I had a daydream a few years ago that I was being attacked by freaky Wizard of Oz-esque monkeys.  They were ripping up all of my files, papers, and storage containers.  They were destroying everything!

Being a freelance musician, I have to manage multiple clients, relationships with bookers and media guys, student rosters, and on and on.  For a while I just drowned under the pressure, but then I realized that organization kills chaos.

If you have trouble managing the mountain of tasks that face you everyday, check out these 5 tips that helped me ward off my chaotic demon monkeys.

1.  Task list

Every morning make a task list.  Spend 5-10 minutes organizing everything you have to do,  and then prioritize each task.

A = must do.

B = Need to do, but not immediately.

C = I would like to accomplish this, but it’s fine if I don’t get it done today.

D = avoid (for example, social media, stuff that should be delegated, non-work related activities…)

2.  Reduce Time Responding to Emails

Restrict how much time you spend reading/responding to emails.  I am guilty of spending way too much time in gmail.  It will suck your day away.  Be disciplined about when you respond to emails.  You could try morning and evening, 3 times a day, or just restrict yourself to batch responding to all emails once a day.

3.  Download unroll.me

This app has revolutionized how I do email.  No longer do I have to waste time deleting subscriptions, or unwanted mail!  Unroll.me allows me to put all my subcriptions through their program, and they send me one email a day that contains all of my subscriptions.  Check it out.  It’s awesome!

4.  Google Calendar

Be sure to put all of your dates in Google calendar, and then sync it with your phone.  My appointments are often spaced out, and at weird times.  There’s no way to remember them all.  Google calendar has helped me remember everything.  Now, I don’t worry, and I don’t miss appointments.

5.  Weekly Goals

Every Monday morning I review last weeks to-do list, and I create goals for the week.  Indecision will make you poor.  Action creates opportunity.  Set realistic weekly, monthly, and yearly goals, and take action on them.   This will give you an edge on most competitors.

I hope this was food for thought!  What are some ways you stay organized!

I recently read an amazing book called Acres of Diamonds.  It was written by a civil war vet who became a minister.  The book had so many helpful principles.  One that stood out to me was:

Greatness consists not in the holding of some future office, but really consists of doing great deeds with little means and the accomplishment of vast purposes from the private ranks of life.  To be great at all one must be great here, now…  (Free Kindle Version)

I love that! It’s incredibly encouraging to know that I am responsible for my destiny.  I am responsible for my own success.

So many times it feels like: if I only had more capital, or if only someone discovered me, or if only I had more time…then my music would be everywhere.

It’s just not true.  The only way to be great later is to be great now.  Do something great, baby!

What do you think?  

DIG wrote a really nice article about a band I play in.  Click here to read.

You can check out the Minos the Saint house EP @ http://minosthesaint.bandcamp.com/.

Joel

Isaac Stern was someone who understood the power of music. There was no hesitation in his step when he walked onto the chaotic stage in Jerusalem Theater.  Moments before, the siren had sounded, and frightened orchestra musicians quickly fled their stands.

During the first Iraq war, scud missile attacks were common for Israelis.  Knowing the danger, Isaac Stern refused to be intimidated.  He played a Bach partita over the loud alarm.  Several jewish audience members listened through gas masks.  They stood resolute in the face of fear, refusing to be terrorized.

Andy Andrews has said, “People are either in a crisis, coming out of one, or headed for one”.

I found out about Nataly Dawn through Pomplamoose, a band that became wildly successful on youtube.  She just raised $100,000 on kickstarter to create her debut solo album, How I Knew Her.

Wow!

Another singer/songwriter, John Mark McMillan recently raised over $40,000 in a week.

Artists are doing amazing things: developing meaningful relationships with fans, creating great music, and going on successful national tours.

Sometimes the negativity of life muddies the hope of our dream.  It is encouraging to remember that other people are thriving despite the obstacles we all face.

BTW, Soundcheck did a great interview with Nataly.  Click the link below to hear it:

Soundcheck Interview

For me, and for many of us, our first waking thought of the day is “I didn’t get enough sleep.”  The next one is “I don’t have enough time.”  Whether true or not, that thought of not enough occurs to us automatically before we even think to question or examine it.

–Lynne Twist, The Soul of Money

Not enough is an excuse that prevents us from creating art.

The illusion of scarcity causes us to experience a reality of want.  One of these illusions is the starving artist syndrome.  Other illusions are a perceived deficit of time, talent, contacts, resources, and training.  While all of these are valid challenges, a mindset of scarcity can prevent us from becoming champions.

Almost no great innovator started off with lots of money and support.  In fact, a lot of the time they faced great opposition and rejection of their ideas–The Armory Show, 1st premier of The Rite of Spring, The second Viennese School,  John Cage, Philip Glass, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, even Elvis.

In order to create ideas that spread we have to be willing to be vulnerable and overcome fear.

The world needs your art.

What’s stopping you?