There’s a theory floating around that suggests that it takes about 7 years to get really good at something. Getting good at anything takes drive and determination of course, but it goes back to the idea that it takes roughly 10,000 hours to become proficient at a skillset or profession that you’re passionate about. Street performers often seem to accelerate this timeline a bit because the people who are drawn to this style of performing are often the type who have greater drive and greater passion for achieving the goals that they’re after, not to mention the fact that buskers aren’t usually the type of people who wait around for opportunity to knock, but are rather the type who proactively create the opportunities that they’re after.

Allison Williams is an incredible example of someone whose drive to achieve and succeed has been virtually unstoppable. She’s been successful in the world of education, successful in the performance arenas of circus, renaissance festival and street theatre, successful as a producer/facilitator, successful as a writer. Her laser focus allows her to set goals, achieve them and then move on to whatever’s next, all the while serving her larger ‘life mission’ as though each venue, each discipline is simply a chapter in a much larger story.

After four years of failed attempts, David Aiken finally got the chance to sit down and discuss the various periods of Allison’s varied career as someone whose driving life mission as a performer and organizer has been to facilitate the experience of joy and enlightenment. It goes without saying that within each phase of her journey, Allison has has some pretty incredible adventures and influenced a generation of performers.