一封垃圾郵件他決定輟學(xué)，開(kāi)啟演藝事業(yè)
Emma Burleigh
2025-04-05
? 《白蓮花度假村》（The White Lotus）主演沃爾頓·戈金斯在回復(fù)了美國(guó)運(yùn)通一封邀請(qǐng)他開(kāi)立信用額度的信件后,，開(kāi)始了在好萊塢的演藝生涯,。這筆交易附贈(zèng)兩張往返機(jī)票優(yōu)惠券，這讓他可以用較低的成本前往加州,。
許多人或許都在等待一個(gè)“放手一搏”的契機(jī),。對(duì)HBO最新熱播劇集《白蓮花度假村》的主演沃爾頓·戈金斯而言，這個(gè)契機(jī)來(lái)自一封銀行信件,。
他在2019年接受《斯蒂芬·科爾伯特深夜秀》（The Late Show with Stephen Colbert）采訪(fǎng)時(shí)回憶道：“我收到了美國(guó)運(yùn)通（American Express）邀請(qǐng)我開(kāi)立信用額度的一封信,。隨信附贈(zèng)兩張往返機(jī)票優(yōu)惠券。密西西比河以東航線(xiàn)99美元,，以西航線(xiàn)199美元,。”
戈金斯估計(jì)這張信用卡的額度只有區(qū)區(qū)500美元，但他更看重的是通往好萊塢的機(jī)票,，而不是積累信用,。
戈金斯當(dāng)時(shí)還是位于斯泰茨伯勒的佐治亞南方大學(xué)（Georgia Southern University）的學(xué)生，從亞特蘭大飛往洛杉磯的機(jī)票票價(jià)約為1,100美元,。美國(guó)運(yùn)通的優(yōu)惠讓他看到了加州追夢(mèng)的可能,。這位藝人將其視為“上帝”讓他去洛杉磯當(dāng)演員的信號(hào)。他補(bǔ)充道：“就是這樣,，我要立即出發(fā),。于是我馬上退學(xué)?！?/p>
《白蓮花度假村》讓戈金斯日進(jìn)斗金
初次闖蕩加州時(shí),，戈金斯甚至沒(méi)有找到經(jīng)紀(jì)人。但第二次西行,，他決定穩(wěn)扎穩(wěn)打,，站穩(wěn)腳跟。他帶著300美元積蓄在北好萊塢租下一間簡(jiǎn)陋的公寓,，很快簽約經(jīng)紀(jì)公司并開(kāi)始接戲,。他出演的第一部電影是比利·克里斯托主演的喜劇片《周末夜先生》（Mr. Saturday Night），這部影片在1992年上映,。
此后,，戈金斯共參演了50多部電影和40余部電視劇，獲得38次娛樂(lè)業(yè)獎(jiǎng)項(xiàng)的提名,，斬獲9座獎(jiǎng)杯,。
從《被解救的姜戈》（Django Unchained）到《八惡人》（The Hateful Eight），他成為昆汀·塔倫蒂諾的御用演員,；他在FX劇集《盾牌》（The Shield）中塑造警探謝恩·文德雷爾長(zhǎng)達(dá)六年,。
如今，他主演了《白蓮花度假村》第三季,。IMDB的數(shù)據(jù)顯示,，HBO劇集主演的單集片酬可達(dá)15至50萬(wàn)美元，配角的片酬為5—15萬(wàn)美元,。
但戈金斯坦言,，如果當(dāng)年他像大多數(shù)人一樣，將美國(guó)運(yùn)通的那封信扔進(jìn)垃圾桶,，這一切都不會(huì)發(fā)生,。
他在采訪(fǎng)中表示：“我之所以有今天的成就，都要感謝美國(guó)運(yùn)通,?！?/p>
以最出人意料的方式開(kāi)創(chuàng)事業(yè)
戈金斯的經(jīng)歷并非個(gè)例,，許多人以非常規(guī)的方式開(kāi)創(chuàng)了自己的事業(yè)，或者最終找到了自己真正熱愛(ài)的事情,。命運(yùn)轉(zhuǎn)折往往源于最意想不到的契機(jī),。
或許人們記憶最深刻的是史蒂夫·喬布斯打造出有史以來(lái)最受歡迎的產(chǎn)品：iPhone手機(jī)。但他并沒(méi)有以最傳統(tǒng)（或合法）的方式開(kāi)始自己的事業(yè),。
喬布斯和蘋(píng)果（Apple）另外一位聯(lián)合創(chuàng)始人史蒂夫·沃茲尼亞克曾靠非法售賣(mài)“藍(lán)盒子”（一種盜打長(zhǎng)途電話(huà)的電子設(shè)備）起家,。年輕時(shí)的叛逆經(jīng)歷讓喬布斯和沃茲尼亞克一發(fā)不可收拾，最終創(chuàng)立了市值3.2萬(wàn)億美元的蘋(píng)果公司,。
