Posts by Allan Lacoste

Nobody Wins Afraid of Losing

Alabstraction DIY

Fear of failure is the greatest roadblock to success. It keeps you comfortable, safe, and stagnant. But here’s the truth—nobody wins by playing not to lose.

Every major decision in my life has come with risk. Leaving a stable career to start my own business. Betting on myself in an industry where failure rates are high. Now, facing the next big transition, the same principle applies: success demands courage.

I’ve learned that failure isn’t the enemy—fear is. Every setback, every tough lesson, and every challenge sharpened my ability to lead, adapt, and grow. The people who win are the ones willing to step into uncertainty, take ownership of the outcome, and push through resistance.

If you’re waiting for the perfect moment to take a leap, it doesn’t exist. The only way to win is to play the game fully, knowing that losses are just part of the journey.

So here’s my challenge to you: Stop fearing the fall. Chase the win. Because nobody wins afraid of losing.

Embracing Our Unique Gifts: A Personal Reflection on Romans 12:6

Alabstraction

We all have different gifts. Some people are natural leaders, visionaries who can see the bigger picture. Others excel in details, in organization, in service, or in teaching. Romans 12:6 reminds us:

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.

For much of my life, I wrestled with the idea of purpose of whether my skills truly mattered in the grand scheme of things. I looked at others who seemed to move effortlessly in their callings, wondering if my own contributions carried the same weight. But over time, I learned a fundamental truth: our gifts, no matter how different, are all necessary.

The word grace in this verse is critical. It reminds us that our abilities are not accidents or coincidences; they are divinely given. Some people have a gift for speaking with authority, while others are listeners who provide quiet wisdom. Some build, some innovate, some nurture, and some protect. The variety of these gifts is intentional, woven together like threads in a greater tapestry.

When I finally accepted that my strengths were not meant to mirror those of others but to complement them, my perspective changed. I stopped chasing someone else’s talents and started refining my own.

With any gift comes responsibility. If we have been given wisdom, we are called to share it. If we are blessed with leadership, we must guide with integrity. If our strength lies in encouragement, we must lift others up.

Too often, I have seen people diminish their gifts out of fear or comparison. I’ve been guilty of it myself. But suppressing our abilities doesn’t just affect us it limits the impact we are meant to have on others.

True fulfillment comes when we align our unique abilities with service. Whether in business, in family, in ministry, or in everyday life, our talents are meant to contribute to something greater than ourselves. The most effective organizations, communities, and relationships thrive not because everyone does the same thing well, but because different strengths come together to form a cohesive whole.

If you’ve ever doubted your significance or questioned whether your skills truly matter, remember this: your gifts were intentionally placed within you. They are meant to be used. They are meant to serve a purpose.

So, the question isn’t whether you have gifts. It’s whether you are using them to their fullest potential.

What unique abilities have you been given, and how will you use them today?

Convenience Vs Freedom: Are We Building Our Own Cage?

Alabstraction Land of The Free

Lately, I’ve been feeling like we’re standing on the precipice of something monumental—as if the world is nearing a turning point that was written about long before any of us were even here. Maybe it’s the constant noise of the news cycle, the endless debates, the divisions that cut deep, or the unsettling shifts in technology that make me wonder: Are we in the end times? Is the Antichrist walking among us already, masked behind the glossy veil of modernity?

I don’t pretend to have all the answers, but I want to share with you the thoughts that keep me up at night—those questions that rattle around, especially when I look at how the world is rapidly changing. The way the world has centralized, the way we are constantly connected yet so profoundly divided, and yes, how even our money is changing. Bitcoin, and other cryptocurrencies, are fascinating—borderline revolutionary. They offer us a way to break free of government-controlled currency, to escape inflation, and to seize control of our own financial freedom. But at the same time, there’s an eerie sense that maybe all of this is playing into something bigger, something foretold.

In the book of Revelation, the prophecy speaks of a time when no one can buy or sell without a mark—the mark of the Beast. It makes you wonder, doesn’t it? As our currency evolves into something entirely digital, does this mean we’re one step closer to that future? Bitcoin and its cousins are hailed as liberators—but what if this is simply the precursor to the consolidation of power? A step closer to one global currency, controlled and tracked in a way that feels inescapable. The blockchain, decentralized as it might be, still records every movement, and as much as we may value transparency, there’s a side of it that could also be harnessed for control.

And then there’s the question: Is the Antichrist already here? Maybe not in the traditional, horned-figure kind of way. Perhaps it’s not a person at all—maybe it’s a system. Maybe the Antichrist is a spirit of control, of coercion, that permeates our world. I see it in the increasingly invasive surveillance, the digital profiles that grow on us every day, the insistence that convenience comes at the cost of privacy, that access must come with a condition. It’s as if we’re being slowly, subtly nudged into accepting a way of living where our thoughts, our freedoms, and our choices aren’t ours to make anymore.

It’s easy to see why some are wary of digital currencies, why they see Bitcoin—even though it claims to be outside the system—as perhaps just the first wave of a much bigger plan. A stepping stone towards a global financial structure that could bring everything under a single authority, the kind of control that Revelation warns us about.

