Thinking out loud...

"To surpass people ahead of me, effort alone isn't enough—I need better systems, deeper practice, and time. Eventually, the goal is to become so invested in the craft that the work itself becomes the reward. At that point, every session is a win because it's shaping the artist I'm becoming".

For a long time I've thought that winning Grammys etc would just change everything for me. That became my focus and my goal. However, I also remember being young and thinking when I got my first car, or first place by myself that I would be much more fulfilled. I think the two are similar in that fulfillment ultimately comes from how you feel about the person you are. We don't respect outcomes that are easy as much as we respect those that are a result of discipline and hard work. We know better than anyone else the amount of work we put in on ourselves. If you want to be the best, working hard is cool and all, but working better is what changes trajectory.

This is why WoodaWorx has been essential in changing how I look at life in general with it's stress on systems. It doesn't deny ambition. I still want the placements and the Grammys. It just puts them in their proper place: as outcomes of becoming the kind of musician who naturally creates that level of work, rather than the sole reason to keep working.

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Thinking out loud...