The Risk and When to Take It

On the latest episode of my podcast, Creative Confidential, I posted an essay about taking risk.  

Here's an except from that episode: 

Today we talk about risk.

New Years is always a time for reflection and setting goals, whether you want to change aspects of your personal life or your professional life.

Sometimes the pathway to get to where you want to go isn’t easy. Actually, often it is not easy.  The path can be a treacherous one with risks at every turn.

No matter how many times you visualize accomplishing your goals, you will never anticipate all the risks and possible pitfalls that you will encounter along the way.

If you have found an idea that you can’t give up, an idea that consumes your thoughts when you should be focused on other things, then you are onto something worth pursuing.  Sometimes you have an idea.  Sometimes the idea has you, and that is the beginning of a journey.

If you have always wanted to be a filmmaker, if you’ve always wanted to be a novelist or work in the music industry, now is the time.

Sometimes the pathway to get to where you want to go isn’t easy. Actually, often it is not easy.  The path can be a treacherous one with risks at every turn.  Sometimes you have an idea.  Sometimes the idea has you, and that is the beginning of a journey.  Please be sure to rate and review us on iTunes here: http://apple.co/2fMpWex For all episodes, visit us on the web: http://creativeconfidential.net Outro music: "Never Satisfied" By Dan DeChellis. http://dandechellis.com Used with permission. Content (c) Bryan Tuk 2017. All rights reserved.

Music Monday, WFMZ 69News at Sunrise Appearance

When they say "69News at Sunrise", they really do mean at sunrise. A 4:30AM wakeup is damn early, especially for someone like me who kicks into gear around 10AM.  That, however, is what's required to get the gear to the TV station in Allentown from Chester County and get set up and sound checked by 7:30AM.   

Eve Russo, one of the WFMZ news anchors was a gracious host as always, and it was great to see Jaciel Cordoba and Steve Mittman in the studio as well.  

To go to the video, please click here:

BD  and Jim really delivered on this performance as the performers really go live almost stone cold.  For an instrumental band that is solo driven, you want to be as warmed up as possible before you play for people. 

 We had about 5 minutes of playing time total before our live segments aired, as the performance space is in the news studio about 5 feet away from the anchor desk.  BD and Jim handled it like pros.  Just another day at the office....

Resolutions vs. Goals

Somehow the idea of New Year's resolutions and career goals became conflated on social media, particularly so this year.  You don't have to look far to see people posting their 2017 marketing plan on FB in the guise of being reflective. 

Separating the two concepts is important, because they are distinct.  You can't be a brand all the time, and you can't sell to your friends/audience all the time either.  I think the idea of personal branding can easily be taken too far and have the opposite of the intended effect.  If you post a constant stream of your professional achievements, goals, advertisements, pep talks, elevator pitches and the like, then you inadvertently cause people to tune out.  Some intentional scarcity is a good thing. 

On a personal note, my New Year's resolution is simple: be more present and focused in the moment.   I have a great family situation now and am ever aware of that, and I'm going to do everything I can to continue to take care of my people: Jenny, Sarah, Connor, Olivia, Ella and Colin.

As tumultuous as 2016 was, then hopefully 2017 is a year of peace on many fronts. 

As for my career goals, I'll keep to myself without public declaration and just DO them.  You'll know when they happen.  Believe me, you'll know. 

Build the future. 

To all, a safe, happy and prosperous 2017.