Joshua Rivedal Join Us On The Steve Jobs Inspired Join Up Dots Podcast
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Introducing Joshua Rivedal
Joshua Rivedal is today’s guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots free podcast interview.
He is a man who has certainly experienced the highs that life can give you.
And also certainly those times in life when the universe decided to give you a devastating kick to your confidence, self-esteem, ability to love openly, to leave you with little idea as to what to do next.
Our guest is theatrical at heart and even at the age of six could be found bursting into song where he lived, so it was little surprise that his earlier career was spent gaining the knowledge of what works and what doesn’t within the theatre world.
He studied hard, and learnt much (not least how to take down theatre sets rather quickly) when he moved from New Jersey to New York City at the age of 21 to tackle the world of fame, fortune, and the Broadway stage.
This was of course where stars are made, and soon he would be rubbing shoulders with DeCaprio, Ford and the like as he would spend his Saturday mornings ensuring that his star on the Hollywood walk of fame was free from footprints and sparkling.
How The Dots Joined Up For Joshua
As he says “By the time I turned twenty-five, I thought I’d have the perfect life—a few years singing on Broadway, followed by a starring role in my own television show.
Instead, his resume is filled with an assortment of minor league theatre and an appearance on The Maury Povich Show—a career sidetracked by his father’s suicide, a lawsuit from his mother over his inheritance, and a break-up with his long-term girlfriend.
Eight years later and through a series of remarkable life events, a bad economy, and mixture of collegiate and self-education; our guest reinvented himself as an international public speaker, author, playwright, theatre producer, educator, marketing consultant, and arts entrepreneur.
Now as we see everyday this is not about reinventing as such, but truly making the decisions that builds a life, instead of allowing for things to happen to us.
Not allowing fickle finger of fate to take away what we thought was our by right.
So how did he take his fathers tragic suicide and find the strength not only tell the tale on stage, but place a comedic spin on it too?
And even though still a young man, does he fell battle scarred and weary, or have the feeling that where he is now is the start of when things get really good?
Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start Joining up dots with the one and only Mr Joshua Rivedal.
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Full Transcription of Joshua Rivedal Interview
Intro [0:00]
When we’re young, we have an amazing positive outlook about how great life is going to be. But somewhere along the line we forget to dream and end up settling. Join Up Dots features amazing people who refuse to give up and chose to go after their dreams. This is your blueprint for greatness. So here’s your host live from the back of his garden in the UK. David Ralph.
David Ralph [0:26]
Yes, hello there. It’s David Ralph. It’s Join Up Dots. You know, when I started this show two years ago, I thought that life on the back of his garden in the UK was a kind of fun thing to do. It grates on me a bit now because every time I speak to the guys on the other end of the line, and I say Where are you today? They tell me Los Angeles or San Diego or New York somewhere dramatic, so and a pack of your garden. Is it good? Should I change your honour? No, let me know. But anyway, today’s guest is somebody who is in LA, and he’s a man who’s got an amazing story who’s certainly experienced the highs Life can give you and also certainly those times in life when the universe decided to give you a devastating kick to your competence, self esteem, ability to love openly and to leave you with little idea as to what to do next. Now our guest is theatrical at heart and even at the age of six could be found bursting into song where he lives. So it was little surprise that his earlier career was spent gaining the knowledge of what works and what doesn’t within the theatre world. He studied hard, he learned much, not least how to take down theatre sets rather quickly when he moved from New Jersey to New York City at the age of 21. To tackle the world of fame, fortune and the Broadway stage now, this was of course where stars are made, and Sony would be rubbing shoulders with DiCaprio fold in the light as he would spend his Saturday mornings and showing that he star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was free from footprints and sparkling. As he says, By the time I turned 25, I thought I’d had the perfect life a few years singing on Broadway followed by a starring role in my own television show instead his resume is filled with an assortment of minor league theatre and an appearance on the Maury Povich show. A career sidetracked by his father’s suicide, a lawsuit from his mother over his inheritance and a breakup with his long term girlfriend now eight years later, and through a series of remarkable life events, a bad economy, a mixture of colour, gay and self education. Our guest reinvented himself as an international public speaker, author, playwright, theatre producer, educator, marketing consultant, and arts entrepreneur bloody oh this is an intro now as we see every day this is not about reinventing as such but truly making the decision but builds a life instead of allowing for things to happen to us not allowing fickle finger of fate to take away what we thought was ours by right so how did he take his barbers tragic suicide and find the strength not only to tell the tale on stage, but also place a comedic spin on it too and even posted a young man? Does he feel battle scarred and weary or have the feelings that were he Now he’s just the start of when things are getting really good. Well, let’s find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr. Joshua Rivedal. How are you, sir?
Joshua Rivedal [3:11]
I am fantastic. Thanks so much, David. That was a brilliant intro. Wow.
David Ralph [3:17]
It did not go on for a bit. You. You started off when you were 22. Yeah. And about 34. Now after I finish that,
Joshua Rivedal [3:24]
it was about a good 12 years of my life, but you know, I feel good.
David Ralph [3:30]
Does it sound like your life? I’m always interested in that because some of the guests go up because I lived it. I never really had it thrown back at me. And when I listen to it, it sounds like somebody else.
Joshua Rivedal [3:42]
How you know, it does sound like me. But it’s funny when you go through all that stuff, and doing what I do. And you tell the story all the time. Sometimes it is just a story. And then to hear somebody else say it. It’s like, Oh, yeah, I did do all that stuff. Holy crap. Yeah.
David Ralph [3:57]
Yeah. And does that excite you but you’ve got But that tale to tell does that help you? You know, because in fear to weld and I’m gonna get straight to it here, obviously it’s playing roles it’s pretending to be somebody else. Now if you’ve had all that experience in your life does it make it easier in the fear to weld or is it harder?
Joshua Rivedal [4:17]
Yeah, you know, I think it does make it easier because it gives you a larger pool to play from you know, you have a lot more emotions a lot more things to deal with. So, when you are playing other roles, you know, you have so much left experience to draw from what you do on stage becomes believable. And what I do now with with with telling my own story, I mean, it almost seems a bit outlandish but I’ve got to open the thing with Hey, listen, this is a true story. I know it’s gonna seem a little crazy. But you know, this all happened. So you know, buckle up your seat belt.
David Ralph [4:46]
And do people go with it or do they still think that is a piece of theatrical pros?
Joshua Rivedal [4:52]
They usually go with it. I mean, there are you know, sometimes I’ll do it for for high school students, you know, secondary school students and and They and they have to ask me again. Is that Are you sure? Did that really happen? Like, it’s, it’s all true. It’s all true. I promise. I know. It sounds crazy, but it’s true. You know, and it kind of it’s relatable because everybody, I think in the audience has gone through one or more of the things that I went through. And, and so usually it’s, it’s relatable and people are cool with it, and they just go within like, okay, you know, he’s kind of a little bit weird. And he kind of went through some crazy things, but, you know, we get down with this guy.
