Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Samantha Janco. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Samantha thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’ve love to hear an interesting investment story – what was one of the best or worst investments you’ve made? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)

The best investment I ever made was to purchase my first home. I remember when it was nothing but an idea. I searched and studied the housing market for about a year and a half on my own before I partnered with a real estate agent. It was an incredibly daunting process and used up almost all of my savings at the time. I had an incredible real estate agent and lender. Without them, it would have never happened. I wanted to do it on my own and keep my parents out of it. I didn’t want them to think I was asking for help – this is something I wanted to do myself. Even after I moved in, it took about a month before I was able to look around, relax, and appreciate that it was mine. However, from the extensive research I had done prior to the purchase, I had a property that was worth more than I paid for it even on the day it became mine. That offered some comfort.

Almost five years later, last January, I listed my condo for sale. I listed it high, hoping for the best. After about a month on the market, I had my first couple offers. I did really well on that sale, better than I could have ever hoped five years ago. That profit was taken to my financial advisor to be kept safe and invested.

The sale was a strong beginning to the future financial freedom I’d like to create for myself. It alleviated stress in many areas of my life. By no means was it enough to no longer worry about finances or to stop working. But, I no longer needed to put so much pressure on auditions. I could perform to the best of my ability and not worry about booking a job to pay my next bill. It was simply a solid foundation to build a better future.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

For the majority of my life, I have been involved in the performing arts. At the age of 6, I was enrolled in my first dance lessons. For 13 year, I was a member of a competitive dance company specializing in tap, jazz, and ballet. Dance led to musical theatre, which led to theatre, and ultimately acting for film and television. Currently, that is my primary focus and has been for the last 1o years. My coaches have referred to the entertainment industry as a marathon, not a sprint. I share that view. I have had the opportunity to work on many wonderful projects but I have a long way to go. I have incredible agents who provide opportunities to audition. I continue to train weekly in classes and private coaching. I’m a firm believer that luck happens when opportunity meets preparation. All I can do is make sure I am prepared when the opportunities come my way!

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

There are an infinite number of industries, professions, and stations in the world. I am fully committed to my path and wouldn’t change it if I could. However, one of the greatest things about acting is that it gives you the opportunity to explore different paths. I audition for teachers, reporters, doctors, people in small town and large cities, even in different time periods. When you are preparing a character, you study their movement, surroundings, and point of views. I don’t need to wonder about a different life because in a way, I get to experience, even if it just a little, a million different lives in the one life I get.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

I believe I always knew that a business mindset was just as important as a creative mindset when pursing a creative career. However, I don’t know if I understood the scope of that idea. As an actor, you are the product. Your online presence, resume, media clips, and agents are resources and tools to market yourself. Networking, as in any industry, plays a vital role. I also learned that you cannot solely focus on the creative parts of your life. Great acting pulls from experience. There was a time in my life when I focused only on work and training. One of my coaches pointed out that I wasn’t experiencing anything. I wasn’t living. It is important to create balance with friends, family and financial stability. When the opportunity to audition does come along, you must be able to show up and deliver your best work. You can not be thinking that you need to book the role to pay rent. Once I understood the balance and strived to create it, it was freeing and my work improved significantly.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.samanthajanco.com
• Instagram: @samanthajanco

Image Credits
Gregory Philips, Dwayne Boyd