Today we’d like to introduce you to Joshua Gray.
Hi Joshua, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Chapters in life are truly colorful, with opportunities for beautiful developments. Born and raised in Las Vegas, I found my way to Los Angeles more extensively when I pursued my Bachelor’s Degree in International Business at Pepperdine University. My four years in Malibu at Pepperdine catalyzed an academic journey, professional artistry, and international travels that fueled me to embed a passion within others to embark on a journey of everyday living for everyday purposes. I mean…how could you not share your zeal for life when you were able to travel and live in Europe, Asia, and South America while in college? As my undergraduate chapter at Pepperdine closed, I officially started a new chapter as a creative consultant and graphic designer by doing work for Fox, Allyson Felix, several Pepperdine departments, other universities, and a range of companies and entrepreneurs. This chapter continues to underscore the creative acumen I nurtured as a child with a range of art competitions, an appreciation for branding instilled as I navigated business education through high school and undergraduate studies, and an appreciation for entrepreneurship as I navigate the professional sphere.
In today’s chapter, I am most fulfilled working in the personal and professional wellness space by creating resources and tools to encourage, enrich, and empower individuals. This chapter allows me to leverage insights from my work as a creative consultant, my work as a doctoral student researching leadership & learning, and my general worldview of positivity to encourage, enrich, and empower individuals and organizations to live greater—live every day, for everyday purpose. A colorful element of this chapter in life is the chance I get to design and illustrate my multigenerational coloring book, “Patterns, Prints & Positive Words: The Coloring Book to Live Grayter” and the upcoming notebook adaptation, “A Place to Put Positive Words: The Notebook to Live Grayter”.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Blessed would be an understatement in describing my journey of bringing my ideas to life in various aspects of my life. On this road towards fulfilling purpose, both personally and professionally, there have definitely been some twists and turns that require personal adjustment. Misaligned expectations and personal comparison represent the main twists and turns that required adjustment. Often, aligning my expectations with my realities requires me to shift my mindset from complaining to gratitude—such as feeling as if I should be farther in life than I should, feeling as if some content should reach larger audiences or some of my work could be better than what I rendered. Regardless of my reality, I’m still here and able to draft ideas and attempt to develop those ideas—a true blessing. Often times, comparison to others and to myself necessitates a return to gratitude—even a comparison of your past to your present or your present to your potential. At the end of the day, I’m learning that we have to be kinder to ourselves to do our best work and realize the reality of our “now” is a needed point in our journey.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
In the personal and professional wellness space, I create, design & develop resources for individuals and organizations to integrate into their wellness practices, including a multi-generational coloring book “Patterns, Prints & Positive Words: The Coloring Book to Live Grayter” and an upcoming notebook adaptation, “A Place to Put Positive Words: The Notebook to Live Grayter”. As a creative entrepreneur, doctoral student, and now author, I believe the first step in learning how to live and lead more positive lives is to make a decision to change the thoughts we think, the words we speak, and the decisions we make. Empathetic with the need to relax, reflect, or retreat away from high-level responsibilities, I specialize in developing & designing resources that integrate considerations around positivity, creativity, leadership, and technology to foster wellness on our own professional or personal journeys.
Hence, no matter the context, I believe positivity & creativity is how you’ll know me. From my work as a creative consultant creating branding materials for organizations to my work as an author creating positive messages for individuals, my commitment to positivity and creativity drives my impact.
Accolades and accomplishments can be a source of pride or an indicator of impact, but I’m most proud of my ability to touch the lives of others through my work. Someone shared with me how my first book, “Patterns, Prints, & Positive Words: The Coloring Book to Live Grayter” served as a source of positivity for their friend who was battling a sickness. Aside from bringing me close to tears, it brought me joy and pride; I’m hoping the same for my upcoming notebook adaptation, “A Place to Put Positive Words: The Notebook to Live Grayter”.
My journey towards obtaining my doctorate degree from Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education & Psychology (Ed.D. in Learning Technologies) carves out a unique path as an author and creative. Beyond the experience giving me insights on the way people learn, use technology, and lead themselves or organizations, this experience allows me to authentically resonate with the stress, anxiety, or self-doubt that comes with high-level responsibilities. Such resonance fuels my desire as an author and speaker to encourage, enrich, and empower through positivity.
What does success mean to you?
Success is living every day for everyday purposes. Success is showing up to every situation as the version of yourself that the situation needs. If you’re able to do that—being the best consultant you can be, the best designer you can be, the best friend you can be, the best child or sibling—I believe you’ll be able to resonate with the concept of being successful.
Success is a subjective concept that encompasses your contentment with your past, present, & future—and how they all intertwine to influence how you live every day for everyday purposes. You can’t change the past, but in the present, you can decide how you’ll handle the past to influence your now and your future. Navigating that decision in the best way you can equals success.
And if you receive certifications, degrees, increased finances, accolades or more for doing all of this, that’s a blessing.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thejoshuagray.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/thejoshuagray
- Facebook: Facebook.com/thejoshuagray
- Twitter: Twitter.com/thejoshuagray
- Youtube: YouTube.com/@thejoshuagray
- Other: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B09P5SGN6X?ingress=0&visitId=3fd3e09d-4ba5-4da3-8527-5738077e1a5f&ref_=ap_rdr
