Issa Rae Reveals The Keys To Her Successful Career

Actor, writer, and producer Issa Rae has been dazzling us with her talents since her first digital series, Misadventures Of Awkward Black Girl, hit the web in 2011. Since then, she’s been blazing the TV, creating one of the most talked-about Black millennial dramedies, Insecure. She’s also lent her acting chops on the big screen in films like The Hate You Give and Little. And, she’s won a slew of awards, including the Emerging Entrepreneur honor at the Women In Film awards.

Issa shared three keys to her successful career in an interview with PopSugar. We’ve summed up her key points in three words — drive, doubt, and chill. Keep scrolling to find out what she said about each point.

What’s the key to this media mogul’s success? DRIVE

“I always think about what I want to do next,” she said earlier this year on a panel moderated by her friend Amy Aniobi.“I want to be able to create other people’s projects, finance other people’s projects, have a studio, [and] do things outside of entertainment.”

As the 34-year-old continues to progress in the industry, the one thing she doesn’t want is to be put in a box.

“I don’t like being limited,” she explained. “That is my worst nightmare. I want to be able to flex other muscles and see what else I can do.”

Source: Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images for POPSUGAR and Reed Exhibition / Getty

What’s the secret ingredient that gives Issa relentless ambition? DOUBT

“Doubting myself is what drives me,” she said. “A part of me hates being underestimated but loves to be underestimated because I’m driven by proving people wrong. That’s the Capricorn in me. ‘Oh, you don’t think I can do this? Let me show you.’ There’s so much fun in that.”

What advice would she give to a younger version of herself? CHILL

“I would tell her to chill — to stop comparing herself to other people. I compare myself a lot to others. Sometimes, we feel like, ‘Why is that not my opportunity?’ But what’s meant for you is meant for only you. You get anxious. You feel like everybody’s surpassing you, and everybody’s doing better than you are. That’s just not the case. Everybody has their own journey, and your journey is yours.”