Alyssa Anne Austin shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Alyssa Anne, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
It’s really important to start my day with my morning routine. I’ve been doing some variation of the same morning routine for about 4 years now. First thing is coffee (which is necessary for me!) – I get out of bed, give my dogs some love, and head to the kitchen for my first coffee of the day. Then I head back to bed, get out my journal and do my “morning pages” (something I learned and have kept up with from The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron when I first did the program in 2021). I need to get my thoughts down on paper in the morning so I can start the day with a clear head! From there I also: express gratitude, review my monthly and yearly goals, as well as my “Vision Statement.” When I’m feeling REALLY on it, I’ll also do my daily Duolingo (I have a life goal of being fluent in French!) From there, I get up and get dressed and ready for the day, and take my dog, Kai, for a walk, which shifts the energy for me so I can dive into what I need to do, work-wise, when I get back home.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Alyssa Anne Austin – I’m an award-winning actor, best-selling author, and creative entrepreneur. Since 2018, I’ve been running my coaching business, Poised & Professional, where I help ambitious women make intentional change through career coaching, personal branding strategy, and business coaching. I am passionate about helping my clients discover their unique gifts, own their stories, and pursue their DREAM lives!
When I’m not running my business, I work as a theatre, commercial, and film actress (you may have seen me on your TV or your Instagram feed!) My favorite place to be is on stage; I’ve had the opportunity to work at some of the most acclaimed theaters in Southern California, including The Old Globe and La Jolla Playhouse, and I spend as much time as I can auditioning in NYC as well (you’ll see my on Broadway or on Tour near you in the next year or so!) I debuted my award-winning, “part TED Talk, part Broadway cabaret” one-woman-show, “Always a Banana, Never the Bride” in 2022, which combined my passions of performing and coaching. When I’m not performing or coaching, I spend as much time as I can with my husband and our two dogs, and also traveling!
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
One of the biggest beliefs I internalized as a child – specifically as an oldest daughter of 4 kids – was that I always had to set the example; I believed that I had to be *perfect.* And this is a belief that I carried with me into adulthood for longer than I’d like to admit. The reality is that perfection is a myth – as long as you are doing your very best, doing work (and art) that YOU are proud of, and that brings you joy – that’s all that matters. Because that’s what “success” really is!
What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
I heard a quote a few years ago that really changed my perspective about failure. The quote was, “Are you failing at least 15% of the time?” Meaning, not just that it’s NOT a bad thing to fail, but actually that it’s something to STRIVE for! You should strive to reach so far, swing so big, and try new and uncomfortable things to the point that you are failing MORE often. Because that failure is where growth, change, and learning happens. That is something I really carry with me now – the idea that failure is actually the GOAL sometimes.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies that the acting/performing industry consistently tells its community is that you need to fit into a certain “box” or a certain “type” to be successful. Sure – it’s easy to be “type cast” and there’s an ease once people know the easiest place they can fit you into… but it’s also boring! As an actor, I pride myself on my depth and versatility (and those are the qualities that I admire most in my favorite actors and artists). Instead of trying to fit yourself into any mold or fit yourself into any boxes, focus on being YOURSELF and honoring what makes you YOU. You can be more than one thing – and you are the most dynamic, authentic, memorable and radiant version of yourself when you are!
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
This is something I have struggled with quite a bit. As a very ambitious person, I’m always setting and striving for goals. But when(!), I reach those goals – when I find myself in rooms I once DREAMED about being in, for example – it’s so easy to just immediately re-baseline and think “Okay, what next?” So it’s not that achieving that goal didn’t “satisfy” me, it’s that it’s easy to just immediately look forward to the next thing. So I’m at a point in my life where I’m really trying to acknowledge and celebrate achievements for what they are. One of my favorite reminder quotes is “remember the things you have now that you used to pray for.” That perspective is everything.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://poisedandprofessional.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alyssaanneaustin
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssaguttendorf/
- Other: https://www.alyssaanneaustin.com/
Image Credits
Leah Huebner, Adriana Zuniga Williams, Brooke Aliceon
