My advice to an aspiring actor would be to never stop learning or working for what you want. Nothing comes easy ever if you want something you have to work for it. By working for it I mean work on your craft learn from people who have something to teach. It's just like anything else practice makes perfect.
I think public service is a calling and you do it as long as the things that brought you into the office can continue getting you up in the morning and as long as there's still work to get done.