Quartet #22: YouTube Thumbnails, Reacting vs Responding and More!

I have been hyperaware lately of things like YouTube thumbnails so #3 was a nice thing to stumble upon. Things like thumbnails really are an important factor in getting our hard work noticed on a platform like YouTube.

(Plus the photo above is kind of brilliant even though that's some sorry looking pizza!)

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

Quartet of the Week

1. ​Zero Time Habits​

Very simple concept, as the best ones frequently are!

A Zero Time Habit is something you don’t do so that you can do more of what you want.

This one got the gears in my head turning mighty quick.

2. ​Will You React or Respond?​

I am confident that anyone reading this is open to change in the music business at least on some level. But we all have blind spots and all face sunk costs when some specific aspect changes unexpectedly.

"The world changes and we have a choice:

• Fight hard to keep it the way it was.

• Notice what happened and then decide to do something with that insight."

Which will you choose?

3. ​How to Make a Great YouTube Thumbnail​

It is kind of mind-blowing to me how important having a great thumbnail is to a YouTube video getting traction. Anyone I've ever spoken with who is crushing it on the YouTube front has told me the same thing: a YouTube thumbnail can make or break your video.

And to be clear, this isn't about "going viral." Anyone who claims they know the secret to going viral are full of crap. An awful lot of things have to hit just right for a video to really blow up.

But a great YouTube thumbnail can easily be the difference between a video getting 100 views or 1,000 views.

This article is a great place to start and will show you what to look for in the thumbnails of others which will give you an idea of what you should do for your own.

4. ​Do I Want to Be Happy or Do I Want to Be Right?​

This comes from a nugget of wisdom that was handed down to me by a friend. This one-liner has had an immeasurable impact on my life so I thought I would share it.

Bottom line is the music business is all about relationships. The people who can thrive at managing those relationships have an enormous head start on those who can't.

This stuff should be taught the very first week of the first semester of college but it isn't. Lots of us end up learning the hard way.

Or the lucky ones have a friend who gives it to us straight!

This Week in TEM

​TEM288​ is a reminder that some people will always think you are charging too much and some people will think you are charging too little and that you can't cater to both groups - so you have to choose one!

My Final Thought of the Week

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

"To waste time is to waste your life."

—Mokokoma Mokhonoana

Well this puts a mighty fine point on things now doesn't it!

I really like the concept of Zero Time Habits from #1 and I thought this quote pairs nicely with it.

I am always so focused on what I should be doing which is not a bad thing. But when I occasionally focus on things I should not be doing it offers me clarity.

Here's to a productive end of the week and either a productive or restful weekend!

Cheers,
Andrew
The Entrepreneurial Musician

---

New To This Newsletter?

Subscribe here so you don't miss what I share next week.

Quartet #21: Copywriting Tips Worth Stealing, the Golden Rule for Email Replies and More!

I am really vibing with #3 this week! Such a simple concept but it has already made an impact on me and made me feel just a little more in control of my email (which is a gift!)

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

Quartet of the Week

1. ​The 5 Types of Personal Projects (And How You Can Justify Pursuing Them)​

A portfolio career tends to involve a lot of project-based work. This article outlines five different types of personal projects and why it is a good idea to pursue each kind.

I found this article two days ago and the very next day I shared the link with someone during a coaching call.

2. ​10 Copywriting Tips Worth Stealing​

The words we choose to sell the various aspects of our portfolio careers are vital and can absolutely make or break a revenue stream.

I went literally years of being a professional before I learned that copy should focus on benefits instead of features - as in how the person will benefit, not what you are going to do for them.

This simple change made a massive difference in my career.

This article features 10 easy to digest things to think about when writing copy for a webpage, a YouTube video script, an email, anything!

3. ​When You Should Put Effort Into an Email Reply​

Thoughtful communication is one of the biggest keys to the success of any entrepreneurial musician. But there are some traps with things like email.

This quick article asks the question of when you should put real effort into a reply and lays out an equation that is so simple — never put more effort into replying to an email than the other person put into sending it.

That's gold!

4. ​TEM Tool: Beginning Graphic Design - Fundamentals​

This short YouTube video is *awesome*.

I do not have a goal of becoming a professional graphic designer. But the more I learn from simple videos like this, the more I notice things in the logos, websites and YouTube channels that speak to me: both the good and the bad.

It's just like being a musician. It is all about having lots of data. Once you have enough, good and bad, you start to have an opinion about what you want to sound like.

I've just started that journey with graphic design simply by paying attention to videos like this and it is already paying dividends.

This Week in TEM

​TEM287​ touches on why being thoughtful and intentional about what you learn is better than just learning a little bit of everything at once. It also features a great quote from author Anne Rice about learning.

My Final Thought of the Week

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

"The size of your dreams must always exceed your current capacity to achieve them. If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough." —Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

If you can, spend part of your weekend coming up with some dreams that scare you a little bit and I will do the same.

Onward!

Cheers,
Andrew
The Entrepreneurial Musician

---

New To This Newsletter?

Subscribe here so you don't miss what I share next week.

Quartet #20: Steve Jobs' Brilliant Pricing Strategy, How to Solve Problems More Effectively and More!

TEM Coaching Chats are back - and TEM is going to every other week.

I have been trying to completely set aside how I've been doing things in an effort to figure out how I would do them if I was starting over again with a clean slate.

Bascially, I'm just trying some things to increase my impact on the TEM audience as well as minimize the amount of work (in that order!)

I think I've hit on something. But ultimately, you all will decide whether I have or not!

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

Quartet of the Week

1. ​How To Solve Problems More Effectively With One Simple Change​

This video is only 114 seconds!

Sometimes I like to share links to deep dives on topics and other times I like to share things that get in, make an impact and then get out.

I'm glad I stumbled onto this Daniel Pink video. Good stuff.

