We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sydney Johnson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sydney below.

Sydney, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?

I definitely wish I had found the inspiration to dive into the creative world sooner. I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to do with my life in my early 20s, so I went the “safe” route and completed my Bachelors degree and got a job in corporate America. I thought that I would have one of those lightbulb moments at some point and magically know what my calling was. However, I found myself getting caught up in the day to day of work and life and not giving much thought to “what’s next?”.

It wasn’t until 2020 when I was 28 years old that I really had the time to stop and think about my life and if it looked like how I wanted it to be. I had a great life full of friends, family, travel, and excitement; but something was still missing. I felt like there was more to life for me, and it was time to start figuring it out trial and error style.

That was the year I took the biggest leap of faith and went on The Bachelor. That experience truly opened my eyes. My castmates were all from vastly different walks of life and professions. It was encouraging to be around so many different people who were thriving and in various creative professions.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers?

After getting back from filming, I knew it was time to pick up some creative side hustles. I signed with The Block Agency, a talent agency based out of Nashville. The main industries I specialize in are fashion, lifestyle, and hospitality.

It has been such a fun experience diving into something different and learning a new craft. You have to have thick skin in this industry; it has been a bit humbling I’ll admit, but I believe each audition is preparing me for future success.

I’m extremely proud of how far I’ve come in developing my craft and the gigs I have booked. There’s still so much work to be done and I look forward to continued growth.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Within my first year at the agency, I had an audition for a major brand’s national campaign. It was my biggest audition to date. I was excited and nervous, but I knew I had to bring my A game to even have a shot at a callback.

To my complete shock, I had gotten the callback. Now, I had to prep for the next round. This ended up with multiple next rounds until I was at the final selection process with only a handful of prospects left. I was anxiously awaiting the news and on the edge of my seat checking my phone every five seconds for an update.

Unfortunately, I didn’t end up being selected for the job. Initially, I was heartbroken and insecure. I wanted to wallow in self pity for a few days, but I didn’t allow myself to stay in that mental space. As unfortunate as it was, it is part of this industry. The “no’s” will come often, so it’s incredibly important to look at it as a lesson instead of a rejection. By the next day, I was back at it with a new audition.

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

“That success in one area will automatically translate into success in another area.” I’m not sure if that is necessarily a lesson I’ve been taught, but I think I previously believed it on a subconscious level. Just because you find success in one industry/career/craft, doesn’t mean it will come naturally to you if you pivot into something different.

Success comes with hard work and consistency. So if you’re at the top of your game in one area, you likely will still have to work hard if you want to succeed at something new. This can take a bit of an ego check as people assume success can easily translate. I have not found that to be the case in my life or in the lives of those near and dear to me. Continue the work no matter what new challenge or skill you’re tackling. It may not be immediate, but the success will come in time if you persevere with determination.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://theblockagency.com/women/sydney-johnson/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sydney_alexa/

Image Credits
Lily Cruse (Lily on Film Photography), John Sherlock (Exposure Studios), Lara Howl (Howl Photography), Shannon LeBlanc (Lifestyle be LeBlanc), Savannah Ashley Photography