When it comes to gigs, do you suffer from the "yes to everything" mindset?

From 2016 - 2021 I was absolutely terrified of saying "no" to gigs.

I was the true hustling musician, justifying it by telling myself: “this could be the opportunity or connection that skyrockets my career!”

At first, it was great!

But over time, it resulted in overwhelm and chronic anxiety, constantly feeling underprepared for performances, no time for myself, and weekly feelings of regret as I played Pachelbel canon for literally the 653rd time. 

So in January of 2022, I developed these 16 questions to stop myself from accepting gigs that would inevitably lead to burnout, overwhelm and regret.

This is for you if you are already established in a gig scene, are feeling overwhelmed with opportunities, and need to start flexing your "no muscle."

RELEVANCY QUESTIONS TO MAKE SURE THIS GIG MATTERS

Is this gig a hell yes? 

If it's not a hell yes, it has to be a hell no!

Life has too much potential to be incredible, to be spending it doing the mediocre.

Is this an opportunity I would have gone out of my way to pursue?

If the opportunity wasn't a sure thing, but you sensed potential, how much would you sacrifice to obtain it?

Would you go out of your way and perfect your resume, call all your contacts, cancel already scheduled commitments, etc. to get this gig?

Or, would playing this gig not be worth that effort?

This is an indication of if the gig is a hell yes or a hell no.

How likely is it that this gig will yield future opportunities that advance my career?

Learning, developing new skills, and fostering synergistic relationships is FAR more important than making a quick buck.

Money spends once.

Skills, relationships and knowledge monetize forever.

What am I saying "NO" to?

When you say "yes" to something, you are invariably saying "no" to something else.

That something else could be: building your business or side hustle, fostering meaningful relationships, practicing for your next big performance, self care, etc.

Make sure the opportunity cost of saying "yes" is worth whatever you are saying "no" to.

Is this helping me build relevant skills and / or moving me towards my main career goals?

In order to answer this question, you must have full clarity on what your biggest career goals are.

If you don't have clarity on this, say no to every gig until your main goal is crystal clear.

If you can't answer: "What's most important now?" What's most important now is to figure out what's most important now.

Would I want to be doing this in 3 years time? 

If you don't want to be playing this type of gig in 3 years, why are you doing it now?

I used to play a shitload of weddings because it was very lucrative. But as soon as I realized I definitely didn't want to be playing weddings when I was 40, I completely stopped cold turkey.

The longer you continue doing the same shit, the longer you prolong true fulfillment.

If this gig were to happen tomorrow, would I accept it?

Imagine waking up tomorrow to perform the gig. This clarifies whether it's a meaningful endeavor or just a future obligation.

Don't let your future self feel an immense amount of regret because of a poor decision you made today.

ENERGY AND EXCITEMENT QUESTIONS TO DETERMINE IF THE GIG WILL BOOST OR DEPLETE ENERGY

Will playing this gig give me energy or drain energy? 

You know the gigs where after you finish playing them, you have more energy then you did before you played the gig?

Those are the only gigs you should be doing.

Gigs that sap your energy not only consume your time during the event, but also negatively affect your overall performance and happiness for the rest of the day.

Will the people I would be playing this gig with boost or deplete energy?  

For me, the most important factor when deciding to accept or turn down a gig is the people I'm playing with.

If you play gigs with people who bring you joy, make you laugh, and inspire you to be your best self, no gig is a waste of time.

What’s the repertoire and will playing it boost or deplete energy?  

Would you rather play a string quartet that is on your bucket list, or play some new music bullshit that sounds like birds dying for 15 minutes?

No hate on new music, but rep makes an ENORMOUS difference in level of enjoyment.

Don't put yourself in a situation where you have to spend a week learning a garbage piece that requires a ton of effort, for very little pay off.

PRACTICAL QUESTIONS TO ENSURE THE GIG WON'T RESULT IN OVERWHELM

What else is going on this month?

The vital mistake freelancers make is merely looking at the single day the potential gig is on, seeing they are free that day, and then immediately accepting the gig.

Assess your weekly and monthly commitments, and make sure you allocate enough days for rest and pursuing what truly matters.

Is this gig within an [X] min commute from my home? 

The worst feeling ever is accepting a gig and then realizing it's 3 hours away from you.

Travel is not only a waste of time and money, but greatly depletes mental and physical energy.

Take this all into account and set a maximum commute time for yourself.

