you don’t have to argue about it.
When the product is good you get to rest in that. You don’t need to be drawn into the other person’s game. You don’t need to fight for position or try to prove anything.
The product is good. Here it is. Here’s the problem it solves. Do you want this?
By now know it’s never going to be perfect…so perfect isn’t the actual goal.
But we say things like ‘chasing the perfect melody’ with the wisdom that the goal is the chasing part not the perfect part. We dangle the perfect part out there just for fun. Knowing we won’t get there. Almost hoping we won’t get there because it’s the chasing is in our blood.
Before a performer is ever told they’re a great performer, they already are.
Being told doesn’t bestow the designation. Being told might help as a reminder, but the truth is there regardless.
So often the affirmation we receive is merely a byproduct of what’s been true for a long time.
When someone is specialized not only are they good at the function of their craft, but their superior skills are the over flow of years of experience, care, learning, refining, and endless problem solving within the field. They’ve cared about this for a long time.
Specialized people help us feel extra good about the output or performance. Not only is the performance great, but we have added confidence that no matter what happens the performance will continue to operate at a high level.
Someone who is simply talented but not specialized might come in and do the same job. But the deep waters aren’t there. They haven’t cared for this specific thing for years of their life. As long as things are going pretty good, they’re pretty good. But when it gets shaky, there’s not as much of a foundation to anchor to.
We can’t be specialized in everything and it pays to be talented at least a few things. Let’s be sure to make our promises accordingly.
First Monday of the month, new Hum Love playlist on Spotify and Apple. If you haven't listened to new music in a while, give this a shot. It might not end up being your favorite but it might be nice company on the way to the grocery store.
The mediocre songs sound so much like the good ones. A lot of the same instruments, similar structures, similar vocal ranges, similar mixing…but the good ones are just…better.
For every John Mayer there’s a million acoustic dudes whose songs sound almost exactly like his…but it’s stunning how quickly we recognize the difference…the razor thin but clearly discernible inferiority.
And that’s the risk most artists take. You’re probably not going to invent a new instrument, or a new sound, or a new musical scale. You’re going to end up using most of the same puzzle pieces as everyone else…but your songs just have to be better.
Artists try so hard and for so long to get everyone to quiet down so they can be heard.
But then when everyone does quiet down it gets uncomfortable because the artist doesn’t have much practice at this step…having only practiced shushing the crowd.
An artist’s job is not to get heard or be heard…it’s to play something worth hearing.