Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Arianna Jones. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Arianna, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?
No matter what you do in life, it is imperative that you love yourself and understand your worth. If you fail to give yourself the respect that you are worthy of, you cannot necessarily expect it from other people. You have to believe in yourself and acknowledge your own potential and power first. You have to assure yourself that if you were blessed with the opportunity to be in that space to begin with, you belong there. Act like you belong there. You are there for a reason.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am an actress, producer, and writer. I have a feature film that I performed in and worked as an associate producer on that is currently in post production. It is anticipated to premiere this summer! In addition to that feature film, I am starring in a series that is currently in production and working on two other projects both currently in pre-production. I generally produce, write, and act for film. However, I was also recently cast in a stage play. I am playing Olivia in the Virginia premiere of Fireflies by Donja R. Love. This play is centered around a young black writer who is married to a well-known civil rights leader in 1963 in the days following the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham. What I strive to do with my art is tell stories that educate, inspire, and impact.
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?
I would say the first thing would be passion. Passion is not something that can be taught or forced but it is something that is necessary. To me, success is more than just the tangible things associated with it. It also includes your mental, physical, and emotional health. It is important that we take the time to do what we genuinely love to do and invest in our own happiness. You have to be passionate about your field or your craft to find true success and fulfillment in it. Next would be work ethic. You must be willing to work hard and put your all into the things you do if you expect to see great results. Lastly, you need resilience. It is not enough to just love what you do and to work hard at it. You must develop an understanding that failure is a part of your process. Knowing how to recover, continue moving forward, and learn from your mistakes is crucial.
We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?
I believe that being well rounded and multi-talented always serves as an advantage. I enjoy the saying, “Master your craft, and then master all others.” Often times we are made to believe that we must follow one path and one path only towards our success. In reality, if you are truly destined to do something or to achieve something, as long as you are consistently pushing forward, you will reach the destination you are called to reach regardless of if your life takes some unexpected turns. Acting is my passion. It is what I love to do above all else. It is for that reason I dedicate a great amount of my time to perfecting that craft. However, the more I explore and expose myself to other art forms such as writing, producing, and directing, I realize how much easier each job on set becomes when you have knowledge of what the other people around you are doing as well. This is true in any field. Knowledge is power. I believe you should always seek opportunities to learn and grow as much as you possibly can.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ariannajones.com
- Instagram: @ok.ari
