We were lucky to catch up with Eric Guilmette recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Eric, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
To be blunt… I tinkered with shit. I’ve lived many different lives in my 30 years on this planet, and one of the greatest contributions to my growth as an individual has been my desire to try new things. Openness is vital. The best way to truly know if you are good at something, or if you even like something, is to try it… experiment… don’t be afraid of failing. Through this process, you develop a lot of confidence in yourself. You learn a lot on the subject of You. My confidence is something I really love about myself, and it’s taken me very far in life. And now, as I am discussing how to find your purpose, I want you to consider this open question “Why?”. I use this question repeatedly… as an actor… as a model… as a poet… I am constantly asking myself Why?. My whys usually have whys. This has worked for me in so many disciplines in my life and it’s something I urge every person to do. It’s easy, but it’s also hard. But be open to it… Take a step back, take a breath, and ask yourself why you are doing what you’re doing? Why are you here? Why do you smile when that happens? Why does your heart light up when you see someone doing that? Why do you miss them? Why did you just think about that moment with that person? All of these questions and answers… they’re all unique to each of us. So on your journey to finding your purpose, remember that it’s not going to be what someone else says or wants, it’s going to be yours; what you truly want. So to be blunt, your purpose is your responsibility to find.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am full time life liver. Cheesy, I know. In the living of my life, I am blessed to have the career as an actor, model and poet. I have been doing this, for 4 and a half years, to date, and I wouldn’t change what I do for anything in the world. Acting has slowly (and quickly) become the focal point for what I do every day. I have several amazing films coming out in 2024. I’m excited about all of them, but the one that I think will make the biggest impact on the world is called “The Black Box”. This feature film is a psychological thriller and tells a story about college graduates who get their hands on a game that is only made for the most exclusive of people. We start playing and then the truth of our connection is revealed… This film addresses a lot of relevant social issues and will be so much fun to share with the world later this year.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Confidence. Consistency. Sacrifice.
As I already alluded to, confidence is everything. If I walk into an audition lacking confidence, I can guarantee I will not book the role. But knowing my skill set, and knowing I can learn, and just believing I can do anything I put my mind to… that is what has gotten me this far, and will continue to do so.
Consistency in any area of your life is vital. You want a better body? Work out consistently. You want to learn a new language? Study it consistently. You want to live your dream? Do the things you need to do to achieve it consistently. Don’t falter. Don’t half ass it.
Which leads me to number three: Sacrifice. Life isn’t easy. We all have 24 hours. How we use those 24 hours is up to us. I can be completely transparent and say I’ve had to be selfish many times in my life and put myself first. I’ve had to sacrifice time with friends, time with loved ones, relationships, sleep, a lot of stuff I didn’t want to sacrifice, in order to create the space and time for my dream. It’s not easy, but figure out what you value the most and those who truly love and support you will be there for you on your journey. People who really care understand. And that starts with yourself.
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?
My parents taught me a lot. I am blessed to have the mum and dad I do. Seriously, I wouldn’t be where I am in life without them. In the plethora of things they taught me, the one that has been a reoccurring theme that has gotten me far is this: “Under Promise. Over Deliver.” I’m not perfect, so of course I’ve had moments where I didn’t meet the expectations that I set… BUT the majority of the time, the majority of the people who know me… they know I am consistent at this. If I say 9 am, I mean 9 am. And I’ll probably be there at 8:57 am. I always wanted to be a man of my word, because words matter… and I am. I can proudly pat myself on the back and say I am a man of my word. And those who know me know that. So, my advice is mean the words you say. Set reasonable expectations. Admit when you don’t know something. This is the greatest sign of respect to just be honest and truthful with yourself and with others. This will take you far. Thank you mum and dad for teaching me this.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://eric-guilmette.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/erictaylorguilmette
Image Credits
1. Eduardo Fermin 2. Michelle Lancaster 3. Russell Baer 4. Jenny Quicksall 5. Bryan Tubola
