We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Joshua Wright. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Joshua below.

Joshua, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

In 1997, I took a significant leap by starting my own record label, but as the business grew, I realized I had a vision for something bigger: a retail store that could serve the local music community. After three years of balancing my day job, I decided it was time to fully commit to my dream and left my job to pursue this new venture.

The search for a location was challenging. I encountered many landlords hesitant to rent to a 22-year-old with no financial backing. Fortunately, one kind individual saw potential in me and agreed to lease a space. I’ll always be grateful for his belief in my vision.

To fund my store, I applied for ten credit cards and secured a small loan, ultimately gathering $25,000 to get started. When I opened my store on April 1, 2000, it was the first of its kind in the entire county, and the response was overwhelmingly positive. It quickly became a hub for the alternative community and helped sustain my record label as well.

Fast forward 23 years, I made the decision to move the store online, which paved the way for me to explore new opportunities in film and real estate. Looking back, taking that risk was one of the best decisions I ever made, leading to both personal and professional growth.

Joshua, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My passion for music and my desire for self-employment inspired me to start my own record label. I recorded my first project in November 1996 with a band called Insurgence. The vocalist, Aaron Bruno, later achieved significant success as a multi-platinum recording artist under the name AWOLNATION.

I genuinely care about the quality of my work, whether it’s a retail item, a song, a real estate transaction, or a screenplay. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working with people from diverse backgrounds, and I’ve learned that problem-solving comes naturally when you prioritize relationships and communication.

As my record label entered a hiatus in 2014, I decided to reconnect with my creative side by pursuing a childhood passion: writing. Rather than sticking to poetry, I challenged myself to learn screenplay writing, which sparked a new journey for me in November 2012.

I’m proud to say that my transition into film and real estate has been both exciting and successful. This year, I completed a feature film script, and I’m thrilled to be entering pre-production soon.

I want potential clients and followers to know that I’m committed to excellence and creativity in all my endeavors. My experiences have shaped my approach, and I’m eager to continue building meaningful connections through my work in film and real estate.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

In 2020, my retail store, which I had successfully run for two decades, was hit hard by the COVID-19 closures. The sudden loss of in-store sales was devastating, and it had a profound impact on my family’s financial stability. During that same period, my father tragically passed away from COVID complications, and my marriage of over 20 years came to an end. The following year brought more loss, as I had to cope with the passing of two uncles, an aunt, and a close friend.

Despite everything, I remained focused on one key goal—ensuring that my son could graduate college without interruption. While my store continued to struggle, I used the opportunity to reevaluate my life. I knew I needed a change, so I pursued real estate courses and dedicated more time to my writing, which had always been a passion of mine.

In 2023, with my son graduating college and my daughter finishing her freshman year in college, I made the difficult decision to close my physical store and move it entirely online. This shift allowed me to explore my passion for the arts, a dream I’d always wanted to pursue. Over the past year, I’ve learned to ride horses, acted in feature and short films, and even had the chance to direct. Now, I’m working on a project where I’m writing, directing, and acting, truly embracing this new chapter of my life.

This journey has taught me the importance of resilience—not just in the face of business challenges, but in navigating profound personal loss. By continuing to push forward, adapting to change, and finding new passions, I’ve been able to rebuild my life in ways I never imagined.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the ability to transform personal experiences into something that resonates with others. Art allows me to channel my emotions, whether it’s joy, grief, or resilience, and shape them into stories that can inspire or connect with people on a deeper level.

Having shifted into the arts after a career in retail and navigating significant personal challenges, including loss and major life changes, I find that creativity gives me a sense of freedom and purpose. Whether I’m acting, directing, or writing, I love the process of creating something from nothing—bringing characters to life or exploring a vision that others can relate to.

What fulfills me most is knowing that my work has the power to evoke emotion, start conversations, or simply provide an escape. In a world that’s constantly changing, being an artist gives me the chance to leave something meaningful behind and to continuously evolve, both personally and creatively.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @thewrightjoshua

Image Credits

Araya Doheny