Don’t Fear Failure!

I know this is a hard topic for most people. Just the thought of failure brings up feelings of disappointment, anxiety, and lack of self-confidence. But, the reality is that everything that we have ever achieved in our lives came from failure. It’s very rare that anybody is successful on the first attempt. That’s just how it goes. Let me give some examples.

When we were babies, we had to have everything done for us. We’re fed, burped, bathed, dressed, and etc. But, one of the very first things we learned to do was raise our head. Was it easy? No! Have you watched a baby struggle with raising its head when laid on its stomach? I know that I have. It’s hard to watch at times. Do they do it on the first attempt? No! But, it’s their determination to do it that eventually leads them to successfully accomplishing it. It’s no different than learning how to talk, walk, or ride a bike. We learn through a series of failures to eventually succeed at whatever it is that we want to do.

Another example is cooking. I know that when I first learned how to cook, I had the fear that I wouldn’t cook it right or burned it. That fear led to those exact things. I was undercooking or overcooking food. You know it’s bad when you overcook Top Ramen! LOL! But, it was through trial and error that I found the right way to cook. Now, I do it without thinking. I’m on autopilot. It’s funny how I can have 3 things cooking at the same time without batting an eye.

What does all this have to do with the fear of failure? A lot! For most of us, the fear of failure has kept us from achieving success in all areas in our lives. This includes everything from relationships to business to spirituality. Why? It’s easier to give up rather than to keep trying. That’s pretty much the short and skinny! We, as people as a whole, have become lazy. We are complacent with what we have instead of truly going for what we want. Sure it’s going to be challenging. But, nothing in life worth having comes easy! We have to put in personal equity in it! Some would say blood, sweat, and tears. However you want to put it, it takes determination and persistence to achieve any success in anything!

So, know that failure is not the end. Know that it’s just a part of the process that we all go through to accomplish something. Some things will be easier to some than others. But, once again, that is just the way it is. But, everybody can be successful at whatever it is they want if they choose to keep going rather to quit at the first, second, or third failure. Failures are the building block and foundation to success. Nothing solid can be built without it! Absolutely nothing! Accept it! Embrace it! And, go for it! You can do it!

What Music Means To Me

Music means different things to different people. But, it has a special place in my heart that goes all the way back to my childhood.

Being a child born in the 70s, I was exposed to a lot of the music of that decade and before. In the 70’s, it was a time of funk and disco. That was when I was first exposed to music from my mom. I remember songs from the O’Jay, The Whipsers, Parliament, and etcetera. So many that it would be hard to list them all. It was also a time of true musicianship. Most of the music was released by groups or bands. Real bands such as The Doobie Brothers, The Commodores, and Earth, Wind & Fire just to name a few. There was nothing like hearing the sounds from these bands or groups.

As music transitioned into the 80’s, it started to get really interesting to me. Of course, the birth of Hip Hop/Rap and then the explosion of Pop had a major impact of me. Artists like Michael Jackson, Madonna, Whitney Houston, Run-DMC, Public, and N.W.A. was dominating in their own right. There were great dance songs all the way to political outcries. At the same time, it was a decade of experimentation with the use of more and more electronic instruments such as keyboards and drum machines. Some would say that it hurt music. I would beg to differ. I’ll explain a little bit later on.

The 90’s was the decade dominated by Hip Hop/Rap. I was truly amazed at how much this genre, which was supposed to be a fad, has impacted nearly every other genre out there in some form or fashion. It was great. But, it was bad at the same time. It was a time where everybody wanted to be a rapper and it was being commercialized way beyond where it should have been. A lot of garbage started to come out and it was toward the end of the 90’s where the genre declined.

The new millennium…the 2000’s, was a very interesting time indeed. Music has been begun to lose its moral compass. Songs really don't have meaning anymore. Lyrics were just thrown together over a hot beat. Everybody was focused on making hot club hits and not songs that just sounded good. Sure, there was a resurgence of good music such as Neo-Soul. But, the damage has been done. Some of it has been due to the maturity of technology allowing almost anybody with a computer, a microphone, and some recording software to set up a home studio. But, in my opinion, it had to more to deal with the fact that most people haven’t honed their craft.

Now…we step into the current decade. The 2010’s. Music has not improved much at all. It’s still on the downward spiral. But…but…it there is a resurgence and uproar now coming from the fans. The people that buy the music are now demanding real music again. This is refreshing!

I said all the above because this is what I have seen and heard of music for the last 35 to 40 years of my life. It has also been the reason why I got bit by the music bug at the early age of 7 years old. Music has power! Music has energy! Music transcends all languages and borders! Music is truly the universal language of the world! And that is what drives me to do what I do! To be able to speak to people all over the world through the love of my music!