Starting a new goal or project can be overwhelming.
During the exposition of planning, we are excited, our energy levels get us focused. But then the work starts, often the tedious stuff. That’s the danger zone, when we procrastinate, when we quit.
However, a lot of projects only need us to get through the hump. Then they get into the “maintenance zone.” That’s where we can reap the benefits of the hard work!
For example, my friend Garret told me last year he was designing his own educational guitar videos.
His videos went live a few months ago, and they look incredible. Checkout this cool video about blues triads:
http://garretsguitarlessons.com/?portfolio=blues-triads-2
A lot of hard work went into these videos, but I bet once Garret got through the tough work (design, structure, the background song (which he self recorded), the concepts), it’s much easier maintaining it.
Sure, he’s still has to power up his camera and edit new videos each week, but once you get in the routine, the work time is cut in half, or more.
Garret’s work reminds to avoid quitting right before our work gets to the maintenance zone.
OK, let’s learn some new guitar licks!
The myth of “I can’t work under pressure”
Every week, I watch my wife find, pitch, and write stories for her freelance journalism career; as well as write a monthly column for the Bridge, self-publish her first book, brainstorm her next book, write weekly blogs, etc.
She writes 35-50 articles a month. That doesn’t count her own blogs she does for fun.
She’s a writing machine.
She’s my writing hero.
And she’s proof that all of us can write under pressure.
In fact, deadlines are essential for work to get done. Artists and songwriters often self-prescribe too much freedom to create, and never finish much.
Give yourself a deadline, one that has a consequence if you don’t make it.
17 of my friends joined me on a self-created deadline for 2014. We are writing a song a week. If we miss a deadline or two, we’re out.
It’s scary, but it’s also rewarding. It gets the ego out of the way when one must finish it.
And if I find myself saying, “I can’t do this,” I’ll also be hearing Natalie on the phone saying, “Hi! This is Natalie Burg from Concentrate Media, do you have time for an interview?” again and again and again.
Her actions say, “Yes you can.”
So call yourself. Give yourself a deadline. Make 2014 productive. Let’s create some stuff.
My favorite book I’ve read is To Kill a Mockingbird.
I sometimes wonder if that’s too cliché to admit, especially since I’m a former English teacher. Harper Lee’s classic is a little simplistic. The moral lesson is really black and white.
But I love that book.
I wish I could claim a different book was my favorite. Maybe something more challenging, like Moby Dick or War and Peace or Ulysses.
Or a book that proved I was more cool and cultured! Like Beloved or Reservation Blues or Invisible Man or You Shall Know Our Velocity.
But I’ve never finished any of the books in the first list, after many attempts; and the books in the second list are in my top ten, but I’d be lying if I said any of them was my favorite.
To Kill a Mockingbird still holds the title.
* * *
I didn’t fully grasp why Harper Lee’s wonderful story was my favorite until a former student told me what his favorite book was.
One of my former students came to see me play a concert at a little coffeehouse by the college he attended. After my show, we stood outside and chatted.
“What’s your favorite, book, Mr. Vial?”
It’s funny how former students still call me Mr. Vial, even if they are old enough to buy beer, and I no longer teach at the high school.
“To Kill a Mockingbird,” I said.
“Oh yeah, I think you taught me that freshmen year, right?” I nodded.
“I probably didn’t finish it, I wasn’t much of a reader in high school,” he admitted.
I laughed. “What’s your favorite book?” I asked.
“Looking for Alaska!” he said. His eyes shined and he went elsewhere.
He took a long drag on his cigarette. “Have you read that book? I don’t remember who wrote it—but I do remember Mrs. Farkus gave it to me to read. That book f—ing changed my life.”
“Oh yeah! I’ve read it. John Greene wrote it. It’s a great book.”
He went on to explain why it was his favorite, offering more details about what was happening during his life during a difficult year in high school, than details from the actual novel.
“I wish we were given more books like that to read during high school,” he concluded as he finished his cigarette.
* * *
I drove home from my gig that night and realized what makes a book our favorite.
A book becomes our favorite not only because of the details in the book, but what was going on during our lives while we read it. One’s favorite book might be more about ourselves than the actual story.
If anyone criticizes you for your favorite book, they are missing the point. Same with favorite song, or favorite movie.
If you criticize someone for their favorite book, you are indirectly ignoring how deeply personal the action of reading a book is in parallel to the events of their life while they were reading it.
We don’t read in a bubble. Books are stories, and stories are alive inside us.
I now understand why To Kill a Mockingbird will probably remain my favorite book. It affected me when I first read it at age 14, and then it affected me as a teacher as I taught it to freshmen.
That story is now embedded into my own story.
It’s my favorite book, and I now say that with pride.
You are only as good as the community you create
Trolls. (Don’t you hate them?)
Drama all over your Facebook Feed. (Ah! Ain’t that annoying?)
Mean Tweets. Antagonizing Youtube comments. Xenophobic rants to news article. Digital bullies…
The Internet has inspired a lot of platforms for us to create and share, but it’s also giving us a sounding board for negativity. The first place to go to complain, to vent, to yell.
I bet people don’t share their negativity to bring others down; they do it for the opposite reason. They are seeking a catharsis from their own sadness.
This becomes extra prevalent in music and art communities, a place where negativity goes to thrive on the souls of well-meaning, song-seeking, starving artists.
But it’s not cathartic. It’s the opposite. Spreading negativity is like Voldemort using an Imperious Curse on ourselves. It takes us over…
So what’s the best way to beat negativity? Simple. Create a community of positive folks. We are only as good as the community we create.
* * *
Further reading: Check out Lefsetz’s excellent blog on “Dealing with Hate”
Further fun: Enjoy a song to sing when ignoring bullies: Taylor Swift’s “Mean”
My songwriting game club is filled!
I’m pretty pumped. I was going to limit the game to 15, but I’m a bad counter and let one extra writer in the game. 17 (one songwriting duo) of us are departing on a journey or writing a song a week
Music and songwriting fans, check out this hilarious interview with Bob Schneider. He talks about his own songwriting (who’s been leading his songwriting challenge since 2001), even mentions how some great songwriters like Ben Folds, Patti Griffin, Jack Ingram have come and gone. He shares other parts about his musical life, like playing most Mondays at the Saxon Pub, offering his shows up the audience as a live CD, how he plays new material all the time…
Really great stuff here.
