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My guest today is Carole Kirschner who, after spending fifteen years as a television development executive, a former Vice President of Television for Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment and a Comedy Development executive at CBS, decided to switch to the other side of the desk to help creative professionals build a thriving career in the entertainment industry. If there is anyone who has been on the studio executive side who 'gets us,' Carole is the one.

In today's conversation, Carole shares the unadulterated reality of what it takes to have a successful creative career. We dive deep into the qualities you need to have as well as the right way to tell your story in order for you to stand out. Carole shares her strategies for networking to help you draw attention and leave a lasting impression, whether you're doing it in a mixer, cold outreach or through social media.

My conversation with Carole is filled with strategies and mindsets from an executive’s perspective to set you on the path to creative success.

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Here's What You'll Learn:

Why Carole transitioned from a successful career in the entertainment industry to becoming a coach
Why you need to have 'Entrepreneurial' in your list of qualifications
How to structure your story so people will give you their time
What makes a story bad and how do you make it better
How to make your story about the other person and not you
Why people hate networking and how to take the pressure off of you
How to make yourself memorable to people
The right way to provide genuine value
Building relationships via social media
How to make sure you're not killing yourself while going the extra mile at work

Useful Resources Mentioned:

Ep213: How to Break Into Any Industry (Without Having Experience) | with Niceole Levy

Ep205: Using the Hero’s Journey to Write Better Stories (and Live a Better Life) | with Chris Vogler

Ep212: The Science of Storytelling, Why We Need Stories, and How to Rewrite Our Own | with Will Storr

Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell

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Ep164: How to ‘Get In the Room’ and Work with Producers Who Will Value & Respect You | with Matt Nix

Carole Kirschner

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Ep11: Making It In Hollywood as a “Creative” (What They Don’t Teach You In Film School) | with Norman Hollyn

Ep85: Mentorship, Networking, and Surviving Hollywood Blockbusters | with Dody Dorn, ACE

Ep115: How to Be So Thorough You Can’t Be Denied | with James Wilcox, ACE

Ep172: [CASE STUDY] Landing Your Dream Job Isn’t About “Luck,” It’s About Strategy | with Fabian Corrado & Nick Towle

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Ep99: How to Provide Value & Get Paid What You’re Worth | Mastermind Q&A with Monica Daniel

Ep78: How to Build Meaningful Relationships in the ‘Real World’ | with Camille Virginia

Ep41: How to Master “Offline” Networking at Live Events | with Camille Virginia

Ep12: The Right Way to Network In Hollywood | with Chris Visser

Ep129: How to Cultivate a “Service-Centric” Mindset (and Why It Will Make You More Successful) | with Agustin Rexach

Guest Bio:

carole-kirschner-bio Carole Kirschner

Carole Kirschner spent fifteen years as a television development executive. A former Vice President of Television for Steven Spielberg's first Amblin Entertainment and a Comedy Development exec at CBS, she’s had the privilege of working with some of the most respected writers in the industry.

Switching to the other side of the desk she became a consultant and created and runs the CBS/Paramount Writers Mentoring Program. And has been the director of the WGA Showrunner Training Program since its inception.

Carole, through her career coaching practice, Carole Kirschner Entertainment Career Strategies works primarily with screenwriters who are stuck or need help navigating the political landscape. She is also an international speaker and her book, Hollywood Game Plan: How to Land a Job in Film, TV and Digital Entertainment is taught in colleges across the country.

Show Credits:

This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared by Debby Germino and published by Glen McNiel.

The original music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Joe Trapanese (who is quite possibly one of the most talented composers on the face of the planet).

Ep248: Make Yourself Memorable: How to Leave an Impression, Build Your Network, & Get Hired | with Carole Kirschner

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