I don’t know if the Antichrist is a person, a technology, or just a spirit that drives people towards control. But what I do know is that we need to stay aware. We need to look at what’s happening around us and ask the tough questions. Are we embracing things that will one day be used against us? Are we allowing convenience to overshadow freedom? Are we stepping willingly into a cage, convinced that it’s progress?

I’m not here to say that Bitcoin is inherently evil, or that digital currencies are the mark of the Beast. But I am here to ask whether we are thinking deeply enough about where all this is heading. Technology is only as good or as bad as the hands that control it, and the line between liberation and control is often a very fine one—a line that, once crossed, might be impossible to step back from.

These are just my thoughts. We must stay vigilant, watching the world unfold with clear eyes and questioning minds.

Making Plans and Trusting in a Higher Purpose

Alabstraction Lifestyle

We all have plans, don’t we? Plans for our careers, relationships, finances, and dreams we hold close. I’m no different. I spend a lot of time thinking, strategizing, and mapping out my life. I set goals, draft timelines, and invest energy into creating the future I imagine for myself and my family. But life, as it often reminds me, doesn’t always unfold according to my carefully laid plans.

I came across a verse recently that speaks to this truth in a simple yet powerful way: “You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail” (Proverbs 19:21). It’s one of those verses that can stop you in your tracks, forcing you to pause and think about what it means for all the aspirations we work so hard to achieve. This verse doesn’t discourage us from planning. It acknowledges the inevitability that our best-laid plans sometimes get rerouted by something greater, something beyond our understanding.

Looking back, I can see moments when things didn’t go as planned—sometimes painfully so. Projects didn’t pan out, relationships shifted, and the road curved unexpectedly. In those moments, I felt frustration, sometimes even doubt. But hindsight is a wise teacher. With time, I began to see how those disruptions actually worked in my favor. Where I’d initially seen only dead ends, a path opened that I hadn’t anticipated, leading to something better or helping me grow in ways I never would have otherwise.

This verse, for me, is a call to stay grounded and flexible. It encourages me to hold onto my goals lightly, remembering that they don’t have to be rigid. God’s purpose for us can be different from what we envision, but it’s ultimately a purpose that has our best interests at heart, even when we can’t see it. While I may be driven to shape my life in a particular way, I’m learning to trust that there’s a wisdom beyond mine at work, steering me toward what I truly need rather than what I merely want.

So now, when I feel uncertainty creeping in or when things don’t go the way I’d hoped, I come back to Proverbs 19:21. It’s a reminder to keep planning and striving but to leave room for something bigger. It’s an invitation to embrace both the ambition to move forward and the faith to let go, trusting that even if things don’t turn out exactly as I planned, they’re turning out exactly as they’re meant to.

In the end, my plans might evolve, shift, or even fall away, but I trust that God’s purpose for my life remains constant. And there’s a peace in knowing that the path I’m on, though unpredictable, is leading somewhere good, somewhere purposeful. That’s where my faith lives, and that’s what keeps me grounded through every twist and turn.

Let me know if this resonates with you or if you’d like any adjustments.

“Are you all in?”

Alabstraction Lifestyle

“Are you all in?”

It’s a question I find myself asking often, in everything I do. Whether it’s my career, my family, my health, or my role as a husband and father, there’s always this internal check—am I really giving it my all?

Being “all in” isn’t just about effort; it’s a mindset. It’s a commitment to show up fully, to push beyond what’s comfortable, and to engage with purpose. In my life, I’ve found that it’s not enough to just be present. You have to be engaged, invested, and focused. You have to be all in.

When it comes to family, for example, I remind myself that being there isn’t just about physical presence. Am I truly listening? Am I connecting with my kids, my partner, in a way that lets them know they are my priority? Time is finite, and while I may not always have control over my schedule, I have control over how I show up. Am I all in when I’m with them? I hope so.

In my career, the stakes are high. Responsibilities, challenges, and the constant need to stay ahead can be overwhelming. It’s tempting to just go through the motions some days. But I know that if I’m going to make a real impact, I need to commit. I need to remind myself that this isn’t just a job—it’s a platform. Am I giving my best, pushing boundaries, solving problems with real intent? Am I all in?

Health is another pillar. I’ve learned that taking care of myself isn’t just for me; it’s for the people who count on me. It’s easy to brush aside workouts, to cut corners on eating well, or to stay up late working instead of getting enough sleep. But the truth is, if I’m not healthy—mentally and physically—I can’t be there for the people who need me most. Am I all in on taking care of myself so I can take care of them?

As a husband and father, the idea of being “all in” is something I hold close. These are the roles that matter most. I’m not perfect, and I make mistakes, but I try to keep the perspective that being present, being patient, being understanding is what makes the difference. Am I making the choices that reflect my priorities? Am I all in when it matters most?

Being “all in” doesn’t mean perfection. It doesn’t mean never failing. It means that in the moments that count—in the areas that define us—we choose to show up fully. We choose to push harder, to care deeper, to engage more intentionally. It’s a question worth asking, and one I’ll continue to ask myself every day.

Am I all in?