In Pursuit of Becoming a Television Anchor

As the cell phone rings, Anya quickly answers it without skipping a heartbeat. She immediately takes a pen and starts jotting down an address where she must meet this guy. No, it is not a date that gets her so pepped up, it is the casting call that she has been waiting for since she stepped foot in the city. The caller is a coordinator who has shortlisted Anya’s portfolio for an anchoring assignment.

As she enters her first audition, Anya is surprised to see the number of people who have also turned up for the part. She quickly writes her name on the cue sheet, finds a chair and starts observing people amidst the disorganization. Most of them are well groomed and seem confident, while some lack the x-factor. The wait is long and getting up to face the casting director could take a while. Nonetheless, everyone gets a shot in front of the camera. Who will be the individual to get the job? No one knows…

Often, caked-up hopeful faces in long audition lines question the illusion of glitz and glamour in media. What once seemed like an attractive fantasy now appears all too complicated. In the quest to outdo others who happen to be in the same boat, one begins to wonder how the elaborate dream of being on television can be realized. Often fantasy and reality are poles apart and the paradox can be appalling.

Usually before stepping into the world of television anchoring, one does not know what to expect. Several erroneous perceptions and myths dominate the mind. Some think that having a degree in journalism will secure them a job, while others assume an attractive physical appearance would do the trick. The assumptions vary.

The reel-dreams that precede real-time success demand a lot more than simply good looks. Effective communication skills, a good command on language, consistent high quality work, commitment, diligence, destiny and unwavering faith are some ingredients that create possibilities. Contrary to popular belief that being an anchor is easy, it is often seen that performers go through a myriad of phases… from having butterflies in the stomach, difficulty memorizing scripts and unruly nerves to being camera friendly, smooth and sometimes even over-confident.

Being a good anchor has several elements. Though it is mainly about artistic yet effortless performance in front of the camera, visual appeal, effective communication, subject knowledge, program content, clarity of speech, wit and a pleasant personality significantly matter. Hence, weaving all these elements together is imperative in striking a chord with the viewer.

Many a times, television channels and their presenters operate on the imitation module. Whenever someone does a new thing, others follow suit. In this case, imitation is not the best form of flattery; instead it reflects lack of creativity. The joy then lies in discovering one’s own style as a presenter rather than cloning someone else’s. Flaws and rectifications, trials and errors, are all part and parcel of the job. For a television presenter, versatility is a virtue. Being able to host diverse shows of dissimilar genres takes skill.

Success is a process. Although getting significant work as a television anchor may take time and effort, it all seems worthwhile when wishes come true even in small doses. Passion for the job, the right attitude, positive work ethic, strong screen presence, professionalism and a desire to evolve can create on-screen magic.

Once the foray in the world of television begins, a bitter-sweet experience unfolds. Becoming a television anchor is not easy. Apart from other things, it requires patience, hard work and a positive mind set. With the correct blend of ingredients, immense possibilities can be tapped.

After all, it is an extra-ordinary ability to turn dreams into reality. The transition from aspiring to becoming feels so good that eventually memories of waiting in those long audition lines fade away.

The Joy of Endings...

If you want to fill the cup with fresh water, you need to empty it first, advised a friend.  While I intently listened and was even inspired by this zen philosophy for a fraction of seconds, the thought of endings wasn't very comforting.   

I had been hosting a fantastic television show and it was about to end. Though everyone working on the show was mentally prepared for it, there was a slight hesitation to step out of what had become the "comfort zone." This not only meant looking for new work, it also meant not going to the same place everyday (which sounds quite refreshing in theory), and it also meant making new decisions.

I knew I had to do other things and the show was ending exactly when it was supposed to.  So after making a gracious exit I realized that letting go was not as easy as I had imagined.  All of a sudden, there was so much free time to do whatever I wished, yet the disenchantment of something missing played on my mind.  It felt as if something had been left behind... 

Since playing the blues out loud is not my thing, I made a deliberate attempt to move on.  I was aware that all beginnings eventually have an end yet the transition wasn't all that fun.  Afterall, this is what happens between endings and new beginnings. No matter how much knowledge we have, some processes take their own course. 

Change is inevitable and probably the only consistent thing in our lives.  Once we accept this, the transition becomes easier.  Instead of having remorse over why something good ended, we could rejoice that we were blessed to experience all that good in the first place.  

An end is what precedes a brand new beginning. Perhaps the transition is mildly uncomfortable, however its just a matter of time. Ending things gracefully  is key to allowing new beginnings to unfold.      

RESET

Have you ever woken up feeling grumpy, tired or irritated? You drag yourself out of bed and stomp your toe... you curse your stars... spill the coffee and then you're running late for work... Whew, what a morning! By now, you are mad at destiny, the dog, the world and whoever comes in your view. One bad thing leads to another and you hear yourself saying, "I should have stayed in bed!"

We have all tried the 'stay in bed' technique but it hardly works. So how do we turn the grumpiness into gratitude? There is an easy way of shifting our energies. We can deliberately Reset. In an instant, we can reset our mood, perception and the vibrations we send out to the world. The process of re-setting energies is possible by changing two things: Our thoughts and the words we use. Canadian author, Michael Losier says that words create thoughts and thoughts create vibrations... either negative or positive. Its important to know that we can only send out one vibration at a time - positive or negative. If we want positive results, we need to have positive vibrations. So by changing the words we use, we change our thoughts and eventually we change the vibrations.

Let's test this theory. Since words are powerful tools that instigate thought, we need to be aware of the words we use day to day. We can now deliberately use words which will align our thoughts in a positive direction. If we try this simple technique for a few days we might be pleasantly surprised! Whenever something good happens and we talk about it, focus on it, celebrate it, we align our energies towards happier events. The same rule applies for negative things. So the trick is to not observe the negative for too long. If a negative thought visits the mind, quickly reset it with a positive thought. Let not one little unpleasant thing change the course of the entire day. Quickly switch the channel from negative to positive and move on. Diverting your mind by thinking of a wonderful event or person, listening to your favourite music or being thankful for whatever you have can make a big difference to your mood. So make the shift, reset and add some happiness to your day to make it more delicious!!

(DISCLAIMER: Some people love Grumpy for no other reason than the fact that over the years it has become their best friend. This write up is not for Grump Lovers who just refuse to let Grumpy go... its for those who wish to try and genuinely transform their energies).