2. ​8 Things Every "Link in Bio" Should Include​

This article from music business reference site Hypebot talks about viewing your "Link in Bio" like an EPK (electronic press kit.)

There are many services that serve as a "Link in Bio" tool and some of them are even free. This article is a good place to start to make sure you are including the right stuff.

And remember, if someone is voluntarily trying to find out more about you, make it easy for them! Having a "Link in Bio" set up is a good way to accomplish that.

3. ​Steve Jobs' Brilliant Pricing Strategy​

This is an Instagram Reel which means it is less than a minute!

This video shows hows Steve Jobs used something called anchoring to make the $499 price of the first iPad seem like a steal.

And that technique will work for anything you have to sell: booking your group, lessons, compositions, anything.

4. ​Tool I Couldn't Live Without: Adobe Express​

I used to have a partner do all of the graphics for TEM and The Brass Junkies. When that partner decided they were moving on they set up some templates for me in Adobe Express and they were blown away by it when they tried it. Someone who does graphic design professionally couldn't believe how powerful it is while also being unbelievably easy to use.

Seriously, kick the tires on this thing. I find Canva pretty easy to use but this is next level. And Adobe also offers thousands upon thousands of royalty free images. It's kind of incredible how powerful this tool is and good graphics are vital for your website, videos, social media posts and promotional materials to name just a few things!

This Week in TEM

This is the first place I'm announcing this but as I said in the intro, TEM is moving to every other week.

Every part of the episode process takes time (writing the episode, making the graphics, editing the video, mastering the audio, writing the show notes, posting to the websites, doing promotion on social media, etc.) If I make slightly longer episodes every other week then the time spent doing most of those things will be halved. And that means more time to do more impactful things like coming up with new ways to serve the TEM audience through courses, group coachings and this newsletter.

But I am going to start TEM Coaching Chats back up again! I did one yesterday titled ​Fear in Fancy Shoes​. You can follow the link to our YouTube channel or check it out here:

My Final Thought of the Week

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

“Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice.”

—Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs was a quotable man! He was always good for a great soundbite and that is exactly what this is.

When I am obsessing about the opinions of others it doesn't allow me the space to hear my own voice, the one I should actually be following.

What a priceless reminder.

Cheers,
Andrew
The Entrepreneurial Musician

---

New To This Newsletter?

Subscribe here so you don't miss what I share next week.

Quartet #19: Building a Meaningful Network, Taming Your Inner Critic and More!

January is chugging along!

Networking is something that everyone knows is important and yet somehow practically every music school in the world lets you just figure it out on your own.

I like that the first link gets into multiple layers of networking because it is so vital and I needed the refresher!

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

Quartet of the Week

1.  Don't Just Network — Build Your 'Meaningful Network' to Maximize Your Impact 

We have all been on the receiving end of self-serving networking and it always feels gross. And sadly, that kind of networking is not uncommon.

This article talks about ways to build a meaningful network which is the opposite of making people feel gross. But it also offers actionable advice on how to get more connected to the people who are already in your network which is vital.

I appreciate this article because networking has literally never been more important than it is now to thrive in a portfolio career. So being able to do it well is almost a superpower!

2.  How to Tame Your Inner Critic 

This episode of The Upgrade podcast features an interview with psychologist Ethan Kross. This conversation really resonanted with me. He defines "chatter" and offers ways to deal with it. And the part where he talks about "the seductive allure of venting" is must-hear.

I found this conversation fascinating.

3.  Books That Changed Lives 

Designer Tina Roth Eisenberg asked Twitter back in 2017 what books had changed people's lives and the replies she got are wonderful. A bunch I know and a bunch that are brand new to me.

4.  If You're Upset About Something Watch This 

That was advice I read and sure enough it works. It's a completely ridiculous video that's less than a minute and will guaranteed hit reset on any frustrating situation (like this video that I have spent literally the last two days making that's not rendering correctly.)

This Week's in TEM

 TEM286: Not Making a Decision Is Still Making One  is all about how my brain tricks me into inaction when I’m faced with a decision I don’t want to make and the trick I then use to convince myself to take action and make a decision. Lots of tricking going on!

My Final Thought of the Week

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

"Think of your energy as currency. When you focus less energy on the things you are against, you have more to spend on creating what you do want."

—Maryam Hasnaa

This is brilliant. Thinking of energy as a currency is spot on because we all have a limited amount of it in any given day. So I desperately need to spend it on things that I want to do and things that will really move the needle for me.

This is exactly why my main goal for 2023 is to be intentional with how I spend my time and not just settling for "working hard" or something nebulous like that.

Here's to using your energy and attention wisely!

Cheers, Andrew The Entrepreneurial Musician

---

New To This Newsletter?

Subscribe here so you don't miss what I share next week.

Quartet #18: The Best Parts of a Must-Read Business Book, the Four Types of Luck and More!

This is my first "normal" week in quite some time.

I am sleeping in my own bed every single night this week. My son has five days of school. I haven't traveled farther than about seven miles from my house. And it has been so incredibly productive!

Momentum feels good and I hope you are experiencing some yourself.

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

Quartet of the Week

1. How to Design the Perfect Day​

There is a lot to digest in this post. At the least I would recommend skimming it and bookmarking it to return to later. It's worth it I promise!

Two things jumped off the page at me. One is the busyness is a lack of priorities section and the other is the quote that I include below in my final thought of the week.
​

2. The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing Summary: Top 10 Lessons​
​
​The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing is a really great book! Probably a third of it doesn't apply at all to a musician with a portfolio career but the rest of the book is vital to anyone on this path!

I highly recommend that you check out the book but in the meantime, this blog post is a really good summary of some of the key points.

