40 second video to answer this FAQ…
motivation
whatever it is…
Whatever it is that makes you happy; trips your trigger; brings you joy and excitement; puts a smile on your face; energizes you; makes your heart beat faster; makes your soul sing; makes you feel alive…
Whatever it is…
Do that.
Do it today, do it tomorrow, and keep doing it like there is no tomorrow.
©2008 Tom Leu
communication breakdown
It matters little how good you are at your art, business, or craft; if your communication skills lack, your business productivity will suffer. Whether you realize it or not, first impressions count, while second impressions define.
Especially with any business interaction, you are wise to convey to people that you are at least as interested in them as they are in you. Usually, you have to appear more interested in them. Otherwise, you risk leaving people feeling flat or put off by you. We are all our own favorite subject. And awareness and action around this precept is paramount to long-term success in any field. The circumstances of the interaction also matter. Are you being approached, or are you doing the approaching? It’s important to understand the different communication nuances that different situations require.
Your ability to competently manage relationships and successfully interact with others is arguably the single greatest asset you possess. An inability to communicate effectively in all kinds of situations minimizes the impact of your other skills, and ultimately the level of your success. Recognize where your communication breaksdown and resolve to seek out solutions to do something about it today! Nobody benefits more than you do in the long run.
©2008 Tom Leu
rich in personality
There’s a fine line between doing what you love… doing what you’re good at… and paying the bills. The “happiest” and most “successful” among us have found this elusive balance. It’s goal toward which we all should strive. Of course, it’s way easier said than done.
In a recent newsletter, Michael Laskow, the founder of TAXI (a great company helping unsigned bands and musicians make money with their music) had this to say to his independent-musician subscribers:
“Do you want to make money making music, or are the journey and the validation you feel enough to slake your thirst?”
“What IS Indie? Cooler sounding than ‘unsigned,’ or a commitment to a life of starving artist excuses? Making money, enjoying the journey and feeling validated aren’t mutually exclusive. You can be something more than a starving artist if you’re not already.”
“I hope I find you at the intersection of Money Street and Validation Avenue.”
There’s something romantic and attractive about starving artists and struggling entreprenuers who are rich in personality but low on dough. The twisted allure of this lifestyle comes from enduring being revered and rejected at the same time. For those in this category, “success” really comes down to contenment during the journey. If you have it, money becomes a by-product of the pursuit.
So here’s the challenge whether you’re a musician, a model, or a mechanic… 1) Make sure your passion is also your true talent. 2) Be realistic about your situation – are your endeavors merely a hobby or supposed to be making your house payment? 3) Be honest about #1 and #2. 4) Be honest about #1 and #2 and #3.
©2008 Tom Leu
under a rock?
Here’s some great advice from David Hooper of Kathode Ray Music:
Elbert Hubbard said, “To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.”
“That’s good advice. If you look me (Hooper) up in Google or elsewhere, you’ll see there are plenty of people who think I’m full of it. So what?”
“When you touch enough people, somebody is going to be pissed. And a lot of the time, the problem isn’t you, it’s them.”
“So just ignore those folks who think (you) suck. You can’t please everybody. And if you try, you’ll please nobody.”
I thought this was good stuff to take to heart, especially for those who “put it out there,” refusing to live under a rock their whole life…
I’d like to leave you with another great quote that really resonates with me…
“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” – Dr. Seuss
©2008 Tom Leu
simplicity
It takes a certain amount of self-control to remain simple. A lot of people tend to complicate their lives by reaching for lofty internal expectations while often buckling to shallow external situations. They then attempt to medicate and soothe the resulting disappointment by setting up more distractions disguised as “to-do’s.”
©2008 Tom Leu
searching
There is a distinct and obvious difference in purpose and intensity when one is searching for something versus simply looking for something. A person looks for things they’ve lost whereas one searches for something they’ve yet to find. Looking is to retrieve and is largely external. Searching is to discover and is largely internal. We have to inside to really find that which we’re searching for.
©2008 Tom Leu
the “RockStar” Way
My name is Tom Leu, and this is the “RockStar” Way™… where music and motivation meet. This blog is for those interested in topics relating to personal development, inspiration, motivation, spirituality, pop culture, and rock-n-roll. This is about life and about a lifestyle. My intent is to encourage people to be the best at what they do the best… to be “rock stars” in the real-world. This is success psychology and personal development turned up to 10! If you like to be inspired and challenged with compelling, provocative, and relevant posts that rock… then this is the place for you!
BTW… I’ve used other blogging services with disappointing results. I really dig the overall ease with which WordPress operates. I highly recommend it for those considering a new blog. Rule #1: if it isn’t easy, it won’t get used. With over 3 million blogs currently up at this time, WordPress is obviously easy and being used. Glad to be a part of the family. Read. Listen. Learn.
Tom Leu \,,/
Tom Leu 