We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Simone Leanora a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Simone, thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.
For as long as I can remember people have described me as an “optimistic person.” At first, I didn’t understand what about ME made them feel that way. I didn’t feel that my optimism was any more or less than the next person, but the older I became, the more I noticed that for some, optimism is a hard trait to produce, to multiply and to keep the engine going. Because of that, I started to explore what kept my furnace burning. What I found is that my optimism comes from my deep well of hope. My hope is so strong, I have no choice but to be optimistic and BELIEVE in the things that I think and say. I think that once a person makes the choice to see things with the glass half full, it becomes apart of their DNA, engrained in their character to the point that they may not even notice its impact on their life or the lives of those around them.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am a Columbia University, MFA trained actor. Some acting credits include playing Rosalie in Amazon Prime’s THEM and originating the role of Maya Angelou at the North Carolina Black Rep theater. It’s been my life’s dream to act full time. I, like many artists am on the path, but it isn’t linear or finite. It’s taken a long time for me to deeply understand just how powerful and impactful my art can be with or without being “cast” in something. I have become much more than an actor. I am a writer, a Creative Exec and producer, who also happens to work as an Executive Assistant to one of my favorite actors, Mahershala Ali.
I’m most excited by the work I’ve began to create on my own and through collaborations that don’t warrant “waiting” for outside forces to make happen. I’ve written a feature film centered on a Black woman, I am SUPER excited about a project I am producing and acting in written by the infinitely talented Joslyn Rose Lyons and am in the infant stages of the social media passion project I am developing with my writing partner Vanesa Rey O’Dell. There is no greater feeling than feeling empowered to create your own work and express your ideas and thoughts with the world. I am very excited to be in development this way.
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?
Belief, persistence and action! I truly think that your unwavering belief in whatever your dreams are will be the fuel to guide you through the long, non linear journey of reaching your goals even when your current reality may show you other wise. I spent a lot of my early career seeking the validation of others around me and never getting it. I feel like it slowed me down in a way that wasn’t even obvious to me.
Being persistent is the quality that funnels that belief. Just because YOU believe, doesn’t mean everyone around you will. Who cares, persist. Keep going. Let your BELIEF guide you.
Lastly, action. Sometimes you may feel stuck and not know what you need to do to reach your destination. Do anything! I am of the belief that faith without work is dead. Who knows where that step/action will lead you…maybe not to the destination but to the map that leads you there. Do something and watch things happen!
I’ll end with the most cliché and most important. Never give up. Half the battle is beating out the ones who couldn’t hang on through the journey. Just keep going. At least that’s what I tell myself.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
Remember your “why.” This usually helps ground me enough in the moment to make a plan that would take off some of the feelings of being overwhelmed. If I have the time or space, I meditate and journal and ask myself the question, “what do I need right now to feel better?” If the answer is tangible, I make sure to get it. If not, I continue asking myself questions until I reach an answer that is. In short, I go in, shut out the noise and seek for clarity. Then I pick back up whatever task I had on my mind and get to it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.simoneleanora.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simoneleanora/?igshid=MmIzYWVlNDQ5Yg%3D%3D
Image Credits
Molly Pan (headshots)
