I used to work for a cruise line. I started off recruiting and hiring musicians and later promoted to leading the music department. At the time I moved to the Music Department, My leaders informed me of a decision to increase musician working hours, and it was my job to execute. I made mistakes executing the decision. New to the role, I didn’t know what to expect or how to manage the changes properly. At the same time, I felt I did what I needed to do. Candidly, I felt taking a decision so quickly without setting the stage adequately caused more problems than benefits. Nonetheless, I enacted the new policy. I always knew we would have challenges; I just never anticipated the depth.Musicians experienced several challenges, especially singers: vocal nodules, polyps, stress injuries, and the anxiety of potentially losing their instrument. On more than one occasion, musicians would break into tears of fright, concerned about their futures. What could I do?I came from a world where I worked 5 hours per day, without a day off. I don’t mind that type of work. For the organizations that need a workhorse style musician, I am the best individual to serve them. I realize that not everyone is like me. This realization made it difficult for me to empathize with the team. But, when I was finally able to see the world from my team’s point of view, I discovered an insight. Our gig is not the gig for musicians like them.I’m not trying to say that I didn’t welcome my team - of course, I did. I am saying that the job changed, and perhaps, the musicians hired are not the type that wants to play that kind of gig. I don’t know many musicians that would want to play that kind of gig. Still, the realization stands - this gig is for people that like to work long hours. When it’s not right, perhaps it’s not for you. When it’s not right, empathize with those that hired you; try and see the world from their point of view. What changed? What caused the change to happen? Are you still the answer?When it’s not right, It’s possible that after reflection you’ll realize that you’re not the right person for the gig. You may not be the answer to their question. That’s okay. The venue owner, employer, or contractor can find another person. If they can’t, perhaps they need to reflect. Maybe they’re not the answers to your questions. Empathy is a two-way street.Own your world.When it’s not right - reflect - get out. Find others like you.Connect them.They’re safe.

Music is not self-service.To be a musician is to be in the service of others. To every day, show-up and hone your skills and experience. Such that, when called upon, you can be the solution to someone’s problem. Being the solution is a selfless and generous act. Realize that you are in the service of another. You are in this service because you’ve enrolled, applied, interviewed for, and accepted a job to solve another person’s problems. In exchange for your ability to be the solution, someone is giving you money or another form of compensation. Presumably, you’ve accepted the money.You are now in the service of another. You are selflessly bringing your talents to bear to solve their problems.If you’re doing your job right, you will be changing the lives of people who have come to listen to you. If you’ve done your job right, you’ve served another. I know some jobs could treat musicians better - be it hours, conditions, pay, you name it. Tomorrow, I’ll mention what to do in those situations. For now, music is not self-service.

Maybe it’s just a Wisconsin thing, but I see so many T-Shirts that read: “Feed me tacos and tell me I’m pretty.“You don’t need tacos.You don’t need me to tell you that you’re pretty.We don’t need another person to permit us to live our lives.We don’t need another person to tell us that we have value.We don’t need another person to feed us.I know the quote is a joke. I think it’s funny.I also think it says something about our culture.Stop looking for validation.Don’t Eat Tacos.(figuratively speaking, if you love tacos I hope you eat copious amounts.)

Instructions describe a process, that if followed, will lead to a predictable outcome. Humans are not predictable. You and I are not predictable animals. Yes, if you understand what makes us tick, you can make some reasonable assumptions.But, we do not come with an instruction manual.All of the “How-Tos” do not make up for understanding the principles of why we do what we do.My goal is to provide you with principles gained from past failures and successes. If you apply these learnings to any situation involving people, you can create a positive change for yourself and another. The principles I am providing you are not an instruction manual.I am not trying to write a step-by-step guide for life. Instead, I am trying to provide a way to think about life and people.To truly learn, you must experiment, fail, grow, and succeed with each new situation. Humans are not predictable.Instructions not included.

You cannot be the answer if you cannot see the question.

My last boss once asked me: “David, what are you trying to solve?” I had no idea.

