Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Erica Bock. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Erica, 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?
Resilience comes from a variety of things. But for me, it comes from failing repetitively and also looking to those who have also failed repetitively. What wild things have people around me been able to overcome, and why couldn’t I do the same?
I often ask myself, “How can I remain effective despite my current obstacles and setbacks?”.For me, resilience comes from the realization that if I do not have it, I will never achieve more than the person next to me. I will remain average if I do not have resilience. Someone who is not resilient cannot positively impact those around them. Remembering this reminds me of its importance and inspires me ot get back up when facing adversity.
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’m passionate about storytelling in its many forms, whether through film, video, theatre, education or volunteering with non-profits. What excites me the most is being able to tell personal and intimate stories about the people around us. And, perhaps, my favorite stories to tell are those about imperfect heroes. The more imperfect and flawed the better as I think this helps us see the world in unique ways.
As a film and video producer, I view my job as a facilitator who removes obstacles that might hinder the telling of these important narratives. Whether it’s financial constraints, logistical challenges, or emotional barriers, my role is to clear the path for these stories to be told.
One of the most fulfilling aspects of my work is teaching college students studying in film and media programs at various universities in my region. My goal is to not only inspire them but give them tactical tools to actually achieve successful careers in the arts, something that most struggle with accomplishing. Through my involvement with organizations like the Junior League of Cincinnati, the Ensemble Theatre, and the Cincinnati Music Hall, I’m able to apply my skills in strategy and volunteerism to support causes that resonate with me deeply, telling the stories of those in my community. Through this, I connect people in ways that they might not have connected before, hopefully leading them to a resource they need. These are may favorite types of stories to document and tell.
What I find truly addictive about what I do is the ability to speak in countless voices. I feel as though I am many characters and each project I do is an expression of a vastly different part of myself. I believe that stories are the essence of the human experience. This is something that transcends language, time, and culture. One of my goals is to challenge, inspire, and create awareness through the stories I help bring to life. Some might call my work edgy, but I call it honest. Each project is a new challenge, filled with opportunities for growth and learning and even saying something offensive! And I cherish the opportunity to make a meaningful impact through my work.
I see storytelling as a primary tool for connection and understanding, and I’m committed to using my platform to shine a light on the diverse and complex stories that make up our world.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Communication, Relationships, and the acceptance of no life balance. Communication is key. As a communicator, I’ve realized that every person on this planet communicates differently and that is often because of their past experiences and current circumstances. Learning how to really dig through that to get to the heart of what people are wanting is a skill that I may never fully master, but it is one that I improved upon. I think understanding how different people communicate and how to best communicate back to them helps overcome most obstacles that we will run into, both professionally and personally.
From that, comes the importance of relationships. If someone does not have a relationship with me, how could I possibly tell the most honest version of their story? And how could hardships be overcome? I think relationship with those in the community is a primary factor that I attribute to success.
Lastly, it is important to accept a lack of work/life balance, especially in one’s 20s or 30s. Fun and family time do not always comes first when resilience and deadlines are considered. I remind myself that there is not a balance now so that when I am older, I can have the luxury of those freedoms.
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?
When I think of this trait, the idea of “jack of all trades, master of none” comes to mind for me. And that is quite a negative thing. Being able to be really good at one or two things sets you apart from the rest of the world, making you rarer than you would be otherwise. Being generally good or average at most things does not set someone up to achieve greatness. But, being really good at what you do allows you to excel. This does not mean that you shouldn’t be well rounded socially. I think that is the largest issue I see in many young people with career aspirations of any can. They surround themselves with typically the same types of people. But, to be at a true advantage, you need to surround yourself with people of all interests, religions, socio-economic status, political views, cultures, and goals. This brings a level of self awareness and helps one develop a sense of individuality and self.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @beetlebaileybock
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-bock-712630122/
- Other: Link to Reel: https://vimeo.com/823504529
