To Succeed, Do It Somehow

ATHENS, GA – Succeeding in life is just like a big scavenger hunt, and it’s up to you to connect the dots, according to Norman Aladjem. Aladjem spoke Thursday afternoon in the School of Law. He sat in a chair, relaxed, wearing a blazer and blue jeans while students from all fields of study listened intently, expecting a complex theory on how to make it in Hollywood. This is not what he gave them.

Aladjem is the CEO of Paradigm entertainment. As an entrepreneur who worked his way from the bottom up, he has developed his own unique opinion on what it takes to be successful.

After receiving a law degree from UCLA, he worked as an entertainment lawyer while being a stand-up comedian at the same time. He has developed a personal management company, worked as national advance for the Bill Clinton inauguration, and designed and executed a campaign for the World Cup and The Olympic Torch in 96’.

How can do you rise from the bottom to the top like Aladjem did? His “secret” is quite simple. “Do it somehow.”

According to Aladjem, hard-work and diligence is what it takes to “getting to the front of the train.” Before he even passed his bar exam, Aladjem had 15 clients that included comedians such as Robin Williams and Larry David. “My friends became my clients before I was even qualified,” said Aladjem.

When asked exactly what it means to be an entertainment lawyer, Aladjem smiled and jokingly stated, “It means you don’t have to wear a suit and tie.”

“If you do the process right, the result is inevitable,” said Aladjem. His theory is that one must begin as a student in their field of study before anything else. He stressed the importance of learning by finding other successful people in the field first, and informing yourself by talking and observing. He believes that a commitment to excellence will provide real results.

He also believes one should work as “cheap labor” to get a foot in the door. Be a production assistant, an intern, or even the coffee girl. No matter which one you choose, all will provide one result: You will meet people in your industry, make connections, and learn through observation.

We’ve all heard of six degrees of separation, but Aladjem takes this concept to heart. According to him, you have connections that you may not even realize. He pointed out a filmmaker, LA agent, lawyer, and manager who were all sitting in the room with the rest of the students. To him, connections are another key to success. He shared that Judd Apatow, the producer of “40-Year-Old-Virgin,” worked his way to the top by connecting with the right people.

As CEO of a very successful company, Aladjem described what he looks for in a prospective employee. “We look for what we think we can sell,” he said. “It is not all about finding the most intelligent person for the job. There are a lot of dumbass people in Hollywood. What matters is finding someone who is committed.”

A grad student in the field of public relations asked Aladjem for pointers in an interview. He said that listening is the key. Many prospects go into his office and tell him that they have wanted to be an agent all of their life, and could not imagine anything else in the world. “I don’t hire these people. What I really want to know is that they’ll do what it takes to get the job done.”

Finally, Aladjem answered the question many students in the audience wanted to know; how do you get an agent? For him, there is really no one way. There are many paths. As long as you let your passion be your guide, and let your reality be your springboard, not your anchor, you will succeed.