actress at the 2005 Oscars. It was not until Amy Adams had a breakthrough role in the Sundance Film Festival film ‘Junebug’ that she got the well-deserved recognition of talent. Miss Adams smiles and waves as the camera hits her face. Suddenly, a moment of sheer panic overcomes her. She turns to her boyfriend and fellow actor, Darren Le Gallo, sitting beside her and nervously asks, “What if I win?” In a few brief moments, the winners are announced and relief swells over her as she learns she didn’t win. Amy is not ready for the new attention and pressure and was glad she didn’t have to prepare for it.
Miss Adams has come a long way since her first performance in the dinner theatre business in Colorado. Amy reached her stardom and success by preserving the quality work of 10,000 hours and taking advantage of every ounce of opportunity. Easing into fame allowed her to maintain her class and stay humble. “…if you work hard enough and assert yourself, and use your imagination, you can shape the world to our desires.” (Gladwell 151) There really is not one answer to success. It is a combination of a person’s persona, opportunities and work ethic — and Amy Adams had just the right ingredients.
Works Cited
Fame High. Scott Hamilton Kennedy. Brittany Hayes, Ruby McCollister, Zak Astor, and Grace Song. Black Valley Films, 2012, Documentary.
Combre, Rachel. “Chasing Amy.” ELLE. Elle Magazine, Feb. 2008. Web. 29 April. 2015.
Gladwell, Malcolm. Outliers: The Story Of Success. New York City: Little, Brown and Company. 2008. Print
Gregory, Sean. “Practice, Made Perfect?.” Time 181.14 (2013): 56. Academic Search Premier. Web. 26 Feb. 2015.
Lehman, Brian. Personal Interview. 26 Feb. 2015.
Shnayerson, Michael. “Some Enchanted Amy.” Vanity Fair Hollywood, Nov. 2008. Web. 26 Feb. 2015
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Beret Leone, a communication major and theatre minor from Chaska, Minnesota, seeks to graduate with her Bachelors Degree. Leone likes drinking Diet Coke, sparkles, and singing in the shower.
WHAT I’VE LEARNED
Writing becomes interesting and truly intriguing when you name the dog in the story. Get your reader to sympathize with you characters and want to take that ‘dog’ home.
If you want to be successful in this life, you need to stand out. Take cover letters, for example: how many different letters and applicants do you think a company head has to go through? Make sure yours stands out. Start if off by dropping them in a moment in which you demonstrated skills they’re looking for.
Being a native Minnesotan, or ‘Minnesnowtan,’ if you will, I am estastic to have learned that Amy Adams worked for three years at a dinner theatre in Chanhassen, Minnesota, a town that is a short ten minutes away from my hometown, Chaska.
Any questions about writing a paper? Check out ‘The Little Seagull Handbook.’ It’s a life saver.
Sometimes it’s hard to find interesting things to write about. Write about things that matter; about defining moments. What’s the worst thing that’s ever been said to you? Or the worst thing that you’ve ever overheard? Gut wrenching, but I think you’ve just found your defining moment. Write about it.
I’ve always loved to read, but for some reason it’s always been harder for me to read when it’s a teacher or professor telling me to do so for a class. To keep engaged in the reading, mark up the pages! Write down any thoughts, questions, or aha moments you have while reading. Overall it will better prepare you for class while being engaged in the reading will make it more enjoyable.
Success isn’t just the result of hard work and persistence.
It’s OK to share your writing. No one’s going to make fun of you. They might even think your story is good! #writingcovenant
It doesn’t matter how smart or talented you are. It’s all about the opportunities you get.
Write down your fears. Look at them and take steps toward embracing them.
As silly as it sounds, I’ve found a love for journaling. In class Professor Winter would have us journal about a specific topic and it sort of inspired me. A friend gave me a pink journal earlier this year and now I use it regularly.
I’ve learned to make my writing INTERESTING! Start off a story by dropping the reader into a moment. Don’t answer the reader’s questions right away. Leave gold coins for the reader to pick up and entice them to keep reading.
I’m a people pleaser. As much as I’d like to, you can’t please everyone.
Hearing people’s stories are pretty cool. Hanging out with people and then writing about it? I’m thinking of changing my major to journalism.
Set goals, dream big, and pursue them. You’ll get no where just by thinking about your dreams — actually act on them!
1:23 a.m. and here I am sitting working on a research paper for my Contemporary Moral Issues class. I’m exhausted and still have three more pages to type before class tomorrow morning. I always do this to myself. Why am I such a procrastinator?! Flash forward to second semester and my college writing course is having me start researching my paper early and writing it bit by bit. I learned how great it is to be on top of my school work. I even turned in my paper EARLY. That has never happened to me.
