So on top of all this [acting, modelling, stunt work] I have this passion for music, country music especially and dancing. I decided that I'm still young and single, so I might as well go to Nashville and see if this is really what I want to do. I moved out to Nashville for a year and did a demo and was doing some local things, and loved it, but I did not like the city of Nashville. It's really pretty and gorgeous and the people there are nice. It's really green and all of that, but after a week you know everybody and have been everywhere. I didn't like the cold and I just really missed the big city. I learned about the industry, certainly not enough, but I learned the basics of the music industry that I could come back to LA and try it from here. It's something you really have to stay focused on.

I guess you really want to find out where you excel. I feel like I'm really good at a lot of things, but I want to find something that I can really excel at. I'm kinda like a chameleon. I can pretty much adapt to circumstances. So I feel like a free spirit. Some people think of it's irresponsible, but I want to find something that I can excel at and touch other people.

For example, like Shania (Twain), who I saw in concert the other night. She brought a local talent out on stage to sing with her. And it was nothing for Shania to do that, but it was such a huge opportunity and experience for this girl and how thrilling. Who knows where it could lead for this girl. So I want to be in a position where I can really offer something to other people and really motivate them.

I'm a goal setter. In the entertainment business it's hard to set goals and reach them because so much of it is out of your control as far as auditioning and all that. I'm almost getting to the point where I feel that if I set a goal to be really successful by the year 2000, it might motivate me, but to a large extent it's out of my hands. So sometimes I feel I get out of that habit of setting goals, but ultimately it's important to have that reality check.

Just feeling good about what I'm doing at that time. I feel like that I've been moderately successful. I've had spurts of really great jobs and really great stuff, good pay and some not so good pay. I've learned to be frugal because you'll have times when you make great money, but it's got to last you until the next job. Success I think is if I'm happy with myself and feeling good about what I'm doing to pursue where I want to be. It has nothing to do with how much money I have because you have it and then you don't. I think success is reaching your goals to whatever capacity. It means trying to be the best at whatever it is you're trying to do.

You can be happy without success, but I think success really brings happiness. If you set a goal to achieve something and you reach it, I don't think you can help but be happy. I think you can be happy along the way, but to what extreme depends on your level of your own personal success. Right now I'm not feeling extremely successful, but I'm happy. I can only imagine how much happier I'd be if I were more successful (Laughs).

I think a lot of it has to do with what's going on in your personal life as well. It seems that you never have a balance of you personal and professional life. At least not so many people do. It seems that when you have one the other one kinda suffers.

I think a lot of it for me was because of the modeling class I took at the age of 16. It really changed how I felt about myself. You're always your own worst judge. I mean I'll probably never be exactly where I want to be physically. You're stuck with what you have so you make the best of it. It's different in each stage of your life whether its somebody or something that motivates you and keeps you positive. Right now for me it's the guy I'm dating. He's extremely supportive and so positive. And I can't help but absorb that too.

I think so much of it is don't let other people, whether it's family or friends, pressure you into losing your dream. There was a time when my folks would say, "You can always come home and the door's always open" which I really appreciated, but they still don't understand the irregularity of this business, but I'm not going to let others make my decisions as to what my dream is. You've got to hang onto your dream, and sure there are realities and responsibilities, but your own happiness is based on being happy with who you are.