Comments

1. Kurt Brindley (2013-01-27) #

   Derek, please stop hacking into my brain and blogging my inner dialogue!
   Your password is same as mine. — Derek

2. Adel Hafiz (2013-01-27) #

   I chose to "shut up, sit down and focus".

3. Chris Franzen (2013-01-27) #

   Well, for me as a serious Musician, I am familiar with this social-media choice. Personally I decided to take the Facebook-Stage before I had any real material to show, and since then I have released an album and had Music featured on NBC and loads of places and The fanbase have grown to +13000 on fb. I have never stopped being personal on social-media though and I always encourage people to write so that I can know whats going on with The people that listens to my Music. It's a thin Line between being professional and personal but I believe in The latter these Days, while still maintaining quality content. Never forget that It's people like you and me on The other end.
   
   C
   Lights & Motion

4. Pete Maizitis (2013-01-27) #

   Derek! Don't worry be happy! You will always be entertaining and enlightening ...

5. D.JoneZ (2013-01-27) #

   Man, u just opened my eyes 2some new ideas I slept on! Pun intended....I need 2wake up be more active & focus out here and NOT just entertain! Thanks 4this article D...THANKS

6. Judie (2013-01-27) #

   Both, but admit publicly that you are learning, a work in progress, and a nearly full-time "focuser". Helps with the relationship aspect and might even peak more interest in your future work.

7. Adel Hafiz (2013-01-27) #

   Entertaining is a distraction. After 2 years of hard work. I have two buyers, investors and franchisee buying my territories. Money is coming in, tons of customers are joining my service but it was not possible if I did not focus.

8. Kim Chandler McDonald (2013-01-27) #

   Absolutely the issue I'm wrestling with currently. As the deadline for my new book draws near I've got to focus on the completion of the writing, editing and admin of the project.
   
   Its a gargantuan project which takes until hours each day to bring together... and leaves little time for Flat World Navigating and keeping my finger in the online pie so as to gather and share things of interest to my online network.
   
   What to do, what to do??!!
   
   I've tried to find a balance by using the first hour of everyday to respond to emails, explore my online community and share what I think is relevant and/or entertaining. After that, its nose to grindstone.
   
   I feel fortunate in that the project that takes me 'offline' is of some interest to my online audience, so I'll post the occasional update as to what !nnovator I'm interviewing, or what !nnovation interview I'm currently editing... that seems to help build the bridge between the two phases.
   
   Every second or third day I tweet an apology for my lack of wittering twittering while I finish up the manuscript - so far, so good, as I haven't lost any followers... though I'm aware that this can only go on for so long before patience will begin to wane....
   
   Speaking of which - my hour is nearly finished and my manuscript beckons...

9. George Papageorgiou (2013-01-27) #

   I come here to read the intellectual digests and musings of a person I admire. When he is ready, he will connect, share and contribute; when not, its ok, cause I know he's working on something truly, amazingly great.
   
   Being us, IMHO, always needs some shutting up and sitting down and focusing. Do what you need to do, what excites and scares you. Just entertaining us is a shallow reward after all ;)

10. Désirée Staude (2013-01-27) #

    Hello Derek,
    
    Your articles are always helpful and motivating. Speaking for myself, if you'd feel you'd rather step back for a while to focus, you'll come back again with much more energy and entertainment as if you'd continue to please us readers.
    
    At least I'd understand such a decision and once you decide to post again, I'd get a notification anyway, so I'd not miss anything if not checking your site for a while.
    
    Greetings from Germany
    Désirée

11. Cornelius Boots (2013-01-27) #

    Balance is required. This is a very prescient issue and I hope overall we err on the side of depth.
    “err on the side of depth” ← I like that. Thank you. — Derek

12. Inga (2013-01-27) #

    Time is valuable, and everyone seems to have less and less of it! There's so much fluff and static out there in the world. My approach lately: less is more. For me, it's “shut up, sit down, and focus” until I have something truly valuable and worthwhile to share. Still, perhaps it's important to let the audience know what you're up to and maybe even let them be a part of your "quiet" phase somehow… Those folks who need that ongoing connection with an artist, won't feel abandoned or alienated. Some element of balance is always key.

13. Casey Garland (2013-01-27) #

    What about time for 'work and survival'? That is unfortunately in the mix too for most of us.

14. Nicole Renaud (2013-01-27) #

    Its funny and great you always raise the topics that are the center of my own thoughts and problematics... I guess one needs to strike a balance on this... Do a bit of both... But focusing on the work itself is a priority though.

15. Gary Allegretto (2013-01-27) #

    Exactly. I am experiencing this dilemma today. The "virtual stage" is certainly a distraction - not to mention everyday chores like cleaning, laundry, paying bills as well as having a social life and pursuing experiences that feed the creative process. A personal assistant would be nice, but I'm not in a position for that, so prioritizing and scheduling are essential skills - which I seem to be lacking. Maybe one day I'll have time to read a book or take a course on developing those skills...

16. Jon England (2013-01-27) #

    It's a required balance that few do well. The phrase "Jack of all trades, Master of None" wasn't minted in a vacuum.
    
    To create life-content of any depth, a self-conscious, almost narcissistic approach is needed - yet we're not (all) here on this planet JUST to be Michaelangelos or Van Goghs (unless we're more than mildly nuts).
    
    The human condition is imperfect in every way so "the way to go" will be so very different for each individual, depending on mind-set, economic circumstances/demands, and myriad creative/real-world choices.
    
    Most born to be creative must, by definition, also have at least a spark of exhibitionism which demands that 'entertaining' form a part of the fulfillment process. Nothing thrives in a vacuum, which brings us back to where 'Jack' of 'AllTrades' Inc., finds him/herself!

17. Charlie (2013-01-27) #

    Doesn't this all have to do with your goals? If you want to make money, be popular, be an artist with no regard for rewards or feedback, or be an artist that cares about connecting but not about commercial success. Don't these choices have to come first?

18. Niko Papasideris (2013-01-27) #

    Great questions to stir up good thought, Derek.
    
    I think it's different for each person depending on so many factors. But generally, as with all things in life balance is the key. Too much in any one direction (about anything from yoga to chocolate to reading to...) is not good. For me personally I tend to be too deep and disconnected, my balance is a need to interact with people more and be more relational.
    
    Niko

19. Rich Layton (2013-01-27) #

    The dark underbelly of Information Overload is Information Underwhelm. Gotta give people a compelling reason to care about you, your shtick, your music, your band, your blog, your FB fan engagement tricks and all the other stuff that's a "must do" in the social media morass. My biz site homepage manifesto is: "Keep It Real - because life is too short for anything less!" Giving ourselves the freedom to be who we truly are is a pretty powerful way to build lasting relationships across every medium.

20. Bernhard Wagner (2013-01-27) #

    My recommendation is to first commit to an update frequency, e.g. weekly, monthly, bi-monthly, etc. Then hire someone to do the actual blogging/posting. This person will interview you with this frequency, write up the results as a blurb, send it to you for review, then do the actual posting.
    Clever! — Derek

21. Don Haynie (2013-01-27) #

    It's cyclical, like a farmer's field. If the field isn't quiet and fallow at times, it will stop producing anything worthwhile. If you don't do the quiet things, creating, even just reading, thinking, experiencing, you will soon run out of anything worth sharing.

22. Vipul Sheth (2013-01-27) #

    Working hard to focus and be entertaining are the two opposite sides of the same coin. Heads you win, tails you lose....!
    
    Your passion and hard work towards both will ultimately show in the end results. So keep up the balancing act, KUDOS !

23. Kristina Stykos (2013-01-27) #

    I ere on the side of developing high quality content and use my social media posts as an additional way to exercise those muscles. I write undiluted, sometimes humorous word pieces on Facebook & Twitter and now have hundreds of pages of my work that I'm editing into a collection of poetry books. My photography also goes onto these platforms, as I hone my skills for making music videos and slide shows. Yes, I'm relatively undiscovered at the moment, but I'd rather have a satisfying creative life making my work play and my play my work, any day of the week.

24. Mike Hamer (2013-01-27) #

    I think it's fine to stay quiet for awhile, and focus, but you need to update once every 6 months or so to let folks know you're still in the game.

25. Paul Breddels (2013-01-27) #

    So familiar this dilemma. As a painter I too try to connect via social media. Occasionally I host an open studio via Google hangout. A live painting session so to say. But sometimes i find it difficult to stay focused on the painting i'm working on. Same with facebook updates. It can be tempting to post quick shots of things i know my followers respond to. But often it is better just to experiment and not be conscious of people looking over my shoulder.
    
    It's all about balance i suppose. Just like real life. ;-)

26. KeathLionLowry (2013-01-27) #

    Been doing more shutting up and focusing, while slowly getting back to "entertaining." Realizing that I am much more entertaining when I'm focused and productive.

27. Tom (2013-01-27) #

    Hi Derek,
    
    Great topic!
    
    "The path to mastery requires months and years of practice that isn’t exciting to your audience."
    
    I used to agree with your statement.
    
    Then I found myself watching a lot of "how to" videos on YouTube along with many other people. As it turns out, the path to mastery can be exciting for people who want to learn.
    
    Help people learn during your journey through easy-to-make videos and tutorials. Post them on your website. If they're really helpful, consider charging a fee.
    
    Chris Coyier created a business out of this for coders www.css-tricks.com
    
    Helping people while you "shut up, sit down, and focus" is entertaining, it's easy to do and it helps to keep me focused.

28. Tessa Souter (2013-01-27) #

    Ah yes, the age-old conundrum ... If you spend all your time drumming up audiences and no time practicing or learning/writing new stuff, what are you going to be able to give these very same audiences that you have spent all this time drumming up? Eeesh! I guess you just have to work that 80 hour week and put up with it.

29. John Naples (2013-01-27) #

    Just now facing the realization I am highly accomplished and profoundly uninteresting.

30. Jeff Michael (2013-01-27) #

    I am artist first. If I didn't have to do Facebook or twitter I never would. It doesn't really interest me all that much but it's 2013 and text messages and twitter have replaced human interaction. I am far more interested in learning a new skill on the guitar, with my lyric writing, or learning to mediate and I think that's what your getting at. Having said all of that what I think what audiences want is somebody who is good and is HONEST. So I'd say wherever you are accept it and embrace it. If your not insecure about it I don't think your audience will be either. This is easier said then done. I'm still working it.

31. Brenda Jean (2013-01-27) #

    This is a GREAT question, Derek. If I did not feel a need to participate in the internet world, I don't think I would. I pray for insight on this issue, and hope others share theirs. At present, I am sharing entertainment from others that I find meaningful and expect that my audience will as well. And not very much of it, I'm afraid.

32. Ian Clay (2013-01-27) #

    I thought about Julian Bream (classical guitarist) when I read this. There are millions of guitarists that would have liked him to carry on teaching and giving concerts. But he chose to play for his own pleasure and do the things he likes doing. And I think that is the important part. Do what YOU want to do, if you are imagining that your audience is waiting for you and that you are letting them down by not performing then let that image go.
    Always do what you want. Your needs are greater than ours :)
    The trouble is truly enjoying both. — Derek

33. Lynn Siprelle (2013-01-27) #

    All of the above. Each has its time, and those times can be as long as a decade or as brief as five minutes. The hardest part is deciding what's timely.

34. Jeff Miller (2013-01-27) #

    If this is just a social media question, then the answer is easy for me. While I do maintain a few profiles with regularity (mostly facebook, YouTube, and Twitter), I don't worry myself about it. I try to use them in a normal-ish way, not in an obviously-entertainment-based way. I think most people see through the obvious attempts to get reactions on social media, anyway, and don't care to get those updates.
    
    My main conflict / challenge comes from whether I should continue to spend time writing new music (the more entertaining option), or work booking shows. As it is, I rarely get paid directly to write music. I do get paid to perform. So the need to make a living usually wins, and I spend a lot more time sending out emails and researching venues than I do creating new music.
    
    Argh.

35. Nur Nachman - Eytan (2013-01-27) #

    Great introspection :)

36. S.Duke Ellis (2013-01-27) #

    Good timing. Think the answer is in your final question. A divided mind is a terrible and confusing thing to live through. I'm proceeding first with faith that it'll "pay off" (whatever that ends up meaning), and second with the knowledge that choosing one or the other has proven unacceptable.

37. Dane Sanders (2013-01-27) #

    There is ebb and flow to this thing. You can't constantly perform. At least I can't. If I don't have an off-season I can't ever perform at peak when it's playoff time.

38. Elizabeth Dyer (2013-01-27) #

    I find humor in everything....so entertain while discussing a boring topic...that's the only way to go! After all, you want an audience, you want them to learn and if they are asleep, they're not learning!

39. Sky (2013-01-27) #

    The focus shall be the Art.
    And above all love yourself.

40. Richard Middleton (2013-01-27) #

    There's no shortage of entertainment.. and much of it is disposable and of little real value. More needed, I think, is real contributions to our shared culture. That requires that each of us do our *best work* -- work that embodies craft and skill, deep openness to experience, and honest reflection. Which takes dedication and time.
    
    Since time is precious and not (it seems) disposable, let's put it where it will yield the most value, both for ourselves and for those with whom we share our work.
    
    Happily, such work is often "entertaining" (if that's the word), at least to someone, and in a more significant and lasting way than work that was designed merely to entertain.
    
    -Richard M.
    richardmiddletonmusic.com

41. Chris Nelson (2013-01-27) #

    I have come completely detached from the indie scene these days. i stay away from Facebook and Twitter and only check my email once a week unless I need to stay in contact with a group for a project I'm working on. I am tired of the paper cutouts that stand in for audience members and the overall lack of support in this area for live music. I have turned inward, working in the studio and concentrating on making new music that I hope someone somewhere will like. Consider this self-indulgence, but I have to get this out somehow and spending time trying to promote my music to an unreceptive crowd is exhausting and time-consuming.

42. Jamie Leger (2013-01-27) #

    It's a great insight Derek, as always, and here's my take.
    
    I am currently in the "Creative active" phase of mastery in my areas.
    
    I wholeheartedly believe in and highly value mastery.
    
    It's just better for all of us.
    
    Anyway, although for a while I went full recluse, I think the thing to remember is that you want to form a strategic progression of aquiring knowledge and skills so that YOU CAN produce valuable and/or entertaining "fruits" ALONG the way to that final phase of mastery where everything of course lines up and the clouds part, etc.
    
    I think anyone who is on their way to mastery, is already the kind of person who can provide the valuable insights and create value in SOME way for their audience.
    
    But either way, I think the whole key, is to build a loyal audience that loves what, why, and how you do what you do.
    
    Our job is to find a way to do what we love to do, and find those people who love it, and make them love us by providing value to their lives.
    
    Cheers,
    Jamie

43. Debra Russell (2013-01-27) #

    It's a balancing act. I think you have to do both to some degree. If you wait until your product is finished before you start marketing, you'll find that you're marketing your product to an empty room. But if you do really good marketing and your product sucks, those folks won't stay around for long.
    
    In essence this is a time management question, it's about balance and finding the right amount of time and the right timing for both.

44. Greg Parke (2013-01-27) #

    I'm going through the same thing right now. Without even realizing it, I pretty much went into the "shut up, sit down and focus" mode. As soon as I saw what I was doing, I decided to stay that way for a while, but throw in just enough "stay connected" so I could jump right back into full swing when I was ready. Seems to be working so far!

45. Eric Petersen (2013-01-27) #

    Resistance is always chomping at our work, I'll read the Leonard book having read Pressfield and Daniel Coyle, Thank you Derek for reminding me of the gifts that learning give us, I'm training as an aerospace machinist right now, it's amazing, I also went back and started the whole Satriani process' again, playing four notes as slow and as even as I can and doing Hanon at the piano.
    
    Peace, Eric

46. Jeff Miller (2013-01-27) #

    I reversed my thoughts on that comment. While writing new songs is more entertaining to ME, getting shows on the calendar is more entertaining to the AUDIENCE.
    
    Um... argh.

47. Chris (2013-01-27) #

    Easy you do what makes you happy and keeps the passion. Not doing so ends in a superficial unfulfilled person (you) and that's not healthy for anyone.
    
    How many times have we seen some movie star or idol of some sorts remain all glitzy and glamorous in the news while internally they're imploding?
    
    Be true to yourself. Life is too short to please everyone. It's your life. Don't live someone else's desires. You'll end up a fraud.
    
    Just my 2c:-)

48. Debra Russell (2013-01-27) #

    PS - the essence of mastery is that you're never done, you're always improving and seeking to reach the next level. So, if you wait to market until you've mastered, then you'll never market and the world will miss out on your gift.

