Quartet #42: Practical advice for speaking to an audience of 10 or 10,000

Happy June!

There is a very good chance that you will be required to do some public speaking at some point in your musical career - from the stage, for a job interview, during a masterclass.

Public speaking is terrifying for the vast majority of the world but it doesn't have to be.

The advice in #1 is the best I've ever received for pubic speaking.

And now on to this week's ideas...
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Quartet of the Week

1. The Best Advice for Public Speaking (5-min listen)
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Between audiences and masterclasses I have spoken to well over a million people in my career and this simple rule is the best piece of advice I have ever heard for public speaking.

And the beautiful thing is this advice applies if you are standing in front of 10 people or 10,000 people.
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2. This Will Force You To Stop Procrastinating (1-min read)

I love me a call to action (and a 1-minute one at that!) that provides absolutely zero wiggle room to get out of it:

“It doesn’t matter if it’s good right now. It just needs to exist.”
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3. The Rule of Thirds in Design (7-minute read)

If you are subscribed to this newsletter there is a good chance that you have at least dabbled in designing things like graphics, event announcements, YouTube thumbnails, logos, etc - or could stand to at least get decent at it.

This post, along with visual examples, is a great place to start.
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4. Godin on Being in the Top 5% (1-minute read)

How the hell does Seth Godin get this much nuance into a 1-minute read??

Here he makes the case for being in the Top 5%, specifically how to go about doing it, and what it means for you moving forward. All in 250 words.

"The approach is to pick the right set to be part of. Not, 'top 5% of all surgeons,' but perhaps, 'top 5% of thoracic surgeons in Minnesota.' Be specific. Find your niche and fill it."​
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What's New With TEM

​TEM316 drops tomorrow and was inspired by the wonderful Brené Brown. I briefly get into why setbacks are not only inevitable but actually a good sign! And how to reframe the disappointment we feel when we experience one.

My Final Thought of the Week

Here's a quote to send you on your way:

“In a perfect dream, things would be set exactly the way you would want them. But I think it's more interesting that in real life, things aren't exactly the way you planned."

—Naomi Osaka

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I have had a largely linear career in music which is unbelievably lucky. I dropped out of graduate school to join a full-time touring group that took me all over the world many times over. There wasn't even a single day of limbo in between school and making a living as a performing musician.

I say this because my career has had so many twists and turns that it would take me 10 minutes just to list them - and I've had a pretty linear career!

There was the time when our management company stole over $30k from us and I suddenly couldn't pay my rent.

There was the time when a college teaching gig that I thought would be a long-term part of my portfolio career became anything but that almost overnight.

There was the time that I was asked to join a trio with two superstars in the music business and I was absolutely flying from the possibilities and the entire thing imploded within a month.

There is a virtual 100% chance that your career will be filled twists and turns - some that you see coming, and some that are seemingly out of the blue.

Everything is how you respond.

I love how tennis superstar Naomi Osaka frames this: that the unexpected is actually what makes life interesting.

What a beautiful mindset to bring to your career and to life!

Here's to having a creative week!​
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Cheers,
Andrew
​The Entrepreneurial Musician

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Quartet #41: The word to avoid at all costs (and why it's a red flag if you're using it)

Hello, friends!

At first glance, the advice offered in #4 is totally over the top. But once I actually read the piece I was happy I did.

Intentional, proactive actions FTW!

And now on to this week's ideas...
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Quartet of the Week

1. 7 Hacks I Learned from 'Atomic Habits' (5-min read)
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I have described James Clear's Atomic Habits as a life-changing book and I mean it. If you haven't read the book you should do so immediately.

Whether you've read it or not, this is a good list of some of the big concepts that are covered. Great and needed reminders for me!
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2. The Word to Avoid at All Costs (2-min read or listen)

This word is always a red flag and noticing it is key to knowing when your mindset needs work.
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3. 22 Small Things That People Say Made Them Drastically Happier (7-minute read)

Happier musicians are more productive musicians. This is a list of actionable ideas for making yourself happier. I love lists like this because they are scannable and I can get right to whatever speaks to me.

I also love that these aren't theories but people sharing what has actually worked for them.
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4. Would You Make 300 Calls a Day? (2-minute read)

I very much would not! But this article offers some great ideas on how to proactively network. The people I know who are the best at it are always being intentional (and genuine!) with their efforts. This short article offers some ideas on how to improve on that front.
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What's New With TEM

The world lost a real one yesterday. Bill Walton was not just an basketball superstar. He was one of the biggest music fans in the world and lived his life with an out loud passion that was contagious.

​TEM315 is about how he gave the world courage and how we can best utilize that as the creators of music that he idolized.

My Final Thought of the Week

Here's a quote to send you on your way:

“All I can do is be me, whoever that is.”

—Bob Dylan

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I find it an interesting paradox that the only way we can ever truly differentiate ourselves from everyone else in the marketplace is by being ourselves. And yet, being yourself can feel at times like it takes more courage than literally anything else in the world.

Once you raise your hand and say "This is me" people will take shots at you. So your instincts will tell you to keep a low profile, not make waves, and survive another day.

But that is a guaranteed recipe for blending in and that is a disaster in a totally connected world where every single one of your competitors is imminently findable, just like you.

I love how Dylan phrases this. It's not that he wants to be himself. That's actually all he can be, and I'm inferring that he's saying that he shouldn't fight that fact.

So raise your hand and don't back down. We need you!

Here's to having a creative week!​

​Cheers,
Andrew
​The Entrepreneurial Musician

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Quartet #40: Why keeping your rates low isn't helping you as much as you think

Hello, friends!

I've missed you. There's been way, way too much real life happening in the last year but I feel like I'm coming out the other side.

Please do yourself a favor and at least click on #3. Small actions can have a profound impact - that goes for business and for life in general. I'll be thinking about this one for quite some time.

And now on to this week's ideas...
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Quartet of the Week

1. Work Shutdown Ritual (2-min read)
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I read this and my brain immediately started racing in a good way! I desperately need to update my systems because I've been feeling very overwhelmed and disorganized on the business front of late. This is a simple template to take a huge leap forward in that department.

I'll report back on the podcast with how it works for me.
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2. Why Keeping Your Rates Low Isn't Helping As Much As You Think (2-min read or listen)

"Don't fall for the trap of keeping your rates low and thinking it will avoid the hardest part of the sales process."

