We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kristen Henry King. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kristen Henry below.
Kristen Henry, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
As an actor and singer I think we all fall prey to imposter syndrome—especially when you are comparing your journey to someone else’s. The fact is I have been doing this for almost 2 decades. I’ve had a few friends who’ve hit stardom—whether it be Broadway or TV, but I’ve also had more of my friends quit this path. I do not blame them. The road of persistence without reward for this long is a grueling one. But that same persistence is what helps me overcome this feeling of “I’m not famous yet, so why should I give my input on how to be an actor?” The truth of the matter is, my experience thus far is valuable. My mistakes cost me time and money but I’m here to let others not fall for the same trap. I will help shorten their timeframe and I am also a shining example that your life or your dreams aren’t over because you decided to get married and have kids first. The biggest myth of all is thinking you have to put your life on hold for this career.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I’m a singer/songwriter, actress, motivational speaker & entertainment business coach. Performing and creating an emotional impact on an audience has always been my purpose. And to get paid to do what I love is even better. It also brings me joy to teach others how I got to where I am now from zero.
As a child I was considered a musical prodigy. My parents are both corporate so they didn’t really know how to get me where I wanted to go, but my Mom especially tried to figure it out and has always been an advocate for me. As I got older I was just another talented artist. I had to find out what sets me apart from other artists, and how to dispel the myth that your life is over once you have kids.
If I still believed that, I wouldn’t be married, or have kids, and I would still be chasing a career that has more losses than wins. I have made more money as an artist after overcoming a battle with MS, and having a family, than I did when I was single and twenty something. Life gave me grit. And that grit became my superpower in this business. I believe it is THE THING that makes it possible to keep going, coupled with KNOWING that it can happen at any moment is the reason I persist. This also encompasses my brand. I find that the roles I tend to audition for have positions of authority or safeguarding. So in between doing my own auditions, I help others come up with their own branding that will get them more opportunity.
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?
Those three things are 1. Knowing your worth—this comes with mindset shifting and investing in yourself when it comes to spiritual enhancement whether that be from your church, or courses, or books
2. Surrounding yourself with winners in your field or ppl that will contribute to your journey and not take away from it. I’m really dead serious about this one. The statements that invalidate or evaluate who you are, or your career choices on a daily or even hourly basis can start to seep into your thoughts and you start to believe it. And once you believe it, you’re done for. No matter what your mental fortitude is, no one can endure that amount of negativity.
3. Keep your skills sharp. Never stop creating. If you sing, sing everyday. If you act, start an actors sandbox in your area and do play readings or bounce ideas of each other. If you write, find 5 minutes a day to do so.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
My parents could have easily cut me off when I moved to NY at 18 to become a professional singer. They financially helped me, while I pursued my artistic career until I got on my own 2 feet. They didn’t understand it, but they saw that it brought me joy.
They allowed me to stand in my true self and to this day they still support me and are my greatest cheerleaders. I am truly grateful that I had the privilege to fall on my face and someone would still be there to pick me back up.
Contact Info:
- Website: Kristenhenryking.com
- Instagram: @kristenhenryking
- Linkedin: @kristenhenryking
- Twitter: @decodehollywood
- Youtube: @kristenhenryking
Image Credits
Alexis L Beckford, Tim Sabatino
