What is my favorite fun fact? “I’ve been an actor for eight years.” Most people are surprised, especially when I tell them I currently work in the technology industry.
Growing up with immigrant parents, I was never interested in acting. However, I have always been drawn to performance and dance has been my happy place. After graduating from college, I realized that I couldn’t spend the rest of my life wondering, “What if?” If you’re going to take a shot, you need to do it now.
I started modeling, which led to my first real job, a Cadillac commercial. Things snowballed from there. I ended up working on campaigns for Samsung, Sony, and McDonald’s, as well as speaking under my stage name on Grey’s Anatomy, This Is Us, and Shameless.
My highest paycheck was about $63,000 for a two-day McDonald’s commercial shoot, which was paid over many months. But it took years of hard work to get there.
I sat in LA traffic for three hours just to wait with other hopefuls for my two-minute audition. I took acting classes around town. While working at a Korean medical university during the day, he would show up at a dance studio in Gangnam at night to audition for the agency that created BLACKPINK, BIGBANG, Twice, and other K-pop groups.
At the time, I thought I was just learning how to sing, dance, and perform. What I didn’t realize was that I was actually building the same resilience that I would later need in tech and as an entrepreneur. Here’s how I did it:
Track your auditions and build momentum
When I started putting myself out there, I realized I needed some way to make sense of it all. So I did what any Type A person would do. I created a spreadsheet.
We tracked everything from auditions, roles, casting directors, callbacks, and even outfits. I needed some form of control in a process that felt completely random. And slowly, a pattern began to emerge. I now know which offices I will be returning to and what times of the year will be busy. This made me realize that acting is a skill that can be improved and a business that can be learned.
Gradually it gained momentum. I got a better agent and bigger auditions. I’ll never forget the day I was on the set of “Grey’s Anatomy” and was told I had booked “This Is Us.” It was surreal. The cast and staff all applauded.
But that all-time high only came after years of behind-the-scenes hard work and sacrifice.
Earn about $63,000 for a two-day shoot
According to a spreadsheet that tracked checks handed out in 2021 and 2022, I made about $63,000 for a McDonald’s commercial I shot in December 2020. Of course, my agent took a cut of it.
The shooting itself was very easy. The concept was to show that someone’s relationship with McDonald’s evolves and grows from their teenage years to adulthood. Instead of casting different actors for each age, they had me play the entire journey.
Such jobs are rare. It was a big brand, a big campaign, and it ran for a long time. I was lucky, and I didn’t take it for granted. I put most of the money I earned from that job into savings and used some of it to get my business off the ground.
Different stages, same field
Acting has taught me how to do my best even when no one is applauding. Commercial sets move fast. You show up, give direction, and make others’ visions come true. I adapted quickly and got better at receiving feedback.
Over time, I wanted more ownership and flexibility, so I moved into a career that offered both. Currently, I lead go-to-market for startups and run a business focused on financial well-being. I can still use my creativity to solve problems, build from scratch, and tell stories in new ways.
Just like acting, there’s a lot of trial and error. But the tenacity I developed from going to 847 auditions and getting rejected 98% of the time is what keeps me going. Whether you’re auditioning for a role or pitching a product to potential customers, the key is to keep showing up.
The truth behind “overnight success”
People are always shocked that I made so much money from one commercial. But they don’t look at the previous eight years of auditions, classes, and rejections.
There’s a saying in the acting world: “It takes 10 years to become an overnight success.” I realized that the same thing applies in business and in life.
My career changes, from health sciences to acting to the technology industry, have all taught me that I’m comfortable taking risks.
When I started my own company, I had no idea what it was going to be. There are still days when I can’t do it. Guide the ghost. fewer clients. But I continue to take shots because I believe in what I’m doing.
Janet Lee is Head of GTM at daydream, an AI startup that helps companies grow by building and managing end-to-end organic growth engines. She also founded Doing Well, a personal finance company that offers monthly coaching and bookkeeping. She regularly shares her personal finance and career insights on social @startdoingwell. Find her on LinkedIn.
Want to stand out, expand your network, and land more job opportunities? Sign up for CNBC Make It’s new online course, “How to Build a Standout Personal Brand: Online, In-Person, and at Work.” Learn from three expert instructors how to showcase your skills, build a great reputation, and create a digital presence that no AI can match.