If you keep in mind that convincing someone to pay you even $1 is the hardest part, you realize that keeping your rates low isn't as effective as you think it is. And it's a lot harder for me to hide behind low pricing when I realize it doesn't even really work.
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3. Small Actions Can Have a Huge Impact (1-minute read)

This is a powerful reminder of the importance of humanity but also that small, thoughtful, and deliberate actions will make an impact. That goes for business and for life.

I'll still be thinking about this one tomorrow.
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4. TEM Tool: Triple Flame App​

This app allows you to plan a handful of 3-minute breaks throughout the day to meditate or simply to reset. I am continually shocked at how much I can reset my focus and energy with nothing more than three minutes of calm.

I highly recommend trying this app (available on iOS and Android) to see if it has the same effect on you.
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What's New With TEM

I have gotten more messages and compliments about TEM314 than I have about any episode in quite some time. If you are one of the people who has reached out or helped spread the word, thank you!

Google has completely butchered search and that is affecting all musicians who are forging their own path rather than collecting a regular paycheck.

I share how they have broken search, why the change is here to stay, and what you can do about it.

My Final Thought of the Week

Here's a quote to send you on your way:

“Stepping onto a brand-new path is difficult, but not more difficult than remaining in a situation, which is not nurturing to the whole woman.”

—Maya Angelou

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I have a friend who just left a job of 14 years for a new opportunity. She is choosing challenge and growth over comfort and coasting and that is scary.

But all growth comes from putting ourselves into situations where the outcome is uncertain, and those opportunities can be few and far between when we simply remain on a well worn path.

May all of us have the courage to leap to a brand-new path like my friend just did.

Here's to having a creative week!​

​Cheers,
Andrew
​The Entrepreneurial Musician

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Quartet #39: Can One Thing Really Predict Success?

Hello, friends!

It has been a stretch - and not a particularly good one. Lots of real life has been thrown at me since I last sent out this newsletter. I won't bore you with the details but it has been a stretch!

I'm still trying to find the best path forward and balance everything and I'm glad you are still here.

All four of these are short, but if you only click on one of them, I would make it #4. I feel called out!

And now on to this week's ideas...
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Quartet of the Week

1. 100 Truths (4-min read)
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I enjoy lists like this. This are 100, 1-sentence truths. You can read all of them at once or just focus on one or two.

This list really got me thinking. Especially #18, #47, and #91.
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2. Derek Sivers on Keeping Goals to Yourself (4-min watch)

This sub-4-minute video is about one thing: Keeping your goals to yourself.

And even though this video is so short, Derek brings receipts! He provides evidence for why talking about your goals makes you less likely to achieve them.

Thought-provoking stuff!
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3. The Thinking Pattern That is Predictive of Success (90-second watch)

Spoiler Alert: It's optimism.

Still worth the quick watch of this Insta Reel.
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4. Doing the Thing (30-second read)

An incredible list.

DO THE ACTUAL THING!
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What's New With TEM

The most recent episode of TEM features a story of a huge break I received very early in my career that ended up going absolutely nowhere - and how I navigated that disappointment.

It also features a quote from the incredible Clark Terry.

​TEM312: When Your Big Break Ends Up Not Being One​

My Final Thought of the Week

Here's a quote to send you on your way:

"Most people don't want to be part of the process, they just want to be part of the outcome. But the process is where you figure out who's worth being part of the outcome."

—Scottie Pippen

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The older I get the more I realize that the people who routinely get desirable outcomes have systems in place that structure their process in a way that generally leads to good outcomes.

This quote reminds me that we all fail down to the level of our systems.

Here's to having a creative week!​

​Cheers,
Andrew
​The Entrepreneurial Musician

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Quartet #38: I have definitely fallen for this trap

The trap laid out in #2 is something I have fallen for and so have many of my TEM Coaching clients over the years.

And I will use the tool shared in #4 pretty regularly moving forward.

And now on to this week's ideas...
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Quartet of the Week

1. Nine Sources of Frustration for an Entrepreneurial Musician (5-min read)
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The title of this article by the wonderful Noa Kagayema (who I interviewed for TEM101) is actually "Nine Sources of Frustration in the Practice Room" but it works perfectly if read as for an entrepreneurial musician instead.

I find #4 and #9 are the biggest hurdles for me, at least at times and in specific aspects of my career.)
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2. Build a Business, Not an Audience (4-min read)

I am feeling called out by this one and that's good! Building an audience is important but how about this for a potential trap:

"I see so many people falling into the exact same trap.

Their goal is to become entrepreneurs. But instead of building products, they create content. Or even worse, they do research and take courses on how to create content.

But this doesn’t bring them one inch closer to their goal. It’s just a form of procrastination."​
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3. Emma Seppälä on The Happiness Track (52-min watch)

This video is a nice long-form chat with a scientist about happiness. My main takeaway is that the notion that we have to sacrifice happiness now (via hard work) for happiness later is not supported by science.

This is a good one to listen to while doing work around the house or on a long drive. It got me thinking about how I approach a lot of things.
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4. TEM Tool: summarize.tech​

Alright this is cool! This AI tool summarizes any long video almost instantly. For example, here is the summary for the video I just posted in #3.

(If you click "See More" it will give you time stamps so you can search the summary and then go right to a spot in the video that covers something you are interested in.)

Using AI for something like this is really exciting. It makes a lot of long-form content more accessible and searchable which is empowering.
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What's New With TEM

The latest from TEM Blog is about the key to having good ideas and includes a hilarious anecdote about one doozy of a bad idea I had over 10 years ago. And for the record I initially thought that bad idea was really, really good!

​TEM Blog: Do You Have Any Bad Ideas?​
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My Final Thought of the Week

Here's a quote to send you on your way:

"The one thing that can solve most of our problems is dancing."

—James Brown

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Nothing too profound. Or maybe this is the most profound quote I've shared yet?

All I know is this quote really spoke to me.

When in doubt, dance!

Here's to having a creative week!​

​Cheers,
Andrew
​The Entrepreneurial Musician

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Quartet #37: A 2-Step Process for Avoiding Procrastination, the Magic of Uncertainty, and More!

Sorry I've been largely missing in action! I have traveled to Boston, Los Angeles, Nashville, and New York City over the last four weekends which feels a lot like my former life touring with Boston Brass!

It is really good to be busy, but that much travel made a lot of things get put on hold. It is good to be settling in again (I say as I'm heading to Philadelphia in the morning!)

#3 below is about procrastination and I looked for a free stock photo about procrastinating and this guy sitting on his couch reading his phone while sitting next to a bunch of cleaning products came up and I can't stop laughing at it.

