Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jeff Harding. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jeff, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
How did I find my purpose? I am not sure I believe you find your purpose, just as I don’t believe you choose your journey. I believe your purpose reveals itself you and you have to be enough self-aware to recognize it. As well, I don’t believe purpose can be talked about without also talking about passion. As cliché as it is, Passion and purpose are not two (one-way) streets but rather an intersection. I feel grateful to have found that intersection. Some people never even find either of the streets. My purpose (and passion) found me through what I call my “accidental” journey. Through several career paths that presented themselves to me in my life, I was self-aware enough to recognize what things brought me joy. As my favorite late author and motivational speaker Zig Ziglar had me believe – “why do I get up in the morning and put my pants on and go to work”. I used that statement to stay aware each day as I put one leg and then the next into my pants and moved forward with my day. I found through my self-awareness and a series of accidental and chosen career choices over the years the things that gave me a sense of accomplishment, joy, pride and contributed in some way in helping others. Those are the things that kept me from hitting the snooze bar in the morning. You see, if you are excited to get up in the morning because you get to do stuff that aligns then you are close or at the intersection. Its recognizing and researching how to fit both into your daily life – the money will come. Enthusiasm about your purpose and passion will provide financially for you. But you must also remain uncomfortable. These are the moments of growth and recognition of your purpose and passion. My purpose and passion never really changed, but rather I have changed or… my journey took a turn and I had to adjust my filters (how I see the journey and the turn). I must then recognize this and use it to elevate and fuel my purpose and passion or let it go. For example, my purpose and passion changed in 2020 when I heard the three words “You have cancer”. That year, it was hard to imagine getting into a hospital surgery, radiation and chemo while Covid has filled all the hospital beds. My purpose an passion changed again about 2 years to the day in 2022 when I heard “your cancer is back” and once again in January 2024 when I heard “You have brain cancer”. These blessings (yes, I said blessing) provided added fuel and energy to stay aligned with my purpose and to fervently chase my passions as well. To sum it up, I found my purpose (and passion) through self-awareness, adjusting my filters on life’s accidental journey and the un-comfortability of life.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Currently I am doing what I call passion bucket filling. I am grateful and blessed that a cancer diagnosis has really provided me “accidental” opportunities I may not have ever seen had those three words not been spoken to me. I always said, when I retire, I want to do community theater since I had done theater in Middle and High School. Well, I started doing background acting/extra work in late 2021 and quickly caught the bug again and in October 2023 I participated in the 48 Hour Film Challenge (make a short film in 48 hours). I delivered my first lines in that film and from there I just had to have more. I took my first class from a working actor name William Mark McCullough who really helped me begin the process and has continued to be a supporter and mentor for me. His advice was a reminder to me of what I already know but lost sight of a bit (and I am paraphrasing) “don’t worry about what you don’t know, just go out there and do it”. So, I began taking acting classes and industry seminars with others in the business like Chad Darnell, Anthony Paderewski and Jeanmarie Collins. I am doing student films for what I call “gym time” for SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design) and other local creative colleges. I fell in love with film racing and have done some competitions that are 24 hours, 72 hours and 100 hours to make a short film. I have now also written shorts, directed shorts, produced shorts and even worked behind the camera and crew as well as in front. I did my first feature length film in supporting role in 2024 and some other indie films here. I am constantly looking for Film, TV and Commercial opportunities. I started a fledgling little production group called TGOL Productions (Tall Glass of Lemonade) based on my mantra “Crushin” Lemons” I started in 2020 when I first was diagnosed with cancer. I write a Crushing’ Lemon’s article I address to the “Lemonheads” (followers) every 3 weeks now for over 2 years on Facebook while I sit in the chemo chair. It’s a deep thinking, largely mental health or social related post to provide inspiration to others. Cancer is not the enemy; life’s mental battle is and that is something anyone can relate to. I started writing a book I call “C.A.N.S.W.E.R.S.” to inspire others, share my journey and to hopefully help those living life with cancer find hope in a future. I have ideas and aspirations to write a children’s book as life allows to help our young kids realize what they teach us in acting and is a very important lesson in life – you are enough! In my spare time, I like to also fill my passion buckets with swimming in my pool, attending theater, improv and comedy shows and I also love to play golf. In addition, I am also a handyman.
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?
Commitment, Listening. Learning.
Do all the small things not just the big, Pay attention and never stop learning or asking questions. Follow your gut and don’t ever have a Plan B as then Plan A won’t work. Never consider failure if you believe in what you’re doing and it aligns with your passion and purpose. More importantly, the sooner you analyze why you put your pants on in the morning and NOT hit the snooze bar you have found the intersection of success. Take note and never get too far away from it but stay uncomfortable. Lastly, stay self-aware and take note of your accidental journey as life’s clues and blessings are right in front of you but you must remain open to recognizing them..
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
A friend of mine suggested a book to me to read. It has probably had the most impact on me and that book is “the untethered soul, the journey beyond yourself” by Michael A. Singer. I’m not sure I can pick just one thing out of this book. It has proven to be inspirational to me as a deep thinker, intuitive writer, analyzer of life’s journey and also some spiritual guidance. I would say that maybe my biggest takeaway was that second voice in your head. That’s the mental battle we all face. In fact, I used the idea of the second voice in our head as an impetus for a monologue I wrote to delivering in an acting Agency showcase. I entitled it “Unwelcome Roommate”. For me the “unwelcome roommate” is the voice in our heads as the book describes but also the cancer that I live with. Both are unwelcome. I suggest this book to a lot of people and I will again suggest it to anyone reading this article. It really is impactful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jhardingactor.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/jhardingactor
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/JHardingActor
- Other: https://imdb.me/jhardingactor
Image Credits
Anthony Paderewski (AP Shoots People) – (for the Headshots/Full Body shots)
Jeff Harding – (all others)
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
