Man On The Street – Justin Scott

Age: 26

Occupation: Production Coordinator at NZME

What’s your morning routine?

Wake up and hit the shower before my partner can. Jump out, whip on some clothes and make some breakfast and then off to work. Fast and furious.

What are the top three things on your bucket list?

1. Buy a house in Auckland (like all millennials).

2. Travel to Europe, Italy specifically. Experience the food and catch up with friends over there.

3. To always be working and be happy with what I’m doing. That’s more of a goal, but I think it’s something that’s bucket list-worthy.

What advice would you give your 20-year-old self?

Confidence is key. Take chances.

How do you stay motivated?

Working in film and television, the best way to stay motivated is to watch what’s going on and to see what’s happening in the industry, not just here but overseas. What’s also important is to do a lot of self-reflection, that’ll keep you motivated. Just knowing how to think to yourself, knowing know how to take your own advice, then adjust and make things better.

If you didn’t need money, what would you do?

Figure out why I didn’t need money and didn’t need to work, probably.

What is your secret to success?

I think the secret to success is being humble. I’ve met a lot of successful people who are successful because they’re down-to-earth. The moment you get a big head is the moment you become a really miserable person to deal with.

What’s the best bit of advice or quote that resonates with you?

An old boss of mine used to say: “I don’t want problems, I want solutions.” My grandmother also said: “Don’t be reactive, be proactive.” It’s all about rolling with the punches.

What are your favourite restaurants to frequent?

I have a few – The French Cafe and Sidart. Miann for dessert. Orphan’s Kitchen and Cassia are really good as well.

What is your secret to living a longer, more satisfying, life?

Not having negative things in your life is really important. Avoiding stress as much as possible, stress is important, you do need a bit of it, but finding a really good balance is key. And walking! My grandmother is 86 and she walks every single day.

What makes you feel alive?

Being busy and being present makes me feel alive. The moment you’re not busy and you don’t have a purpose is the moment you don’t feel alive because you don’t have anything to strive towards. Purpose is the key to feeling alive.