I was trying my best to advocate on behalf of a learning strategy that I, and my team, felt we needed. But, we didn’t know the question to which we were trying to answer, we didn’t why we needed a new strategy. Consequently, I did not get what I attempted to achieve.  I failed to know the question. I only saw an answer.

“The distance between where you want to be, and where you are, closes with one small step.” - David Brady (until someone says someone else said it.)Point AAt this moment:Your location.Your career.Your friends.Your family.Your personal life.Your home.Your liabilities.Your assets.Your team.Your art.Point BImagine yourself:Doing the most fulfilling activities.Doing all your are capable of doing.Making the difference, you hope to make.Building tribes.Excelling in your career and developing effective teams.Improving your financial independence and doing the work to get to that point.Doing something each day to come alive.It might feel like it’s far in the distance. But it’s not.  All you need to do is commit to taking one small, barely noticeable step, in that direction.Take the step. Become one step closer to becoming who you see yourself being.Take the step. Become on step closer to connecting others and bringing them into something bigger than themselves.Take the step. To come alive and put all of you into the world and make a difference.Take the step. To find your fulfillment.  The step looks different for everyone. There’s no great “how-to” for discovering what to do. There are many books on the subject.  Trust your gut.Trust your instincts.Trust your intuition.Trust that there’s ground beneath you.Trust your resolve.Trust your One Small Step.

“You don’t get to completely decide when it’s your time. You may have worked unwaveringly, honestly, all the while - consciously or unconsciously - positioning yourself, but you never really know if your “big” moment will come. Then, for the few, it’s there.” - Bruce SpringsteenIt’s always your time.  It is always your time to be present with yourself.It is always your time to be present with the world around you.It is always your time to do something that matters. I moved to Florida six years ago taking a role recruiting musicians for a cruise line. In my first annual review, I received an overall score of 4 out of 5. I was livid. I wanted a 5, felt I deserved a 5, and then asked my leader what I needed to do to get a 5. I’ll never forget this; my leader told me: “Nobody gets a 5, maybe the CEO gets a 5, it’s rare and for special cases.” The following year I received a 5! But,I wasn’t happy.Because now that I had it, now what?!?  I could only go down from there.  How do I outperform my outperformance?I learned a more important lesson from receiving a 5.  Being on top doesn’t account for much.  Yes, it might lead to a pay raise.  Yes, it might lead to a promotion.Yes, people may respect you more. But it doesn’t account for much.  If I had to do it again, I would do the following:Show up every day and do something that mattered.Not have hope for a future “benefit” such as a high rating.I will hope that what I’m doing is helping someone that needs help.Believe that if I bring my efforts to bear and create the change I seek, I am thriving, and that’s enough.I might not receive a promotion, a raise, a 5, or be the top 1% of employees. That’s okay. I will have done something each day that mattered in a meaningful way. That will make all the difference.  It’s my time now.Now, at this moment, I am fully myself.Now, at this moment, I am alive.I may not be in the Top 1% of people who do what I do. That’s okay.I am showing up, Bringing all my effort to bear,For those that think what I think and want to help others.It’s my time.It’s also yours.What are you doing?

You shared your stories.You connected the tribe.You inspired us to act.Now show up.Every single day, show up. Every single day, do something that matters.Every single day, be a servant for others. Solve a problem, help, lead.I’ve struggled in the past. In previous roles, I had a hard time finding ways to do things that I felt mattered. It’s not the fault of my leaders. They were fine. I just needed something different. I was different. I wasn’t for them. For years, I struggled with life. I hated going to work. I hated the culture I was part of, and I hated who I was becoming on the inside. Since leaving, moving home, and writing this blog, I have found the person inside that I always dreamed I’d be. Someone that helps people solve their problems.Am I making money from this blog? Hell no.Do I want to be a social media influencer? I’m too old ;-)Am I trying to raise a crowd of Millenials and tell them to forget school? As much as I respect Gary Vee, no, that’s not who I am. I don’t make money from this blog. I am happy if others like me want to be part of the journey. But,I don’t care about how many followers I have or my reach. I want to put something into the world that matters. Something that I feel makes me come alive. I wanted to show up for someone.Who?Myself. I have committed to myself to show up — every day, Come alive, and Do one thing that mattered. Where are you?