Plan B Skateboards' professional skateboarder Chris Joslin recently chatted with Jack Sparrow from Stay Weird and got real about what it takes to live the kind of life most people only dream about.
The conversation focused on something that really connects with a lot of skaters and creative folks, and that is taking risks.
When Sparrow asked him why it's important to take chances in life, Joslin didn’t hesitate.
"Because without risk, there's no reward," he said. "Not to sound cliche but it's true."
He’s not wrong. The 28-year-old has built his entire career off skating massive handrails and landing a 360 flip at the legendary Davis gap, a spot that most people would not even attempt.
But for Joslin, risk is not just something you do on a board. It is something you take on with your life decisions too.
The new Lakai footwear pro rider talked about how most people he meets follow a more traditional path. They go to college, get a nine to five job, and build stability. There is nothing wrong with that. But for Joslin, things unfolded in a different way.
"You tell them you're a professional skateboarder," he said, "and they’re like oh my God, it’s amazing, like how did you do that? Well, that’s what I went for. Just like you went for your dentist degree or your brain surgery degree. That’s what you tried for and that’s what you did."
That point of view is pretty grounded. He is not saying one way is better than the other. He is just pointing out that the dedication and commitment behind both paths are the same. If you really want something, you give it everything. That is what he did with skating.
"I chose skating," he said. "I went for skating and put my ten thousand hours into skating and went that way."
It is a simple idea but one that is easy to forget. Success does not always come from following a script. Sometimes it shows up when you trust yourself enough to go after what matters to you, even if it does not make sense to everyone else.
Joslin did not end up where he is by playing it safe.
He made a decision to chase something he loved, and then he worked like crazy to make it happen. For people wondering if it is worth stepping outside the usual routine, Joslin’s story is a pretty solid reminder that the biggest rewards often come when you stop playing it safe and go all in.