David Ralph [5:28]
So what was it about the theatrical world? Where did you come out the womb doing jazz hands? Where was that how it was born?
Joshua Rivedal [5:36]
Yeah, you know, I came out with some sparkles. And the first thing out was, was my hands. No, tap dancing in the placenta. No, you know, I guess the thing I remember when I was about five or six years old, there was a video camera from some family reunion. And when I didn’t notice the camera was on me. I was kind of just calm and relaxed, and when I noticed the camera was on me, I started freaking out and dancing. And singing and doing whatever. And then as soon as it left, or I thought it left, I went back to normal. And then my parents also sang in church, you know, when I was a kid all the way up and through till I left home, and, and just being on stage and it was a different beast when I was when I was a kid, it was more about fame and fortune and being a star. And then as I grew up, and it was about the craft, and the fun and the art of it, and the, in the puzzle, that that became, you know, writing a piece or, or being in a piece of theatre, but I kind of grew up really just loving music and really loving the stage and, and just kind of being somebody else and creating and creativity because I didn’t I hated my home life. And so it was sort of, in one sense, it was a way of an escape. And in another sense, it was just pure bliss at the same time, so it was sort of a marriage of two different things.
David Ralph [6:47]
And I you somebody Joshua, because you’re very full on at the moment, you’re, you’re doing a performance, which is great. That’s what we want on the show, and it’s very much what I do once I switch off. I kind of 30% burst up what I am on the mic, so you’ve got to sort of really ramp it up. And interestingly, somebody had been saying to me and it’s come up in two or three different podcasts, that I always thought that I was an extrovert because I like getting up in front of people and doing this kind of stuff. And they pointed out, they’re actually more likely an introvert because I stored up my energy ready for the performance so when I’m not doing this, I’m very quiet and I just kind of float along in my own little bubble ready to go again. Are you like that? Are you somebody that when you’re not bursting into song, you’d like nothing more than having your own space? charging yourself up ready to go again?
Joshua Rivedal [7:38]
Yeah, man, that’s so funny that you put it that way. I mean, I I put these days I mean, I got married back in November. And and the only person I really hang out with these days is really my wife and occasional a couple phone conversations. This moved to I just moved away from New York after you know, 13 years but yeah, man like I I like nothing more than kind of just being quiet, hanging out chillin You know, it’s I, in fact, you know, you know, as much as I can do it, like being in a group of people or whatever, or meeting new people or networking, whatever, and I can kind of turn that on and it’s still me, but it takes a lot of energy, I’d rather kind of just hang out and be alone or be with a couple people or be with my wife or my stepson, because I get a little bit of social anxiety too. Like, it’s, it’s, it’s kind of tough for me sometimes, like, I just have to psych myself up to really be around groups of people or certain kinds of people and going into certain situations. So man, I do store it up. And the other thing he said was, like, I’m kind of putting on a performance and, and, and I kind of, you know, a little bit like 30, maybe 30% of my real self on the mic, but um, you know, I swear a lot and I’m trying to like, you know, tuck that back a little bit because I don’t know if that’s cool to do that on the mic. So I saw you know, I think you know, if it comes out a little bit, but I’m gonna kind of cut back on the F word and, and the S you know, and those other words because that would probably amp it up to be about 60% of me, but yeah, anyway, yeah, so I do store it up in this social anxiety thing. But yeah, I think I’m somewhere between an introvert and an extrovert. And I that’s cool that we relate on that,
David Ralph [9:09]
hey, well, I rely on everything you’re saying. Because doing this, I can connect with people and I can be engaging and hopefully have really deep conversations brilliantly. But if I have to go to a party where it’s mortal, I hate it. I can’t pass mortal. I like deep talk, where you talk to somebody for 4050 minutes on the subject. And if I had to go to a party, I used to think that I had to mill and go around and sort of say hello to everybody. And after a while, I just found that it was better to get into a corner with a drink, stay there, and whoever come and sat next to me, I then spoke to them for 20 3040 minutes until they walked on. It’s interesting, isn’t it?
Joshua Rivedal [9:50]
Yeah, yeah. And it’s that’s kind of how I roll these days to I’ll even look for the person who looks like they’re just waiting for someone to come up and talk to them, or they’re just kind of on the outskirts I’m like, okay, that’s my person. They have no idea what to do either. And then, you know, I kind of like I just asked him questions and jive with them and like, you know, just be really all about them, perhaps. And then if I can get a few words, and I really dig history, I love history. I love theatre. I love politics. I don’t shy away from talking religion and stuff like that. I mean, we won’t talk about it here, but I don’t really have an opinion of it of any sorts, but I just, you know, deep talk, real talk. Because the small talk is just, it’s Bs, you know, I can’t deal with it. So, yeah, it’s kind of interesting.
David Ralph [10:31]
How do you hustle then how because actor’s life is hard. You got to get out there. You’ve got to audition. You’ve got to find the roles. You’ve got to really put yourself out there. And for somebody who’s openly admitted, as you say, you like performing but you don’t like connecting and networking as much is a difficult position you put yourself into, isn’t it?
Joshua Rivedal [10:53]
Yeah, bit you know, and it’s, um, it’s kind of a different beast these days. I mean, the way I’ve sort of created my career And being an actor, I’m kind of doing I’m not kind of I’m definitely doing it on my own terms, and it’s very much out of the norm. And so I get to connect and connect with people and create relationships, relationships with people who are a bit out of the box themselves and who are doing different things themselves. And so it’s really kind of finding the people who were in my tribe as it were, rather than kind of forcing it. I mean, the only traditional thing I really do in the acting world these days, is I do voiceovers, I do like commercials for Honda or Burger King or you know, stuff like that. Radio and TV, occasionally cartoons and this and that, and I have an agent for that. But as far as like theatre and stuff like that, I mean, I’ve really melded it with advocacy, and with and with public speaking. And so that is largely like 90% of my business and 99% of what I do, and so I get to wear all these hats, marketing, acting, writing, curriculum, creation and SEO and and all that These other things and playwriting and so I get to do it on my own terms, and I get to do the things that I like the most. And then I’m getting to the point where I’m able to shove it off on other people in a nice way of doing the things that I don’t want to do. But I, but what’s cool about it is I get to create the tribe that I want to create, and I get to do the work that I want to do. And if I want to work with somebody I can and if I don’t bugger off, you know, yeah, see
David Ralph [12:24]
ya. I love the way you say back off. I think we as Americans say that. Yeah, absolutely.
Joshua Rivedal [12:29]
I’ve been to the UK a couple times. So I sprinkle it in every now and now. Absolutely. We there’s nobody, nobody knows what it means here. And it’s one of the worst things you can say to somebody over there. But you know, everybody thinks it’s hilarious here. So I get to say what I want. Yeah, absolutely.