49. Mal (2013-01-27) #

    Perhaps it is cyclic. You withdraw, refuel/refill, then reconnect with something of value and entertaining.
    
    Connecting too often, for the sake of it, becomes predictable and the quality is a roller coaster.
    
    Better to connect less often and make it worth reading or watching.

50. Jyri Paavilainen (2013-01-27) #

    Hey Derek,
    
    I don't think Seth (for example) does the "focus" work on the side. I think he mainly focuses on what he plans to do next, puts everything not related to that that happens to come up out there for entertainment and occasionally toss in some of the thoughts from whatever he's working on.
    
    I know I read the "don't expect applause" part from his blog way before Icarus Deception came out.
    
    So, in effect, Seth focuses on the important stuff and entertains us on the side. :)

51. Rhan Wilson (2013-01-27) #

    After 8 years of putting on an annual Christmas show, I have decided to halt for at least one year, and though I wouldn't be working on it now anyway, I feel so relieved with my new found time. (I also feel like I am doing nothing, but actually I am. I am becoming re-invigorated.)
    Balance, I suppose, may be the answer, and as many here have said -it's what makes you happy at the time.
    I look forward to entertaining the heck out of people , but by doing exactly what I want to be doing.
    Thanks, Derek.

52. Will Kriski (2013-01-27) #

    As you work towards mastery share your findings with others. Create articles and videos about these findings. I'm working my way to jazz guitar improvisation mastery and also teach online so I post lessons on topics that I am working on that will hopefully help others. This gives me increased focus as I have to write out sheet music and organize my thoughts. So it helps me and them at the same time.
    
    I try to get students to focus on playing music not just practicing scales, but often they are looking for modes and bebop scales so I try to focus them on phrasing and doing practical things that will improve their playing. So what they want and what I think they should want are sometimes different.

53. Arlan Hamilton (2013-01-27) #

    This is a fantastic post and is so incredibly timely for me. Great questions...food for thought... Thanks Derek:)

54. Laurie Wheeler (2013-01-27) #

    I made the mistake a few years ago of taking what I do so "seriously" that I became boring. I lost people. Even though the name of my business is silly, the purpose of entertainment serves to deliver valuable information in a more digestible manner.
    
    Think of how sci-fi often addresses social problems in a way that is less threatening than blatantly addressing social ills.
    
    My mission is to work with creative people (mostly women) and raise their awareness of their value as people and equip them with knowledge and skills to help them improve their economic situation (business).
    
    The entertaining side of what I do is the "spoon full of sugar".
    
    Remember that entertainment produces an emotional response: laughter, tears, horror, drama... That's all it is, the important "stuff" is encapsulated within the entertainment.

55. Roberta Donnay (2013-01-27) #

    Focus focus focus ! One of the most important aspects of being an artist. And I'd like to add Imagination. Possibly meditation. More of this and less flinging around comparing ourselves with others..
    
    And then of course, the music must be great !
    
    By the way, our new CD just went to #27 on the jazz charts ! This is a first for us ! So, something must be working...

56. Kevin O'Rourke (2013-01-27) #

    thanks, Derek, as always. I benefit from your musings, and sometimes remarkably from certain suggestions. I'm doing a lot of reading lately on using my own introvertedness as a strength, and this post is right in line with things I'm reading in the other hand from Susan Cain's book.
    
    I've also been a beneficiary of CDBaby's for many years now, and thank you as well..
    
    Best,
    Kevin

57. Trevor Roark (2013-01-27) #

    These questions are bouncing around my brain everyday Derek. Do I jump on facebook because the fulfillment is more immediate or do I rehearse a new chorus that won't be solid for another 3 months and probably won't achieve fulfillment for years?
    
    I'll keep asking as I plug away!

58. Susan Vincent (2013-01-27) #

    I definitely feel this way! Unfortunately, I don't have any answers. I'm going to school in March to learn how to market my business.
    
    In the meantime, it's a burning question for me.

59. Steve Kusaba (2013-01-27) #

    It comes down to what the priorities are. If being the best at what you do is it, you must keep doing the work and be seen by no one. Maybe when you are old and dying you might get lucky and the quality might break through the clogged arteries of the public consciousness. In the end, you are left with the music you made. If popularity trumps what you get to create and hear then maybe a few magic tricks might be worked on in the mean time.
    
    It is a shame today that people who have the spotlight are so unwilling to give an helping hand up to those that produce great things but are unknown. Sometimes just a mere mention somewhere could be all it would take. Pete Townsend is to be given special credit. On a regular basis he mentions people to give them a little lift and direct public attention in their direction.

60. Ken LaDeroute (2013-01-27) #

    Thanks always Derek,
    
    I've given up trying to be entertaining and boredom is a conditioned tendency that eventually must be transcended.
    
    Since there is no inherent meaning in anything except that to which our minds ascribe meaning to, it's up to us to decide if our work is meaningful to us, and us alone.
    
    I write about truth. My last post on my blog is called, 50 Ways to Awaken to the Highest Version of Yourself. It's deep shit for most. It certainly isn't entertaining, unless you are looking for truth and see it for what it is -- a cosmic joke.
    
    But truth doesn't have to be complicated. Because our minds have become dysfunctional and confused, to clearly see truth requires contemplation, reflection and commitment. Or if you're really lucky - it can happen in an instant - with grace.
    
    You are already a master, you just have to wake up to it. Your contribution is letting go of struggle, not being in opposition to anything especially yourself, surrendering to the moment just as it is and allowing yourself to be the clear conduit that it works through.
    
    Seems to me - your already there.
    
    Peace, Ken

61. Eric Kovar (2013-01-27) #

    classic LT vs ST
    do what you love...
    I have chosen a deep, deep dive and have suffered for it both personally and professionally,
    looks like it will be worth it
    e

62. Judy Frankel (2013-01-27) #

    Good question! I believe that it is possible to become a recluse and come out shining once again. Very few people have the kind of talent it takes to be "entertaining all the time" and besides, some of us don't want to be constantly bombarded with your every shimmering thought. Some ideas are worth waiting for, and often those ideas need a sifting/stewing period. I believe: "if it is meant to be, it will be" so there's no need to be impatient about the process. Don't force it; let it come to you.

63. Michael St James (2013-01-27) #

    I'm guessing most comments will be like mine, but "this is exactly what I am going through!"
    
    I find that most of my interaction is outward, meaning not about what I'm focused on doing - if possible, far form it. For instance, I may be heads down on a licensing model for television rights to music as a pay subscription channel, so when I interact, I may comment on physics, or North African economic policy, or the the drug war. Something outside of what I am immersed in.
    
    I find that even though a lot of my audience is "entertained" by my expertise in music or such, they also can be entertained in knowing that I am a well-rounded person who is curious about what they think.
    
    Having said all of that, not sure if it is the best way. I'm in this debate with myself constantly. So, if you'll excuse me, I need to do shut up and focus (already sitting too much) ha!

64. Sean Yalda (2013-01-27) #

    I'm going through the same thing at the moment. I need to buckle down and put the pedal to the medal to get myself to the next level. I've known this for a few years now but it's been a bit of a hassle focusing while being entertaining to my friends and families planned engagements and whatnot. But those few years have given me enough time to reflect on my achievements. And looking back I realize that most of my biggest goals are still just in their "beta" stage... waiting to unleash!
    
    It's time....
    for me at least, to sit down, shut up and focus for awhile.

65. Nelson Ortiz (2013-01-27) #

    I go through this alot and have been for a couple years now. Nothing I come up with seems interesting enough to share. I write music for tv and I ve tried to keep a following but never have any really interesting things to share. I can't wait to read some input and maybe find some good advise.

66. Alberto Arias (2013-01-27) #

    Good thoughts.
    It inspirining me to continue in my business

67. Scott Roewe (2013-01-27) #

    This is a constant issue that I deal with when teaching music. If every student would simply learn to play their scales and arpeggios they would become much better musicians, but it seems as though they all want to play their favorite song by their favorite artist. Neither is enough. In my opinion the "key" is to do both, as musicians we need to learn both, the technical part and the songs. The challenge is to find interest in both, similar to doing the laundry, search to find a way to make doing the laundry interesting, which I need to go do right now!

68. Gretchen Grove (2013-01-27) #

    I think you notify people that you're going to disconnect for awhile but that you'll be back. I did just that two years ago and have found entirely new things that stimulate me, things very different from what I was focused on before. The process isn't over yet but I can feel it moving closer. I've learned that it's important to allow oneself the opportunity to explore new directions (that you may not even see coming) and the only way to do that is to fully disconnect for awhile.

69. Jane Johnson (2013-01-27) #

    I'm a writer. The process of writing probably isn't that interesting to my audience. Yet when I present workshops on what I've written about, they're fully booked and we have a ball. The writing takes a LOT of time...plus thought, concentration, and focus. It takes me away from the audience. I inspire only when I'm present. Yet I can't be present all of the time. So it comes down to that old cliche: some people talk about what they're going to do; some people actually do it. So I do it, I withdraw from the stage and write. Then when I'm with my audience the whole experience is far more authentic because I've done what I said I was going to do. People seem to respect that. They feel inspired. The loss in momentum that I feared is transitory and suddently we're all revved up and rocking once more and I can joke about 2am rewrites and drinking to much tea.

70. Quentin Pain (2013-01-27) #

    Adding the Mastery link to your post sent me on a wonderful enlightenment tonight Derek. It answered a question I didn't even know I needed to ask. Thank you as always.

71. Kutsal (2013-01-27) #

    This is a great topic and a great observation in regards to the geek people/musicians like myself. I have this conflict for so long...I just want to work and create something that's respectable and share that with the audience but I think in this era, "entertainment" is more important than the "art" itself. I almost feel like I don't belong to this era and want to go back to the days where people listened to music just because it was good or it was saying something that's valuable. I just want to be one of these musicians where people look back and remember for years. Since my thinking is sooo different than what is required now, I don't think I will be too successful with this mindset.

72. Barry Coates (2013-01-27) #

    I could shut-up and it won't make any difference but someone like you must do both. Your in it way to far Derek and many people want to hear your voice so carry on.

73. Michael ONeill (2013-01-27) #

    Derek, first off always a pleasure to read your rants and raves ! I drift in and out with my thoughts to the general social networks . Saying true statements as they are revealed to me. But i always respond to others as they post things that move my thought process. Adding positive tags to their musings . This keeps me in the loop with out saying anything. I know the only way to keep on the surface is to tread water with the big boys.
    m

74. Lucian (2013-01-27) #

    I suppose we need to prioritise and place ourselves somewhere in between the spectrum. Providing small updates as to what you're currently focused on might help, but some things take a large amount of focus but ultimately ends in an essential but less entertaining conclusion.

75. Tommy Gade (2013-01-27) #

    Hi Derek
    Allow me tonthrov an incubating hunch your way (dont worry, it will make sense when you see the small movie behind the link).
    I think, it touches some aspect of what youre ponding.
    http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=NugRZGDbPFU&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DNugRZGDbPFU&gl=DK
    Thanks for all the great hunches youve thrown at me, by being who you are, hope the link works
    
    Yours
    Tommy

76. Arun Luthra (2013-01-27) #

    Hi, Derek-
    
    Great and thoughtful post. I would add say that it's not necessary an either/or question. For many fans, being able to see behind the scenes, witness the process of achieving mastery, of achieving greatness, or of putting a great entertaining show together, is a really precious thing. Technology now allows us as creative artists and as entertainers to give our audience access to our process & preparation, and that is often just as entertaining for a fan as any performance.
    
    ~Arun

77. Michael Gilbert (2013-01-27) #

    Meditating to an onlooker can seem the most boring of entertainments, maybe even worse than watching paint dry. Yet great rewards come from being still.
    
    All entertainment is movement and movement is for the mind. So the mind abhors stillness. In fact a mind cannot be still as stillness supports even a quiet mind.
    
    So there is a time to act and a time to be still. Except that the stillness is always there like the canvas behind the paint. Never seen but always there.
    
    Sometimes we have to make a sacrifice - to choose to entertain or choose to be. All action is re-action but the stiller we are compared to what is around us the greater is our ability to act.
    
    So when it is time to act it is time to act… and as long as we can be true to what is deepest and most real for us… there need be no conflict or choice as spontaneity is as close to stillness as we can get in everyday life - in fact we cannot escape it.
    
    So everybody have a great day and enjoy your universe and a big thanks to Derek

78. Noah Baerman (2013-01-27) #

    This is a great question, and the answer largely depends (among other things, of course) on the nature of the entertainment that is being provided. In a sense I'm fortunate to be a jazz musician with a "public persona" (musically and personally) that reflects the searching and evolving quality you discuss, and where a period of growth or exploration is in and of itself as "newsworthy" as a new gig. As such I'm at least somewhat insulated from this quandary. I gather this is largely true of you as well, Derek, given how much of your clout and credibility hinge on that sort of personal evolution.

79. Bob Stone (2013-01-27) #

    I'm lousy at time management but, setting aside a half hour a day to entertain your audience seems like a good idea.

80. Mary Savage (2013-01-27) #

    Awe, give that little "monkey brain" a rest! You're being way too hard on yourself! It seems as though your going through somewhat of a crisis. (just a minor one) breath, BREATH!!! Tomorrow's another day....take a long walk, shovel some snow, or sand, etc.....Love, SnowFlea

81. Marleen Renders (2013-01-27) #

    Hi Derek,
    
    Thank you for asking this question, reading the replies has been enlightening for me. :)
    Personally I'm noticing that what needs/wants/is nicest to happen, usually happens, and what doesn't, usually doesn't.
    
    I make a 'god list' containing everything I want to do but don't know when, why, how or even if. Then I completely let it go. Sometimes I notice I feel compelled to do it the following day, or it takes weeks. Sometimes the entire issue that needed solving doesn't exist a week or two later, and I'm happy I didn't do it, etc. etc. Putting something on the god list can have many different outcomes.
    
    Anyway, these things really do handle themselves when you let it be handled by someone other than the smaller part of you. Sometimes there truly is something more enlightening to be doing than going in depth, and sometimes you don't need to be writing blog posts at all. There is no strategy, at least for me. There is only what feels best (now ánd later).
    
    P.S. in case of misinterpretation, God, (to me), is only me, just more expanded.

82. Joe Champion (2013-01-27) #

    Anything WORTH WHILE and LASTING involves doing things that are Boring, Unpleasant or Difficult( see, for example, John Coltrane or Pat Metheny or Michelangelo).
    
    TRUTH is not a fad. TRUTH lasts decades, generations, eons.
    
    MONEY is not truth. Nor are followers, or site views, or comments or positive reviews.
    
    If someone decides to stop 'following' you, or 'liking' you, or 'tweeting' you because what you are writing is Boring them and not Entertaining them, MAY BE they are immature, or have a short attention span. Or maybe you are not being truthful.
    
    Richard Pryor was funny and entertaining as sh*t. And truthful.
    
    Someone once said, 'The TRUTH shall set you free'.
    
    Derek, you aren't 'obliged to entertain'. You aren't an entertainer who sometimes teaches. You are a teacher who sometimes entertains.
    
    Keep teaching.

83. Frank Messina (2013-01-27) #

    Secret from a poet / entertainer: going into reclusive hiding can be just as alluring and entertaining for your fans. Let them know you're going into recluse mode, and give them a date of your anticipated return, 30 days or so. Your work will be valued more highly.

84. Kutsal (2013-01-27) #

    I loved Joe Champion's comment! I totally agree!

85. Robert Lazaneo (2013-01-27) #

    I read the path of mastery cause I wanted to see what you were getting at. If you think about it, its like tuneing your guitar. Nothing entertaining there but it is a ritual like practicing scales or jammin' all your usual familar riffs and chords. I laughed when your first sentence was about"You have a bigger audience than you had before" no worries about that. I still record my music at home to discover new and untried things," I wonder what it would sound like if I did that?" Anyway, you can't "be on" all time, go sit in the audience once in awhile and see what thats like, and keep practicing.

86. Dick Summer (2013-01-27) #

    The most serious questions are often best answered by the silliest answers. For example: R. Reagan's response to the question of being too old to be president. "I refuse to make my opponent's relative youth and inexperience a point in my campaign." The same is true of any presentation. Before your audience will buy any of what you tell them, they have to like you.

87. Raheem Mills (2013-01-27) #

    I know that feeling well! I enjoy writing, but lately I feel so squeezed by other priorities, which makes it hard to contribute. In fact, I just threw in the towel altogether this week. I felt like I was just posting to say I posted, which has its benefits, but in some respect I also felt like I was cheating myself and my readers. It's a magnificent challenge and an everyday process to say the least.

