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MY⚡️Feature
featured piece of advice for creatives and creative leaders
Intake
Back in early December I was about to head out of town. I was in the basement the day before and found a couple of old cassette tapes, mix tapes in fact, that I had made my freshman year of high school. I was stoked to say the least!
If you’re close to my age maybe you remember when you could get 12 cassettes or 10 CDs for a penny from BMG or Columbia House and then you had to buy several more at their regular (extremely high) price. In fact, some of you reading this still owe Columbia House or BMG some money probably! Ha!
Anyway, I decided for my trip I was going to make a playlist of all these old songs and I listened to that playlist for the entire 12 hour round trip. It was fantastic. I was flooded with memories of people, places, meals, and more. But not only was it nostalgic, it was inspiring.
I started wondering what songs from this season of my life that I would think back about in 20 years. Maybe I’ll come across a playlist I made and feel just as nostalgic and inspired as I did on that trip.
However, the real thought all of this led to was the power of intake.
Sometimes I’m working so much on creative projects of my own that I just don’t intake enough creativity. Sometimes in the busyness of life I just don’t have time to read, listen to music, or watch a movie.
It can be easy to think of creative intake as indulgent leisure rather than an investment into your soul.
But experiencing creative things is vital to our own quality of life, imagination, and creative output. I personally require it for inspiration, renewal of my passion for creativity, and for the conduit it creates for me in community with other creatives.
So one thing I’m doing in the new year is trying to create rhythms of creative intake just like I would any other task or responsibility. I need to sit and listen to records, read books, meet up with my creative friends, watch movies, and more.
Stop thinking of creative intake as simply a leisure that you have to earn and start thinking about it as an investment into your own soul that will help you live and work with more joy and imagination.
Start creating some rhythms in your schedule and on your to-do list to just intake creative things that inspire you and feed you. It’s not a luxury and you don’t have to earn it. Prioritize it and enjoy it and watch the positive affect it has on your life and your work.
I’ve created a tool that could help with this. It’s called the MY⚡️FI CREATIVE CLARITY PLANNER and you can get it FREE by clicking the link.
MY⚡️Follows
Back Stage Culture
(@backstageculture) is an informative and sometimes hilarious look at life back stage from current, former, and soon to be roadies. They give great advice, write some very in-depth and helpful blogs, and create a host of other helpful content for those that want a glimpse of that glorious back stage life.
Culture Care Creative
(@culturecarecreative) is an non-profit organization that focuses on creating and nurturing positive and sustaining creative cultures where people can do their best work. Not only do they post inspiring things, but they host a wonderful podcast as well.
UMAW
(@weareumaw) The United Musicians and Allied Workers union does a lot of great things for working musicians and artists. They help inform and equip musicians and those in the industry as well as fight for their rights and establish legislation to ensure a better future for those working in the music industry.
MY⚡️Finds
cool stuff I found this week
Save the Cat
Currently, I’m working on music for a film with one of my best friends and he recommended a book to me from the “Save the Cat!” line of books. This one is on screen writing, but they have a load of other helpful and insightful books in the series as well. GET IT HERE!
Electric Lighters
I got this amazing electric lighter in my stocking this Christmas and I am loving it for lighting candles in the studio. It’s got a flexible neck and it’s USB rechargeable. It never runs out of fluid or batteries which makes it perfect for the studio or office! GET ONE HERE!
MY⚡️Favorites
some of my favorite sights, sounds, and reads
Vitamins
I know this could be kind of lame, but I discovered the most basic men’s vitamin and it’s made such a difference in my energy during the day and my ability to focus. They make a version for the ladies as well and if that sort of thing interests you… GET THEM HERE!
FADR
FADR is a great AI tool for musicians and producers that is the best in the business at separating tracks. You can separate tracks of any song into downloadable stems and on the paid version of the app you can separate all the drums and individual instruments. It’s a great tooI for learning songs and sampling. CHECK IT OUT HERE!
MY⚡️FI Podcast
a podcast about the journey of creativity
Ep. 042 :: Manny Muniz
On this episode of MYFI I’m joined by my friend Manny Muniz. Manny is a drummer and entrepreneur based in Chattanooga, TN who created and runs Live Label Hair, an incredible salon, brand, and culture. Jump in the conversation as we talk about creativity and entrepreneurship, what matters in a creative culture, and the connection of music and style.
MY⚡️FI Blog
monthly blog for creatives and creative leaders
Simple Organization
To kick off the new year I think all of us would like to be a little more organized. This month on the blog I share some tools and practices that I use on a daily basis to stay on top of my schedule, tasks, and projects. Check out the blog by clicking here.