Anyways, it is good to be back and I hope your fall has been a productive one thus far!

And now on to this week's ideas...
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Quartet of the Week

1. The Power of Focusing on One Task at a Time (7-min read)
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Multi-tasking is crock. This article gets into why and closes with three strategies for focusing on only one thing at a time.
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2. The Uncertainty Pledge (1-min read)

This is just a quote graphic from Instagram with a great description. "Uncertainty is where possibility lives."

Beautiful words to live by.
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3. What to Do About That Thing You’ve Been Putting Off (2-min read)

This is pretty brilliant. It is amazing to me how often I can let little things I'm dreading just low-key eat me alive.

This offers a 2-step process for avoiding that dread.
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4. Iconic Movie Trailers, Explained by a Trailer Editor (11-min watch)

This is an insightful look inside a very specific creative process: the making of movie trailers.

You might be asking yourself: what the hell does that have to do with having a career as an entrepreneurial musician?

I am sharing this because anytime I see an expert in any creative field go into this much nuanced detail about their corner of the arts it changes my approach to what I do musically.

And this has the added bonus of being all about storytelling - which is what convinces people to take lessons from you or to hire you to compose a piece for them or for their concert series.

This video set my brain in motion almost instantly on a number of fronts so I'm passing it along!
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What's New With TEM

​TEM310 features the story of actor Steve Schirripa betting on himself and ending up with a permanent role on The Sopranos. It's an incredible story about an artist betting on themself against the advice of others.

I also tell the story of the time one of my mentors, Scott Hartman, explaining to me the difference between building and maintaining an aspect of your career. An important distinction!
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My Final Thought of the Week

Here's a quote to send you on your way:

"If you send up a weather vane or put your thumb up in the air every time you want to do something different, to find out what people are going to think about it, you're going to limit yourself. That's a very strange way to live."

—Jessye Norman

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I had the privilege of seeing the late, great Jessye Norman perform many times as a kid, including the single greatest concert I have ever attended (page 41 of this program.)

She was one of the best musical storytellers of the 20th century. Her singing demanded that you have an opinion about it, something all great art does.

I find this quote to be quite inspiring. If you take an opinion poll, real or perceived, before you ever try something different, you will never have the courage to make art that commands an opinion.

It will always be pretty good but never good enough for someone to feel the need to share it with others.

And as she so eloquently points out, constantly asking permission is a very strange way to live! Not just strange - exhausting.

So have the courage to be different without asking permission first. You will be happy that you did.

Here's to having a creative week!​

Cheers,
Andrew
​The Entrepreneurial Musician

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Quartet #36: Recovering From Creative Burnout, Van Gogh's Advice to a Young Artist, and More!

Van Gogh's advice below is money.

"In order to write a book, do a deed, paint a picture with some life in it, one has to be alive oneself."

I wear so many hats around here that it can be easy to forget that!

And now on to this week's ideas...
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Quartet of the Week

1. A System for Taking Notes (4-min read)
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If you are the kind of person who is subscribed to this newsletter then you are almost surely like me and have ideas popping into your head all of the time. I wouldn't say that my system for taking and keeping track of notes is terrible but it's also not terribly good!

This article lays out the system used by author David Sedaris which got me thinking about my own system. I have made some tweaks to good effect!
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2. Van Gogh's Advice to a Young Artist (2-min read)

This advice needs to be shouted from the rooftops! Every interesting musician I know is also an interesting person!

I know some people who can operate instruments at a world class level yet never seem to use those skills to say anything too interesting. Those people are not always interesting! But the ones who have something urgent to say, they all are to a person.

This quick reading was a great reminder of what's important.
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3. How to Recover From Creative Burnout (2-min read)

Creative burnout is something that is not talked about enough. There's even a chance that I've never dedicated an episode to it before and if so that's not ideal!

This article offers six strategies for overcoming creative burnout.
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4. Mindful Context Switching (5-min read)

Context switching is the process of stopping work in one project and picking it back up after performing a different task on a different project. I only learned about it recently but ever since I can't avoid seeing how much my multitasking has been holding me back.

This article offers five excellent ideas on how to practice mindful context switching.
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What's New With TEM

​TEM308 features a great quote from Steve Jobs about how deciding what not to do is just as important as deciding what to do as well as a quote from Brian Tracy about the specific benefits of having clarity about your mission.
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My Final Thought of the Week

Here's a quote to send you on your way:

“If I hold back, I’m no good. I’m no good. I’d rather be good sometimes than holding back all the time.”

—Janis Joplin

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​How %#$&ing good is this quote?!

"I'd rather be good sometimes than holding back all the time" is deeply profound.

Living with one foot on the gas pedal and one foot on the brake pedal is no way to go through life. And as an artist it is an almost surefire way to be irrelevant.

Because being good sometimes is a way to matter to some people. And never being good or bad is a way to matter to almost no one.

I'm going to try to repeat "I'd rather be good sometimes..." like a mantra this week. So good!

Here's to having a creative week!​
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Cheers,
Andrew
​The Entrepreneurial Musician

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Quartet #35: The Power of Being "All In", 40 Time-Saving Google Hacks, and More!

The message from #1 below is quite inspiring. I value anyone with the ability to take a concept that I've heard literally 1,000 times (like the fact that accomplishing anything major takes time) and can put it in a way that instantly sheds new light on it for me.

Can't recommend checking that out any more highly.

Also, I'm a big fan of things like open source software like Audacity and decentralized social media networks like Mastodon. One of the reasons is because someone can then come along and produce a web version of an app like Audacity (#3 below) which opens it up to even more people and continues to level the playing field and allow more voices to be heard.

Wavacity makes it possible to do basic audio editing without even having to download a program which is pretty cool.

And now on to this week's ideas...
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Quartet of the Week

1. A Toast to the Tiny Steps (5-min read)
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What a powerful way to convey this message! The author mentions a few major changes she made in her life but then breaks down a long list of tiny steps that led up to each major change.

Seeing it broken down this way sure has inspired some action in me!
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2. The Power of Being "All In" (4-min read)

This short article by Leo Babauta encourages you to be "all in" in various aspects of life because of the power that comes from it. He also offers some ways to practice being all in.
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3. TEM Tool: Wavacity​

Someone made a browser version of Audacity and it is pretty slick. If you ever need to do any basic audio editing and don't have the ability to download Audacity or something more powerful like Logic Pro, this will do an awful lot. Right in a web browser!
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4. 40 Time-Saving Google Hacks (6-min read)

I already knew a number of these but a few of these are really good. The tips are for Gmail, Google Docs, Google Drive, and Google search.

