What a Long August – But Productive!

Around March or so, I start challenging people, “How’s that New Year’s resolution of yours doing?”  And it’s not even out of the realm of possibility that I bring it up again in May.  The point being that you – duh – need to stay with it, regardless of what goal you’d set.  After all, you wanted change as the new year started, so what made you decide it wasn’t important enough to stick with it?

I think some of the pressure is that we put such a huge target out there, timing-wise.  “In 2026 I’m going to (insert changed behavior here),” people would have been heard saying eight months ago.  But my gosh, a whole year?  Talk about starting into the calendar with a huge task ahead of you.

What ever happened to, “You’ve got to walk before you can run”?

Today we conclude August and it has felt, for me at least, like a very (very) long month.  That not only is a result of there having been 31 days but how darn productive it was!  And that is the kind of scaling that’s going to help you see progress, get things done, and feel good about yourself.  And if you’ve been with me for a while then you know that I’m all about celebrating small wins.

We can’t ever lose sight of the importance of mental health and the minute you start having a few bad days turn into a bad week and soon an entire month, you’re really going to be down in the dumps.  One week ago today a friend of mine told me that when she wakes up in a funk and really needs to wallow in it, she puts a limit on it.  “Just today I’m going to be depressed,” is what she told me that she tells herself.  The next day?  Well then she moves on because she already took time to be mired in a depressed state.

You’re starting to see here how putting realistic (time) boundaries can be effective.  And once you implement the right timelines, you’ll be amazed at how much you’ll see progress.

Another way to think of it is this.  On December 31, a performer might say, “By this time next year I want to be doing a live show of my original music in a performing arts theater.”  Okay, that’s twelve months away.  So, on January 1 you don’t have to start knocking on the door of every such venue.  You can be strategic and plot out what you need to get there.  Set a goal each month of what – later in the year – will not only get the attention of the booker but get them to see all that you’ve done and say Yes to getting you on the schedule.

For me, this month started off with a weekend at the beach.  It was only three days and yes, I had my phone and my laptop out there, but it got me into a different environment, which does wonders for you just by not sitting in the same spot day after day after day.  And sure, the relaxing atmosphere, the fresh air, a nice breakfast at the local coffee shop down the road, and even a midday nap all made for a positive attitude.

Think of the value that comes with starting the month in the right frame of mind.  It’s something I plan to do again, hopefully sooner than later.

Just a few days after being back from the gulf I was on a plane, nonstop to Los Angeles.  My business trip was well planned and kept me busy.  It was particularly enjoyable to be on-site for our GRAMMY Award-winning recording artist client’s launch event for her memoir and newest album.  It was equally fantastic to meet with and sign a new client while I was out there.  And I was happy to “press the flesh” with a number of other people while I was out there.  But ya’ know what else?

My best friend lives out in the greater Los Angeles area, so you know that he and I certainly had a fun dinner together one night.  Personal time is, in fact, allowed on a business trip, as long as you don’t get too caught up in “I deserve to relax and enjoy.”  Case in point?  Look no further than less than 48 hours later.

I had a lunch meeting in Manhattan Beach with a past guest from my weekly “Now Hear This Entertainment” podcast.  As we parted ways, I was about to walk directly to my rental car when – as seen by the photo above that I took in that moment – I saw the beach so close that it was hard to pass up.  Again, without overindulging, I walked out on the pier, made a TikTok out there, took some pictures, and then left – with a smile on my face.

Returning from L.A. put me at the evening of August 12.  I stayed home for a week, including running this month's Florida Podcasters Association meeting.  Then, like the journey I’d just completed, I took another one-week business trip.

This time I traveled west for the 2nd Las Vegas Songwriters Festival.  Not too long after stepping off the plane I was in a Lyft headed to a recording studio to do the interview for what was last week’s episode of the podcast.  I would do three more during my time there, sitting (separately) with three songwriters who were participating in the event.  I also got to see two past NHTE guests.

And yes, the aforementioned friend that I was talking with a week ago?  That was face-to-face in Las Vegas.  Again, mixing a little business with pleasure.

I returned from what I call “the real city that never sleeps” and jumped right into the excitement that is promoting a music client’s newest single release.

And now here we are, on the eve of a new month on the calendar.  Are you ready to set a ‘resolution’ for September?

A Member of the Recording Academy, I have been helping indie music artists, authors, actors, entrepreneurs, podcasters, filmmakers, small business owners, and more for over twenty years.  What challenges are you having in your career that I can lend some insight to?  Connect with me so you can take advantage of all my experience, and I can help and keep you moving forward.