How to succeed at life.
So as many of you know, the hustle to reach my full potential here in LA continues. Life is full of so many wonderful things, but there are only a certain number of those things that will get your blood really pumping. I say, find what that is and chase after it with everything you’ve got. I guess that's why I'm here in LA leaving an amazing family and a beautiful comfy house for a period of time. The true you is found in hardship, forged in struggle, and blooms in relentless passion. Chase after your dream, and know that what you sow today, you'll reap tomorrow.
If success was easy, everyone would achieve it. But I also say that if we realize life is more than just existing, more people would obtain it. Too many of us sit as fans on the bench yelling at players to move the ball, and forget that it might be our turn to pick it up and move it. I used to wonder what life would be like if I was the person on the field instead of high in the bleachers. But tonight I look at who I am and I don't see only a fan, but a player. The thrill of life coursing through my vines as I move toward a lifestyle of reaching everything life has to offer me. I find that, yes, pain comes a little more easily and pressure pushes just a little harder. But looking back that is where character is brought into existence. It is where life finds its true flavor and where miracles appear for the hungry soul. After all; there is no pleasure without the risk of pain, there is no reward without the risk of disappointment, there is no love without the risk of hate, and there is no success without the risk of loss.
I'll end with this, if you want to succeed, you first must start. If you want to win, you first must put down your banner and get on the field because there is no finish line without first having a start.
On a side not that goes with this. You don't have to do life alone. Encourage your loved one, let them encourage you. My best friend just came back from a 5 month mission’s trip in Australia. He spent the week with me in LA and it has been the most refreshing thing I have experienced in a long time. Let those around you hold you up when you fall, get with people that will push you to live life. Spend time with people that will make you a better person because of it. I thank God for my friend Daniel Hoppe, and the other friends and family that encourage me every day!
So here is to my friends and family on the journey of success,
Cheers
Where did my dream go?
It's going on 4 months since I left home and moved to LA to pursue acting and writing. To chase my dream, that for years I was scared to believe was who I am.
4 months might seem like nothing for some. What is that, a semester in college? But when you start out broke, still are broke, and your car that you use as your bed every night gets smaller and smaller. Or when every day that you wake up you wonder if today might be the day for some over due back-pay from your dream to come your way. 4 months seems like years....no decades! I guess it's true. "The dream is free, but the hustle is sold separately."
So I know some of you are in the same boat reading this. Right now none of my circumstances changed, but I am soaring on cloud 9 because as the Psalm goes.
"I would have lost heart, unless had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. " Psalm 27:13
I believe 100% that I will see the goodness in my life, not because I am naive, but because I believe. Many people walk around waiting for something to happen for them. They say, "when I see it then I'll believe it." No, I believe it, therefore I see it, and I came to take it. People, pain is temporary, but if you quit, it will last forever. You need to go take a step out there and get your worth, go chase your dreams. If you don't take it, life will take it from you.
Sure, I might not have the money or the house I want. I might not have the acting jobs I thought I would have by now, but they are coming, not because they are looking for me, but because I am going out and taking them.
Some might say, "Well, I'm waiting for God to move and show me. I am waiting for a sign." Let me end with this.
"There was once a farmer that had a meadow full of rocks, the weeds had grown up and rocks were scattered everywhere. The farmer walked through it and began to think that if I just put a little work into this, it could be one of the best rock gardens around. So the farmer went to work, and before long he had completed one of the most beautiful rock gardens in the area, people came from all over to enjoy the garden.
There was one man who also came to see this beautiful sight, and when he was done walking through the majestic garden he went up to the farmer. He wanted to make sure that God was getting His rightful credit.
The man asked the farmer "Sir do you know that God made the the rocks and the meadow and he caused the rain to come and the sun to shine for this place to grow?"
The Farmer knowing what the man was getting at responded. "Yes, God is good to give me this place and has kept his promise of rain and sunshine to help it grow. He also created me, and given me this dream and has equipped me with the hands and feet to create what this place has become. But I will say this, you should have seen what it looked like when it was just God taking care of it."
I am telling you guys you have genius within you, those ideas that seem bigger than you, are not there by accident. You are still breathing, that's proof enough that you've still got stuff to accomplish. You have every reason and every right to go out and get it because the dream never left, it's still there. Life is full of goodness, success is not in short supply. Go get it!!
- JB
Here's to 2017
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us." - Marianne Williamson
I sit back in look at where 2016 has brought me. I think of the adventures it held, the lessons it taught and the joys it shared. Each day I find myself wanting to live my life bigger and better. Which to live life itself is the rarest thing, most people just exist. I recently took the time to write out some goals for this coming year, some I aim to reach in the first month. Others are so big that they are unattainable until I grow into the man who can attain them. But to sit down and to look at where you are and where you want to be in all areas of life. To search the inner you in depth can be exciting and scary at the same time. The light we carry is not just for others enjoyment. The light inside you is for you to see your path laid out, a guid to help in moving forward. So don't hide yourself, don't let the year come and go with your light hide deep within you.
A quick update on where I am. I spent some quality time with the family over Christmas with some snowmobiling, sliding, exploring the the great outdoors and catching up with friends. Now I look to start of the year flying back out to Hollywood on the 5 of Jan. Excited for pilot season, and other acting opportunities. Life is exciting when you chose to live it. I chase after it realizing it is God's greatest gift to us.
So the challenge for me this year and for you, is to not hide the light within us. Don't let this year go by with your song still in you, with your idea buried under fear and self-doubt. Go make life happen, let your light shine.
- JB
Chasing Sunrises
So I have been here sitting on Malibu's beachside for a couple weeks as I work relentlessly towards my dream holding on to the verse. "Your father who sees what is done in secret will reward you openly." Matt 5:4.
I won't share much of what an exciting adventure SO Cali has been the last several weeks. If you want to see pics please follow me on Instagram. But it has been an exciting ride, spending nights in the Hollywood Hills and days by the beachside. Exploring amzing views in the US of A.
But the dream calls I need to remind myself daily that I'm out here to pursue a dream that requires a relentless dreamer. It's crazy where I see myself six months, a year, five years from now. I love what Les Brown says "If the dream is big enough the odds don't matter."
So what's the magic secret, what makes me think that I can pursue something and succeed with such confidence when all around me people are falling out from the exact same dream?
I don't have the magic formula that's for sure, but I have a God that will help me through any circumstances. The goal is to not, ride with the circumstances that come in my life, it's to ride over them. And hey the goal each day is not to look for what can or did go wrong. Instead focus on what went right. Hard times haven't come to stay they have come to pass.
There are to many out there looking for the perfect time to start there dreams. I diecided that was never going to come so I took a leap and started the adventure with no certian tearms except one. I will succeed.
These are just a few thoughts I'll pass along as I live my life one day at a time. So with that guys, I got to get back to chasing the beatiful sunrises God has painted for me. Take care!
-JB
Take the Leap
So here here I am facing my worst enemy, myself. Its a nippy, early fall morning. The coffee is just about to be poured into my favorite mug and I'm diving into the "Good Book" to see what inspiration I can get for what might be the biggest day of my life.
You see I have big dreams for the future and no one is going to stop me. Well I guess there is one, and yep you guessed it that would be me. I fight constantly with myself telling me I have no right to do this, I'm not good enough, The reasons... excuses go on. But I'm sick of talking about my dreams my goals in life, I want to see them. I just don't want to live them at night, I want to experience them.
So as soon as I finish this cup of coffee I'm off to see the world, I'm off to chase the plan for my life. So in a nutshell the next two weeks consist of knocking on some friends and families doors as I drive through countless states to arrive on set of the Reliant Movie shooting in Ohio in which I will be portraying a small part. After a week on set, its time to drive a couple thousand more miles to reach the Golden State, Cali. where I can't wait to continue the adventure.
Well there goes the last of my coffee so Its time to get this butt out of the chair and on the road to adventure. Its time to take the leap.
Oh I do have one question for you. Whats holding you back? Because one thing is certain. "It's not over till I win."
See you in the Golden State.
JB