JUSTIN ROGERS

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Practice

Values make things stick

October 20, 2025

How do we make something a priority?

Sheer will power can be great, but might not last.

What really lasts is connecting the desired action to our highest value.

-Want to consistently make time to plan new creative lessons?

-Begin a new habit?

-Push through the initial difficulty of a new venture?

Sure, I can muscle my way through, but I know I’ll burn out quickly if it’s will power alone.

What does it mean to link something to your values?

We have to link in our heads, hearts and bodies that this action equals our highest value.

-The consistent time spent planning lessons is directly connected to the change you want to make in young people. Action – > high value

-The new habit is burned in your brain as an embodiment of your deep desire to always learn new things. Action – > high value

-Sticking to the new venture while you’re really bad at it is connected to the contributions you know you will make to others once you master it. Action – > high value

Don’t be strong. Plug into your values instead.

Self Esteem

October 18, 2025

Where does self esteem come from?

It’s esteem for one’s self. A deep feeling of self security and worthiness. I think in the past I’ve tricked myself into thinking that we get this from others.

Yes, we’re told that what others say and think about us doesn’t matter- but it’s a mighty loud signal.

When we’re kids it’s the authority figures in our lives that shape our beliefs about the world and ourselves.

As we get older I suppose we continue giving authority to others.

Do other people think we’re good or strong or clever? Whether people see us doing things that signal our virtues becomes important.

Because of course if a tree falls in a forest and no one hears it, does it make a sound?

It does make a sound- but only the tree knows it.

Esteem for one’s self is about who you are when no one is looking.

Because when we do things that show we’re strong, kind, creative, clever and the only ones to see it is us, that’s when we build real self esteem.

You’ll fight every urge to talk about it or signal to others what you’ve done. But that erodes the real treasure.

Do the right thing and do it for you only. And do that over and over (and over).

You get what you practice for.

October 11, 2025

In the past I have fallen into the trap of thinking I’ll perform at my best when the ‘amazing’ opportunity comes along.

When I have to sing in front of 500 people, I can warm up a few times in the lead up and be fine.

Or when I unexpectedly have to teach for an hour straight I’ll magically know all the things and a perfect lesson will tumble out of me.

The reality is, we get what we practice for.

If I’m not constantly working on my voice, there’s no guarantee it’ll show up for me when I need it.

If I’m not honing my lessons, I can’t call upon that body of knowledge when the unexpected opportunity arises.

You get what you practice for.

The question then becomes how do you set yourself up for the ‘amazing’ opportunity today.

I have an actor friend who treats each and every audition like the dream job.

It’s not just about taking it seriously- because it should also be fun- but it’s about having your system and matching your system to the very serious goal you have.

I have no doubt that when he get’s a big feature film gig, the sequence he goes through will look identical to his prep for the no budget short film.

He’s practicing.

Not just that but he’s drilling, learning and stretching as an actor when he’s not working on a particular project.

He’s practicing.

It’s utterly inspiring and a strong reminder to just do what we ‘would’ do then, now.

Don’t wait, practice now and thank yourself later.

Production is a net positive

August 9, 2025

I believe there is no downside to making things and sharing them with the world. I think its the most generous thing you can do to say here I made this, I hope it makes your life better, or gives you a moment of joy or helps you achieve your dreams.

It’s our responsibility to get out of our own way enough; to make ourselves the best we can be and share that with the world.

Its generous to be unselfconcius.

It’s generous to give without needing anything back.

It’s generous to try your best.

It’s generous to put the work in.

It’s generous to overcome resistance.

Plus-

And there’s a big plus

Think of the person who you become after that much generosity. Think of the skills you’ve honed. Think of the ground you’ve covered and the artifacts you have to show for the journey.

It’s win frickin win.

Production is a net positive.

Value first as a life strategy

August 6, 2025

There is a concept in business called ‘value first’. It’s exactly what it sounds like, before any business transaction between and buyer and a business, it’s the businesses job to provide value in advance.

If you’ve ever taken a free trial, you’ve experienced value first.

I really like it in business because it’s a no strings chance for all parties to do the thing they all want to do; provide the value and consume it- it’s win win.

It also forces the business to show up as their best; there’s no use giving a free sample that kind of sucks.

This reminds me as well of Steve Martin’s advice to aspiring performers: “Be so good they can’t ignore you”.

He’s talking about value first here. Too often we want to ‘save the goodies’ for paying customers and we lament that ‘if they just gave us a chance, they’d know what I can do!’

Trust me, I’ve had these thoughts as an actor.

I increasingly believe that it’s everyone’s job to do their best, relentlessly and share it for free. And be so damn good they can’t ignore you.

Want to be paid for the thing that you do? Show everyone how great you are at it now. Not so good yet? That’s okay, just keep practicing,

Give value first.

Always measure

July 31, 2025

Not in the measure twice cut once way (though I think that’s a pretty good suggestion too)

If I’m at the gym and I don’t make a proper note of the weight and the reps (or even the exact incline of the machine) it sends a signal to my brain that this doesn’t matter.

No matter what the numbers say (sometimes they may dishearten you) it’s important to measure always. It’s better to have the certainty of where you truly are and have your brain feel that satisfaction of ‘being on the path’ than to remain ignorant because it’s easier.

Don’t sell yourself short. Measure always.

Alien green screens and a new plan!

July 26, 2025

So yeah, I’m approximately 204 videos in to my daily film making habit. The last twenty of which were a series that required hours of green screening each day (yes, you read that right, hours)

Not the dream.

But I’m glad I saw out the series and was pleased with the final episode I put out yesterday. I’m glad I could exhale completely the initial impulse that spurred it, I mean how great to make something with a beginning middle and an end!

I was reminded by the great Chase Jarvis about the purpose of practice. That’s what I’m doing with this daily habit after all- I’m practicing. Chase reminded me that the purpose of practice is to practice the most fundamental, elemental basics of the thing you’re trying to get better at.

For me it’s acting, it’s telling stories that connect people to their heart and the hearts of others real or imaginary. Things that make people laugh, but most of all move people in a way. This can be a 1 second clip or a 3 hour movie- the length doesn’t matter, but that’s the element I’m seeking to improve.

Looking back on my 20 days of working on this series, I realised the majority of the time was spent keying out backgrounds and creating complex soundscapes to sound like another dimension. And I’m definitely not trying to practice keying out backgrounds OR creating complex soundscapes to sound like another dimension.

I suppose in a vague pursuit of story telling, acting and moving people I found myself doing that. And I’m glad I did because it spurred this realisation.

ANYWAY.

All this to say- I won’t be spending those hours on the thing I’m not here to practice. S0 my new rule is this:

Each day’s video can take no more than 30 minutes to shoot and no more than 30 minutes to edit. That’s it.

I think this will be tricky to do- BUT I can’t let my life be slowly taken over alien green screening. I hope the constraint will force a ultra clarity on the purpose of my practice each day and help me build the skill I want rather than a side quest that accidentally wastes my time.

Let’s see.

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