I Don't Feel Like It

It’s a good idea to have a plan already in place for not feeling like it.

Even for those who love doing their work, not feeling like it is inevitable. What we choose to do with the not feeling like it is what makes the difference.

When I was in college I applied for a part time job at the Pepsi facility near the school. It was an online application with lots of questions and I summoned two of my roommates to help me fill it out.

Lots of standard questions but then it asked, ‘Do you sometimes feel lazy’…and I could check Yes or No.

This caused quite a discussion between me (a bass player), a keyboard player and a drummer. Because I said OF COURSE I feel lazy sometimes, who doesn’t? So clearly every human ought to check the Yes box. But my guys were adamant that by checking Yes I would be out of the running because clearly they don’t want lazy people working at Pepsi…I should just check No since that’s the answer they’re actually looking for.

I don’t remember which box I checked. I didn’t get the job. Whew.

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You're Getting In A Van

No matter how big of an artist you become…

You’re getting in a van- you might tour in a bus or a plane but you’ll be getting in and out of vans forever. The ride from the airport, the shuttle at the venue, the drive to the pre show appearance, the after show event, and back to the airport. You never completely out grow climbing in the side door of a van.

You’re sitting on metal folding chairs- eating at round tables in rooms with painted brick walls. This describes green rooms in arenas. Theaters are actually better…but then again thats the same comfy couch that’s been there for forty years. Festivals, radio stations, catering, merch table…Yes, metal folding chairs are part of the life.

You’re being asked ‘What else?’- the second you release something everyone will ask what else you have. As if this isn’t enough?! As if this isn’t enough to save the planet from all its problems…this IS the what else…this is the fruit of the labor. How dare they ask ‘what else’…but they will.

These aren’t the typical elements associated with the artist lifestyle…but this is some of the real day to day stuff that you’ve gotta be willing to say Yes to.

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The Way It Was

For a long time recording was too expensive for most artists. As was duplication, distribution and getting the word out. So record labels came along, picked certain artists and relieved those burdens in exchange for ownership.

If you didn’t have a record deal it was easy to point to that as the reason no one was listening to your music. Not having the deal was the scape goat for all career short falls…and for decades it probably was.

Now it’s not that way.

»» You probably still need a team and you’re going to need some money. But you need a team who is really smart with money…and more importantly really smart with time. Yours and theirs.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

Match Game

The first round of match is easy…because you’re simply playing match.

The second and third rounds become much harder…because on top of playing a new game of match you have to play the game of un-remembering the previous rounds. And it turns out the un-remembering is the much more difficult part.

Sometimes un-remembering the way it was is the key to having success with the way it is.

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Full Size Candy Bars!

They cry of many a kid on Halloween when the pinnacle of the candy hierarchy is discovered somewhere in the neighborhood.

And if you’re the one giving out the full size candy bars, your one and only job is to just keep giving them out. Give one to every kid and don’t run out…and you’ll be the most famous house on the block.

If people find out that you promise (and follow through on) the thing they’re hoping for, the word will spread and you’ll get that line around the block.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

Playing and Winning

Do you want to play to keep playing or do you want to play to win?

If you’re a professional athlete you better do some winning or you won’t play for long.

But for most of the rest of us…

1. It’s usually hard to define what playing to win looks like

2. It makes a lot more sense to play in a way that simply lets us keep playing

Because if we get to keep playing then we get to keep creating and contributing.

»» This might be a good time to highlight the difference between winning and achievement. For there to be a winner there must be a loser…while achievement has to do with specific goals, plans and actions.

There very well might be a time for winning and losing in your field but the road of achievement is always available.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple