Remember Forever

What is everybody gonna remember forever?

We want to change the world with our contribution. We want to hold an extra special place in someone’s or everyone’s hearts and minds forever and ever. We want to rise above all others as a person who really made a difference.

But while there isn’t much that people remember forever, our contribution makes a lasting impact…even if it’s not consciously remembered and making a difference.

A good song, a good show, a good party, a good coffee date is remembered for a day or month, and then forgotten. But those bits of goodness change our overall trajectory a tiny bit in a better direction.

So maybe the goal isn’t unforgettable in the long run but rather undeniable in the short run.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

The Good Thing About Fun

Fun keeps fatigue at bay.

Good work will get you good tired. But fun puts gas in the tank while the work is siphoning energy.

Fun is worth mixing into the work.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

People Like Going...

People like going to see other people do things.

People like going to see what other people made.

People like going to see what other people like going to see.

So if you’re wanting to attract an audience, the equation isn’t hard and it’s hardwired into the culture.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

Exactly The Way You Want It

If it doesn’t turn out exactly the way you want it to, do you still want to do it?

If it turns out only kind of like you wanted, are you still glad you put in the work?

If it has to be one specific way you need to let everyone know on the front end and then be very clear about what the outcome needs to be and what the expectations are.

If there’s wiggle room you need to remember that the wiggle room isn’t going to go exactly the way you want it to. Because wiggle room allows for both ‘better’ ideas and ‘different’ ideas. Better ideas are easy to go along with and make you look easy going. But people coming in with different ideas might make you wish you hand’t allowed any wiggle room to begin with.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

Hype Cycle

How many can you survive?

The hype cycle can be fun and it can also destroy an artist or band.

The hype cycles I’m talking about are the ones where the artist is getting a bunch of industry buzz because they’re the next cool thing…and they need a label…or they have a new album they made with the hit producer in town…or a celebrity commented on a post and then another one did and now everyone’s talking.

A hype cycle opens your eyes to what’s possible, the world is about to be yours. But it also makes you believe it’s going to happen a lot quicker and easier than it seems. And those falsely elevated expectations, paired with inevitable false promises, lots of traveling and late nights and either way too much money or barely any money are enough to burry an artist in dejection.

The first line of defense is of course knowing that hype cycles happen. Smile and appreciate it. When the earth, sun and planets are promised to you, you can remember they’ve been promised before and they’ll be promised again. Everyone means well and no one cares. You’re not as big as the hype and yet you’re way better than the hype.

Hype cycles look different as you gain more traction, fame and money but they’re a part of the game. Brace yourself. Enjoy yourself.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

Hanayama

A couple years ago my brother brought a couple Hanayama puzzles to a family gathering.

Hanayama puzzles are hand held puzzles…like the two keys interlocked that you have to get apart.

The best part about the puzzles isn’t when you have it all figured out. No. The best part is when you don’t have it figured out but you’re onto something and you think you can get it.

As soon as I would get one figured out, I wanted the struggle of a new one that I didn’t have the answer to.

We think we want the answers. But really what we want are fun problems.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple