Create for Yourself, Others MAY Follow

About removing filters and creativity as a way of being

It’s been a month* since I posted. A LOT has happened in that time.

* this piece was originally posted on my Substack. When I indicate a month, I mean, on Substack. It's been longer on LinkedIn. Sorry!

Most notably:

• My son, Christopher, was hired as a data analyst.

For context, a year and a half ago he was lying in a hospital bed, having multiple strokes, with MRSA in his brain, heart, kidneys, spine, etc.

• The kids have moved out

Maybe you didn’t know but we have had the grandkids living with us since last January. They are interesting and fun….. but, time-consuming. No empty-nest syndrome here. Deb and I have projects to attend to. We’re happy to recapture some of our time and space.

• I’m working on meditating more

I spoke about mindfulness a few post ago. I recommend it. Too much of my recent dissatisfaction was due to allowing wandering thoughts without awareness or intention. (see note about intention at the end)

Today we’re going to talk about being creative and creating things.

Casey Neistat

I’ve mentioned Casey Neistat before. YouTuber, videographer, etc. He was interviewed on Jack Conte’s YouTube channel, Digital Spaghetti. Jack broke down one of Casey’s videos.

Casey is super intentional in order to make his videos flow and feel natural. Yep… it takes work to make videos feel natural.

If you are a creator - videos, music, writing, etc. - there is a LOT of great advice in this interview. Watch the entire thing! Although he is covering making videos, he talks about intentionality, he talks about his focus on learning how to make videos (he’s still learning - always learning), he’s aware of everything as he does. It’s impressive!

If you are not going to watch the entire thing - boo on you - but fine. This part that jumped out and bit me! I have it linked below to start at 10:47 in the video. The golden nugget (besides emotion being the most important thing) is his response to the question at 11:00.

Jack Conte: “How do you know that what you’re feeling is what you’re viewers are going to fee…..?”

Before Jack can finish the question, Casey answers emphatically!!!

Casey Neistat: “Oh, I don’t give a shit what the viewers feel?”

Later, Jack is trying to clarify that he creates for himself and trust the viewer will also connect with it… Casey says, “I don’t even go to the second part!”

I believe Casey. This isn’t contrived.

The reason I believe him is that I understand that feeling. When I wrote my books, I was convinced that what I had to say offered great advice for the career seeker. It was the advice I would give myself if I was looking to grow my career in Information Technology - and many other fields.

I didn’t need to bounce the ideas off someone to see if they were good. They resonated so loudly with me that I KNEW they were good. And I enjoyed how I delivered it. I have fun when I’m writing.

Apparently, others have fun when I’m writing too. I’m glad but, at my best, I’m writing things that I love. I have confirmation that those things resonate with others. Comments, my book deals, being asked to speak to writer’s groups, being asked to write articles, etc.

But I wrote - and I will write - regardless.

I’m not suggesting you not take any input or live with the belief that you’ve arrived. In fact, later in that same segment, (around 13:48) Casey talks about how his studio is a mess, he has no employees, and not even his agent knows how to reach him. Then he says, “And that’s fine because I just want to sit here and LEARN how to make videos.” (emphasis mine)

Two things: He is one of the most popular YouTubers\videographers and he is committed to learning. Second… he loves what he does. Obsession!

Obsession and Teachability are a type of secret sauce.

Note: This is on my desk - right now. I’ve read it cover to cover many times. I pick it up and read something in it almost every week.

Rick Rubin

Recently, I purchased Rubin’s book, The Creative Act: A Way of Being.

According to my kindle, I’m about 27% done - page 105 - based on my font size. I’ve been making notes as I go. I like the kindle for that.

Two things I am taking from the book.

1. I need to read more.

I’ve known this for a few years but I need to read a lot more. Reading makes you a better writer. Plus, damn… it’s fun to be fully-immersed in your own brain.

2. We are all creative

This mirrors something I have said for years. I don’t move into a creative place to write - music or anything else - or to solve technical problems for that matter. Creativity is the most natural state of being I have.

There is no need to think outside the box…

Years ago, during a presentation I gave to a business group, an attendee asked me, “What did your parents do and what do you do to help your kids think so far outside the box.”

My response was a natural (but nicely pithy):

"No one ever told me there was a box!"

Rick tries to explain that if you work to reduce your life experience filters, you can take in more of the world that’s around you. You’ll miss less and you can filter intentionally rather than automatically.

When you filter input automatically - preconceived notions. years of established patterns, this or that is NOT my taste, etc. - you limit your sources of creativity.

Break those filters and you have a much deeper palette to choose from when creating.

There is no need to “think outside the box” when there are no boxes present.

Removing filters has a danger, of sorts. It will cause you to re-evaluate many beliefs - some you hold dear - and put them on the chopping block.

As a byproduct, you may lose your in-group. I’m not saying it is a bad thing - but dangerous nonetheless.

I have no time for stinted and parochial thinking. No interest in pushing back against it.

My goal is to be about creating. Creating relationships, creating memories, creating music, creating images, creating written work, etc.

We all have limited mental energy. As you age, you have less of it.

My advice is to waste less time with input sources, people, and activities that rob both your time and your energy.

Creating, while it takes time, can be an energy magnifier. It certainly is a satisfaction magnifier.

What’s on the docket?

Drums

For years… too many years, I’ve avoided learning how to program midi drums. I just wanted to write music, play my acoustic guitar, and let others handle that. This has been a limiting factor in creating some things I want to create.

A few weeks ago I was discussing this on a Discord channel focused on the recording software I use - Reaper. A couple of the people on that forum pushed me to spend a little time there. I knew the basics and I have a couple midi drum programs.

So, I dug into that a bit and was surprised that I both enjoyed it and got a decent sound.

Acoustic recordings

We’re going to create more fully-produced music. Drums, electric guitar, keys, etc.

But, we are going to release acoustic versions of every song I’ve written. Maybe two guitars, maybe a bass, maybe a shaker or a hand-clap. I might double vocals here and there. But many times, just guitar and vocals.

We’re going to release them, officially, as projects and acoustic singles.

Video

We’re going to produce a few videos for some of the acoustic and produced music. This will be an exercise in our creativity. I’m fortunate to have Deb - her photography and framing will be an asset for the videos - and my son-in-law, Edward, to both bounce ideas off of and to assist with these productions.

Crowdfunding

Yep.. we’re still going to do a crowdfunding campaign to take 5 songs into the studio and have them produced. Per what I indicated has changed above, we are excited about recaptured time and focus. Give us a little time to put some other things in place and we’ll get on it.

What about you?

What are you hoping to create this year?

Are you feeling stuck? Need some direction/encouragement? Or do you just want to share your plans?

Let me know - in the comments or privately, via email. I’d love to hear from you.

Take care and thank you for joining me here.

Sincerely,

Matthew Moran

July 7, 2023

Coming up next:

Over the weekend, I’ll be posting two songs - one acoustic and one where I’ve been programming the drums. I also recorded bass (it sounds great!), some electric guitar, and some percussion.

Footnote: About Intention

I do not mean the woo woo intention taught by The Secret (the Law of Attraction). That’s bullshit and useless. I mean, simply being aware of and intentional about the thoughts and focus that you have.?