We were lucky to catch up with Haig Hovnanian recently and have shared our conversation below.
Haig, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
Through failure and practice. It sounds strange I guess, but through failing and practicing and failing and practicing some more, I began to learn from my mistakes and develop confidence and self-esteem. That’s how I grow. That’s how I gain confidence; and in turn, my self-esteem would get stronger. Most of my life I’ve had little to no confidence and self-esteem but through practicing with the tools that were given to me and failing with those tools, I learned to grow and improve, and will continue to do so.
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?
Well I’m an Artist, performance and fine art to be specific. On the performance art side of things I’ve been acting for some 14 years now, whether on stage or screen. I’m also a drummer who has been playing on and off professionally since I was 10. On the fine art side of things, I’m an abstract painter and wood sculptor. From painting big canvases to making lamps out of logs, I like working with my hands, hence the drumming. I can’t stop moving my hands so I might as well put them to good use!
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?
There were 3 things, let’s call them areas of knowledge, that were impactful in my journey that got me where I am today. One would be trusting your gut. Once I start down my creative path, whether that be acting or painting, I must first know where my gut is, then I must trust it. It’s never wrong, listen to it and it will guide you in the right way, I’m lost without it.
Another area of knowledge that I learned along the way in my journey is surrounding myself with people who can move with you not against you. When you move with the right people. you all move to together, so pick the right ones, otherwise wrong paths can be taken. Like the “Choose your own adventure” books.
Thirdly, especially in the creative world, it’s important not to take anything personally. That’s a big one in life, in general, but especially in the arts, where everything you create will be subject to criticism, so be open to it and take note. Must not let ego get in the way of art.
How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?
I believe that patience is a constant challenge for me. Being patient. Realizing that there are certain things in this world that I have control over, like my choices, but the rest is up to the universe. If it’s out of my hands, I know I shouldn’t force it, for it will not happen. I must just trust that what ever I put out into the world, will come back to me at a certain point. It’s not up to me to determine when, so I have to be patient. I put the good out, it’ll come back, eventually.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.haig.website
- Instagram: @haighowareya
- Facebook: Haig Hovnanian
