[Flash] Put Yourself in the Path of Your Future (Advice from Jamie Lee Curtis)

Jamie Lee Curtis shared this advice on the Sunday Sitdown podcast last month.

Acting for 48 years, Jamie’s career continues to thrive. When the host asked about her secret, she responded emphatically, “I put myself in the path.”

Definitive wisdom for our new year, but what does “put yourself in the path” practically mean?

Readiness + proximity with a sprinkle of hustle.  

Instead of waiting to be discovered or chasing every shiny object, “put yourself in the path” is deliberately stepping into rooms, conversations, collaborations, and creative ecosystems where interesting work is happening.

Jamie’s favorite “get in the path” strategy: she never leaves the movie set during production. Instead of hiding between her big moments in a script, Jamie engages with the director, always ready to contribute.

The result? She lands more on-screen time in a film because she doesn’t retreat to her trailer.

Jamie stands where opportunity is occurring. 

Reflecting on this advice, I “put myself in the path” every time I exhibit at a conference. By immersing myself in the community, I participate in conversations, discover priorities, and communicate solutions to the problems I hear from attendees at our booth.

Readiness. Proximity. Hustle.   

Why does it work? Trust.

People trust people they see, know, and experience. They trust people who consistently show up. They trust people who support their projects and ideas.

People want to engage with people who want to engage with them.

Embarrassingly, I once took myself off the path when I became disenchanted with a former boss. Instead of working to improve our relationship, I petulantly moved my office to the other side of the building.

At that point, I was no longer visible, engaged, or relevant. But I was successfully righteous. Not surprisingly, my boss stopped including me in decisions. And one day, he hired someone to replace me.

Some suggestions to “put yourself in the path” of your future:

• Prepare – hone your communication and your craft
• Be intentional and confident, but not entitled
• Eagerly volunteer to participate in meetings, projects, and teams
• Stay curious – observe, ask questions first
• Commit to contribute – offer to improve situations 
• Maintain strategic presence – don’t hide behind cameras or keyboards
• Employ a thoughtful “yes!” to ideas and conversations

Place yourself where passion, people, and possibility intersect, again and again. Opportunities favor the involved.

© 2026. Ann Tardy and MentorLead. www.mentorlead.com. All Rights Reserved.