Recently reflecting upon my career, I came to a terrifying realization: I had not defined success for myself.
As an artist/producer/songwriter in an ever-changing music industry, there’s a multitude of hats I can wear. I love being able to adapt to create art and accomplish multiple goals. But being an “end game” guy catches up to me, and I tend to lose perspective on my progress or success from time to time.
I’ve set goals and plotted paths my entire life. Over time those paths took many unexpected turns. I’m slowly learning that those turns are a blessed part of the journey. If you’re not enjoying the journey, then what’s the point?
I started this year’s journey at The Roxy with a brand new band, toured Japan with a dear friend, played 5 shows at SXSW in Austin, TX, and ended St. Patrick’s Day at The Troubadour back in LA. I toured the Cali coast, playing the San Diego County Fair up to Pacifica in Nor Cal. I even went to Hawaii to push my third new single. Furthermore, I write this post to you from Portland, Maine. I'm on my return trip from a new writing project I’ve undertaken with some VERY talented guys.
It’s been one beautiful whirlwind.
So many great people have opened their hearts, ears, minds, homes, and arms for me. They have taught me so much about myself and the ever-changing world around me. I am forever grateful for that.
I am ashamed to say that for so long I was caught up in “making it" and didn’t stop to smell the roses. So many times I’ve found myself unhappy or just moving on to “the next thing” because it wasn’t a Grammy, or a headlining tour, or a #1 single. I was too busy letting other people or the industry define my success.
If we don’t define success for ourselves before or early on in our journey, we may miss the greatest parts. We may get to the end and not even know how we got there, forgetting the successes along the way. Maybe those little successes are actually big successes - the necessary steps toward our ultimate goals.
If we never want to stop improving, then the journey is actually all we have. Let’s find a way to enjoy it.
Your fellow explorer, Dom