Meet L.a. Busteed

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to L.a. Busteed. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

L.A., thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

Resilience is a word that sometimes feels almost inaccessible. To me, it indicates a fervor to continue in the face of great adversity; a commitment to strength; the belief that there’s nothing that can stop you. My resilience developed early on in life, through a lesson that hit hard but now brings me strength: no one else will continue this n for you. No one will fight for you the way that you fight for yourself. That may sound harsh, but it makes me feel incredibly empowered: you’re telling me that all I need in this life is me? All I need is to believe in myself? All I need is that one flame, that one spark to keep going? The answer to all of these questions is a resounding yes. And more than that, you never know who is watching you. Someone out there needs to see someone exactly like you experiencing all that you experience, and to see you decide to keep going anyways.

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 spend my time connecting my community in valuable ways. At work, this means engaging the community through serving youth and families. Outside of work, I do this through my practice of theatre. I am proud to see my work in both fields expand every day!

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?

Looking back, self-reflection, growth mindset, and a strong work ethic have lead me to all my most positive experiences. As I grow older, I realize there are so few people willing to take a good hard look at themselves – and yet, often times that’s exactly what we need to do to see the growth we all crave so deeply. Whenever you find yourself facing your ego, give yourself time to process those big emotions, and then move into solution mode. How can I improve here? What are some feasible solutions?
As far as work ethic goes, never doubt the power of consistency and commitment. These two things will allow you to go farther over any talent others may display. Always give your 100% – people remember that!

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

A feeling of overwhelm is something I encounter regularly – it is definitely an area I’m looking to improve. For anyone else struggling with this, just remember that you truly cannot give from an empty cup. There is no shame in taking a break in order to recharge. Don’t underestimate the power of joy s Spend some quality time with yourself and those you love!