If you are thinking about starting anything from a band to a teaching studio, you are making a mistake by not checking this out first. It will affect not just how you approach the venture but even what you try to do in the first place.
​
​
3. The Four Types of Luck​

This twitter thread describes the four different kinds of luck as laid out in a 1978 book by neurologist Dr. James Austin.

The fascinating thing about this is that only the first of four is out of your control. We can play a direct role in increasing the chances of the other three types of luck showing up in our life simply through intentional actions.

I find that empowering!
​

4. 2022 TEM Year in Review​
​
This one isn't an idea but it's always fun for me to go over the stats for the show at the end of each year. This short post includes my five most popular episodes of the year and the Top 10 countries by download.

Some of those are awfully far away from where I'm sitting right now which is kind of crazy!

If you are reading this then you are a big reason for the continued success of TEM and I appreciate you!
​

This Week's TEM Episode

​TEM285: Follow the Green Lights is about why you need to be following the green lights in your portfolio career rather than stopping to fixate on the stop signs.

You're probably brighter than I am but I have to re-learn this lesson over and over again! So keep reminding me if you notice that I need to hear it again!
​

My Final Thought of the Week

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

"You don't have eight creative, problem-solving hours in the day - you have two. Use them wisely."

—Naval Ravikant

​
These two sentences made me reframe how I structure my days and what important work needs to go where in the day.

I certainly have more than two productive hours a day in me. But truly peak effort where I'm doing my best and most creative problem solving?

I bet it's right around two hours.

Love simple concepts that help solidify so much so quickly in my mind.

Have a great week!
​

Cheers,
Andrew
​The Entrepreneurial Musician

---

New To This Newsletter?

Subscribe here so you don't miss what I share next week.

Quartet #17: 23 Ways to Make 2023 a Miracle Year, Great Mareting Summed Up in One Tweet and More!

Hello and Happy New Year!

I'm not traveling for 20+ days this month so January is when I'm getting back on the TEM horse: both the newsletter and the show.

The first week of 2023 is off to a good start on that front!

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

Quartet of the Week

1.  23 Ways to Make 2023 Your Miracle Year 

This is a really good list from Sahil Bloom that is separated into categories: work, health, money and personal.

They are all good but the seven listed in the work category are all things I am going to try. Some food for thought!

2.  Seth Godin on the Trap of Trying to Do Everything Yourself 

Almost all of Godin's daily blog posts are quite good but every once in a while it's like he is directly calling me out!

These three paragraphs really resonated with me and are exactly what I need to be thinking about as I plan my year.

3.  Great Marketing Summed up in One Tweet 

This tweet shares the same message three ways. The first way is how I see 98% of all musicians market their goods and services.

The second way is how I see probably 1.9% of musicians market their goods and services.

And I'd say it's about .1% of musicians who market the third way (which means it's really easy to stand out if you work at it!)

4.  How to Monetize Your Expertise 

One of the keys to a successful portfolio career is having multiple income streams. This post presents six questions to ask yourself in order to help monetize your expertise.

Monetizing your expertise as a musician with a portfolio career could take the form of a teaching studio, selling online courses, presenting master classes, doing residencies, writing books, hosting a podcast... the list goes on and on.

This is a great time of year to think about adding an income stream to your portfolio career and this post is a nice place to start.

This Week's TEM Episode

 TEM284: My Productivity System for 2023  is my return episode after the entire month of December off! As I mention at the beginning of the episode, we weren't able to purchase our family Christmas tree until the afternoon of Christams Eve. It's been a little busy!

I thought a nice place to start was the productivity system I am using in 2023 which is a combination of some old ideas and some that are new to me.

It felt good to back behind the mic!

My Final Thought of the Week

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

"The problem with New Year's resolutions - and resolutions to 'get in better shape' in general, which are very amorphous - is that people try to adopt too many behavioral changes at once. It doesn't work. I don't care if you're a world-class CEO - you'll quit."

—Tim Ferriss

This quote aligns with pretty much every single anecdote in James Clear's incredible book Atomic Habits. We set ourselves up for failure when we try to change too many things at once.

I have made two resolutions: The first is no fast food in the month of January and the other is going on 100 hikes in 2023.

Because of teaching at West Chester University last semester I feel like I lived out of my car for the first time in literally years. And that was especially so in December. January is a month where I'm mainly home so this is going to be an easily attainable goal.

The other goal sounds aggressive but I already go on close to that many hikes a year and I live less than 10 minutes from a National Park. So 100 hikes is a little aggressive but is doable with a little bit of intention.

Ironically, if I had set a goal of going jogging once a week, which on the surface is twice as easy, I would have set myself up to fail since I've gone jogging around 50 times in my life. Total.

I also hate jogging and love hiking.

Goals are all about knowing yourself and being realistic while challenging yourself. I'll let you know how these two go!

I hope your 2023 is off to a happy start!

Cheers, Andrew The Entrepreneurial Musician

---

New To This Newsletter?

Subscribe here so you don't miss what I share next week.

Quartet #16: How to Find Ideas, a Free Link Management Tool and More!

Hello strangers!

I have been on the road almost non-stop since you last heard from me at the end of November. (Which is a good problem to have!)

Getting to perform and teach for a living in front of actual people again has me filled with gratitude. And I saw my first snowflakes of the season today which always brings a smile!

Thanks for your patience while I simply tried to keep my head above water these last few weeks.

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

Quartet of the Week

1. You Need a Manifesto​

I enjoy pieces like this that can talk about really huge and broad topics (like why we do what we do) while also getting into specifics that are easily turned into actions I can take to move myself forward in my journey.

