Meet Lizzy Hiet

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lizzy Hiet. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lizzy below.

Lizzy , first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

I think the arts chose me from a young age, and it’s a place where you constantly think you aren’t enough. In acting and singing there’s a part of that world that thrives on you focusing on your shortcomings, and not where you shine.
I’ve been doing this since I was five years old; Auditioning for the Voice, America’s Got Talent, Posting videos of me singing, my poetry, my photography, and now acting (seriously).
I remember so many times, after a bad audition, or practicing a song I couldn’t get the hang of my dad would say “There’s always going to be someone better than you, but there’s also always going to be someone worse than you.”
I think I just finally figured out it’s completely your choice which half you focus on. And the half I choose to focus on is the one that just loves to perform, whether it’s fruitful or not. When you believe you’re worthy of taking up space the imposter syndrome kind of melts away.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I think creativity is the backbone of my existence. If I didn’t have the arts I think I wouldn’t be even a fraction of who I am.
I’ve been a singer my whole life, and now an actress. And every time I make an attempt to step back from that I kind of lose myself.
My favorite part of acting is making people feel. Movies tell stories, and every person’s story has a place in the world. It deserves to be heard. It gives us perspective. Being trusted to tell someone’s story, even without realizing it, is something that’s just so special to me.
Currently I’m in a phase where I’m looking for an agent or manager to represent me, and get me into some more rooms with more stories to tell.
I’m also exploring modeling currently, and just following where the wave takes me.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

I think the first quality that was impactful to my journey was being tunnel visioned on myself. I try and keep the blinders on because everyone get’s their time in the sun, and someone else’s success will never take away from my own. And I think that can be paired with being genuinely happy for other people’s success, the same way you’d want them to be happy for yours.
A skill that was really important for me to learn was advocating for myself. The answer will always be no if you don’t ask. You lose nothing by putting yourself out there and seeing if anyone is interested in helping you go farther.
A piece of knowledge I believe is important is doing something because you love it. That sounds really obvious but you’ll never feel fulfilled, even with all the money or fame or recognition, if you don’t love what you’re pouring yourself into.
I think the best piece of advice I can give is just starting. We get so caught up on when or where or how, especially in the industry, and it’s really important to just start. You’ll never reach the finish line if you’re not even crossing the start. And those miles in between are equally as important.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

I could talk forever about my parents and how wonderful they are. I wouldn’t be following my dreams if it wasn’t for them.
My entire life they’ve always been so wise, and motivating. They sacrificed everything for me. My dad took many days off work to drive me to other big cities for auditions. They listened to me practice instruments I was terrible at, and sing the same songs for weeks on end, and asking them for feedback in a place they didn’t know how to give feedback but they tried anyways.
But the most impactful thing that did was make sure I never quit. They made me see things through, no matter what it was.
I used to find it so frustrating I couldn’t quit when things got hard but that was such a detrimental skill in my life. You can pivot whatever direction you need to if it’ll make it work, but you can’t quit.

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