We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Angela Naomi. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Angela below.
Angela, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
There’s a poem by E. E. Cummings entitled, [i carry your heart with me(i carry it in]. It’s a simple poem about carrying the love of another with you wherever you go and letting that love endure.
By the time I was 16 years old, I had lost almost 12 friends and family members. One year, I lost 3 friends back to back in the first 3 months of the year. As the years went on, I lost more family and friends. Memories were all I had left; memories and love. Somewhere along the road of my life’s journey, I learned to live for my friends and family. I’ve had plenty of setbacks, failures, and even some tussles with depression. I’ve also had magnificent adventures and experiences. And it’s in all of those moments, I remember those that I’ve lost. “What would your cousin say if she saw your hair looking like this” is what I told myself when I was so emotionally exhausted I hadn’t combed my hair in a couple of days. The memory of being a kid and her styling my hair would play out in front of me like a movie. I can’t explain how, but I’d find the strength to shampoo, condition, and style my hair. That got me up and moving!
The pathway to having a career in the entertainment industry is full of twists and turns. One has to be resilient to make it! I see these twists and turns as adventures. And because I carry my people in my heart, I take them on these adventures. Even when the adventures end in rejection or a canceled project, I will see signs that I take as my friends and family members’ way of telling me, “It’s okay. Keep moving forward.” Whether it’s a butterfly on my shoulder or turning on the radio and, “Killing Me Softly” by The Fugees or “Ironic” by Alanis Morrisette is playing, I know who’s sending me the message. And sometimes the signs are stronger to truly get me back on track. I can recall one time when I was feeling defeated and a lost, I saw a girl about 4 years old who looked so much like my friend who passed away from cancer when we were in 9th grade. It was eerie! I stared at the child and she smiled at me. Holding back tears, I smiled back at her then continued my grocery shopping. My entire mood shifted because I know that if my friend was still living she would’ve told me, “Angie, you can still try again. Don’t quit.” So once more, I kept moving forward.
I celebrated my 40th birthday in Egypt. I carried not just my friends and recent family members with me on that trip, but I carried my ancestors. And as I stood atop stones at the entrance of a pyramid overlooking the desert, I was filled with great joy! Even as I was drenched in sweat and climbing the steep pathway inside the pyramid to reach the tomb, I carried them with me. My people are not physically with me to celebrate, but they’re with me spiritually. And it’s that unexplainable force that makes me resilient.
My friends didn’t pass away as young adults. They were children whose lives were cut short by drunk drivers, illnesses, gun violence, and suicide. My cousin was still a teenager when gun violence cut her life short. Who am I to still be in the land of the living and give up just because I heard the word, “No” or had to find a different way to get to Los Angeles than most? I am resilient because they didn’t get the chance to even attempt to do a fraction of what I’ve been able to do. Many of the dreams I’m living now, I shared with some of them. They knew I wanted to be an actress and a writer. They knew I loved the performing arts. I owe it to them to see this journey to the end; whatever that ending may be and whenever it may come.
Although many call me resilient and my father even says it’s one of the traits he admires the most out of me, I like to say that I am LIVING! And as long as there is breath in my body, I will keep moving forward, I will keep writing, I will keep dancing, and I will keep singing. And until I meet my friends and family in the next life, I will carry them in my heart.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am a jack of all trades because I believe you need to be quick on your feet and able to pivot because life is unpredictable. I’ve been many things in this lifetime, but am happy to report that I am a voice actress, writer, and entrepreneur. As a voice actress, I’ve recorded commercials, video games, and presentations. I believe in speaking things into existence so it is on my voice acting dream sheet to be the next Black Disney princess and be human 100% of the movie. As a writer, I was 1 of 8 chosen by the WGA to be in their year long writing program for veterans and work on a feature length script. Yes, I served in the Navy too. I was a reservist Corpsman (medical) and an active duty recruiter. I’m also a self-published author of a book of short stories and am in the process of finding the best way to publish the 400 poems I have written. The world of entrepreneurship found me; I wasn’t looking for it. That’s the unpredictability of life. I created an online company that focuses on teaching people the basics of digital marketing then pointing them in the right direction to achieve their wildest dreams. I finally found a way to take all my skills and create a lifestyle that allows me to do what I love (working in the entertainment industry) and help people along the way. I’m looking forward to what the future holds for me!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Learning to accept rejection, learning the business, and learning how to work a room are the 3 that stand out the most to me. I used to work door to door sales. Nothing will teach you how to toughen up and handle rejection like working for commission, getting doors slammed in your face, and driving an hour back home with ZERO dollars. You better learn how to accept rejection and pivot or else you’ll be spinning in circles for the rest of your days. Learn the business side to whatever you’re doing. I don’t care if you work in the mail room of a company. You should learn everything you can about that company. For my fellow actors and writers, learn the business of the entertainment industry. The glitz and glam are fun, but it’s dark and bleak when you can’t read your contract and you sign a bad deal. Learn the ins and outs so you keep your money in your pocket and your head on straight. And finally, learn how to work a room. Go to networking events. Meet people in different industries. I can’t tell you how many networking events I’ve been to where I’ve been the most broke and least accomplished in the room. But best believe, in my hand-me-down dress clothes and thrifted jewelry, I turned on my charisma and networked. My pageant and public speaking background does come in handy. Don’t you ever think you don’t belong somewhere. If you got invited or you paid for a ticket, you go! Networking can take you places that your skills may not and sometimes networking is where your skills will be found.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
Feeling overwhelmed is a feeling I know as well as I know myself. Being an entrepreneur, actress, and writer who also has ADHD is the perfect environment for overwhelmed to dwell. When I find myself feeling overwhelmed, I step back from whatever I’m doing. I analyze and assess the situations. Many times, it’s my fault why I’m feeling overwhelmed. When I learned how to set boundaries and say, “no” I noticed I wasn’t as overwhelmed. I’m a natural helper, but it’s been several years since I helped people the way I used to. And I don’t regret it. Set those boundaries!
Being more organized and handling household tasks before I start my work day helps also. I work for myself. I don’t have to start my work day at 9am and I don’t have a morning commute. I often use my morning time to handle laundry and cleaning. Knowing what I have to do for my work also helps. Making a task list and checking off items gets me through the day. Outsourcing tasks also helps. I’m in several Facebook groups and have found people who do web design, graphic design, and other misc. online tasks. I’ve bartered services with many and have paid them.
Eating healthy and exercising plays a major role in keeping those overwhelmed feelings in check. Sometimes I just need to go for a walk or dance around to burn off the energy. I’m extremely proud of myself for the strides I’ve made to cut back my sugar intake. Who doesn’t love sugar? Making these small adjustments to my diet and exercise have helped me emotionally.
It’s not about being perfect and strict. I still fall off the wagon. I still get overwhelmed. But I pivot and readjust. And I give myself grace!
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