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MY⚡️Feature
featured piece of advice for creatives and creative leaders
Legacy
I can’t believe we’re almost 2 months into 2024 already. I hope you’re still moving forward on all the things you set out to accomplish this year, but no worries if you aren’t. Just start over. That isn’t even what I want to talk about today, but it feels like a good thing to mention.
I set some huge goals for myself this year and so far things are going well. I’ve been sticking to it and I’m really shocked at how far I’ve come. In terms of work, the main goals I set this year were around songwriting, producing, and releasing a solo album (which should be out in September).
I try really hard to set goals around things that I can control, but there are always things I hope to accomplish that I have less control over. There are awards I want to win and people I want to work with among other things. Stuff that can never be taken away and stories I will tell for the rest of my life.
Thinking about my goals and my future always brings up the idea of “legacy” in my mind. What do I want to leave behind as a creative person and even more importantly as a husband, a father, and a fellow human being. I’m going to expound more on this in a blog in March, but for now I just want to talk a little about how I view legacy in an effort to encourage you.
I believe that the things I accomplish in life are important, but it’s less about the what I accomplish and more about the character that it took to accomplish it. I realized something about 2 years ago and summed it up in a phrase that I hold on to every day.
Legacy is less about what I accomplish and more about what those closest to me know to be most true about me.
My real legacy is largely and most importantly who I am known to be by the people in my life that I am closest to. For me, it’s my wife, my kids, my immediately family, and my closest friends. The most impactful part of what I do and the impact I make on the world comes more from who I am than what I accomplish.
Years ago, I picked 3 values that I have tried to live by each day and that I hope impact the world around me. These values have also helped me in reaching the goals that I set for myself creatively and in all aspects of my work. They help me keep “who I am” before “what I do”, but they also help me accomplish “what I do” through “who I am”. I certainly hope this is making sense…
These values (humility, integrity, and excellence) have defined my life and I hope that those closest to me would say that those things are true about me. Sure, I have my prideful and insecure moments, but I strive to be humble. I’ve lied and exaggerated like everybody else, but I try to have integrity and be truthful every day. I have also been apathetic at times, but genuinely work as hard as I can at everything I do. I do this first, because of the type of person I want to be and secondly because I believe these values will help me accomplish the goals I have in front of me.
I hope this encourages you today to discover who you want to be and then build all your dreams, goals, and ambitions on that foundation.
Never sacrifice who you are for something you want to accomplish. Instead accomplish everything you can through always holding true to who you are… that is real legacy.
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
Whitney Hanson
(@whitneyhansonpoetry) is an incredible poet who posts some of the most genuine, heart-felt, and inspiring poetry I have heard and read in years. She has authored several books of poetry that are available on her website and her vulnerable poetry posts are beautiful and powerful.
Bob Gurr
(@bobgurrofficial) is one of the original imagineers from Walt Disney. He has designed more rides and attractions than I can mention and even in his 90s he continues to share his insights and his adventures all over the world.
The Sound Shop Co
(@thesoundshopco) is a fresh company that sells presets from Strymon products, Omnisphere, Line 6, and more. Some of these presets are designed by artists that you know and love. If you’re a musician, give them a follow and check out all the products they have to offer.
MY⚡️Finds
cool stuff I found this week
Velcro Cable Ties
I use these velcro cables ties on all my equipment cables and I have for years. They are one of those small pieces of gear that I don’t want to ever take for granted. They’re tough and they’re cheap. Grab some here!
Record Cleaning Kit
I bought this recording cleaning kit a while back and I can’t recall a day listening to records that it hasn’t come in handy. It comes with cleaner, a brush, and a couple of others things. It’s also small enough to hide somewhere convenient. Get it here!
MY⚡️Favorites
some of my favorite sights, sounds, and reads
Sticker App
If you’re an entrepreneur, band, or artist and you need to print stickers then check this place out. I’ve tried a few and they always deliver the best product, at the best price with the fastest shipping. www.stickerapp.com
In-Tune Guitar Picks
In-Tune is a fantastic company that prints custom guitar picks in a variety of shapes and thicknesses. Their prices are fantastic and I couldn’t believe how quickly I got mine. If you need custom picks, hit them up! www.intunegp.com
MY⚡️FI Podcast
a podcast about the journey of creativity
Ep. 044 :: Dan Hannon
On this episode of MYFI we welcome my friend Dan Hannon. Dan is an incredible music producer who has worked with artists like Manchester Orchestra, Paris Jackson, Julien Baker, Issues, and more. Jump in the conversation as we talk about some of the incredible projects he’s worked on, how he got into producing records in the first place, and just how incredible the drums are on the Manchester Orchestra record, “Simple Math”.
MY⚡️FI Blog
monthly blog for creatives and creative leaders
Finding Inspiration
This month on the blog I talk about some simple ways to find inspiration and to create some rhythms that help you to be brilliant at a moments notice. Check out the blog by clicking here.