So many times pieces like this can be thought-provoking but eventually leave me feeling overwhelmed. This piece threads the needle of big ideas and what to do next perfectly in my opinion.
​

2. Seth Godin on Expertise​
​
38 must-read words from Seth Godin on why those who are curious have an edge over those who simply possess knowledge.
​
​
3. How to Find a Wonderful Idea​

This is a TED Talk from the band OK Go and it is worth your time. Some great food for thought and they open by playing live along with a music video that is so elaborate that it's hard to even process. Just click and you'll see what I mean!
​

4. TEM Tool: Znaplink​
​
This is a good (and free!) tool to use for the "Link in bio" trick on Instagram and elsewhere. If you don't know what that is referencing, this is a place where you can list all of your links on one page (to your website, your YouTube channel, your social channels, a specific YouTube video or event, etc.)

There is also a paid version that gets you more functionality but I bet most of you could get by on the free version and free is good!
​

This Week's TEM Episode

Both the podcast and this newsletter have taken a backseat the last few weeks as any of the precious spare time I had at home was taken up by being a father and a husband.

Hope to get back on the horse next week but it may not be until the first week of 2023.
​

My Final Thought of the Week

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

“Try not to resist the changes that come your way. Instead let life live through you. And do not worry that your life is turning upside down. How do you know that the side you are used to is better than the one to come?”

—Rumi

​
This quote is courtesy of a 13th-century Persian poet and is exactly what I needed to hear today.

"Let life live through you" is some deeply profound $#@&! That's yet another way of saying live in the present moment, which is pretty much all I try to do with my career and my life - as long as I'm reminded to do it.

Here's to not resisting the change that is coming our way!
​

Cheers,
Andrew
​The Entrepreneurial Musician

---

New To This Newsletter?

Subscribe here so you don't miss what I share next week.

Quartet #15: How to Find Clarity, Making Better Decisions and More!

If you live in the United States and celebrate Thanksgiving, I hope you were able to spend some time with people you love today. I had a very low-key day with family and it was perfect.

If you're only going to read one of these this week make it #1!

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

Quartet of the Week

1. Creating Your Own Starting Principles​

Starting Principles are a collection of beliefs that help you behave strategically across domains and make better decisions.

This is a powerful concept and this article has one hell of a list to consider.

Click on this one!
​

2. Busyness Decoded: How to Limit What You Say "Yes" To​
​
Last week I mentioned that the number one thing on work on with TEM Coaching clients is having too many ideas and not knowing where to start. But upon further reflection, it's actually a tie with saying yes to too many things!

This post goes into addressing the ways we are complicit in our busyness and stress. Sure, life happens to us at times. And sometimes that happens in suffocating waves.

But it's been my experience that I am in more control of things than it sometimes feels and that is empowering.
​
​
3. How To Find Clarity When You’re at a Career Crossroads​

This article features five research-backed steps to figure out your next move which I think can apply to a big change like changes fields or to just adding/subtracting aspects of a portfolio career.

My favorite one from this list is "Find a Compass, Not a Map" but they're all good!
​

4. It's Never Too Late​
​
Whenever you hear that voice inside of you that it's too late to start something, that you missed the "perfect" timing or you're too old, just know that voice is lying to you. It's never too late.
​

This Week's TEM Episode

​TEM283 is all about the science behind gratitude and why it is especially important for entrepreneurial musicians to actively cultivate it.
​

My Final Thought of the Week

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

"It's a funny thing about life, once you begin to take note of the things you are grateful for, you begin to lose sight of the things that you lack."

—Germany Kent

​
This quote applies to everything in my life but really applies to my career today. When I focus on everything I have going on today, I immediately lose sight of the things that could be going better.

And I'm quite lucky. The things I have going far outweigh the things that aren't working out at the moment. But there are some days when I can really dwell on what isn't happening or revenue streams that used to be going better.

Gratitude is the key to looking at things in a healthy way and that in turn gives me power to actually move everything forward rather than looking backward. And that is a powerful gift.

Here's to perspective!
​

Cheers,
Andrew
​The Entrepreneurial Musician

---

New To This Newsletter?

Subscribe here so you don't miss what I share next week.

Quartet #14: Five Ways to Overcome Too Many Ideas Syndrome, Godin on the Long Road and More!

The first link below really resonated with me. It also made me laugh because let's just say I am significantly better at helping clients with dealing too many ideas than I am at managing that in my own career!

Needless to say, I read this article and took notes.

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

Quartet of the Week

1. Five Ways to Overcome Too Many Ideas Syndrome​

I feel like this was written JUST FOR ME. But of course it wasn't. In fact, this is probably the main thing I work on with TEM Coaching clients: too many ideas and not knowing where to start.

These five suggestions are great. Highly recommended!
​

2. Do Things, Tell People​
​
This is a cool and very short read that boils the creative process down to its essence.

"Make something that you can talk about. Make something cool. Something interesting. Spend time on it. Go crazy."

I found this 6-paragraph piece empowering.
​
​
3. Tool: listening.io​

If you're like me you spend a lot of time in the car driving between gigs and lessons and meetings and everything else. This Chrome extension allows you to listen to any article in your favorite podcast player which is especially good for longer reads.
​

4. The Long Road​
​
Here is a little Seth Godin magic about the long road:

"When we’re in the middle of a project, it’s easy to imagine that it’s not going to be around for decades. But every project opens doors, for you and for the people you build it for. It doesn’t matter if it works for everyone, if it’s a worldwide bestseller or on the front page. Oceans are made of drops."

Love it!
​

This Week's TEM Episode

Thus far this week I have not been able to put out a TEM episode. Might be able to squeeze one in tommorow but that remains to be seen.

My fall has been filled with wonderful playing, teaching and consulting opportunities. But the last two months are perhaps the busiest 2-month stretch I've ever had.

Thing calm down significantly once January rolls around and I'm looking forward to that!
​

My Final Thought of the Week

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

"A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in."

—Greek Proverb

​
Kind of goes nicely with Godin's thoughts about the long road. Each and every one of us is making a difference in many lives as long as we simply keep showing up.

