Back in the days when I was an indie film actress, directors and drama coaches would often say to me:

“Make a choice.”

It’s good advice for actors — and anyone who’s doing creative work, including building a brand, blogging or running a business.

What it means is … if you’ve been cast in the role of, say, a female police officer, you have to make a choice.

Lots of choices, actually.

You have to choose …

: If she’s going to be a 100% badass, never showing a moment a weakness … or if she’ll reveal her vulnerability, at the edges?

: If she’s going to deliver her lines with a touch of sarcasm (the comic relief!) … or be steely and cold (pure drama, all the way)?

: If she’s going to be straight, gay, bisexual or asexual?

: If she’s going to walk with a limp (an old injury from her days in Afghanistan) … or have a nervous eye twitch?

: If she hates her career and secretly would love to find the right partner, pop out a bunch of kids and start a jam business at home instead?

All of these choices — big and small — are what create a clear, well-defined character.

You can’t choose EVERYTHING, or you’ll wind up with one seriously crazy, confusing, whackjob of a character!

In every scene, with every word, and with every subtle movement in between lines of dialogue, you have to make a choice — and commit to that choice.

That’s the mark of a great actor.

And … it’s exactly the same, when it comes to your business.

You can’t be a warm mama bear AND a stoic warrior.

You can’t spend 90% of your day on Twitter AND talk about how social media is ruining our society.

You can’t release an e-book on parenting AND drop a hit R&B album AND do a one-woman show about the hilarious lives of history’s greatest chefs AND write a weekly column about used automobile restoration.

Your audience will be confused. Your business will be impossible to track.

You can be multi-passionate, sure. I’m all about swirling your greatest passions together.

But when it comes to the image + offerings that you’re presenting to the world … you have to make a choice.

So, look at your current list of “great ideas” and “things to try” and “things to do” … and ask yourself:

What am I going to choose?