Meet Lauren Clark

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Clark.

Lauren, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
So I got my professional start about a decade ago in New York City. I had just graduated from college and the goal in the move was basically to get to the biggest city as soon as possible and establish myself as a dramatic, pre-Oscar winning actor, HOWEVER, I found the comedy scene particularly attractive so I started taking improv, sketch and stand up classes, while working odd jobs babysitting and barista-ing. In hindsight, it was a major transition that I wasn’t ready for, but when I make my mind up about something, there’s really no talking me out of it. Before I was a comedian, I WAS A COMEDIAN and the training felt like I was about to do something really hard but also fun that would help me get closer to the version of ME that I wanted to be. Eventually (and mind you, this took years) I was able to use everything I learned and become an improv and acting coach. While coaching, I also performed as much as possible, kept taking classes and I read about comedy as much as possible. I also co-founded an all-black theater troupe, booked a few commercials and modeling gigs, wrote for and produced a few live events and short films, then over the course of 4 or 5 years, I got really confident with my voice. I was incredibly shy when I first moved to New York, but I felt like it was hard to be invited to do shows if you weren’t this extremely outgoing (and perhaps even a little annoying) extroverted being.

Eventually, I faked the confidence enough that I actually felt confident and there wasn’t much of a difference between who I was in my private life and who I was publicly. Not to brag, but I got really cozy on stage just winging it, probably to a fault honestly. I would receive a ton of opportunities to perform and teach, but I was hustling and still living paycheck to paycheck. By 2015, I was struggling to sustain all the STUFF I had going. I was very focused on the things that weren’t working out and I was highly aware of the idea that something was missing. The constant feelings of scarcity and unworthiness got really out of hand in 2016. That was a big learning year. Instead of taking a step back, I worked harder, took on more work (for the money, not the joy), I lowered my prices (thinking this would make me more accessible… spoiler alert: this did not work!) and I became increasingly (and somewhat knowingly) in desperate need of validation and attention, which I would get, but then struggle to feel fully worthy of. So, I was doing a lot, but inside I had this tug of war going where I would do good work and convince myself it wasn’t enough or I just got lucky. I self-sabotaged, maintained a poor diet and was full on #teamNoSleep. I struggled with a big smile on my face and wore my “broke artist” badge proudly, which made it difficult for friends and family to give advice and feedback. I think I thought I was being clever and standing up to “the man” or to God by having an attitude of “I’ll do it myself,” but I also felt like, “oh these are the hard times, it’ll get better… living like this is temporary because some magical film/tv/comedy industry God will discover me and that will solve all my problems forever until the end of time.” This mindset ultimately got in my way because no one DID come to save me and I struggled with increasing depression and anxiety for years as a result of this waiting game.

Finally, in 2018, I got my “straw that broke the camel’s back” so to speak. a puny rejection letter (for a grad school program I didn’t even really want to go to). I was crushed. How could I be crushed by something I didn’t even want? I didn’t know what I was doing AT ALL and worse, I didn’t know who to reach out to because I felt like literally no one understood. I had carved out such a unique life (or so I thought) that I felt unsavable, stuck forever and truly, I was lost. I knew deep down I had to try talking to SOMEONE. Might as well. So, at 27 years old, against my desires and better judgment, I started going to therapy. My intention was to “find a way to be okay.” Not to feel AMAZING or EXCELLENT, just not “less than.” 1 year of weekly talk therapy CHANGED EVERYTHING. I have so many thoughts on how to go about getting the most out of therapy, but I talk about therapy being a HUGE part of my thought process in business because it was! Therapy is where I started to hear how self-critical I was. My mean girl voice (inner critic, ego, fear, etc.) and wow, it was LOUD. I started to understand how messed up my self-talk was and I slowly grew to understand how disempowering that was. I had been living in these blindspots of self-sabotage for far too long. I remember when I started, I set intentions for every session of therapy. That process of asking self-reflective questions and reaching out for help was how I knew I had everything I needed to feel okay again. I slowly started to see more of what life had to offer… outside of it being a means to a full-time comedy career. I saw myself as an important piece of the puzzle instead of a lone wolf and it made me ask, “what am I here to give?” instead of “what’s in it for me?” I had my doubts throughout therapy, but I am so proud of myself today that I chose to stick with it.

