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The reason I still play trumpet (for better or worse)
Interesting story for you. In May 2021, my wife Sana and I were riding in a taxi from our apartment to a mall in Hanoi, Vietnam for a relaxing Saturday lunch and stroll through the mall. I had been active playing trumpet for pretty much my entire life, yet the trajectory of my professional career…
Read MoreNew podcast recorded on the Oceanfront
Good evening, Short email for you, kind of a “proof of life” if you will. We ended up having an extremely busy week, as we apartment-shopped, packed up out of one house and moved into another one in the space of less than 72 hours. More than 24 hours of recovery time was needed for both mind and body,…
Read MoreSecret mind hack to thrive in stressful situations
It’s no secret that performance anxiety is a problem for a lot of people. I’m not necessarily referring to musical performances; far more than that. I’m talking about everyday encounters where we’re forced to choose between saying what’s on our minds or conforming with the norms established by the Gatekeepers of Polite Society. That adrenaline…
Read MoreIt’s Been a Year
I type this email on my iPhone exactly 18 minutes prior to midnight EST on Dec 31, 2022. And although I’m not big on New Year’s resolutions, it’s interesting to reflect on the past 12 months to think about what went right, what went wrong, and what just went. In 2022, I traveled between Virginia…
Read MoreWhy I do a trumpet podcast
When I began my Trumpet Dynamics podcast in January 2016, I knew two things for sure: I am a fan of the trumpet I’m a fan of podcasting I do both fairly well I’m the last person I would ever ask to count anything Well, this is going on 7 years ago, and I’m still…
Read More“More trumpet, less music!”
Merry eve of Christmas Eve! The headline for this email might sound tongue in cheek to my fellow trumpeters, yet with a bit of explanation, even the musical neophytes among my loyal subscribers will have at least a cursory understanding of my message for today. The last four years, my musical performing presence has not…
Read MoreIf I’m not #1, then #2 on you
There seems to be a trend among online marketers within a very narrow circle of influence to take on what seems to be on the verge of a flippant attitude toward one’s customers. My theory is that one particular individual named Ben Settle, who is very influential in his own market, has a policy toward…
Read MoreAn Invitation, or a Warning?
Awhile back, I was in one of my favorite stores, Ollie’s Bargain Outlet. Now, I don’t like Ollie’s because it’s the creme de la creme of retail stores. Quite the opposite. It’s about as tacky as a short skirt at Sunday Mass. Their business model is to buy up products at huge discounts, such as a store…
Read MoreIt worked for Breaking Bad, and it will work for you
I’m a huge fan of Breaking Bad. In fact, I might be labeled one of their “super fans”. I’ve watched every episode in order at least 5 times, and I’ve also listened to every podcast that they produced to discuss the show. (By the way, if you’re looking for a great podcast that will give…
Read MoreWhat would this world be without all the characters?
Imagine Batman without the Joker, or the Penguin, or any of the other villains in the comics and movies. Or Superman without Lex Luthor, or those three individuals with equal powers to Superman but who broke bad in their spirit and wished harm and destruction upon Planet Earth? How utterly boring would that be? It was…
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