So you’ve started something new. You’ve broken down doors that were keeping you from starting. Now you have to navigate the world of Continuing.
The three main barriers in this stage are:
1. How to stay motivated
2. How to stay focused
3. What to do when you get derailed
But what’s my motivation?
My motivation on any given day looks like a rollercoaster. One day I’m super tired, the next my neck is hurting worse than usual, another day and loved ones seem to be particularly hangry. It’s up and down and ultimately unreliable.
Luckily I don’t rely on motivation to keep me going. I lean on habits and daily practices.
When you start the day knowing you’ve got something to do, no matter what, it’s much easier to get it done—even if you don’t feel like it. Once you get a habit up and running, you expect it.
It’s helpful to expect and plan for rainy days too. Most days won’t be perfect, but that doesn’t mean you can’t spend time on your creative pursuits. Even if you occasionally have to get up super early, or stay up a little later, it’s much better than the alternative—not following your dreams. Feeling stuck. Wishing you would do something.
Focus
Staying focused is similar to staying motivated. If you’re not staying focused, then there’s probably a good reason for it. Remember your goals. Visualize why you are doing what you are doing.
I notice I start getting more distracted when I try to do too many things at the same time. When I’m reading 40 books, taking 15 online courses, working on 5 business ideas and 10 creative projects, I’ve obviously taken on too much at once.
Trying to do everything at once is the same as doing nothing.
0One thing at a time.
The key to continuing is **consistency**.
When you look at the work of people you admire, no matter the discipline, one thing that stands out most is their continuous dedication to their craft. You can see it in their output. It’s easy to mistake someone’s huge library of work as instantaneous—as if they pulled a couple of all nighter’s over the weekend and made everything you see. But really what you’re seeing when you’re looking at someone’s successes is little pieces and individual projects added up over time.
It’s like this plus symbol: +
For each creative project we do, we start to accumulate another +
Before you know it, you’ve got years of work behind you. Sure some of it you’d rather set on fire than showcase them, but even the flubs and bad work helped push you to a more meaningful and experienced place.
Success stems from consistency. Often we fail because we don’t stick to it long enough to succeed. Not that we have to permanently stick to every habit we try—just the ones we love and find valuable.
Even when we fail and get derailed, as long as we get back up in the saddle we have a chance of success.
If creativity was like a flight from NYC to Japan, then the barriers we may face before we start our journey are like a preflight check, and the barriers we encounter while we are starting are like roadblocks in our path as roll down the tarmac and pick up speed.
After you’ve made it past the preflight check, now you must navigate the potential obstacles while starting.
The two biggest are:
Sucking.
Expecting it to be easy.
1. Newbie
I tend to pick up things pretty easily (brag). I chalk it up to patience and steady attention.
But not always, not everything. It took me a while before I grokked programming, for example. There were just certain aspects I just couldn’t comprehend until I stuck with it for a while.
We all naturally gravitate towards things we are good at. Nobody likes to bad at something.
When we try something new, we’re more likely than not going to suck at it at first. This is a natural part of learning. Sucking at something doesn’t mean you aren’t passionate about it. It takes time to get good, and even more, time to get really good at something.
So if you suck in the beginning, know that you’re in good company. A naturally talented person may be great at tennis, but be terrible at public speaking. Remember that the next time you get Aced on the court
2. Hard work
Sucking and hard work are why the majority of people who resolve to lose weight in January, end up quitting before the month ends.
It’s not a lack of desire. It’s a false expectations that it will be easy.
Creativity isn’t easy. It’s fun, but it’s still work. Someone has to sit down at the desk and draw. Someone has to pick up the guitar and practice. If not you then who?
It takes a lot of work to be a high-output creative. It takes dedication to pursue something new.
But if we go in with the right mindset and expectations, we can be ready for the work we have to do.
The best solution I know for Starting barriers is—
Commit. If this is something you really want to do, then vow to yourself to stick to it no matter what.
Even if you get sick, or you’re too busy, or if it’s Sunday, or if you don’t feel like it.
Many things can limit us and distract us from creativity and doing what we dream of doing.
There are barriers at every stage:
Before
Starting
Continuing
Finishing
After
(There’s also a “Meanwhile…” stage. This is a concurrent stage that happening simultaneously with all the other stages. It’s everything that’s happening in the world and your life in addition to where you’re currently at.)
People handle different stages differently. Some of us can breeze through Starting, but have trouble with Continuing.
Someone, for example, who starts on a lot of great ideas, but never finishes anything because they’ve enthusiastically picked up a new idea, just as quickly as they’ve enthusiastically dropped the last one.
But if we want to be artists and entrepreneurs and musicians and designer—creators then we need to learn how to navigate every stage and learn to solve our current barriers to get where we want to go and create at the highest capability.
Once we do that—the doors are open. Or, more accurately, we discover that the doors were open the whole time but we were able to see it that way yet. Difficultly becomes Challenge. Failure becomes Wisdom. Problems become opportunities.
Too much stress can blind us from possibilities. It makes us falsely believe that we have no options but the crappy one in front of us.
Stress tells us we don’t have a choice.
But that’s not true. There are always options, another way of getting past, through, around something. The problem is you aren’t giving yourself any other options.
What you need to do is break the loop and get out of your normal environment. Go for a walk alone. Go sit on a park bench. Journal. Think things through slowly. Ask a friend for advice. Do something out of the ordinary.
The goal is to put yourself in a different environment so that you can take a step back from stress and see it more clearly.
Another good strategy is to imagine what you’re going through as if it wasn’t you but a family member or friend. What advice would you give to a friend if they were dealing with what you are facing?
“I really try to put myself in uncomfortable situations. Complacency is my enemy.”
Trent Reznor
Complacency can creep up on you at any stage of your journey. Beginning, middle, and end.
When you think you have nothing and feel hopeless—you can become complacent to the life you dislike but tolerate.
When you are finally starting to make progress—but then you let the fear of failure (or success) lead you to procrastinate and avoid what you need/want to do.
When you’ve succeeded beyond your wildest dreams (or your family has succeeded before you, and has accrued wealth and/or status) — you can become complacent to a life of luxury. Your immediate needs are fulfilled, but you can’t help but wonder, “Is this all there is?”
Complacency also lives somewhere in the middle of not failure and success. A not-not world. A negative space. That pesky in-between state where nothing seems to be happening to us. We are working harder than we ever have, but we’re not making progress towards our goals. Or we aren’t trying hard enough to tip over into something better, but we aren’t getting worse either.
The word ‘struggle’ gets a bad rap, but it’s through the continuous drive to learn and improve, and the love of the craft that we can find meaning within our lives.
There’s a paradox here though— momentum creates both meaning and struggle. In fact, the struggle to be someone, or the struggle to create something worthwhile gives us the energy to stand out and make an impact.
Joy is found in motion. Work. Rest. Work Rest. Forward. Change. Towards somethings. Without that things can feel lost and distant. Luckily, there’s purpose waiting around every corner, you just have to put one foot in front of the other to see it.
The struggle isn’t the problem. The struggle is the solution. Let go of trying to rid yourself of struggle and embrace what comes, no matter if you like it or not.
“Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men’s souls.”
Daniel Burnham
There will always be ups and downs on every creative journey. Moments of doubt. A day where all you want to do is quit. And on that day when you are teetering on the edge of giving up your dream, you have a choice—keep going or give in. There will be many days like this. This is an inflection point. This is what separates those that succeed and those who give up and go on to and doing something else.
Success isn’t assured. Even if you do everything right, there’s still the chance of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. But that doesn’t mean you are destined to fail either. Perhaps the right place at the right time is in your future if you push through the difficulty and have the courage to continue forward. No one said pursuing a creative life would be easy. But if you love what you do, and you really want it, then you need to find the encouragement to keep pursuing.
Remind yourself why you are doing this.
Collect memories of encouragement and compliments to help you preserve on difficult days. (See Tim Ferris’s Jar of Awesome)
Remember that your work has the power to encourage and lift others. (Which also means other people’s work has the power to encourage you too.)
Age 25. Residential Counsellor at a group home for people with different physical and mental disabilities and behavioral disorders. Freelance artist which includes photography, writing, painting, tattoo design, etc.
Located in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada. A little town five minutes from the Atlantic. Come visit yo. I’ll take you to the water.
Q:What / who inspires you and why?
The wilderness/any place with mountains, lakes, and oceans. I just adore the fact that it was all made for you and I. It’s gold and inspires my heart to create out of seeing beautiful places and soaking it all in. There is clarity in the wilderness and thats where I feel most at home.
One of my best friends, Eric Weaver. His heart is on rhythm with love and honor and beauty and creativity. He sees people well in moments when they feel unseen. He sees beauty in the simple moments. I treasure our friendship/brotherhood. At a time I felt like I didn’t belong he held me and said “you’re home.”
Jedidiah Jenkins. His work, his words, and his heart resonate so much with mine.
Q: What are the best lessons your mom and dad taught you? (Or siblings)
To stretch my heart out and love the ones that some may forget or the ones that may not be easy to love. Going to every extent to love and serve and give to others even if it causes you to sacrifice everything. That love wins in every situation even if it’s not the easiest to do and goes against the grain. To be known as a deep lover of people. To be known for not being afraid of love or to be swallowed whole by it. To forgive always. It’s a process but I’m thankful for it and know I’m getting there.
Q: What’s a challenge you’ve faced recently and how did you handle it?
Rejection in relationship.
There has been a cycle of being rejected in love. It’s hard to heal in similar processes after someone leaves you. I feel the hardest part has been not feeling enough or worth a yes or no. Learning to walk into the next free version of myself has been a challenge. Technology these days makes it hard to move on. You almost need to go off the grid for a while to find yourself again. That’s where I’m at and I know the sunshine is finding my oceans in the process.
Q: What’s your favorite travel experience?
I’ve been majorly blessed by many, but this one stands out. Backpacking / leading a team of students through East Africa (Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania) for 5 months. Was probably the most challenging and best thing.
Q: If you could have a dinner party with anyone in the world (or in history) who would you invite?
Maya Angelou, Nelson Mandela, Amy Winehouse, My best friend Morgan, Alexander the Great, My grandfather, Jedidiah Jenkins, Michele Obama, Timothy McVeigh. Pretty dinner? Yes.
Q: In one word, how would your best friend describe you?
True.
(love you deep Morgan.)
Q: What are some decisions you’ve made that has made you who you are today?
I decided to throw away my boundaries once and open myself up for any challenge even if fear is in the equation. I’ve felt in doing that, fear leaves and the boundaries and walls come crashing down leaving room for free creativity and love to flow. Ba-bye fear, hello freedom.
Q: What songs do you sing when you are alone? And what new bands are you digging recently?
I love singing powerful love ballads or gospel songs.
I listen to Bon Iver religiously, and every time I turn him on my eyes close and my body hits the floor. Go now and listen to “715 CREEKS” by them live at Pioneer Works. You’ll probably cry in your pour over. (J: haha! )
Q: What advice would you give to someone pursuing creative work?
To be authentic in every way.
Find / fight for spaces and places that make you dream and get lost in.
Always do what makes your heart come alive, and let go of what needs to go in order to pursue the wild creative you. You never know what wonders may come out of you and what beauty you can create.
“Fear has no place.” repeat until you’re not afraid to create what you want and until you don’t care what people will think. It’s your work and your eye. Own it babe.
Learn to dance and not care.
Q: What’s your mission in life?
To love deeply and empower others to do the same. To create spaces where people come to know how loved they are and to pull the gold out of one another. To come alongside others that may be having a hard time, meet them where they’re at and show them that they are not alone in the process. That even though days are hard that there is beauty in our own processes and journeys whatever direction our lives may be going in and wherever we are at right now. Out of that, live overflowing and passionate lives. To keep my eyes and heart wide open.
Q: If someone gave you 10 million dollars, what would you do with it?
Give it away to people that would create self sustaining opportunities to give more away and create a ripple.
Visit and spend time with everyone I love.
Q: One thing you liked about last year, and one thing you want to improve this year?
Found / built a community of amazing, beautiful, passionate, and creative humans to live life with and celebrate one another on the daily. They’re pretty damn rad and it’s an honor/privilege to be surrounded by so many beautiful people.
