How Trying to Do It Right Will Always Make You Mediocre

You get an audition or a role, and you want to respect the material, honor the author’s work, and show the casting director you’ve done your homework. You analyze the sides, figure out what they want, and attempt to deliver exactly that, thinking, “If I nail this the right way, I’ll book the job.”

And that makes sense. You want to work, to be recognized, to pay your bills. But here’s the problem: when you watch my training below you will discover that when you try to do it right, as if there’s only one way, it’s not going to be fulfilling. Why? Because you’re not present. You’re operating outside of yourself, forcing something that isn’t real. That feels constricting. It’s why you’re not booking the roles you want.

You might think, “Maybe I need more training, more classes, more books, more famous teachers.” You search for the “right way,” convinced it must exist. But the more you chase it, the further you move from your truth, your instinct, your uniqueness.

Here’s what’s actually happening: when you try to do it right, the only thing that can happen is mediocrity. Because doing it “right” means shaping yourself into what you think they want instead of bringing yourself to the role. Art isn’t about following rules; it’s about you—your DNA, your instincts, your aliveness. There’s never been another you. Never will be. That’s what casting wants. That’s what makes art electric.

But you’ve been conditioned to please, to behave, to seek approval. So you suppress your truth, ignore your instinct, and perform a plastic, fake version of what you think is expected. But plastic will never be as valuable as a jewel. And you are a jewel.

When you act from your truth, when you show up fully alive, you bring something no one else ever could. That is genius. That is art. That is what books the job. Anything else? Mediocre.

So stop trying to do it right. Bring yourself. Bring the jewel. That’s where the magic is.

Watch my training below to hear all my thoughts on this topic.

After you watch the training, I'd love for you to join in the conversation happening in our private Facebook Group THE INSTINCTIVE ACTORS' SOCIETY. You can get answers for your specific situation directly from me and connect with THOUSANDS of like-minded actors across the globe, so we can move things forward faster together.

If you're not already a member, be sure to request to join ASAP here.

See you there!

Jo Kelly

Creator, The Reset Journey From Resistance to Freedom

🌟 The Ideal World We Choose to Build

Everything has changed. Post-cancer, I no longer believe in pushing, hustling, or even “business-ing.” Instead, I choose deep trust, nature’s flow, and radical, heart-based community.

That’s why we’re creating The 5-Day Reset Taster—not an acting class, not more learning, but a TASTE of the full reset. A return to truth and instinct.

🔥 Moving through fear—not eliminating it, but stopping it from controlling you.

🔥 Stripping away conditioning that keeps you small.

🔥 Awakening the original part of you that knows how to be fully alive—on and off stage.

A Radical Shift: Pay-What-You-Can

This isn’t about who can afford it. It’s about shared responsibility. Like nature, we trust the ecosystem:

🌱 Some give more, helping others step in.

🌱 Some give what they can, knowing they are supported.

🌱 Together, we ensure this work reaches those who need it.

This is about honoring your truth while taking care of the whole. If this resonates, join us inside the 5-Day Reset Taster.

👉 [Click here to be a part of it.]

I can’t wait to welcome you into this transformative experience. 🔥