We recently connected with Jim Astle and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Jim with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
My work ethic comes from my quest for freedom. I found out early that freedom and work go hand in hand. I wanted to be free from asking my parents for support and then being subject to their judgments. I wanted to be able to make my own decisions and suffer for my own mistakes. Basically I wanted to be responsible, which is one of life’s most important and forgotten traits. Through work, I could be free to develop into who I wanted to be. Work for has has always related to freedom, and the lack of it to servitude. I wanted to be independent at a very early age, and work allowed that. Also the type of work did not matter that much. Work itself, just for the sake of it, is healthy and healing. Whether cleaning toilets, or digging a ditch, or writing a symphony, to me they differ very little and doing a good job at anything is a very worthwhile reward.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
My wife and I have produced a collection of country style hymns. We are musicians and have produced many different kinds of music over the years but this collection is something we are particularly proud of… https://thedeacons.hearnow.com/sacred
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?
I guess first you must release yourself from the opinions of others. Anyone can be a critic, but if you are producing something, you are light years ahead of them. Basically I learned early to recognize that people can have opinions about your work, but in the end, it is what you think that matters. Secondly you must learn not to quit. Quitting now has somehow become a badge of courage, and yes sometimes you must quit some unhealthy things, but sticking with something, even if it gets rough, is a very worthwhile quality. When I look back, I regret quitting too early when I should have hung on just a little longer. And third, although this should probably be first, you must be honest. You can’t have any successful relationships in any area of life without honesty. You must be true to yourself and others. Lying is evil and distasteful in any form.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
The Bible has probably been the most significant book in my life, it is full of life lessons, characters who have sacrificed, worked, trusted and have built the basics morality structure for humanity. The basic lesson being, you are not the center of the universe, find your role and play it. Another impactful book was, The Road Less Traveled by Scott Peck. Life is difficult is the lesson, once you accept that you can work with it, also the Love is Work, it’s not a feeling. Real love really can only begin when the feeling is gone, then you begin to. understand it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thedeacons.hearnow.com/sacred
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jastle21/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jim.astle.3
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-astle-1783a115/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/the_jim_astle
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMCtGjxQo5XkIOQyXUc344Q
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/jimastle