Sometimes those lives are the people right in front of us and it's easy to see. Other times those lives are people we will never meet.

The key is continuing to show up, when it's easy and when it's difficult.

Thanks for being on this journey with me!
​

Cheers,
Andrew
​The Entrepreneurial Musician

---

New To This Newsletter?

Subscribe here so you don't miss what I share next week.

Quartet #13: Balancing Your Various Outputs, How to Get Better Sleep and More!

Here is the occasional reminder that if you ever find a link that you think other musicians who are on a similar path would also find helpful please send it along! You can reply directly to any of these emails and I will get it.

I can't promise that I will include every link in the newsletter but I sure would appreciate any suggestions that you have. Thank you in advance!

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

Quartet of the Week

1. How to Balance Full-Time Work with Creative Projects I think you'll find this article helpful even if you don't have a traditional full-time job that you are balancing with all of your creative work.

Good stuff on setting boundaries, expectations and time management.

2. Email an Article to Yourself With One Click

If you are like me then you constantly encounter helpful or thought-provoking resources online (hopefully this newsletter qualifies!)

I can't possibly read all of the resources I come across online in real time and need a way to keep track of it all. There are a number of ways to do this but this tool is great. Not life-changing but really good at doing the one thing it does.

3. How to Sleep Well Again

This is not exactly a hot take but sleep is important! This article features a sleep specialist weighing in on how to overcome insomnia by breaking your behavior patterns. Interesting stuff!

4. How to Grow Your LinkedIn Presence I will admit that I almost never post on LinkedIn. But I've often thought that it would be a natural place for TEM to have more of a presence.

This YouTube video offers some specific tips on how to create content that gets you the kind of engagement that will help move your career forward.

This Week's TEM Episode

TEM282 features some priceless wisdom from Elizabeth Gilbert about not basing our sense of worth on things we can not control.

My Final Thought of the Week

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

“You’re never going to get everyone you know (let alone every random person on social media) on board with your decision to pursue creativity. You’re certainly never going to have unanimous positive feedback for everything you make. In fact, if the work you put out is only celebrated, beware.”

—Chase Jarvis

Running an idea that's a little scary by every person you can think of is a form of hiding because you'll never find a single one where everyone is on board with the idea, the timing, your tactics, etc.

Don't seek too much permission. And don't try to make art that everyone will love because it will suck. (At least that's how I'm reading the end of that quote! Ha!)

Cheers, Andrew
The Entrepreneurial Musician

---

New To This Newsletter?

Subscribe here so you don't miss what I share next week.

Quartet #12 How Make Better Decisions, Self-Destructing Email Addresses and More!

If you only click on one link this week make it the first one. Decision making is something that I've gotten a lot better at over time (I'm guessing everyone has!)

But having some techniques to be able to better and faster at making decisions is crucial and will pay immediate dividends.

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

Quartet of the Week

1. How to Make Better Decisions, Faster
Razor in this context was a new word to me. This a great article because so much of what I deal with on a day-to-day basis is deciding what to work on and what not to work. These will help me get that right.

2. The Case for Not Skimping on Quality

This is from writer David Perell's newsletter and examines the decisions In N Out Burger made when it was starting to get established. Even though this short piece has nothing to do with music, I immediately drew a lot of parallels with my own career. Certain corners can't, or at least shouldn't, be cut.

3. Get An Email Address That Self-Destructs After 10 Minutes

This is a neat tool for when you need to use an email address to verify an account but don't want to get signed up for any lists.

4. Understanding What Sort of Problem You're Facing

For whatever reason it had been a minute since I read Seth Godin's blog so of course I came back to absolute gold. I read these three paragraphs three times.

This Week's TEM Episode

In TEM281 I talk about the benefits of slowing your brain down and share a few techniques to make that happen.

My Final Thought of the Week

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

"I'd say to my younger self and other creatives out there... that the success is in the work. You can't skip the work. In a world vying for popcorn, overnight success, be the outlier. Learn and work towards your craft. Be relentless and authentic. Create without boundaries. Not for likes or vanity metrics. Put your heart into your work and people will feel that passion. The money, the visibility, the success will come when it's time - focus on doing the work first."

—Dominique Webb

In a world vying for popcorn and overnight successes, be the outlier.

This is so succinct and is a real call to action.

Slow down. Don't try to be an overnight success. Be the outlier. Success will come.

Cheers,
Andrew
The Entrepreneurial Musician

---

New To This Newsletter?

Subscribe here so you don't miss what I share next week.

Quartet #11: A Beginner's Guide to TikTok, Six Words to Overcome Perfectionism and More!

Sometimes the universe delivers important messages in tiny packages.

I absolutely love the six words on two Post-Its link below.

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

Quartet of the Week

1. How To Use TikTok: The Ultimate Beginner's Guide I have intentionally not made the plunge into TikTok yet because I know how much time I would spend on it. But there is no denying how many eyeballs are on that platform and I don't think it's going anywhere anytime soon.

This is a great step-by-step guide to getting started on the platform which I am bookmarking for a rainy day.

2. The Power of Bookending Your Day with Routines

I found this conversation with author Sarah Wilson quite interesting. She talks about routines, reframing a rut as going to your edge and the power of adding the word AND.

This got me thinking so I'm passing it along.

3. Six Words on Two Post-Its

If you are ever paralyzed by perfectionism (which almost always masks itself as something more palatable!) you should read these two Post-Its. Love it!

4. A Tab Management Tool with Lots of Funcationality I recently shared OneTab with you and thought I would also pass this one along as well. I am constantly battling having too many tabs open on my computer and this not only helps to manage that but also allows you to drag and drop bookmarks into collections.

I just stumbled onto this tool but it seems so powerful that I am sharing it right away. Here's to not getting overwhelmed by too many tabs!

