Meredith is a leader who genuinely listens. You can tell when she talks about all her adventures with FX makeup and how she listens to her interns, business partners, and friends who all help point her in the right direction.

Who is Meredith?

Meredith Johns is an Emmy nominated makeup and FX makeup artist as well as owner of Hawgfly Productions, Inc.

She grew up in a family of artists who shaped her to be the creative individual she is today. In 2003 she began her professional film career and discovered the world of makeup FX. She fell in love with the crazy adventures of film making and in 2004 she met business partner Carolyn O'Hara, left her budding graphic design career and started Hawgfly.

She loves making creatures and makeup/hair art pieces and has traveled the world with her projects. Her favorite part of her craft is the constant challenge. And, she particularly enjoys incorporating innovative technologies and techniques into her designs.

What is feeling Successful?

Doing what you love every day.

Even when there are miserable days, but your mind keeps going back to "Well, I could be doing not this..." and reminding yourself that you do love your job.

What is feeling Burnt Out?

It's a reality. It's overwhelm. Because Meredith works so many hours (80 HOURS) and her max amount of projects to be working on at once is SIXTEEN.

So, first of all, Meredith obviously loves her job quite a lot... So, her burnt out experience comes on quite a bit later than would my own, but she does know her limits. She would have to as an Emmy nominated makeup/FX artist! Beyond 80 hours and beyond 16 projects at once, Meredith hits her breaking point.

The Burnt Out Experience Meredith's Story

There have been a few instances of fetal position on the kitchen floor in tears.

Meredith doesn't like to fail, which she admits is a potential cause of her burnt out experiences. Meredith wants to do whatever it takes to get her projects done and done well.

Advice for you Make a list

If you can make a list of everything you need to do and then prioritize them, you can make your days so much easier.

Now, by saying "priority" Meredith does explain that the low hanging fruit should come first if possible. Answering a quick email can feel so mundane and irritating when there are so many big tasks on your list, but checking off the little things first and quickly can make the rest of your day, or your task list, so much better. "Whew! One less thing to deal with."

Exercise

Running gets Meredith's mind out of the funk. In the thick of work, sometimes she can't see the forest through the trees. So, when this funk is too much, Meredith will run and run and run until her mind is clear.

She also trains with Kristina Olson, who has been on the Burnt Out Podcast previously, and the two of them will innovate and brainstorm while their working out. It helps Meredith leave her work behind, get moving, get creative, and distract her mind from the current stressors.

Once her mind is clear for a bit, its easy to go back to those stressors with an open mind and clear goals.

Listener Questions

These are questions you all have submitted for me to ask my guests! If you have any others to add, please share with me.

What does leadership mean to you?

Lead by example Listen to your people

Who do you look up to?

Women in the FX makeup industry Ve Neill

What is the next book we should read?

Herding Tiger by Todd Henry

Where do we find out more about you?

Hawgfly Productions Inc | Patreon Page

Facebook | Crew Instagram | Meredith's Instagram | Twitter