We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Laura Baggett a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Laura , thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
For a long time I was minimizing what I did and thought that I “should” or my work “should” be A/B/C. But then I realized that what I do is a gift, and that i have my own creativity that helps others with their visions. Once i was able to reframe what I was bringing to the table I was able to show up more authentically. Like Oh this project looks fun, How can I help? How can my talents support this project. Then it took the pressure off me to make my self tape or audition “Perfect” I could just show up and have fun. When I started having fun with the work, instead of trying to make them perfect, the jobs flow.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am currently working on a book of short stories, I am working out these pieces and going to open mics to see how my writing sounds. I just started a substack where I will be sharing more of my process both with writing and acting work. I guess what I am focusing on this year is balance. How do I find balance between work and life. In the past I have been too extreme. Either working too hard and burning out, or being completely dormant. I am afraid to say this but I MIGHT be working on (Gulp) a solo show..(eye roll). I used to do them all the time when I lived in New York and this year it’s sounding fun. Regardless of what comes out first I am hoping that my writing and work will inspire and uplift others. That is really all I want from my art.
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?
I think the skills that were most important in the long run were, 1.Passion, I had to love what I was doing, as soon as I stop enjoying the process I have to figure out a new way to do it. Like when I start getting frustrated with self tapes, I have to find ways to make it fun, be it finding scene partners who really support me, or looking for ways to make the character interesting. The next would be getting help, taking a class, finding community, or a coach. and the last would be kindness. No one wants to work with a jerk. When I started getting a lot of work I kind of got an attitude, looking back i was deeply insecure and afraid it was all going to go away, which it did for some time. I had to look at the way i was showing up to work with others.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron is a book I have read multiple times in my life. I have done it alone and with a group and it just really helps when I am in a rut, to have compassion with myself and my art. Doing it with a group was also super insightful and helped me at a time when I had just completely stopped creating. It’s also one of those books I can open and just see what speaks to me.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.laurabaggett.org
- Instagram: @laurabaggett
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-baggett-94182987/
