James Barbour, a noted singer, actor and Broadway star, discusses exactly how he came to make choices in his career and to pursue the paths that led him to his current success. He also talks about the people who have supported him and his upcoming talk shows with a number of interesting guests from New York.

In a recent blog post, James Barbour, noted actor, singer and current Broadway star of Phantom of the Opera, discussed the answer to the question, "How did you achieve what you have achieved?" According to Barbour, the answer is fairly simple: "I worked my butt off as hard as I could and continue to do so on a daily basis. Drive, dedication and a sense of purpose no matter what obstacles are thrown in your path is the true way to succeed."

According to Barbour, who has won numerous awards for his Broadway performances and has also enjoyed success as an actor, there are people who give "advice" that is actually detrimental to those who are told not to pursue their dreams. "Those kinds of people, I move them out of my life," says Barbour. "We all encounter them every day, but wouldn't it be better to surround yourself with people who want you to succeed in your chosen path? In my experience people who are telling you not to do something have either failed in their path to achieve their goals or are fearful that your success will remind them of their own failures. By secretly wanting you to fail, they are justifying their own failures and making it ok for them not to have succeeded."

According to Barbour, there is a time to listen and take constructive advice, but many people offer advice that is not designed to be supportive. Instead, they do everything they can to make a choice seem silly or ill-advised simply because they do not have the power to do it themselves.

Barbour goes on to say, "Sometimes it's hard to spot but one thing I know: if you feel weird or bad after speaking with someone, trust your gut. Chances are that's not the kind of constructive advice you want to apply to your goals and dreams." He also has some wise words for others who may feel they need guidance from a trusted source: "I do my best to surround myself with like-minded people. Forward thinking, positive individuals who want everyone around them to succeed. The other kind of people just create noise to try and distract you from your goals."

According to Barbour, seeking good advice and uplifting support from others is a great way to keep motivated. However, avoiding conflict and negative thinking is just as important in reaching goals. His own life has been a long series of both successes and failures as he worked his way up in the theater and film world. His career began many years ago with local, regional theater, and his "big break" came when he was chosen for the lead in Carousel at Lincoln Centre Theatre. His star turning performance gained him the notice of top producers on Broadway, and from there he has never looked back. "Every minor victory was a step on the way to my ultimate dream: playing lead on Broadway. Today, I am able to look back and see how each experience, including each setback or failure, contributed to that dream. There were times I did not get the part and times I wondered if I was on the right path. Ultimately, however, perseverance paid off. I am where I am today because I refused to give up and because I had the right people to support me each step of the way, uplifting and giving me positive feedback and encouraging me to continue pursuing my dreams, not turn my back on them."

Barbour is the host of James Barbour Now on MYGCTV, an Internet channel that features talk and talent from people in a variety of fields. Barbour fans tune in each week to hear the singer and actor talk with prominent people in the entertainment field. The guests often discuss their goals, their lifestyles and things that have happened to them in the course of their careers as well as their way of thinking about the industry. Barbour says, "Of course we touch on current projects, but we also show the real person behind the persona and get down to the nitty-gritty of the positive aspects of guests' lives and how that positivity has influenced their careers."

Barbour will soon be filming from New York City, meeting with guests from the theater and other locations who are involved in the exciting events of The Big Apple. To read more about Barbour's show and his blog posts about life in general, visit http://jamesbarbour.blogspot.com/. You can also find information about Barbour and his current projects at http://ask.fm/JamesBarbourNow , https://www.crunchbase.com/user/288233 and http://seekingalpha.com/user/40370006/profile

About James Barbour:

James Barbour has performed in numerous musicals, including works by Stephen Sondheim, Rodgers and Hammerstein and more. He has played Sydney Carton in a pre-Broadway adaptation of A Tale of Two Cities as well as reprising the role on Broadway at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre for which he was nominated for the Drama League, Outer Critics and Drama Desk Awards for Best Actor in A Musical. He has also starred in several Tony Award-winning musicals, including Beauty and the Beast, Jane Eyre and Carousel. He won the Sarastoa Magazine Best Actor Award and has been nominated for the 2001 Drama League Award, the 2006/2007 LA Weekly Garland Award, and the 2008-2009 BroadwayWorld Fan Choice Award for Best Actor in a Musical and the 2009 Outer Critics Circle Award, as well as the 2009 Drama Desk Award. James Barbour won the LA Ovation Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of ‘Jean Valjean’ in Les Miserables.

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