Warning: You have to give an email address to see this.
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What's New With TEM

​TEM307 features a clip from an important voice in the composing and trumpet world. It comes from Marcus Grant who I interviewed for my other podcast, The Brass Junkies.

Our conversation for TBJ could have been a TEM episode! He was so generous about his successes, his failures, and his creative process.

I actually covered five different entrepreneurial points he made in our conversation, not just the quality and quantity one. You can see the full list in the show notes here.
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My Final Thought of the Week

Here's a quote to send you on your way:

"Movement is a creativity catalyst."

—Chase Jarvis

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Let me start by saying that absolutely everything is fine! But my sister and I couldn't reach our mother for about an hour this morning. That is very unusual and she lives alone.

Long story short she was at a neighbor's house and all was good.

But let me tell you how little I was feeling creative or focused to start my week after that stressful hour! So I made what turned out to be a great decision: I hopped in the car, went to Manassas National Battlefield, and went for a hike.

Within 5 minutes on the trail my brain had settled down and I was fully engaged with the week ahead. It was a hard restart to my week which was much needed because I am facing a looming deadline for the next phase of making my Networking for Musicians course and I desperately want to stay on schedule.

I have a rule: When in doubt, get up and move. Particularly outdoors.

So if you're stuck (or you can't get in touch with your 76-year-old mother who lives alone), get moving!

Here's to having a creative week!​
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Cheers,
Andrew
​The Entrepreneurial Musician

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Quartet #34: ​30 Short Morning Habits to Start Your Day on Purpose, Getting Momentum and More!

The two things that are can't miss this week are the graphics in #1 (not that the piece isn't worth it on its own!) and the morning suggestions in #4.

I waste so much time emerging from the fog in the morning and I've been actively working to change that recently. This list has some stuff that has truly given my mornings a jump start.
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Quartet of the Week

1. Solve the Most Important Problem That You Can Personally Impact (4-min read)
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If you listen to TEM you have heard me talk about clarity ad nauseam. It is the single most important thing for moving our careers and lives forward.

The second half of this article's title is all about clarity: "that you can personally impact".

This is worth the click even if just for the image of the Venn diagram that elegantly tells you which problems to tackle in life.
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2. Notes from the Universe (5-second daily read)

What a cool idea this is - an email list that sends a short note to you each day with some sort of message from the universe like this one:

"Next time you feel fear, either right after a major decision or just before one, it usually means you're exactly where you need to be."

Over 1.2 million people subscribe to this daily newsletter including me!
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3. Get Momentum (5-minute read)

This article offers seven ways to get momentum when starting anything like a YouTube channel, podcast, or blog.

I particularly like the first three.
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4. 30 Short Morning Habits to Start Your Day on Purpose (5-min read)

This is great list. I already do a number of these and plan to try a few more. The most important ones to me at this point in life are #2, #6, #13, and #16.

I'm excited to try some of the other ones!
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What's New With TEM

​TEM306 was inspired by one of the most badass quotes I've ever heard. It is by Shirley Chisholm and it is about not waiting for an invitation. It lit a fire under me!
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My Final Thought of the Week

Here's a quote to send you on your way:

"Be a curator of your life. Slowly cut things out until you’re left only with what you love, with what’s necessary, with what makes you happy."

—Leo Babauta

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This quote really spoke to me because of how proactive it encourages you to be.

Babauta doesn't suggest simply getting older and wiser and that eventually all that will be left are the things that make you happy.

Instead, he uses the call to action of "be a curator of your life." Curation to me implies intentional and conscious work towards creating a life that is fulfilling.

I like that message much more than passively waiting. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got some long-overdue curating to do!

Here's to having a creative week!​
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Cheers,
Andrew
​The Entrepreneurial Musician

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Quartet #33: Overt Permission to Be Weird, 10 Ways to Effectively Use Email Preview Text, and More!

#3 is special and is only 19 seconds long. I looked for an image for "weird" and whatever that is above was the first thing to come up and it was so funny that I had to include it here.

#2 is also a gentle reminder to me that I have to keep showing up.

And without further ado, here are this week's ideas...
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Quartet of the Week

1. The Past Is Not True (2-min read)
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A short reading with a powerful personal anecdote about stories we tell ourselves over the years and how profoundly they can affect us, even when they're not true.

"Aim a laser pointer at the moon, then move your hand the tiniest bit, and it’ll move a thousand miles at the other end. The tiniest misunderstanding long ago, amplified through time, leads to piles of misunderstandings in the present."
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2. Playing the Long Game (1-min read)

Some absolute gold from Seth Godin:

"The body of work you’re creating adds up over time. The consistency and empathy of your vision will seep through. Drip by drip, you’ll create something worth noticing."​
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3. Go Be Weird (19-second watch)

That is not a typo. This is only 19 seconds long and some of the most liberating advice I've ever heard in my life.

Watch this.
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4. 10 Ways to Effectively Use Email Preview Text (7-min read)

I found this when researching for my upcoming networking course. I had never considered different ways to use preview text.

And there is no doubt in my mind that using this effectively will help get emails opened (which is the entire goal of sending an email in the first place!)

What's New With TEM

​TEM305 is about why failing quickly is by far the best strategy and also features a great quote from James Clear.
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My Final Thought of the Week

Here's a quote to send you on your way:

"You need to develop, somehow, a huge amount of faith and confidence in yourself, because there's a lot of rejection throughout an actor's life and you have to believe in yourself more than anyone else."

—Stephen Collins

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This quote is powerful! It's good enough that I asked myself 'Should I save this for a TEM episode since I could easily talk about this for 10 minutes?' But I've decided to eventually share it in both places because it is that good.

My favorite part of this quote is the word develop.

It does not say you have to be born with a huge amount of faith and confidence in yourself. It also doesn't say that you have to wake up one morning and realize you've found it.

According to Merriam-Webster, develop means "to create or produce especially by deliberate effort over time."

So if you don't yet have enough faith and confidence to believe in yourself more than anyone else, you've now got the formula. All you need is deliberate effort over time.

You've got this! (Even if it doesn't especially feel like it today.)

Here's to having a creative week!​
​

Cheers,
Andrew
​The Entrepreneurial Musician

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Quartet #32: A Warning About Social Media's Effectiveness, 10 Secrets to Productivity and More!

