The Seven Habits of Happy, Engaged, Fulfilled and Highly Creative Performers, Composers and Ensembles.

1. Authenticity, and recognizing when they’re not being true to themselves. (It’s an internal feeling of discomfort.) And yet, they understand that sometimes they have to play the game…somewhat.

2. Focus i.e. Time Management.

People who can’t their work done are spending too much time on unimportant things. (What things are you currently doing that you could do less or eliminate entirely? Teaching, wedding gigs?)

At any time they, know what the most important thing is. And that can mean washing the dishes, doing laundry or…..practicing.

They can identify, in three sentences or less, what they really do for a living. Both, live in the moment and in writing.

3. Showing up every day and only doing the things they love, and only working mostly with likeminded musicians with integrity, passion, and reliability – and that they value you and what you do.

4. No explanations or apologies. They show up every day and do what is authentic to them, without explanations or apologies. (See No. 3)

And then one day, things just start coming their way, with seemingly very little effort.

5. They have answered these questions: who is my audience, who-where is my future audience, and who is the audience I wish to reach?

6. They know when to say “yes,” when to say “no” and when to say “not now, but maybe in six months.”

They rarely work for free.

7. They come to genuinely know, believe and acknowledge that the work they’re doing is important, and that the world will miss it if it’s not created – or it’s been created but it’s difficult for your audiences to know it’s out there.

Honorary Habit No. 8: it has to be fun.

The Akropolis Reed Quintet having fun

Invoke having fun