88. Guy (2013-01-27) #

    There's a zen koan, something about the Uncarved Block. It contains all the things it could be carved into all at the same time.
    
    Celebrity should ensue not pursue. Also consider that the two states may be entwined such as you have less than a full choice in the matter. Focus while you can, entertain when you must.

89. Chris Jackson (2013-01-27) #

    yeah the best are entertaining, even when they're walking and chewing gum ....

90. Kyrill Goosseff (2013-01-27) #

    good questions Derek and so belonging to a certain personal development phase.
    
    What took you or others time ( years) to master can be explained in a few texts. but these at best are like seeds in a wonderful awareness process for so many others. Immediately, or the day after, or maybe a few years later the seeds find fruitful ground become alive and start to and grow. And yes it still need a lot of time, perseverance and will to develope further and may ask for years. So to give those seeds a certain entatertainment "envelope" to make the content more playful and acceptable is a very good thing. Like a sugar coat around a serious pill, to make it so much more digestable. The shallownes of the coating is by itself hardly rewarding, but its connection with the deep, obliterates its shallow origin :)

91. Susan Rubinsky (2013-01-27) #

    My main mantra is "Good work begets good work." If that is the road you follow, then all will work out in the end. If the good work requires you to disconnect and get focused, then that is what you'll do. If it requires a mix of activities, such as online PR, then you'll find a way to make it happen. The comment about hiring someone to do the nuts and bolts of it is a good one and also will give you an opportunity to mentor someone. Giving back is part of the good work. Best of luck in your decision!
    
    Also, here's a link to an interesting Seth Godin interview "on the art of noticing and then creating" - http://www.onbeing.org/program/seth-godin-on-the-art-of-noticing-and-then-creating/5000

92. Jonathen Käse (2013-01-27) #

    Hello!
    
    I think entertainment is good. Always.
    
    Jonathan

93. Gina Sideris (2013-01-27) #

    I hold that content and meaning are to above all else, but that communications makes amplification of the meaning and the evolution of the content possible. Build a safe space to give as much time to the content and meaning as you can.
    
    You will not want to turn your back on communications, though; give it just enough to keep your name out there and to offer small glimpses into your current projects. What I see for you to be happy in both aspects is to have an assistant -- someone who can understand your vision, who understands that the quality of the communications tops their frequency, and who can take care of the process of communications with "some" guidance from you.

94. Inky Glass aka Heidi Kolman (2013-01-28) #

    I tend to want to feel connected.

95. Terry Buchanan (2013-01-28) #

    If I were in this situation, I'd like Bernard's idea too.
    
    Do you need to find someone to do this for you?? :)

96. Aquil Virani (2013-01-28) #

    Great questions. (Disappointing lack of answers offered though, haha.) I disagree that the path to mastery is unengaging for an audience.
    
    My solution would be to expose yourself, your vulnerability, and your imperfect on the road to mastery. It shows more of who you are than a constantly polished version of your digital personality. I trust that an audience would appreciate that.

97. Jim M. (2013-01-28) #

    Very poignant article for me right now, so thanks for sharing, Derek. I'm launching my first [solo] book and new website in a few weeks and have been giving this subject a lot of reflection. This helps!

98. Mike Wagner (2013-01-28) #

    Good questions!
    
    Really liked this one, "Do you go full recluse, and completely disconnect?"
    
    For me, I have to go full recluse in most cases. But that is because at this point I know myself well enough to how I work best and get my best outcomes.
    
    For that reason I suspect there is no universal answer to your questions based on some sort of principle. Rather it might just be learning how one is wired. I know people that can do great work and maintain their blogs and their connection to a wider audience. Not me.
    
    Keep creating...questions worth asking,
    Mike

99. Trevor Roark (2013-01-28) #

    Okay... Now that I think about this more... Derek, did you post this blog to either A) find a somewhat immediate fulfillment from the entertainment achieved B) put off focusing on personally determining what the best practices are (since you're mostly of the advisory capacity) or C) because you were actually curious...?
    
    :)
    (A) and (C) Very observant. — Derek

100. Stan The Man (2013-01-28) #

     Good Question Derek?Consistency in your endeavors is what I found that keeps me focused and learning. I do need to get better at it. Plateaus come and I find that I need to sometimes step away, and come back with a fresh perspective, then I can move forward in my learning curve. Entertainment is what artist do, but with what perspective, is it just to entertain, or is it to bring a vision of your own outlook and perspective that is unique to you alone. The story that only you can tell, from your unique understanding. Sometimes you do have to shut up, and sit down to learn more so that you'll have more to say. After all, entertaining is having something to say that you've learned that is unique in it's perspective, from your own unique point of view.

101. Bijan Pourriahi (2013-01-28) #

     You could look at it from the perspective of a comedian. Look into how George Carlin, Louis CK, and Jerry Seinfeld work. GC and LCK would start their material from scratch every year and then after a couple hundred shows they'd have an act ready for a TV Special.

102. Maggie McKaig (2013-01-28) #

     Dear Derek,
     
     "Do you give up the deep work, and give in to the shallow rewards of just entertaining?" I think I am missing what you mean by this. Are you saying you think that all entertaining is shallow?
     No, but if your only goal is getting attention, it can be a shallow and ultimately unrewarding pursuit. — Derek

103. Adam Bard (2013-01-28) #

     What you do is listen to your heart and your head honestly and go where they take you. What else are they for? And maybe it doesn't have to be either/or anyway, if you can't sit outside the public world, then do your deep work in public and see what comes of it, you may be surprised how your audience evolves. AB

104. lucas hille (2013-01-28) #

     Hi Derek,
     
     For several years now, after an instructive and dis-heartening recording trip to Nashville, I have been focussing on playing original music for the soul or spirit. My role models for this kind of music are Kirtana and Amitabhan. I do not think of myself as an "entertainer", but as more of a conduit for spiritually-oriented music. This intention frees me up from the constraints of putting on a good show, playing fast, loud, exciting music, or playing cover tunes that may not fit with my intention. It also means I have to stretch in terms of finding and connecting with my niche audience, and look perhaps outside the box at new age festivals, playing in churches and.... whatever else I can think of. Its not an easy path, however I feel committed to following it to the best of my ability.

105. Tim Scannell (2013-01-28) #

     I understand what you are asking. I struggle with that question all the time. I've been writing a blog and speaking about my passion for 1 year now. Writing and preparing for the presentaions have helped me focus on what I really want to say while posting blogs and speaking to groups give me confidence and the feedback to know when I'm boring and when I'm entertaining. I don't know how you can shut up, sit down and focus without getting some feedback.

106. Ben McCahill (2013-01-28) #

     Hi Derek!
     
     I always try maintain the focus and build my skills, but is it down to entertainment or is it more important to be engaging? I'd go for engaging every time. It's SOOOO hard to cross cultural and audience profiles just by being entertaining (IMHO).
     
     I had to do this when I started looking to improve my game so I decided to take up guest blogging on sites that scare me (with big audience numbers and great content).
     
     Your question was centre of my mind, but by being to-the-point and topical I (think) I found a happy medium.
     
     Great question though!
     
     You often mention the need to expand by leaning into that which scares you. As you do this and the fear subsides then the skills will come - and with that the engagement will grow. Now THATs entertainment! And a great goal :)

107. Zimar Manigault (2013-01-28) #

     I think you have to have a strong balance. sometimes you need to reboot your brain with outside influences that will help your creativity. sometimes especially with writing code is a program are you might be stuck on a certain process of programming or a way of figuring it out by yourself .it could take days or even weeks however if you talk to other people in the same field and be a little bit more outgoing you might find the answer in half the time.
     This applies to music or anything else that your creativity involved with you need fresh air and me outside influences within reason.

108. Jason Miles (2013-01-28) #

     Months to master?? I think years is more like it.i have decades in the music world and I'm still learning Do you think just because you have FB friends they will support your music? This is along road filled with unconditional commitment and no guarantees .

109. Denny Alexander (2013-01-28) #

     There is an unspoken rule for 'performing' - "If you have nothing new or different to contribute, don't stand up".
     
     You accomplish two things - real product when you do perform and a pent-up appetite in your 'audience' for when you do produce

110. taberna (2013-01-28) #

     I'm with you Delboy, i don't really know.. perhaps to be natural is all you need to be. Do what you do and if people don't like it they weren't the right people.
     You can't please everyone, everytime you post an update or some expression of your self/work some people will praise you for it and others will be repelled by it . To detach yourself from your perceived view of your audience and yet remain connected to them is perhaps the objective.

111. Jordan Phoenix (2013-01-28) #

     One thing is for sure - myself and every other commenter on here have obviously chosen some level of "connecting/entertaining" over focusing. So these answers are only from one side of the aisle and not a good representation of all opinions :)
     
     After admitting my bias towards entertaining, I do think a balance is key (though it is definitely hard to perfect), and that it depends on who you are and what your vision is. There is lots to be gained by learning and collaborating with others, but of course improving skills and creating is important too. Setting limits (such as no social media during certain blocks of time) can help. I think it's most important to create personal downtime to recharge and reevaluate constantly, so that you can intuitively feel when the pendulum has swung too far in one direction and maintain that balance.

112. Gregg Rose (2013-01-28) #

     Just going through and talking about the same issue! I should be writing more rather than working on my website, facebook page and sharing stuff from the past. I think the answer is that you must do both. Although probably more on the "shut up and focus" part.

113. Amy Conley (2013-01-28) #

     Well, Damn, I thought you were going to give us the answers Derek!!!

114. Rachel Walker (2013-01-28) #

     Hi Derek. Great post. It takes GREAT dedication and use of time to discipline to master...it takes inspiration, to create the beautiful.....and it just flows...
     It is a matter of great love for others, that causes someone like me, to want to , have to, communicate, it takes faith in God, and all things that matter to perservere and it takes quiet resting to achieve the impossible.
     Have a great week Derek.
     rachel

115. Nico Danan (2013-01-28) #

     White or black? How about Grey! Shutting up a tad but not completely, focusing on work as much as possible.

116. Jimbo Berkey (2013-01-28) #

     I think that the boring infrastructure must be the priority, hopefully with a little bit of time for some minor, 'practice' entertainment. If the boring infrastructure is built badly or too slowly, it will affect the quality forevermore and delay and/or reduce the reward forevermore.

117. Jessica Paige (2013-01-28) #

     The questiOn is can you do both well ? Probably not. You are not a one hit wonder, where you have to keep in people's faces all the time. Yes, you wouldn't be on my mind if you didn't blog/post, but as soon as I saw your name and e-mail again I would cluck on it because you have worthwhile things to say. In order to create you need reflection and learning time. Also in order to entertain.

118. Jeremy Schmitt (2013-01-28) #

     With the internet, I always feel connected. In our information overload of a world, my choice is to "sit down, shut up, and focus."
     
     No one (not even rockstars) are on-stage all the time. So do the grunt work, do it well, and let your preparation from this grunt work dictate your performance.
     
     That's my take at least :)

119. Rex Williams (2013-01-28) #

     One can do more than one thing. You are a multifaceted human being. You have friends from multiple circles, you eat multiple things, you talk, sleep, dance, and sing. You have been to many countries, worn many clothes, and shopped at many stores.
     
     There are also 7 days in a week. You don't have to do the same thing every day.
     
     What do you want to do?

120. Boris Berlin (2013-01-28) #

     I think you may have to consider a 'monk phase' where you get reclusive in a cyber way. This is easier said than done for many of us. I found it useful for me to give up some high-tech widgets such as a smartphone during those times, but the pull to be interconnected is always there. This new way of life lends itself to multitasking and much pre-frontal cortex activity from what I understand. Mastering a new thing may need that type of focus, as your essay already implies. You need to decide if this new skill is worth giving up the other stuff. If so, go for it, posting your intention somewhere so everybody knows you're in hiding. I do believe knowledge is always an investment that will pay off.
     
     "An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest." Benjamin Franklin

121. Randy Phillips (2013-01-28) #

     Thanks Derek, for sending this. Everyone who posts on the internet can use this kind of comment, because we all have the problem of being boring at least sometimes.
     
     Your reminder to be interesting and entertaining as well is very good advice.

122. Solveig (2013-01-28) #

     Sorry, no time to comment. Trying to focus. :)

123. Dale Perry (2013-01-28) #

     My grandfather and I had a running arguement. Sould I play what people like or should I just perform my works as an art form, pleasing only some if any who listen. I chose the latter. I will likely die as poor as Handle, because I can't entetain for the sake of it.
     What the heck, everybody dies!

124. Elise Bialylew (2013-01-28) #

     I think its worth asking where is the need to entertain coming from? if there is a tug to go deeper...I think this is the more compelling force...
     
     I like the shut up, sit down, and focus....it's becoming harder and harder to do...Staying focussed is a radical act in our information rich world...I'm going to iterate and adjust your mantra to remind me to:
     
     shut up, sit down and meditate....

125. Bruno Pinaud (2013-01-28) #

     Do both. One will help the other. And you will take pleasure from both.
     
     You can take pictures from several angles. All in focus. You are the focus, not the pictures.
     
     Just keep up.

126. Harry Beckwith (2013-01-28) #

     Well put, Derek. Your instincts for knowing when to copy me on a post continue to be perfect.
     
     A similar thought to your occured to me yesterday when I decided that if I see one more blog entry with a headline in the following spirit, I may spontaneously combust:
     
     "Seven Social Media Tricks You Can Learn From Batman."
     
     Everytime that we offer something to the world, it should be with the implicit promise that it is of value. If not an entirely new idea, it should be fresh enough that we believe it will benefit our reader somehow. Unless we are purely in the entertainment business, our reputation depends on delivering something else of value.
     
     You do that, Derek, but the number of thought leaders and provokers who do is small and the pressure apparently is immense. Look at the Decline and Fall of Jonah Lehrer. He could not resist the rewards of making his material more appealing simply by making things up.
     
     I've no idea who observed that in America, every new things begins as a cause, turns into a business, and ends up a racket. This new world of information is beginning to look like this.
     
     Perhaps I've taken a tangent that you would not, but I couldn't resist. Thanks for another of your very good and well-expressed thoughts.
     Very true. Thanks Harry. — Derek

127. Estarmir Hernandez (2013-01-28) #

     I shut up, sit down, and focus, while trying to make something entertaining.
     
     As long as the message gets communicated, no matter the means, I can rest easy.

128. Mick Flores (2013-01-28) #

     I think we all struggle trying to figure this one out for sure...I try to keep a balance.

129. Jimmie Landry (2013-01-28) #

     Stay in the here and now and the rest will take care of itself.

130. Carl (2013-01-28) #

     Insightful observation. When I wrote my first book back in the late '90s, the Internet was not as big of a distractions as it is today. So, I dutifully spent many uninterrupted hours in front of my computer, typing away, until I reached the finish line. Thankfully I did not have to keep a blog going at the same time--it would have been a huge distraction. My feeling is, unless you plan to turn your blog/twitter feed/facebook page into a book, every minute spent there is minute longer to mastery. In this case, entertaining aint doing.

131. Mark Remington (2013-01-28) #

     This is something that I have quandered myself. As a solo artist in a small tourist town, Ruidoso, New Mexico, I find the need to be new and refreshing on at least a yearly basis. This includes having new original material to offer listeners. At least in my mind it does. New material adds a zing to my performance, simply because of the inner feeling of accomplishment that comes from creating something new. Learning a cover of someone else's song is good, but does not satisfy my need of accomplishment. Jamming with fellow musicians is always good, too. And guess what? Teaching is good for both the student and the teacher.. You can teach yourself at the same time you teach someone else. Mark

132. Vinnie Lauria (2013-01-28) #

     Good questions, I think balance is important. Whether it's to a large audience or just a 1-on-1 conversation. I find myself struggling to keep those interests well balance.
     
     I haven't figured out a simple answer yet either ;-p

133. Jimmie Landry (2013-01-28) #

     Whatever you do, be here and now and let the world find you. They will if you are real.

134. Julie Wiley (2013-01-28) #

     In my younger days I would ask those questions. Now the focus is on the space in between the external events. The journey truly leads you nowhere. This moment is the only thing that is real.

135. Bob Patterson (2013-01-28) #

     I would feed the birds, go full recluse, and wait for something new to emerge that you are completely engaged in. Of course, that is what I have been doing for the past couple of years, and it is paying off in fresh ideas. I like what is happening. It just grew out of the boredom and watching the birds.

