There have been a few situations in my life where my back was up against the wall. Those were scary times, exhausting on both a physical and emotional level. But I got through them in one piece. You know how? By reaching out for help.
A few weeks ago, a client we’ll call Chuck came in to see me. He’s a character actor in his 50s, known for playing tough-guy roles. The public doesn’t know his name, but most people recognize his face.
It had been a rough year for Chuck, because it was the first time in ages he hadn’t booked a single job. And it’s not like he was doing anything differently. Acting careers can be cyclical, and, sadly, the wheel had turned in the wrong direction.
Chuck explained that he still had residuals coming in, but they weren’t enough to qualify him for union health insurance. So if he didn’t book another $2,000-job in the next 30 days, he would lose his coverage. This was major bad news because he was on several medications and he couldn’t afford to cover the payments without insurance.
Despite his age, Chuck is the kind of guy you’d want on your side in a bar fight. He looks like hell warmed over, and his stare alone would get most men to back down.
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