Write about bringing your unique artistry into your work and life. Author of the Business Artist and share my weekly journey not just about navigating life but also keenly observing and understanding the factors, seen and unseen, that shape our experiences and perceptions.
Share
The Business Artist Digest - March 15, 2024
Published over 1 year ago • 3 min read
Students from Interlochen Center for the Arts playing a SoFar sounds show in Los Angeles, CA March 13, 2024
Last night, my wife and I hosted SoFar at our house for the second time in a week. One of the musicians asked me "Why do we enjoy hosting so often?"
We don't get paid to host. We invite 80+ strangers into our home and backyard. Why do we enjoy doing it?
In today's digital world, it is so hard to break out of the algorithmically driven walls of interest pushing against us. We host SoFar so we can become explorers again.
At a SoFar show, 3 acts come in to perform. Each plays for 25-30 mins with a 10-minute break in between. Each solo or group act is mostly a singer/songwriter, sometimes spoken word poets or other some other kind of artist. Even as a host, I have no idea who is coming to my house either to perform or to be a guest. Last night there was even group of high school kids traveling (one on her first plane ride) from the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan. They were unexpectedly refreshing, each taking turns playing different instruments - very talented. Most importantly - music I would never find on my own, or as part of Spotify's Discover Weekly, which doesn't help me discover anything. Like most "digitally driven recommendations" we only get served things that are 99% like us but unseen so far. That's Discovery, not Exploration.
The word 'Explore 'is my favorite word in English
Explore: I believe this is a process or action of searching, investigating, or traveling through a new medium (physical or not) to learn more about it. Exploration carries a sense of curiosity and openness, without a specific goal or expectation of what one might find. When you explore, you're open to various experiences and outcomes, not necessarily looking to find something specific but to gain a broader understanding or appreciation of what you encounter. Exploration can be physical (like exploring a new land) or metaphorical (like exploring a field of knowledge, or exploring a new feeling from music).
Discover: I view discovery, on the other hand, as the act of finding something specific that was previously unknown or unrecognized by the discoverer. In the world according to Adam this implies an unveiling or revelation of something that exists but hasn't been seen or understood by the person making the discovery until that moment. Discoveries can be the result of exploration, but they carry a connotation of uncovering something specific and significant, often something that adds to the collective knowledge in a field or changes the way we understand something.
So, while both terms involve the process of encountering the new or unknown, explore leans more towards the experience and process itself, often without a specific end goal, whereas discover emphasizes the result of coming across something previously unknown or unseen, typically with a sense of surprise or achievement.
Book Release
It's been 2 weeks since the official Book Launch. For those of you who haven't pulled the trigger to buy a copy, what are you waiting for???
Shoutout to Loren Donelson - who is the first confirmed overseas purchaser (pictured above top right). Mom and Dad also reading a copy along with Grift Krehnbrink's dog Ada. That's a diverse readership!
For anyone who has purchased and wants to support me, please submit an Amazon review, I'm told these matter a lot to my success. Grateful for your help!
Business Artist Spotlight
This week I wanted to shine a light on Sasha Strauss - to truly know Sasha and what a great example of a Business Artist - you only need to hear in speak. He commands an audience, intuitively and expertly engages, and brings his own "Sasha-ness" into everything he does.
Sasha is a force to be reckoned with in the brand and innovation space. In 2006 he left his agency job to start Innovation Protocol a strategic brand consultancy specializing in developing comprehensive branding strategies that help companies articulate their unique value propositions, engage with their target audiences more effectively, and navigate complex market landscapes.
In addition to his job as an Entrepreneur - he also teaches at both UCLA and USC, which is where I met him as an MBA student. His talks about the importance of brand and building one's own brand stuck with me throughout my career.
Sasha is a shining example of a Business Artist - constantly bringing a human approach to everything he does.
Write about bringing your unique artistry into your work and life. Author of the Business Artist and share my weekly journey not just about navigating life but also keenly observing and understanding the factors, seen and unseen, that shape our experiences and perceptions.
Yesterday morning, I couldn't sleep past 4:15 am. Like anyone else, I tried to quiet my mind's thoughts for the next 20 minutes, but no luck. I jumped out of bed at 4:45 am, slapped on some hiking shoes, and climbed the 2.5 mile, 1100ft Paseo Miramar trail near my house in LA. I made it up just in time for the 6:12 am sunset. Ah, first light over the City of Angels. Paseo Miramar - from Los Liones (Pacific Palisades) On the way up the mountain, while my heart pumped, my mind was relaxed. I...
Worldviews and Business Artists A worldview is simply how we 'view the world'—our lens is shaped by our experiences, beliefs, and biases. In a recent blog post, I wrote on the concept of trans-perspectivism, the art of seeking truth by weaving together diverse viewpoints and traditions. In a world of division, trans-perspectivism bridges understanding and empathy, urging us to step beyond our personal beliefs to grasp the myriad ways others perceive reality. Trans-perspectivism is crucial for...
Last night, I caught up with my friend Ryan Hickey, who we previously spotlighted here. We discussed and debated the topic of competition and the role it plays for artists, particularly Business Artists. Competition among Artists High-performing artistic individuals view their competition not as something external, but as the figure staring back at them in the mirror. External motivation and friendly competition have their place, but truly successful Business Artists are highly competitive...