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Every Tuesday, I'll share cool things I've discovered that week that I think you'll love, too.
The power of physical art-making đš
I've fallen in love with a typewriter.
(Let me explain.)
It all started last week when, during a craving for creative inspiration, my wife and I popped into a local thrift shop in Pasadena looking for some vintage decor.
We found an old pipe, an antique piano roll, some aged candle tapers, and - ...
by Zach Heyde â
Sep 17, 2024
creativity
When's the last time you REALLY listened? đ§
How long since you've done nothing but sit and listen to music for longer than five minutes?
đČ No phone or book in hand.
đ No car ride or public transport to keep you busy.
đ§č No cleaning the house, taking a walk, or getting work done.
Just simply sitting and listening.
Believe it or not, until ...
by Zach Heyde â
Sep 10, 2024
creativity
Stop looking for your niche (do this instead) đ
At some point in your composing career, someone will tell you:
"Get really good at just one thing, and you'll be able to stick out above the crowd."
But that usually leaves with us with more questions - not less.
How do we know what to specialize in?
What if specializing too early is limiting ...
by Zach Heyde â
Sep 03, 2024
finding work
marketing
Three tips for staying creatively motivated đȘ
â€ïžâđ„ Protect Your Passion for Composing
Â
Lots of composers are afraid to make music full-time.
Not because they donât love it enough - because theyâre afraid that doing it for a living would mean that theyâd fall OUT of love it it.
And I get it.
Iâve met many working composers wh...
by Zach Heyde â
Aug 27, 2024
health
motivation
How to promote your music organically đŁ
Last month, I heard from a reader asking about the best way to get his new album heard.
He wrote:
âI donât think my problem is the music itself but rather the marketing. I really feel that I have something pretty unique⊠whatâs the best way to promote a soundtrack album?â
I get questions like t...
by Zach Heyde â
Aug 20, 2024
marketing
Perfection is paralyzing you đ„¶
Letâs face it - most of us have a ton of cool ideas that weâre not acting on.
Sometimes, weâre overwhelmed at the sheer amount of energy itâll take to bring those ideas to life.
But as it turns out, whether theyâre sitting in your head or being brought to life, those ideas are using up energy eit...
by Zach Heyde â
Aug 13, 2024
creativity
Don't be afraid to change paths đŁïž
The YouTube algorithm has been throwing some pretty awesome stuff my way recently.
Last week, I got recommended an uncut, 40+ minute video from an ex-neurosurgeon sharing why he left a high-paying, stable job to be completely unemployed, living with his wife and dog in the mountains.
...
by Zach Heyde â
Aug 13, 2024
finding work
health
Shame isn't serving you đ
Iâve been listening to Tony Robbinâs acclaimed âPersonal Powerâ tapes during my weekly jogs.
Around 30:28, Tony asks a question thatâd stump most parents:
âHow long would you give your average baby to learn how to walk before youâd give up on them?â
Confused?
Exactly - most parents would never ...
by Zach Heyde â
Aug 13, 2024
health
motivation
Dial in your discomfort đĄïž
Â
If you want to get better at something, itâs going to be uncomfortable.
Why?
Because growth and comfort canât co-exist.
When you think of something you feel comfortable with, what are you really saying?
Youâre saying that youâre content with it. That your present skills or stat...
by Zach Heyde â
Aug 13, 2024
motivation
How to use fear to your advantage đ°
How often do you hold back on your dreams simply because youâre not sure if theyâre possible?
Maybe you feel like your goals are too ambitious, too risky, too improbable.
But I donât buy it.
I think what youâre really saying is that youâre scared.
You're afraid of:
đ„ What it would mean if you fa...
by Zach Heyde â
Aug 13, 2024
motivation
When you've tried everything (and nothing's working) đ€·
So - you've been trying to do composing professionally for a long time now.
(Maybe you've even dreamt of this career ever since you were a kid.)
You love the idea of...
đ„° Doing what you love for a living
đ€© Getting to work on cool projects
đ Getting to work with cool people
đ€ Get...
by Zach Heyde â
Aug 13, 2024
burnout
finding work
Nobody cares about you đŠ
Casey Neistat is probably best known for being one of the earliest adopters of âdaily vloggingâ.
(He held an impressive streak of 534 days in a row.)
And during that period of his content creation, he shared everything.
All of the imperfections of daily life were laid bare for th...
by Zach Heyde â
Aug 13, 2024
content creation