How many minutes of practice / rehearsal time will this gig require? 

Musicians think if a gig requires more practice / rehearsal time, it will pay more.

In my experience, it's often gigs where you show up and sightread that are the most lucrative for the amount of time put in.

Make sure to ask for the repertoire and sheet music and estimate how long it will take for you to be adequately prepared for the gig.

Traps that add considerable amount of practice time are:

• If you have to learn anything by ear.

• If memorization is required.

• If you are playing a genre or style of music that you are not currently comfortable playing.

• If you have to do improvisation and are not an experienced improvisor.

• If you have to learn a new extended technique.

How many minutes of personal administrative time will this gig require?

This is the area that almost all musicians forget to consider when identifying how much prep time a gig will take.

Things to Consider:

• If the contractor / employer is organized. If they aren't organized, there will be a ton of emails and phone calls back and forth, the gig will be a headache, and almost always not worth doing.

• Time spent answering emails

• Time spent filling out forms (w-9s, other payment info, etc)

• Time spent editing mandatory materials (resume, bio, headshots, etc.)

• Time spent creating and sending contracts.

• Time spent figuring out programming (this can be incredibly time consuming)

• Time spent preparing for speaking about the piece you will perform.

What time of day is this gig and how will it affect the productivity of the rest of my day?

As productivity expert, Ali Abdaal, says: "An hour before 9 is worth 2 after 5."

I am far more productive in the mornings than in the evenings. Therefore, I put strict boundaries on my mornings and am far more likely to accept gigs that are later in the day.

Define your sacred hours and don't accept gigs that conflict with them.

Does this gig pay at least [$] / hour – including travel, personal practice, administrative work, and dead time?

As legendary entrepreneur, Naval Ravikant says: "Trade money for time, not time for money. You’re going to run out of time first."

This question is basically a combination of all of the above "practical questions" that you can put into a step-by-step process below:

1. Set your minimum dollar amount for how much one hour of your time is worth.

2. You probably under-estimated so multiple that number by 1.5.

3. Add up all the estimated hours that go into preparing for the gig, traveling for the gig, etc.

4. Determine if the offered pay from hits your minimum hourly dollar amount.

I find it helpful to set an uncomfortably high hourly rate and ruthlessly stick to it, unless the gig checks off most of the other positive variables to consider.

I revisit and raise this hourly rate every 6 - 12 months.

If everyone says 'yes' and you're entirely comfortable asking that amount, it's too low.

You must take full responsibility for your life and career. 

If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed and unfulfilled, it means you are letting the demands, pressures, and expectations of others dictate how you use your time. 

Take the 10 min necessary to answer these questions before accepting any gigs, to ensure you only play the gigs that actually matter.

Let me know your favorite question or anything you would add to the list!! 

Many freelance musicians mistakenly believe that talent alone is enough for success.

Truth is, without learning how to effectively manage your days -- especially without the structure of school or a 9-5 job -- even the most gifted individuals will struggle to build a sustainable career.

I’ve been self employed for over 8 years and have successfully juggled multiple careers as a freelance musician, manager of an award-winning string quartet, and health coach.

Here are some techniques I've learned to structure my days to get the most important things done in the least amount of time.

PRIME YOUR BODY AND MIND

The time needed to accomplish the same task can range from 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on how well you've optimized your physical and mental state.

Perform whatever techniques you need to raise your level of focus immediately preceding going into deep work. Some things that help me get into this state include:

• 10 min of meditation

• Exercise

• Going on a walk

• Listening to specific playlists (Hans Zimmer is great for this)

• Eating a high protein snack

• Thai herbal inhalant (look it up on Amazon)

Another thing to consider is it is almost impossible to get into a focused state if you've had a poor nights sleep. In this case, take the time for a 20 min power nap.

The oxymoron here is that by taking more time to prime your body and mind for optimal performance, the less time the task itself will take.

DEFINE YOUR "SACRED HOURS"

Do you know what time of day you are most productive and have the highest inclination for focus?

Note these times as your "sacred hours."

When deciding your sacred hours, consider the science of willpower:

• Willpower gets depleted throughout the day

• Willpower can be replenished through glucose (after eating food,)

• Willpower can be restored after taking breaks from use.

Put strict boundaries around these sacred hours and only do your most important tasks during this time.

As productivity expert, Ali Abdaal, says: "An hour before 9 is worth 2 after 5."

