The Struts

I went to their show tonight in Nashville.

You should go.

They do a million things right.

They give you plenty of moments where you need to pull your phone out, and also lots of times where you need to put your phone away, where you need both hands in order to be a part of the group.

Luke, the lead singer, believes he CAN.  He demands, expects and directs attention.  

Shying away from the attention you receive in a situation where people want you to lead them…that is not humility, that is fear.

Luke doesn’t seem to have that fear…or shyness.  

At a show people LONG to be lead.  So why do so few artists do it?

People want to believe. They actually need to believe.  Give them a reason. Give them several.

Is it about the songs? Yes.  But in a live setting its about everything else too.  All five senses.  And the sixth one too.

YOU take that last step onto the stage. YOU know the lights are going to be on you.  YOU know that everyone in the room is watching.  YOU know that everyone longs for connection.

And YOU get to decide what to do with that.

YOU are the leader.

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I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com

It Must Be Nice

“It must be nice…”- said by someone who sees themselves as a victim

by a person who doesn’t believe they have any choice in their life

by someone who believes they have to be chosen rather than choosing themselves

by someone who thinks it’s someone else’s responsibility

by someone who is jealous and envious

by someone who is not happy for others

by someone who thinks great things just happen to some people and don’t to others

by someone who is forever looking to get off the hook, rather than put themselves on it

So yes it must, in fact, be nice.  And there’s nothing wrong with that.

I hope it’s nice for you sometimes too.

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I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com

The Long Days

There should be some seasons in your life and career that are so insanely busy that you almost explode.  Digging in and doing the hard work for 16 hours a day shouldn’t be a normal thing, but it shouldn’t be a never thing either.

Sometimes it’s go time.

Sometimes you need to burn it hard for a few weeks or months to finish the project, or launch the project, or prepare the project, or do something amazing.

Having the opportunity to work that long and that hard is an amazing gift.  Accept it and work till it hurts…and then keep going.

Will power, stamina, persistence, passion, follow through, reliability…all these words apply.  Pick your favorite and let it encourage you.

There will come a season when you shouldn’t work 16 hours a day (and there’s a different set of difficulties that come with learning how to turn on the slow-down switch….I’ll save that for another post).

But if you haven’t had some long days, weeks and months in a while, start looking for them.

If you’re in the middle of one of these seasons, keep pressing on.  Keep doing the hard work that no one else sees but you.  It’s worth it.

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I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com

Problems Problems Everywhere

The hope is that you find a series of problems that you don’t wish away.

When you have a problem, do you want it to go away so that you have peace and quiet and happiness forever and ever…or do you see completing this problem as a gateway to the next task?

The only people who don’t have problems are people who are doing nothing.  

Once you take your guitar out of your bedroom a series of problems and joy begin.

I’m not saying you should necessarily be in love with your current crap fest…but love THAT you have one and that it’s leading you further down the trail…where there will be another crap fest and set of problems.

The goal is not to be problem free.  The goal is to have problems that are meaningful, that you want to solve in order to get a set of bigger problems.  

So should we be wishing for HUGE problems?  The size isn’t important right now…the progression is.  

Finding a progression, a series of problems that you don’t wish away, but embrace as each one arises.

The question isn’t “How do I get rid of the problems”…but “Are these the type of problems I want to tackle in order to attain the long term benefit that goes along with solving them?”

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I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com

Goldilocks

The not too hot not too cold but just right only works if you’re trying to sell to Goldilocks.

We all seem acutely aware of what we don’t want to be too much of.

We don’t want to be too rock, or too pop, or too nice, or too pushy.  All in hopes that we’ll satisfy who? Everyone.

But we don’t need everyone.  And besides, everyone will never be satisfied anyway.

So if you can’t satisfy everyone, then that means you’ll have to only satisfy SOME.

And that SOME’s definition of “just right” might mean instead of trying not to be too hot, you make it even hotter…or instead of trying not to be too cold, you freeze it…you make it MORE rock, or MORE pop.

We’re aware of what we don’t want to be too much of because it’s drawn from our fears, and for so many it’s the fear that drives the conversation and action.

But asking what you want to be “more of” comes from a place of dreams, vision and goals.  It takes you into, and through the fear.

So if you’re not selling to Goldilocks, who are you selling to and what, specifically, do they want more of?

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I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com

No For Now pt. 2

Here’s a short list of things that turn no’s into yes’s…and each have their own consequences.

Krispy Kreme donuts

Enthusiasm

A million dollars

Time

A thousand dollars

Begging

A funny story

Picking up the tab

Initiating contact

Letting the other person initiate contact

Empathy

A good hair cut

Shared experiences

Faith

Naivety

Maturity

Proceeding as though they said yes (super risky) (i.e. Nellie from The Office)

Camaraderie in your organization

Amazing songs

Playing to your strengths

Whisky

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I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com