This Week's TEM Episode

In TEM280 I discuss embracing change and cultivating a growth mindset. As I get into in the episode, I am undergoing a lot of change in my life right now and I'm just trying to lean in!

My Final Thought of the Week

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

"I don't know where I'm going from here, but I promise it won't be boring."

—David Bowie

All of the musicians I've worked with who really, truly have something to say have led interesting lives.

And all of the ones I've worked with who are good at operating their instrument but make art music that no one will be talking about in 20 years have not.

Don't be boring. Take some risks. It will make your art better.

Cheers, Andrew
The Entrepreneurial Musician

---

New To This Newsletter?

Subscribe here so you don't miss what I share next week.

Quartet #10: Thirty One-Sentence Mindset Tips, Two Sentences of Advice That Fired Me Up and More!

You might assume that someone who has given mindset presentations around the country wouldn't need a regular reminder to keep a growth mindset about various aspects of their life and career.

But you would be wrong - I need the regular reminder!

I hope you get as much out of #1 as I did.

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

Quartet of the Week

1. Thirty One-Sentence Mindset Tips for Side Hustlers One way to look at having a portfolio music career

I especially like #3, #10 and #13. Are there any you would add?

2. Get Your Twitter Bookmarks Emailed to You Once a Week

If you spend any time on Twitter you know how much priceless information there is there every single day. Much of what I share in this newsletter comes from Twitter.

But keeping track of all of that stuff can be hard. This tool automatically emails you once a week with any new bookmarks. Very useful if you use Twitter!

3. Two Sentences of Advice That Fired Me Up

Speaking of Twitter, came across this tweet and knew I had to pass it along to you. Not sure I have ever framed what we do as creatives quite like this first sentence and I am going to moving forward.

4. It's Just Where You Are Today I have learned so much from the people I've interviewed for TEM over the years. And of all the countless lessons I've learned from guests, this one is on the short list for having the biggest impact on me.

This Week's TEM Episode

In TEM279 I spoke about how putting restrictions in place can actually help jump-start the creative process - something that is counterintuitive to me but works like magic.

My Final Thought of the Week

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

"So go on and play, and if you make a mistake, make it loud so you won't make it next time."

—Art Blakey

Jazz legend Art Blakey with the helpful reminder here. I am always telling my students "strong and wrong", meaning to play with exclamation points and if you mess up, lean into it.

But sometimes I don't proceed with those same exclamation points when it is a new business venture of some kind - and I need to!

Because all growth comes from the tension of not knowing whether something will work or not work. And when something doesn't, we learn from it and move on.

So here's to making loud mistakes!

Cheers, Andrew The Entrepreneurial Musician

---

New To This Newsletter?

Subscribe here so you don't miss what I share next week.

Quartet #9: Five Questions to Ask Yourself When You Start a Project, A Powerful Tool for YouTube Creators and More!

Lots of major professional changes on the immediate horizon for me so I'm scrambling a little. All good and meant to be, but some major changes.

Glad I'm able to stick to a schedule like getting this newsletter out (which is progress for me when I start to get overwhelmed!)

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

Quartet of the Week

1. Five Questions to Ask Yourself When You Start a Project​
​
Having a portfolio career usually means lots of projects. I sure wish I had seen this list before I started some of mine!
​

2. John Wooden and How to Practice​

Learn why legendary basketball coach John Wooden kept practices short and why he was obsessed with small details. This 10-minute podcast episode has essentially nothing to do with basketball and everything to do with how we “practice” various skills in our life.
​
3. In-Depth YouTube Analytics​
​
I use this tool at Pedal Note Media and it is invaluable. It uses data to identify things like the best hashtags to use on YouTube videos - which is something that's really important.

If you are at all serious about growing a YouTube channel (and you should be with so much of the world moving to video) you should check out this tool.
​
4. 9 Things Productive People Do Differently​

There are some nugggets of wisdom in here including a concept that is new to me: priority dilution.

That is when the sheer number of obligations we’ve committed to keep us from the work that matters most.

I have experienced this myself countless times and seen it regularly in my TEM Coaching clients over the years and glad that I now have a name for it!

This Week's TEM Episode

In TEM278 I share a super cool YouTube trick that helps remind you that even the most polished creators of art started as beginners.
​

My Final Thought of the Week

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

“Man, sometimes it takes a long time to sound like yourself.”

—Miles Davis

​
So if you are new to songwriting or teaching or marketing or talking into a mic or new to anything, it is going to take a long time until you sound like yourself.

So just start and you'll get there faster!
​

Cheers,
Andrew
​The Entrepreneurial Musician

New To This Newsletter?

​Subscribe here so you don't miss what I share next week.

Quartet #8: The Best Piece of Advice I've Ever Received, a Free Image Resizer and More

The weather is finally gorgeous here in DC and I am fighting the urge to just go hiking every day instead of doing any work!

Trying to strike a balance between staying in shape/maintaining my mental health through hiking and keeping my portfolio career moving foward. Happy to report that I think I'm doing a pretty good job but it remains a work in progress.

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

Quartet of the Week

1. Free Social Media Image Resizer Some of my favorite tools are ones that do one thing and one thing really well. This is a perfect example of that.

There are plenty of places on the internet to resize photos but this one is super easy: Drag and drop the image, click the social platform you need it for and you're done. No Googling the dimensions for each platform - it just does it.

This tool doesn't do much but what it does it does well! I bookmarked it.

2. What We Can and Can Not Control I occasionally need a reminder about the things in my career and in life that I can control and equally importantly, the things I can't.

This infographic from Reddit reset my mindset in a way that I appreciated so I'm passing it along!

3. The Best Piece of Advice I've Ever Recieved The best piece of advice I've ever received came in the form of some tough love and I didn't neccesarily want to hear it at the time.

But it was very generous of that person to share it with me and I'm forever grateful they did.

