|
August DIY Newsletter
Welcome to the Michael J. Media DIY Newsletter. Recently I
decided to start something new, so instead of giving you a tip, I have
enlisted the help of some of my music industry colleagues. Today's
newsletter has two very interesting human nature pieces thanks to artist
Gavin Mikhail and CD Baby founder Derek Sivers, and something of my own
about working from home. Thanks to Gavin and Derek for their
contributions!
Don't Let
Time Pass You By
By Gavin Mikhail
So, a few weeks ago, I visited my hometown with my daughter. We went to
see my parents, just me and her... It's been a long time since we made
the trip, and I'm so glad we did. We had an amazing time, and I was
reminded of just what a cool little person she is. Anyway, aside
from spending quality time with her, as so often happens when I return
home, I found myself thinking back on my childhood and reliving old
memories. That is probably not surprising given the fact that I
typically sleep in my old room, or that (let's be honest here) my
parents have changed pretty much ZERO about their house since the
mid-70's... orange vinyl couch and all.
But, regardless, I spent some time thinking back on things. And,
through that process, one idea in particular really hit home. That
life, for each and every one of us, is about our own reality. It's
about the infinitesimal details only we know about. Those little things
only we've lived, and how they shape our perception of the world. For
me, it's about skipping the last step on the stairs in high school to
avoid the creak that nailed me as having come home after curfew. It's
about the drain in our basement sink that, having broke, was rigged open
for ten years with the bottle opener I bought on a study trip to Rome my
sophomore year of college. It's about the two inches my mom expanded
the ivy in our backyard every year since I was a kid, bringing it ever
closer to the edge of our patio, to where now, 25 years later, there is
no grass left. Only ivy.
It's the way we use our formal dining area as nothing more than a
storage room. The way the chime clocks all sound the hour at
ever-so-slightly different times. The way the sun hits the bay windows
in the kitchen and strikes the linoleum just the right way--that in an
otherwise cold, stark room, it feels warm. It feels right. It feels
like home.
As my wife has so often pointed out to me, I'm a romantic. I focus on
the passage of time, the beauty of life, and the heightened emotions
that come with... everything. I can't stand to imagine that I may reach
the end of my life and think, for one instant that I lived a life
not-lived. And, believe me, that life approach has its ups and downs
for sure. Sometimes, I miss the actual event for living the perceived
one, and oftentimes I live for the future. I live for the day I'll be
lying on my deathbed analyzing who I was and what I did instead of just,
well, living. My wife, in her infinite wisdom, knows how to live in the
present. She thinks about the future, most definitely, but wisely
focuses most of her efforts on the here and now. She thinks, "What are
we doing with the kids today?" Not, as I often do, "How will they see
us when we're 80?" But, seriously, I think what matters here is that
we, as people, do both -- that we recognize the need to live in the
present, but keep one corner of one eye on the future. Because that
corner reminds us who we are. And that the years pass quickly, so we'd
better be enjoying our lives.
So, here's my question for you... are you? And, if not... could you?
To subscribe to Gavin Mikhail's newsletter and hear his music, please
visit
www.gavinmikhail.com/signup.htm
Listen
to my music, and let me know what I should do
by Derek Sivers
I answered 847 emails in 12 hours today. That's an average of 51
seconds each. But the single most common request I got was, "Take a
listen to my music and let me know what I should do."
Those emails took the longest. I never know what to do with that
request. Most of the time, the music is good. Not the best or worst
thing you've ever heard, but good.
So I could critique someone's songwriting, vocals, or production,
but then what? Would they actually go change their music just to
meet my tastes? That'd be unwise. I'm just a musician that listens
mostly to traditional Persian music and trip-hop. I built a website
that musicians use, but I was never known for my taste in music.
The music itself usually doesn't make it clear what someone should
do. What if I was in a different industry and people said: "I'm
trying to find a spouse. Look at my photo and tell me what I should
do."
or:
"I want to be a millionaire. Look at my bank account and tell me
what I should do."
The real answer is "it depends..."
What are your goals? Why are you making music?
What have you done so far? What's worked? What hasn't?
What is your reaction to criticism or setbacks?
Are you future-focused or present-focused?
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
What are your habits? Are you growing or coasting?
How do you measure success? Fame? Money? Emotional response?
What's your timeline? 1 year? 3 years? 30 years?
... and 50 other questions that would make this article too long.
It'd take many hours of conversation to get enough information to
responsibly tell someone what to do. But since I only have a few
minutes, I point people to the advice I've already written and the
books that have inspired me, then hope they know how it will apply
to their unique situation. I always feel a little disappointed that
I can't be more helpful, but that's what coaching is about, so I
better get that going soon.
© 2009 Derek Sivers. Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license.
For more information or to subscribe to Derek's newsletter, please
visit
http://sivers.org/letmeknow2
Working From Home and
Productivity
By Mike Farley
I have been working from home since 2003, and I love it. There is no
commute, and since I also have my own business, I set my own hours
(which are probably longer than if I still had a corporate gig). But
the flexibility and ability to go from bed to desk is pretty sweet. Of
course, you have to be incredibly disciplined and try and limit
distractions as much as humanly possible. And since many of you find
yourself working from home these days either by choice or not by choice,
here are a few tips that might help you get more accomplished:
1. Have an office with a door that shuts to the outside world. I don't
mind the occasional interruption and often leave the door open, but my
family knows to let me work in peace when the door is shut.
2. Let your clients and colleagues know the general hours you work.
It's not that I won't take a call after hours, but I'd prefer to take
non-emergency calls between regular business hours.
3. Just because you work from home, you should work like everyone is
watching you....a job is a job and professionalism matters whether you
have a supervisor, or your clients are your supervisors. That doesn't
mean you can't check your Facebook page, just don't spend more time
there than is reasonable.
4. If possible, have a separate phone line for home and for business.
5. Get out if you can for the occasional meeting or lunch, or just go
for a walk at lunchtime. It does you a lot of good to get some fresh
air and change your scenery to give your mind and senses a break.
I hope this helps.....and I hope you found all of this month's articles
informative as well. Send me a message and let me know what you think.
Thanks for listening!
Mike Farley
Michael J. Media Group
Follow Michael J.
Media on
Twitter!
If you would like to receive
these monthly tips through email, please email mike [at]
michaeljmedia.com to be added to the list.
Thank you!
|
