We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dianna King a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Dianna with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
From a young age, I have always been a hard worker at anything I do. I was 2 years old when my mom put me in my first dance class. I competed at such a young age and missed a lot of school activities and opportunities to bond with friends growing up. I learned very early on that if I wanted to do this, I had to sacrifice a lot of things. Competitive dancing is all work ethic intertwined with discipline and I do believe that I have carried that mindset throughout my life. My work ethic today is very unconventional. Don’t get me wrong, I grind every single day! I also like to take the time to work on writing, journaling, and working out because this helps my work grow even more. Mental health is so important and when I take the time to take care of my body and mind, it propels me into a much better mindset. Not only am I an actress and produce my own podcast, Blonde Ambitions Podcast, but I am also a wife and mom of 3 so I have to be mentally & physically prepared at all times! Work ethic is so incredibly important, especially in the business I am in. I have always loved this little piece of advice: HARD WORK BEATS TALENT. It is so true. You can be the most talented actor in the room, but if you don’t have the work ethic, you’ll get looked over EVERY SINGLE TIME. It goes for anything in life.
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?
Professionally, I am focused on checking off my huge goals one by one. I am focused on being the best actor I can be and inspire others to follow their dreams, no matter how big they are or how outlandish they sound. I want to have a huge platform where I can hopefully make a difference in peoples’ lives with my acting, dancing, and my podcast: Blonde Ambitions. This is something I am SO proud of and have produced and created from the ground up. I interview industry professionals, actors, photographers, stylists, etc… where we talk about achieving big goals, staying positive and keeping our mental health in check. I am gearing up for season 2 of Blonde Ambitions Podcast this September and it’s available everywhere you listen to podcasts. We are also on YouTube where you can also watch the episodes! Definitely check it out, I know you will love it! You know what makes this journey so special and exciting to me? I have always wanted to be a performer and I finally feel like this is my time; my time to really share my talents with the world. For so long I didn’t feel I was ready for this journey and I am glad God’s plan was for me to wait until after I experienced some life first. I want to be an inspiration to others not only to follow their dreams in the entertainment industry, but in any industry! I want people to know how worthy they are of what God has put in their heart.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
When I look back at the beginning of this journey, I had a lot of fear BUT I also had a massive drive (still do!), almost to a fault. For one, I have a very supportive family who is just as excited for my journey as I am. I am blessed. I truly believe that you have to have discipline in anything you pursue. For example: If you are an actor just starting out, your first move is to get into an acting class. You have to be disciplined week after week, month after month, year after year in order to really grow as an actor. A really good piece of advice I can give is to just enjoy the beginning of your journey. This is where you will learn so much about yourself and how much you really love what you are doing. Don’t be in a hurry. Really focus on the way you speak to yourself and keep your mindset in check always. Having skills is really important too! This is where discipline shines! The more committed you are to your training, the stronger your skills will be. Whether it’s acting, studying to be a doctor, or being a bartender. You have to be skillful in your work. Drive, discipline, and mindset are SO IMPORTANT in any journey. Just like an Olympic athlete, it’s the repetition of doing these things cohesively that makes you the greatest. The GOAT if you will. OK Simone!
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
When I feel overwhelmed, I hop into a spin class or I dance it off. I have to do something physical to get my mind off of anything weighing me down. The holiday season is very overwhelming for me only because it is another reminder of how my Dad isn’t with us anymore. But if I get on that spin bike or go in the room and dance, I am able to manage it much better. If physical isn’t your thing, I do find journaling and writing to be very helpful. Or maybe you lay down for 30 minutes or take a bath and listen to a podcast (hopefully Blonde Ambitions Podcast)! Whatever you do to decompress, make sure you let it all go before you carry on. Screaming into a pillow definitely releases some tension and hey, no judgement here! I get it. I am a wife and a mother of 3! Life is hard. We just have to learn what works for us and trust it. I got you!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/diannaking
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diannaking__
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@diannakingofficial/podcasts
Image Credits
@hdjmediaspotlight
@seankaraheadshots
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