When life gets in the way

No matter at what scale, life very rarely goes as planned. Some things are easier than we thought they'd be, many others are harder. Accidents and inconveniences dot our agendas, we get sudden ideas that we then have to fit in our day somehow. Mundanity gets in the way of greatness and viceversa. We're left juggling constantly while wishing there were more hours in the day.

For example, last year, my family and I finally got around to remodelling the kitchen. It was long overdue, and we were sure that the final result would be very good. However, doing it meant dust, noise, and a cramped house. My piano ended up blocked by a bunch of boxes. I had to keep an eye on what was going on during times I'd normally dedicate to practise. It hindered my creativity for some time, it made preparation for gigs more difficult, too. Yet life didn't stop. The expectations of my clients didn't change. I still had to show up and step firmly on the stage.

Although it was strenuous, discipline made it possible. It was a matter to assess the situation and organise myself to adapt to the circumstances. It's the same with everything, positive or negative, that gets in the way between you and your music career goals. While it's true that the universe doesn't bend to our individual needs and dreams, this doesn't have to be the reason why we don't strive to satisfy those needs and pursue those dreams. There's always room for movement if you remain flexible.

I spoke at length about this with some of my guests of the second season of Success Beyond the Score, my podcast about how to build a career in the music industry. If you're currently struggling to achieve balance between your personal and work life, perhaps you'll find some of the things we discussed there useful!