Meet Al Bettis

We were lucky to catch up with Al Bettis recently and have shared our conversation below.

Al, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I used to answer this by describing the moment that I wrote my first song, but the truth is my purpose was always there, I just didn’t know how to identify it. My purpose revealed itself in layers over the years. I recently heard someone say, “Your purpose isn’t in what you do but what happens to others when you do what you do”. My purpose has shown up in various forms over the years. It has found me in creative writing, preaching sermons, speaking, singing and songwriting. In the end it’s not what I am doing but what’s happening on the inside of those who encounter it.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am a singer, songwriter and storyteller from Detroit, Michigan. At the age of 30 I taught myself how to play guitar, write songs and sing. Writing songs gave me the ability to search my soul like never before. Moments that brought joy, happiness, grief, pain, love, regret and more were all up for grabs. Creating songs from these moments offered healing and resolution while connecting me to others. Songwriting for myself was amazing but the magic happens when it allows others to feel what I feel. My brand of art is a genuine and raw connection that allows listeners to feel seen and understood. That is a big part of my purpose. Whether it’s in song or speaking to group of listeners, I hope to communicate a feeling of belonging and connection. I am excited for the future. I just finished up a summer tour called “Summer of Love” and I am booking up shows for 2024. I also just hit my first Tedx stage. Speaking and storytelling is a major passion for me. For the remainder of 2023 I will be recording to bring some fresh music in 2024. You can also find me speaking to groups on topics that range from mental health to finding your purpose.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Be ready to Persevere, Be Kind to Yourself and Be Present.

Be ready to persevere. Perseverance is the most impactful quality/skill for me. No matter who you are, one thing is certain. What you want in life will not come easy. There will be times where you want to quit. Times where you just cry and feel defeated. Allow yourself to feel those moments and then get back up and take one more step. When you’re exhausted and beat down you probably can’t see how you can go another mile. Don’t worry about the next mile, just take the next step. Keep doing that and you’ll get further than you ever imagined.

Be kind to yourself. You are exactly where you are supposed to be. Resist the urge to compare your journey to someone else’s. Comparison is the opposite of being kind to yourself. If you find yourself looking into the mirror of life and you truly feel you can do better or be better, allow yourself to be where you are and then take the next step in the direction that you wish to go. No matter what, love on yourself. You may not be where you want to go but you’re further than you were. Take the next step.

Be present. This is the only go at this journey that you will get. Soak in every moment. Breathe it all in. In the words of Echart Tolle “Most humans are never fully present in the now because unconsciously they believe that the next moment must be more important than this one. But then you miss your whole life, which is never not now”. Your life is in this very moment. it’s in the NOW. Be present.

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
My circle is the reason I am here now. They loved me when I had trouble loving myself. They encouraged me when I couldn’t find a kind word for myself. They believed in me and showed it with words and actions. I owe the world to my circle. The image that comes to mind is that of my grandmother. She taught me how to ride my bike by holding me up with a steady hand. Constantly encouraging me with words and a steady hand. Picking me up when I fall. Dusting the dirt off of me and helping me get back on the bike. Each time loosening the grip more and more while I pedal. I kept pedaling, eventually looking back for grandma’s steady hand only to find them further back clapping, a smile on her face saying, “You did it, you did it”. That’s my circle. A physical extension of my ancestors’ hands.

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