As much as we may think music about the musician, it’s not about him or her.
When we make our music we find ourself in an experience full of meaning, purpose, and fulfillment. Simultaneously, we’re giving a gift to the world.
Imagine a joy so unexplainable that it spills over and gives joy to those who encounter it.
That is what happens when we make our music. We swap joy.
Giving > Receiving.
I believe you are a musician.
I believe there is song after song after song waiting to be awakened in you.
I believe there’s far too many people telling you what to believe your music should be.
I believe your music is your call.
I believe finding your music is your true and holy vocation.
I believe the vocation of finding your music will help move others into the same pursuit, resulting in a world of less noise and more music.
I believe your music is why you are here.
I believe we will all be better after having been exposed to your riffs, rhythm, and rhyme.
Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote, “Insist on yourself; never imitate. Your own gift you can present every moment with the cumulative force of a whole life’s cultivation; but of the adopted talent of another, you have only an extemporaneous, half possession.”
A successful life is one that says ‘here’s my music.’
Emphasis on my (which is yours).
You need not borrow that which is already in you.
Google “what’s trending?” and they will provide you about 89,700,000 results in 0.52 seconds.
89,700,000 clicks and options to see what’s up. A never ending game of I Spy.
The Rat Pack, Bob Dylan, Elvis, Madonna, and Hank Williams Sr. never asked this question.
Doing your thing > Searching the trends.
Why?
Because…Standing out > Lost in the mix.
You will be known and remembered by what you master.
And we all will master something.
Unfortunately, it’s easier to master pity parties and gossip than it is something that is truly great.
But you want something great. You are worthy of greatness.
All the research shows there’s 10,000 hours between you and that which you’re going to master.
Don’t look up to find yourself the host of a 600,000 minute pity party.
I will tell you now, no one will RSVP.
#LTMP
We often ask how the world will be different 10 years from today, but rarely discuss what will still be the same.
None of us know what will be hot 10 years from today. Some of us think we do, but hot things aren’t necessarily predictable. So the questions is what will still be warm? What will be constant?
The most probable answers are things like: respect, relationship, service, response, speed, communication, and experience. 10 years from today they will be warm. 100 years from today they will still be warm.
It’s much riskier to put all your chips on the hottest platform, media outlet, or trend than it is the things that are warm and constant.
That is not to say we should ignore what’s hot. We just can’t forget that entrepreneurship and good business is embracing what’s hot in the pursuit of what never gets cold.
Ashton.Gustafson 