#1 is must-read if you have any kind of professional social media presence. Things are getting bad and they are going to get worse by design.

But on a more positive note, #3 is a simple question that will reframe what you do and make everything you do better.

Oh and #2 is a warning to not be serving a sad salad like the one pictured above, charging like it's a fancy salad, and then wondering why no one is buying your salad!

And without further ado, here are this week's ideas...
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Quartet of the Week

1. The Enshittification of Social Media (7-min read)
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If you click on this you might wonder why a guy who has quit four different college jobs over the years is linking to a piece about academics sharing research online.

The reason is because this piece perfectly encapsulates my relationship with social media today: It does not work for business purposes like it used to.

The author points out how things have changed and predicts how they will change further - and I agree with every word of it.

10 years ago you could make something, share it with the audience you had built up over time and be sure it would spread to the people who had already chosen to hear from you. Those days are gone.

There will be a TEM episode about this in the not-too-distant future because it is really important. If you use social media for your portfolio career I can not recommend reading this enough.
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2. Two Kinds of Salad (1-min read)
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First an article about academia and then one about salad. No I have not been hacked.

This super quick read from Seth Godin shares an analogy that is perfect for musicians like us. I swear it feels like he is speaking directly to musicians with a portfolio career about 90% of the time - and yet he is simply talking to all marketers.

"Too often, freelancers end up offering just a boring salad. It feels safer than getting rejected. Or they pretend to offer a fascinating salad, but at the end, they lose their nerve and simply charge more than they should for a boring salad that’s pretending to be fascinating."​
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3. Constantly Ask What They Really Want (1-min watch)

Here's a big promise for a 1-minute video: Asking this simple question will make everything you do better.
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4. Casey Neistat's 10 Secrets to Productivity (20-min watch)

This is a video by author Ryan Holiday about his friend and colleague Casey Neistat. This video is a good blend of philosophical and practical advice on how to be more productive.

What's New With TEM

No TEM episode the past couple of weeks but I have been hard at work making my first ever course for Hitz Academy called Networking for Musicians!

The music business has always been about who you know but that has never been the case more than it is right now in today's highly collaborative industry. Our art is dependent on networking with other creators. Finding an audience for our art is dependent on networking. And selling it is dependent on networking.

In this course I will share everything I have learned in a career that has featured gigs is almost 30 countries around the world - the good stuff and the mistakes I've made!

Release date is October 23rd with a presale date that will be announced soon.
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My Final Thought of the Week

Here's a quote to send you on your way:

"Ideas are cheap. Ideas are easy. Ideas are common. Everybody has ideas. Ideas are highly, highly overvalued. Execution is all that matters."

—Casey Neistat

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This can be hard to hear for someone like me who has way more ideas than follow through (although I'm making some real strides on that front!) But it is very much true.

If your business doesn't have a hard part then you don't have a business - and the hard part is never having a good idea!

It's having the courage to finish something and to share it with the world. That's the hard part! In a word: execution.

Glad I stumbled onto this quote because it confirmed what I already knew and is encouraging me to keep at it on the follow through front. I'm choosing to celebrate my recent progress today (see an actual launch date for my first course!)

Here's to having a creative week!
​

Cheers,
Andrew
​The Entrepreneurial Musician

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Quartet #31: Avoiding the Sameness Trap, 10 Ways to Be More Unbothered and More!

The time that #2 has the potential to save you, even if you only get one or two keyboard shortcuts out of it, could be enormous. And the quote at the end from Desmond Tutu is a beautiful reminder about the power of mindset.

And without further ado, here are this week's ideas...
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Quartet of the Week

1. Useful Weirdness (2-min read)
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Lean into what makes you weird! Blending in in today's world is bad.

This article is only a 2-minute read but it is worth the click even if just for the Kevin Kelly quote at the very beginning.
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2. TEM Tool: Use The Keyboard​
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Okay this is awesome. This is a list of 85 applications (like Gmail, Dropbox and Slack) with a complete list of keyboard shortcuts for each.

Keyboard shortcuts have become vital to maintaining momentum when I work and I have to admit I'm a little late to the party. I now use them regularly (like Command-F to search any webpage for a term.)

This is a powerful resource and I'm glad I found it and bookmarked it.
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3. 10 Ways to Be More Unbothered (2-min read)

Some nuggets of wisdom that will rewire your mindset - along with some incredible visuals. And only a 2-minute read!
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4. Avoiding the Sameness Trap (19-min read)

This is long and dense but the subject matter could not be more critical. How many times have I talked about the dangers of blending in? (In my defense this is only the second time I've mentioned it in this Quartet of Ideas!)

I am bookmarking this to one for when I have time to really dig into it because the subject is so important to any musician in 2023.

What's New With TEM

​TEM303 features two insightful quotes from Leonard Bernstein and gets into the most common false objection we give ourselves to justify not doing something that's hard. Bernstein was a treasure!
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My Final Thought of the Week

Here's a quote to send you on your way:

"Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness."

—Desmond Tutu

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At first I hesitated to include this quote in this context because I didn't feel right about comparing the inevitable setbacks any artist faces when blazing their own path in this business to the almost indescribable cruelty that Tutu faced as the result of simply trying to exist.

But the way he lived his life certainly implies that he applied this concept not only to the big issues he courageously faced but also to everyday things.

I have been so incredibly lucky in the opportunities I have been given in the music business - one of the luckiest people I know.

And yet there has been some darkness in the form of times when my phone stopped ringing. Or a project I thought would be a success went nowhere. Or a prestigious orchestra I used to sub with stopped asking.

Every musician, even the most famous musicians you can think of, have had stretches of their career where there was more darkness than light. And as Tutu reminds us, hope comes from seeing the little bit of light that is there.

I'll be honest. I am much more wired to focus on the overwhelming darkness than I am on the little bit of light - at least when it is me experiencing it.

Quotes like this, or people who remind me of this type of outlook by simply living it, are quite valuable to me and keep me on the right path. Hope it resonates with you, too.

Here's to having a creative week!
​

Cheers,
Andrew
​The Entrepreneurial Musician

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Quartet #30: How to Become an Expert, Climbing the Wrong Hill and More!

Sometimes I can be so busy climbing that I don't take a moment to figure out whether I am even climbing the right hill. #3 is a short and to the point reminder of the value of making sure that we are on the right path.

"Work smarter, not harder" is a cliche that we've all heard before because it's a good one! And climbing the wrong hill is the opposite of working smarter.

