Welcome Back! (Volume 2, Chapter 1)

Here it is ladies and gents, another year for the SPR Blog. This time around, we've attached the word "inspiration" to our theme in addition to "Music and Motivation" because I believe that inspiration is key to every creation. I'll be sharing with you some of the stories that inspired the creation of SmartPhoneRecords, as well as some of the people that made it possible for us to exist. Additionally, I'll share some of the resources we use that help make our company run more efficiently, in hopes that you, too, will find them just as helpful not only for using our app, but for pursuing your passion for making music.

We will also be showcasing artists within SPR community that have compelling stories to share as well. This year will definitely include much more interaction with our readers and customers and we can't wait to get started. So with that being said, I'm going to get back to work.

One important message--we are still working on some updates, so if you run into any problems while using the app, please feel free to send us an email at info@smartphonerecords.com

Thanks again for being with us on this journey. We appreciate you.

See you next week!

My Three Favorite Five Letter Words, continued...

UNTIL

Alas, the final word of my three favorite five letter words. If you haven't already done so, I invite you to check out posts three and 25 regarding the first two. For today, I want to give the final word, and that is "until".

We all need something that motivates us to keep moving towards the future. For most, it's a goal or a dream that helps us to keep moving. For me, I find that the word "until" is like a bridge between you and that goal or mission. Moreover, it's a tough word because it doesn't let you off the hook. It holds you responsible for your promises. For example, when I'm writing these entries, sometimes the ideas flow easily, other times it's a struggle. When the latter happens, I sit down and tell myself to keep brainstorming UNTIL I come up with an idea or UNTIL my thoughts become clear. It's similar to learning how to ride a bike for the first time and falling UNTIL you get your balance situated enough to ride smoothly. Because what's even more important than having a goal is actually completing that goal, whether big or small. That feeling of accomplishment and knowing that you finished what you started is enough to boost your self confidence to pursue bigger dreams.

Time is NOT Money

Most tend to think that wasted time equals wasted money but in my opinion,  there's a completely different way of looking at it. Is money important? Sure it is. Is time important? Absolutely. But the way I see it, time is much more valuable than money for two reasons. One, if you lose a dollar you can always get another dollar back. But if you lose time, it doesn't work the same way; there is no way of getting that time back. Unlike money, once it's gone, it's gone. Secondly, people are also more willing to spend their money more freely than they are to spend their time. Just look at the airline industry for example. People would rather spend ten times the money to fly somewhere instead of drive simply for the convenience of getting there quicker.

My point is, life is too valuable to waste your time not doing what you love. Because in the end, life without passion isn't really living...it's existing.

Practice What You Post

I'll admit it. My guilty pleasure is that I enjoy going online and browsing the various social networks.  I'm constantly entertained by the all of the memes that I see, especially the motivational ones, and man, there are some really good ones circulating out there. But often times I can't help but wonder just how many people actually practice what they post? In actuality, just because one copies and pastes an inspirational post to their social page doesn't mean they're really applying it to their life.

I know this because, at times, I've had to ask myself if I was guilty of doing the same thing.  Was I practicing what I post? Was I applying the messages that you read every week to my own life? 
Ideally, I'd like to say yes, but realistically, I'm sure there have been times where I could have done a better job. So that's why I've decided to revisit my posts throughout the week to ensure that I, too, am abiding by my own words. Looking inward during these moments aren't always easy, but they are necessary. The good thing  is, it's a conversation that no one else has to know about, and an opportunity to grow and become better.

A symbol is worth a thousand words

Symbols are amazing, and a part of our everyday lives so much that I think we often overlook the important messages they sometimes can represent.

Over the weekend I saw the yin yang symbol coming home from a family function. I've seen it a million times but on this day, for some reason it spoke loudly. Perhaps because I was a bit reluctant to go on the family trip when I first heard about it. It's not that I don't like to hang out with my family, but the workaholic in me kicked in and thought about all of the work that I would have to put off just to attend.

Needless to say, after going on the trip, I was glad I decided to go. On top of that, it gave me an opportunity to see how functional my business is outside the comforts of home, as well as indulge in spending time with loved ones that I rarely get to see.

