We recently connected with Paul Galliano and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Paul, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
I get my work ethic from my parents. Through my years of working in their family-owned restaurant and doing chores at home, they instilled in me the idea of putting “your all” into every endeavor. If something is worth doing, it’s worth doing it the right way. They gave me great instruction and showed me by example how to do a “good job.” While growing up in Birmingham, Alabama, I worked my way through every job at the restaurant except cooking.
My parents were very busy but also very present when I think back to my childhood. Dad worked at the restaurant full-time for 47 years, and Mom worked there part-time because she also worked at our church (for 27 years), but when she retired from the church, she went to work full-time at the restaurant until they both retired in 2019. Still, my parents always made time for their children… and for their extended family and for their friends and for people in need. Somehow, they did so much and did it all well.
Fortunately, I have so many great memories of family vacations, family dinners, family outings, movie nights, holiday gatherings, etc., etc. All of these memories were made possible because of my parents’ work ethic. They did their respective jobs well and were successful enough from their hard work to take care of our family, and honestly, their commitment to the additional pressures of raising a family required just as much of a good “work ethic” as their other jobs.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Sure! I work in entertainment full-time. As an actor, I’m currently working on two voice-over projects for Netflix. I actually can’t say much because I signed NDAs for each of them, but I can say it’s very fulfilling work, and I’m grateful for these opportunities to do what I love.
I’m also going to be playing a central character in an upcoming pilot that will start filming in March. After that, I’m booked on a photo shoot that will likely require me to appear in underwear and/or swimwear, so I’m happy to have some time between now and then to continue to push myself harder in the gym.
Amidst these things, I’m still working on my own projects like my talk show TEA WITH PAUL G. All of season 1 is available on YouTube (@PaulGallianoChannel). I’m a very social person, so hosting a talk show just seemed like a logical thing for me. TEA WITH PAUL G is a platform to share the stories of some of the amazing friends I’ve made, and it also gives me a chance to put more of my personality out there for people, rather than always playing a character in my other types of work. The talk show’s goal is to spread positivity and encouragement through a series of tea-punned segments, during which my guests and I sip tea and chat and laugh and have fun. We also play trivia to support different charities.
Additionally, I’m planning to collaborate on a couple of scripts with a producer friend that I met through the TV Academy. So, 2024 is already shaping up to be a great year!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Three things that have been important to my journey are…
1) Learning a particular skill set, like stage combat and training in sword choreography… It keeps me performing between film & television work and is fun, good exercise, and a creative way to make money. Actually, this skill was a factor in me booking 2 different productions for Nickelodeon 5 years apart, and I believe this skill will continue to benefit me in future castings.
2) Being social and remembering people’s names… which most people don’t do well. The old trick that works for me is immediately making a name association in my head when I meet someone. For example, if the person’s name is Carrie, I think to myself “Carrie Fisher.” It’s so simple, but it’s effective, and I think more people should try it instead of just telling themselves, “Oh, I’m so bad at remembering names!”
3) Practicing kindness… being a kind person for the sake of kindness, not because you want someone to do something for you or because you expect something. Seeing the difference it makes to people when you treat them kindly simply because you respect their basic humanity is an amazing feeling.
Whether it’s these 3 things or any other pursuit, I think diligence is what steers you on the road of success… figure out what you want to do, do the work to get there, and stick with it!
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
Well, everyone is different, but here’s what works for me…
First, I take some deep breaths, and if possible, step away from whatever is causing me stress. Depending on the moment (and if time permits), I find it very soothing to go on a walk or hike, soak in a warm bath, or go for a swim.
For me, making lists of tasks helps make things seem smaller and more manageable, even if the list is lengthy. Putting a check mark next to something on a to-do list is very satisfying. I’m guilty of sometimes putting too many tasks on my lists, but that’s okay because I can always start back on it the next day.
Of course, therapy is a great outlet to help us cope, and I believe that everyone can benefit from it. In 2024, it shocks me that some people still view therapy with a stigma. Everyone should do whatever they can to live a healthy, balanced life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.paulgalliano.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepaulg
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thePaulGalliano
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/thepaulg
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/PaulGallianoChannel
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1279380/
Image Credits
Courtesy of Paul Galliano
