I recently went one-on-one with actor Colin Egglesfield.
Adam: What is the most surprising thing about life as an actor?
Colin: The most surprising thing I have found about choosing the life path of a professional actor is how much of the job has nothing to do with acting. Learning the technique and craft of acting is essential, of course, but resilience, adaptability, and self-belief are what I have discovered to be the background architecture for me to keep going. You can do everything ‘right’ and still hear “no,” over and over again, so I learned early on that success isn’t about validation, it’s about learning how to stay grounded, present, and remind myself to enjoy the process because the outcome is uncertain. You have to do something because you love it and because it’s just an extension of who you are. You can learn this quickly, but I have found that it takes a lifetime to practice and master.
Adam: How did you get here? What experiences, failures, setbacks, or challenges have been most instrumental to your development and success?
Colin: My path, much like most actors and creatives that I know, has been anything but linear. Living through 9/11, being diagnosed with cancer three times, and experiencing the highs and lows of Hollywood forced me to confront who I was beyond titles and roles. Those moments in my life stripped away the illusion of me being in control and taught me how to redefine my success. I appreciate success so much now, not as fame or accolades, but as alignment, purpose, and impact. Every setback in my life has been an opportunity to try to get back up, recalibrate, figure out what I needed to learn or let go of to keep moving forward. The setbacks in life are the life-defining moments that pushed me to grow as a human being first, and an artist second.
Adam: In your experience, what are the common qualities among those who have been able to enjoy success in the entertainment industry? What advice do you have for those trying to break in or advance?
Colin: I have found that the people who last in this industry are the ones who stay curious, humble, and adaptable, and most importantly, have a love for what they do. They understand that a “no” isn’t rejection of you as a person, it’s a ‘not the right fit right now.’ It isn’t personal, it’s just part of the process. My advice is to stop waiting to be chosen and start choosing yourself. Build your own projects, refine your voice, and treat your career like a long game. Talent opens doors, but consistency, relationships, and emotional intelligence keep them open. I’d also say, cultivate an amazing community of people who champion you and put them in the proverbial front row seat of your life.
Adam: What are the best lessons you have learned through your career in acting?
Colin: I think the greatest lessons acting has taught me is how to be okay with being me and being seen deeply by others. I used to be terrified of getting up in front of audiences, and what acting has given me is the opportunity to face the inauthentic parts of me and learn how to let go of them so that I can show up in life and on the stage being fully present. Acting has taught me that whether you’re on camera, on stage, or in a conversation, your ability to listen fully and respond authentically is the most powerful skill that you can control and cultivate. Acting also taught me that vulnerability is not weakness; it’s one of the most empowering feelings you can experience because once you reveal your authentic truth and are not attached to the outcome, it provides the access to total freedom for how you show up in life. I also realized that the more honest and accepting I became with myself, the more powerful my work became.
Adam: Who are the best leaders you have been around and what have you learned from them?
Colin: The best leaders I’ve been around have been the likes of Tony Robbins, Sylvester Stallone, Jackie Segal, Luke Greenfield, Wendy Spiller, and my Mom and my Dad. There’s so many more, and these are just a few who have influenced me greatly in my life. The common theme I see in great leaders is that they care about the people around them. They also communicate with kindness, honesty, and conviction. They don’t micro-manage, they empower. They listen more than they speak and create environments where people feel safe taking risks. What I learned from them is that leadership isn’t about control or telling people what to do. It’s about creating trust and inspiring others to believe and trust in themselves so that when they show up, they show up inspired by themselves as opposed to seeking outward validation.
Adam: What are your three best tips applicable to entrepreneurs, executives, and civic leaders?
Colin: First, master your inner narrative! Your mindset shapes every decision you make and can make your life either an emotional disaster or an empowered experience of self-growth and mastery.
Second, don’t assume you know what is going on with someone just because they said or did something you didn’t like. I have found that most of the time, people are just dealing with their own insecurities and worries that influence how they show up. Acting has taught me the power of sub-text and learning the art of tuning into and connecting with people where they are at on the emotional level that allows them to be seen and heard on a deep level that most people don’t see them at. Once you learn how to do this, miracles in communication and connection can happen.
Third, stay agile. The world is changing too quickly to cling to outdated identities or strategies. Those who adapt with purpose will always have an edge.
Adam: What are the keys to effective communication?
Colin: Effective communication starts with self-awareness. We can’t connect with people or lead them effectively if we don’t have a clear understanding and awareness of what motivates and triggers them. On a deeper level, it comes down to knowing the ‘story’ we allow ourselves to be lived by or the ‘story’ we choose to tell in our lives. This makes all the difference for how we show up in life, how we deliver and receive communication, and determines the quality of our relationships with others as well as ourselves. Once you get clear about who you are and how your physiology and psychology will try to ‘run the show’ you can shift your awareness to a more empowering narrative whenever you need to. Communication is also about clarity, presence, and authenticity. You need to know your voice, master your message, own it, and learn to deliver it in a way that invites connection rather than performance. I believe the goal isn’t to impress people, it’s to inspire them.
Adam: What is the single best piece of advice you have ever received?
Colin: When I was diagnosed with cancer for the second time, my mom told me I needed to essentially not let my circumstances define who I was. She made it clear to me that I still had the choice to decide who I wanted to be in the face of such a scary and uncertain experience. I chose courage. I chose certainty. I chose health. I chose grace. I chose wellness. I chose a whole host of values that I then allowed myself to be defined by, rather than my cancer.
That advice carried me through my health journeys, career uncertainty, and moments where giving up felt easier than pushing forward. It reminded me that no matter what happens, we always have the choice and the agency for how we respond.
Adam: Is there anything else you would like to share?
Colin: If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that reinvention is not a one-time event; it’s a lifelong practice that can either be torture or the ride of a lifetime. Whether through acting, writing books, or speaking on stages around the world, my mission is to help people remember that they are not broken and they don’t need to be fixed. We are all capable of miracles in life, and that no matter what life may throw at you, your comeback from when you get knocked down can become the greatest chapter of all.