136. Steve Madewell (2013-01-28) #

     I put a fair amount of time and energy into web page and promo material development a few years ago. There were definate returns.
     However a change in my workload prevented me from keeping up in the same manner...
     took a gamble put it all on hold. An occassional email, saesons greetings sort of thing and that is it. I figure, wait till I can re engage to do it right.
     
     Rebuilding would be better than discrediting myself.

137. Dan Hodgins (2013-01-28) #

     I disagree that the path to mastery is not interesting. People love process, and finding out about how other people make decisions about stuff. Prime example - 37 signals sharing their decision making process for design- even when the finished prototype or product is suboptimal. Behind the scenes footage or stories are other examples. In an era of unprecedented openness and transparency, why not share your ideas, decisions and process toward mastery with your audience?

138. Amy Conley (2013-01-28) #

     I am glad for the question and for all the wonderful ideas people are posting here, thank you everyone! I'm linking this page to my Songwriting Group in southern NH.

139. Marina Verenikina (2013-01-28) #

     Always both :)
     Although having multiple personalities and a bipolar disorder helps a great deal:)

140. Glenn Edwards (2013-01-28) #

     Hey Derek. I asked the same question of master fiddle player I know he said " woodsheding is good once in a while but you still have to go out and play". Each of us must strike a balance and remember each moment is the precious now.

141. Derek Leung (2013-01-28) #

     Uff, bit heavy for a Monday morning, Are you entertaining yourself by shutting us up? :-)

142. Race Knower (2013-01-28) #

     I never thought that been online meant you were an entertainer. However it does hit as been somewhat true. There is a lot of freedom but its not that easy to grab a large share of online audience attention. You can create and post great videos or mp3 songs and there are hundreds of thousands of artists, musicans and producers uploading their great creative ideas on line but they don't really end up with huge legions of adoring audiences, unless fate decides it so. Take the case of an Asian fish seller who was rhyming something like "one pound fish very very cheap" or something like that. Who in the world would have imagined that he would have wound up on youtube with an audience of 57,000 strong and wind up getting a recording contract to be a singer. All he did was try to sell fish and that simple little line he was chanting brought him the success and attention that thousands of online entertainers crave for. You never know your luck in the big city
     .http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETSl8gWsFZ0&feature=player_embedded#!

143. Salim Virani (2013-01-28) #

     Hey Derek,
     At first, I noticed what I thought were my most useful posts were the least popular. Then I noticed that if I let myself have more fun with posts, they were more consistently popular.
     
     So lately, I've been doing both and mixing them – having fun and writing as a break from the focused work, and sharing the lessons from the focused work in more novel ways.
     
     For example, http://www.custdevcards.com was kicked out the door in a few hours yesterday. Compare that to a blog post I wrote on good interview questions: http://sal.st/TozMqi No answers yet - but rather than accepting a trade off between focus and sharing, I'm looking for better levers to do both more effectively...

144. Reg Meuross (2013-01-28) #

     I think you are inclined to be a little more shallow as you're not doing the full on show delivery, but you are trying to keep people not so much entertained as interested in future developments. So I think the answer is you remain intersting. If you post on Fbook, you link those posts to your music or your writing in some way, or to developments on your website. if you are posting details of a little gig in the country you make the post a little postcard from that place. If youwant to tell people about the new album or song you're working on maybe feed a bit of the theme or the inspiration or setting for that song to them, give them something to chew on. Keep your integrity.

145. Michae Averill (2013-01-28) #

     I don't think you've ever been one to do just one or the other, and what you do is never merely for entertainment. You do what you feel you creatively need to do to help others grow. You engage and encourage people to think for themselves. Through your experiences of going out of your comfort zone, you bring forth deep and insightful material to share with the world. Through their feedback is how you develop deep connections, which focuses and hones your abilities to entertain....Keep trying new things with your observational mind, and you'll be solid ;)

146. Alexa Weber Morales (2013-01-28) #

     Two weeks ago I was going to delete my FB. I thought, 4 years is enough. It's run its course. I need to focus on real people, real world. I stayed off for a week. Now back. I figured what if I have to promote something? But it is a major conflict and time suck. Answers, please!

147. Jim Zachar (2013-01-28) #

     Not sure what I would do. Maybe that's life's way of saying your 20 minutes is up.

148. David Griffith (2013-01-28) #

     I love your articles and I'm still thinking about the one you wrote suggesting that 'taking the blame' can be both useful and and enlightening.
     
     Without being too silly about it, it also 'works' as a purifying process when it comes to removing the causes of conflict within one's own life. ..... well ...... it helped me and still does.
     
     Hard to get that idea across without it sounding like 'being a doormat' which, of course, it isn't.
     
     Focus, entertain or both?
     
     After forty years of writing and singing songs within a simple chord pattern I realised I needed to go quiet and learn scales - put notes into whatever it was that I was writing.
     
     At the same time, a strong inner impulse to 'not perform' happily co-incides with my desire to learn..... and having very little to say.
     
     No loss to the world as I just play locally
     
     All of that leaves me with a website upon which there's very little to report.
     
     Strange how we can start something with a vision in mind only to find that it takes on a different shape. .... which happens all the time within the garden.
     
     A website put together to promote songs becomes a sort of diary about the failures and successes, and the musings on life in general, of a ordinary bloke who wrote some songs.
     
     I don't try to be entertaining. Being a performer doesn't come easily. If I entertain at all it can only be because I'm being as true to myself - within the song I'm singing - as I can be. I don't have the finesse to dress it up any other way.
     
     Who am I talking to? Me - God - you :)

149. Kendall Giles (2013-01-28) #

     The answer is: Yes.

150. John Gerighty (2013-01-28) #

     Great post and interesting question.
     
     I started a blog a few years back, but nobody seemed to read it. If you find that you can interact with your fans, that's fantastic, but surely this can be done in around half an hour a day, leaving the rest of the day to focus?
     
     I thought the point of this type of interaction was to enable the fans to catch a glimpse of the "real you". If you spend too much time trying to be entertaining, then they will just get the "on stage you".
     
     Personally, with a young family, I find that the routines of day to day life form the biggest threat to my "path to mastery".
     
     One day I will get there, or at least get back on the path!
     
     John

151. Ernest Ebell (2013-01-28) #

     Interesting questions, Derek. As with so many things, I'm guessing balance is the answer. I think the deep, heavy-lifting work of creating and crafting always needs to be in there. The Beatles, for example, stopped touring so they could get some work done! Still, it is a PART of one's work to stay connected to the audience. I don't think it takes much - just an occasional reminder to folks that you're out there, working away. Do a concert on the roof top if you need to. Balance in all things, I think.

152. Mark Whitty (2013-01-28) #

     I get to 75, playing jazz 60 years. Less than 1% like jazz, the other 99% hate it. (Presenters inc.).
     Why do I keep going Derek? Only because I love it.
     Especially 20s/30s jazz, when musos sang through their instruments. Beautiful sounds. Nice lyrics.
     
     "Modern Jazz"? Slide-rule musos. Only jazz style meeting "Presenters" approval. Their other job is probably broadcasting horse racing.
     Apologies to the other 99.9% of the world.
     Mark Whitty AKA "Doctor Jazz"

153. rod pardey (2013-01-28) #

     It should be cyclical. If you need to focus, update weekly. When it's time to entertain, build up to it. Build the excitement with social media presence. Artistry is also about how the artist factors in his growth as a person.

154. Drew Meyers (2013-01-28) #

     Focus.

155. Ahmad Zaky (2013-01-28) #

     Oh boy... it's really really good questions.
     I ask the same questions to myself in last several days.
     
     I ask to myself "Should I to be happy while learning? yes, but several learning are so painful, so hard. It's far from entertain me. What about Loving what I'm doing? Love means entertaining/happiness right? What is Love really means ? Lots of people called Love Love Love. Is Love means making something feels natural (like habit) for me? But I was tried it, and always got distracted really easy."
     
     I couldn't sleep last night, and got the answers :
     "If I love something, it means I will burn myself to got it, whatever the price, however long time needs, whatever the painful, however difficult. If I love toward something... I should PROVE to that something... how much love I had."
     
     It's seems like loving a girlfriend, when I love a girl, I will prove to that girl how much I love her with my effort. And fortunately I am happy. Happiness is a feedback while or after the proving process, but it doesn't really matter at least I love her.
     
     "Love beats everything." ooohhhh so cute...

156. Jim Bob (2013-01-28) #

     Derek,
     
     If you're truly talking to yourself, shut up, sit down, and focus. What is best for your audience is that you do what's best for you. We can wait, while we follow your example to shut up, sit down, and focus. Watching the long, boring process is just as helpful to your watchers and the entertaining nuggets you drop on us.
     
     I dot get bunged up when I don't hear from you for awhile. But, when I do hear from you, I drop what I'm doing to listen. I don't listen to you for entertainment, but for wisdom. You serve that up in spades and I don't mind waiting for it.
     
     Shut up, sit down, and focus. I'll wait.
     
     Blessings,
     Jim Bob

157. Robin O'Herin (2013-01-28) #

     hi Derek, you've really captured the artist dilemma. I think there has to be a balance. I need to get out and perform to motivate me to put in the hard hours practicing and continueing to hone my skills.
     So, this is kind of what my life looks like: practice 2-4 hours a day, do booking 2-4 hours a day, and play out a minimum of 3 nights a week. In addition I teach guitar and songwriting, play at daytime venues and almost never have a day off. Following your passion is a lot of work!

158. Colin Michael (2013-01-28) #

     I'm the shut up and sit down guy. I'm only entertaining every other year. I'm not popular.

159. Emery Jeffreys (2013-01-28) #

     I've worked as a writer, editor, or news reporter longer than most of you have been around. It can be painful and wonderful. Writing to keep an audience engaged must be part focus and part entertainment. A good writer also needs a good editor to let you know when you are full of crap.
     
     Only your audience provides the answer. If they are silent, then you have answer that only focus can repair. The focus and entertainment mix comes by gauging the feedback or comments.

160. Mary Ann Rosser (2013-01-28) #

     There comes a time when, in order to continue to be the best you can be, one has to take a break and evaluate, learn, grow, plan, and implement whatever it is that you do/are planning to do. If you don't, then there will be gaps of needed information/activities that is overlooked. Yep, it's boring for others. But I've found that the process of doing these "boring" background tasks is rewarding in the end. I often learn something about myself or my craft during that time of growing. If you have a good agenda, along with the goals and objectives, the process is much simpler, and takes less time to accomplish your agenda. Success in this area will result in a refreshing which will translate for the audience in the end.

161. Do Mi Stauber (2013-01-28) #

     No answers here, but what a great question!!!

162. Paul House (2013-01-28) #

     In my mind, search has changed all this. I am never waiting to be entertained, I just search for the best information/entertainment I can find when I need it. So I try to focus my traffic on search, and optimizing the information to answer that need the best. This model lets me focus, while refining what I have, and without feeling any pressure to entertain anyone, just be the best with what I have and the time it is ready.

163. Joy (2013-01-28) #

     Well, we are entertainers..artists/musicians/authors/inventors and will always need to be before an audience..Perhaps being what the audience expects is best but on the other hand as you mentioned..it does feel like 'selling out' to not be true to our inner voice..I think of Bob Dylan whose inner voice has always been his truth..and often made others uncomfortable..unhappy, but he refused to change, rearrange or become anything other then who his very own soul was calling him to be..Funny about that Bob Dylan..he is a legend in his own time..and all he ever was..again was a man truly following his inner voice, not what was popular and certain to make anyone happy..just by being Derek Sivers..you have and are making our planet beautiful..and more noble..

164. Lynn Brown (2013-01-28) #

     I have just released a new Cd. I am garnering more fans all the time but how do I keep them excited between releases? I don't tour. I am now in my grey daze. And well I just want folks to hear my music more than anything. Don't get me wrong I love to entertain and as a matter of fact my new years resolution is to play more this year in my own town. To reconnect as I have been playing outside this place for years mostly because the pay sucked. But now I realize that the pay isn't what I'm after it's the people hearing me. So there ya go. Thanks Derek.
     Peace,
     Lynn E. Brown

165. Brig (2013-01-28) #

     I have had a fairly large audience since back in the myspace days. I've found that it's wisest to balance both, and even sometimes to share about that very thing- balancing both. My way of delivering is sometimes very personal, sometimes more commentary, sometimes more frivolous, sometimes very much not related to my businesses. In times when I'm going in deep over here, I may post less often, but nevertheless, I still manage to get in a short note here or there. There are little bits of wisdom or experiences to share everyday, even if it's just to say "I love you" or to ask an impactful question such as "Who are you being that's cause in the circumstances of your life?". The posts may not land for everyone all the time, but nothing ever lands for everyone anyway. I haven't had any complaints yet, and I get lots of appreciative feedback for what I do. I have followers who've stuck by me for years and years, from all over the world, during all sorts of phases in my life because I've allowed them the opportunity to have a personal investment in me.

166. Brandon (2013-01-28) #

     I've found that it's best to be somewhere in the middle. You can't completely shut your customers off, because that makes them feel alienated and confused, but if you spend so much time focused on entertaining, you/your product will never get better. My friend Jamie wrote an excellent post on this subject: http://erskinelabs.com/hows-your-social-capital/

167. Carmen Lund (2013-01-28) #

     Derek,
     You always interesting and thought provoking information. I am thinking . . . thanks,

168. Kelly Pardekooper (2013-01-28) #

     Derek, I hope you never feel obligated to entertain us. I would guess most folks who receive your emails/thoughts really look forward to your sharing. However, I also respected the time we didn't hear from you. You've earned that and your audience trusts you.
     
     10,000 hours of practice versus tech commercials and social networks that urge muti-tasking insanity and instant gratification. I worry about the next generations ability to focus at all.
     
     I choose to focus...until it's time to share/entertain. At 20 years into music, I know my audience trusts me. Yes, they tell me to tour more. But I'm getting older. Yes, they wish I'd record more. But I'm busier with other life loves (family). I think it's OK that this balance of focus/entertaining changes organically as your life changes.
     
     Wherever your balance takes you Derek...we'll be here!
     Kelly

169. Niina (2013-01-28) #

     Define "boring to others". I think that as a society, we have lost sight of what is important. Is the drama that we see on our so called news channels important? We feed each other tales of our success and our exiting life, and at the other end of the spectrum we get the gore of local news. That's boring. Somehow, we think that if it not something new, big, brilliant or terrible, it's not worth sharing. I disagree. And, I for one would be curious to find out what you consider boring to others.

170. jeremy l. mix (2013-01-28) #

     Its a balance of both. I think the trick is to
     keep a disciplined and consistent schedule of: A)online entertainment, writing and promotion to authentically engage your audience, listen to them, and sharpen your marketing skills.
     B)personal practice, art creation, digging deeper to find the next gem, building the next empire, chipping away at next masterpiece. It only this that creates art worth anything.
     Interestingly enough both of these have beneficial feedback loops on each other. The more time you spend engaging, the better you understand your audiences role in influencing your craft. The more time you spend honing your craft, the better you understand how to improve to grow your audience

171. Joe Leonard (2013-01-28) #

     I think it can be both. I am writing a book this year. It will never see the light of day until it is written and published. So I have to sit down, shut up, and focus on writing it, with no rewards except filling up pages in my notebook with writing writing writing. However, my daily 10 minute blog (linked here) is also my writing exercise, honing the mechanics of writing, sometimes entertaining, sometimes not, but always public for all to read. Almost none of it will be in my book, content-wise, but since it is kind of a daily writing journal, I talk about the book and other things and let people kind of follow along with my progress (entertainment?) and post insightful comments - not unlike Derek's thoughtful posts. Thanks for asking the questions. Joe.

172. kurt lee (2013-01-28) #

     thank you!

173. Joel Bowers (2013-01-28) #

     Most of your unknown, avid fans, like me also consider you a friend and are as interested in a few words about where you are in your process, how your day went, occasionally too. No need to be terribly entertaining. I suspect I would even like to hear some of the boring details I wouldn't wish on everyone.

174. Chase Steele Greye (2013-01-28) #

     I think this is a common quagmire. My viewpoint is this. I believe wholeheartedly that the best thing anyone can do is to just be real. There are so many ways to entertain, inform, and deliver realness consistently. The first way, is to just show up and put it out there. Looking to be cool or hip or entertaining, usually backfires in my opinion. I post a blog every day and I focus on just bring me the way that I am with a little spin on it. A natural spin with no fillers. I believe the top people on the industry of Internet social connecting are also the most transparent. Which by the way, is why I follow you. I have read your book about 8 times already. Why? Because it shoots from the hip! You guys you want to be hip and funny and engaging, here is a tip. Just show up everyday and you will grow your "hip" wings organically. My blog started from nothing and it is now being read all around the world. I am just beginning to make a difference after 2 years managing this blog. Thank you Derek. You were a major catalyst...

175. anjie (2013-01-28) #

     I just dropped off Facebook for this reason. It was very difficult to cut the social media ties. I know that i need to focus on something besides reading everyone else's posts. Self cultivation is what i am working on for a season. Soon, i hope to be performing music again. Im just stuck in the muck.

176. Matthew To Mccourt (2013-01-28) #

     if it's facebook as the delivery system for postings.... i took your advice long ago *(and wish the hundreds of people ive told about the cdbaby you created AND the helpful tips especially when it comes to OVER PROMOTING... ) would have also taken that adivice!
     and that issue rigth there (and the photos of plates of food and the im sick today...... posts... ive gotten sick of that platform and am writing an essay on the new "opiate of the people "the addiction that is taking over the minds of the world odorless colorless deifntiely tasteless costs nothin and is delivered to your home all round the world 24/7 ,, the side effects include nauseau, frustration ,anger,depression, alienation and a false sense of importance to name FEW... it is facebook.... i WAS entertaining when i started in 2009 on an urge from my long distance friend..3 years later... im sick of it... and the phony "care" it offers...
     so ... its time for MY question... what other options are there.. myspace killed my laptop with a virus.. and im looking for another way to be funny without leaving the house..

177. AndreaGerak (2013-01-28) #

     Big Questions, as always, Derek. And so many of us familiar with it...
     
     I don't think there can be one right answer to any of them, to find the right proportions.
     
     As for me, I remember I read a book called Uncommon Sense and there the guy said about different types of motivation that for him, it was FREEDOM why he was doing things: that whenever he felt like disappearing from the world with some books for example, he could just be "anti-social" and do that - freedom to do whatever one really wants to do. Maybe you know that guy :-)
     
     That stroke some strings with me, for this is the life I have always wanted.
     
     In the past 1 year and a half or so, I learned to care about what people say, what is my image and so on - but not THAT much. I don't HAVE to share all my photos etc.
     
     Sure, they love my photos and when I say something wise or funny, but at the end of the day, what do they like from me the most? When I sing.
     
     And above all, when I am THERE with them and they can hear me live or watch dancing - which is the greatest fun for me, too.
     
     It's much more important that I do what I feel really good about: whether it is to send birthday greetings to everyone for a few days in a raw- or not even go to my Facebook for days and meet people in real life, take big walks, listen to lectures or learn new songs, read books or work on my dreams. Living my life, you know?
     
     I think that whatever one does with the best feelings, is the right thing to do at the moment, and that activity will bring the best result.
     
     Supposed-to world is not my world any more.
     
     As an artist, I don't think that in this age of information overload where everyone is screaming "Look at me, hear me, watch me!", I NEED to entertain people with bits and pieces of my own life (of course, sometimes I love to share stuff and some fans are eager to follow every step of mine) - but I am very happy to give inspiration so that THEIR life can be more exciting as well and perhaps I can help them to open up their creativity.

178. Joshua Joseph (2013-01-28) #

     Are you sure the thing you (may) decide to focus on next will be boring to others? If a good part of your energy comes from sharing and feedback, am guessing you'll find a way...and that could end up being an big part of what makes experience work for you.

179. Colleen (2013-01-28) #

     If I were in your shoes, as in, if I were the one asking this question, I can understand the temptation to not want to be forgotten. But when I consider answering this question that you've asked I want to tell you that even if you didn't post for years I would be excited when I did see a post from you. You are not going to be forgotten, and rare posts become more valuable for their scarcity. And now I think that I have to follow that same advice myself. :-)

180. josh friedman (2013-01-28) #

     so funny, derek. not only did your name come up in conversation today, but also this article hits so close to what I am working on right now.
     
     thank you.
     
     I know you didn't tell me what I need to do, but by reading your words, I will be able to do it all.
     
     josh

181. Joel Friedlander (2013-01-28) #

     Yes, Derek, being a regular blogger means this can happen several times a week. Sometimes, spinning between one pole and the other, the solution is to keep focusing and just "lift the corner of the tent" a wee bit. When the interior process meets the audience looking for something, it can make some slow down enough to appreciate both the inner and the outer. And, of course, a lot of folks just keep going and that's okay too. Thanks for pointing this out, it is real.

182. Fabian Cummings (2013-01-28) #

     I love your writing delivery, flash a smile every time i see your post, quick to click on the link to read your truest thoughts. Keep up the good work, Derek.

183. Susan Vdh (2013-01-28) #

     Hi Derek,
     
     With all due respect, I suggest that you follow your personal interests and the crowd will follow or not. It was never what you said, it was and it is who you are and what you represent. People can see themselves in you. Bravo.
     
     Once a business is established it has a life of its own. But you are not your business. Protect you.
     
     I suggest you take a sabbatical, ease into yourself and explore what makes you feel grounded -- perhaps family or friends. Or maybe there is a frivolous novel you have been wanting to read (or even write) just because it is just that, light and frivolous-- like watching "gator boys" when everyone is out at the opera.
     
     Later, begin writing the life you want to live, each day -- hereafter, and smile, because I suspect that is where this all began. You are a connector. Thank you.
     
     Susan

184. Yusuf Abdi (2013-01-28) #

     Derek, I understand your need to focus in order to explore/learn something new. Also, your blog posts I don't consider them entertaining rather allowing us to learn and maybe benefit from your experiences.
     
     With that said, I personally would love to hear your struggles and triumphant so we can cheer you up and congratulate you whatever the case might be.
     
     Ultimately, just do whatever feels right and comfortable to you. I learned so much from your posts, YouTube videos, and your recent book and I will be forever thankful that you took the time to share with us your insights and wisdom.
     
     Yusuf

185. Matthias Görgens (2013-01-28) #

     If your deep focused work produces any artefacts, why not publish them? Give your audience some credit, they might just be fascinates by those glimpses into not often shown.

186. CJ (2013-01-28) #

     Both. Shut up, sit down and focus... focus on what's really going on. All the crap inside that "pretends" there's a conflict. There's not. Do whatever it takes to find that push-pull inside. Report that honestly, succinctly, with humor if possible. Our issues, talked about but not whined over, and hopefully moved beyond, benefit others because they know it's not just them and it IS possible. Being honest is just being the most authentic, most REAL you, you can be. That's always a good thing! BTW: You did that beautifully here... :)

187. Mia S (2013-01-28) #

     Hey Derek, these are great questions. I've definitely felt these conflicts.. as an artist I do my best work when I'm able to do more watching, listening, perceiving... and not just searching for witty chatter about whatever is relevant in the short term. I've had to tell myself to tune out the folks who ask me stupid questions like "how many Twitter followers do you have?" (as some means of judging my success to my face - awesome). I think that doing something great and meaningful once in a while..or just once, is ultimately what we yearn for as individuals. Being popular will always just be what it is. It all comes back to - Do you give them what they're asking for? Or do you give them what they don't know they want yet? I think all the greats have done the latter. And doing the latter requires limiting the feedback, and trusting yourself to prioritize what's needed to achieve your goals in the order of their value to your vision.

188. Ahmad Zaky (2013-01-28) #

     toward 158. Mark Whitty
     
     I love your comment alot... it's really really wonderful.
     "Love beats everything."--my favourites phrases

189. Joseph de Dominicis (2013-01-28) #

     Hi Derek,
     Thanks for your latest blog. I just got off from a gig last night. I accompanied a singer (I am a guitarist) in a show with broadway and metropolitan opera stars and played a solo guitar set after the main show when people where mingling and eating. It was all very entertaining. Listened to the two other accompanists. Great piano players. Learned a lot from them. So for me the two go hand in hand. Learning and entertaining.
     Joe D

190. Gary Gersin (2013-01-28) #

     thanks derek! my son derek and i are getting ready to launch a website about something we've always enjoyed and wanted to find an original way to share it. your words are something we haven't even thought about. THANKS!

191. Curtis Sulaski (2013-01-28) #

     You decide to have an intellectual excursion of sorts not unlike Rush Limbaugh does on his Friday jaunts in to 'Open Line Friday'. Here, the audience determines the subject of what is at hand and the direction it takes.

192. Kate Hammett-Vaughan (2013-01-28) #

     Always such good food for thought. Thanks!

193. Mark Ransom (2013-01-28) #

     If you cant or don't entertain...inform.

194. David William (2013-01-28) #

     Derek,
     
     Yet again, a wonderful post.
     
     I have been spending less time on the noise end of the Internet and it has been rewarding for me. I think of it as a digital hibernation, until I feel I've found my proper place for noise contribution.
     
     Sure folks find it interesting to sleep in a hammock, or to quit using shampoo, or even how to live in a warehouse... But inevitably, I end up feeling like I have an obligation to the noise, so I keep coming back. But is it even a good thing?
     
     It's almost as though now I am in the pursuit of boredom!

195. Brian James (2013-01-28) #

     These ideas are very interesting in that people don't really take what they are doing serious enough. 10,000 hours investment for mastery of learning something new. how many are willing to give up this amount of time? unless it is something you are genuine about and really care about. i often wondered why somebody in my life could dedicate their whole day to work i thought man this is really boring or would just dismiss it. now as i'm getting older i am realizing that the more you understand what it is you want to do, you have to give all your attention to it for the time you've allotted yourself, so make the most of it. Thanks for your insights they are most inspiring.

196. Laurie Steed (2013-01-28) #

     Great article, Derek.
     
     As someone who recently disconnected from Facebook and Twitter for more than six months, I can say that a pure disconnect for work reasons functions only if living in an environment conducive to regular group activities (in person) within your industry. I'm a writer who's currently located remotely, and while disconnecting did slightly increase my productivity it also meant I was singularly focused on my work, to the detriment of my relationships, and particularly those I'd fostered online.
     
     I would argue for balance here, as indeed in many things, and the conflict never really goes away. Having had my focus time, I'm now ready to 'entertain' and indeed find a healthy mix of the two.

197. Chris Palmer (2013-01-28) #

     I think what you do is a good example of what to do. You do go dark for weeks at a time or more. No filler blogs. No defined time or blog schedule. And then out of no where, I see your name and I'm actually hungry to read it because you NEVER email just to email. You respect our time. You give us quality. And that is who you are. You're not some newspaper who has to fill the pages in a defined schedule so you give us what you feel once it's ready and once you're ready. Not unlike a tree that makes fruit in its own time schedule. The fruit is really only good if its picked at the right moment. When its ready.

198. Kristy Kline (2013-01-28) #

     Thank you for writing about this. Thank you for the support! The Today show has an "I'm Stuck" contest I'm going to enter. I don't know about anybody else, but it sounds good to me.

199. Cass (2013-01-28) #

     I believe that dedicated practice/rehearsal combined with onstage focus & awareness leads to outstanding performance/entertainment

200. Alex (2013-01-28) #

     Just do me to the best of my ability, if I manage to share a smile along the way and people smile with me then I'm good to go!

201. Emo LeBlanc (2013-01-28) #

     Derek, you are always jabbing me with the right questions. Do people really think about their post ? I don't think so .... I could be wrong but people who know me will know that at times I will be interesting and at others I might be boring, repeatitive, missing words, and more. But the is the whole entertainer. That is what people want ... The Whole entertainer not part of the entertainer.

202. Ray Rivera (2013-01-28) #

     Two years ago I played what is now called, "my last live show". A year and a half ago I started recording a new album. I ran out of money and my wife gave birth to our son. So, I kinda ran out of time too. Lol... Last year I found myself managing a band and now I have a partner. I'm really good at it and it feels great to help others move forward. But everyday I think about my unfinished album. I'm not retired and I can still entertain. But now I have a family and a new management company. Do I entertain & do the work or do I give up one? I'm not entirely sure there is an answer. Maybe we can just do our best to do both. Not sure.

203. Rebecca (2013-01-28) #

     I'm finding it's about exploring the balance within the creative tension these opposites create. Both are needed. One drives the other and then they flip and the other drives the first. If I only write and not share what I have written then my muses get bored. If I only share what I have written and stop writing my muses rebel. It's like filling and emptying a reservoir at the same time without the water either drying up or spilling over.

204. Martina Nicholson (2013-01-28) #

     I posted a few songs on You Tube. I am not trying to make a living with my songs, just share them. So it is ok if only a few people check them out. I am very excited that I am going to take singing lessons. I still think I have something to offer, at 62. I want to write sophisticated songs for my generation. Not teeny-bopper stuff. Sooner or later, Americans will have to acquire some musical taste and recognition of musical sophistication. Perhaps older Americans are almost ready for that. You Tube makes it possible to share without having to spend a lot of money.

205. Dave (2013-01-28) #

     Write what ur thinking, skip the entertaining

206. Ken Cook (2013-01-28) #

     Thank you for this. Going full recluse is not the answer, so I try to stay connected without someone suggesting I sit down and be still

207. Tim Tsang aka Moogist (2013-01-28) #

     I guess...all of the above? (and below too.)
     __________
     I tend to verge on the shut up and focus side, but then feel the need to tell people what I'm doing. then I get too busy telling people what I'm doing I suck at my actual work.
     
     then I tend to verge on the shut up and focus side, but then feel the need to tell people what I'm doing. then I get too busy telling people what I'm doing I suck at my actual work.
     
     then I tend to verge on the shut up and focus side, but then feel the need to tell people what I'm doing. then I get too busy telling people what I'm doing I suck at my actual work.
     
     then I tend to verge on the shut up and focus side, but then feel the need to tell people what I'm doing. then I get too busy telling people what I'm doing I suck at my actual work.
     
     then I tend to verge on the shut up and focus side, but then feel the need to tell people what I'm doing.
     
     ________
     then eventually it becomes either entertaining or "boring"!
     then I either focus on being entertaining or focus on being boring. or I get bored of focusing and seek entertainment for myself. Then I want to share my entertainment with others so I dont seem boring. Then I focus too much on being too busy telling people what I'm doing I suck at my actual work again.
     
     so i shut up and work.
     
     then i read derek sivers' stuff :)

208. Richy Kicklighter (2013-01-28) #

     I'm always surfing my way through it all with moments of brilliance and a fair amount of falling on my butt. For me it's best to try and be myself. I was in a band where the singer was always doing crazy stuff and it always worked so I gave it try and started dancing around and trying to be wild and entertaining. But it wasn't long before a few of my friends sat me down and said we love ya Rich but this knew stuff your doing isn't you. It was sobering but true, I guess. The other thing I noticed is when I allow myself a little ego I tend to fall on my rear. confident but humble is my road . Surfing and adapting as you go. Stay open , listen and take a chance once and awhile.

209. Postcard Helicopters (2013-01-28) #

     In 2012 I chose the first option. As a classic introvert (i.e. internal more interesting than external, instead of code for "shy") I found myself burned out with so much connection to the outside world. 2012 was a year off to just wind down from all of that, and 2013 feels like a year meant to re-group. To move from "burned out" on to "focus" and then back to "entertain" by 2014-ish.
     
     If I could wave a magic wand and say "always do it like this" in my own case, I would prefer a better balance between the two, but with more focus on... er... focus :-)
     
     Great question. It actually helps me to re-frame "recluse" as "focus," I think.

210. Frank (2013-01-28) #

     I think you need to do both even though it is a struggle. Funny you should post this conflict at this time. I just finished recording the basic tracks for three songs, and all the time I was doing the recording I was thinking of some entertaining thoughts to share on the monthly post of my blog. It’s nice to know that even the great ones struggle with this conflict. Have a great day!

211. Ron Newman (2013-01-28) #

     You don't define yourself either way. Don't wrap an identity around some ideal, it'll make you rigid in some subtle way that will be hard to self-detect. Instead, set yourself some goal, like "mastery", but leave the getting there, the how-to on a day to day basis, alone and follow what seems right at the time. Do like the Bhagavad Gita says: act without attachment to the outcome.

212. James Mcloughlin (2013-01-28) #

     I have sent your speech on Berklee students need to know to my Berklee student five times. Y0u need not write that again, I can keep sending it.
     
     People go on epic adventures. They collect memories and fashion the stories.
     they come back and tell of duck billed platypus and spitting snakes. we all love the stories and the wait. the work and hang a gone fishing sign up. it will inspire others to do the same. Else if not we will have no new adventure stories and find out about the sharable proverbial walking sticks that saved the trip.
     Fly you light kite at night, James

213. Amandah Jantzen (2013-01-28) #

     You may get better with years of focus, but if you lose your audience in the meantime, will it be enough for you to be better for "nobody" but yourself?
     