And without further ado, here are this week's ideas...
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Quartet of the Week

1. How to Become an Expert (24-min read or listen)

This is an in-depth look into how to make yourself an expert. I really appreciate how it breaks it down into specific steps.

One nice feature is that you can listen to this article if you'd prefer. And it's read by an actual human! It is worth the 24-minute read or listen.
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2. Seven Smart Phrases People With High Emotional Intelligence Keep Saying Over and Over, and Why (5-min read)
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Tips on communicating better are something we can all use! It's not exactly a hot take that good communication skills are important, but with the collaborative and project-based world that the music business is today they are vital.
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3. Climbing the Wrong Hill (2-min read)

An important question to ask yourself to get clarity about your path forward as a musician: Are you climbing the wrong hill?

"He knows (or at least believes) he wants to end up at the top of a different hill than he is presently climbing. He can see that higher hill from where he stands.

But the lure of the current hill is strong. There is a natural human tendency to make the next step an upward one. He ends up falling for a common trap highlighted by behavioral economists: people tend to systematically overvalue near-term over long-term rewards. This effect seems to be even stronger in more ambitious people. Their ambition seems to make it hard for them to forgo the nearby upward step."
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4. The Magic of Being Alive Today (12-min read)

This article is not about any tools or tactics to make your music career more successful. Instead, it is a giant dose of perspective.

Taking a moment to realize that we are surrounded by problems that were solved by people that came long before us sure made me appreciate the enormous head start that all of us enjoy today. And it also reminded me that problems are solvable!
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What's New With TEM

I put out a TEM episode and a Quartet of Ideas last week! And it's summer! What is even happening?

​TEM302 features a great anecdote from Derek Sivers about exerting less energy for the same results. I also talk about the single trait which all people who succeed in the music business share (as well as my most successful TEM Coaching clients.)

Success is pretty much impossible without it!
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My Final Thought of the Week

Here's a quote to send you on your way:

"For some reason, ever since I was a little kid, I wake with the most energy of the day, and it slowly declines from there."

—Derek Sivers

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This quote jumped out at me not because I am the same as Derek - and that's putting things lightly! When I first wake up, no matter how long I have slept, my synapses fire at what feels like about 5% efficiency. It's not pretty!

I am passing this quote along because I found it helpful to be reminded of someone who is in tune with their personal creative rhythm.

As I type this it is approaching 4:00 pm. That is an hour when my concentration for focused tasks is at its lowest point of the entire day.

Part of me would love to proofread this and then set it to send on Monday morning and not think of it again. But experience has shown me that I either won't do a good job of proofreading it or it will take me twice the time and energy to do it well as it would sometime later this evening.

Sometimes I get so focused on climbing (in this case, the overwhelming urge to fully cross next week's Quartet of Ideas off of my to do list) that I make life a lot harder for myself. This Sivers quote reminded me not to do that.
​

Here's to having a creative week!
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Cheers,
Andrew
​The Entrepreneurial Musician

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Quartet #29: The Power of a Morning Routine, What Progress Feels Like and More!

Summer is in full swing! I'm trying to balance moving things forward with being present (which is a constant work in progress for me.)

If you have time for only one click this week, please watch #4 (although #3 is so short that you really should make it two clicks at least!)

And without further ado, here are this week's ideas...
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Quartet of the Week

1. Why You Need to Care About Your Routine (15-min listen)
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This is an interesting listen. British physician Rangan Chatterjee talks about how a morning routine based on the "Three M's" can help you deal with stress throughout the day. It's compelling stuff.
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2. Five Tools Creators Can Use To Show Up Even On The Hard Days (6-min read)
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One thing I struggle with is shipping my creative work when life gets crazy - and being at least a little productive on days where everything feels really hard.

This article gave me some ideas on both of those fronts.
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3. What Progress Feels Like (1-min read)

I didn't realize that 11 words could be so encouraging!
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4. Having No Obligation to Your Former Self (4-min watch)

This is incredibly powerful and made me tear up. And it has me thinking about my journey as a musician and my journey as a human.

It's not often that a YouTube video makes me just sit there for a moment after it's done - after all, the rest of the internet awaits! This one froze me for a moment.

What's New With TEM

Absolutely nothing is new with TEM this week - and that's okay*!

My father's second (and final) celebration of life was this past Monday in the Berkshires. And the rest of the week was spent with family and my tuba in the middle of heaven.

*I'm reminding myself that this is okay - not shouting it at you :)
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My Final Thought of the Week

Here's a quote to send you on your way:

"The greatest day in your life and mine is when we take total responsibility for our attitudes. That's the day we truly grow up."

—John C. Maxwell

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Sometimes I worry that this newsletter is simply a collection of things that I need to be reminded of over and over again! All I know is that I can't hear this sentiment too often.

I don't control outcomes. I don't control other people. I don't control much.

But I do control my attitude - even though that can feel pretty difficult at times.

Here's to having a creative week!
​

Cheers,
Andrew
​The Entrepreneurial Musician

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Quartet #28: Three Questions to Ask Yourself Every Day, Bad Habits Holding You Back and More!

If you only have time to click on one thing this week I would make it #2. I found those three questions to be quite clarifying on a number of levels.

And without further ado, here are this week's ideas...
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Quartet of the Week

1. Relax for the Same Result (2-min read)
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I love me some Derek Sivers and this short blog post is great. Any piece that can have me questioning how I'm approaching just about everything in less than 500 words was very much worth the time.

He asks the question: Can we let up on the hustle and get close to the same results?
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2. Three Questions to Ask Yourself Every Day (3-min read)
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These questions from Max Bernstein are gold. He has them written down on a small whiteboard where he can always see them.

This link includes my very brief thoughts on how these questions help me move forward as an entrepreneurial musician.
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3. 15 Bad Habits Holding You Back From Your Potential (3-min read)

This list from Sahil Bloom is great. #3 is the biggest mistake I see TEM Coaching clients make and most of them were trained to start making it in high school! This list is excellent.

(The link is to a LinkedIn post which for some reason you have to be logged in to see. I'm trying not to use Twitter these days but if you don't have a LinkedIn account you can also read this as a Twitter thread here.)
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4. Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator (14-min watch)

This TED Talk is deeply profound but could also easily be followed by a 6-year-old. That is not easy to pull off.

The material is great and his sense of humor and presenting skills are top notch. Definitely worth your time (unless you are using it to procrastinate!)