4. A Personal Digital Reset I just found this article so haven't had the chance to implement any of it yet but I am absolutely going to do so. I appreciate articles like this one that give a broad point (making the case for a digital reset in your life) while also laying out specific steps you can take to implement change in your life.

I was especially intrigued by the mention of encountering only intentional information online. That point really has my brain churning!

This Week's TEM Episode

TEM277 features a quote from Leonard Cohen about the dangers of waiting for inspiration. His insights are nuanced and wonderful and got me fired up!

My Final Thought of the Week

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

“Watch your actions, they become your habits. Watch your habits, they become your character.”

—Vince Lombardi

Everything I'm doing today, both good and bad, is shaping who I am to become tomorrow.

In terms of my career, how am I spending my time and energy today? Is it based on decisions I made in the past? If so, would I make the same decision today?

As Seth Godin likes to point out, all of our previous work is a gift from our former selves. But it's a gift we don't have to accept.

Alll I know is that whenever I make time to evaluate my actions, habits and character, I'm always happy I did.

Cheers, Andrew The Entrepreneurial Musician

New To This Newsletter?

Subscribe here so you don't miss what I share next week.

Quartet #7: Starting a Movement, the One Trait Every Successful Musician Possesses and More

You didn't hear from me last week because it has been one hell of a stretch but this time in a good way!

Last weekend I got to perform with Jonathan Fishman, the drummer for the band Phish, and it was a dream come true. It left we speechless.

I also got to perform with soprano Denyce Graves which gave me goosebumps.

Then I saw Pearl Jam for the first time in 31 years and a group that is very special to me, Medeski Martin & Wood, for only the 2nd time in 10 years.

Lots of rewarding gigs and lots of shows attended have reminded me of why I do this whole musician thing in the first place!

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

Quartet of the Week

1. How to Start a Movement​
​
This is an absolutely brilliant video from Derek Sivers. In under three minutes he breaks down how to start a movement.

There are so many lessons to take away from this super short video. It is a must-watch!
​
​
2. The 5-Hour Rule: How to Turn a Wasted Day Into a Successful One​
​
I like this simple system for making learning a priority. Reading is something that I have to make a priority or it doesn't end up happening.
​
​
3. The One Trait You Will Eventually Need​
​
There is one trait that literally every successful musician I know possesses.

Some need it early in their careers. Some need it late. But you will need it eventually.
​
​
4. Share Files Using End-To-End Encryption via an Automatically Expiring Link​
​
This is one of the tools I have no use for whatsoever until I suddenly have a use for it and then it's awfully handy!

It allows you to share files up to 10 GBs with end-to-end encryption. And the link automatically expires so any creative work is not floating around the internet if you don't want it to be.

This Week's TEM Episode

​TEM276 is all about how you shouldn't ever decide for someone else that they're not interested in what you have to offer and why anytime you do it is the fear talking.

I also get into how this mindset is not a license to spam people with frivolous requests and how to tell if your request is legit or not.
​

My Final Thought of the Week

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

“Music frees your soul from the dungeon of your mind.”

—Wiss Auguste

From meeting and playing with one of my heroes (I still can't believe that happened!?) to seeing some spellbinding concerts over the last two weeks, my soul had an awful lot of freeing from the dungeon of my mind.

It has totally left me energized for all aspects of my portfolio career - even if a little exhausted from a lack of sleep.

But I'll take it!
​

Cheers,
Andrew
​The Entrepreneurial Musician

New To This Newsletter?

​Subscribe here so you don't miss what I share next week.

Quartet #6: Breaking Bad Habits, a Cool Checklist Tool, and More

It has been a week! (I get into it a little bit below.)

Feeling very thankful for a lot of things this week and especially for all of you on this TEM journey with me.

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

Quartet of the Week

1. How to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Habits​
​
This guide to habits from James Clear is must-read. He breaks down what a habit is, three ways to form better ones, three ways to break bad ones, how to make a habit stick and gives some recommended books and articles on the subject.

Reading and acting on even one idea featured on this page will help every aspect of your portfolio career.
​
​
2. Bob Dylan on What You Can Learn From a Child and What You Can Learn From a Thief
​​
Bob Dylan dropped this list in an interview back in the 80's.

It features three things you can learn from a child and seven things you can learn from a thief and it's good stuff.
​
​
3. It Is Never Too Late​
​
If you ever catch yourself believing that it is "too late" to begin a new chapter in your life there's a good chance you are lying to yourself. It's just a line we use to let ourselves off the hook without losing face.

And people like Sharon Jones and Toni Morrison are the proof that it is never too late in life to start anything.
​
​
4. Free Checklist Maker Tool​
​
The further I get into my career, the more I appreciate tools that do one thing and do it well.

This is a website that allows you to make checklists from scratch but it also has templates for checklists to track things like drinking enough water during the day or 12-week plans that could be used for things like planning social media posts or practicing routines.

This Week's TEM Episode

​
There is no TEM this week because my father had a seizure early Sunday morning and life turned completely upside down for a few days. Luckily I was in Massachusetts with them when it happened and was able to help them navigate things.

The good news is he is doing much better and is out of the hospital. If you're the vibes type then send them his way!

TEM will hopefully be back next week.
​

My Final Thought of the Week

Closing this newsletter with a quote has been working well so here's another one:

“Time and health are two precious assets that we don’t recognize and appreciate until they have been depleted.”

—Denis Waitley

If you've got your health, cherish it. And only spend time on the things that truly matter because all of us will be out of time at some point.

Here's to a happy and healthy week!
​

Cheers,
Andrew
​The Entrepreneurial Musician

New To This Newsletter?

​Subscribe here so you don't miss what I share next week.

A Quartet of Ideas - September 1, 2022

Yesterday was my first day teaching at West Chester University. I am filling in for a friend, Dr. Jonathan Fowler, who is on sabbatical. I have 17 (no that is not a typo!) tuba students for the semester, on top of my Hitz Academy students and TEM responsibilities.

