That was the name of a sorrowfully short-lived reality show that followed the lives and careers of actors trying to get their first break.

For probably obvious reasons, I watched this show voraciously.

Now, with a new submission coming up, I keep thinking. What sets people who make it apart from those who don’t?

I look to the Made It Moments forum for insight, and I hope it gives you some pleasure as well.

You hear the statistic/canard: Success is 10% talent and 90% persistence. A little Googling didn’t cough up whoever said every overnight sensation is ten years in the making, but just think about what those ten years of *not* being sensational were like.

They were like slogging through wet mud.

Mud is always wet.

Slogging through cement.

Knocking on doors and trying not to take the resulting slams personally.

Trying far-fetched plan B and C and D, and finally getting all the way to Z…and then starting over again with A.

They were filled with tears and doubts and rebel yells.

Who would put up with all that, and decide to keep going?

I don’t know. Maybe that’s the It factor?