Doing the work

Just a week ago, I opened a package that delivered one of the biggest surprises of my 2012. It came in a long brown envelope and looked nothing out of the ordinary but as soon as I slid out the piece of paper, my eyes widened and I had to make sure I was reading the words correctly. In large font, the piece of paper had the words, Nomination for Outstanding Breakthrough Artist. I was nominated for an acting award! I was in complete shock! It has only been 10 months into my acting career and there is still a long way to go so the thought of receiving nominations and awards never really crossed my mind. Regardless, this is real and I am infinitely grateful to the Entertainment Press Society (EnPress) and Golden Screen Awards for the nomination.

A few minutes after opening that envelope, I took time to just sit down and absorb everything. In the half hour of just reflecting on that moment, I had come to realize several important things.

My first thought was to put this recognition in perspective. I wanted to figure out what it should mean to me. It is a great honor to be recognized for the work I’ve done but I do not want it to go to my head. I have heard of many stories wherein people fall from grace after they have accomplished something. Others just cruise along because they lose that urgency to do better when they are praised for their actions. To put it bluntly, I do not want to be that kind of person. Instead of allowing this recognition to make me feel content with myself and what I have done, I want it to push me!

I decided that it should be a reminder that I still have a long way to go. There is still a lot to learn and achieve in my line of work so I can use this moment to motivate myself to strive for more. If anything, this nomination puts more pressure on me because I will have to live up to those expectations. I have to consistently work as hard as I can to prove to others and myself that I deserve what comes my way.

With Temptation Island co-stars Tom Rodriguez (right) and Aljur Abrenica. Above: With the rest of the cast.

At one point, I realized that the biggest competition I have is myself. Feeling content and losing that hunger and passion to become better is what I am up against. The moment I start being complacent with my work is the moment I begin to fall.

As knee-jerk reaction to my thoughts, I quickly reached for my cellphone and asked my manager to setup acting workshops and map out a plan so we can continue improving. I wasn’t going to sit around all day and be content. In essence, this award isn’t about making me feel good. I’m looking at this piece of paper and telling myself that it is challenging me! It is staring me down and asking me if I can keep it up or can I do any better.

To emphasize my point, a good analogy for this would be in the world of sports. How many times has it happened that a person who has so much potential just falters after getting a taste of victory and success. We see it so many times. Allen Iverson from the NBA is a prime example of this. He had many individual accolades yet his career is considered a failure by many because he became satisfied with just that. By skipping practice and proclaiming he was the best, he simply did not have the work ethic or attitude to become a real champion. On the flipside, those who make their mark, are actually those who sacrifice the most. Case in point is Kobe Bryant. With all his individual achievements and multiple team championships, he still has no intentions of relaxing. He is driven to do more! He always looks to put in the extra work and practice because he knows that it is the only way he can get what he wants.

In the end, it is a choice. You can choose to cruise through your life, not knowing how far you could have gone or you can seize every moment and strive to be the best version of yourself every single time. If you choose to be the latter, I truly believe that you will always come out a winner.

On top of all those thoughts, there is still one more that I think is very important — to enjoy! Yes, the nomination may be a call to work harder but it also doesn’t mean that you have to put your head down and kill yourself with work right away. It is always good to celebrate. I think it is a part of the process that should not be overlooked. But, after all the fun and games are done, it’s time to get my game face on and work.

(For comments and suggestions e-mail me at [email protected] or follow me on Twitter @mikaeldaez.)

The certificate of recognition from EnPress and Golden Screen Awards