We recently connected with Josh Welles and have shared our conversation below.

Josh, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

I am both happy and fulfilled as an artist. This industry is not an easy one nor is it for the feint of heart so there are times that I am tempted to quit this dream and do something that more people will understand. Earlier this year I was at the bottom of the barrel in every way. I wasn’t booking very much, I was getting fired every time I booked since it was so last minute, and I had no idea how I was going to make it out of there. After a while, I finally landed a job as a busboy in a restaurant earning minimum wage. I was working long hours as many days a week as I could. However, one day I was running and I broke my toe. I was so poor that I had to tie my shoe loose and keep working my job as a busboy while being on my feet for 8 hours a day. My mind was tempted to turn back. I wanted to throw it all away. Everything around me was hopeless and I didn’t have a place to go back home. There was no backup plan. I kept fighting and eventually I was blessed with a few jobs that began to get the ball rolling and got me connect to a director who still books me on every project he does. My realization was that I was going to make this work. Life is too short to run away from something that brings fulfillment to your life; especially if it can bring blessings to other peoples’ lives.

Josh, 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?

I am a lifelong athlete. I played my first season of tackle football at 7 years old and played my last game at 20. My whole life revolved around sports. The pull to be an actor was always there but when my college career ended from a torn ligament and avulsion fracture on my ankle, I realized that there was a chance I could make this a reality. What sets me apart is that I know what it’s like to have a goal and work harder than anyone else to achieve that goal. I’ve put blood, sweat, and tears into everything I do with an unmatched passion to create beauty in the world. I don’t do this for validation, I do this to inspire people to keep moving forward. By God’s grace and mercy I have been given an opportunity and a platform. My goal is to use that platform for Him.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

My audience came from some of my acting work and some of the content I created for a little minute. My advice for anyone trying to create content is to make sure what you are doing is for other people. Oftentimes we are self seeking and want to build our name but every endeavor must come from your talent as it pertains to its ability to be a gift to others. To entertain is to serve. I am here to live a life of service and that is the only way to grow yourself with any real substance.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

Creatives usually see a dream in their head that no one else sees. Many of us are running from being a disappointment and giving everything we have so we can prove to the world we matter. Some of us have family scars, abuse, trauma, and other pain. We finally found something that alleviates that pain while sometimes even doing the same for those who feel our pain. This is cathartic and beautiful to us as well as healing and fulfilling. We just hope it can be the same for you.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshwelles_?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-welles-270263263/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfpi4uzTCJyghh13iUzshw

Image Credits

Ben Hanson, Mandysa Brock