David Ralph [12:45]
So when you’re doing your job, what fascinates me on the entrepreneurial journey that we all go on, and I’ve been through this myself, and literally every single one of our guests has, you start off with an idea of what you want to do. Yeah, you’re in corporate land or you’re in something and you decide to transition and you have an idea of, I want to be a dancer, or I want to be a podcaster. I want to be something, whoever. And although that part of the role is enjoyable and fascinating, and you want to get better and better at it, there’s a big part of selling yourself, which doesn’t come easily. And most people that I’ve spoken to have gone through a period of starving before they realise that actually doesn’t matter what you do, you’re in sales. You’ve got to get yourself out there. How have you dealt with that? Have you had times of starvation where literally, you were waiting for it to come to you? Before you realise that actually, I’ve got to get out there and do to do?
Joshua Rivedal [13:44]
Yeah, yeah, it was it was more when I was strictly just an actor. And and I was just like, I it needs to come to me. You know, I was still going to auditions but it was like applying, you know, people who apply for jobs and they do it all the wrong way. They’re like, I’ve tried everything. No, actually you haven’t or else you’d have a job. Yeah, you know, so so that was really when I was strictly just an actor. And then I started playwriting because I was like, I’m not getting the jobs that I want. And I was still waiting tables and bartending and stuff like that, and I was supplementing income that way, and I was still pretty miserable and unhappy. And then after, sort of my life change after my dad died, and I went through my own thing, and, and, and, and just to give a little context, before that I was actually so I went from acting to acting and playwriting to acting playwriting and producing theatre, because nothing was really lining up the way that I wanted to. And so I was trying kind of anything I could to figure out what the hell I was going to do and how I was going to make it work. And I still wasn’t making a work even though everything kind of contributed to what I know now and it was all a great lesson. So I was starving. And then I got to that transition point where I found all of the things that I was really good at. And thankfully, like when I was ready to transition, I had already started to to sort of have the the idea that sales isn’t really about selling yourself and, and being a sleazeball. selling a used car to the wrong kind of person, you know, some sort of a lemon kind of a car, it’s providing a solution to a problem. And so you in advance have to know about the pain point and what what that other person who you’re trying to sell to, you got to speak their language be, you’ve got to know what their problem is. And you’ve got to phrase it to them in such a way where they realise it even if they never knew it before, or didn’t realise in such an eloquent way. And then you’ve got to put your briefcase on the table and say, Hey, before you talk, I’ve got some good things that you might want to see when hear about and then you’ve listened to them and hear about what more what they want, but it’s really about providing a solution to a problem. If you’re providing a solution to a problem, then you are used car salesman or saleswoman and you know, you know that you might get by for a little bit but at some point that’s going to lead to a cliff and you’re not going to be able to do it what what you think you need to do if it’s all about money, it’s all all about the income. You know, you’re going to be gone shortly but if it’s about the outcome, the income will come.
David Ralph [15:56]
That’s that’s an interesting way of thinking because I would have thought mostly As we’re about the roll, get the roll. And that will take us on to whatever level I want to be. And obviously, there’s different levels. As I said in the introduction, there’s the DiCaprio and the Harrison boards and stuff. And then you go down and down and down to sort of whatever level you want to be and everyone hits in natural level, but I wouldn’t think that most of people most of the actors out there operate in the same way or, or is a different beast now. Uh, things changing are there more people like you?
Joshua Rivedal [16:29]
Um, I think it’s changing a little bit but I do think especially in LA just being here for five six months you know, there’s good people everywhere, but in this industry, it really is more you know, it’s it’s, it’s competitive, it’s you know, I’ve got to beat you out or, or I’ve got to you know, one up you or make myself look better or once I get this job, then the world is going to open up but that’s just like every other conditional statement like once I get this then I’ll be happy. Actually, you won’t be like happiness and and and all that is something You got to do and then now even before you have what you want, so you’ve got to be doing the legwork in advance of getting the role that you think is going to give you a break. And you’ve got to be working on the next thing while you’ve got your dream role, because it could all fall off in a second. But I think I think there is a lot there are a lot of actors who don’t really understand the business side of the business. And and they think, Well, once I get this role, then it’s all going to be you know, it’s all going to be roses, it’s all going to be gravy, it’s all going to be just fine. And and that’s just not the way it is. And I don’t think a lot of people are like that. And I think, you know, I got a leg up towards the end of when I was just strictly pursuing acting, I got a leg up because I was taking business classes and entrepreneurial classes and producing and things like that. And I also realised that the fastest way to get where I wanted to go was to help other people, even if that person was quote, unquote, in direct competition with me, because who knows, at some point, like, you know, we might not be in direct competition and that person who I helped could could pass along a role to me at some point. So I mean, I really think There’s there’s really room for everybody to make, you know, to grow the pie together and everyone can eat. And and everyone needs to learn the business side no matter what you do whether you’re a dentist or a doctor or a clown or a politician, like you got to learn the business side of it. You know, it could because it you’re right like most it’s mostly sales and it’s mostly marketing, you’re probably going to get to do your craft and your job 20 to 30% of the time, if you’re lucky, so good to know all those other hats while you’re while you’re waiting or while you’re busy doing the craft. So
David Ralph [18:33]
when you see an actor at the top of his game, and we’re talking about DiCaprio, because he’s the Oscar winner at the moment, is it something that is a bolt of lightning? Or is it something you know, did he always have that absolute God given talent that was Oscar winning? Or is it just the case that he’s been around a long time? He’s learned from the knocks. He’s worked with the right people and he’s gradually got up Can people come from nowhere?
Joshua Rivedal [19:00]
I think people can come from nowhere. I think people have, like, I think certain people have an aptitude. I didn’t really know about talent. I mean, I guess I have talent like people have said that I don’t really honestly know what that means. I think that people certainly have an aptitude like as a singer, you know, you certainly have an aptitude, you might have a better shape mouth, and a better shaped like inside of your body, your vocal cords and the way your your your instrument is shaped, so you can produce a better sound, but going back to acting, I don’t know if people actually have talents or not, but there’s certainly things that you can do to increase your aptitude and certainly some people work their butts off to get where they are. And so honestly, I’d rather have somebody who’s hard working rather than talented because hard work wins over talent any day. So I think most people now there are people that the fly by night and they get you know, they sleep their way to the top or there’s you know, certain situations but I think with the Caprio you know, he’s worked his tail off, he’s been around forever. He probably has an aptitude. He He’s been around the right people. But honestly, like, none of that would really matter if you don’t go back to the first element element, which is he worked his butt off. Yeah, because if you’re if you’re around for for some good fortune, you know, lightning might strike once, and it might get you to a certain place. But usually to get the plate, you know, to get to the place where DiCaprio has been, lightning needs to strike probably twice. And when, when it does the first time, you probably work your way to get there. But when it strikes again, you’ve got to be you’ve got to work, you know, 10 times as hard. So I mean, it’s all about really about hard work, but I do you think people can come out of nowhere? I mean, I think in terms of where I’ve been in my world, you know, I came out of nowhere and it’s only in a small niche or a decent sized niche, but, you know, I always say, you know, the impossible is just impossible. Just the mindset as is possible. You know, I think impossible and seeing DiCaprio. I mean, yeah, most people aren’t going to be you know, a $10 million $20 million Your movie star, but why not million? Why not? 500,000? Why not be middle class like doing what you do and doing what you love and making a healthy living and being happy and, and cultivating that i think i think impossible is nonsense. And we can make possibilities out of anything. So yeah, but you got to work, you got to work your tail off to get there.
