Decide what this is.
You brushed your teeth this morning…that’s probably not enough to be this. But if you have to start there, then let that be this.
The trick is to get yourself to notice and label what this is so you can add to it and tweak this as you go.
This isn’t about doing the least but rather raising the bar.
When something works out in your career…
Some people prefer ‘it just happened’…on it’s own, magically, surprisingly, someone picked me…So if this good thing turns out to be not so good, I’m not responsible because ‘it just happened’.
And some people prefer ‘I made it happen’…sheer willpower, an island, air tight plan and execution…So I get all the credit.
The truth is somewhere in between…it wouldn’t have happened without a little luck…and your contribution.
There’s just as much creativity in how you write the song as the song itself.
‘Let’s try it this way’ turns the song into ‘that way’.
There’s creativity in the deep dark. There’s creativity in surface level. There’s creativity in collaboration or by yourself. In writing in your bedroom. In the studio. In writing across the world. Writing at night vs. in the morning vs. as night becomes morning. In mourning. In ecstasy. Before lunch. After lunch.
And then there’s the matter of what instrument you pick up or plug-in you plug in or whether you write on a yellow pad or a yellow iPhone note.
The creativity that goes into the creation is endless and is worth messing with.
»» Even those with a system know there’s no system.
It’s probably not actually bad advice…it’s just bad advice for your situation.
And of course the person means well…as there’s not many people looking to derail you with bad advice on purpose.
But it happens all the time…it’s well meaning but not applicable.
So how can you tell?
Discernment is accrued (in part) by knowing where you are going and why you are going there. That way you can easily and quickly hold the advice up to your vision and decipher how it might help on your particular journey…or if it doesn’t at all.
It’s easy to think that if someone likes your music they’ll continue to come back to you because finding likable music can be pretty tough.
But getting someone to like your music isn’t the end goal if you’re wanting to make a career.
How to get someone to like your music? Make music someone like them likes.
More importantly…
Why would they keep coming back?
AND
Why would they show your music to their friends?
The answer to neither of these questions is, ‘because they like the music’.
I was stuck in an airport for an extended layover and the nine dollar slice of pizza was the lesser of all airport food evils.
I wait in line for a while…which was ok because I still have hours to burn at this point…and finally make it to the counter and choose my flavor from the pizzas sitting under the glass before me. I order.
On the pepperoni pizza tray there are three very big pieces and one that is MUCH smaller. Probably half the size. The bored, uninspired worker on the other side of the counter grabs the single serving pizza box, grabs the pizza server tool thing and heads straight for the significantly smaller piece of pepperoni pizza.
I notice this. I see what’s about to happen. I’m about to get half a piece of pizza for nine bucks. I don’t like this at all. Am I going to say something? Of course I’m going to say something! I’ve got the time! I still have hours before my plane boards and this is likely the most interesting situation I’m going to stumble upon.
“Hey could I have one of the big pieces?”
(Yes, I’m reliving the pettiness of my request as I’m typing this.)
My dude’s reply…
“All the pieces are the same size.”
I look at him. He looks at me. I look at the pizza. He looks at the pizza. Then our eyes meet again. I raise a brow and turn my head slightly toward the now indefensible discrepancy.
He puts the half slice down and boxes up one of the big pieces.
We never speak again.
(The pizza is cold and terrible but I find that to be more my fault…a natural consequence for getting in the airport pizza line to begin with.)
Here’s the thing…
If pizza server guy always serves up the biggest piece available then nobody can ever complain about getting a small one…more importantly, everyone will be happy and thrilled that he served the biggest one currently on the tray. The best thing about the best available is that it’s available. So serve it up.
Your best might not always be the exact same in every situation but it’s better to aim to serve the best of what you have rather than the half slice.