Don’t live a life of success. Live a life of significance.
This was something I wrote down in my notes app after this somewhat stressful but impactful week of being the best man at my best friend’s wedding.
This month is full of responsibilities. I just wrapped up my buddy Nathan’s wedding this week and now prepping for another wedding in two weeks as my sister gets married. She asked me to be the officiant for theirs!
I gave a speech at Nathan’s wedding and now will be leading, speaking and marrying my sister Erin and her soon to be husband Trent. It’s an honor and I don’t take times like these for granted. I’m blessed that they thought of me first to do it.
As I reflect on another topic that I don’t often talk about, I wanted to talk about it on this week’s newsletter.
That topic is communication.
Communication is the foundation of everything we do.
It’s how we express thoughts, share experiences, and make sense of the world. Without it, we’re just isolated beings, full of unspoken ideas, emotions, and intentions.
Think about the most meaningful moments in life. Relationships, friendships, business deals, creative projects. Every single one of them hinges on communication. A misunderstanding can break a bond, while a single conversation can change everything. And it’s not just about talking, it’s about listening, understanding, and responding in a way that moves things forward.
We all crave to be understood, and communication is how we bridge the gap between what’s in our heads and what others perceive. It’s how we connect, whether that’s through deep conversations, storytelling, or even the way we capture emotion in a film. The best communication isn’t just about getting a message across, it’s about creating a shared experience.
When Nathan asked me to be the best man, I was immediately honored. Words don’t describe how blessed I was that he chose me to be that person for him. With that meant that I had to prepare a speech for the wedding about them. I included an outline that had a flow to it. It included a few comedic moments about how we met, stories that outlined and gave insight to exactly who he was, and then transitioned into more heartfelt and inspirational moments with a beginning, middle, and end.
I’ve always been someone to easily get inspirational and have always connected to human emotion and what brings us all together. After I gave the speech, I heard good responses from multiple people and it wasn’t because I hit all the points. It’s because I was able to take people through a fun story.
There’s more to you than you know.
This is something I remind myself of often and share with others as well. There was a time when public speaking was my biggest fear. I wanted nothing to do with it. But everything changed when I chose to lean in and embrace not just storytelling through film and art, but also using my voice to create impact. I realized that people listened. Not just to what I said, but to how I said it.
Of course, I didn’t get there alone. It took a mentor who saw something in me before I saw it in myself, someone who pushed me to step onto a stage and deliver an entire message. Without that experience, I might have never leaned into this part of myself.
Maybe there’s something in you that you’ve been holding back as well. As a creative, you have countless ways to express yourself, and you might be overlooking an avenue that could unlock your full potential. So do me a favor, take some time this week to think about what that might be.
Remember, don’t live a life of success. Live a life of significance.
God bless you and have a great week!
Best,
Blake