David Ralph [21:18]
I think that’s so inspiring. But it is down to effort. You know, people say to me, Oh, you’ve really 600 shows. And I think to myself, I just feel like I’m getting going. I’m just getting to the point where I’m understanding the nuances that make a decent interview. And the more you put into it, the more you want to get into it. You know, that’s the thing. And I say that to everyone. When you find your thing, it really is when you put 20 hours a day in and you keep them coming back for more because you just there’s something in it that you haven’t quite nailed. And I totally understand why film actors and is about the performance. It’s always about trying to get the best performance You know, if you listen to Hugh Grant being interviewed for 30 years or so he says, Oh, I fell into it. And I should have left this ages ago. And I do the same kind of film. But he’s still doing it all the time, because there’s something in the performance that brings him back. I remember seeing DiCaprio actually in what’s Eating Gilbert Grape with Johnny Depp many, many years ago. And he played he’s disabled brother. And at the time, it didn’t occur to me, he was an actor playing that role. I thought he was a disabled person. He was so brilliant at it. So when that was one of his first roles, it’s not a surprise that he had the talent to keep going, because that’s where personal belief comes in, isn’t it, Joshua, you know, you’ve got the talent. And you know that as long as you keep on going, keep on going and you’re consistent, then, ultimately, you’re going to knock on the right door and that door can take you to wherever you want to be.
Joshua Rivedal [22:55]
That’s right. I think I think that’s a brilliant way to put it. I mean, you’ve got to keep grinding It is the belief and it’s and it’s even on the days, when you think that nothing right is going on in your life and nothing is going right with what you’re trying to do and the work that you’re putting in, you don’t see the fruits of your labour. But you’ve got to keep that belief and you’ve got to cultivate that and you’ve got to you, it’s about positive self talk. And it’s about celebrating the little wins in life and celebrating them every day. Because frankly, what most people see that DiCaprio on screen in The Revenant you know what i do what you do? That’s that’s the highlight reel. You know, nobody sees what we do behind the scenes in the in the group in the grind. And yeah, we love what we do, but doesn’t mean it’s easy, and it doesn’t mean that we love every minute of it. Now, we love most of it, but doesn’t mean we love every minute. To me, it’s like training for the Olympics. You’re a downhill skier, you train for three years and 364 days. And then you’ve got a day where you get 20 seconds, two minutes, 10 minutes at the most of performance and it’s up to you to get that gold, that silver, that bronze and so you get you get that moment on the podium when you’re done, and you might get some adulation and things like that. But nobody sees those three, three years and 364 days in the grind the broken bones. And that’s the stuff and that’s the stuff that you as an athlete, that you as an entrepreneur that you as a podcaster, this means what I do, that’s the thing that we’ve got to grow through and grind through. And sometimes it’s not easy, it’s not easy to lift weights every morning, or to prep for the show, or to wake up and pitch to five people or to take those calls again, you know, it’s not easy and and some days, it’s a pain in the ass, and I’d rather do something else. And some days, you know, I lost the job that I thought I was guaranteed, etc. But you know what, it’s worth it at the end, as long as you keep that spark of hope and that self belief, and that knowledge that as long as you keep grinding and as long as you keep pursuing knowledge, and as long as you’re trying to other people, you’re going to be fine. You’re gonna be fine,
David Ralph [24:50]
because that’s what I love about podcasting. That’s the beauty the glory of it is you can go back and you can listen to episode one. You can listen before that you can Hear the progression where I’m trying to think of ways may be writing but you can see somebody’s gradually getting better over a period of time. But more often than not the films of the A listers when they first started, they’re somewhere on a weird DVD, you never get to see them. But in this format this media, people can come back and they can look at everything I’ve done. And they can listen to episode one and episode nought point five and go, he was crappy. My God listen to him, but you know, he’s progressed, I find it hugely inspiring that people can see that journey. And and go for it because we’re crappy at the beginning, we get slightly better. I mean, hopefully we get to a point where we’re good enough that we really want to become good. And then that’s when I think you get into that top level.
Joshua Rivedal [25:47]
Yeah, yeah. It’s, it’s all about working on your craft and the progression. And I think, you know, you know, as a writer, I mean, when I put up my first book in 2013, I went back I started writing it, I think It was end of 2011 very end of 2011. And just before publishing, I went back and looked at the first draft because I kept it somewhere. And I was like, Wow, that is a piece of crap. That is such a piece of junk. I can’t believe that flaming turd ever got out of the gate. Like, I couldn’t believe it. And I was like, Wow, what an interesting and fun progression to see that and and if I could, I would never release it to the, to the public because I just some of it’s just frankly, embarrassing. But um, but but just to see that progression. I was like, Wow, it turned out to be what it is like, That’s amazing. You know, and just through that process of 1820 months of working on that, like I kept the belief I kept going like I’m that’s just me as a writer. I know. I know, other writers have gone through that. I look back at my first play, and I never actually got it produced. So we had a reading of it. A couple readings of it in in New York City, maybe six, seven years ago. And since then, I’ve had three four plays produced but I look at that first one. I was like, that was a piece of junk. I can’t believe how eager and how just awkward it was. And then I actually tried to get people to buy it, you know, and to see that progression and to know that, that you know what I thought it was good at the time, it frankly wasn’t and my skill set has gotten better. And it’s gotten better because I wanted it to, and because I studied and I did everything and that’s just it runs parallel to the to the podcasting piece and going back to Episode One, and knowing that if you grind and you keep going, and because you love it, it’s it’s only going to get better and it’s only going to grow and, and your you know your listeners and your numbers show that and, and the energy shows that too. And you’ve been around for 600 plus shows. So I mean, and I’ve been around for a little bit too so it’s it’s pretty cool to see that it’s cool to see those actors doing that too. On camera and you see I mean going back to DiCaprio Who’s Who better give us some a sponsorship deal out
David Ralph [27:48]
of this episode. You can come on Leo, if you want to come on the show. I’ll let you on a slide somebody over for you.