Seeing that symbol was a reminder for me that balance is key, yet that very symbol may not represent the same thing to the next person. That's why I find them fascinating, because symbols themselves become powerful when they merge with meaning, but still give us the freedom to decide for ourselves what they each represent.

Symbols are everywhere. What will the next one say to you?

REMIX! (You don't have to be original to do something great)

I used to think that in order to be creative you had to be original. But as I get older I've discovered that it couldn't be further from the truth. Originality and creativity are two completely different things. People are constantly modifying existing products every day. How many different ways can you make a vacuum or a blender? 

The same goes for professions, especially the music business. The list of artists and producers who've made a hit from sampling another's grows with each passing day. Don't get me wrong, I'm not implying that creating your success based off riding the coattails of others is the way to go, because it's definitely not. It never pays to try and be like someone else. But I am saying that you can be inspired by someone or something and from that, include what makes you unique, whether it be your size, your style, your culture, your background, your thoughts or your vision. Chances are you'll reach many people who appeal to your creativity simply by modifying an existing idea. After all, you don't have to reinvent the wheel to sell a new car, do you?

The Law of Averages

This has to be one of my favorite concepts of all times. Whenever I start a new project, there's always a fear of failure, and this very idea always helps put things into perspective. So what exactly is the "Law of Averages" anyway? It's basically the notion that the more a particular task is performed the better the odds are at succeeding. Just like the law of gravity and the law of physics, its just a part of the world we live in.

The more you share a great idea, the more you increase your chances of peaking someone's interest. I find this to be a rather liberating concept because it reminds me that success doesn't have to happen overnight (which it never does anyway). Take for example, your favorite author, music artist, entertainer, athlete, or anyone else at the top of their profession. I'm willing to bet that their good fortune was a long time coming, and that the Law of Averages has been their one constant companion on their journey to success.

Begin With The End (how to finish before you start)

After posting my last entry, I had a few lingering thoughts that I felt I should've included, because I do realize that it's not enough to suggest to just get started without knowing what to do first. 

One of the philosophies that's been a staple in my life is to begin with the end in mind. I'm sure that may sound a little backwards. But, just like building a house, you have to first draft a blueprint before the foundation is set. Likewise, in order to create the blueprint, you have to have a vision of what you want the house to look like. The clearer the vision the more likely you are to obtain it. Vision, however, requires more than sight itself. It requires an imagination. Its similar to planning a road trip. First you need a destination. From there, you plan accordingly. You need vision, or an imagination to prepare yourself and anticipate things you will need along the way in order to get there.

I really find this idea helpful in all aspects of my life. It helps to start my day with a clear picture of what I want to accomplish by its end. If I reach my goal then I consider it a successful day. The idea is that doing this day after day will eventually lead to long term success. 

So once you get your dream established, begin with the end in mind. What do you want your finished product to look like? What do you want to accomplish by the end of the day? Don't forget to draw out your blueprint. With a little gumption and dedication, you'll be on your way to turning your vision into a reality in no time. 

Gravity (Embrace Resistance)

Lately I've been so busy trying to take care of my business that I quickly fell behind in writing this week's entry. Because I waited until the last minute, it came as no surprise when I hit a writer's block and couldn't come up with anything to talk about. Despite having inspirational stories and tons of notes that I'd jotted down throughout the week, when it was time to get this blog ready, I was stumped.

Artwork by ~FuzzyLumpkat

I began scrolling through my notes and came across the word "Gravity." I remember writing it down three days ago, if only I could remember the reason why. It did, for some unknown reason, trigger a thought at that moment pertaining to my writers block issue. I found it interesting that my inability to come up with a thought would actually be the driving force that inspired this week's topic. Instead of getting overwhelmed with frustration because things didn't go as smoothly as I would have liked, I decided to embrace the fact that I was stuck, and share it with you. 

Normally, I try to provide you with a blog that's informative, but sometimes, you just gotta call them like you see them. Sometimes these things happen. And when they do, you've just got to embrace them for what they are, rather than put up resistance and fight. Once I acknowledged this, somehow it was liberating because it immediately took the pressure off of drafting an entry that I knew I wasn't prepared to write. Liberating because I accepted my shortcomings and realized that sometimes, things aren't going to go as planned. Life gets in the way. And sometimes, that's okay, too. 