EAT THE FROG

Do you procrastinate crucial tasks you'd rather avoid by occupying yourself with minor "busywork," such as checking email?

Productivity guru, Brian Tracy, has famously solved this problem through a method he's coined, "Eat the Frog." Here's how to do it:

• Identify your frog -- the single biggest and most important task for the day you are dreading to do.

• Eat it -- Do that task first thing in the morning. Don’t give yourself the chance to procrastinate on it later. 

• Take action and repeat each day.

By eating the frog, you are starting your day by ensuring you get the most important thing done, preventing reactive responses to external demands, and building momentum for a productive day ahead.

USE PARKINSON'S LAW IN YOUR FAVOR

It's unconventional, yet the less time you dedicate to a task, the higher quality product you get.

This is because of Parkinson's law: "work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion". This is why we often procrastinate working on a homework assignment, until the night before it's due.

To take advantage of Parkinson's law, do one of two things:

• Create self imposed or external deadlines for task completion, such as scheduling a community concert if you want to learn a full program in the quickest amount of time.

• Create predetermined amounts of time for specific tasks, like setting a timer for 30 minutes to do score study and stop as soon as the timer goes off.

Utilizing Parkinson's law solves procrastination, forces you to finish a task within a given deadline, and usually leads to better results.

CHANGE ENVIRONMENT TO MAXIMIZE ENERGY

Do you find it more difficult to practice in your apartment, or in a dedicated practice room?

Undoubtedly, it's more difficult to focus when practicing at your apartment. This is because different environments have different energy and that energy provides either friction or a tailwind for completion of a task.

3 ways to prime your environment for focus:

• Find an environment where the desired behavior is the normal behavior. IE if you want to do work on your computer, go to a library or coffeeshop.

• Have different rooms of your apartment, or even specific areas of a room dedicated for specific tasks or activities. I have a dedicated corner in my bedroom solely used for meditation and now when I sit in that corner, it gives me the energy and focus for meditation.

• Craft your work environment so it's somewhere you genuinely want to spend time in. Make sure there is natural light, add plants, remove clutter, make sure the climate is comfortable, etc.

Take the 15 min to move to a more beneficial environment, or make your current environment more conducive for deep work. It might seem like a waste of time in the moment but will ultimately save time in the long run.

I see so many young, talented musicians, who struggle to achieve success simply because they don't effectively structure their days.

A small amount of structure unlocks an enormous amount freedom.

Jay Shetty says: “Self doubt has killed more dreams than any failure or rejection in the world.”

During my 4 years studying at the New England Conservatory of Music, I performed like shit.

It wasn't work ethic or lackluster technique that caused my poor performance, but it was the beliefs I had around my playing:

• "I'll never be good enough to win a job"

• "Everyone else is better than me -- I don't deserve to be here."

• "If I don't play well, I'm not worth anything."

Henry Ford summed it up best: "Whether you believe you can, or believe you can't, you are right."

Transforming my mindset has allowed me to overcome performance anxiety, perform better, gain confidence, and finally rediscover the joy of playing!

Here is the simple framework:

1: IDENTIFY THE LIMITING BELIEF

The first step for change is always becoming aware of and defining the problem.

Ask yourself: "What are some of the most common negative things I say to myself related to my playing?"

2: IDENTIFY THE SOURCE OF THE BELIEF

Limiting beliefs are often developed before the age of 15 and are usually born from parents, teachers, societal expectations, or a particularly traumatic event.

Ask yourself: "How did I form these negative opinions about myself? Who or what specific circumstances contributed to these beliefs?"

3: QUESTION THE LIMITING BELIEF

Limiting beliefs can occasionally be rooted in semblances of reality, but they are often complete bullshit.

Ask yourself: "Why do I believe these statements to be true? What actual evidence do I have for these negative opinions?"

4: IDENTIFY HOW THIS BELIEF HAS BEEN LIMITING YOUR LIFE

Identifying how a limiting beliefs has been shackling your life illustrates just how damaging it has been to you and can provide motivation for change.

Ask yourself: "How long have these negative thoughts been with me? How have these beliefs limited my life? How has my behavior reinforced these beliefs? 

5: CREATE A NEW POSITIVE AFFIRMATION

Now that we have completely unpacked the limiting belief, we must create a new empowering belief or affirmation to replace it.

I like creating affirmations that include real world evidence to back it up.

Example:

• Original Negative belief: "I'll never be good enough to win a job."

• New Positive affirmation: "I graduated from NEC, have practiced an average of 4 hours a day for the last 7 years, have the discipline to work harder than any of my peers, and therefore am a good enough player to win my dream job."

Write this down and repeat it everyday.

6: CREATE ACTION STEPS TO AFFIRM THE NEW AFFIRMATION

An Affirmation is useless unless real world action is taken that aligns with it.

As James Clear says: “Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become. No single instance will transform your beliefs, but as the votes build up, so does the evidence of your new identity."

Ask yourself: "What actions can I take to challenge my negative belief? What actions can I take to create a new identity and aligns with my positive affirmation?"

7: COMPILE EVIDENCE AND CELEBRATE

Every time you perform a small action that was in alignment with your positive affirmation, take the time to celebrate it as evidence for your new identity!

If we do not actively take note of the positive actions we take, negativity bias will cause us to solely recognize the instances we've failed to align with our new identity.

When it comes to overcoming performance anxiety, only you can know whether you need to improve your technique, become more disciplined, get a new teacher, start a meditation practice, or fix your mindset.

In my experience though, far too many musicians waste hours in the practice room, before realizing the true bottleneck is rooted in self worth.

Invest time in becoming aware of your limiting beliefs, intimately understanding them, and taking consistent small actions to redefine who you are.

Even if you practice 4 hours a day, if you are prone to playing-related injury, you will never have a long term performing career.

I'm a certified personal trainer, have professionally worked in the wellness industry for over 8 years, and have played violin for 22 years (without ever having any form of injury.)

What I've found is that weight training is the single most underutilized and underestimated form of injury prevention for string players, as it corrects instrument-related imbalances, strengthens key muscle groups, and fixes poor posture.

Here are the 7 movements I recommend all string players do if you have a history of playing-related injuries, or want ensure longevity in your performing career.

Note: Instructions for proper form will not be given in this article but a quick google or youtube search of the exercise will show you how to perform each movement. I would also recommend you seek the guidance of a credible personal trainer to learn how to execute each movement safely, before doing it on your own.

CORE

After warming up and foam rolling / stretching, I always recommend starting with 1 - 2 exercises that target your abdomen.

This enables you to get in the habit of using your core throughout the rest of your workout. Additionally, it gives you the ability to feel and activate your core while playing, which is very helpful for producing a deep, yet unforced tone.

My go-to core exercises are: plank / side plank, captain's chair leg raise, ab roller.

VERTICAL PULL

A vertical pulling movement means you are vertically pulling yourself up, or pulling weight down towards you (think pull up.)

Playing stringed instruments tends to put us into positions that cause us to round our backs, shoulders, and neck inwards, which if done chronically, will inevitably lead to injury.

Pulling movements counteract this tendency, by strengthening the muscles in our back and shoulders. I always recommend doing at least 2 pulling movements for every pushing movement.

My go-to vertical pull exercises are: wide or narrow grip lat pulldown, chin up, and pull ups.

HORIZONTAL PULL

A horizontal pulling movement means you are horizontally pulling yourself forward, or pulling weight backwards towards you (like a rower rows a boat.)

This is again to correct string players tendency to have weak back muscles and round our spine and neck forwards.

My go-to's are: Single arm dumbbell row, seated cable row, bent over dumbbell or barbell rows.

REVERSE FLYS

While vertical and horizontal pulling movements are great at strengthening the larger muscles of the back (lats and rhomboids,) reverse flys are particularly helpful for strengthening the posterior (back) muscles in the shoulders and smaller muscles in the upper back.

This is especially important for violinists and violists to help them maintain upright and neutral posture while playing, but I'm sure has benefits for cellists and bass players as well.

My go-to's are: incline bench dumbbell reverse fly, cable face pull, bent over cable reverse fly.

SINGLE ARM MOVEMENTS

Because playing a stringed instrument is far from a symmetrical movement, most string players have large muscle imbalances from one side to the other.

Muscle imbalances cause us to perform everyday movements improperly, force us to favor different sides of our bodies, and over time lead to injury.

In addition to static and dynamic stretching and foam rolling, the best way to correct these imbalances is through single arm or single leg movements, so that each side and muscle can be isolated and strengthened individually.

My go-to single arm movements are: single arm dumbbell or cable rows, single arm cable pull down, single arm reverse fly.