Unknown Speaker [27:55]
See what we can do
Joshua Rivedal [27:58]
if I got time, but uh but But if you go back even looking at his Titanic performance, which was which was good, it was decent. And you look at some of his newer stuff, The Revenant his, I think him in Django Unchained. I mean, he’s just so believable and his acting is so crisp, and so nuanced and it’s it’s just nice to see someone move forward in their career that way. And it’s a testament. I mean, you see, he’s a big gun and you think it’s impossible. It’s not even even some of us as medium guns and some of our colleagues who are on their way up and maybe who are a small guns, we can look at those big guns and say, you know, that’s some stuff that we can emulate, you know, we can emulate because there’s no such thing as an overnight success. You know, it’s it’s a 20 year overnight success. And we could look at that and say, hell, you know, there’s a lot that I can pull from this. And, and, and, and it’s, it’s pretty cool to watch.
David Ralph [28:51]
Yeah, you got to take the punches as this guy is gonna say in a moment. This is Rocky. Let’s bring him on the show.
Rocky Balboa [28:57]
You know, buddy. You’re gonna hit it. As hard as life, but eight about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward, how much you can take it, keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done.
David Ralph [29:13]
But it hasn’t been many people on the show that has been hit as hard as you would think the fact that your father obviously took his own life and your mother sort of took you to court and stuff. Are you somebody that can roll with the punches? Are you a winner? Are you a fighter? Or are you surprised sometimes that you’re still standing,
Joshua Rivedal [29:35]
looking looking back at my track record even even even before my dad died? I’m a fighter man. I’m definitely a fight. I’ve been fighting my whole life. I’m fighting an abusive home. Finally to get out of that leaving home at 19 fighting even as a kid you know, a couple kids started jumping in the bathroom, you know in fourth grade and fighting back you know and winning and not really being like a physical fighter, but I had to do in that sense, I remember my mom tells me a story. And I think it was second or third grade. And this kind of seems like peanuts. But you got invited to some roller skating party and I’ve never, never roller skate in my life. And for three hours at that roller skating party, I couldn’t get I couldn’t, you know, two hours and 15 minutes of the three hour thing. I couldn’t I couldn’t stay on my feet and say my life and I kept going, kept going, I had bruises and finally, the last 10 minutes, I was able to get around the track, you know, three or four times without anybody helping me. So I mean, man, I’ve been fighting my whole life. And, and and after my dad died, you know, frankly, I was in such a bad place with my mom, my you know, my dad, and from from frame of reference, just just the dad killed himself and you know, granddad killed himself in the 60s and my dad was was, you know, a first responder to that and so we never spoke about it at home so it was kind of a strange phenomenon at home but um, yeah, dad died Mom. Mom goes off the deep end girlfriend of six years, leaves me was not working too much at the time because cuz of some some acting stuff that wasn’t going right and, and and I fell into depression and I nearly killed myself as well in early 2011 and I didn’t think at the time because I was in such a dark place I didn’t think I was a fighter I didn’t think I was worth anything I thought it was a burden. And so I forgot for a little while that I was a fighter. And thankfully, through through the relationship with my mom even though it was bad at the time, I was able to bounce back because I called her and she ended up helping me out and then I ended up getting help through a series of other things. And since then, I mean I’ve been I’ve been not just fighting but helping other people learn how to become fighters themselves and how to how to gain resilience and how to help other people and not just themselves. So man, you know, I’ve got some bruises. You know, I’ve had my you know, if I was rocky you know, I probably had my my my eyelid slit open a couple times in the ring. And and I’ve gone 18 rounds and sometimes I’ve fallen down but man I’m always getting up and I always will get up.
David Ralph [31:59]
So the Interesting thing for me you’re talking about in 2011, you’re in a really dark place. Now, as I was listening to you, and I was going up and down your LinkedIn profile, I like to sort of get the dates right now in March 2010, you started impossible project, helping suicide prevention, mental health, social change. Now, I could have almost understood that your dark time was 2009. And slightly strange, but you start that, even though you’re not quite recovered yourself.
Joshua Rivedal [32:31]
Well, I think on the LinkedIn profile I may have, I may have screwed up the dates, right. I think what happened was, I’ll give you a little backstory, I started writing this play this one man play that that involved my dad and me and I played 15 characters and I sang a bunch in it. And it’s about a 60 minute piece and just like Broadway, just like West End, you know, but it was just one person playing all these characters. And largely it was the relationship between me my dad growing up and show business, our abusive relationship and then As I got into to be an adult, it got a little better. And then he ends up taking his life at the end of the play. Now, I wrote that in 2009 into 2010, and put it up in New York City in 2010. And it was just a theatrical piece. There was never any education. There’s never anything with it. It was originally called the gospel according to Josh. And, and so I think we, as far as the LinkedIn profile is concerned, I just dated it back to 2009. and renamed the gospel according to Josh, the impossible project because the play itself falls under the umbrella of the impossible project, if that makes any sense. And it was and it was really in 2011. In May, when it really became crystallised as an educational piece, and as something that can help other people because back in 2010, when I put it up in New York City for the first time, so my dad was gone for about, I guess, about 14 months at this point, and I was still about six, seven months away from my darkest period. So it was really like august of 2010 I put it up in New York City for the first time and then in Philadelphia, and people would come up to me after the play and say thanks for being open and honest, you know, my dad killed himself, or my uncle or my somebody. And I thought, great, that’s great like, and they were happy that I was open and honest about it. But I didn’t really resonate with me that I was I could use it to help other people and people were talking about the comedy and the other things too, but there was a few people responding to that. And after I went through my dark period, and fast forwarding to I guess, and end of February 2011 I had this epiphany that I could take this piece and condense it and put it this this theatre piece and condense it and put it together with education and get some training and make a programme out of it where it would be like the play then a keynote speech and then a q&a question and answer. And, and so I had this idea and nobody really knew what the hell to do with it because it was a very non traditional offbeat thing. Nobody does a keynote with theatre, much less a one man show and So I pitched and pitched it. Nobody knew what the hell to do with it. Finally, a University in New York City said, Yeah, we’ll do it in the psychology department in a couple of student organisations, and we put it up in May. And, and I didn’t know how the hell it was gonna go. I just was like, This is my idea. Hopefully some something good will happen. Not sure what. And there was a student at the end, who came up to me and said, Hey, Josh, you know, thanks for doing that. I’ve been thinking about dying. I’ve been depressed for a while. I thought it was normal. But it’s not. I know that now. So I’m going to go, I’m actually going to go to the counselling centre and get some help, because I know I need it. I was like, holy crap, like, this is amazing of all the things I went through. I went through just so I can help this kid, it was all worth it. You know, because I’m fine now or I was going through recovery. I was actually still recovering. But if this kid could could get help, like it was all worth it. So from there, I just I kept pitching and pitching and I refined the pitch refine the programme. And since then, it’s been so 130 locations in four countries, almost 30,000 people. But yeah, so it’s a minute really started out is this thing called the gospel according to Josh and was just a play and then it sort of morphed into sort of this, this larger organisation and one of the offerings is is what is it? It was the gospel according to Josh now it’s called kicking my blue jeans in the butt. And I do offer other programming, things like that. And there’s there’s a lot of moving parts to it. But it started with the one man play. And that’s kind of where the 2009 thing comes in. So I kind of had to give you a little backstory. So so we get the story straight.
