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

Hi Caroline, thanks for joining us today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

About twice a year my sisters get a call from me in an absolute panic. I freak out because I don’t have the stability that they have at their 9 to 5 jobs. I want good health insurance. I want a retirement plan. I want vacation days. I go on and on, venting all of my frustrations and fears to them until they ask me this: “If you went to our jobs instead, how would you feel?” And every time I envision myself doing something different, I get really grateful that I chose the difficult path that is most authentic to who I am.

Caroline, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

From the second I was born, I was completely and devastatingly bored. I quickly realized it was up to me to make life more interesting. I made up stories, (also known as lies), I wore costumes when they weren’t appropriate, and I broke a lot of rules. It turns out the only career paths you can choose with these skills are “writer, actor, and comedian”, so I chose all three. Hey listen, if I could have become something more predictable then I would have! It’s not my fault. Now I perform ridiculous characters all over LA and NY, and write film and TV. My recent short film “Beta: Life as a Chalk Bag” has been selected for a handful of film festivals that are supposed to be for outdoor documentaries. It follows a climbing chalk bag who is working hard to conquer their fear of heights. Like everything I make, it’s silly, dark, and optimistic. Just like me!

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I cannot recommend “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron enough. This book gives you homework, and constantly reminds you that your creativity is a gift to the world, not a burden on it.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn that dimming my light was helping other people. I gained a lot of enemies when I booked a role in a play my freshman year of college. Jealous classmates started spreading rumors about me and cut me out of their social circles. I decided to pretend like I didn’t care about school or getting roles anymore and it worked. I started getting invited to things again, but I stopped believing in myself. Now I’m working hard to get my confidence back.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.carolinecummings.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolinereturns/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/xoCarolineC
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CarolineReturns

Image Credits
Linnea Bullion (Patriotic Photo)