(J: I want to build a community like this..)
Maybe not give my heart away so easily. Listen more, rest more, breathe more. To live in freedom and not as a victim.
Q: What’s a question you wish I asked, and what’s your answer to it?
Q. Do you like flowers?
I do. I adore flowers. I love giving them away most of the time. But maybe I’m stuck in this place of still bringing flowers home for the one my heart used to be fond of. Or maybe they are for healing my heart. Either way my house usually has vases of dead flowers and I’m slowly growing.
(J: I need to do this more. Give flowers to those I love. They not only brighten up the home, they brighten up the person you give them to, and solidify the relationship.)
Thank you Gregg for taking the time to answer my Q’s
Q. How do you answer the infamous question, “So what do you do?”
I hate this question haha. Maybe it’s because I feel like it defines you—or attempts to define you. I hope that I love others well and am a constant to people in their lives. Everything else is an aside.
Q. What’s your favorite travel experience?
India. Hands down. It is a piece of my heart. It’s the first time I feel like I knew what it was to fall in love. While it may not have been a person, to know that you had been meaning to “meet” a place for so long—once I found that, everything about that place becomes a rhythm that you feel beating with your blood, within you. That’s how you know.
* I feel that way when I travel. As if I’m taking off the weight of my ‘normal’ life and experience the world completely different and new.
Q. When did you first start playing and singing music?
I started playing music when I was around 15. It began around the time my Nanny passed away unexpectedly. I remember writing an instrumental piece on piano for her funeral. I started writing songs when I quit my lessons (‘rebel’) in high school. It was mainly to get back at girls who had done me wrong. As you can see, not much has changed.
Q. Who in your own life has influenced you to take the leap into the music biz?
My mentor, Jeff Bourque. He was the worship leader at my church for years. He used to come pick me up from high school and we would go back to my house or his and he would show me how to write a song. It’s his fault I always tell him, hahah. He was and still is such an encouragement. Little did we know, he and I would embark on recording the singles I released over the course of 2015 and 2016. I am forever grateful for him and just his belief in my potential. It’s an amazing thing to see someone go from being a mentor to a friend to a brother.
Q. What bands or individuals have influenced you?
I have always been infatuated with Fleetwood Mac. How can Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham embody SUCH CHEMISTRY onstage every show? It’s mesmerizing.
Q. How has relationships and connections impacted your craft (and life)?
It (relationships) has literally been the inspiration for all of it. I would say if you know my songs, you know my love life—and in many ways…me. A few miss-truths here and there, but songwriting for me is therapy. It has helped me walk forward. It’s the one place to be totally open and have no need for a filter. No one can tell you what to say or how to say it. You get to recount every memory, every instance. I have found it to be one of the most ethereal places for me.
Q. What’s your song writing process now? Is it any different since you started?
I always just begin.* I usually play my piano and start singing at the same time. I’ll rarely deviate from that and base something off of a line in my head or a melody I hear when I’m sitting in the steam room at the gym.
* Same here, songs come from a hum, or unexpected places.
Q. When did the name Bandit Heart pop into your head? What’s the story?
I just wanted to name this thing something that wasn’t my own name. I wanted it to have no preconceived notions on what it could be or would be for anyone listening.
Q. What are some decisions you’ve made that have made you into who you are today?
Trusting Jesus Christ has been the anchor for me in my life. Everything else pales in comparison right now. It is the one, true adventure.
Q. What songs do you sing when you are alone? And what new bands are you digging recently?
I usually listen to classical music when I am alone, haha. I love where it takes me. I feel like I’m in an indie film usually. ‘Spiegel Im Spiegel’ by Arvo Pärt is my favorite piece.
Q. What is your story around health?
Well I am a vegetarian who occasionally eats fish. I love to run. Running is another therapy I entrust to get my spirit moving. I eat pretty clean and I love wine. Those are my caveats. Years ago, when I was in another band, I became sponsored by a company called Garden Of Life—and they have pretty much become my girlfriend.* (IG @gardenoflife)
* hahahahahaha
Q. What advice would you give to someone pursuing creative work?
Always be yourself. Never let anyone else ever put a dream in your mind that you don’t want. Always listen to God. He will never steer you wrong. He is guiding your life in a way that you might possibly may never be able to completely fathom, but He loves you and wants you to trust Him. Success is not about money. It’s who you impact and how those things along the way bring joy to your heart.