Note: For single arm / leg movements, always start with your weaker arm or leg and only do the max number of repetitions that you were able to do with your weaker side. For example, if your right arm is stronger, start by doing the exercise with your left arm, do as many reps as you can before proper form breaks down, and do not exceed that rep number with your right arm.

SINGLE LEG MOVEMENTS

You can also solve muscle imbalances by training each leg at a time.

This can be particularly important for bass or cello players, who are often leaning more heavily on one leg or may have hip imbalances due to sitting improperly, etc.

My go-to single leg exercises are: bulgarian split squat, reverse lunge, lateral lunge.

HIP HINGE

A hip hinge movement is where the back and stomach stay in a neutral position, while you bend forward. The power for this movement comes primarily from the hips and glutes, rather than the back.

I include this because any movement that strengthens the posterior chain (glutes, hamstrings, back) will help string players correct hip tightness that happens from hours of sitting in a chair, and improve posture.

My go-to hip hinge movements are: glute bridges (double or single leg,) deadlift, romanian deadlift.

Take one exercise from each of these fundamental movement patterns and make that into a gym routine of 7 total movements.

If you do that 2 - 3 days a week, I guarantee it will 10x your chance of preventing playing related injury, allow you to play with better posture, and make you feel strong and confident!

I spent 17 hours asking an elite Air Force Commander (who has been deployed across the world and led hundreds of airmen) how to win the trust of a team. 

I was expecting strategies rooted in fear and dominance...

But all Troy talked about was embracing equality and compassion.

Here are 3 lessons Troy taught me that can help you become a respected leader, build trust with your direct reports, and win your team's belief.

PUT YOURSELF ON EQUAL FOOTING

When CEO's see Troy's leadership success and ask him how he does it, his first response is a question: "Where do you eat lunch?"

Most leaders eat alone in their offices, take advantage of exclusive hierarchical perks, and maintain a wide distance from direct reports.

Troy eats every meal with his team and gets to know each individual on the deepest level.

What small actions can you take to even the playing field so your employees begin seeing you as just "one of the guys?"

WORK IN THE TRENCHES WITH YOUR TEAM

Most CEOs manage their teams from the sidelines, without knowing the reality of the demanding work their team is doing.

Troy does every pushup and 10-mile run with his team and often stays late at work to help his airmen finish cleaning fighter aircrafts.

Where are you the bystander idly watching your team, when you need to demonstrate you still have the grit to do the dirty work?

EFFECTIVENESS DOESN'T ALWAYS COME BEFORE COMPASSIONATE ACTION

Most CEOs identify their businesses bottlenecks, make a strategy of growth, and single-pointedly execute.

Troy definitely gets shit done, but will almost always make time for an airmen who needs emotional support, or take a Saturday to help a team member move apartments.

Where are you completely prioritizing operating, when you could invest more time in humanizing?

The average tuition for music conservatories is $50,000 per year and rising.

That means if you get a masters degree in music performance, you will be $100,000 in debt (without a clue of how to build a sustainable career as a musician entrepreneur.)

Or, you could spend less than $200 and read these 9 legendary books on business, personal finance, and marketing.

THE CODE OF THE EXTRAORDINARY MIND - VISHEN LAKHIANI

Start here. This book will shatter all your bullshit rules and beliefs you had about life, will show you how to build effective systems and habits for living, and get you thinking like an entrepreneur.

THINK AND GROW RICH - NAPOLEON HILL

Hill teaches you how to set goals, build a burning desire to achieve them, and create an exact plan for success.

I WILL TEACH YOU TO BE RICH - RAMIT SETHI

Music school doesn't teach anything on finance... Use this as your personal finance bible.

THE 4 HOUR WORK WEEK - TIM FERRISS

This book will 10x your productivity and provides frameworks for making crucial life decisions, outsource busywork, and master lifestyle design.

DARING GREATLY - BRENE BROWN

To be a musician entrepreneur, you must become a great leader. To become a great leader, you must master shame, vulnerability, and self worth. Brené is Queen.

RADICAL CANDOR - KIM SCOTT

Any musician invariably has to learn how to effectively work with people. While this book is geared towards corporate managers, it's the best book I've read on navigating human relationships and open communication.

THIS IS MARKETING - SETH GODIN

For musician entrepreneurs, learning about marketing is arguably just as important as mastering your instrument. There are too many great marketing books to list here, but start with the GOAT.

THE ART AND BUSINESS OF ONLINE WRITING - NICOLAS COLE

This book is geared towards writers, but if you are creating content on social platforms, or building an audience, this will guide you every step of the way.

NEVER SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE - CHRIS VOSS

Every musician needs to know how to negotiate your fees and ask for what you are worth. This book is filled with actionable tactics for negotiation imbedded in awesome stories from Voss's FBI hostage negotiating career.

Let me know which one of these is your favorite and what you would add to this list! 

There are 2 traps ambitious creatives fall into:

• Having a surplus of goals you are passionate about, pursuing them all, getting overly stressed, and therefore getting mediocre results.

• Sacrificing the truly important things in life: meaningful relationships, health, adventure, etc., in exchange for career success.

I have studied countless hours of content from productivity gurus throughout history.

Here are the top 3 principles from James Clear, Lewis Howes, and Stephen Covey to help you prioritize and achieve your career goals, avoid overwhelm, and still have time for life's gems.

MANAGE YOUR 4 BURNERS

James Clear describes work-life balance as the "4 burners theory."

Imagine your life is represented by four burners, each symbolizing one major quadrant of life:

• Family

• Friends

• Health

• Work

The theory states that to achieve high levels of success at one of the quadrants, you must take fuel away from one or more of the others.

The lesson here is that "work-life balance" as we think of it is a myth, time and energy are finite resources, and that the most successful people often sacrifice one or more of the 4 burners to put more fuel into another.

It is incredibly liberating to accept the fact that you DO NOT have to maintain perfect balance in all areas of life at all times.

BREAK LIFE INTO SEASONS

Lewis Howes approaches his career and life goals by thinking of life in Seasons.

Lewis is always clear on what his #1 goal is for each season. For 6 months, his one and only goal will be growing his podcast. That's "podcast season." For the next 4 months, it will be to write his book, and for the next 5 months it will be to learn Spanish.

If you break your life into Seasons and are very clear on what goal is the one and only priority for that Season, you can easily break down a year into 3 - 4 seasons and accomplish 3 - 4 very big achievements.

This approach is far more effective than trying to grow a podcast, write a book, and learn Spanish all at the same time.

As Gary Keller says: "the most important thing is to keep the most important thing, the most important thing."

The lesson here is that you CAN actually accomplish all your goals and fuel all 4 burners, just not all at the same time.

BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND

When people think about breaking their life into Seasons, the natural question that follows is: "how do I pick which goal to focus on this season?"

The answer comes from Stephen Covey: "begin with the end in mind."

Knowing that you are going to die and could die at any moment is a very powerful guide that will help you make decisions that lead to a more meaningful life.

Take your list of goals, imagine you are on your deathbed, and think about what goal you would regret the most, if you did not pursue at all. That will give you clarity on what goal you should focus on in your upcoming Season.

If you follow these principles to help you prioritize your life, the worst outcome is that you spend 4 months pursuing a goal that you ultimately realize won't lead you to happiness.

You still come away with new skills and invaluable clarity that you need to go in a different direction.

If you neglect these principles and continue juggling everything, you risk living your life in a constant state of overwhelm, never achieving your most important goals, and looking back on your life with regret.

Follow me @kiyoshijhayashi for more tips on habit change and developing a meaningful career as a musician.

The biggest obstacle that cause musicians to fail on maintaining their healthy habits is travel.

I myself have been a freelance musician for over eight years and on average find myself traveling at least one week per month.

Yet, I have managed to maintain my healthy habits, even when I'm out of my "normal environment," and have helped numerous traveling musicians do the same.

Use these 4 tips to stay on track of your health goals and maintain peak performance while on the road.

1 - Prioritize Your Healthy Habits

I utilize a habit tracker where I have a list of all of my habits and track if I've achieved them. Ideally, each habit has a checkmark next to it at the end of each day.

But when I'm traveling and am very busy, I usually don't accomplish every single healthy habit -- and that's ok.

Identify which top 2 - 3 habits are most important for keeping you energized, healthy, grounded, and moving towards your most important goals.

By knowing which habits are most important for YOU, you will have a plan B if plan A is not feasible.

2 - Identify Your 1 Keystone Habit

A keystone habit is the single habit that makes it easier for you to accomplish all your other health habits.

If your only goal is to merely do your keystone habit, the other habits seemingly fall into place.

3 - Embrace Progress Over Perfection

Don't fall into the "fuck it effect."

