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The Good Life. |
I am a professional musician ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() But that's just my resume. My profile of qualifications is only one of the ways in which I am unique. Here I chronicle my personal and professional goals and my efforts to achieve them. Occasionally I fail. Mostly, I take daily baby steps toward all my long-term goals. Much like the stories I pen, the songs I compose, and the businesses I run, I am always a work in progress. |
I dropped my house price a week or two ago, but now I have another potential lease situation I'm investigating. This one would be pretty sweet. So we'll see. Reach 300 students at MTMS ![]() ![]() Reading: One book per week. ![]() Writing: (1) ![]() ![]() (2) ![]() Count points: Morning weigh-in: 169.0, not sure what that's about. Yesterday's points: 40 |
Reach 300 students at MTMS ![]() ![]() ![]() I know what you're thinking, and you're right. Advertising is crazy stupid expensive. You should see what a quarter-page ad in those freebie newspapers they toss in your driveway and those pennysaver circulars in your mailbox cost. Reading: One book per week. ![]() ![]() Writing: (1) ![]() ![]() (2) ![]() More analysis about the Taylor Swift songs: They capture moments in time rather than generic ongoing emotions. Character, plot, setting. Action language. Show, don't tell. It's making me curious. I'd like to analyze a whole bunch of other songwriters for similar trends. Count points: Morning weigh-in: 165.0 Yesterday's points: 34.5 - Not great, but still in control. |
Woo-hoo!! Another day off. I've read for at least two hours today, and it's only 11am. I have so many things I want to do with my free time today... we shall see which I decide to hit. No plans. That wouldn't be a day off. Although, it would be nice if the sun would peek out. Reach 300 students at MTMS ![]() ![]() Reading: One book per week. ![]() Writing: (1) ![]() ![]() (2) ![]() ![]() Count points: Morning weigh-in: 165.2... 5 down, 20 to go! Yesterday's points: 25 |
Reach 300 students at MTMS ![]() ![]() ![]() Reading: One book per week. ![]() Writing: (1) ![]() ![]() (2) ![]() Count points: Morning weigh-in: Yesterday's points: 30 |
Strange. I've found myself with a ton of free time this week. It's sort of nice. I won't get used to it... next weekend we have recitals, and the weekend after that, my parents are visiting. Plus, I'm really supposed to be blogging at MT.com ![]() Reading: One book per week. ![]() Writing: (1) ![]() ![]() (2) ![]() Count points: Morning weigh-in: 165.4 Yesterday's points: 26 |
A good friend of mine helps me with marketing now and then. He's smart, a good salesman, has a good business sense, and has a decent chunk of money set aside. He's also currently unemployed. So it crossed my mind to wonder why he doesn't start up his own business. I think the answer is that he doesn't have a product to sell, at least not one that he's passionate about. We (and by "we," I mean all 19 MTMS employees) are passionate about our product. Are you keeping a running list? You, too, can start your own successful business if you have the right ingredients: Passion, business sense, leadership, planning skills, organization, and, of course, capital. What's your passion? What business would you open if you had all the right ingredients? Reach 300 students at MTMS ![]() We've been talking eventual expansion. Chris and I drove around a potential town for about an hour yesterday. We did not find our future retail home, but we did at least find neighborhoods that look promising. Reading: One book per week. ![]() Writing: (1) ![]() ![]() (2) ![]() Count points: Morning weigh-in: 165.2 Yesterday's points: 29 |
Reach 300 students at MTMS ![]() 167. We're still exceeding our goals, but I hate our goals. ![]() Reading: One book per week. ![]() Writing: (1) ![]() ![]() (2) ![]() Count points: Morning weigh-in: 166.6 Yesterday's points: 33 |
Reach 300 students at MTMS ![]() Two new enrollments yesterday, plus a gravy class enrollment (love those.) Reading: One book per week. ![]() with her son, my lead guitarist. W00t! I have the bestest friends in the whole entire wide gynormous world. Writing: (1) ![]() ![]() (2) ![]() Count points: Morning weigh-in: 167.0 Yesterday's points: 37 |
In college, by coincidence, I studied Italian and Dante Alighieri at the same time. Some of you know that my cat is named Dante, which is a tribute to the great poet. I thought it would be way cool to read La Divina Commedia (not just Inferno; only the entire trilogy would do) in Italian. Those of you following my goals over the last several months or years may have noticed that one glaringly absent from my list. I know what you're thinking, but you're wrong. I did not, in fact, complete the goal years ago. Rather, I no longer give a poop about reading Dante in Italian. Someone took the time to translate it into English for me, and I have other things to do with my time than fight a language I barely know... like sing and play guitar, which, it turns out, impresses people much more than my multi-lingual abilities (and sometimes earns me an income.) Goals are dynamic, people. Reach 300 students at MTMS ![]() Reading: One book per week. ![]() Writing: (1) ![]() ![]() (2) ![]() Count points: Morning weigh-in: 165.4 Yesterday's points: 43 |
At Abbott, I used to bring home truckloads of money and spent at least half of my time writing. Now, I bring home next to nothing and don't have time to write at all. It seems backwards until you consider I picked up a time-consuming hobby (specifically, small business ownership.) And even with the apparently negative consequences of my decision, I was happier with my new life until I lost Potbelly. Here's what I decided about gigging: If I worked hard, I am sure I could land a gig (or several.) I could offer a freebie the first time to hook potential clients, record and distribute CDs, polish my website and YouTube channel. But how hard do I want to work for it? I feel so tired lately, and I think the hiatus has been good for my stress. I'm tired because I'm not running on adrenaline. But if I don't gig, I won't practice... which is why I need to lose weight to gain the energy to work hard to find the gig to practice and keep up my skills, not to mention to supplement my income, visibility, branding, and ego. I'd like to buy a preposition. Reach 300 students at MTMS ![]() Friday is my new day off. I could spend the day in jammies if I wanted. At least until I land a gig. Reading: One book per week. ![]() ![]() ![]() On a related note, I could walk from my house to the local public library, and it's crossed my mind that I might enjoy doing that regularly if my schedule ever lightened. Writing: (1) ![]() ![]() (2) ![]() ![]() Count points: Morning weigh-in: 166.0 Yesterday's points: 33 (4) Granola bars (3) Fiber English muffin with apple butter (2) Fiber oatmeal (2) Peanut butter pretzels (5?) Tortilla chips (3?) More tortilla chips (2) Guacamole salad (4) Beef taco (8?) Margarita |
Reach 300 students at MTMS ![]() I'm a bit bleh (I'm coining adjectives. Sue me after you admit you understood what I meant.) about this today. I spent the last two days moving out of my "office" (originally a lesson room on the floor plan) to open up space for students. Kind of a if-you-build-it-they-will-come philosophy, I suppose. Reading: One book per week. ![]() Writing: (1) ![]() ![]() (2) ![]() Count points: Morning weigh-in: ? Yesterday's points: 30-ish |
I am a smidge on the depressed side this week. I miss my regular gig, and I just dropped the price of my house. Again. After nearly two years on the market, I have dropped the price a total of $30,000. Reach 300 students at MTMS ![]() Still quivering around 165. We gained one and lost two yesterday - two of my very first students, whose mom is a friend of mine. She travels from across Columbus to bring her kids, so I understand the problem. Travel is getting expensive. Still, bummer. They're bright and talented kids. On the plus side, I've seen an uptick in the number of questions about our summer camps. I don't think all our existing students are aware, so clearly, our advertising is not obvious enough. I have a marketing person working on that. Reading: One book per week. ![]() Writing: (1) ![]() ![]() (2) ![]() Count points: Morning weigh-in: 164.4. Yesterday's points: 30+ I can't seem to stay out of the Easter candy, and yesterday, I had a craving for salt that led me to two different bags of chips in the faculty lounge. ![]() |
My, how my goals change over time. I need a new goal: land a (or several) new recurring gig(s). Reach 300 students at MTMS ![]() Mid-160's. We're just happy we left the 150's behind. ![]() Reading: One book per week. ![]() Writing: (1) ![]() ![]() (2) ![]() Count points: Morning weigh-in: 165.8 Yesterday's points: 28.5 |
Reach 300 students at MTMS ![]() We discussed retention in our strategy meeting. We need goals around bringing people back and / or encouraging them to stay when they get busy. Reading: One book per week. ![]() Writing: (1) ![]() ![]() (2) ![]() Count points: Morning weigh-in: 167.2 Yesterday's points: 25 (1) Coffee (4) Granola bar These goals are stupid, because I never touch them: Compile book inventory: ![]() a major clean-up effort on our hands getting it usable. Pick scheduling database by 7/31/11: ![]() |