Q. What advice would you give someone who wants to jump into music, but hasn’t taken that leap yet? (aka me ha)
I always feel like the word “leap” has some expected HUGGGGE action to it, but in all reality, it’s just deciding to put your foot down and start somewhere. I usually tend to turn off sensor in my brain that makes me nervous and just do things how i believe they should be done. NOT in a cocky way, but to the extent that i don’t keep freaking myself out. If i’m so nervous about releasing a song or an EP, it will never release. But the biggest thing you can think about music, in my eyes, is you are creating for someone else. In the grand scheme of things that person is God, but at an earthly level, you never know who truly needs your music.You never know. And once that stuff is out there, it’s theirs…it’s the listeners. Who are we to say that they don’t deserve to hear it? Who are we to say that they may get more out of a song than we ever will….even if we wrote it. Find people that you can pour into but also find people that can pour into you. Not just to give you technical advice, but those who can encourage you and you are able to encourage them. Building a community around creativity is vital to your survival. Not just as a musician, but as a human being. Some of my favorite and most personal relationships revolve around people who aren’t even other musicians. I don’t have this secret circle of music pro types. It’s those who love life in the way that I do, and in most ways, do it entirely better than me—BUT they build me up and spur me on to want to do the same for them as well.
Q. What advice would you give to your younger self?
Listen to God, always.
Open the door for her.
Walk her to her car.
Listen to what you want to do, not what others think you should do.
Don’t always run; learn to walk.
Q. Who or what inspires you and why?
Nostalgia. It’s always there. It’s included in the memory packs of our brains. We can go there when we want; there are clothes and feelings and hats we can wear to make us feel like we’re 18 again….or 22…or 27. Nostalgia is special; it’s potent. It can get all over you if you let it and it can run you. But what I love about nostalgia, is I can go there and leave when I want. You can see old girlfriends, old memories, new loves, mistakes, happiness…whatever you want. It’s all there. I’ve never really said it that way, but I think that’s it.
Q. In one word, how would your best friend describe you?
Love.
Q. What’s something challenging you faced recently and how did you handle it?
I brought back a pretty rare buddy (sickness) from India that resurfaced after four months. It took me by surprise as well as my doctor. And in the five days of pain that I had, he told me that I couldn’t work. So I sat out on my porch and just soaked everything in. It was hard because I had to slow down, but i think sometimes in our lives, we get forced into things because we need to. And I needed that.*
*I’ve been experiencing my own flavor of this force recently. It’s humbling.
Q. What’s your mission right now? What does success mean to you?
Success is an illusion that we make up to feel compensated for and like we have approval. In my heart, success has been completed. Jesus lives; and He died for me. Anything I do now is out of joy because of that. My mission right now is to create music that can relate to other people, to be real with music, to not hide or cover it up. I also hope that at any moment, as my heart grows for India, that He is paving a way for me to transfer my life over there.
Q. If someone gave you 10 million dollars, what would you do with it?
Pay off my student debt; move to India; give the rest away.
Q. Do you have a mentor? If so describe them and the most valuable things you’ve learned.
I have had one since I was about 15. I mentioned him above, Jeff. I think the biggest lesson that he has taught me is mentoring someone isn’t about this massive transfer of information from an older person to a younger one. It’s about walking with them. And that should happen effortlessly. It’s deciding to stop and take the time. He taught me so much through that and that’s how we are still friends now. He’s one of my favorite people and his family still pours into me in an incredible way.
Q: Have you mentored someone?
I would say a lot of the reason I am a youth leader now is because of Jeff. For the last year I have had the honor of walking with guys who are sophomores in high school. It’s my hope to be with them through graduation, but I tell them all the time that it’s a never-ending dedication to them.
