Advice I Wish I’d Gotten

This is a response to Deb Walsh‘s post over on One Cool Free Idea – a call for advice for her son who’s wrapping up high school and readying to go into the entertainment management business.

If I were to go back in time, say, 10 years, and meet myself then as a 21-year-old, just graduated with a Masters in Composition, going into peripetic violin teaching, I think I’d have rather a lot to say.

For starters:

1. Don’t be afraid or ashamed of your eccentricities. Eventually you’ll meet like-minded folk.
2. Don’t be afraid to feel – your emotions are your North Star, your true guide. Think things over as much as you like, but the best decisions are made with both your head and heart working together.
3. Making a living at this crazy media business isn’t nearly as tricky as a lot of people make out… but it’ll take a LOT of persistence and patience, but you’ll get there in the end.
4. It’s ok not to know everything straight away – don’t be afraid to not have an opinion. Sometimes it’s better to just admit you don’t know all the answers. The fun comes in discovering those solutions for yourself.
5. ‘Success’ doesn’t happen overnight, in one moment. It’s a gradual process, of very (sometimes infinitesmally) small steps.
6. Never underestimate the value of ‘word of mouth’. But always be your best self and it should take care of itself. 😉
7. At first, ‘day’ jobs are worth hanging on to whilst they pay for your addiction to more creative endeavours.
8. Don’t listen to naysayers. It’s quite clear their opinion isn’t up to much as they’re clearly not living the life of their dreams… so who are they to put the kibosh on yours?
9. Do yoga. Makes your brain function better, and thus your work easier. For some bizarre reason.
10. Buy a Mac. 😉

So there’s a rough and ready list of pointers for my younger self.

Have you any for yours? Let us know on Twitter (I’m @hethfen), or head back over to One Cool Free Idea and leave your tidbits of advice for Deb’s son. 🙂