So the next time you experience something that doesn't go as planned, just remember you're not alone, and embrace it. 

U Down Wit O.P.P? (Learn from others)

What's the cheapest and most efficient way to learn about life? If you ask me, it would be learning from other people. You know, like OPP--other peoples problems, other peoples progress, other people, period. Whether it's directly from a mentor, a friend, a family member or coming indirectly from an autobiography, a documentary, or a movie, the source itself really doesn't matter. What's important is the lesson. 

Yeah you know me;)

Some might argue that personal experience is the best teacher, but I contend that it all depends on what it is you want to learn. For example, if you're going thorough a difficult phase in your life, it can be helpful to know the ways in which someone else overcame similar struggles.  If someone has accomplished something that you dream of doing, learning about their story may save you time, as well as expedite your learning curve. 

When I would share with investors the idea behind SPR, I would get pissed when they failed to share my vision, or tell me all the ways in which it wouldn't work. But once I learned about Thomas Edison and his invention of the light bulb, or the story of Pandora and the many roadblocks that were encountered prior to its huge success, I began to feel less discouraged, and more motivated. Believe it or not, both of these world-wide, life-altering inventions were once turned down by so-called "smart" investors.

With the world as big as it is, chances are there isn't one person who hasn't walked a mile in your shoes before. So, don't be afraid to find out their background and see how it can apply to your life. After all, you never know the affect your story can have on the next person.

My 3 Favorite 5 Letter Words

My Three Favorite 5 Letter Words on my iPad Screen

Today

Learn

Until

These are my 3 favorite 5 letter words. And they are my favorite because I've come to the conclusion that I can use any one of these words to get me through any situation. 

For example, to write this entry I used "today." It often comes in handy, because for me, it is a word that helps keep things in perspective. 

It's easy to get sidetracked by our past, or to dwell in reliving moments we either regret or would love to repeat. The same can be said with the future, I suppose. Life is filled with more options than we know what to do with, which requires us to make more decisions about the very things that will ultimately find their way into one of the two categories I just mentioned. But even as daunting (or exciting) as "future" planning can sometimes be, it can also overshadow the lessons, adventures & answers that the gift of "today" has to offer . 

It's been said that "the best way to predict the future is to create it"...

So, what better way to do that than by embracing TODAY???

The Conductor (Take Charge of your Symphony)

While channel surfing the other day I stumbled upon what appeared to be a symphony preparing for their upcoming performance. 

As the spectators were being escorted to their assigned seats, on stage the musicians were busy putting their respective instruments to the test while simultaneously getting rid of any last-minute jitters, I suppose. The noise blaring from these instruments sounded more like chaos than a soon-to-be sophisticated, professional paid event.

Conductors Baton

Then, just as it started, the noise abruptly subsided. As the lights dimmed, the conductor confidently made his way to center stage armed with his conductors baton. He looked as though he was certain it would be a night no one would soon forget. 

Which leads me to my point of today's blog: with so much "noise" in our lives, (i.e., social media, current events, family, relationships, work, medical issues, the unpredictable economy) sometimes life itself can become just as "chaotic" as that symphony rehearsal. Perhaps even though it may SEEM noisy and disorganized, in actuality, maybe life's just waiting for you to get on stage and take charge of your own "symphony".

Happy New Year!

No, it's not January 1st, but it's a personal "New Year" for me. I celebrated my birthday yesterday and made a resolution.  I've decided to start a blog and every Monday I'll make a new entry. I'm not sure exactly what I will be writing about, but it will be positive and worth reading.  Many people know me as an artist, but what they don't about me is that I hate to write. It may sound weird, considering my new resolution, but I do not like writing. I live inside my mind most of the time.  But what I've discovered is that when I write my ideas down, I'm able to separate self from thought and bring them to life. A great idea needs to have room to mature and grow on its own, and not be lost in the mix & mayhem of all the smaller, less important ones. 

Happy New Year

I've also learned that the things I put off doing are usually the very things that I should do FIRST.  So check in with me every Monday & since I've told you guys about it, I have to stick to my word.  

Thanks for reading, stay creative and remember-- you don't need to wait until January 1st to make a resolution.

-Damion