We had the good fortune of connecting with Rashida Costa and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rashida, what do you attribute your success to?
What is the most important factor behind your success and or the success of your brand? Authenticity and my passion is the driving force behind everything I do. If I am going to confer my work onto the world, I have to be my biggest fan first and foremost. That is not from a place of arrogance, but simply put, it wouldn’t be very becoming of me to ask my audience to appreciate and be passionate about my work when I display a less than enthusiastic virtue.
Additionally, consistency and an endless work ethic are the two most instrumental tools in my tool box.
It is crucial to show up even when you don’t feel like it. There are times when the exigent demands of life will leave you feeling drained and dissuaded, to the point where you begin to expostulate with those that have your best interest at heart, including yourself.
If you are knocked down 10 times get up 25.
As an author and an actress, both of these creative outlets require hard work, dedication and come with a huge time commitment that doesn’t necessarily guarantee a commensurable rate of return.
I do what I do because my love for the craft exceeds that of everything else.
“Success is a constant and forever evolving journey of our best.” Rashida Costa
There is not an end in sight for me but to keep doing what I love to do, acting and writing.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As a creative artist I am constantly investigating the undiscovered sense of my inner being and artistic aptitude, doing so vigilantly in a uniform manner. As exemplified by my current endeavors, I journeyed along many creative paths for many years, writing and acting came knocking at my door and while I was busy with other pursuits, I did not allow myself to be beguiled into thinking that true fulfillment and happiness could in anyway exist professionally outside of my craft, thus I am elated as ever I took the time to answer.
4 books later and another in publication, I would not change a thing.
The craft of acting exists very close to my heart as well.
The road to my path as I stand in it today was an onerous one. Filled with blood, sweat and tears, and no it is not a cliché. But my reality.
It took a lot of training; you can only get so far with your natural talent but developing that talent into a skillset that is marketable and valuable requires commitment, training and consistency.
I persevered knowing that the one thing I will know for sure is that “Quitting certifies failure, but perseverance and endurance equals a chance of succeeding.” Rashida Costa
With the pursuit of success come a lot of life lessons, one valuable one I learned along the way is that I am the only one that is in control of the outcome of my future and my destiny. There are things that are outside the realm of my control, but I certainly never miss a moment to take charge of what is within my control.
A little insight for the world about me is that I don’t take no for an answer with respect to my career pursuits. Why accept no when maybe sounds better?

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Bayside in Miami is always a great time. If you are into fishing the Lake Worth pier never disappoints, while taking advantage of some great Antique shops along the way.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to Steve Harvey. Not only is he a strong force of motivation and inspiration for others, but he is the living existence of what the end result of hard work really is.

Website: http://linktr.ee/RashidaCosta

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rashidacosta/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CostaRashida

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXxeZD589jznol5AIXVKhOA

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutMiami is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.