What Are The Prerequisites?

If you have a specific goal in mind, a landing place, a climactic moment…who has had that moment before and what happened just before it? And then before that…

You play the theater, then the theater for multiple nights, and then the arena.

Before you get interviewed on the big podcasts you have to have their contact info…and have to incite excitement in them BEFORE you email.

You must first have 999 streams before you have 1000.

Before you release a song you have to decide that the song is finished.

Before the bus comes the sprinter, before the sprinter, the van and trailer, and carpool before that.

You can’t know exactly how you’re going to get to where you want to end up, but it’s a reasonable strategy to consider what might happen just before.

»» With a little luck you’ll get to leap frog a step or two but luck isn’t great to build a plan around.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

ANY SIZE

I was driving and saw a fast food billboard advertising a slushy…$2.19 ANY SIZE!!!

Why wouldn’t everyone just buy the biggest size?…But more importantly…what’s on offer?

Satisfaction. That’s what’s on offer. For $2.19 you’ll be satisfied.

So why not get the biggest size, won’t that provide the most satisfaction?

Maybe they just ate.

Maybe it’s for their kid.

Maybe they’re watching their sugar.

Maybe they don’t like too much of a cold dessert.

Maybe they feel guilty for getting the big one.

Maybe they think getting the big one is taking advantage of the deal.

Satisfaction comes in many flavors and variations. But we all want it. And $2.19 seems like a great deal to have a few moments of it.

»» It turns out I’m satisfied being the guy who drives past the exit but makes a note to write about it someday.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

A Bunch Of Idiots

The bad guys always have a lot of henchmen.

I’m thinking Shredder’s foot soldiers or Captain Hook’s pirates.

There’s a lot of them and they’re always a bunch of idiots.

And then on the good guy team there’s one or two or three all-stars who destroy the competition.

The bad guy team is fun because there’s lots of people and not much is expected of anyone.

But the good guys always win. And that’s the best fun.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

The McDonald's Cashier

If you run into the cashier who took your order at McDonald’s yesterday…the cashier isn’t going to remember you.

Likewise…if the fan from the front row last night sees you at the grocery store, you’re not going to remember the fan.

The cashier sees a lot of customers in a day….you only see one cashier.

The fan only sees one band in a day. You see a lot of fans.

It’s easier to remember specific people, places, and things when they’re an exception to your context and immediate surroundings.

A high schooler at a toy store.

A polo at a goth show.

A fur jacket at the construction site.

A Prius at a drag race.

A mohawk at a wedding.

A snowsuit in Applebees.

A bass player at the investment meeting.

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What Good Is A Key...

If you never know what it opens?

If you’re good at being seven feet tall and have decent coordination…it’s clear which path you will probably unlock.

But what if you’re creative and enjoy numbers?

Or are a good listener and are extroverted?

Or are highly detailed and a good teacher?

Our keys (skills, talent, traits, interests) are best utilized when we try enough things to figure out some doors that they’ll open.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

Keeping The Vibe

It’s a lot easier to keep a good vibe going than it is to start one from scratch.

Whether it’s a show or an interview or a dinner date…if you establish a good vibe, do you have the material and presence to keep it going?

(Or at least not kill the vibe?)

If you have a song that slays…extend it, or transition into the next song without stopping the music, or have some audience interaction ready, or have the next song be even better or faster or groove harder or be more whatever.

Establishing the good vibe can be tough and a little more magic than science…but keeping it going can be a bit more strategic and calculated.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple