Welcome to my worst procrastination story: If you’re anything like me, you’ve had stretches when a task on your to-do list refuses to get done. It’s on the list day after day but not getting crossed off. This happened a few years ago: one seemingly simple item on my...
What would you do to feel 50% happier with yourself and your career? What are the changes you'd be willing to make? I'm asking because sometimes we think we're ready to make real change in our careers. But then when it comes down to the nitty gritty of building...
It's uncomfortable, right? The gap we all experience. The gap between where we are in life now and where we'd like to be. Maybe we think our careers should be further along. In the gap, it can feel like we've been working hard, but that we're in stuck in second gear,...
If you're anything like me, you fell in love with music at an early age and it became your whole life. For me, music was a refuge, an alternative reality. I was more than motivated—I was obsessed. Let's look at how goals and expectations can lead us astray: let's...
OK, I admit it: I'm a professional development junkie. I love learning and I over-consume professional development workshops, articles, and videos. If you're anything like me, when you hit on something that helps you 'connect the dots' in new and powerful ways, you...
What does the hero’s journey have to do with your music career success? The Hero's Journey is the narrative structure that animates myths, literature, movies, religions, and psychological development. Identified by scholar Joseph Campbell, the Hero's Journey is the...
MONDAY BYTES — May 31, 2016 Summer starts today and I have a seasonal confession to make. I'm hoping I'm not the only one who has this issue . . . Every summer I get overly ambitious about what I can accomplish. The days are longer, I feel more energized, and I want...
MONDAY BYTES — February 15, 2016 President's Day has me ruminating on leadership. We don't often think about musicians as leaders or associate musicianship and leadership. Perhaps it's because unless someone is starting her or his own ensemble, series, or festival, we...
Where are you headed? Note: This is part of the path I walk each week to and from my Qigong class. The class and the walk are both good for clearing my mind and helping me focus on becoming the person I intend to be and living the life I desire. For many of us, having...
MONDAY BYTES — December 14, 2015 Holiday Stress anyone? Inevitably, at this time of year we look over the past 12 months and ahead to the next—often with a feeling that we're powerless to make significant change. My holiday gift to you is a game changing exercise...
