The Vs. Studio Blog

“An iceberg, sir.” -First Officer William Murdoch’s reply to Captain E.J. Smith’s question as to what the Titanic just struck

“The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.” -Marcus Aurelius

The greater the thing you’re trying to do or make, the greater the obstacles. They are real and should not be ignored. (Unless you want to go the Ostrich route.)

For any project, write down all the obstacles (You can also call them “limiting factors” if that helps you brainstorm. Examples might include time, job, money, health, etc…). Once you’ve exhausted your list and gotten granular, ask yourself three questions.

One…Can I overcome them?

Two…Do I want to try?

Three…Is NOW the best time for me to try? You might have legitimate priorities and commitments that will interfere with your ability to try. You’re not set up for success, and therefore will be miserable in the attempt.

If the answer to any of the above questions is no, then put this passion project on a back burner list. Save it for another time. Revisit in three, six, twelve months.

If you have a yes on all three questions (and you have a strong “why”), then you can start thinking about how to not just overcome the obstacles, but how they can become the way forward.

P.S. – “If it were easy, everyone would do it.”

Let the good times roll
Let them knock you around
Let the good times roll
Let them make you a clown
Let them leave you up in the air
Let them brush your rock and roll hair
Let the good times roll
Let the good times roll-oll
Let the (good times roll) -The Cars, “Let The Good Times Roll”

Good times, bad times
You know I’ve had my share -Led Zeppelin, “Good Times, Bad Times”

Hey
It’s your tomorrow
(Right now)
C’mon, it’s everything
(Right now)
Catch that magic moment, and do it right, right now
Oh, right now
It’s what’s happening
Right here and now
Right now
It’s right now
Oh
Tell me, what are you waiting for?
Turn this thing around -Van Halen, “Right Now”

Think I’m going down to the well tonight
And I’m going to drink ’til I get my fill
And I hope when I get old I don’t sit around thinking about it
But I probably will
Yeah, just sitting back trying to recapture
A little of the glory of, well time slips away
And leaves you with nothing mister but
Boring stories of

Glory days yeah they’ll pass you by
Glory days in the wink of a young girl’s eye
Glory days, glory days -Bruce Springsteen, “Glory Days”

Being present means letting go of everything so that you can focus on this one moment. Right here. Right now.

Intuitively it makes sense to wanna let go of the bad. Who wants to revisit bad memories?

But to be present, you gotta be willing to let go of the good times too. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck in nostalgia and can’t grow.

It’s a new day. It’s a new moment. Begin again.

“To love is to will the good of the other.” -Saint Thomas Aquinas

The more we realize our INTERdependency, just how connected we all are, the more we’ll think, say and do the right things.

Take good care of yourselves and others.

Cuz we’re all we got.

First I had they ear. Now I have they hearts. -Kanye West, “Never Let Me Down”

“This isn’t champagne anymore. We went through the champagne a long time ago. This is serious stuff. The days of champagne are long gone.” -Sam Shepard, True West

Definition of Resonance (noun):

–the quality in a sound of being deep, full, and reverberating.

–the ability to evoke or suggest images, memories, and emotions.

Advice to any artists (especially writers)…

Aim for resonance over relevance.

Relevance is out of your control. The world is different today than it was yesterday. (And it moves pretty freakin’ fast.)

But if your art resonates…it’ll be timeless. (Just like a great Sam Shepard play.)

How much better would your life be if you took just ten percent of the advice you give to others?

And when seeking advice, do you really want a solution or just empathy for your existing situation?

Is that what you want? You sure? You absolutely sure?

Or do you just want to be wanted?

What would you do or create if no one other than you, cared about the result?

Lean into that. That’s where your gold is.

Shot through the heart
And you’re to blame
You give love a bad name (bad name) -Bon Jovi “You Give Love A Bad Name”

I am trying to break your heart
I am trying to break your heart
But still I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t easy
I am trying to break your heart -Wilco “I Am Trying To Break Your Heart”

Strive to make your art feel like…

An arrow to the heart.

A punch to the gut.

A knock upside the head.

If your art delivers one of these, you’ve done a great job.

If your art delivers all three, you’ve got a stone cold classic on your hands.

Alexander The Great was once asked how we was able to conquer the world, and at such a young age.

His response? Two words.

“Not wavering.”

Once you decide, you’ve decided. You’re all in. No turning back. No second thoughts. No wavering.

“You will never stop seeking validation from others. It’s impossible. Instead, seek validation for better reasons and from better people.” -Mark Manson

Institutional validation is a powerful force. It can make or break passion projects, change people’s lives (especially financially) and do wonders for self esteem.

Unless…

You decide you don’t need validation, approval or permission.

Greenlight yourself. Be the cavalry. Go make your art.

And while you’re at it, help others do the same.

P.S. – Speaking of placebos, this recent Seth Godin post.

We gotta make a change
It’s time for us as a people to start makin’ some changes
Let’s change the way we eat
Let’s change the way we live
And let’s change the way we treat each other
You see, the old way wasn’t workin‘ -“Changes”, song by Tupac Shakur

“Winners quit all the time. They just quit the right stuff at the right time.”  -“The Dip”, book by Seth Godin

Whenever I want you, all I have to do is
Dream, dream, dream, dream
Dream, dream, dream, dream -“All I Have To Do Is Dream”, song by The Everly Brothers

Sometimes it takes just as much discipline and courage if not more, to quit something, then to keep going.

Don’t let sunk costs sink you.

Old way not workin’?

Assuming you’ve done all you could and the pursuit no longer brings you any kind of joy, it’s time to dream a new dream.

P.S. – And when you dream that new dream?…Dream way more about the process, then the result.