The "fuck it effect" goes like this: you go to a birthday party, you have a small glass of wine, then because you've slightly cheated on your diet, you say "fuck it" and eat 3 slices of pizza, 2 servings of cake, 4 pints of beer, and the entire cheese plate.

That single glass of wine is NOT the slip up that will ruin your progress.

Rather, it's saying "fuck it" when perfection inevitably fails that will make achieving your health goals impossible.

4 - Plan Ahead and Utilize Your Calendar

Healthy habits will not get accomplished unless they are in your calendar.

Leading up to your travel, you should have a plan of:

• What healthy habits you will do each day.

• When you will do them

• Where you will do them.

Prioritize these blocks of time in the same way you treat rehearsals and practicing. You will not perform well if your most important healthy habits are left by the wayside.

And that's it! Follow me @kiyoshijhayashi for more tips on habit change and developing a meaningful career as a musician.

Disclaimer: This is not financial advice. Ask your tax professional before taking action.

This deduction is specifically for freelance musicians who spend a significant amount of time traveling for gigs.

If that's you, read on!

This single deduction saves me the most money every year and I wish someone would have told me about it long ago!

M & IE (Meals and Incidental Expenses) Per Diem

Most musicians know that you can deduct meals and lodging when you are traveling for a gig.

What most musicians don't know is that rather than deducting each specific meal or accommodation expense, you can instead choose to deduct a set daily per diem rate that is determined based on the the state and town you are traveling to.

If you are traveling more than 50 miles and are away from home for more than 12 hours, you are eligible to use this per diem rate.

Unless you are eating out at fine dining restaurants, getting hammered every night, and/or staying at the local Hilton, the per diem rate is going to be a MUCH larger deduction than the individual meals, accommodations, etc.

Here's the best part:

Even if you pack meals at home, eat at McDonald's, stay at friends houses, etc. to save money, YOU CAN STILL DEDUCT THE FULL PER DIEM RATE!!

How to Do It:

• Go through your calendar and identify any gig where you traveled over 50 miles and stayed there for at least 12 hours.

• Record the number of nights away, the dates you were away, and city / town the gig was at.

• Go to this website and input the details: https://www.gsa.gov/travel/plan-book/per-diem-rates

• Determine how many days you were traveling for the gig. The first and last days of travel are calculated at 3/4 the regular daily rate. So if you traveled from your home in Boston to a gig in Portland, ME, and stayed in Portland for 4 days, 2 days would be calculated at the full rate and 2 days would be calculated at the 3/4 rate. Both rates are provided on the above website.

• If you were only away from home for one day but the gig was over 50 miles from your house and you were away for at least 12 hours (such as a full day travel gig,) then you are eligible to deduct one day at the 3/4th rate.

Definitely check in with your tax professional before doing this but this deduction has been a GAME CHANGER for me!

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When I had just graduated from Conservatory, I had no idea what career path was going to make me happy, or how I wanted to make money as a musician.

However, I did know that there was no worse way to live my life than to wake up on any given day and deeply dread whatever I had to do. Unfortunately, according to polls, this is the reality of 80% of individuals.

As you go on your journey to discover your dream career, the biggest question young musicians have is: "Should I pursue a traditional route or create my own path?"

Many influencers and life coaches will tell you a myriad of strategies to find work you are "passionate" about...

What I've learned from personal experience and from being a life coach is that none of that matters until you've found work where the day-to-day "grind" is something you love.

When most people consider possible careers, they only think about the end result and the benefits one gets by being in that career. IE if I land an orchestra job, I'll be making $60K - $120K per year, I'll have financial stability, and can start a family! Or, if I'm a successful entrepreneur, I'll get famous, I'll be able to have social impact, and I'll be able to work for myself!

What most people fail to realize is that none of the end success matters and the job will not be sustainable unless the daily process of getting to that end result is enjoyable and fulfilling for you!

Below are questions to gain clarity on "daily work" you will genuinely enjoy:

• What does your ideal day-to-day look like?

• What do you enjoy refining? It’s the areas you can’t help yourself from editing and optimizing where you have a long-term advantage.

• What are you doing when you find you are in a state of flow or feel truly alive?

• What can you spend your time doing that when you are doing it, you lose track of time and yourself?

• What is something that you cannot stop talking about? Something that you have to read, write, dream about all the time? 

• When you have free time or are on vacation without any obligations, how do you spend your time? What books do you read, what kind of movies do you watch? what podcasts do you listen to?

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