After I reached out for help and saw how that improved the quality of my life, I started to work with not just a therapist but a life coach, too! I also took advantage of alternative forms of therapy like hypnosis and inner child healing therapy. Alternative forms of therapy added a layer to me that empowered me to see life as an experiment and an opportunity to discover. This was important because before these experiments, I saw life as something you could be a failure at and now I know it’s just not true! One of my favorite quotes is, “I never lose. I win or I learn,” and I try so hard to live by that. Predictably, I was so inspired from my experience working with mentors and coaches I became one myself! In the middle of a global pandemic, nonetheless. The start of 2020 was actually when I realized that improv coaching was the thing that brought me the most joy, but it wasn’t necessarily because of the improv, but the discussions about creativity, the process of creating something from NOTHING, that I loved. I loved hearing about how people saw the world and maintained their sanity in it. It also helped that coaching improv online made me want to pull my own teeth out. During rehearsal breaks, I would chat with students about their own grand visions and ultimate life goals and I REALLY loved that so much more. when you can go from student to teacher, you’ve got something to build on with a business. Most people forget this or undervalue their ability to serve in this way, but if you have a pulse, you have a purpose. Start with your gifts. Solve a problem, and you’ll never be broke!

My thinking going into life coaching was that I would empower creatives to organize their talents around building an authentic personal brand AND a life full of joy, peace and prosperity. I knew then and know now I could and can help anyone organize their talents and create their own realities and enjoy it because I helped someone who once felt like a lost cause (that by which of course, I mean me). I went from teaching the fundamentals of improv to teaching the fundamentals of self-expression, self-love and self-care. I really made so many shifts in my business, too. I simplified my freelance and coaching, going from having several offers and things you could pay me for to 1 simple offer: 1 on 1 weekly hourly creative coaching for three months. I simplified my offer, raised my prices, heard a lot of no’s upon immediately doing that, but then I signed up for a 12-week business mastermind and incubator, which cost a pretty penny, but the ROI was undeniable. That program taught me that not only was I not charging too much, I STILL wasn’t charging enough. Lesson learned. Anyway, regardless of the numbers, I love the opportunity to hold people accountable to their goals and healing journeys. I love cheering for others the way I learned how to cheer for myself. Oh yeah, then I moved to LA at the start of 2022 and kept everything I built going. Yes, I’m fairly new here, I love it so far! 10 outta 10

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Yes, the biggest struggle was with myself. Always. I think learning to gather my tools and ask for support was what turned it all around.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
So I have definitely worn a lot of hats creatively over the years. If I was a cat, my curiosity most definitely would’ve killed me by now. But I regret nothing. My life is only interesting because I made sure it would be. I’ve been a musician, an athlete, a world traveler, a public speaker, an event planner, now I’m a podcaster, coach and writer. I used to feel like a master of none for a time having tried lots of things, but even that is part of my creativity now. Showing people you don’t need a fancy degree, lots of money or even THAT good of a reason to be creative yourself. We’re all creators. How much you wish to honor that is TOTALLY up to you, but I promise you, your potential is unlimited. I love helping people understand that.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I know for a fact the coaching industry is only going to grow exponentially, which is why I think it’s going to get increasingly important to speak to a specific kind of client and stack all your reasons for why you coach (if you want to!) For me, my north star is storytelling. Everything I do falls under that umbrella, whether I’m podcasting, on stage, or online– I just want to be a motivating and captivating storyteller. Because stories are how we recognize who we really are. As a coach, I’m helping people connect to THEIR stories. It’s all just one big story we get to write! It’s beautiful. But as far as the industry goes, I think the coaches and creators who will succeed at “playing the long game” are the ones who get REALLY good at storytelling. The ones who say who they are with what they create and do it consistently and bravely. I’m certainly trying to lead by example.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.laurenclarkisrad.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/llcoolclark/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ClarkaLark
• Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-black-creator-connection/id1530294411

Image Credits
Headshots and portraits by: Michaela Duerson