Meet P.J. King

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

P.J., thanks for taking the time to share your lessons with our community today. So, let’s jump right in – one of the most essential skills for unlocking our potential is self-discipline. Where does your self-discipline come from?

My self discipline comes from growing up in divorced home. When I was twelve my parents divorced. My mom who didn’t work at the time started working full time. She at the time went back to college to earn her Masters in Social Work to become a therapist. This put the onus on me to get my homework finished and to make dinner and take care of my younger siblings. I didn’t have a choice. It wasn’t discussed. I just starting stepping up. It soon translated into my disciplined approach to athletics in high school. I became a Varsity basketball and football player not because I was necessarily the best. I was just more disciplined. Also, I’ll outwork anyone! Self discipline and a strong work ethic have always been my guiding principles. Both were born out of necessity.

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?

Ok. My money job is being a restaurant captain at the famed Michael Mina Steakhouse in Glendale, California. It’s called Bourbon Steak Los Angeles. I have been an employee there for the last 11 years. I became a captain two years ago. A captain is a lead server as well as being part of the management team. It’s a leadership role. I’ve realized that I’m fairly good at being a leader. I do like guiding individuals towards their greatest potential. The world is full of negativity. I want to be a positive influence in peoples lives. My passion though, is in the Arts. I have been a professional actor and voice actor for over 30 years now. Although I haven’t been able to make a living solely as an actor, I continue to work and make a living in it. I work professionally in commercials, television, and film. Most know me from my voice work on the acclaimed reality television series, “Bar Rescue”. I have been narrating that show for the past 10 seasons and we’re still going strong. In May of 2025, two television series’ that I co-starred in aired. I was in the first episode of JJ Abrams’, new HBO Max series “Duster” starring Josh Holloway from Lost. He’s a helluva nice guy by the way. I also had a nice part during the last episode on the Apple TV series called, “Government Cheese” starring the very talented David Oyelowo. Also, a feature that I starred in is finally getting traction after a few years of being stuck in post production hell. It’s an action thriller in the vein of Tarantino’s, “Resevoir Dogs” and Robert Rodriguez’s, “El Mariachi” It’s called “Kill City: Dead On The Money” and is written and directed by my good friend, Robert Benavides, Jr. Currently, I’m editing my first script that I’ve written. I’ve always wanted to be in a western so instead of waiting for a part, I decided to write my own. The creative process of writing my own script was and still is invigorating. As a writer, I don’t have to wait for anyone else to be creative. I get to be part of a world that I’ve created out of my own imagination and actually get to play all of the roles! My life is and always will be a balancing act between the love for my family, the love of art and creativity, and my financial obligations.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, I feel that having mentors, friends, and colleagues that share your same passion is instrumental in the development and longevity in the career of an artist. I need to have people in my corner that encourage me to never give up, to keep striving, and keep educating myself in my chosen career. I am not creating on an island. I have to learn to be vulnerable and accept criticism as well as paise. Secondly, I personally believe that I have to have a life outside of the arts. As an actor, I am a mirror for society. I need to have real life experiences and accept those life experiences, the good and the bad. The experience of living influences what and how I create. Thirdly, I need to cultivate a relationship with a Power greater than myself. I choose to call this Power, God. I need to be able to cultivate a practice that allows me to look inward in order to find peace of body, mind, and spirit. Before I start my day, I sit still for at least 10 minutes and practice a form of meditation and prayer. Those 10 minutes give my spirit rest and ultimately gives me the power that I need to be present in my day.

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?

Quitting drinking was by far the most influential thing that happened to me in my entire life. If I hadn’t quit drinking almost 26 years ago, I don’t know if I’d be around today. My life was in the toilet when I quit. I was living in NYC and could not get anything going creatively. I was tortured by the demons of my past, present, and future. I was in a state of anxiety 24/7. I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t make a living. I separated myself from my family, friends, and loved ones because I truly hated who I was and what I had become. I was a shell of a man. Recovery changed that. I separated myself from liquor for good. I found friends and strangers that truly understood me. I was also taught a way to live that I still use today. The basic tenants include, honesty, open mindedness, and willingness to grow as a human being. I am very grateful to be on this planet today. I’m grateful that I’m able to pass my knowledge on to others.

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