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...
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.
2. Seven Smart Phrases People With High Emotional Intelligence Keep Saying Over and Over, and Why (5-min read)
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.
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."
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!
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!
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
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!
Cheers,
Andrew
The Entrepreneurial Musician
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