     I say do whatever it takes to do both. And what are the infinite ways you can challenge yourself to be entertaining while you are focusing?

214. Postcard Helicopters (2013-01-28) #

     p.s.
     
     I find it interesting that your post came the day after I found the Lifehacker article, "Why You Need More Margin in Your Life," as I think these issues are related.
     
     http://lifehacker.com/5978171/why-you-need-more-margin-in-your-life-and-how-to-get-it
     
     Focus. Margin. Entertain. Margin.
     
     Both options with a little breathing room padding the equation.

215. Jeffrey Fry (2013-01-28) #

     Always go for developing YOUR skills for the benefit of others. Short term is just that... It is a hole you cannot fill. When you become the EXPERT in whatever you are doing, you will NO longer have to ENTERTAIN, because the people who count will want to hear what you have to say, even though it might a lot less..their impact will be far, far greater.

216. Antonio (2013-01-28) #

     Thanks Derek it made me think!

217. Ellen M. Wilson (2013-01-28) #

     You gotta do what you gotta do. I don't think we are here to "entertain" except when onstage. I think we are here to be genuine, to share when there is something to share... Of course, I also have not mastered the art of engaging folks on my Facebook page; I'm still figuring that out. The need to master one's craft never ceases. I just learned how to build an online college course - new skill for me, and all done while I'm doing everything else.
     
     Trying to hook the audience is pointless. You either have something to say - or you don't.
     
     I am more likely to read one of your emails, Derek, because you wait until there is something you'd like to say.

218. Carey Grant (2013-01-28) #

     Heavy , topic, focus, Im gonna pray . . .
     I need the Lord's Help , with this one . . .
     Very Interesting thougths
     Thank you
     Blessings

219. Joseph Manuel (2013-01-28) #

     Striking a balance between the eagle and the frog, the hare and the tortoise

220. Kris (2013-01-28) #

     I have much still to learn, without a doubt. But, I feel very strongly about just being my truest self and writing what I genuinely think and believe and let whoever reads it decide if it is entertaining enough to come back for more, or not. If I have to sell me, then it's going to be the real me and not a caricature created to impress people or satisfy Google and the S.E.O. process. Sure, I link to names that can drive traffic to my site, but ONLY by sharing things that inspire or compel me, or I see as valuable to pass on and that I hope others will find by my doing so. Call it naive, call it anything you want. I call it mine and sleep well knowing I have done something positive with my time and keep looking to do more.

221. Brent Pinkston (2013-01-28) #

     "There is a time for everything under heaven", you just have to decide what time it is.

222. John thomas Oaks (2013-01-28) #

     "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us." —Gandalf (via Tolkien)
     
     Life is short. It's full of interruptions, and we learn to deal with them on a day by day basis. Today is really all we have. For some reason, when I got this blog from Derek, I thought of the 13th chapter of Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. So I paraphrased the heck out of it for your consideration:
     
     "Though I sing with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become popup ads or a feedback loop. And though I have the gift of updating my blog, and understand all mysteries and all theory, and though I have all the licks, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my mastery to entertain the masses, and though I give my money to be burned paying the entry fees for every songwriting contest, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
     
     Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy all the other successful bands; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in YouTube hits, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
     
     Love never fails. But whether there are fans, they will fail; whether there are hours of lonely practice, they will cease; whether there are the shallow rewards of entertaining, they will vanish away. For we rehearse in part and we perform in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
     
     When I was a child, I played as a child, I entertained as a child, I recorded as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
     
     And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."
     
     Life is about loving people and building relationships. If we all become amazing and successful musicians and turn into recluses and celebrity jerks,
     
     We
     
     Are
     
     Nothing.

223. Lois Hobbs Yu (2013-01-28) #

     I never thought of you as an entertainer, although I have enjoyed your writing and videos. No one has an obligation to entertain in my humble opinion--even if they are good at it.
     
     I enjoy your output because it seems to contain truth. Your thought sometimes pushes or pulls me to look in a new direction that seems both useful and true at the same time and ---you do this in a light, elegant, and sometimes fun way.
     
     Thank you for all that you have shared with us and enjoy going off the grid if that is what you intend to do. You make it sound as if you really need to do this--go for it!

224. Keitha Jones (2013-01-28) #

     Interesting to think about. I deactivated from facebook back at the first of December and its been awesome. I felt the need to always have the instant gratification...now I feel great...have had my cell phone in my hand less and have been doing more in person interaction...I thrive on interpersonal relations. I am an entertainer by nature...but have found disconnecting to be incredibly gratifying...for myself...from myself...and not relying on others. However there is a balance in it all. Love your thoughts and articles! Thank you.

225. Aris Valeris (2013-01-28) #

     Sometimes to keep going, you need to take a step back.

226. Saul (2013-01-28) #

     Transparency,
     
     That's what people want now, show me your insides
     
     Of course we process and grow on the side, but people wat to be part of the journey, to get in first, to be there from when you are planting ideas to reaping them fruits.
     
     That's my two shekels
     
     blest,
     Saul
     www.thrivingmusician.com
     Keeping Music Alive - Helping Musicians Thrive!

227. Henry Neo (2013-01-28) #

     Today I just turned down an offer to keep on entertaining. I will be entertaining less and shut up, sit down and focus. Im doing this because my loved one advised me to.
     
     Thankful to my family for their support and understanding. Because sometimes we think we have to entertain if not for them.
     
     In the end, my answer came from the people i care about and they care about me too. im thankful to them for that. :)

228. Rebecca Rush (2013-01-28) #

     Thanks Dereck for sending this Iam actually thinking about
     it which one I could be

229. Ken Hansen (2013-01-28) #

     The more you think, the easier you can gain access to your emotions. That makes it easier for a musical chord strike a chord in your emotional hunger that drives you to create. With your emotions right there, the right chord can derive an aaha moment that is the start of the next song to be. IE put the beer and the Ipad down for a sec.
     A half hour of total silence to think can do wonders.
     Social media ? what is that , I am about the music.

230. Patrick Edmondson (2013-01-28) #

     Why does entertaining have to be shallow, or 'just' entertaining. After teaching for 30 years I found entertaining an audience of primary concern. Know your audience and you can integrate the tutelage with the entertainment. Both happen painlessly when there is the open air of discussion and exposure, not all pre-canned and planned.
     A huge ship is turned by a small steering tiller. Be the tiller, the small axe on a big tree.

231. Richard Smith-Beverly (2013-01-28) #

     I feel that I'm going through the same thing. I think finding the balance between "focusing" on the work you want to get done and being "entertaining in an online medium can be a tough thing to juggle. I do think there is a way to do both though - that is focus and still be entertaining. I often feel like I need a personal assistant that would make it easier to accomplish those things I want to focus on because I could pass off tasks that aren't hard to accomplish but that do require a bit of time.

232. Elijah Murray (2013-01-28) #

     Very poignant. Very applicable.

233. Peter Hill (2013-01-28) #

     As ugly as it is I'm going with - "Stay fit, grind out the boring 'day job' while concurrently shutting up and ensuring something about my dream project gets done EVERY day. :)

234. Andrew Hand (2013-01-28) #

     Hey Derek! Great question man, and coming at a very relevant time for me. Been going quiet for the last couple years and just writing/recording like a fiend...determined to keep getting better.
     
     Funny how doing that makes me totally drop the social media, email list and all that jazz. I feel that by really working, I'll get a product that finally gets me where I want to be and then will dive back into all the online fun.
     
     Thanks for the questions!!! Hope you're doing well man and I've enjoyed reading your recent thoughts. Sending my best your way.
     
     Andrew

235. Sayanee Basu (2013-01-28) #

     Agree that there's always a conflict between doing work in reclusion versus going out meeting people, speaking etc. Hence, I have taken to doing quiet work 80% and still spending 20% "entertaining". It's always a question of balancing them.
     
     Here's a nice article that I take inspiration from: You and Your Research by Richard Hamming http://www.cs.virginia.edu/~robins/YouAndYourResearch.html :
     
     "I notice that if you have the door to your office closed, you get more work done today and tomorrow, and you are more productive than most. But 10 years later somehow you don't know quite know what problems are worth working on; all the hard work you do is sort of tangential in importance. He who works with the door open gets all kinds of interruptions, but he also occasionally gets clues as to what the world is and what might be important."

236. Larry Fishman (2013-01-28) #

     Stay true to your-self. Listen to your inner voice.
     
     Folks are following you for who you are.
     
     If you need alone time, take it.
     
     I am self-interested when I say this. I want you to be in the best shape possible when I read your writings; when you help me. Take the time you need.
     
     I'll wait. I'll be here when you get back.
     
     Larry

237. Thou San (2013-01-28) #

     Doing something with no money in it. I asked myself -
     
     Am I doing it for myself? - Continue (the audience will come or go, they will decide if it is worth it)
     Am I doing it for others? - Shut Up (it is not worth it, why is something useless to me be of use to others) :D
     BTW Thanks for the Anki introduction, been using it since that day and it is great for my use - learning a new language. Was aware of SuperMemo but never get started on it because it is too clunky. Thanks!

238. Jeep Rosenberg (2013-01-28) #

     Well, nothing new under the sun...the late Richard Beckhard, co-founder of what we now call organizational development (OD), called it "managing your demand system"...for me, as a performing artist it comes down to reallocating or re-weighting my energies and outputs in a conscious way...folks do forget you in about four months, I find! On the other hand, for a certain kind of literary artist--say if you were writing a very challenging historical novel with a lot of research and deep immersion, I'd say announce it to those who care and just go dark...if you return with something really good, it will sort itself out...

239. Phil Hilger (2013-01-28) #

     With all due respect, "shut up and get back to work..." ;-)

240. T Scott Walker (2013-01-28) #

     My song is "Lookout For #1" If you can't help yourself how can you help others !

241. Debi Oulu (2013-01-28) #

     Hi Derek,
     
     I can very much relate to your post. After a whirlwind of activity and creativity and exhibitions, (full time artist), I am now at what I call a "slow"period. This is one where I don't have pieces or shows that I am promoting, and I am working more with myself internally on some new projects (today I am finally cleaning out my studio!!!).
     
     Anyway, during this period, I find that rather than "entertain" my friends and social networks, It is a time to support and really become interested in what others are doing. Sort of, "Its not about me, its about you" kinda time. In addition to showing my friends that I care, I become very inspired by seeing what others are working on!
     
     I have nothing against entertaining, in fact, a good host should always entertain his/her guests :-). I am just sharing what I find myself doing during a similar period.
     
     Best regards,
     Debi

242. Scott (2013-01-28) #

     I think it's important to have time in your own cocoon to grow and get perspective. If you had anything to say or play or sing that was worth remembering then you won't be forgotten. And if you put learning ahead of entertaining then you'll have more to say in the bigger picture.
     
     I often think of the book 'The Power of Full Engagement' as a model for growth and energy management. You can't be 'on' all the time. There needs to be regular periods of disengagement in order to get maximum results.

243. tamara (2013-01-28) #

     oh man... i really feel you on this one... ouch. I think this is a discussion that needs to happen however painful... not sure what the answer is, but I know that whatever I'm doing about it isn't adequate... but time will show the way if we are alert and watch out for answers...

244. Randy Handley (2013-01-28) #

     I am a guy who has played tens of thousands of shows, written songs that appeared on millions of pieces of product and recently retired due to ill health. Since I have already done most of what I am ever going to do, I now only do work that is meaningful to me personally. In fact, this is mostly what I have done for a long time and am very aware that what is important to me will not be very entertaining to a large number of people. But my model has never been that of the entertainer, except when actually onstage. My model is more along the lines of the painters who, having found something that appeals to them, such as abstract impressionism, or cubism or whatever, and simply work within that framework until they have exhausted their personal ability to continue with it. Meaningless entertainments abound, as they always have, and I have no energy for it, anymore. It is a way of avoiding truth, life and personal progress and, since you probably are not going to succeed, anyway, it is also a waste of time.

245. Joel D Canfield (2013-01-28) #

     Creativity, like life, is cyclic. It's also communal. Sometimes we give, sometimes we take. Sometimes "taking" means allowing our input to be more social, what comes easily and naturally, while we focus on something vital elsewhere. But sometimes it really does mean going dark for a while.
     
     And there's no "best for me vs. best for them" issue at all. If we're living lives of generosity, there's only "best" in the long-term sense. Best for *us*, whether it's being on, or off, or finding the spot where the light is flickering.
     
     (Side point: we're creatures of ambivalence. Sometimes the right choice is to be do both. Leo Fender designed his Stratocaster with three pickups, and a switch which turned on one at a time. Guitarists quickly figured out how to position the switch in between the detents so you could power two pickups at once. Fender quickly switched to a 5-position switch because it was right.)

246. Todd Hannula (2013-01-28) #

     Agree with Kurt- are you inside my brain. Thanks for making me go back to this question. Probably the most difficult to answer.

247. Randall Williams (2013-01-28) #

     RE: #51, I think Godin (and Guillebeau) are different beasts than you and I are.
     
     And every time I try to be them instead of me, my inner inferiority demons kick me pretty hard. Instead, I play what my buddy Dave calls the "emotional hot-cold game" and move towards where I feel "warmer warmer hotter hotter burning up..."
     
     Except that it changes all the time. Poop. :)

248. Alar T (2013-01-28) #

     All the writers, painters, bloggers and other type of artists feel probably the same feelings. To those who haven't read yet - absolutely stunning book from Steven Pressfield "The War of Art"... Almost the same stuff Ian Clay is shortly saying on no 32 ...

249. Marion MacDonald (2013-01-28) #

     Derek, I think the answer lies partly in your own words from "Anything you Want"......"It's about being, not having". If you take that philosophy one step further it becomes "about being, not doing".
     As long as your thoughts and actions remain in quiet consistency with your inner self ("Source", as some would call it), then there is no need to even consider the question.
     It's about having the discipline and faith to maintain that connection with care, no matter where it appears to be leading, that's the hard thing.
     If you are connected enough to know in your heart that there is something that you really need to do, then this is exciting and inspiring, not boring to us.
     Also you are right that a lot of people are going through this, and not just the ones on the virtual stage, so it may not be entertaining but rather somewhat heartening to hear you share your uncertainties.
     And who are we anyway to judge "what's best for them".?

250. Zac Sky (2013-01-28) #

     Spot on Derek!
     
     I write a motivation/personal development blog but I also work on a few other unrelated projects. I find it hard sometimes as I want to finish my projects but then I see more people visiting my blog and signing up for email alerts and I think I should write something for them...
     
     But if I focus on my projects I'll be done in a few weeks and ready to write more.
     
     It is nice to hear that others are just like me though. Thanks
     Zac Sky

251. Janiece Jaffe (2013-01-28) #

     I don't believe I have the consciousness to just 'entertain'. It is always more than that.
     Daily balance in a spiritual practice is what is most helpful.
     Connection to multidimentional awareness is essential.
     This question is based in duality.

252. Ziv Azmanov (2013-01-28) #

     Hi Derek,
     
     Thank you for sharing your dilemma. I can definitely relate as I find myself at times having similar thoughts.
     
     I choose to focus on my start-up venture since it's my priority now. I expect that it will also provide me with some interesting stuff to write about and share with my audience.
     
     I find that my best writing comes from sharing stuff I'm really passionate about. My start-up, and being an entrepreneur fall in that category. It's a good way for me to combine a focus on my top priorities, while still engaging and connecting with my audience.
     
     I hope this helps you as well.
     
     Good Luck and Best Regards,
     Ziv.

253. Dan McGuire (2013-01-28) #

     I try to do it all. I just sleep less.

254. Vedran (2013-01-28) #

     Hello,
     
     as I read this chain of thoughts I count't shake off the feeling it is not even the choice. If we need discipline for either of those two then we are looking at different sides of the same coin. So no depth and/or value is probable [regurgitate values or information].
     
     If we are searching something meaningful and of value, depth, to our readers and ourselves and whoever else, then maybe 'out the box' or new way is needed altogether.
     
     Maybe we should seek inspiration in this "boring" [be silent and focus] becoming masters in something. This new way could be irrational and cannot dwell in either/or box of "focus" and "entertainment".
     
     {and this answer is full of logic structures found mostly in programming :D}
     /cheers

255. Jonathon Sciola (2013-01-28) #

     The path to mastery comes from following your passion and fining a niche that is being under-satisfied. The first part of that equation is about being true to your core values. Starbucks is true to providing fast, hot
     milk based drinks and there is a niche willing to pay.
     
