Have a bias toward action - let's see something happen now. You can break that big plan into small steps and take the first step right away.
Acting for kids is like playing house, you know? But growing up in Hollywood, it just made it seem possible.
I don't know how it is now but the assistant stage manager had to understudy several parts. You had to be ready to go on at any time if the actor couldn't make it to the play. I didn't think anything of it.