If my story were a screenplay (albeit, a trite one) it would read like this: a few years ago I fled a cushy job in corporate America to take a chance on a lifelong dream to become an actor.

But that's not exactly how it happened.

In 1999, I quit my job as a VP in a top international PR firm. At the time, my main goals were to gain independence and autonomy and to get back to what I loved doing most: writing, creating, developing actual product - something you get to do less and less of the higher up the ladder you go. So I've been an independent consultant/freelance writer ever since (read more about that here).

The performance stuff came later, though for years I had done various small things to feed a growing creative urge - composing and performing poetry in local slam competitions, for instance. And there had always been inklings of something more - throughout my business career I was often tapped to provide skits, poems, song parodies, and other entertainment at office functions. And I was increasingly called in when a client wanted some "wacky" creative treatment on a project.

But other than the occasional class or office talent show or poetry slam, I had never had any formal performance experience or acting training - not so much as a high school production of Oklahoma. So when I went out on my own, that finally gave me the time to pursue some things I'd been thinking about for some time...classes at Second City, lessons in guitar - I even did stand-up for a while. A very short and undistinguished while. From there it quickly snowballed into what has become a second full-time career.

In March 2002, I started taking classes at Second City. Six months later I got cast in my first stage show ever - an improv show in the training center's studio space. After appearing in a couple of productions there, I ventured outside the training center and was cast in the first play I auditioned for in May 2003. Later that fall I pursued representation and was signed by several talent agents. Other milestones ensued: first TV spot, first film role, first self-written, self-produced show.

In 2004 I appeared in 14 theatrical productions and had 16 commercial bookings. Because I started late, I am essentially casting a wide net and trying to gather as much experience in as short a time as possible. If life were fair, it would be like baseball, not football. But as it is, the clock is running.