在硅谷歷史協(xié)會(huì)（Silicon Valley Historical Association）存檔的一份1994年采訪(fǎng)視頻中,，喬布斯表示：“沒(méi)有藍(lán)盒子就不會(huì)有蘋(píng)果，我100%確信這一點(diǎn),。這段經(jīng)歷讓我和沃茲學(xué)會(huì)了合作,，并相信我們能夠解決技術(shù)問(wèn)題和實(shí)現(xiàn)量產(chǎn)?！?/p>
美國(guó)家政女王瑪莎·斯圖爾特曾是叱咤華爾街的股票經(jīng)紀(jì)人,，后來(lái)才找到自己真正熱愛(ài)的事業(yè)。1973年,，在她職業(yè)生涯的第七年,，股市崩盤(pán)一直持續(xù)到次年?！白尶蛻?hù)賠錢(qián)的壞人”這種形象令她不堪重負(fù)，于是她離開(kāi)了公司,，創(chuàng)辦了自己的餐飲公司,，由此開(kāi)啟了一段傳奇。
還有其他企業(yè)家在意想不到的地方嶄露頭角,。資深商業(yè)女性,、AG1首席執(zhí)行官凱特·科爾在Hooters餐廳當(dāng)服務(wù)生時(shí)開(kāi)啟了白領(lǐng)生涯。
她在19歲被派往世界各地,，開(kāi)拓海外市場(chǎng),；到23歲，她成為全球經(jīng)理和員工培訓(xùn)負(fù)責(zé)人,。雖然這家公司看起來(lái)不像是一個(gè)傳統(tǒng)的職業(yè)起點(diǎn),，但正是這段經(jīng)歷助她最終成為Cinnabon的首席執(zhí)行官，并躋身Milk Bar等品牌的董事會(huì),。（財(cái)富中文網(wǎng)）
譯者：劉進(jìn)龍
審校：汪皓
? 《白蓮花度假村》（The White Lotus）主演沃爾頓·戈金斯在回復(fù)了美國(guó)運(yùn)通一封邀請(qǐng)他開(kāi)立信用額度的信件后,，開(kāi)始了在好萊塢的演藝生涯。這筆交易附贈(zèng)兩張往返機(jī)票優(yōu)惠券,，這讓他可以用較低的成本前往加州,。
許多人或許都在等待一個(gè)“放手一搏”的契機(jī)。對(duì)HBO最新熱播劇集《白蓮花度假村》的主演沃爾頓·戈金斯而言，這個(gè)契機(jī)來(lái)自一封銀行信件,。
他在2019年接受《斯蒂芬·科爾伯特深夜秀》（The Late Show with Stephen Colbert）采訪(fǎng)時(shí)回憶道：“我收到了美國(guó)運(yùn)通（American Express）邀請(qǐng)我開(kāi)立信用額度的一封信,。隨信附贈(zèng)兩張往返機(jī)票優(yōu)惠券。密西西比河以東航線(xiàn)99美元,，以西航線(xiàn)199美元,。”
戈金斯估計(jì)這張信用卡的額度只有區(qū)區(qū)500美元,，但他更看重的是通往好萊塢的機(jī)票,，而不是積累信用。
戈金斯當(dāng)時(shí)還是位于斯泰茨伯勒的佐治亞南方大學(xué)（Georgia Southern University）的學(xué)生,，從亞特蘭大飛往洛杉磯的機(jī)票票價(jià)約為1,100美元,。美國(guó)運(yùn)通的優(yōu)惠讓他看到了加州追夢(mèng)的可能。這位藝人將其視為“上帝”讓他去洛杉磯當(dāng)演員的信號(hào),。他補(bǔ)充道：“就是這樣,，我要立即出發(fā)。于是我馬上退學(xué),?！?/p>
《白蓮花度假村》讓戈金斯日進(jìn)斗金
初次闖蕩加州時(shí)，戈金斯甚至沒(méi)有找到經(jīng)紀(jì)人,。但第二次西行,，他決定穩(wěn)扎穩(wěn)打，站穩(wěn)腳跟,。他帶著300美元積蓄在北好萊塢租下一間簡(jiǎn)陋的公寓,，很快簽約經(jīng)紀(jì)公司并開(kāi)始接戲。他出演的第一部電影是比利·克里斯托主演的喜劇片《周末夜先生》（Mr. Saturday Night）,，這部影片在1992年上映,。
此后，戈金斯共參演了50多部電影和40余部電視劇,，獲得38次娛樂(lè)業(yè)獎(jiǎng)項(xiàng)的提名,，斬獲9座獎(jiǎng)杯。
從《被解救的姜戈》（Django Unchained）到《八惡人》（The Hateful Eight）,，他成為昆汀·塔倫蒂諾的御用演員,；他在FX劇集《盾牌》（The Shield）中塑造警探謝恩·文德雷爾長(zhǎng)達(dá)六年。
如今,，他主演了《白蓮花度假村》第三季,。IMDB的數(shù)據(jù)顯示，HBO劇集主演的單集片酬可達(dá)15至50萬(wàn)美元,，配角的片酬為5—15萬(wàn)美元,。
但戈金斯坦言,，如果當(dāng)年他像大多數(shù)人一樣，將美國(guó)運(yùn)通的那封信扔進(jìn)垃圾桶,，這一切都不會(huì)發(fā)生,。
他在采訪(fǎng)中表示：“我之所以有今天的成就，都要感謝美國(guó)運(yùn)通,?！?/p>
以最出人意料的方式開(kāi)創(chuàng)事業(yè)
戈金斯的經(jīng)歷并非個(gè)例，許多人以非常規(guī)的方式開(kāi)創(chuàng)了自己的事業(yè),，或者最終找到了自己真正熱愛(ài)的事情,。命運(yùn)轉(zhuǎn)折往往源于最意想不到的契機(jī)。
或許人們記憶最深刻的是史蒂夫·喬布斯打造出有史以來(lái)最受歡迎的產(chǎn)品：iPhone手機(jī),。但他并沒(méi)有以最傳統(tǒng)（或合法）的方式開(kāi)始自己的事業(yè),。
喬布斯和蘋(píng)果（Apple）另外一位聯(lián)合創(chuàng)始人史蒂夫·沃茲尼亞克曾靠非法售賣(mài)“藍(lán)盒子”（一種盜打長(zhǎng)途電話(huà)的電子設(shè)備）起家。年輕時(shí)的叛逆經(jīng)歷讓喬布斯和沃茲尼亞克一發(fā)不可收拾,，最終創(chuàng)立了市值3.2萬(wàn)億美元的蘋(píng)果公司,。
在硅谷歷史協(xié)會(huì)（Silicon Valley Historical Association）存檔的一份1994年采訪(fǎng)視頻中，喬布斯表示：“沒(méi)有藍(lán)盒子就不會(huì)有蘋(píng)果,，我100%確信這一點(diǎn),。這段經(jīng)歷讓我和沃茲學(xué)會(huì)了合作，并相信我們能夠解決技術(shù)問(wèn)題和實(shí)現(xiàn)量產(chǎn),?！?/p>
美國(guó)家政女王瑪莎·斯圖爾特曾是叱咤華爾街的股票經(jīng)紀(jì)人，后來(lái)才找到自己真正熱愛(ài)的事業(yè),。1973年,，在她職業(yè)生涯的第七年，股市崩盤(pán)一直持續(xù)到次年,?！白尶蛻?hù)賠錢(qián)的壞人”這種形象令她不堪重負(fù),，于是她離開(kāi)了公司,，創(chuàng)辦了自己的餐飲公司，由此開(kāi)啟了一段傳奇,。
還有其他企業(yè)家在意想不到的地方嶄露頭角,。資深商業(yè)女性、AG1首席執(zhí)行官凱特·科爾在Hooters餐廳當(dāng)服務(wù)生時(shí)開(kāi)啟了白領(lǐng)生涯,。
她在19歲被派往世界各地,，開(kāi)拓海外市場(chǎng)；到23歲,，她成為全球經(jīng)理和員工培訓(xùn)負(fù)責(zé)人,。雖然這家公司看起來(lái)不像是一個(gè)傳統(tǒng)的職業(yè)起點(diǎn),，但正是這段經(jīng)歷助她最終成為Cinnabon的首席執(zhí)行官，并躋身Milk Bar等品牌的董事會(huì),。（財(cái)富中文網(wǎng)）
譯者：劉進(jìn)龍
審校：汪皓
? Actor Walton Goggins, star of The White Lotus, launched his Hollywood career after responding to an American Express letter asking him to open a line of credit. The deal came with two round-trip tickets, which got him to California for cheap.
Many people might be looking for a sign to take a leap of faith. And for Walton Goggins—star of the hit drama series currently streaming on HBO, The White Lotus—that epiphany came in the form of a bank letter.
“I got this invitation from American Express to take on debt,” he said in a 2019 interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. “With this invitation came two round-trip ticket [offers]. One was $99 east of the Mississippi. The other was $199 west of the Mississippi.”
Goggins estimates the credit card had a measly limit of $500, but he cared less about building credit than getting to Hollywood.
At the time, he was a college student at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, and a ticket from Atlanta to Los Angeles was around $1,100. This American Express deal made the dream of getting to California within reach—and so the entertainer saw it as a sign “from God” to move to L.A. and become an actor. “That was it, I was out. I quit college,” he added.
Goggins is now raking it in on The White Lotus
The first time he went out to California, he didn’t snag an agent. But by the second time he traveled there, he decided to plant his roots. With $300 in his pocket and a really bad apartment rental in North Hollywood, Goggins got a representative fairly quickly and started booking roles. His first gig was in a Billy Crystal comedy movie called Mr. Saturday Night released in 1992.
Since then, Goggins has appeared in over 50 movies and 40 TV shows—and has been nominated for 38 awards in the entertainment industry, snagging nine wins.
He has been a recurring muse in Quentin Tarantino’s projects, from Django Unchained to The Hateful Eight; and played detective Shane Vendrell for six years on FX’s The Shield.
Right now, he’s starring in the third season of The White Lotus. It’s estimated that lead actors on HBO series can earn between $150,000 to $500,000 per episode—while supporting characters get anywhere from $50,000 to $150,000, per IMDB.
But none of it may have happened if he hadn’t responded to an American Express letter most people would toss into the trash.
“I’m only here because of American Express,” he said in the interview.
Starting careers in the most unlikely of ways
Goggins isn’t the only person to launch their career—or finally turn to their true passion—in an unorthodox way. Signs can spring up from the most unlikely of places.
Steve Jobs may be remembered for creating one of the most popular products of all time: the iPhone. But he didn’t get his start in the most conventional (or legal) way.
Jobs and his Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak first got into business together by illegally selling “blue boxes”—electronic devices that allowed users to exploit telephone systems to make free long-distance calls. That young rebellion set Jobs and Wozniak on the path to founding their $3.2 trillion brainchild.
“If it hadn’t been for the blue boxes, there would have been no Apple,” Jobs said in a 1994 video interview archived by the Silicon Valley Historical Association. “I’m 100% sure of that. Woz and I learned how to work together, and we gained the confidence that we could solve technical problems and actually put something into production.”
Martha Stewart, America’s beloved cook and homemaker, didn’t delve into her true passions until after launching her career as a high-powered Wall Street stockbroker. But just seven years into Stewart’s career, in 1973, there was a stock market crash that lasted until the following year. Being seen as the “bad guy” who lost her clients’ money wore her down, so she left the company to start her own catering business. The rest is history.
Other entrepreneurs took off in unlikely places. Kat Cole, veteran businesswoman and CEO of AG1, launched her white-collar career while she was working as a Hooters waitress.
At just 19, she was tapped to travel around the world to help spur interest among foreign markets; by 23, she was the head of global training for managers and employees. The corporation may seem an unorthodox place to start—but it set her on a path to become the CEO of Cinnabon and sit on the boards of brands like Milk Bar.
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