David Ralph [36:24]
It seems interesting, more than the interesting seems fascinating. And so it almost started off as me, me, me. It’s something that you were doing to sort of earn income get noticed. But then once you realise that it was about give, give, give, that’s when it suddenly grew, which is a great metaphor for doing business generally, isn’t it?
Joshua Rivedal [36:47]
Mm hmm. Absolutely. And that’s really interesting. You put it that way, because it did it really took off on it wasn’t about me anymore. It was about other people. And in part, it was a little, I mean, it was about me, of course, I mean, obviously the topic. But it was kind of like some part of it was like, Yeah, I kind of want to get noticed, I think this could be a good thing for me, like I’m showcasing my talent. And then after it was like, okay, it’s not about that, let’s cut some of the nonsense in the fat out and really make it about, you know, getting to the point where we can educate people, you know, when it was all about other people, and it was all about the outcome, then the income and then the good things started happening. So, yeah, really flip this, the script really flips, you know, May of 2011. And it’s and it’s really been a lot of good things that you know, since
David Ralph [37:30]
then, is that is the journey that people go on. I think when they go into the entrepreneurial route, it’s very much at the beginning, buy my stuff, buy my stuff, come over here, look at me, this is me and all and then they realise afterwards, as you said at the beginning, once they start quietly solving people’s problems, and then giving, giving, giving it all comes together, but you have to go through those steps. It’s almost logical that you’ve got to scream mee, mee mee to get noticed, but it’s the quiet wave at that. wins the game.
Joshua Rivedal [38:01]
It is it’s all about listening. It’s all about listening to what other people need. And if what you have is right for them great. And if it’s not the move along, you know, you’ll find somebody for what you need, but it’s not about me, me, me or, hey, look at my ugly Baby, you know, it’s, it’s about it’s really about somebody else and it’s really about what they need. Because if you’re not solving their problem helping them out, like, they don’t care about you, you know, it’s, it’s, it doesn’t matter so, and we you’re absolutely right, we do have to go through those lumps and we do have to hit our heads, you know, a couple times to realise Hey, wait a minute, maybe this isn’t about me. Maybe I’m not the greatest thing ever. Maybe this product isn’t the greatest thing ever. Maybe it’s only for a few people and not for the whole world. And and and and yeah, it’s it’s and it’s a game changer too. It’s such a game changer and it feels good to because it really feels like you’re actually offering something and giving a gift rather than like well I hope to god somebody because I really need my rent paid and I really need this and I really need that. And and once it’s it’s less about you your needs and about somebody else. I mean, the, just the great things start rolling in. And I can attest to that. I mean, from personal experience, my life has shot up, you know, a million times since, you know, 2011. And it’s really because my life now is really about other people.
David Ralph [39:17]
So if I took this away from you what you’ve been doing for the last few years and said to you, right, all this is going to be taken away. Here’s an Oscar, I can give you an Oscar. And you can stand there in your tux having the photo taken. But you know what, you know, now emotionally, you know how your work is affecting you. Would you want me to do that?
Joshua Rivedal [39:39]
No, I don’t need an Oscar. I’m good man. This this is this is worth way more than an Oscar because a 20 30,000 people knowing that I’ve saved lives, like specifically I’ve saved lives and knowing that next year, we’re projecting to reach not just 30,000 people I’ve reached out in five in five years next year. I’m going after 50,000 people. And and and and so if I can reach that kind of people in that concentrated market because who knows how many people that they can reach 610 20 100 and so then it mushrooms so I’ll buy my Oscar, I’ll, I’ll buy a statue at the store and put it on my mantel, and I’ll have it for me. But my Oscar really is knowing that people are are staying around and sticking around in this world. So I’m good, good, good stuff. That’s the onset I wanted now I’m gonna play the words that were the inspiration for the whole show. And I think generally, we’re going to see but you do buy into these. But these are the words from the late Steve Jobs,
David Ralph [40:37]
Steve Jobs.
Steve Jobs [40:38]
Of course, it was impossible to connect the dots looking forward when I was in college. But it was very, very clear looking backwards. 10 years later. Again, you can’t connect the dots looking forward, you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something, your gut destiny Life karma, whatever. Because believing that the dots will connect down the road will give you the confidence to follow your heart, even when it leads you off the well worn path. And that will make all the difference.
David Ralph [41:13]
Those words could have been written for you couldn’t they just show?
Joshua Rivedal [41:17]
Yes, yeah, I mean, I could never in a million years have connected the dots going forward. But there’s always been this little engine inside me that’s believed that, that something good is gonna happen that that’s somehow in this world, I’m gonna make a difference and do something even when I had no coping skills even before I was 27 before 2011 and looking backward, I mean, all the dots connected. And it’s funny. I mean, not funny, but it’s interesting, I suppose. 2012 I went to Hawaii for the first time to speak at a youth conference. And I was standing out in the pier and I was looking up at the stars and there was some really bad version of like a an elton john playing somebody who’s doing karaoke And it was just cool to be there. And it was like, you know, in a certain sense, like I thought, well, none of this would have ever happened if my dad hadn’t passed away. And I was like, wait a minute, no, but none of this would have happened if I didn’t create something from it and, and, and take, you know, a triumph from tragedy, and, and then all the other things to you know, the theatre and the failed attempts at playwriting and the good things too, but in the failed attempts at this, that the other thing, and then and then the other time that I went through that kind of piece was I got married in November, and I met my wife through through the same field through suicide prevention, mental health, speaking, etc. book writing, and she works with an edit, she runs a foundation in Los Angeles. And I thought on our wedding day, because we we kind of got married a little bit fast, and I was thinking man, like none of this would have happened. And it was sort of the same thought process as I as I, as I thought through that, four years ago in Hawaii. And it was just a really cool experience. Now, obviously, I miss my dad, but there’s been so many other things that I took from that tragedy. And it’s really just connecting the dots backward. You know and and and also that trust and and, you know, I love me some Steve Jobs and his words are great and they’re really apropos and yeah, it’s it’s been an interesting journey to say the least. And could
David Ralph [43:13]
you sort of pinpoint one big dot? I love I love asking this question. Is there one moment? A conversation? A Look, there’s something that you realise Hang on. I think I’m on the right path here.
