This is the best career advice I’ve ever read, via Josh Brown: Make yourself useful to smart, successful people. That’s how you should spend the first ten years of your career. Surround yourself with smart, successful people and then bet on them. That’s how you should spend the next ten years. And then you’re done, … Continue reading The Best Career Advice I’ve Ever Read
Tag: kids
The Two Factors You Need To Be A Successful Professional
If you want to be a professional musician, it’s not enough to make great music. You have to learn how to connect with an audience too. Build skills. Build community. Success follows. You can be the best basement musician on the block. But without an audience, it's a hobby. We spend lots of time focusing … Continue reading The Two Factors You Need To Be A Successful Professional
Where Valentine’s Day Comes From, Why It Works, And How To Steal Its Formula
3rd-century Roman law was clear: Christians were to be persecuted. And Saint Valentine of Rome did not agree with the law. Here’s his story and how it connects to Valentine’s Day. Saint Valentine was a priest, serving (illegally) the persecuted Christians of Rome. The charges against him would include marrying Christians, a real no-no because … Continue reading Where Valentine’s Day Comes From, Why It Works, And How To Steal Its Formula
Sunday Music: I Am Gonna Make It Through This Year If It Kills Me
Apparently, a few of you noticed I buried this song after all the Depeche Mode talk last week. You’re right, it deserves some highlighting of its own. John Darnielle is a special songwriter. In 2005, Darnielle wrote one of his more (most?) autobiographical albums. The Sunset Tree is largely about his childhood. He dedicated it … Continue reading Sunday Music: I Am Gonna Make It Through This Year If It Kills Me
Sunday Music: Beavis, Butthead, And The Beasties
It’s 1993 and I’ve got my walkman loaded with The Beavis and Butthead Experience. I’m about 13, find the skits hysterical, and am already obsessed with music. I’ve got the tape because every 90s kid of a certain age is endlessly imitating and quoting Beavis and Butthead. I’ve also got the tape because… would you … Continue reading Sunday Music: Beavis, Butthead, And The Beasties
Change Paths (How Doug E. Fresh Invented Beatboxing)
The path you’re going down doesn’t have to be the path you finish on. Doug E. Fresh invented beatboxing. If it weren’t for his music teacher, it might never have happened. In grade school, he wanted to learn to play the drums. He joined the school band but the teacher brushed off his request and … Continue reading Change Paths (How Doug E. Fresh Invented Beatboxing)
Sunday Music: Play That Country Tuba, Cowboy
My brother said the song stopped everyone dead when it came on in the kitchen he works. At the mercy of shuffle mode, his Spotify-shuffle picked out “Play That Country Tuba, Cowboy” from the obscure Vandals album, The Vandals Play Really Bad Original Country Tunes. Understandably, nobody else had ever heard it, and the song … Continue reading Sunday Music: Play That Country Tuba, Cowboy
Sunday Music: Mele Kalikimaka
It's a sound of my childhood - not just the whole White Christmas album (the movie AND the Bing album), but this particular song. One part Bing's crooning, another part The Andrews Sisters harmonizing, and a dash of non-northeastern cold, bright and warm Hawaaiin magic. Happy holidays, thanks for being here with me. https://youtu.be/FezVApPddqU
Podcast Of The Week: It’s A Wonderful Podcast (And Life)
Pop Culture Happy Hour takes a look at the holiday classic, It’s a Wonderful Life. I’ve already watched it once this year and had my cry, so hearing the whole lot of them go back and forth is delightful. Come for Glen Weldon’s sarcastic panning of the entire movie (it’s brilliant, even if you love … Continue reading Podcast Of The Week: It’s A Wonderful Podcast (And Life)
Men At Forty (Happy Birthday To Me)
"Men At Forty" by Donald Justice is printed out, framed, and hanging in my closet. I’ve been glancing at it off and on for the last year or so. This post isn’t a critique, but it is my 40th birthday reflection on it. Pardon the self-indulgence, but it felt important to put this down. Men … Continue reading Men At Forty (Happy Birthday To Me)