How I Lost a Job by Half a Second

I recently had an audition for a commercial celebrating generosity. No lines, just action, expression, presence. Easy, right?

Nope.

I followed the directions, hit the beats, gave a solid smile. But when callbacks went out, my name wasn’t on the list. After watching it back, I realized something: I did the job… but I didn’t live the moment. At least not long enough.

In commercials, it’s not enough to “deliver.” You have to breathe life into every beat even the silent ones. They want to see the emotion behind the smile. The generosity, the empathy. All without a word.

That’s the game. You’re not just selling a product. You’re selling a feeling. Sometimes you miss the mark by inches, not miles.

Keep smiling, though. It’s a long road.

Takeaway: Even in the quiet moments, act with intention. Emotion reads or it doesn’t.