We build things that we hope stand the test of time - family, buildings, companies, etc. Yet, ever so quickly, they can be torn from us in an instant. Instead of trying to build for the long term, I want to focus on building something I can be proud of in the present - now. Eventually, all things perish, crumble, and die. What we have to live for is in front of us now.
I’m sorry I didn’t get to you the last few days. I had family in town and I got sucked in. That’s the great thing about family - they suck you in.It’s also a double-edged sword.See you tomorrow.
The title of this email is what no professional musician will ever say… ever.If they do, they’re not professional.At a gig recently a kid walked up to me and asked to play. The kid said, “I play drums, I’m the best, can I play the drums?”Me: “No, you may not. This is a show, and there’s a flow, and this is not the appropriate time for it. Have you thought of a jam session?”Kid: “Well I play guitar, I’m great at that, may I play?”Me: “No, you may not. Refer to my last comment.”Kid: “Well, I’m going to be great, I’m going to be touring, and you’re going to know my name. (Insert name here.)”Me: “You need to fail, be humiliated, and have someone tell you that you suck. Then, once you’ve had that grounding experience, and only then, will you be able to make something happen.”Kid: “That’s not going to happen to me. They’ll know me.”What’s interesting is that I remember that kid’s name… and I don’t think I will forget it. Because who wants to work with someone like him. Beware of the people like that kid - where the pursuit of fame, glory, and accolades trumps generous work in service of others. Music, and all work, LIFE, is about selfless service for the benefit of someone else. For those that know me from my Carnival/early music days… I wish that kid knew me then ;-)
I went to the dentist to get a consult on very loose molars I have… err, had.The dentist came back with, “we need to get these out… now.”I had the option to wait… but I chose to do it right then.That experience made me reflect - how many times do we choose wait when we should choose act? I’m glad they’re out. I’m even more glad that I acted.
There is a tendency to create expectations from offers.“We’d like to promote you, and we’re working out the compensation details now… stand by.”“Click here for a chance to win.”“You’re missing out…”How much more will I make? What might I win? I’m likely missing out on something big… Seneca quoted Hecato saying, “cease to hope and you’ll cease to fear,” in his letters to Lucilius. I couldn’t agree more.When we generate too much hope, we conversely generate more risk for disappointment. The higher the hope, the more disappointment we’ll feel. Hope and frustration are related. So do we stop hoping?Don’t stop hoping. Start making your hope based on what’s realistic and possible. If you want, go a step further and hope for things that help you help others just a little bit more. Like all things in moderation - such as custard - hope is best dished in realistic doses.You can trust me - I was once a hopeless romantic… why else do you become a musician?
Dr. Martin Luther King once wrote, “What else can one do when he is alone in a narrow jail cell, other than write long letters, think long thoughts, and pray long prayers.” - Letters from Birmingham JailApparently, 3 actions: write, think, and pray. When you are trapped in your proverbial jail: work, home, or your mind; consider that you can still do something. Write: letters, blogs, journal, a note to yourself from the future;Think: what ifs, how might I’s, why’s, andHope: What do I have to long forward to? How might I take one step closer to that hope now?
Do you use an Mac or a PC? If you’re using a Mac, do you use iCloud or Google? If you’re using iCloud or Google are you backing up your photos to one of the two? How about your contacts? How about your calendar? How much of our life is in an ecosystem? And once we’re in, how hard is it to get out? Here’s the thing with ecosystems: once you’re in, it’s hard to get out. This matters because we often find ourselves in ecosystems beyond our phones or our computers. The people we associate with, the news we consume, the blogs we read, our music taste, and our beliefs are each an ecosystem within a larger one. Our challenge is to leave what we know and try something new. How might you leave the safety of the ecosystems you know and explore something new? If you have progressive beliefs, spend time consuming conservative news. Vice versa.If you only read fiction, pick up a piece of nonfiction.If you only hang around one type of person, seek out a different type. Seek out different ecosystems, learn what you can from them, and find ways to incorporate them into your life. Spend more time understanding people, places, and things.That’s how we make things better.
“There is a detectable difference between the past and the future only when there is the flow of heat.” - Carlo Rovelli, “Seven Brief Lessons on Physics.”Heat is a form of energy, andEnergy is a form of work, Work is action.Your work isn’t done - keep going!
Tomorrow is Monday.And Monday doesn’t have to be dreaded.You get to look forward to doing something that matters tomorrow.You get to decide to win your morning - get up early, make your bed, and take a walk.You get to start. Mondays are for starting - and starting anything is fun. What matters after starting is how you finish!
“I don’t know what it is… I guess I just don’t like what I’m doing.” My question back is: “What actions (or behaviors) are you not getting to do enough of?”A sense of responsibility is the cause for action.Action causes reaction (or impact).You seeing your impact validates the story you’re telling yourself about yourself.When you’re not getting to see enough impacts, you’re not doing enough of the right actions.If you’re not doing enough of the right actions, you’re not holding the right responsibilities. If you ‘re not responsible for the right things, demand more or look elsewhere.What are you not getting to do enough of every day? What if you could do more?