We were lucky to catch up with Carlene Griffith recently and have shared our conversation below.
Carlene, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
Whether in writing, show business, or being an entrepreneur, resilience is an absolute must. When pursuing goals and dreams, the reality is you hear ‘no,’ 99% of the time. No, you’re not right for the part. No, this writing doesn’t cut it. No, your idea will never work. No, you’re not ready. I mean, no one wants to hear no! But the truth is, the naysayers will always outnumber those who believe in you and encourage you. Learning to resist listening to all the no’s is vital if you truly want to achieve success. You can either accept the no, turn away, and give up, or take a minute to evaluate the no. Instead, use the no as a tool to determine what your next steps are.
Honestly, I can’t tell you exactly where my resilience comes from. Maybe it’s because I’ve seen too many people give up and let life suck them dry, or because I’m stubborn. I don’t know. Don’t get me wrong, I feel the sting just like everyone else when they get ‘no’ as an answer. But I have decided not to let it stop me. I let myself feel disappointed, but only for a minute. Then I get back up and try to look at it from another perspective. Sometimes hearing no has nothing to do with me at all. It could be circumstantial or a completely subjective reason. Sometimes it means I still have work to do, and that’s okay. Even at the big 50, I don’t know everything. I think it’s important to stay open and willing to learn, whether in my craft or my assumptions. Eventually, I’ll get through all those 99 no’s and all that will be left is yes!
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
As a child, I always wanted to be an actress and work in the Entertainment Industry. I was fortunate that I had a parent who let me do everything I could to pursue that dream. Right out of high school, I moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. I took classes, did extra work in TV and film, got an agent, and even earned my Screen Actors Guild eligibility. I felt successful. However, I wasn’t working enough to pay the bills. So I took a job at Disney Studios, working behind the scenes. I fell in love with the business of entertainment more than acting. It was great. But soon my priorities shifted and my desire for a family outweighed my desire for the spotlight. So, I moved, married, and had kids. It was great, but after a while, I needed something more. I needed something to fill my creative thirst because being only a stay-at-home mom wasn’t cutting it.
In 2010, with my oldest son about to finish his first year of kindergarten, two other little ones underfoot, and a husband who traveled for work, I foresaw a brutally hot, lonely summer trying to fill the days with low-cost activities to keep the kids busy and me sane. This led to research into home-based businesses. I discovered if I got a business license and insurance, I could offer theater classes for kids out of my home. Which is exactly what I did.
I opened Griffith Playhouse, and my children’s theatrical program was born. A program that taught little ones singing, dance, and acting skills with an opportunity to perform. As my kids grew, so did the program. Today, as the owner-operator of Griffith Playhouse, I provide classes, write and produce short plays, and publish books of plays for kids.
My series 10 MINUTE PLAYS FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES is sold internationally. The plays included in my compilations are often licensed by schools, community theaters, private organizations, and educational publishers. 10 MINUTE PLAYS FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES has even been translated into Farsi. It’s on Amazon’s Best Sellers list for theater books for teens and young adults and I’m thrilled to announce that Volume #3 of 10 MINUTE PLAYS FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES is due to come out by the end of the year.
Besides my theater and playwriting business, I’m also pursuing a professional writing career in children’s literature (PB, MG, and YA Novels) with credits, including a fairy tale series called ROSE MAIDELAIEN, and short story fiction for adults. I have a Mythology-based young adult novel currently on submission. In this pursuit, I’m very involved with SCBWI, the Society of Children’s Books, Writers, and Illustrators. I act as the co-assistant Regional Advisor for the SoCal Chapter and the editor of the Newsletter. SCBWI keeps me very busy with assisting with book signing events, conferences, retreats, and critique groups. I have found working with SCBWI benefits both my professional writing career and my Griffith Playhouse business.
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 think my faith, leadership skills, and resourcefulness have been most impactful on my journey. Without faith in myself and God, I don’t think I would’ve had the courage to do anything I’ve done, from leaving home to letting go of one goal for another, to starting a company by myself. My journey has been very personal and unconventional. It hasn’t been easy, but I knew, if I could see myself or imagine myself achieving my goals, I knew I could succeed at it.
I’ve always had an independent spirit and have never been one to wait around for someone else to lead me. Who knows, maybe I’m just not very patient. Regardless, I’ve always taken it upon myself to learn what I wanted to know. I’m willing to do the research, ask around, and willing to learn whatever it takes to make my goal happen. I don’t know if that comes from my upbringing influences or just because I was born a leader, but it’s helped me throughout my life. I’ve always been the one to take the lead and I enjoy doing it.
My advice to others on their journeys is to have faith in yourself. We are all born with something that makes us different, special, and unique. What is that thing? Lean into it, develop it, and let it grow within you. Set goals, and work at them every day. Don’t wait around for others to make your dreams come true. It’s not their dreams, it’s yours.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
Many books have played an important role in my life. Reading and participating in community plays taught me how to write plays. There are too many to name. But when it comes to story and the craft of storytelling, my go-to is always STEIN ON WRITING by Sol Stein. The insight he gives on the writing process is fantastic. SAVE THE CAT WRITES A NOVEL by Jessica Brody is another great tool for learning story beats. I use this not only for my novels but also for my plays, to make sure the rise and fall of emotions are there.
Other books that have impacted my journey, are THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED by M. Scott Peck and MAN’S SEARCH FOR MEANING by Viktor E. Frankl. I was going through a real self-help phase at one point in my life and these two books resonated with me. I gained insight into how life is supposed to be hard, and the minute we accept that fact life gets easier. Accepting that obstacles and challenges are expected and can be opportunities in disguise, helps you gain perspective. It can help you deal with problems more effectively. Instead of dwelling on the problem, you’re more inclined to focus on the solution. The choice is yours. No one can take that away from you, no matter your circumstances.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.carlenegriffith.com
- Instagram: @cmgriffith123
- Facebook: @AuthorCarleneGriffith
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/carlene-griffith-70514b133
- Twitter: @AuthorCGriffith
