Do you believe in magic? (Do you believe like I believe?) Do you believe, believer? (Do you believe like I believe?) Do you believe in magic? (Do you believe like I believe?) Do you believe in magic? -song, “Do You Believe In Magic?” by The Lovin’ Spoonful
It doesn’t matter if what you just saw was real or a trick.
What matters is all the hard work, devotion to craft, and deliberate practice that went into it. What enabled the artist to create something that caused you to believe, even if for a split second, that what you just saw, was magic.
The work, the process, everything that went into this exact moment…that’s the real magic.
… If they say Why (why?), why (why?) Tell ’em that it’s human nature -Michael Jackson, song “Human Nature”
When something shitty happens (assuming it wasn’t in your control), it’s pointless to ask “Why?” It’s a waste of time and just leads to wallowing.
When you’re excited about something and are thinking about doing it, best ask yourself “Why?” a bunch of times. Drill down to get at the real reason you wanna do it. That way, you can be one thousand percent sure that when the inevitable shit hits the fan and times get tough, you don’t need to ask “Why?” You know it’s all part of the process. Instead, you adapt. You improvise. You move forward.
“It’s what you do, not what you say. It’s puppetry, not preaching.” -Peter Schumann
“We bring the starter for the dough everywhere we perform.” -Peter Schumann
There’s been a lot of recent press centered around theaters closing, cancelling seasons and/or laying off staff. A lot of bad news. Times are tough. No doubt, making art is hard. And as a commercial enterprise, it’s really, really freaking hard. Always will be.
But that shouldn’t stop you from making your art.
Because when you’re lit up by something, so much so that you just have to make it and share it with the world, nothing will stop you. And we’re all the beneficiaries of your passion, your striving for excellence, and your generosity of spirit.
We all get a seat at the table and a taste of your bread.
“Make me a channel of your peace.” -Sant Francis Of Assisi
channel (noun) 1 a : the bed where a natural stream of water runs b : the deeper part of a river, harbor, or strait c : a strait or narrow sea between two close landmasses d : a means of communication or expression e : a way, course, or direction of thought or action f : a band of frequencies of sufficient width for a single radio or television communication
reservoir (noun) 1 : a place where something is kept in store: such as a : an artificial lake where water is collected and kept in quantity for use b : a part of an apparatus in which a liquid is held c : supply , store
Channels and reservoirs both serve a purpose and have tremendous value. Just think of agriculture as one example.
But when it comes to making art or making change in the world, you want to be a channel, not a reservoir.
It’s about sharing, expressing, connecting, bringing people together.
Not storing or hoarding or keeping to yourself.
Measure your value in how much you help others. Not how much you help yourself.
“It’s faith in something and enthusiasm for something that makes a life worth living.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes
“Fires can’t be made with dead embers, nor can enthusiasm be stirred by spiritless men. Enthusiasm in our daily work lightens effort and turns even labor into pleasant tasks.” – James Baldwin
“If you have passion, there is no need for excuses because your enthusiasm will trump any negative reasoning you might come up with. Enthusiasm makes excuses a nonissue.” – Wayne Dyer
“Back of every creation, supporting it like an arch, is faith. Enthusiasm is nothing: it comes and goes. But if one believes, then miracles occur.” – Henry Miller
“None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.” – Henry David Thoreau
“Enthusiasm is the most important thing in life.” – Tennessee Williams
c. 1600, from French enthousiasme (16c.) and directly from Late Latin enthusiasmus, from Greek enthousiasmos “divine inspiration, enthusiasm (produced by certain kinds of music, etc.),” from enthousiazein “be inspired or possessed by a god, be rapt, be in ecstasy,” from entheos “divinely inspired, possessed by a god,” from en “in”
Enthusiasm is…
…the greatest asset in the world.
…faith in action.
…the love for whatever we are doing, at this moment.
“If more information was the answer, then we’d all be billionaires with perfect abs.” -Derek Sivers
“We use ‘information gathering’ as a means of delaying action. Because we’re doing something, it feels like movement, but it’s just procrastination in disguise. Information threatens to turn us into a rocking horse: Always moving, never going anywhere. We need to find a balance between information and action. When in doubt, it’s safe to assume the balance is found with more action.” -Sahil Bloom
“ ‘Did you ever feel,’ he asked, ‘as though you had something inside you that was only waiting for you to give it a chance to come out? Some sort of extra power that you aren’t using—you know, like all the water that goes down the falls instead of through the turbines?’ ” – Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
You don’t have an information problem. You have all the information you need, and then some.
You might have a discipline, focus or motivation problem.
The cure for any of these?
Set a date.
Get started.
Make it happen.
Once you commit and go, you’ll be shocked at how quickly all these “problems” vanish.
“The secret to happiness is work worth doing.” -Gretchen Rubin
“The question you should be asking isn’t, “What do I want” but “What would excite me?” -Tim Ferriss
“All that any of us need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiastic about.” -Og Mandino, The Greatest Salesman In The World, Part II
Not “what do I want?” That leads to thoughts of scarcity (not helpful) or consumption (not fulfilling).
The question to ask yourself (and continuously ask)…
“What would get me really f’ing excited to do or work on?” (Regardless of outcome, money, recognition, etc.)
Remember the formula…
Meaningful Work + Meaningful Community = Peak Artistic Happiness.
What small action can you take today to find work worth doing and community worth sharing it with?
And if you’re stuck on the answer, then how ’bout just bringing more meaning to the work you’re already doing and the community you’re already a part of?
“The first man to compare the cheeks of a young woman to a rose was obviously a poet; the first to repeat it was possibly an idiot.” -Salvador Dali
“I will continue to generate stupid, silly stories, even after technology has made me completely obsolete. If there’s one edge I have over AI, it’s this irrationality, this need to create something that has no right or reason to exist. I know it makes no sense. I’m starting to think it might also be what makes me human.” -Simon Rich
Do you see what I see? Do you see what I see? -lyrics from the song “Do You Hear What I Hear” by Bing Crosby
The artist and the leader share something in common: they both “see it” before anyone else does. They’re often ahead of their time.
The price they pay for this gift is loneliness and dissatisfaction because no one else sees what they see.
If this is you and you “see it”, stop asking and waiting if others see it too.
They don’t.
It’s up to you.
Go make it.
Then, they’ll see it.
Or they won’t.
But at least you acted on your vision. You can live in peace knowing that.
When it comes to making your art, starting a business or any kind of passion project…if someone can can talk you out of it, then you’re not ready to do it.
Knowing this, you may want to closely guard what you’re cooking up until it’s fully baked.
“The ability to focus the mind is the ability to not let it run away with you. It does not mean not to think—but to be the one who directs your own thinking…Focus is not achieved by staring hard at something. It is not trying to force focus, nor does it mean thinking hard about something. Natural focus occurs when the mind is interested. When this occurs, the mind is drawn irresistibly toward the object (or subject) of interest. It is effortless and relaxed, not tense and overly controlled…Fighting the mind does not work. What works best is learning to focus it.” -W. Timothy Gallwey, The Inner Game of Tennis: The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance
Instead of trying to be more confident, just be more focused.
Unlike confidence which is elusive, focus is something actable, something you can achieve.
And when you do, confidence gets thrown in for free.
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