We recently connected with Mika McCalla and have shared our conversation below.
Mika, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?
Optimism is a unique state of mind, as it is not something someone can flip on and off. If you truly want to be an optimist, you have to work at it.
People often confuse optimism with happiness, or a seemingly happy outward appearance, but optimism can come in many forms. Optimism doesn’t mean you are always smiling or joyful, optimism is trusting in yourself and knowing that the work you put in towards your goals will be worth it. Candidly, I have not always been an optimist as hardships early in life caused me to slip into a negative form of thinking. But now, I can proudly and gratefully say, I am an optimist.
I find my drive to maintain, grow, and share optimism via my work ethic and love for my family. Having a strong work ethic seems to be a fundamental pillar of success, and without optimism, it would be nearly impossible to achieve. When I was a teenager, I was always in a hurry to get things done. If something I wanted didn’t have an instant result, I would be upset. My need to always get instant results may have stemmed from being a child of the technology boom generation, but mainly, the root cause is my Type-A personality. I have always loved to jump into projects and chase my dreams, but it was not until recently, that I finally learned that I needed to replace the need for instant gratification with optimistic patience.
As an aspiring actress, the road to success is not a path that’s written out in a handbook. Pursuing this line of work involves endless unknowns and a truckload of self-discipline. My day consists of a dedicated fitness and beauty routine, studying the craft of acting, growing my portfolio, networking, role submissions, learning dialogue for auditions, and diving deeper into a role for callbacks. I’ve quickly learned that an aspiring actress needs to be ready to film at all times, as you never know when your next opportunity will come. Managing and balancing a career of this nature can be challenging, making keeping an optimistic point of view a necessity.
My journey to an optimistic perspective was not an easy one, and still, I stumble in remaining optimistic and not letting negativity bring me down. But during times of weakness, I will reflect on why I work so hard: for my family. God has blessed me with a beautiful family and I am so thankful to be able to experience life with them. With hard work, optimism, and God, I will provide my mom with the life she deserves… One full of happiness, peace, excitement, and puppies!
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 Mika McCalla: A lifelong Southern Californian, specifically the beautiful beach town of Encinitas, who is pursing acting. I cut my teeth in entertainment via the music business, where I worked at companies such as Goldenvoice (Coachella), Insomniac (EDC, Beyond Wonderland), and Full Stop Management (Azoff Company). While finishing my Bachelors of Science at University of Southern California, I had the opportunity to take cinematic arts courses and rediscovered my passion for film.
As an actress, I am driven and inspired by the greats of Hollywood’s Golden Era. If I had to pick three actresses who I consider my biggest inspirations, I would choose Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe, and Elizabeth Taylor. Those three woman embodied the essence of what makes movies truly remarkable. As our beautiful country is starting a Golden Age itself, I am excited to watch the industry grow and hopefully be a part of cinema’s resurgence.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The three mindsets that have been most impactful in my journey thus far are:
1. Being a Self-Starter
2. Not “Letting the Odds” Alter my Decisions
3. Chasing After Dreams My Way
1. Being a Self-Starter
From my earliest memories, when I started vocalizing my desire to go into entertainment, I was endless met with the same response: “that is a tough industry”. This is not wrong, entertainment is a hard field to get into and thrive within, but the notion that you need to be a “nepo-Baby” or have a rolodex to get started is a fallacy. My mom and I like to joke (and there is truth within our jokes) that we wish she was an established actress and I could explode onto the acting scene. That is not the case, but I have confidence in my pursuit as I made my own connections and opportunities while working in the music business. One of the best examples I can provide of being a self-starter comes from when I was working in artist management, and was tasked with getting ahold of Anna Wintour, the Editor of Vogue. With no special connections or contact information, I was able to get in contact with Anna’s top assistants and got the client their request via special delivery and a call from Anna herself. How did I do this? Simply by finding a public email contact, stating my purpose, and went on from there – If you have a good reason to contact someone, just do it! I have come to realize that many people want to help others out..Do not be afraid to be a self-starter and ask!
2. Not “Letting the Odds” Alter my Decisions
A way of summing up this mindset would be “don’t be afraid”. When I decided to only apply to USC, I was utterly ridiculed by nay-sayers “warning” me that the odds were extremely slim. At first, being met with such negativity from “friends” and “educators” regarding a decision that only affected me filled my thoughts with doubt and fear. But, with the help and guidance of my supportive family, I learned the valuable lesson of not letting “the odds” stop you from pursuing your dreams.. And sure as hell do not let other people stop you from betting on yourself. Having confidence in yourself and your ability is the best bet you can ever make.
3. Chasing After Dreams My Way
If you have a dream in life, I recommend turning that dream into a vision, then that vision into a plan. Research, education, networking, and mentorship are all vital aspects in the journey to success. But, the most important part of chasing your dreams is pursing it in the manner you desire. At the end of the day, you are the one doing the work and rolling with the punches of daily pursuit. Following someone else’s plan will not be a good fit as everyone is different, which is an amazing thing, so make sure to tailor your path to fit your specific dreams!
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
A book I marinate on often is Just Jackie: Her Private Years by Edward Klein. Many of us are enamored by the presence, fashion, and culture Jackie Kennedy brought to our nation during her way too short of time as First Lady of The United States. But, to truly understand her legacy, it is important to study her less publicized years. Every page of Klein’s book is a new layer of the legendary lady, from her childhood and years working as a journalist, to her new post-political life as societal matriarch and wife to another, very different, powerful man.
I leave additional story arcs for you to discover within Klein’s pages, but I want to emphasize the importance of studying the whole journey of people you look up to. Whether it is another historical figure, an award-winning actress, or simply the early foundations of your own family tree, a lot of questions and challenges about your life can be answered by learning from those before you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mikamccalla.my.canva.site
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikamccalla/
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