It can be so difficult to know where to focus your energies when you& #39;re working for yourself: it& #39;s very easy to get off track. You have to be careful to not latch onto others& #39; interests and goals as that& #39;s especially easy these days. Stay looking forward.

Music people especially: we& #39;re built to derail. Watch out. No one is looking out for you except you. The only one that is going to move you forward is you. Forget the causes, side projects, shaking of trees for coins to fall out. Your time is better spent looking for more gigs.

That& #39;s to say that making your music is the bottom line as a composer. You won& #39;t get credits, visibility, skills, longevity out of anything but doing the work again and again. You may have made more money or have another recording but it doesn& #39;t mean a lot toward keeping going.

Flower analogy. Some of y& #39;all trying to blossom and spread out as a seed, skipping growing strong roots and a stalk. Flowers come with care and time. That growth only comes from staying at it. Don& #39;t wither.