Coming from a third generation show business family you would think it easy to seek advice on any aspect of the biz and get a sound answer. My grandfather Tony Forlano was a successful semi famous singer entertainer in the fashion of Ricky Ricardo. My mother Margie Farrell was a singer that wanted to be a jazz singer like icon Nancy Wilson, and my father Frank Steven’s ran the family booking agency and performed with grand dad and mom on the weekends at weddings, Bar Mitzvahs and anniversaries.

I always thought of myself as more than a wedding singer and would be in the studio writing and recording songs to showcase for record labels by 18 and was working on my comedic timing and impressions while working in the family business. I would try to get advice from dad and granddad on how to proceed to the top. I asked every record producer, local comedian, rock artists, club owner, record company executive and anyone I could get a dialog with in the business about how to proceed.

Sure you can ask a Marty Allen or a Jerry Lewis about what road to take but each person’s journey is different with important lessons to learn at every turn. I think that every decision that you make with respect to achieving your goal is and important part of that which will season, educate and will build who you become.

My father and grandfather would have me still fronting a wedding band on long island had I taken the advice that they offered. I always remember what my mother told me when it comes to your dreams. She told me that anything is obtainable if you are willing to work hard, stick with it and wait your turn.

Indeed, nearly everything that I have ever dreamed about has come true in some form or another. This only happened because I listen only to my gut feeling, practiced what mom preached and had the nerve to try and maybe potentially fail. I used to ask advice from musicians, actors and other entertainment professionals along the way in moments of weakness or confusion. The advice I got only lead to dead ends until I went back to the gut feeling, that always seemed to rite my path and better my opportunities for success.

Comedian and actor Eddie Murphy tells a great story about the great Rodney Dangerfield coming to a club that he was showcasing at in NYC when he was 16 or so. He ran up to Dangerfield and said “hey Mr. Dangerfield, my set is coming up, don’t leave until you see my act.

After the show Murphy, confident that he scored a touchdown with the audience, asked Rodney what he thought. Much to his surprise Dangerfield said “hey kid, you use a lot of bad language out there. You should clean it up”.

Not being one to take a critique seriously, Murphy stayed on coarse with what he thought was his own style and didn’t deviate a bit. 6 years later at Caesars Palace Eddie was headlining and happened to be using the men’s room. Next to him walks up Rodney. Eddie peered and recognized Rodney who never looked up but just said “hey, who knew”!

This is a perfect example that proves that each and every person has his or her own journey and that there is no clear path blazed by another. You must trust in fate, hard work, vision and a clear picture of what and where you want to be. The rest will fall into place as you progress.

Trust in fate and listen to your heart. It will always guide you towards everything that you have ever dreamed.

Ask no advice as no one has ever been down your path or taken your journey.