8 Career Lessons from Martin Petit
16 February 2015
Read by 2638 persons
From improvisation to radio and television, Martin Petit has over 20 years of experience in his field. We found eight tips in his toolbox that helped him find success in his career.
1. Never assume you are good at something
Martin Petit's first job was at a gas station. He assumed the work would be easy. Checking the oil, putting in gas—he had never done it before. He made every mistake imaginable on his first day. His first instinct was to hide his ignorance and not ask for help, out of pride. "Today, that is definitely the flaw that bothers me the most in people." After his disastrous first day, his father wanted him to go back and offer to work for a week for free.
2. Learn from your mistakes
Around the age of 17, Martin wanted to try clowning at a daycare for 15 five-year-olds. He learned the hard way that you can't improvise as a clown. "I hadn't prepared at all!" In the first minute of his performance, he dropped his juggling balls and completely lost the children's interest. He hadn't prepared anything else and had to spend the next half hour drawing with them.
3. Find where you belong
Martin started doing improvisation in college, despite his shyness. The group setting helped him overcome his shyness. Because everything happens very quickly, he had no choice but to concentrate. In improvisation, you "freeze or thaw." He discovered an ease on stage and an ability to manage the stress it caused him. And above all, he discovered people like him, who were similar to him, which he had not managed to find until then in his years of study. This remains for him the most difficult thing to do and proves to be an excellent school. "It's like doing a master's degree at university in acting, writing, and directing at the same time."
4. Be ready to learn when changing fields
When Martin started doing comedy, he quickly realized it was a new field and he couldn't rely on the same skills as in improvisation. But there was another hurdle to overcome: "just because I was good at improv didn't mean I could be a good comedian." Each time he moved from one artistic field to another, the learning process was arduous. Over time, however, he learned to expect it and worked harder.
5. Accept the trial-and-error process
In comedy, it's impossible not to make mistakes. It's part of the process, and you have to quickly accept that the first shows aren't a finished product. Martin believes that the trial-and-error process is part of the very essence of the show. "When you've been in the business longer, however, people expect you to make fewer mistakes." At the beginning, he could write 45 minutes of material and throw away 30; now, he only destroys 7. Yes, 7.
6. Distance yourself from people who undermine your confidence...
During a professional life, some people have doubts and, intentionally or not, communicate them. "You don't give the controls to a pilot who can't drive." The confidence Martin needs to get through the projects he leads and go on stage doesn't allow him to surround himself with such people. When it happened, he made the right choice not to keep them around for long.
7. ...and surround yourself with the right people
Martin likes to work with sharp, quick-witted people. Something that isn't given to everyone and is difficult to assess is also the ability to make the right calls, to have good judgment. "I notice that the vast majority of people around me have this, and that's why I keep them."
8. Life experiences help you find your way faster
Martin believes he took a long time to find his path. He encourages and makes his children very aware, despite their young age, to experience all kinds of things. According to him, the sooner you realize what you love, what values you, and what represents a challenge for you, the less lost you will be in your twenties. "Without being a Xavier Dolan at 23, and even if it's never too late, it's a bit sad to only reveal yourself professionally at 40 when you know life is short."
Catherine Martellini.
Workopolis.com
Published December 17, 2014.
Posted online February 16, 2015.
1. Never assume you are good at something
Martin Petit's first job was at a gas station. He assumed the work would be easy. Checking the oil, putting in gas—he had never done it before. He made every mistake imaginable on his first day. His first instinct was to hide his ignorance and not ask for help, out of pride. "Today, that is definitely the flaw that bothers me the most in people." After his disastrous first day, his father wanted him to go back and offer to work for a week for free.
2. Learn from your mistakes
Around the age of 17, Martin wanted to try clowning at a daycare for 15 five-year-olds. He learned the hard way that you can't improvise as a clown. "I hadn't prepared at all!" In the first minute of his performance, he dropped his juggling balls and completely lost the children's interest. He hadn't prepared anything else and had to spend the next half hour drawing with them.
3. Find where you belong
Martin started doing improvisation in college, despite his shyness. The group setting helped him overcome his shyness. Because everything happens very quickly, he had no choice but to concentrate. In improvisation, you "freeze or thaw." He discovered an ease on stage and an ability to manage the stress it caused him. And above all, he discovered people like him, who were similar to him, which he had not managed to find until then in his years of study. This remains for him the most difficult thing to do and proves to be an excellent school. "It's like doing a master's degree at university in acting, writing, and directing at the same time."
4. Be ready to learn when changing fields
When Martin started doing comedy, he quickly realized it was a new field and he couldn't rely on the same skills as in improvisation. But there was another hurdle to overcome: "just because I was good at improv didn't mean I could be a good comedian." Each time he moved from one artistic field to another, the learning process was arduous. Over time, however, he learned to expect it and worked harder.
5. Accept the trial-and-error process
In comedy, it's impossible not to make mistakes. It's part of the process, and you have to quickly accept that the first shows aren't a finished product. Martin believes that the trial-and-error process is part of the very essence of the show. "When you've been in the business longer, however, people expect you to make fewer mistakes." At the beginning, he could write 45 minutes of material and throw away 30; now, he only destroys 7. Yes, 7.
6. Distance yourself from people who undermine your confidence...
During a professional life, some people have doubts and, intentionally or not, communicate them. "You don't give the controls to a pilot who can't drive." The confidence Martin needs to get through the projects he leads and go on stage doesn't allow him to surround himself with such people. When it happened, he made the right choice not to keep them around for long.
7. ...and surround yourself with the right people
Martin likes to work with sharp, quick-witted people. Something that isn't given to everyone and is difficult to assess is also the ability to make the right calls, to have good judgment. "I notice that the vast majority of people around me have this, and that's why I keep them."
8. Life experiences help you find your way faster
Martin believes he took a long time to find his path. He encourages and makes his children very aware, despite their young age, to experience all kinds of things. According to him, the sooner you realize what you love, what values you, and what represents a challenge for you, the less lost you will be in your twenties. "Without being a Xavier Dolan at 23, and even if it's never too late, it's a bit sad to only reveal yourself professionally at 40 when you know life is short."
Catherine Martellini.
Workopolis.com
Published December 17, 2014.
Posted online February 16, 2015.