Joshua Rivedal [43:29]
Yeah, well, I think I think it’s that one. I mean, there’s I can probably there’s 10 of them probably right. And it’s that’s connecting the dots backwards. But I think it’s the one big dot i think was one I already mentioned. It was when that kid in 2011 in May, came up to me and said, Hey, you know, I need to get help. I’ve been thinking about dying. I’ve been thinking about, you know, I’ve been depressed for a long time. I thought all this stuff was normal. I know. It’s nice to get help. And I was like, wow, I’m on the right track. I’m on to something this could really work and not just this one time, but long term. It has. And that was a really big dot. For me. That was a Join Up Dots. I mean, that was something that was like, wow. And oh, this is life changing here, not just for him. But for me.
David Ralph [44:10]
I love what you’re doing. I really do, I think the the ability to inspire, but with entertainment as well, I think I think that’s where it all comes together. That’s one, you know, in a very small way compared to what you’re doing. That’s what I tried to do in Join Up Dots. I didn’t want just a podcast, I wanted something that was, you know, as entertaining as it was educational. And you could pull the two together. And I think so many people miss that they they would get up on stage. And they would do the keynote presentation in front of the PowerPoint and what you’re doing, you’re touching into the new market, the people that want to be entertained the people that have got YouTube and Netflix and videos on their phones and all that kind of stuff. I think that’s the genius of what you’re gonna do. And I think you will take this forward and you will inspire a whole new generation of people doing presentations in a more theatrical way, because it comes down to that key, storytelling, desire that we have, isn’t it? It’s one of our oldest ditions. And that’s what you’re doing. You’re telling it in a way, but we want to see it.
Joshua Rivedal [45:16]
Absolutely. And I love that you say that. I mean, I love how entertaining the show is. And it really does have to be a marriage. Because if you’re just doing something informational, and it doesn’t matter what your style is, I mean, this is a fantastic show. And there’s been other shows that have been wildly entertaining, but in such a different way. But it’s really it really does have to be a marriage of entertaining an education and and something that’s inspirational because that’s what people want. They want stories, we crave stories, stories, the science of storytelling is so interesting. I mean, it’s such First of all, you’re right, it is one of our oldest traditions. You kill the Sabre tooth tiger, not everybody can can manhandle a Sabre toothed Tiger but there was that one person that came back to the fire as they were cooking, that that tiger and they and they told the story Have it and it entertained everybody they wanted to know. And it’s and it’s just a tradition that we’ve passed through, you know, through the millennia. And it’s something that we crave and we desire and that we need as people. And the science of storytelling is so interesting. When you do a good job, and when you you, when you speak in metaphors, or when you tell a good story, you know, when we, let’s say, you’re talking about kicking a ball, and you do it in such a way that’s so engaging? Well, the brain for the listener, is, you know, it activates a part inside your brain, where you where that part of the brain actually lights up if you were doing the actual action talked about. So that’s how powerful good storytelling can be. And that’s what people want. And and the storytelling connection is so huge, because the peer to peer experience is so huge as well. You know, it’s not just somebody getting up on stage and doing the PowerPoint and being drab and dry because there’s no there’s no retention of knowledge. There’s no memory in that, you know, people are going to remember your shows, David because because of how engaging in this in the questions that you ask and the energy that you You bring, and people are going to remember what I do because because there’s, there’s there’s an actual story behind it. And there’s moments and there’s it’s not just about, you know, dry PowerPoint, I was reading something about knowledge retention the other day, and people remember things, only 5% of what they hear from just the straight up lecture. Yeah. But when there’s a personal story involved, it’s like 30%. And when they actually, you know, and then I think at the top of the list is like, if they actually have to not just regurgitate the knowledge, but then teach it again. So we’re not really talking about that. But just in terms of knowledge retention, you’re gonna get, you’re gonna get way more mileage out of a story and about entertainment. And I think we are moving into it into a new field. In fact, I love this aspect. And it’s not really something I talk about. I mean, I’m going to tell you about it. But I actually help a lot of artists and a lot of storytellers and a lot of performance artists and even just, you know, small business owners who are ready to move into public speaking or advocacy or things like that, and they’re ready to speak or tell their story. I kind of helped them Matt, marry the story. Storytelling piece with the educational, the advocacy or whatever it is and trying to do. And I sort of helped them put it out in the world so that they can share it in such a way where it’s effective, and to help them on the business side as well. Because I think we are moving into that new paradigm, where it’s all about stories. And it’s not about that old dry nonsense that people want something new and different. Because attention spans are different to them. You’ve got YouTube, you’ve got vines, you’ve got things, five seconds or less than and people figure out whether or not you’re going to be good or not. So you better be damn good. And the first 10 seconds and it better be story driven, and better be something interesting, otherwise, you’re going to lose them. And if you have something important to say,
David Ralph [48:36]
well Damn it, like do it in an engaging and important way. And if you don’t know how to do it, get the training. I tell you what, this is a blueprint for success. First of all, tell stories, speak in a way that people are engaged with, find their issues, find their problems, and give give a give. And that is the three steps to success, isn’t it?
Joshua Rivedal [48:59]
I think so. Yeah. Think so it’s it’s, it’s it’s all about giving, it’s all about creating that blueprint. It’s it’s all about other people and it’s all about it’s about trial and error being willing to fall flat in your face and break your nose and and realise that that you know, the failure is not failure, it’s a lesson learn on the way to success. So, yeah, I think I think there’s there’s lots of different ways and there’s, there’s certainly a template for success. And you know, and I always say, Take what you like and leave the rest so what would you do or what I do, David is it could be totally different but there’s always going to be certain components that are that are going to sort of ring true between the two of us and the rest of it is just fill in the blank in your frame of reference your life your field and what have you. So I think you know, you look at the the janitor turning his business into, you know, sort of a full time thing and now hires other janitors out or you look at Branson and what he’s done with all the virgin brands, I mean, there’s something between the two of them It’s it’s probably about giving, it’s probably about belief, self belief. It’s probably about the, the constant yearning and craving for knowledge, whether that’s in a classroom or whether that’s on a blog or a podcast. And, and and and that’s those are a few things that I can think of. But there’s there’s definitely connection No matter if you if you’re happy with a 50 you know, 50,000 pound a year salary or a 50 million pound a year dollar pound, whatever. You know, it’s It matters not it matters. You know, there’s principles of success that I think you can carry along from, from person to person, entrepreneur to entrepreneur, actor to actor, etc. So,
David Ralph [50:42]
so the last question just before we send you back in time on the Sermon on the mic is what are you most excited about at the moment, there’s so many strings to your bow, so many hustles you’ve got going on, what really sort of wakes you up with that sort of hustle muscle fully flexed?
