Welcome to THE BALANCE PROJECT: a series of relevant and refreshingly candid interviews featuring inspiring and accomplished women talking about balance. I’ve always been curious—and maybe a little obsessed—about how women I admire manage the tragically glorified “doing it all” craze. So I asked them. As I suspected, no one really does “it all.” Everyone’s making sacrifices somewhere. And that should make us all feel a little better. I hope the conversation will be steered toward that reality rather than toward the flawed and dangerous assumption that we should try—or even want to try—to perfectly do “it all.”

BY THE WAY…

  • Looking for THE BALANCE PROJECT, the novel that was inspired by these interviews? It’s here.
  • The Balance Project interview series recently celebrated its first birthday!
  • Fortune ran a feature about The Balance Project.
  • Want to be a part of The Balance Project? Complete the interview.

No. 64: Molly Sims: Actress, Author and Humanitarian

Age: 41
Where I live:
 LA and NYC
Job: Actress, Author and Humanitarian
Kids: One son (age 2.5) and currently 9 months pregnant

Molly SimsHave you changed jobs or adjusted anything in your career to have more balance?
Balance is the key to my entire career but most importantly after I got married and had Brooks. I believe in playing hard and working hard. I’ve had to give up things professionally due to my husband’s career and being a parent, but it’s been well worth it in the end.

Is the job you have now the same one you had before kids? If not, how and why did you change directions?
Yes—it has gone in different directions. I now have a  blog, MollySims.com, and just shot a pilot for a daytime talk show, but I still act and perform as a spokesperson.

Do you think having “it all” is realistic or overrated and why?
I don’t know if having it all is realistic, but I will say I’m very content with my life. I love my husband and my family and I love my job…so if that is having it all, then I guess I do! I work really hard at trying to balance everything. I try to organize, make lists, and really try to be very scheduled. I find this really helps me mentally feel like I’m doing the best I can in order to give attention to everyone.

What part of “balance” can you just not seem to figure out?
I’m nine months pregnant as I write this so my fear is that I have it figured it out now but when I have two babies in a few weeks…we will see! I think giving equal parts time to every facet of my life is the most difficult.

What part of “balance” are you getting better at?
I’m getting better at not being so hard on myself and not having to cross everything off the list every day (it will get done!). I’m trying not to let the guilt of being a parent set in because somehow you always feel a little bit guilty.

What was the best advice you ever heard on balance…
From a co-worker? 
“Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you,” “Be able to take constructive criticism,” “Listen,” and “When one door closes, another will open.”
From your mentor:
From Leigh Kilton Smith: “Don’t mistake my kindness for weakness.”
From your mother? 
“Dare to be different!” and “Be nice to everyone; you never know what your future will hold with that person.”
From your spouse? 
“Don’t overreact” and “Try to come less from an emotional standpoint.”

If you had one extra hour in each day and you couldn’t work or be with your family, how would you spend that hour?
Sleeping.

What do you wish you’d known when you were 20?
That everything is going to be okay; don’t sweat the small stuff; do anything and everything you want—travel, make the most of your life, change jobs, don’t do something just for money.

What do you hope to know by the time you’re 60?
I hope I don’t know everything and that I’m still curious. I love learning; I’ve always had a desire to learn and to learn more, and I hope I don’t lose that.

Whose job do you wish you had?
I wouldn’t mind stepping in Oprah’s shoes for a day.

Whose job are you glad you don’t have?
Obama’s.

Favorite books?
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes, Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar by Cheryl Strayed, The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, The Secret by Rhonda Byrne, The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz, and It’s Time by Mary Goldenson.

What are you reading right now?
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins.

Biggest vices…
Food?
 Trail mix; I only eat the chocolate!
Website? NET-A-PORTER.

How many hours do you generally sleep at night during the week?
7 hours.

What do you read every morning?
The New York Post, the Daily Mail and US Weekly.

Complete the following sentences:
I think I: am a good person!
I wish I: had more hours in the day!
My son: is sweet, has a good temperament, and I love him dearly.

Do you have a personal motto or favorite saying?
Go Big or Go Home!

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SimsBookAbout Molly:
Molly Sims is a model, actress, entrepreneur, and the author of The Everyday Supermodel (Dey Street Books). Her photos have famously graced the pages of Sports Illustrated, as well as the covers of Self, French Vogue, Allure, and Cosmopolitan. She got her big break hosting MTV’s House of Style, has starred on NBC’s hit television series Las Vegas, and has appeared in numerous films. Molly lives in Los Angeles with her husband and son.

Find more about Molly here:
www.mollysims.com
Facebook: MollySimsOfficial
Twitter: @MollyBSims
Instagram: MollyBSims
Pinterest: MollyBSims
YouTube: Molly Sims

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