     However for the community that likes specialty coffee no amount of entertaining or useful content on the web is going to make me follow, like or favourite Starbucks
     posts.
     
     As content is king on the net, and financial reward comes to those who have links pointing to their content I would suggest you mix a bit of both: entertaining content and content most true to your passion. The world is large and connected enough for there to be a niche that is interested in your content.

256. Baruch (2013-01-28) #

     I think you stay silent until the real work you're doing has gotten to a point where you can crystalize some learning for yourself by turning it into a story. Then sharing helps you and others - and it usually flows very fast.

257. Sandra St.Victor (2013-01-28) #

     A constant struggle Derek.
     I rented a literal cabin in the woods for a month, for the sole purpose of disconnecting to write and record.
     I still couldn't unplug from Facebook!
     I got the writing & recording done, but I'd post snippets of my recordings, photos of my surroundings etc., just to stay in the loop, maintain my social momentum. It's a 21st century artists fear that we'll come back and folks will have moved on.

258. Edward (TreeBrother) (2013-01-28) #

     YES!!! cooking up an album, it takes time, and a need to withdraw from the world, too.
     
     A difficult balancing act :)

259. Doug Fitch (2013-01-28) #

     Hi Derek. As always, your thoughts are, well, thought provoking!
     I think I get what you are saying and it is so true that one must keep one's own excitement alive in order to be engaging to an audience. This means ongoing learning and creating.
     The way I attempt to do it is by practicing and writing music alone in the wee hours when the rest of the world is asleep. Downside is of course sleep deprivation so its a balancing act.

260. Tuki Vikramjit Banerjee (2013-01-28) #

     Hi Derek
     this is so weird its like we have telepathy,i am going through this right at this very moment and i am in neck deep with musical projects yet i do not want to lose my online audience by turning off,am in a fix and i have to admit that i am kind of hooked to it like a drug too,its very rewarding to have my music shared by so many online but right now i should be finishing off my movie score and i am sitting here typing,i really dont know.I hope you can shed some light in a later article :)
     Thanks again
     Tuki
     ps-will always be indebted to you for starting Cdbaby,hope we meet the next time you pass through Calcutta India :)

261. Rod Grant (2013-01-28) #

     Hi Derek
     No problem. Just do what is true for you to love and follow it. In spite of.
     You see people spend their lives doing what they believe others want or like. It is not like that, it is about fulfilling our own destiny.
     This makes us whole and others will follow, as this is what they seek.
     Email me personally and we can talk and I can show you a lot more.
     Rod Grant.

262. Веси Драголова-Данаилова (2013-01-28) #

     "The things you’re creating and skills you’re developing will benefit everyone." - I keep reminding this to myself, because I'm definitely in the "shut up, sit down, focusing" phase right now. Nevertheless, I think that it's possible to not get completely disconnected - simply, the contributions will be offered not so often and in smaller packages, just to keep the connection alive until one is ready for the "bigger delivery" : )

263. Tapesh (2013-01-28) #

     Keep reminding yourself why you are doing this ? And most of answers you will get easily.

264. Paul (2013-01-28) #

     Thank you for sharing an important inner conflict that everyone can relate to.
     
     Personally, I think I do best when I'm myself and I think ultimately that's the best way out for both the individuals and the society as a whole. Let each one be themselves and they'll be most "entertaining".
     
     Thanks

265. Wolffie (2013-01-28) #

     Continue to focus but take a min to dig deep and share, you benefit we all benefit from real scraps from your journey, keep it real, bro!!!

266. Kate Taylor (2013-01-28) #

     Focus. If you focus on doing a great job, creating whatever it is you're focused on, you will have something more interesting to share in the long-term.
     
     Surely that's more meaningful than posting about last night's dinner?
     
     If you feel like sharing your inner-most thoughts whilst creating, then go-ahead. Sharing the process can be just as enlightening. But only if you're sharing something heart-felt. Not posting for postings sake!

267. Makell Bird (2013-01-28) #

     I am faced with this constantly. Entertain those that know me as the smart ass no holds barred commentator... or build ADED.US up, either way at least I'm entertained myself haha

268. Brigs Superpunkmuffin (2013-01-28) #

     I think people are more than smart enough to spot the difference between yer finished work, and what's work in progress.
     
     Always used to think that yer supporters would only want to deal with the perfected end of the spectrum, but in our experience, they are interested in the process as well as the result.
     
     In fact the people who are the most active in promoting yer work for you, are the very ones who are really interested in the process of how it's done, and having a more rounded idea of how yer are and work as people.
     
     So I think it's better to stay engaged, even if yer saying this particular thing isn't finished yet. Not least, because it can seem aloof to be keeping yerself from the people who actively want to support yer, if yer don't.
     
     Wishing yer all much outrageous success,
     Cheers yer stars,
     Brigs, and all us Super Punk Muffins :)

269. Matt Kress (2013-01-28) #

     Great questions to create some inner debate.
     I think it's important to develop relationships along the path of mastery and development.
     If the relationships require stepping onto the stage, then so be it. Hopefully the mastery solves a problem/want that the people in your relationships have.
     
     Would CD Baby have been a success without your relationships with your eventual audience?

270. Karen Reilly (2013-01-28) #

     I have just come out the other side of a project that began in Berlin with a lots of public excitement followed by 4 years of silent focus. I was asked maybe every other day 'when is the album out? when is this book thing ready?'.
     That's being asked the same question maybe 700 times and being able to reply with a smile....'still doing!', sometimes curling up with embarrassment inside.... other times just knowing it takes that long and enjoying the process... my time with the art.
     Our mentor became bored of us not delivering..... but a 340 page hand printed art-book with album and vinyl soundtrack takes that long to produce.
     The outcome.... when people see and hear 'The Butcher Of Common Sense' it has a quality that is effecting, it makes you feel stuff. Even our mentor raised his eyebrows with excitement on seeing the book/music object.
     I found it painful to take that long to make something, but never have I made of product of such quality and impact.

271. Roger Ellman (2013-01-28) #

     There's a metaphorical lotion that moistuirizes this dry phase. It is one's intuitive radar that tells when to accelerate and when to brake, when to psyche up for the next show and when to prepare for...whatever.
     
     This "lotion" is not labelled, it's not always "there" when you want it, but it works!
     
     There - almost-obfuscation but it may too, ring true.
     
     Basically - I have same questions at times, and, when I don't I just forget the questions ever arose. So it seems in good time (oh horrors of waiting!), the time comes.
     
     Meanhwile be true and try to hone the arrow of your life!

272. Roberto Estreitinho (2013-01-28) #

     Two phased answer:
     
     1) shut up, sit down, and focus
     
     2) get back on stage and entertain
     
     They often constitute a closed cycle. Once 2) is done, back to 1), and so on.

273. Peter Vander Auwera (2013-01-28) #

     Derek,
     
     Similar considerations here. Regarding the movement: should i push/entertain or let-go ? Is there need for "norming", for "permission" or should i stay out of the way? At the same time, my head is buzzing all the time; should i disconnect and focus on getting order in the chaos? What should i focus on? My family, my work, my movement, my curiosity, my???
     
     Thanks for sharing your internal struggle. Feels good not to be alone
     
     Petervan

274. Siofra (2013-01-28) #

     I think communication is really important. Declaring your intent so that your community knows what is going on. Rather than just disappearing into focus and shut up, which is abandoning the community that you might have worked really hard to establish a relationship with.
     Hmmmm. Going to think so more on this. As usual another though provoking post. Thanks.

275. Luis Garcia (2013-01-28) #

     Maybe the answer is inside you, only hidden behind fears or "have to"-s.
     
     When you feel you need to focus on something and you just do the opposite because you have to or because you are afraid of upsetting the audience...sooner or later the quality of your your entertainment will be affected.

276. Set Hallstrom (2013-01-28) #

     I do like oldschool TV:
     - Retransmission.
     
     Most updates get missed by alot of people. And since the content is already there, you can let bots do the work for you, while you sit down quiet and focus.
     
     An very cool tool for the purpose is "If This Than That" ifttt.com

277. Tony Natale (2013-01-28) #

     Follow your heart. Do what U need to do. It's your life no one else's...
     I enjoyed your notes on The Path To Mastery.
     peace, Tony

278. Guillaume Ceccarelli (2013-01-28) #

     I'm still struggling to answer this one properly myself.
     
     I've often gone the complete disconnect route, mainly out of the emotional need to feel safe. Here's the thing: It never paid off.
     
     I've learned (and I'm still in the process of learning) that the best opportunities and the best success, the best stories come from people and the connection we have with them, no matter what solo work we may have to do. And disconnecting from the people who matter and for whom we matter, hurts the relationship.
     
     I guess my ideal would be to reduce contributions to a minimum while staying connected. I haven't got to the point of making that work for myself, though. It's a learning process. :)
     
     One more thing: To me it's not about entertaining, more like contributing and having interesting conversations, i.e. conversations that deepen the relationship.

279. David Mills (2013-01-28) #

     I think the answer is to evolve in whatever way is necessary to achieve a deeper truth. If you lose fans, so be it. In the words of Shakespeare, "Play to the discerning few."

280. James Cole (2013-01-28) #

     Obviously it depends on circumstances, but in broad terms, if you've got something important to do, I wouldn't let other things get in the way of it.

281. Kristin Pedderson (2013-01-28) #

     Balance.... the way of the enlightened artist/entertainer in the social media landscape world. Without balance, i would tip over. :-)

282. sergio (2013-01-28) #

     If you only entertain with shallow things, you won't endure too much. I'd prefer less but deeper things. THe key is in finding the "somehow" of keeping both.
     I wished I had an aswer for that

283. Jon Lawrance (2013-01-28) #

     This rather reminds me of the Time Management Matrix where you classify your work time into 4 areas:
     
     1. Urgent and important
     2. Urgent but not important
     3. Not urgent and important
     4. Not urgent and not important
     
     The "deep work" seems to fall into the Not Urgent and Important quadrant. For most people, they never seem to spend much time in this area because they are firefighting urgent stuff or doing easy things instead. But the Not Urgent and Important quadrant brings the largest long term results. Its a bit of a dilemma.
     
     Life is for living. For me, a blend of long term and short term (entertaining) is the way forward. The balance will invariably shift as circumstances dictate. But if you have something of value to share to others, it would be disappointing to withhold such wisdom (or insight or experience). Your contribution to humanity is a positive thing and if you enjoy giving then its win-win all around!

284. Ahmad Zaky (2013-01-28) #

     Yesterday, I told to my close friend "I will reshape my business..."
     He replied "Are you crazy! you was had customers. What happen if your customers ask you and knowing that you are not in same business again, they all will gone away, they will disappoint toward you. Remember how hard you started your business at past. Think in long term, business is long term process."
     I just say "No I was decided it."
     My friend had a retail busniess that grow fast.
     
     WHY I decided it? LOVE
     Lets me explain it.
     In last year I tried to solving the problems by MEMORIZING, instead of analyzing the problems.
     But memorizing is the worst thing for problem solver in engineering world.
     I made broken products and services.
     I even write a blogpost about : "Why I hate flashcard?" http://didamu.blogspot.com/2013/01/i-hate-flashcard.html
     
     Richard Feynman and Jim Williams write about fixing electronics by thinking, and I feel embarrassed to them. I have been doing completely the opposite.
     I love electronics world, and for me entertaining others with my leakage skills is a sin.
     But everyone have a different situations. For my friend it's good to be entertaining his customers right now.
     For me it's important to entertain just myself right now.
     
     My love is codes and circuits... I will prove toward both of it how much love I had.
     I can ignore everything, including my business, "to marry" my codes and circuits.

285. Normandie Wilson (2013-01-28) #

     I really like what Don had to say: "It's cyclical, like a farmer's field. If the field isn't quiet and fallow at times, it will stop producing anything worthwhile. If you don't do the quiet things, creating, even just reading, thinking, experiencing, you will soon run out of anything worth sharing."
     
     I think also in this day and age of "insights" and numbers and other interaction based numbers that seem to be thrown around everywhere, it's easy to think that those are the only things that matter, because only the interaction and the statistics are really measurable, and therefore what we need to focus on.
     
     I'm a musician, and actually, entertaining is first on my list of priorities! However, in order to entertain on a deep level, you're right, it takes the mastery. It takes rehearsals that shouldn't be recorded and broadcast to the internet at large, it takes time to craft an update that your fans want to read, it takes time and space to record albums that people want to hear.
     
     I find myself disconnecting a bit more these days and trusting that it's all part of the plan. I would like there to be much more of a cycle in my output. It's also like strawberries. Ever-bearing strawberries produce all season long, but their yield is smaller. June-bearing strawberries only produce once, but boy, it's a bumper crop.
     
     In this day and age of content being everywhere, I'm trying to focus on the content that stands the test of time. Basically, I think I'm taking the long road, and I feel good about that.

286. Keys Oakley (2013-01-28) #

     Derek,
     
     Good stuff. I think it's real important to put everything to the side and focus.

287. Leda Rose (2013-01-28) #

     Derek: thanks for sharing your thoughts on all the plate spinning we all engage in from time to time.
     
     I may not get every point you make, but am ever confident that your posts are thought- provoking and edifying. I don't look for LOL here, but an engaging discussion is entertainment enough. Thanks for the link to text on mastery. It take me until your next post to digest that. All I know is that I am glad you are posting regularly.

288. Enki Anuna (2013-01-28) #

     Well Derek, you can never please everyone, so follow your heart and guts.
     ;) Cheers

289. Ernesto Martinez (2013-01-28) #

     I am going through the exact questions!
     
     I need to put in place a new publishing project, but on the other hand a feel like my colleagues and followers need to have some insight from me (not that I had many of them, but nonteheless I feel I need to keep them updated).
     
     Weird how somethings just pop in your inbox and appeals to you inmediately.
     
     Thanks!!

290. Scott Moore (2013-01-28) #

     We need to carve out time to do both, though this probably should follow the 80/20 rule (80% substance, 20% entertainment). What's that old saying? Nobody cares how much you know until you make them laugh. :)

291. Chad harper (2013-01-28) #

     Why do you think it's boring???? We always look up to a success story like yours. My favorite artist is MJ that doesn't mean I like every song. Why don't you find young hungry entrepreneurs like myself to partner with? If you are a student of life you must always learn from others especially those working to reach your status. Why don't you partner with an older mentor? Someone with more experience. No man is an island! There is strength in numbers! Why don't you tell funny stories when you speak with great lessons in them? If you help one person each time you speak you have done your job! Im trying to keep this in question form so here it goes. Why don't you help amazing other projects get established like mine that are focused on helping indy artists like Cdbaby did? I have looked up to your great success story for 13 yrs and more everyday as my business grows. In launching a new website so don't judge the current one. Snap!!! I should have used Cdbaby. Hell I'm not done yet so I might switch. I LOVE what you created!!! But I have another idea to change the world for independent artists like you did!!!! I would CRAP my pants to sit and talk with you about it!! Here is what I do now and will do forever but lets meet about the business idea I have and you can change the world again for independent artists!!!
     http://youtu.be/XOTc7w3JSxA
     I know you will LOVE this because you have a great HEART!!
     
     Cheers my brother
     Chad Harper
     
     Peace love and hip hop

292. Michael Palmer (2013-01-28) #

     Waves come in sets. Some sets have good waves. Some don't.
     
     I always look for your next set. Your sets usually have good waves but most of the time they're great waves I catch and ride.
     
     Keep on creating.

293. Peter Fargo (2013-01-28) #

     This is true, many people, including myself, are asking themselves this question every day. It's so hard, how do I or we (my team) do this effectively, efficiently and productively? In my situation this is the crucial point in which one's team comes into play. I have found that it is very important for a young company (if possible) to have a diverse, dedicated team comprised of members who compliment one another on various levels. While this is not a full fledged answer I wanted to give a brief 2 cents of my thoughts. With dedication success will follow.

294. Brian Theoret (2013-01-28) #

     This seems to be the thing that I have ALWAYS struggled with. I spend too much time trying to entertain (updating my website, trying to connect on social media) while telling myself "tomorrow I'm going to record that tune" and just waiting for that next article to come around that will shift me from "Entertainer" to "Focus-er" and "Creator" and I think I found that article. Thanks for your CONSTANT inspiration Derek!

295. Joy (2013-01-28) #

     I left one comment..and decided to spend some time clicking on other people's websites and learn about the people around me..who they are, why they comment, and just enjoy being in this space. So far I am more then delighted..Derek draws the most creative minds and nicest souls! My wish is for all of us to find ways to turn our creativity into money energy so that we can share with even more people..our gifts! Wow, it is like I know the feeling by meeting many of you through your websites what it means to be a tiny drop in the whole of the ocean and the ocean is you and i together!
     