This Week in TEM

There hasn't been a TEM episode in the past week because it's summer and everything is a little harder (for some very good reasons!)

I will be putting out another episode in the next couple of days and in the meantime can tell you that I am planning a group coaching offering for the end of the summer. You all will be the first to hear about it!
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My Final Thought of the Week

Here's a quote to send you on your way:

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.”

—Mark Twain

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For some of you it is something really big and for some, something small. But there is a 99% chance that there's something you haven't started yet which you know deep down that you really should have.

(For me personally, see the group coaching thing I just mentioned!)

But you'll never get ahead if you don't get started. So get started!

Here's to staring that thing that's paralyzed us into inaction for whatever reason!
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Cheers,
Andrew
​The Entrepreneurial Musician

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Quartet #27: How to Nail Introductions, 100 Rules to Live By and More!

If you only click on one thing this week, there's a very good chance that #1 will move the needle for you the most.

Clay Herbert makes the argument that you are probably terrible at introductions like everyone else is and then offers some very actionable advice for how to get great at them.

And without further ado, here are this week's ideas...
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Quartet of the Week

1. The Best Way to Answer "So What Do You Do?" (12-minute watch)
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I found this 12-minute TEDx talk really compelling. Clay Herbert makes the case for why introductions are so vital and for why we as so bad at them.

He also lays out the three things that your very succinct introduction should include. I'm glad I watched this.
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2. Everything Must Be Paid for Twice (3-minute read)
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This felt like I was getting called out!

::Stares longingly at all of my unread books and uncompleted online course::

This shifted my thinking about acquiring things including tools that help me run the various businesses that make up my portfolio career.
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3. 100 Rules to Live By (13-minute read - but they are bullet points so you can totally skim and get some gold in less than a minute)

Each of these is one sentence long with an accompanying one or two sentences of pontification.

Some of these are absolute gems.
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4. Tool: Distraction Free Mode for Google Docs & Google Slides​

As with many of the tools I share through this newsletter, this one only does one very specific thing but it does it well.

This completely hides everything but the actually words of your Google Doc. The more I sit in front of a computer, the more I appreciate a clean interface. It keeps me focused and productive.

What's New With TEM

We made it to Episode 300! I've already thanked the listeners, Patreon patrons and sponsors in what feels like a dozen places but I'm going to do it one more time. Couldn't have gotten there without you. You are appreciated!
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My Final Thought of the Week

Here's a quote to send you on your way:

“Life is inherently risky. There is only one big risk you should avoid at all costs, and that is the risk of doing nothing."

—Denis Waitley

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If you are like me, you need to be reminded from time to time that not making a decision is actually making a decision.

And the biggest risk that you should avoid at all costs is doing nothing.

So make that decision. Do that thing. So stop tweaking and launch whatever it is you are working on.

You'll regret it if you don't.

Here's to taking some risks this week!
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Cheers,
Andrew
​The Entrepreneurial Musician

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Quartet #26: How to Tell If You're 'Playing Small', How to Stop Caring What Other People Think and More!

I have greeted this recent onslaught of ChapGPT (and other AI advancements) with an enormous grain of salt. The hype is almost suffocating.

And while I think my skepticism is still largely warranted, there are lots of ways that artists can be using these tools today to move our art forward.

#3 is a great primer for some ways it could possibly help you.

And without further ado, this week's ideas...
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Quartet of the Week

1. An Exercise to Tell Where You're 'Playing Small'​
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A simple exercise that only involves a couple of trusted friends and about 10-15 minutes. I just discovered this and I am doing this myself next week.
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2. 20 Unconventional Design Tips for Non-designers​
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This is great! I have been paying more attention to design elements lately. I am very much not trying to turn myself into a designer. But I have taught myself how to do some really basic graphic stuff that I now don't have to outsource (which not only costs money but also requires lead time for the other party.)

Articles like this have been so valuable to me. Simple, actionable advice that not only help me avoid easily avoidable mistakes but also helps me notice more design stuff while navigating the world. This is worth at least a skim I promise!
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3. 100+ ChatGPT Prompts for Creators: Speed Up Your Workflow With AI​

We are still in the very early days of this latest AI explosion and while much of what is being reported is all hype, these are really powerful tools that can already help creatives on a number of fronts.

Wondering how somthing like ChapGPT could possibly help you with anything? This post is a good place to start to get your brain framing things correctly.
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4. How to Stop Caring What People Think About You​

I am really good at this except for when I'm really bad at this. And that's why I found this list helpful and you might, too.

This Week in TEM

I was up in Boston helping my mother with some things all last week so there was no TEM episode. TEM300 comes out this week. 300 feels like a big number!

In the meantime, I recently made a massive shift on the business front, undoing nine years of precedent. Not gonna lie it's a little scary. I lay all of it out in the latest TEM Report.
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My Final Thought for the Week

Here's a quote to send you on your way:

“If a window of opportunity appears, don't pull down the shade."

—Tom Peters

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Sometimes I can inadvertently focus on opportunities I don't have rather than the ones I do. That never helps anything and only serves to make me feel worse.

That can also lead to me not seeing new opportunities when they appear right in front of my face. That's the equivalent of pulling down the shade.

Anytime I carve out time to be thankful for what I have and to look around for any new opportunities I might have missed, I am better for it.

As a side note, I am moving Quartet of Ideas to earlier in the week. I will also be sprinkling some other emails in occasionally. I will continue to notice what gets clicked on, what doesn't, and how I can best serve you all moving forward. Thanks for being on this journey with me.

Here's to leaning into the work that's a little scary this week!
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Cheers,
Andrew
​The Entrepreneurial Musician

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Quartet #25: How to Raise Your Rates, Words to Avoid in Messaging and More!

Hello, strangers!

It has been a hot minute. This spring has been a bit much in the life department to say the least.

I am trying to get back on the horse on a few fronts (like this newsletter!) while also being patient with myself while I continue to deal with some stuff.

I know I would tell a TEM Coaching client to be kind to themselves and give themselves space. But it's hard to follow your own advice sometime!

Anyways, thank you for your patience.

And without further ado, here are this week's ideas...

Quartet of the Week

1. ​How to Raise Your Rates​ This post is actually two different lists: Five signs that you should raise your rates and six best practices to raising your rates the right way.

I keep telling you on TEM that you should raise your rates because it is almost certain that you should!

But there's something to be said for a post like this one that breaks down exactly how to do it. It is a very actionable list.

2. ​10 Words to Avoid in Your Messaging​ Writing good copy, whether in a pitch email or on a sales page on a website, is critically important.

