MAKING PROGRESS

I have had the opportunity work on multiple projects with individuals who "say" that they want to be successful.  Being the person that I am I go all in and do my best to support their goals by pouring my education and experience into their life and new explored passion.

There is always a point where I find myself working harder for their dream and they have checked out.  Does this mean that they do not want their goal anymore?  Not sure, but what I do know for sure is ... this is the exact reason and point of time when people start teetering between being successful and stuck in the rut that they face year after year that pushed them to "get this money" in the first place.

JUST KEEP MOVING

As soon as people get overwhelmed or side tracked... they stop moving! Sometimes even literally.  Act in spite of any doubt and just keep moving.  There is always an action that you can take and if you are not sure what they should be then follow these two steps:

1. Write a list of things that you do not want to do / or cannot do because of money, time, waiting for "x" to happen etc.
2. Start with the first item you put on the list from action step #1 and start working on this item, immediately.  If you an issue with money, time, or any other circumstance... then start with the first action step that works in the direction of removing that barrier. 

Why do this?  We always know exactly what we do not want to do but the things we don't want to do usually have the highest return and the biggest impact on us reaching a goal.

PRIORITIZE THE PROBLEMS

There is a category of problems that I would consider "good" to have.  Maybe having two job offers at the same time and trying to decide which job to take can definitely feel like a problem.  The question is "how big is that "problem" in comparison to the other "problems" or barriers on your plate?"

Prioritizing your problems allow you to choose which problems you are going to let sway your state of emotions or drive.  If you are the type of person that problems get to fast... Find ways to change your state of emotions quickly (ex: favorite song, walk in the park, funny movies, etc.).  By changing your state of emotions, you are able to then able to focus and go back to what you were doing... but further than that, you took control of the problem and not let it control your stick-to-it-ness.

KNOW YOUR WORK ETHIC

What kind of worker are you? How many hours can you work straight? What is your favorite environment to work in? Do you need music? Do you need food, snacks, and / or drinks?

Figure out how, when and why you work best and then capitalize on that. If you are aware then it will prevent you from burning out and over doing it.

Pursuing a goal can be a long-term process and without any action there, WILL NOT be progress!

Today I Am... Making progress!

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30 DAY FULL VOICE CHALLENGE - Day 20

The 30-Day Full Voice Challenge continues and today I was able to get in 30 minutes of vocalizing.  Last night during my regular vocal performance class, we watched a video from our live performance last week.  Watching yourself is ALWAYS hard and my lack of committing to my 25 healthy meals... definitely came to mind as I was watching my arms move with the reverb on the microphone.  :) 


Take aways from the live performance: 

1. One my song "Don't Make Me Over" I need to pronounce the ending consonants 
2. Cut back on vibrato on my song "Loverman, Oh Where Can You Be?" 
3. Connect with the audience by looking into their eyes and talking directly to them through song

Overall, I am VERY proud of the performance. I juuuuuuuust might upload a video clip... maybe! LOL



Today I Am... happy with progress!  

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Catching up on blogging about the 30-Day Full Voice Challenge

With the closing of April I started off May with lots of energy and the hopes of being a heavy contender in the 30-Day Full Voice Challenge hosted by the Broadway Dance Center.  I started a blog that was only about the challenge... however I decided to move it to my personal blog.  The challenge requires that you...

1. Vocalize everyday for 30 minutes to an hour
2. 4 private voice lessons
3. 2 coaching sessions
4. 1 live vocal performance
5. 1 live performance 
6. 1 NY Industry Audition
7. 1 new demo performance
8. 25 health conscience meals 
9. 20 healthy body conditioning or dance classes 
10. 5 charitable events 

Out of the ten areas I have been vocalizing everyday and have actually found a new way that is lots of fun.  I warm up using a CD given to me by my previous vocal coach and then I turn on my favorite Broadway CD and then grab my mic and amplifier and sing along as if I am on stage.  

As for the other areas I have completed my 2 coaching sessions, as well as my live performance which took place on May 12th at IDO Sushi at 29 7th Avenue with pianist Tommy Mandel who was WONDERFUL! and made me sound wonderful. Before I left my day job one of my co-workers (who I recently discovered had a career on Broadway) gave me a great prep talk and told me "Sing for yourself" and that is just what I did!

The next day, May 13th, I completed my inspirational live vocal performance / concert by seeing Wycliffe Gordan's Jazz A La Carte at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, NY.  I did not go to this performance thinking I would walk out feeling inspired vocally by this event... however I was pleasantly surprised.  17-year-old Nikki Yanofsky graced the stage and sang one of my favorite songs, "Someone to Watch Over Me" and she did an AMAZING job of making the song her own.  I was inspired not only by the purity in her voice but how much the music was in her body and movements.  She is inspirational and I am honored to have seen her perform live.

This week I am hoping to knock out the 1 NY Industry Audition, get some of the conditioning classes under my belt and find some charitable events to attend... So we will see what happens! 

Today I Am... ignoring the overwhelmed feeling! :-)

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