It is going to be a busy and very fulfilling fall. Wish me luck!

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

Quartet of the Week

1. 20 Small Ways To 10x Your Personal Development

I like the premise of this list: Small things you can focus on to implement big changes in your life.

This is a great list. I especially like #2, #13 and #17 but think #15 is kind of dumb. But this entire list made me think!

2. Avoiding the Sunk Cost Fallacy

The Sunk Cost Fallacy describes our tendency to follow through on an endeavor if we have already invested time, effort or money into it, whether or not the current costs outweigh the benefits.

Avoiding falling into that trap is really difficult. And really important for any entrepreneurial musician.

3. Tool I Couldn't Live Without: OneTab

OneTab converts your tabs into a list and not only gets you more organized but also speeds up your browser. You can even share a list of tabs with someone which can be very handy for teaching or collaborating with someone on a project.

I've only been using OneTab for about a year and I can't remember life without it. Check it out!

4. The Joy of Tiny Projects

We can create our own momentum by choosing something incredibly small to share with the world and that sure beats feeling overwhelmed!

This Week's TEM Episode

TEM275 is all about the power of starting small and it was inspired by idea #4 above.

And in that vein I put video of TEM275 up on YouTube! This is a major step for me and I'm quite proud of it. (There were a number of TEM episodes that went up on YouTube a while back but the person who did those stepped away from Pedal Note Media and I hit pause on video for the last year!)

It is absolutely nothing fancy but I worked my tail off this week using the brand new beta version of the Descript app called Storyboard. I'm proud of how it turned out but hopefully within a few months it will be clear that TEM275 was me just getting started!

My Final Thought of the Week

I will again leave you with a quote this week:

“Perfectionism is a disease. Procrastination is a disease. ACTION is the cure.”

—Richie Norton

Take some action, even especially if it's small and watch what happens.

Here's to great ideas and to executing on them!

Cheers,
Andrew
The Entrepreneurial Musician

New To This Newsletter?

Subscribe here so you don't miss what I share next week.

A Quartet of Ideas - August 25, 2022

Quartet of the Week

1. YouTube Shorts Algorithm Explained in Q&A Format​
​
YouTube has an official Creator Insider channel which shares tips, strategies and data on everything related to the video platform that is the second largest search engine in the world.

Thanks to the rise of TikTok there has been a massive shift to shorter video content across a number of platforms. If you make video content, or are thinking of starting, you must check this out.

​
2. James Clear on the Daily Stoic Podcast​
​
This Ryan Holiday interview with James Clear is wonderful. He talks about saying no to things, being flexible in life, taking tiny and specific actions to move yourself forward and much more.

I highly recommend at least throwing this on in the background while you do things around the house. But I'll warn you that you might find yourself stopping what you're doing to take notes.

​
3. A Minimalist Calendar With a Twist​

This is a very cool tool. It is a super stripped down calendar that only shows you one week at a time and there isn't any hourly scheduling. It's kind of brilliant, actually.

I have laid out the big things I have to get done for the week and which day they will get done. It's surprising how effective this is at clearing away the clutter in my head.

​
4. The Best Quote I've Ever Heard About Being an Artist​
​
The latest from TEM Blog is titled "Just Create" and features the single best quote I've ever heard about being a creator of anything and it comes from the legend pictured above.

Every once in a while a certain collection of words frees you up and helps you to be your best self. And that's exactly what this quote did for me.

This Week's TEM Episode

​TEM274: The problem with simply working hard features wisdom from Roman Stoic philosopher Seneca (who would have made one hell of a music business coach!) as well as some insights from Simon Sinek on the concept of passion, but from an angle I'd never really heard before. And one that totally relates to being a musician with a portfolio career.
​

My Final Thought of the Week

I leave you with a quote:

"The purpose of today’s training is to defeat yesterday’s understanding." - Miyamoto Musashi

So happy training!
​

Cheers,
Andrew
​The Entrepreneurial Musician

New To This Newsletter?

​Subscribe here so you don't miss what I share next week.

A Quartet of Ideas - August 11, 2022

I am off to the Berkshires today for one final visit in 2022. Nothing recharges me creatively more than that place.

And without further ado, here are the ideas of the week...

Quartet of the Week

1. Write a Letter to the Future This site allows you to write a letter to yourself that you schedule to be delivered at a specific time in the future and it is a surprisingly personal experience.

This exercise immediately brought my priorities into better focus. Highly recommended!

2. How to Create a High Impact Press Page and Why Everyone Needs One This is a great breakdown of why everyone needs a press page and how to make a good one. It also serves as a list of things to collect as you go through your journey to help tell your story to others.

3. The 7 Types of Rest That Every Person Needs I enjoyed how this doctor laid out the different kinds of rest and explained how rest does not only equal sleep.

I fall short on some of these fronts and need to do better!

4. How to Batch Create Social Content Whenever I get overwhelmed, the first professional thing to go is my presence on social media. That's because it never has to get done so it is always a candidate for getting put off for later.

This infographic is a great blueprint for how to batch the creation of your social media content and stay on top of things.

This Week's TEM Episode

For only the second time this summer, there is no TEM episode this week! I'm actually quite proud that I've only missed two weeks. But I'm also trying to be okay with the fact that between getting out of town and my wife giving a presentation out of state that I just don't have the bandwidth this week. Being patient and kind to myself is something I'm working on!

Be on the lookout for TEM274 next week.

My Final Thought of the Week

I challenge each of you to do something this week that intentionally takes you out of your comfort zone.

Could be music/career related or something else entirely. Could be a small thing or something huge.

Here's to leaning into the things that make us grow!

Cheers, Andrew The Entrepreneurial Musician