Joshua Rivedal [51:00]
Yeah so so I’m I’m I’m currently working on something that’s kind of got two arms to it so I just put out this book series called The Impossible project and the first volume is rien gauging with life creating a new you it’s all about creating possibilities and showing people who’ve gotten knocked down in life and have gotten back up and it’s 1000 words apiece which is like three and a half pages and the first book book has done really well and there’s conferences that are taking on impossible as like the theme of the conference, etc, etc. We’re putting out a second edition the first edition was more general interest that was kind of diversity you know, transgender man finding love for the first time a woman overcoming or son’s homicide, mental health, suicide, families, depression, etc. The second volume is all going to be mental health, whether it’s depression, eating disorders, OCD, bipolar, etc. It’s coming out next June 2017. The tentative title for it is Mental Health First Aid Kit edition. And and the reason I’m doing that is a I think it’s really important to talk about mental health and mental illness and stuff like that. And B, because I’m working on a curriculum for schools, high schools, churches, middle schools, kindergarten, you know, as young as kindergarten boardrooms, and it’s called meant and it’s tentatively also titled Mental Health First Aid Kit, because reaching out talking about getting help from mental health issues should be as easy as finding a regular first aid kit. And so it’s all about you know, coping skills and there’s a module on, on on social emotional learning, meaning that you are not your emotions, you are not defined by them, you get to wield them in your favour and know how to control them. It’s all about what mental health is and isn’t. It’s about helping a friend or helping yourself of going through suicidal crisis. It’s about substance abuse and how to manage that it’s how to manage a mental illness and live mentally well and things like that. And at the end of each module, if you if the place or organisation or school decides to do all seven modules, at the end of each one, or at the end of all seven, you’re going to have you’re going to be able to create your own mental health first aid kit for yourself and it’s going to be a little open source and in each of these modules, I’ve got a little impromptu Theatre in there, it’s a little bit of lecture, it’s a little bit group discussion. And, and so it’s another piece where I’m, I’m merging all of my creative skills together and creating something. And so I’m going through some clinical trials with it. And I’m getting some some, some clinicians and social workers and my wife and a bunch of other people I trust on board is sort of pilot it and look at it in different places. And so I’m so stoked about that, and, and we’re going to be piloting it and testing it out between the fall and early, you know, spring next year in 2017. And then I think we’ll be fully launched as late as September of 2017. So I’m really excited about those two components, because it’s just another way to reach people. It’s another way to reach people in a long term basis. And it’s also another way to reach people where it’s not all just about me, like there’s gonna be other trainers involved in this and other people delivering this information, and they get to put their own flavour and their own brand on it, which will be kind of cool.
David Ralph [53:53]
Oh, it’s gonna be more than cool. I wish you all the best on that you don’t need luck. So I just wish you all the best It’s gonna go well, well, this is the part that shows that we have been building up to. And this is the part where we send you back in time to have a one on one with your younger self. And if you could go back in time and speak to the young Joshua, what age would you choose them? What advice would you give what we’re going to find out? Because I’m going to play the theme tune and when it fades you up. This is the Sermon on the mic. With the best
Unknown Speaker [54:29]
bit of the show,
Joshua Rivedal [54:45]
young Josh 20 year old Josh, I got a few things to say to you. I’m 32. Now so I’ve been around the block a few times. A couple things I want to tell you. First of all, chill out, man. Relax. It’s gonna be fine. You don’t have to do all This busy work and and spin your wheels you know trying to get successful because frankly, you’re doing you know it’s it’s a waste of time but go out have some fun. You don’t have to spend 80 hours a week doing what you want to do, you can spend 40 you could spend the other the rest of your time having fun and doing good things now with what you’re going to do with the 40 hours is you’re going to spend a lot of time working on your craft but you also going to spend a lot of time giving of yourself and helping other people and finding ways to connect other people so it’s not always about you my friend. Also, you know, know your self worth and know how great you are and interesting and kind and intelligent and attractive that you know you are and you don’t have to stay in a relationship if you don’t want to. You don’t have to stay in something because you think you’re obligated. You want to stay there because of anything or you’re trying to fix the past or whatever. Stay if it makes sense. Leave if it makes sense. But but but do the right thing by yourself because you deserve you only live once and and and and and just to reiterate given Give yourself all the time. And and also know that you are not your emotions you’re not you know that the bad things that happen to you which they will you’ve got some really hairy things coming up in the next few years. But Dude, you know what, that’s not going to define you, you’re going to define you and you’re going to define the way that you get to choose how to move through that because life doesn’t happen to you, it happens for you. And, and this is all for your benefit. And, and the last thing is, you know, leave the place better than when you found it, you know, and so that means it’s not all about you. It’s all about other people. And to do that, well. You’re gonna figure that out soon. But enjoy the journey, man and chill out and have a good time and help other people and I think you’ll be fine, dude. Love you,
David Ralph [56:43]
Joshua. What’s the number one best way that our audience can connect with you?
Joshua Rivedal [56:48]
Get at me on my website, www. Joshua rivet all calm. That’s our iv dal.com You can reach me at Josh at I am Possible project comm that’s Josh at I am possible project calm. There’s Facebook, there’s Twitter on there. There’s LinkedIn. I think there’s an email list on there. I’ve got a blog up there as well. I love hearing from people I love saying hello, I love answering questions. I love shooting the breeze. So, anytime, anywhere. Anyhow, I’m around where I have
David Ralph [57:21]
all the links on the show notes. Joshua, thank you so much for spending time with us today. joining up those dots. Please come back again when you have more dots to join up. Because I do believe that by joining up the dots and connecting our past is the best way to build our futures. Joshua, thank you so much.
Joshua Rivedal [57:38]
Brilliant. Thanks so much. David had a great time.
David Ralph [57:43]
Now wasn’t a great he was full on you. You imagine the passion that he has every single day for the task, and it’s because he’s doing something bigger than himself. He’s providing goodness back to the world and when you do that, it really does become easy. It’s it is a journey. Gotta go through and you’ve got to have faith that it’s gonna pan out. But when you get to that point, when you realise that your talents, mirror what the world is wanting, then things do become so much easier. You’re gonna work to that point, but you can get it. So if you’re on that step where you don’t know what to do with your life, one of the best things to do is look around and think, where can I help people. And if you can match that up with your own personal skills, you’re cooking on gas. Thank you so much for listening. If you enjoyed this show, let us know on email or Facebook or on Twitter or whatever you can do really appreciate all the communication we’re getting. Thanks so much, and speak to you again soon. Cheers back.
Outro [58:42]
David doesn’t want you to become a faded version of the brilliant self you or wants to become. So he’s put together an amazing guide for you called the eight pieces of advice that every successful entrepreneur practices, including the two that changed his life, head over to Join Up dots.com to download this amazing Guide for free and we’ll see you tomorrow on Join Up Dots.
