Josh Allred's Blog

When tragedy strikes we are quick to tell ourselves that no one could possibly understand what I am going through.

That is grief talking.

Pain, sorrow, guilt, remorse, anger, sadness…all universal emotions.

Let’s be clear: It is not fair what has happened and you are not alone in this.

Each of us has the capacity to sit with the tension of loss even if we haven’t gone through what someone has gone through. Because we have all lost someone or something.

Empathy is the most powerful tool we posses to rebuild and bring people closer together.

There is always more busy work we can be doing.

That’s a fact.

Because the next email, tweet, meeting, emergency, TPS report is always here.

If we let it, it’ll win. And then we sit back, tired and exhausted wondering what we even did with our time.

The alternative is to fill our time with productive work.

Not the kind that is checked off a list but the sorta work that you can be proud of.

It’s your choice what you choose to click (or watch or write or produce).

The first thing we must do is look in the mirror and ask, “Is what I am doing productive or is there something more important that I should be doing?”

Every safe climber knows before you start up the wall you should tie a knot at the end of your rope. This keeps the rope going through the belay device and having something devastating happen.

This is the same reason why airline pilots have a check list. Humans are forgetful creatures. And if we set up the correct systems, the rest can take care of itself.

Important to note here, we are not eliminating decision making; simply limiting it.

We have to be clear here. When something is out of control, what we really mean is this is out of our control.

Storming Capitol Hill, fake news epidemic, election results…

“Not my problem.”

“Nothing I can do here.”

The degrees of separation matter here. When something doesn’t directly effect us, when we can go about our lives without much changing, when we can simply opt out; that is privilege.

Each of us have more power to change things than we can imagine. It’s our job and responsibility to bend the culture towards justice.

If only we cared enough–imagine the possibilities.

Why should I try writing this blog if no one reads it? But why would anyone read it if I don’t try?

And around, and around we go.

Outcome are not a guarantee. All we are guaranteed is the work ahead. But when we set up the right systems, when we commit to the practice then we are more likely to get the results we seek.

You can’t catch a fish until you put your line in the water.

How many of us have already abandoned them?

It is estimated that less than 10% of us actually stick to our New Year’s Resolutions.

If you are not going keep your promises then don’t make them. No one said you had to make one to start the year.

Instead, when you are ready, find one thing you are ready to change, come up with a plan and execute.

It turns out New Years or birthdays or flipping the monthly calendar are not real benchmarks. We create more meaning than there actually is.

Just start when it is time to begin. Don’t wait for a day of significance. Make a day of significance.

Because it is! From a distance that grassy field with the sunset in the backdrop just looks better.

Until you get closer you can’t really examine all the faults. You can’t see all the things wrong or get a clearer picture of how things actually are.

It’s hard to imagine things we can’t see.

2020 was a slog (or worse!) for many.

And many are saying to themselves, “When a vaccine gets here…” or “When my kids are back to school…” then we will pick up our good habits again.

Good habits can slip away faster than we realize. And there are times where we can’t find the energy to start up again.

Sure, flipping the calendar might help for a while but most have abandoned their resolution by March.

If you’re stuck instead of sprinting and inevitably wearing yourself out, pick one thing you can change today. Keep at it for a week and then a month. Evaluate. And perhaps you can do it again.

Because no matter how tired you are, you can always pick one thing to work on.

All good work must come to an end so it can be seen.

Your podcast, blog, project, art has to interact with the market in order to change it.

If it’s not seen, it can’t change anything.

How selfish to not give your work a chance to make a difference.

You’re finished not because it’s perfect. It’s perfect because you’ve shipped it.

And now you are free to build the next thing.

Writing has a formula and structure to it. It doesn’t require a mystical talent that only a few have.

Anyone can be a writer if they want to. Sure, not everyone will decide to dedicate the hours Stephen King has done but you can. It’s simply a choice.

It is worth noting: No one knew who Stephen King was when he was born. He learned to become a writer, he wasn’t born one.

If you are having any self-doubts about starting, you should know:

You are good enough.

You are qualified.

You do belong.

Make your art. And when it is done start the next project.

PS Make friends with your self-doubt because whether you are shipping your work for the first time or the thousandth, you are still never going to feel good enough to do work that matters.