Latest Post

Music, Work and Play

Music, Work and Play

The stuff of music is ephemeral.

While its composition can be a joy, a pressure builds in its creation.

Deeply embedded in a song’s roots is the essence of play. Sounds stir, the fingers dance, and a body resonates beyond itself.

But to guide sounds into form, we must nurture as an adult.

  • How does it begin? transition? end?
  • What do I hear? What do I revise?
  • Who is its audience? How can they best be introduced?

Tensions of transition between child and parent within appears every time.

If we set play aside to build with deliberation, the moment’s flow will surely be lost. Certainly, we can never step in the same river twice.

Yet, to continue only in flow, we are left without structure, no vessel to carry its spirit beyond the moment.

Practice becomes an art of developing a trust in self, a trust that we can find some flow again, albeit born anew. Could these notes, rhythms, and silences between find some new home in an unknown future?

Without this trust, without this growing tendril of practice and risk, how could we ever willingly let go, our only other respite an exhaustion clawing to claim play away.

What difference is there between such creativity and our work at large?

– Kourosh

PS. Here’s a tune called “Where did the table go?”

What is Productivity?

Productivity is many things. For some, it is about doing a lot in a little time.
But, truly, productivity is so much more. It is about:

  • Setting yourself up for success.
  • Being focused where you want to be.
  • Doing things that you find meaningful.
  • Being creative, sometimes even in harsh environments.
  • Forging your own paths.
  • Finding your voice and delivering it well.
  • Knowing and actively deciding on your obligations.
  • Knowing where and how to say “no”.
  • Avoiding procrastination.

Too often, many of us fall into just going along with and fighting whatever the world throws at us. “Go with the flow!”, we say. Meanwhile, we might think, “I’d like to do that one thing. Maybe one day I will.” The days go by. The goal never arrives, and then we wonder why or blame circumstance.

But when we learn to take charge of our lives and the world
around us, we start living life with intention.

“I should do that,” becomes “This is how I start”. Deliberately forging a path to our goals and dreams, we figure out what we want in life and then start taking steps there.

Of course, striking out may seem scary. It takes courage to live life with purpose and on purpose. Roadblocks and worries, fears and concerns show up everywhere.

This is my passion. I want to help you to find that sense of your own unique play to meet the world so that you can:

  • Create a life that is yours.
  • Find and follow an inner guide in a way that works for you and those you care for.
  • Decide on your obligations and meet them while building the world you want.

Productivity Journal

Join the Weekly Wind Down Newsletter

Get a weekly letter about getting to play and meaningful work. Start getting where you want to be with calm focus.
You’ll receive free samples of:

  • Creating Flow with OmniFocus
  • Taking Smart Notes with DEVONthink
  • Workflow Mastery
  • PDF on beating deadlines with ease using the Touching the Keys Technique

These products use or are based on Getting Things Done® or GTD® Principles. They are not affiliated with, approved or endorsed by David Allen or the David Allen Company, which is the creator of the Getting Things Done® system for personal productivity. GTD® and Getting Things Done® are registered trademarks of the David Allen Company For more information on the David Allen Company’s products the user may visit their website at www.davidco.com.