He was told by a talent scout named Maurice Venice that he had a bright future in acting. This so called talent scout was at first honestly interested in Tommy, but after Tommy had one bad screen test this man did nothing for him. This man was really just a pimp and had been running a prostitution ring, using his position as a "talent scout" as a cover. After this fiasco attempt to an acting career and years of odd jumps just making ends meet he meet a man by the name of Dr. Tamkin. This man says he is a psychologist and a poet, and he claims to be a member of the Detroit Purple Gang, the head of a medical clinic in Toledo, the co-inventor of an unsinkable ship, a technical consultant in television, and a widow. His allegations are brought into doubt and although most people seem to be suspicious of him, Tommy is engrossed by him. It is with Tamkin that Tommy enters into a joint stock market venture, entrusting the last of his money to this self proclaimed market wizard who declares that he will make him hordes of wealth thru the commodities market. These men are two specific examples of people leading Tommy to what he thinks he wants. He desired to be, and thought he was going to be a great and famous actor, but these notions were dreams or ideals placed in his had by Maurice Venice who turned out not caring much about him, Dr. Tamkin also claimed to be able to solve Tommy's problems and bring to him exactly what he wants, even this turns out untrue when the market bust and he loses all his money and Tamkin has disappeared to somewhere and cannot be found. .
During all this Tommy had the one person who instructed him correct and was guiding him the way he needed, but he ignored him as long as he could. This man was his father Dr. Adler, he has worked hard during his life to achieve his position in life as a well-established, successful, and admired man. He refuses to carry his children on his back because he believes they should come to their own achievements, as he is a believer in the American protestant work ethic.