Probably the two most important things are: 1) Persistence. You will fall down and have setbacks and disappointments and dry periods without work. Don't give up. Stay in the game and continue to learn, grow and meet new people. That is key. 2) Evolve. Study your strategies vs. results and adjust course. Pay attention to what works for your peers and those who have come before. Ask for advice from experienced filmmakers. Definitely do not keep pursuing a course of action that is producing no results or poor results. I have seen so many people ruin their careers because they were inflexible and unable to adapt.
