I'm switching it up! (+ the Grammys)

Read time: ~ 3 min. 30 sec. of your LIFE

[Issue #20240208]

Reader, we're rebranding!

Well, sorta.

You see, I write...a lot.

Probably because I talk a lot.

And here's what I'm realizing:

No one wants to read that shit.

Or at least not here.

Not in your inbox.

Your inbox is like "Stony Island Avenue" in Chicago (from about 0:50-1:52 in this video is how I express this sonically in my composition).

You've got things to do.

You're on the move.

Newsletters get in the way.

You don't have time for all that, and I completely understand.

And truth is, it's been bothersome to approach this thing.

But I don't want it to be.

I want my email list to be one of the things I care about the most.

I'm just overwhelmed.

Each day I wake up,

work,

write,

and compose.

IT NEVER ENDS.

Nor do I want it to.

But it's a lot to manage:

I'm not just writing Medium and LinkedIn articles.

I'm writing tweets and threads.

I'm building a personal brand on practically all socials (connect with me! All my links are at the bottom :)

I'm still composing daily.

I'm trying to win "call for scores" and secure more commissions.

I'm not waiting around for someone to notice me.

I'm trying to make them notice.

Hell, I still gotta build a website (PLEASE HELP).

It's a lot.

At the beginning, I told you things would likely change.

I willingly threw myself into the fire, knowing that I would learn and rebrand along the way.

Too often I try to plan everything out beforehand.

But there's a fine line when "planning" becomes procrastination.

And that's what I did: Procrastinate.

I was tired of it.

Now?

I'm getting a little more clear on how I want to approach this thing.

It's time to make adjustments.

And I'm excited again.

I care about you again, Reader (not that I didn't, but you know..)

We're switching to a "mini" or "atomic" newsletter format:

I'll save my long-form writing for my Medium/LinkedIn articles and frequently link them here (but I'll link the "friend link" so you don't have to pay to read it).

My shortest form writing is on X and Threads.

This newsletter will be somewhere in between (but still on the "mini" side).

Here's my current idea in terms of the layout:

I'll start with an intro (I still like to tell stories and want to be more personal here with you than on other platforms).

I'll then give you 3 quick-hitting, concise tips each on creativity & self-mastery (the whole point of this newsletter anyway). I want these to be practical, something you can apply to your everyday life. I want to find unique angles and stories and extract the lessons to share them with you (a lot of these will come from my own creative journey as well).

And I'll still end with a "My Creative Corner" section, providing you with news & updates about me!

Does this sound exciting?

Or at least...better? (seriously, I'd love to hear your thoughts on this).

We talk about "true self-care starts here," but what does that mean?

For starters, we can't overwhelm ourselves.

As Imaginators, creatives, and big dreamers, it's imperative that we don't bite off more than we can chew.

We can do it all, but not all at once.

I've burnt myself out before, and currently, I'm at a point in my life where it's likely I'll fall back into that bottomless abyss if I'm not careful.

I don't want to do that, especially as I'm finally climbing out of the hole I dug for myself.

If I fall back in, I may never recover.

I'm all about hard work.

I'm all about going as fast as you can.

But you have to go at a pace that's still sustainable.

Something has to give.

Something has to pull as you push.

So I'm pulling back on this newsletter (just a little).

Make no mistake:

I have no intention of stopping this newsletter altogether.

I want to do this, and perhaps we'll expand in the future (especially as this newsletter audience grows).

But I also plan to start a Substack at some point that'll be longer-form "deep dives" on creative masterpieces (I think; I'm still working out what I want to do differently there).

So, we'll see.

Let me know what you think about my rebranding (also probably need a logo and might change out the banner some).

I think I still want to keep the whole "Imaginator" bit with our slogan going.

It's important, after all.

I want this newsletter to be full of big dreamers, and I want to be a guide or source of support on your journey.

And taking the time to alter this newsletter is an act of "self-care."

I'm practicing what I preach:

I'm creating space (as we talked about in this earlier issue of the letter) so that you all get my best.

And, so that I can bring my best to my other creative endeavors as well (such as my long-form writing content and compositions).

Anywho, I'm off for now.

And remember, Imaginator:

TRUE SELF-CARE STARTS HERE.

Oh that's right! The Grammys!

Well, first off, shoutout to Jessie Montgomery for winning the Grammy for "Best Contemporary Classical Composition," the first Black composer to do so!

She's such an inspiration.

And as I saw some clips from the Grammys, I couldn't help but think about how I hope to be there one day.

Maybe I'm built a little differently (I hope all of us Imaginators are), but I'm simply not content being someone else's fan.

I'm genuinely rooting for everyone, and I choose to look at their path as inspiration to motivate my own.

Not just relish in their success.

Thanks to all the Grammy winners (especially the first-time winners) for continuously showing us just how capable we are of actualizing our wildest dreams.

Let's connect on socials: