So That

You write the song so that you can make a record.

You play a show so that you can impress all the right people.

You sign the deal so that you can get a big marketing budget.

You do the interviews so that more people will check you out.

So often the primary focus is on ‘so that’ rather than on the actual thing. There’s nothing wrong with acknowledging how the thing right now fits into a bigger plan and picture…but too often our whole world becomes one giant so that.

The thing will lead to the next thing on its own. Don’t forget to enjoy the thing while it’s happening.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

I Don't Have Anything To Wear

The truth is we have plenty to wear…We just say this when we don’t like any of our options. So what is the next move? Shopping. Pouring through several new options until we find the one that we like.

And yet so often in business when we don’t like any of the options we feel the need to hurry and pick one of the bad options because that’s all there is and that’s all there is ever going to be.

If you don’t like any of your clothing options…no need to go shopping, just pick one.

If you don’t like any of your business options…find more options, don’t just pick one.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

Your Favorite

When the interviewer asks what your favorite song is that you’ve written, or favorite show you’ve played, or city visited, or recording experience…

Just pick one and roll with it.

Please skip all of the, ‘well it’s tough to pick a favorite…it’s like picking a favorite child…I can’t pick just one…they’re all my favorite for different reasons’.

It’s more fun and entertaining (for everyone involved) to pick a favorite. After all, the reason for the question was to have fun and entertain.

Or don’t pick a favorite but give a different entertaining answer. But rolling out the ‘I can’t pick a favorite’ means you’re trying too hard to answer the question rather than entertain the audience.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

Sustainability

You’ve had enough mountain top experiences to know that the emotion of that experience doesn’t last.

It’s vital to have the victories. It’s vital to celebrate the victories. But the high always wears off…and you’re left with…

Whatever the real foundation is.

Do you like each other and want to be around each other? Is there a clear, shared vision? How does that translate to motivation in the good and bad times?

The reality you live in while not experiencing a big victory is a good indicator of sustainability.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

What Makes Happy Work?

When you don’t wish away the set of problems that are sure to come your way while working your position.

If this isn’t the case for you, you either need new problems or new wishes.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

Commands

‘Hey Siri play Movin’ Out by Billy Joel’.

And Siri does it. Similarly, if I told you to play Movin’ Out by Billy Joel you could easily complete the command.

But as the song is fading out I say, ‘play other songs where the drums groove hard, help the guitar line feel good and sometimes crash on the two’.

You, me and Siri have a much harder time with this one.

Groove hard, feel good and sometimes (especially in combination) are not found by facts and algorithms. They’re found by an intuitive sense for what the other person might mean at the time of the request.

And when we can do this for someone else it’s truly magical.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple