When I was a child my father taught me five words that I've used all my life—in my acting career, as a mother, in my business activities. If I 1 that I was afraid of the dark, or if I seemed worried about meeting new people, Dad would say, "Stand porter to your 2."
A porter is a gatekeeper, who stands at a door 3 people in or out. Dad would get me to 4 myself stopping destructive things—such as fear—at the door, 5 saying "Come in" to faith, love and self-assurance.
As a(n) 6, before I went on camera, I'd make sure anxiety stayed out and confidence in my ability came in. As a mother, when I was 7 about my children, I would try not to let worry in but would 8 my mind with trust in them.
Of course, there were always times I'd 9 those words.
In 1972 my husband, Fillmore Crank, and I opened the doors to our own 10 in North Hollywood. This was a new business venture for us, and it was a lot more 11 and complicated than we had 12.
We were on call 24 hours a day. Something was always going 13. Electricity went on the blink, food wasn't delivered, employees called in sick. Once, a flu epidemic 14 left us with no maids. Fillmore gave me a 15: scrub floors or do the laundry. For 10 days I folded enough king-size sheets to 16 the whole state of California.
Then there was the 17 crisis. The price of gasoline doubled, and tourism in California 18. How could we fill our beds? What if we kept losing money? What if we failed? Fear and worry were sneaking in. But I caught them just 19. I stood porter.
I stood in the door of my mind and sent fear packing.
These days at the hotel, whenever fear tries to 20, I just smile and point to the sign that reads No Vacancy.