We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Alessandra Manias . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Alessandra below.
Alessandra , 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?
Self-discipline is what keeps me alive and present in the moment, enabling me to live a healthy life and respect project deadlines, as well as others around me. It allows me to accomplish a multitude of tasks in a single day. My self-discipline originates from the education instilled in me by my parents and the schooling I received in Italy during my childhood. Over the years, I have further developed and honed this trait, making it my greatest strength today. Throughout my career, which predominantly involved freelancing or starting my own companies, effective time management and mental and emotional resilience have been crucial. Moreover, alongside my professional journey, I have faced numerous challenging situations in my personal life, including coping with severe endometriosis from a young age, relocating to the United States and starting anew, and enduring a painful divorce. However, self-discipline has prevented me from losing myself amidst these difficulties.
Regarding my self-discipline routine, I wake up early every day, engage in intermittent fasting four times a week, meditate, walk for an hour daily, and maintain a clean and organized home. I consistently create weekly to-do lists and set goals.
As a creative individual, discipline holds paramount importance, as my “creative time” is not bounded by the constraints of regular time; it feels like being suspended in another world. Therefore, self-discipline allows me to complete my projects, maintain order and well-being in my life, and nurture my essential roles as an artist and a spiritual being. Although I strive to do my best, life often presents unexpected situations, and I adapt accordingly.
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?
I am a creative individual, an empath, and a highly sensitive human being constantly seeking my place in this world. Being creative allows me to express myself in various ways, thanks to my language skills and educational background that have provided me with versatility in different domains.
Currently, I work as a Production Designer and Art Director for movies in Los Angeles, and I can honestly say that each day on set is filled with love and passion. Through filmmaking, I am able to unleash my creativity and apply the knowledge I gained from my Bachelor’s degree in Architecture. Over the past six years, I have had the privilege of working on 35 projects, and I am proud to have received my first international nomination for Best Production Design in the film “The Runner.”
Additionally, I engage in acrylic painting on canvas, and more recently, I have delved into the realm of digital art, specifically NFTs. Excitingly, on August 6th, 2023, I will be participating in my first international exhibition on HVAR Island, Croatia, alongside a group of talented artists and in collaboration with the Richard Bernstein Foundation. As the founder of the NFTAA (NFT Art Alliance), an international art collective, we aim to bridge the gap between physical and digital art through exhibitions. Our immersive exhibition in HVAR marks our initial project, and we aspire to create many more in the future.
Writing content for the entertainment industry, such as movies and documentaries, is another passion of mine. I am driven by the goal of creating projects that raise awareness about specific topics, particularly those that provide children with opportunities in this world. It is my desire to protect them, instill hope, offer education, and allow them to experience the joys of childhood.
At this moment in my life, I earnestly hope to find a dream team to collaborate with, enabling us to create positive change in the world.
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?
Three qualities that have allowed me to have incredible experiences and live life to the fullest are courage, perseverance, and empathy.
Without courage, I wouldn’t have been able to pursue the college education I desired in Architecture. Going against the wishes of my parents and professors, I wouldn’t have been able to move to another country or become an entrepreneur. Working in the film industry in Hollywood, which seemed like an impossible dream, would have remained out of reach. Even being an artist and embracing my creativity, despite the lack of understanding from others, would have been difficult. Courage is the first step towards changing situations, creating something new, thinking differently, and taking risks to become exceptional.
Perseverance has been the most challenging aspect for me. Surrounded by people who view my lifestyle, way of thinking, and life’s purpose as too utopian, I face daily discouragement from average individuals and societal systems. However, I continue to dream, plan, and take action every day, regardless of the obstacles.
Empathy is an innate gift and quality that I possess. It allows me to deeply experience and understand the energies, vibes, situations, people, animals, nature, light, colors, shapes, sounds, and breezes around me. However, this heightened sensitivity comes at the cost of pain. I utilize my empathy as a tool for creation, relying on it during my creative processes and when solving problems, as it provides me with a unique perspective. It enables me to easily connect with living beings, both perceiving the good and the bad. Empathy is both a gift and a burden because our society and system are built on values that are often incompatible with empathy. Capitalism promotes materialism and selfishness as central tenets, making it challenging for genuine individuals like myself.
The only advice I wish to impart is to stay true to yourself, disregarding the opinions of others, and making decisions based on your own values rather than following trends.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
My parents provided me with a strong education that instilled discipline and responsibility from a young age. However, they also granted me the freedom to make my own decisions. I had the autonomy to choose my path while simultaneously respecting their rules.
One valuable lesson I quickly learned was the importance of independence, making decisions, and taking risks on my own. Throughout my life, I have learned (and continue to learn) through my mistakes since I don’t always have a reference point. I have also developed the ability to build a supportive team wherever I go. Early on, I grasped the skills necessary to manage my finances, health, and home. As a result, I believe my strength stems from the understanding that my life is dependent on my choices alone and not on making excuses, and I am very responsible at work and on relationships.
However, an area I am still working on is seeking help when I truly need it. This is because my extreme independence has sometimes made it difficult for me to ask for assistance.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.alemaniasdesign.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alessandra_manias/?hl=it
