We had the good fortune of connecting with Bill Cakmis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bill, how do you think about risk?
Every success I have had in my professional and personal life was thru risk. There is very little growth, learning or major success without taking risks or motivating people to take risks.

I think most people don’t risk because they associate it with the possibility of failure. And they associate failure with total defeat.

The mindset needed to risk is that failure is nothing more than a learning experience. The success in taking a risk is learning that either 1) you need to try harder, 2) you need to take a different approach or 3) this activity isn’t in your wheelhouse, so chalk it up to experience and then move on to something else.

In any case, risks are life affirming and motivating, as long as the mindset is correct.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
If it’s on camera, on stage, or at a podium, I create it, develop it, enhance it, or fix it. I coach singers, performers, actors, anchors, executives, talk show hosts, politicians, sales staffs, public speakers, doctors, lawyers, CEOs, athletes, Grammy, Oscar, Tony, and Emmy winners. I have partnered with major film studios, production companies, and over 90 TV stations and National Cable News networks (CNN, FOX, The Weather Channel, etc.) to create productions that are unique, creative, and powerful. The cornerstones of my teaching have always been to enhance the people I work with as individuals, to nurture their unique personalities and to cultivate intelligence and risk taking within their craft. My goals are to promote personal style, a stamp that sets one apart and the ability to be self-sufficient as a professional and as a person.
Lessons I’ve learned that I pass on to my clients:
1) The hero’s path is paved with hazards, wrong turns, and sacrifice. The only guarantee is the satisfaction of having lived a life worth living.
2) The devil isn’t in the details unless you put him there. The actual saying is, “God is in the details.” And that is the truth of it.
3) You don’t have to be content to be happy. Don’t rob yourself of present time joy because you don’t have everything you’ve ever wanted. You will NEVER have everything you’ve ever wanted. As beings, we need games to win. That’s how we were designed.
4) Visualize! Goals are like targets. To HIT them, you must SEE them.
5) If it isn’t hard, it isn’t worth your time. Everything I have succeeded at in my life I decided to conquer because people told me I wouldn’t be able to do so. That’s why I have acted on stage, TV, and film, directed 18 equity shows, written four books and an award-winning play, and coached professionals in every high-profile profession.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I periodically visit LA for work. I lived in LA from 1979 – 1994. I now live in Nashville. All I can say is that the Los Angeles / Hollywood of today is a COMPLETELY different city and experience than it was when I lived there.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My mentor, Florence Sikes, was a wonderfully brilliant woman who motivated me to be the best version of myself. She was a great teacher who had the priceless ability to pass on lasting knowledge and encourage creative development. Ultimately, it is not the politicians and lawyers who will save this planet, as much as they’d like you to believe the contrary. I would go so far as to say that the true fate of mankind lies in the sensibilities and skills of its teachers; be they school. 

Website: www.cakmis.com

Instagram: Cakmis

Linkedin: billcakmis

Twitter: cakmiscoaching

Facebook: cakmis

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.