This list is a great place to start when trying to tighten up your messaging and stand out from the seemingly limitless options out there. 3. ​A Moving Video About a "Magic" Marker​

The message of this YouTube video is why I included it. The marker becomes magical when you keep using it.

But this is also a great example of making art that stands out. The messaging combines with the cartoons in a way that is immediately memerable.

And as I've stated over and over again, the biggest threat to musicians in 2023 is blending in. Standing out is the only viable path forward.

Not sure I'd be sharing this if it was just someone talking about the same message. Or rather, I don't think it ever would have made my radar in the first place.

4. ​The Creative Sweet Spot Between Likeability and Novelty​

This is a brief marketing post about all of the crazy flavors of Oreos they have trotted out over the last five years.

Caramel Apple? Candy Corn? Fruit Punch??

You'll just have to trust me that this is related to your career as an entrepreneurial musician. It is worth the click simply for the likeability/novelty chart. That one illustration hits on so much of what I try to talk about in TEM!

This Week in TEM

Hard to believe that TEM is knocking on the door of the Episode 300! ​TEM299​ is about how suffering is often voluntary, a lesson I need to be reminded of!

My Final Thought of the Week

Here's a quote to send you on your way:

“If you don't value your time, neither will others. Stop giving away your time and talents. Value what you know and start charging for it.”

—Kim Garst

I've been trying to be on a gratitude kick of late and this quote from the always amazing Maya Angelou is just wonderful.

There are some days when I don't take the time to cultivate gratitude. And as an entrepreneurial musician with a portfolio career, I can sometimes tend to focus on what I haven't gotten done rather than what I have. I can also focus on my failures rather than my successes.

But reading a quote like this one makes me realize that today is the only day I'm ever going to get to experience this day and that makes everything slow down just a little bit.

Here's to taking it all in along the way!

Cheers,
Andrew
The Entrepreneurial Musician

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Quartet #24: A 45-Word Call to Action, Finding Anyone's Email Address and More!

Elizabeth Gilbert's Book Big Magic is one I've read more than once and I will also be revisiting her TED Talk below in the future. She is always makes me think about my music and art in ways that are useful.

And idea #2 got me fired the hell up!

Without further ado, here are this week's ideas...

Quartet of the Week

1. ​Elizabeth Gilbert: Your Elusive Creative Genius​ This TED Talk is worth your time. Elizabeth Gilbert is transparent, generous and brutally honest about her creative journey and I am quite sure that every person reading this will be able to relate to some or all of this talk.

So much of the creative process is a battle with ourselves and this gets to the heart of that.

Glad I took the time to watch this.

2. ​Your Notes Need You​ I've been thinking about this tweet ever since I read it last summer.

It is a 45-word call to action. 3. ​8 YouTube Mistakes to Avoid in 2023​

This list actually applies to any social media channel. It's a good list but I think #1 + #2 are especially important.

(#1 is an easy trap to fall into + #2 is a great way to learn quickly.)

4. ​Tool: Hunter.io​

This is the kind of tool that you will have no use for whatsoever until you really have a use for it.

This massive database can help you find anyone's email address.

This is a great tool for the proactive marketing I'm always advocating.

This Week in TEM

​TEM291​ covers five mistakes that I routinely see people make when applying for grants. I have read hundreds of proposals over the years on behalf of The Mockingbird Foundation and there is definitely a pattern. Don't miss this one if you ever apply for grants.

My Final Thought of the Week

Here's a quote to send you on your way:

“This a wonderful day. I've never seen this one before.”

—Maya Angelou

I've been trying to be on a gratitude kick of late and this quote from the always amazing Maya Angelou is just wonderful.

There are some days when I don't take the time to cultivate gratitude. And as an entrepreneurial musician with a portoflio career, I can sometimes tend to focus on what I haven't gotten done rather than what I have. I can also focus on my failures rather than my successes.

But reading a quote like this one makes me realize that today is the only day I'm ever going to get to experience this day and that makes everything slow down just a little bit.

Here's to taking it all in along the way!

Cheers,
Andrew
The Entrepreneurial Musician

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Quartet #23: Fascinating YouTube Channel Trailers, Cultivating Calm and More!

Don't miss the short clip from Jazzie Pigott in #4. In this clip she is discussing learning a specific section of music but I feel like it really sums up the entire pursuit of music - the performing side and the business side.

At least it does for me!

And without further ado, here are this week's ideas...

Quartet of the Week

1. ​Nine Most Popular Types of Social Media Content in 2023​ This article shows the numbers behind the most popular (and unpopular) types of social media content so far this year.

I certainly know which types I prefer but it is almost always a mistake to assume that your audience has the exact same preferences that you do.

I've just started ramping up #1 so we'll see how that goes!

2. ​The Science of Cultivating Calm​ This is quite the article! It gets into how breathing is like an operating manual for our nervous system.

I appreciate it showing exactly how our breathing affects our minds and bodies. It served as a good reminder for me to slow down and pay attention to my breathing throughout the day. 3. ​5 Tips to Make a Fascinating YouTube Channel Trailer​

I have really been digging into YouTube lately and trying to increase not only my audience but also my engagement there. That has lead me to learn about all sorts of things which I will share here.

This article provides some tips for making a good YouTube channel trailer.

I will be adding a YouTube channel trailer on ​my YouTube channel for The Brass Junkies​ sometime this weekend. Let me know what you think!

4. ​Avoidance, Then Trial and Error​

It's impressive how much of the artistic journey is summed up in this sub-30-second clip.

Once we deal with avoidance we need to keep making trials and embracing the errors.

This Week in TEM

​TEM290​ is a reminder that people who have skills you don’t have aren’t magical - they’ve just had discipline.

My Final Thought of the Week

Here's a quote to send you on your way:

“You have to be unreasonable to see the world that doesn’t yet exist!”

—Will Guidara

I love the task of seeing a world that doesn't exist yet!

The way to monetize your efforts in the music business is to change the world.

Not the entire world! Just the world of the people who consume your art or your services.

And if you only change it in a way that others also offer, you aren't going to have much traction.

Changing people in some new way requires seeing a world that doesn't exist yet and then making that vision a reality.

And that requires being unreasonable rather than simply falling back on the old arguments of why things are the way they are (with the frequently unstated layer added of 'and why they need to stay that way.')

So here's to being unreasonable this week!

Cheers,
Andrew
​The Entrepreneurial Musician

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