We recently connected with Tom Vera and have shared our conversation below.
Tom, so great to have you with us and thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with the community. So, let’s jump into something that stops so many people from going after their dreams – haters, nay-sayers, etc. We’d love to hear about how you dealt with that and persisted on your path.
No matter what you do in life, there will be supporters and haters. Unfortunately, that is out of your control. For me, I try to focus on the things I can control and everything else is just noise. Noise that will distract me from achieving my goals. So when haters are out there trying to rock me or bring my down, I just let their efforts roll off of me like water on a duck’s feather! Words are words, I chose not to give them power. Sticks and stones baby!
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am a man that wears many hats, but first and foremost, I am a father and a husband! There is nothing that I will accomplish in life that is as amazing as my family, as they are my greatest achievement! One of the other hats that I wear is that of a geologist, where I get to practice one of my passions and do what I love! The other hat I wear is that of an actor. Though geology is still something I will find a way to keep in touch with, acting gives me a sense of fulfillment that geology hasn’t. When I’m onset, I feel a sense of being in tune with the cosmos, as if this is what I was meant to do! But for me, it’s not only about the craft, but the impact I can have on someone. I remember as a young kid how much I loved Boy Meets World. I watched it religiously. And one day, while at a USC vs Stanford football game, I met Ben and Fred Savage and shook their hands. I remember walking away saying to my mom “I’m never washing this hand!” That has had a lasting impact on my life and I want to do that for someone else! That is what gives me the drive to keep pushing it to the next level, so one day I can pay it forward to as many people as I can! All I want to do is spread love and make people happy! And I feel like as an actor, I can do that!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
My journey of tipping the scales and becoming a full-time actor has forced me to discover a lot about myself and what I am capable of. But boiling it down to three, I’d have to say leave your ego at the door, enter the room with zero expectation or judgements and enjoy the ride! The life of an actor is tough and you have to develop thick skin, but if you can check your ego and enter any room without any preconceived notion of how it’s going to go and just truly embrace all that comes your way, then it becomes an adventure! And I don’t know about you, but I like a good adventure! But this too can be applied to life! It’s not about the destination, but the journey! Have sight of where you wanna go, but have fun getting there!!! The other piece of advice I have to give is to not get so lost in the weeds that you lose sight of the 30,000 level view!
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
Wow so I love this question. The book that has been the most impactful to my career has to be The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. My wife gave me this book and it is responsible for me getting into acting. The biggest message I took from the book is that if you truly want something and you’re going for it, the universe has a way of guiding you to it, so long as you listen to your omens! Be open to seeing them and reading them because they will guide you. There will be obstacles along the way as nothing worth it is easy, but don’t let anything get in your way! You are your only road block!
Contact Info:
- Website: imdb.me/TomVera
- Instagram: TomVeraTV
- Facebook: Tom Vera
Image Credits
Gettysburg Images Ray Kuglar Amilia Spicer