Reach 300 students at MTMS ![]() Not since yesterday. But, then, we're closed on Sundays. Compile book inventory: ![]() Pick scheduling database by 7/31/11: ![]() Reading: One book per week. ![]() Writing: (1) ![]() ![]() (2) ![]() Now, here is a list of the top 100 SONGS of all time: http://www.squidoo.com/100songs With the exception of Johnny B. Goode, didn't see a driving or fast-paced dancing rhythm among the top 10. Even in the top 10, there are only 3 or 4. The majority of them are either ballads or groove rhythms. That's interesting, and good news for me, since the latter are more my style. Count points: Morning weigh-in: 168.2 Yesterday's points: 28 |
Reach 300 students at MTMS ![]() 164 and climbing again. We're only 11 away from hiring our first receptionist. Woo-hoo! On a related note, I really, really need to review my tax returns this weekend and get those sent out. I'm getting a refund that would make most normal people drool. Yes, I filed an extension, but I sure would like the cash. Compile book inventory: ![]() Pick scheduling database by 7/31/11: ![]() Reading: One book per week. ![]() Writing: (1) ![]() ![]() (2) ![]() Right now, I am inspired to create a business, not a song or work of fiction. I surprise myself with my lack of creative motivation in the arts, but it is what it is. When a thing you created becomes larger than life, higher than the moon, or more viral than any cliche, it captures your attention. Whether your inspiration was divine, or triggered by some scientifically analyzable firing of the synapses, or strictly born of external influences, one thing is certain: if we remain true to the inspirations which most motivate us, we will always be successful. Someday soon, I hope that inspiration will lead me back to writing. It may start with an analysis of my own. Why do I want to write something anyway? What do I hope to gain? What can I market, and why? What will earn me the attention, income, and inbound links that would support my career? Does anyone besides me prefer to journal the old-fashioned way, with pen and paper? Count points: Morning weigh-in: 167.8 Yesterday's points: 28 (3) Coffee (4) 1.5 cup cereal w/half cup milk (9.5) First Watch "Lean Machine" breakfast and half an order of bacon (2) Easter candy (9) Pizza (I'm estimating about 3 points per strip, but it's hard to tell since they rarely cut them in slices anymore!) |
Except for a three-hour strategy meeting over breakfast and email and web research from home, I decided to take the day off. ![]() Reach 300 students at MTMS ![]() We discussed this over breakfast today. We have some ideas to keep up the momentum. Based on my projections, it will be close. Maybe more like 290. Compile book inventory: ![]() Pick scheduling database by 7/31/11: ![]() Reading: One book per week. ![]() Writing: (1) ![]() ![]() (2) ![]() Count points: Morning weigh-in: 167.0 Yesterday's points: 25 |
Reach 300 students at MTMS ![]() We happily cleared 160, but did realize that we actually cleared 160 about a month ago. We've been processing all the enrollments as we received them, including those for May and June, showing an artificially low number of April students.The overall number is still helpful, because it reflects our sustainable business, and we make business decisions (such as when to hire a receptionist) based on that number. Compile book inventory: ![]() Pick scheduling database by 7/31/11: ![]() Reading: One book per week. ![]() Writing: (1) ![]() ![]() (2) ![]() Count points: Morning weigh-in: 169.2 Yesterday's points: 33 (3) Coffee (2) Banana (3) Two slices swiss cheese (6) Two bowls Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana (3) one breadstick (1) Two Andes mints (1) Mini KitKit (4) Bread with butter (2) Broccoli (2) Salad (6) Half a 7-oz steak |
Reach 300 students at MTMS ![]() We finally cleared 160, whew. Still more work to do on the business plan to see what funding we have for renovation phases and when, and I'm trying to start planning (yes, that was very non-committal) a scholarship program. I tried to contact the superintendent of the local schools, but was told by his secretary that he's too busy for phone calls. She gave me his email address. I hope I hear back from him, because I could really use his help. Compile book inventory: ![]() Pick scheduling database by 7/31/11: ![]() Reading: One book per week. ![]() Writing: (1) ![]() (2) ![]() ![]() (3) ![]() Count points: Morning weigh-in: 168.8 Yesterday's points: 23 |