Life Lesson

What A Perfect Gift Needs

Garth Beyer

Giving a gift – no matter how much time, money, or creativity was put into it – is still a miraculous action. Without listing all the gifts I have given and received (which is a lot, more so the former than the latter,) I have seen that the perfect gift needs three attributes.

One: It’s basic, but sometimes forgotten. While it’s still a gift, I’ve received dozens of items that, quite plainly, I didn’t like. Sure, there are times to take a risk and there are times that a gift gone unliked can be made into a joke, but let’s be sure it’s something they like.

Two: Everyone, and I mean everyone loves knowing you remembered something they said, loves having their advice shared, or/and loves hearing you quote them. Did they once say (very randomly, I might add) that they are a swedish fish? Maybe they said that their grandmother once had a butterfly lapel. Whatever the odd case – and yes, it’s usually humurous – you can always find a way to tag it to a gift.

Three: Not to be confused with number one, you want the gift to be something they want. She may like flowers, but not necessarily want them. He may like the color green, but that doesn’t mean he wants a moss-covered rock. Oh, and everyone has wants, so don’t listen to anyone who says they don’t. It makes it more difficult for you, but more worth it too.

The best part of these three characteristics of a perfect gift is the ability to randomize them, mix them up, and create something weird.

 

Stay Positive & Get Wierd (they are the best gifts)

Garth E. Beyer

 

You. Yes, You… Why?

Garth Beyer

You, reading this, why are you making me wait?

I want it… I want a lot of things actually. I want to see them, read them, purchase them, interact with them, write about them, talk about them, play with them. I want what you have.

Why do I have to wait? Why am I waiting without knowing about your progress? Even worse, why am I waiting to get my hands on something that is already complete?

What are you waiting for?

The right time? The spot light? The spot on QVC? The 9 second reel on NBC?

There are people out in the world and online that are searching for what you have or what you are slowly (yes, I’m calling you out) working on, but they are searching now. Not later, not when you’re ready to deliver, not when you write on your Facebook page that your work is finally available. Now. That’s when they want it.

Simple solution: give it to them.

 

Stay Positive & Then Go Make Better Art

Garth E. Beyer

Doin’ My Thing

Garth Beyer

It’s a bold statement, especially if titling you’re album after it. Then again, what exactly is wrong with a bold statement? I’m writing this post because I’m doin’ my thing. Writing, it’s what I do. Luke Bryan sings and plays guitar – country music, that’s his thing.Doin' My Thing

Find your thing and call it what it is. Do it for you because of you, because it’s just what you do. What’s the point of doing anything else?

 

Stay Positive & Don’t Worry

Garth E. Beyer

You’re Not The Only One To See Things

Garth Beyer

We all see interesting things. Whether it’s faces in places or just plain odd sights, there’s a plethora of communities who share the experience together.

The web has allowed us to be weird, to share what and how we see the world, and most importantly, it has allowed us to search and find others who see similar interesting things.

What do you have to share?

 

Stay Positive & Go Share It Already, I Want To See

Garth E. Beyer

What Makes A Successful Garage Band

Garth Beyer

(If you don’t want to read, click the last hyperlink in this post.)

There’s no lack of talent when it comes to vocals or who can play a guitar or win over an audience with a ridiculously fast paced bass solo. It’s no longer about who can play an instrument and how well, but how many instruments they can play, how they can incorporate the multiple instruments into a show, and how they can show the audience their passion.

Times have changed but very few garage bands are falling behind. They’re excited to try new instruments, mish mash sounds, and – generally speaking – have fun. Something that is hard to say for those entering the professional world of freelance.

Last night I had the honor to see a handful of bands play at a Launchpad event. Launchpad is a statewide, alternative music competition for Wisconsin high school students who are in bands formed outside of the traditional music classroom ensembles. (view some of the bands here.) These high schoolers were incredible performers, showmakers, and artists.

But the truly exceptional ones brought out different instruments: extra drums, key board, violin. Now it’s now more common to have an extra instrument in a band, but the way these students incorporated them into their songs, well, that was real talent. (One band actually switched their trumpeter with the vocalist, vocalist with the drummer, drummer with the keyboard, and keyboard with the trumpeter. Impressive!)

The status quo is being kicked and bruised by those living the garage band or what I like to call, garage project workstyle/artstyle/lifestyle. There are no longer boundaries. You can no longer bring your one “instrument” and perform. You have to bring everything (all of your “instruments”) and perform some instrumental alchemy.

The worlds changing. Best to be a leader of it.

 

Stay Positive & Rubber Bands Are Still Accepted

Garth E. Beyer

 

That’s Not Really A Guest

Garth Beyer

At your first encounter with someone, whether it’s online, during work, or – in my case – at a Toastmasters meeting, you may think they are just a guest. What is a guest, though?

A guest is someone whom you meet outside of your routine life that you may or may not see again. Furthermore, a guest gives you two options to choose from. You can either treat them as a friend and connect with them, or you can carry on with your day without getting to know them.

Interact or ignore.

Laypeople base this decision off the degree of certainty that they think they will see the guest again. Those who expect to see the guest frequently will often choose to sit down and have a conversation. Those who expect to see the guest just this once will often choose to go no further than “Hello there.”

The linchpins of the world know that they need – no… they feel that it is only right to treat guests the same way they would a janitor or secretary, which not coincidentally is the same way they treat the average layperson or CEO.

Successful people don’t look toward equality, they look toward being human, connecting, and igniting positive responses. The only perk is that later down the line, having a conversation instead of ignoring a guest may come to benefit you. Heck, it’s just a simple real-world application of Pascal’s Wager.

Engaging in the life of a guest may or may not benefit you, but it’s always best to interact than to not.

 

Stay Positive & You Never Know When/Where You Will See Them Again, Trust Me

Garth E. Beyer

Not Settling But Keeping Where You Are At

Garth Beyer

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I’m a strong advocate for never settling, for accepting what you get whether you think you deserve it or not, and always striving for more.

However, there have been moments a dear friend reminds me not to settle with something. What is hard to convince him is that I’m not settling, I’m merely making the most of what I have at the moment.

I think to my Uncle who I continuously learn from. He once told me that although he is married and madly in love, he knows that there may be someone better out there for him. For one with a “do not settle” mindset, it’s hard to understand why he would stay with my aunt, but I get it, he is making the most of what he has now.*

When you make the most of what you have, it’s not settling.

Often times, making the most of what you have now is what leads to greater things in the future.

 

Stay Positive & Love Like There Are No Other Options And Your Options Will Multiply

Garth E. Beyer

*There are also points in life where you will have the chance to reach for something better, but you won’t take it. There is a type of satisfaction when settling that involves a sense of comfortability and there is a sense of satisfaction when settling that involves pure happiness. My uncle has the latter.