Acting Skills That Transform Retail Sales
Bernard Hiller is a world‑renowned acting, performance, and business trainer trusted by internationally acclaimed artists, top executives, and global luxury brands. His unique methods has reshaped how leaders and advisors show up, influence, and are remembered. For over two decades, Bernard has worked in more than 26 countries. Bernard brings the power of performance into the world of business—where results matter.
Retail Is Show Business
Every day you step onto the sales floor, you step onto a stage. Your sales advisors are the performers. When the doors open, the audience arrives—your clients. In luxury environments, every interaction is the moment of truth.
Just as actors prepare deeply for a role, retail sales advisors must learn how to step into a presence that is welcoming, confident, knowledgeable, and emotionally available. Clients don’t simply buy products; they respond to how they feel in the experience. Emotion, connection, and authenticity drive decisions.
Great actors know how to read the room—and exceptional sales advisors must do the same. They adjust tone, body language, pacing, and energy based on the client in front of them. A quiet, discerning client requires a very different approach than an enthusiastic, expressive one. Bernard’s proven techniques have transformed executive and sales teams around the globe by teaching these skills of awareness.
Bernard’s training teaches advisors to be truly present so that the clients feel seen, heard, and valued. Equally important is self‑awareness—understanding how you are being perceived through body language, vocal expression, mood, and intention.
Through his transformative exercises, Bernard’s method increases confidence, sharpens authenticity, and elevates charisma to captivate clients. Advisors learn how to connect genuinely, communicate powerfully, and make the client the star of the story. When retail sales advisors learn to perform with purpose, passion, and meaning, they don’t just sell products—they create memorable moments. And memorable moments are what keep clients coming back for more.
HOLLYWOOD
Where Dreamers Come To Succeed
There are no other cities more open to foreign actors than Hollywood. Anyone who gets nominated for an
Academy Award from any country can win. So many foreign actors like Marion Cotillard, Sofia Loren,
Penelope Cruz, and Roberto Benigni have found success here. The South Korean film, “Parasite”, won the
Academy Award for Best Picture. That’s incredible! Hollywood recognizes greatness from everywhere! That is
not true for other countries. We like to reward the best, no matter where they’re from. That is unique.
Hollywood is the dream that filmmakers, actors, directors, producers, and artists from around the world have
been thinking about for the last hundred years. Every day, some of the best actors and artists come to
Hollywood, with the hope of succeeding. If you want to work with the very best actors and artists, Hollywood is the
place to be.
Unfortunately, most people who come here will never succeed. Why is that? Well, I believe, there are two reasons.
It’s because they have never learned the “Rules of Hollywood” and never found a mentor who showed them
what Hollywood expects from their actors. Let me share some of those rules with you. They will make
all the difference and give you a chance to succeed in this town.
Rule 1: What Am I Going To Give? Not, What Am I Going To Get?
Most people come to L.A. to get things. Hollywood will not respond to you unless you are ready to give
something first. People in this industry can see this needy energy and sense of entitlement instantly. The
more you’re willing to give, the more excited and interested people will be in you. Come with a giving mindset.
Rule 2: Hollywood Runs On Energy
If you don’t have positive energy radiating out of your body, you will be unemployed because energy is
Hollywood’s currency. The successful artists I have met, for the most part, are very nice and true professionals.
George Clooney once said, “I wouldn’t want to work with anyone who I couldn’t have dinner with.” You need
to bring your best to everyone you encounter. Artists who keep improving themselves, their craft and sharing
their gifts will attract more of the same. Enthusiastic behavior attracts the right people to your life and career.
Rule 3: You Attract The Person You Are
If you are a superficial person and you come to Hollywood, you’re going to meet a lot of superficial people. Sad
people meet other sad people. In life, you always meet the kind of person you are. Be the person you would like
to spend time with. Be the most positive, passionate, and determined person and watch your future change for
the better.
Rule 4: Live Your Authenticity
Be courageous enough to be your true self. This is not an easy thing, because many people tell you that who you
are will never be good enough. Connect to the best parts of yourself, and show that to the world. “Be you.
Everyone else is taken.”
Rule 5: Be Proactive, Not Reactive
Hollywood admires people who don’t sit around and complain or blame others. Hollywood likes artists taking
their careers into their own hands. Hollywood wants artists to take control of their own destiny. They like people
who make their own projects. The business has evolved significantly, making it easier than ever before to create your own projects using current technology. There are now film festivals screening iPhone movies. It is not enough
to just be “an actor.” You have to be proactive; a true artist doesn’t need to be told to create. So, get busy!
Rule 6: Be Grateful
One of the things that Hollywood likes is gratitude. It embraces people who appreciate others for their efforts. I
have noticed that stars and other successful people always thank others for helping them. I find that most of the
people at the top are thoughtful and caring of others. They tell me that they feel fortunate to have a job and
grateful to be in this business. Some realize that it’s not just about being a “star,” but how they can help the
world. I must say that I am very proud to come from an industry that makes such a difference by supporting
charities, the environment, and highlighting injustices.
Rule 7: Connect With Humanity
You must be able to inspire others with your humanity and ideas so that they will want to work with you. You
have to learn how to build bridges between people. It’s easy to build a wall, but it’s hard to build a bridge. Go to
screenings, attend seminars, volunteer, and get involved in causes. Just get out there. You never know who you are
going to meet and what you can share with each other.
Rule 8: Become The Person You Have Never Been
To achieve something you have never achieved, you have to become the person you have never been. You will
have to give up negative thinking and behaviors. Sometimes, even colleagues might be holding you back, and you
will have to let go of them. When you act differently, your results will be different.
Rule 9: Ask for help
You cannot be successful alone. All successful people ask for help. Average people don’t. You will need help
from a strong artistic community, like coaches, mentors, colleagues, artists, friends, and classes. Everything that
I have learned, I have learned from someone willing to share their knowledge to help me. I could not have
succeeded without them. To achieve anything extraordinary, you must surround yourself with a lot of
collaborators. You can’t make a great film alone. Learn to be articulate and passionate with your vision and
desires. Everybody wants to be involved in a project that has meaning and purpose. Have a personality that
people want to be around. Infect them with your love, energy, and passion. This will make them want to get
involved.
Rule 10: Your emotional “WHY” has to be stronger than your “Doubts and Fears” (Most important rule).
Successful people make it because they have a strong and meaningful “WHY” they want it.
Your “WHY” becomes your mission statement. You feel that this is what you were born to do. Know that a lot
of work, training, coaching, asking for help, and failing will need to happen before you get there.
Hollywood welcomes people who add originality, passion, joy, creativity, and talent from any country.
“You cannot stop anyone with the right attitude, and you cannot help anyone with the wrong attitude.”