As I write, we are in the thick of awards season, and despite endless criticisms about awards shows, the length, the trite speeches, the pathetic hosts (well, except Ricky Gervais), people love the nominations excitement, the glamour, the thrill of guessing the winners. Although there are dozens of awards in the entertainment industry, the coveted Academy Award is regarded as pretty much la crème de la crème, something actors, writers, directors, designers and composers aspire to, a career pinnacle. One would think that winning an Oscar sets off a career trajectory that is loaded with puff pastry that never deflates.

Okay, so what about the infamous Oscar Jinx? I know two people who have won Oscars, and in both cases, helped set their path, and by their own consistent efforts, kept it that way, but both of them had lulls in the wake of their Oscar wins. One bounced back better than the other, and continues to produce quality work; the other seemed to catch a permanent case of hiccups from eating the limelight too quickly.

Quick question, no cheating: who is Jean Dujardin? Right, thought so. Dujardin won an Oscar in 2012 and vanished from movie screens. Glenda Jackson won two and then went into politics. Hilary Swank, Harold Russell, Tatum O’Neill, Halle Berry and Mira Sorvino saw big gaps in their career paths after their Oscar wins.

The only real prize for an Oscar win, given there is, contrary to most opinion, no cash prize involved, and you don’t actually own your statuette; it belongs to The Academy. The reward is supposedly prestige and recognition, ameliorated status, and with that possibly more opportunities, but that does not a lucrative career make in and of itself.

You have to be good. Adaptable, able to withstand the test of time, especially, in the case of actors, as you age. Always learning, always improving your skills set. Spatulas wear out; you have to buy new one sometimes.

Having said that, the advantage of winning an Oscar if you are a male actor is that your fee goes up, statistically speaking, an average of 81%; for women, merely $500,000. Now, that’s not a sherry trifle, but it can also tank if your next film (it’s always the second one, isn’t it?) bombs. Ask Cuba Gooding Jr. and Daniel Day-Lewis (hard to believe, but…).

So, does success suck in the entertainment world? It can and sometimes it does. Again, define success and what it means to you. I have a hugely successful stage play that won an award in 2009 and continues to be staged around the world, and has been translated into 4 languages. It’s had an eight-year professional run in one European city, sold out every show. Will I die if it doesn’t win go to Broadway and a Tony? I won a Tony decades ago, worst date ever. Sent him packing. But you get my drift. If I am writing only with the objective of some specific goal that will honour me for two minutes one night on an awards show, I’m not a writer, I’m an awards junkie. I’m not a successful writer, I’m a real one. Both of my Oscar-winning friends are the best at what they do, and they keep doing it, every single day.

So do your thing daily, and if great recognition comes your way, take a bow, relish the moment and keep working, writing, acting, directing, singing, dancing, cooking, teaching, experimenting, doctoring your ass off. 

Here’s a great line to always remember (write it down!): People romanticize their plans, but dread the execution. The magic you’re looking for is in the work you’re avoiding. That’s a win.