Q. One thing you liked about last year, and one thing you want to improve this year?
I can’t stress enough how valuable it is to be present with where you are. I am fighting in that arena and want to grow. Be present for the people you love.Be present for the job that you work at. Be present for the struggles just as much as the joys. You will never get back today. If you are always pining for tomorrow or the next big thing or the next year, you’ll always be one step ahead of “right now.” THAT is what I want to be working on this year and every year.
Q. What are some impactful books you’ve read recently and why? (Recent reads / or books you’ve read multiple times)
Sure, if we wish to create change in our lives and the lives of others, we must be self-reliantand take continuous action with our own hands.
Being an Individualist doesn’t mean being alone.
We are more capable together than we are by our lonesome.
We become our best selves by connecting with others. We are better together.
And thus, a new segment on the RL called We the People: highlighting creatives who are a part of the Renaissance Tribe and represent our Ethos.
I ask you questions, you give us insights from your own life.
Enter Erwin:
CEO & Founder of ERWIN DAVIS INTERNATIONAL
(bold’s, styling and * by josh :P)
Q. How do you answer the infamous question,
“So what do you do?”
I normally answer with, “I inspire people to think more effectively about the world we live in”.
Q. What are the best lessons your mom and dad have taught you? (Or siblings)
Work hard for what you want and don’t let anyone stop you. Give back and protect your family.
Q. What’s your favorite travel experience?
I don’t think it has happened yet. I want to travel to Montana and experience what I believe to be nature in it’s ultimate form.
Q. What are some decisions you’ve made that have made you into who you are today?
Changing my reading habits.
Taking my financial growth into my own hands.
And trusting God no matter what.
Q. What songs do you sing when you are alone? And what new bands are you digging recently?
Ah man..I don’t really sing. I like to whistle. Khalid* just came on the scene. He’s super relaxed and groove heavy. That’s a lot of my listening lately.
Q. If you could have a dinner party with anyone in the world (or in history) who would you invite?
Cleopatra, John F. Kennedy, Dave Ramsey, and Tony Robbins.
Q. What are the most important things you bought in the last few months? (Best money investment. Can be anything, big or small)
Website, business cards, and books. A LOT of books.
Q. What advice would you give to someone pursuing creative work?
Find that place that puts you in the zone and go there every day until the ideas start keeping you up at night.
Q. And what advice would you give someone going through creative struggle right now?
Don’t quit. Keep thinking and listening. It may take 500 mistakes and failures, but it just takes one idea to catch fire. After that, it’s on.
Q. What advice would you give to your younger self?
Stay alert. Don’t let anything distract you. Be a disciplined autodidact.
Q. Who inspires you and why?
My parents, Patrick Bet-David, Apple team, Porsche team, and whenever I see someone going through a struggle but is pushing past it.
Q. In one word, how would your best friend describe you?
Driven
Q. What’s something challenging you faced recently and how did you handle it?
Figuring out how to run a business has been a huge learning experience. I have a lot of CEOs and bosses to pull ‘how to’s’ from. I handle setbacks as a business owner with strategic problem solving and a mindset of it always coming out successful.
Q. What does success mean to you?
Success to me is being able to inspire thousands of people using my words and actions to do more for the person next to them.*
*Agreed!
Q. If someone gave you 10 million dollars, what would you do with it?
5 million to my mom, 2 million to my baby sister, $500,000 to my grandma, and the rest will be split between investing and giving back.*
* That’s very specific ha. Have you thought of this Q before?
Q. Are there any quotes / phrases that follow you wherever you go?
“Every day is a challenge. Accept it.” -EMD
“The secret to living is giving.” -Tony Robbins
“Nothing is ever hard unless you say it is. Believe it is easy and it will be.” – My grandma
Q. Do you have a mentor? If so describe them and what you’ve learned that’s brought you the most value.
I have about 4 that are CEOs and Presidents that I’ve worked for or with. They keep me on track with putting myself in the best possible position to succeed.
Q. One thing you liked about last year, and one thing you want to improve this year?
Haha, I like that 2016 taught me a laundry list of lessons. I want to improve on every aspect of my brain functionality this year. Making my brain stronger, faster, and healthier is my goal. That will undoubtedly lead to success.
Q. What are some impactful books you’ve read recently and why?
