Foster offered this piece of advice as her most essential life lesson, one she said the theater and dance students in the audience would already recognize. In the world of Broadway, she explained, you never know what your next job will be or who might be in a position to give it to you. Her point was pragmatic as much as moral — if you've been a jerk to someone who later holds the key to your next opportunity, 'you're in deep doo-doo.' But beyond career strategy, Foster was speaking to a deeper truth about the performing arts: actors constantly move from job to job, starting over with new casts and crews every few months or years. In that environment, your reputation for kindness and professionalism becomes your most valuable asset, regardless of whether you're a doctor, lawyer, pastor, or actor.