     Joy

296. Martin Case (2013-01-28) #

     Dear Derek,
     
     Great questions; I appreciate the articulation.
     
     Many thanks.
     
     -Martin

297. Dmitri Eroshenko (2013-01-28) #

     Hey Derek it's as if you know my soul hahaha! Try the grief counseling approach, worked for me :)
     
     http://blog.relenta.com/good-grief

298. Vicki Burns (2013-01-28) #

     These are excellent questions. If one wants to be a true artist, not just an entertainer, sometimes it is really necessary to do the hard work of concentrating on your art and skip the glib entertainment racket for awhile...
     
     Thank you,
     Vicki Burns

299. Ryan Cox (2013-01-28) #

     For the record, I've been digging the programming posts lately! I can only assume that's what you're talking about here (or maybe I'm just putting my own stuff on it : ) As I get deeper into the world of programming, I notice people's eyes glaze over when I start ranting about something that excites me. It's odd because these people use Facebook everyday but they don't want to shoot the shit about json and documented-oriented databases. What gives?
     
     Definitely don't "give up the deep work!" If you can use analogies to explain yourself that might be helpful. At the end of the day, just do what excites you and have faith that the rest will follow. No shame camping in 'the shed' for a while.

300. Fred Gosbee (2013-01-28) #

     As somebody who has limped along doing neither in an organized fashion I realise that it's miraculous to have the modicum of success that we have achieved. Basic skills like typing would be a great help, perhaps, as would linear thinking.
     
     So I write intermittently about our travel adventures, home construction, people we meet, road signs we find amusing with the infrequent reminder that we do have a performance schedule and CDs for sale.
     
     The in depth focus, whether it's getting the roof on the house, building a new harp, writing a song or working on a recording seems to put me into a space where only basic bodily functions get my attention. Any one activity drives out all the others. How to balance? Only questions from me as well.

301. Robert Redus (2013-01-28) #

     This is a rub your stomach pat your head...I think both, as the absolute nature of choosing one over the other limits the growth of each. There is time for everything.
     Thank you Derek, be well.
     
     Robert

302. Tanya (2013-01-28) #

     yawn...or do you just fill up space rambling, with nothing in particular to say?
     my vote: keep it to one's self until one has something worthwhile to communicate.

303. Max Raphael (2013-01-28) #

     If you have so many readers, why not do the very thig Derek is doing? Ask a simple
     Question. Do a poll, spark a conversation between others on your page.
     My two cents and I'm afraid I don't even have so many visitors to do this - soy question is - do I focus or canvas?

304. Tony Love (2013-01-28) #

     I read you messages/posts and I've needed them because they definitely offer broader ideas with the best intentions of assistance just like your baby CD. Independence learning how to do it is a work in progress. I learning and you are assisting. Peace & Blessing's to you my friend.

305. Nico (2013-01-28) #

     Hey Derek, very good questions indeed. I can really relate to this struggle.
     There are many factors to this. One is: do you want to be on the output side or in the audience?
     
     A few folks I admire for doing great work AND putting out great stuff are Seth Godin and 37signals. They are not just merely interesting. Their output seems to come quite natural. No scheduled about BS. There is a sincere willingness to share and contribute all the while it seems like they don't care that much about being on stage.

306. John Cook (2013-01-28) #

     Hmmm...there's some vagaries in your post. The obvious answer is to entertain when you are supposed to be entertaining and do the "focus" work every chance you get. But beyond that it goes to WHY you are doing what you are doing. Entertain, focus whatever, doesn't it have to serve some kind of purpose that YOU create?

307. Deanna Dove (2013-01-28) #

     This IS my biggest problem as a singer/songwriter performer. It is a vicious cycle that I can't seem to get into or out of. Now after 10 years full time (mostly performing in the summertime), I am spending time looking for another job to compensate. Always, I have had to "....go full recluse, and completely disconnect" in order to write. I am blessed to have had the time to complete 2 CDs with well written songs and a niche market, but this has made me shy away from the more universal music market. Even though half of my songs have a universal appeal I have found it more difficult when I play the festivals and plan tours. I don't live in a "music city" and don't do a lot of networking with other musicians. I teach and try to learn everything on my own and end up not finding enough time to focus on any one thing for long. Once again, I am looking at running away from my regular life in order to write another batch of songs. I hope that I am speaking to the issue.

308. Peter Bufano (2013-01-28) #

     awesome! well timed. thanks!
     -pb

309. Steve Lover (2013-01-28) #

     I don't think it is either or. You focus, then come up for air an put things out there. Take the feedback, get a deeper more meaningful focus. Come up for air again, and repeat. Pure focus without the feedback renders ivory tower academic thinking. Focusing and bringing it to the people and taking the feedback creates the practicability and meaning that give the ideas live power.

310. Greg McCullough (2013-01-28) #

     Work in progress.
     Blogging is more broadcast driven then literature.
     But if you look at the history of literature. Often great works of literature, were originally created as weekly installs, only gathered together for the book media ata later date.
     So you could have say a painting blog that instead of waiting for a finished painting - if the paint ain't dry, ya gotta wait, so you could consider showing the painting been done as a progression. Maybe not the whole painting, maye only parts so you can keep the thunder or revealing it all.
     Maybe that coudl work for a full album of music, offer up buts and pieces , an album cover here, a plya list there, a lyrical selection, a favourite chord transition. All simply to keep in touvh, and let those interested know that something good is coming. Fashion has its yearly seasonal shows, you know when the 'broadcast' will occur.
     If you still wish a more regular blogging opprotunity but need to let the coffee percolate before serving, then consider a ask a question series of blog posts. Allow readers to ask teh question which you then respond to. Allowing yourself the time for reflection upon your own concerns, unlimited by the blogging deadline.
     Consider a mag-a-blog. Share blog space with others of your choice. Posting only once a month, while the others post on the other time slots. A magazine of posts for the site, where you are not the only contributer. Offer up book reviews of your favourite reads. Post noteable elsewhere links of stories that others have written but that you consider pertinent to your site theme. Suggestions simply to have something to post regularily without requiring the depth of your own considered posts. You could consider radio something like that, continually play musical selections, but the news which requires in depth journalism happens only at the top of the hour. Syndicate your blogs to Huffington post or wherever.
     Entertain , entertain, elucidate, entertain, entertain ...
     Offer RSS feed so whenever you post, your readers know its worth checking out your site.
     And not become daily check to see addicts
     I guess you could do reruns even.
     Consider the blog like a song. There are refrains, and the momentumm builds. The depth is the crescendo, but the refrains are the entertainment, you dont need to be a solo act, let the band members play their jazz solos too, it will allow each of the contributers more possibilities to shine.
     Bring out the best bottle only for the special occasions.

311. Saurabh Hooda (2013-01-28) #

     World wants you to entertain them but that doesn’t mean you pander to their wants. Mantra is to do what you want to do in transparent and open manner (neither seclusion nor pandering people). I believe that mastery is a subjective word; you’ll never know when you attain that. So keep delivering on the road to mastery and be open. Few people will find your journey boring but few people will find that eye opener.

312. Pastor Jordan Biel (2013-01-28) #

     I definitely tend to "shut up. sit down and focus" I guess because that's the only way I'm going to reach my personal goals - this album of mine by this date... this album for them by that date... And you're so right - when we do this and OCCASIONALLY entertain our audience with a new post or quippy thought, they're eager to listen - why? because they've been enjoying your latest album (ie WORK...whatever it is that you do...) and they know they'll soon get to enjoy more. My vote: sit down, shut up and focus - and every now and then - seldom - keep them engaged with your personality (funny things about you and your life...) and the occasion plug for the new project. just my thoughts anyway. In fact, the only time I'm not "focusing..." is when I'm reading these very helpful blogs you and like 1 other guy =) ...then... back to work!

313. Eli Shine (2013-01-28) #

     Clearly your post was engaging by the number of comments!
     If entertaining just means giving people a way of passing the time, then there may be limited value, unless the entertaining leads to a place of learning and development.
     If entertaining really means engagement, then it is the key to making a real positive difference, and is the opposite to boring people so they will be disengaged and unreachable.

314. Kyle Reed (2013-01-28) #

     I have had the same questions myself. Holding to the assertion that you are making, i agree that often times I need to be quieter in my voice then louder in my speech. Meaning I need to shut up more then I speak.
     
     But taking this is a step further for myself and being in my 20s. The temptation for me is to do a lot of talking because I am learning. That is how I process.
     But realizing that now is the time to cultivate instead of spread. So what I have tried to do is talk on the surface of things. Throw out ideas, thoughts or assumptions that are surface deep, but work in the quiet, secret places, on the big and bold ideas.
     
     We will see how it pays off

315. Ray Quarles (2013-01-28) #

     I'm stuck on your comment about the 'reward of status' ;if the goal is to acheive status/acclaim/approval from others, one will never be free to create...always will one be trying to figure out what others want from them and struggle to provide it, at their own personal cost. Case in point; Rush "2112" The record company and others 'in charge' wanted more of a 'Bad Company' sound, something that was 'selling' to the audience. After the not so great sales of the previous album 'Caress of Steel', one standing in the labels' shoes could hardly blame them. The guys in the band, however, under enormous pressure to satisfy the labels needs, decided that they would rather go out doing what they loved, and do it thier own way, then give in to the pressure from others. Sink or swim. They flew, and haven't looked back, and according to the quote in the video; (paraphrased) "we never had to do what 'they' wanted us to again."

316. Byron Fry (2013-01-28) #

     On one hand...
     I think what's boring to others in an update is minutiae. Fans don't care what I just ate; everybody benefits more when I spend more time doing, less talking about doing.
     Then, I can let them know about the important things (like a new album, interview, show, etc).
     
     On the other hand...
     One also needs to stay on the fan's (customer's) radar; any marketing guru will agree that a steady presence in people's minds is much more likely to yield results.
     
     So, there's a balance to be struck. Not too silly with the minutiae, but don't disappear for so long you have to rekindle your relationship with your fan base.
     I definitely have yet to find that balance.

317. Ari Dane (2013-01-28) #

     Derek: "The shallow rewards of just entertaining"?!?
     
     ...And just remember, Ladies & Gentlemen, At the end of my show if I've only made one person laugh, smile, and feel a little bit better about themselves...then I haven't done a very good job...(rim shot) Ari Dane

318. Thắng Phạm (2013-01-28) #

     Thank you!
     Now I have an answers for my problem!

319. Rhonda Niden (2013-01-28) #

     Know YOUR audience.... and deliver beyond expectation. ~R

320. Christin (2013-01-28) #

     So perfect to read this as I was putzing around on our twitter account and overanalyzing email reports instead of practicing for the next concert. Shutting the laptop now.....

321. Jamon (2013-01-28) #

     I think it's possible to "entertain" online very briefly and keep your focus otherwise. I've tried to do that myself, although to be fair my audience is far, far smaller than yours (probably because I'm not nearly as good at it and also because of my approach).
     
     Would love to have you follow up this post with an update if you find out how to strike this balance, if balance it is.

322. Daniel Arispe (2013-01-28) #

     I think if you are a figure with a lot of people paying attention there are certain responsibilities. If you are creatively trying to tell a story the ideal is to entertain and also educate (if possible) be it through comparisons or options (as presented in a story) or some factual information. Today's media allows for so much (also taking a lot) of opportunity and time. It can allow for self inspection on a large stage, or revelation of different (or similar) view points and ideas. It allows a voice on a grander scale. I think (and this is not meant to be taken negatively) a lot of people feel necessary to add their voices in a form of expression (in a manner not unlike an artist or musician or author), to tell their own personal stories. Years from now, these bits of information, pages, tweets, and such will be looked upon as if a snap shot or scrap book of a time in history.

323. Timi Siytangco (2013-01-28) #

     I've chosen the "shut up and focus" route. It's required having to say no to many opportunities that would have beefed up the CV and expanded my network, but at the end of all this I won't forgive myself if I don't ship. And that's going to take a while, but I feel better knowing that a large portion of my free time is now dedicated to making it happen.
     
     As my company's founder (a wise man) says to us, "There is always time. It is how you choose to use it that matters." Seeing as he's built up a multi-million dollar business over the last decade, I'm paying attention to his wise words.

324. Robin Walker (2013-01-28) #

     Very interesting post. I work in implementing ERP systems - boring is the word, but I somehow have to make it interesting for people - not an easy task... this bleeds over into my personal life too though. I took up the guitar a couple of years ago, and realized that i would have to earn to sing if I wanted to perform (kind of boring otherwise when you stand on stage in your own unless you are Tommy Emmanuel...). So, I have split my time between mastery if playing or singing?

325. Dwight Thomas Vaughn (2013-01-28) #

     In answer to your questions, it is all about momentum. If you are a song writer/entertainer while trying to market yourself and your music then you are truly juggling.
     
     The inspiration to write is first and foremost your most cherished gift for it gives you the product you entertain with. It also acts as a platform for your thoughts on any subject in the world and the chance mentally to connect with your audience before you even hit the stage.
     
     But once you start posting, cut that album, get up and stage and perform you are literally the little engine that could. You network, find avenues and reasons to engage with fans of your music, musicians who play for you, co-write or sing and stay out in front with meaningful language - blogging, news letters, requests for interviews of your music, etc. to get into the spotlight. I'm always challenged with what to do next - but as an independent artist I must keep building that highway until I connect with the path that leads me to success. That journey can be a long one but if you keep juggling day by day by day - - you can get there.

326. Dom Goold (2013-01-28) #

     being 'post exciting'?
     
     ah, well: maybe just stay tuned in, and watch
     what's going on. post with parsimony, only
     when you really have to, and edit those out
     when you have second thoughts. lurk. and
     become a web ninja. or just do nothing.

327. Derrick Damions (2013-01-28) #

     From a working artist view...."the thing you really need to do is boring to others?" This line pinged me in a good way. It also made me feel like a bee inside a jar. "Really need to do" What is the Truth of this thought? Am I doing this for motivation (which comes from fear) or inspiration (from the "good" side). Is it really need or prefer? Is this thinking just sneaky resistance?
     In my experience the thinking mind (when it slips into ego) ruins the creative muse and the outcome. I also understand the coin of art (work) includes the business side. Dualism.
     If I enjoyed the journey of my craft then I'm fed and grown. I beat my drum and others may come.

328. Victoria Vox (2013-01-28) #

     I'd say, "keep up with the focus work and entertain on the side" :) Maybe it's a matter of letting the audience know that you've got a project going on... and that you'll see them on the other side. Too much of one thing isn't good anyways... :)

329. Shawn Jones (2013-01-28) #

     Music is what we get to do. Business is what we have to do. There is no actual formula to a DIY business model in our business of entertainment other than the one you've created for yourself by being focused, learning from other's examples of what to do (or not do), and allowing yourself to grow as an artist by practicing and staying in the uncomfortable place that allows our minds to expand. In some ways it's harder now because there is so much social networking that needs to be done to stay afloat and grow. If you are lucky you have a team of people that can do the things that keep you from your art and you can interject your ideas to them. It has also made everyone an "artist" (or at least think they are an artist) by being able to post whatever they are doing and control their own destiny by putting out a good or bad product. It's up to us as artists and business people in the DIY world to discern what it is we need to do based on the needs of our fans (and future fans) and above all our need to continue to grow as creative beings in the universe.
     Staying focused on your own plan and being open to new ideas that you can implement (or not) is the key I believe. Learn how to balance your career based on your plan and how it is unfolding in front of you and be willing to change direction if what you are doing is not working for you or others. That's how we grow.

330. Rose Merrill (2013-01-28) #

     I've been thinking of this lately. After my gig, that was exciting at the Rainbow in Hollywood, I wondered if I should share my thoughts of the evening on line and to my fan club. I typed out a short summary, and thought I entered post (on f/b). Awhile later I saw that it wasn't on f/b because I missed posting my little story. Then I thought, maybe I shouldn't.
     
     Someone told me not too long ago (an old music publisher),,,don't spend too much time on f/b. So I thought (should I keep these thoughts private?). But, I like to entertain, and thought some of my thoughts would be interesting to my fans. I don't know. I know I like to hear thoughts and stories about people in the music industry.

331. Troy Wruck (2013-01-28) #

     Hey Derek,
     
     I'm of the opinion that you need to give your followers whatever it is that they are seeking from you if you want them to continue following you. So maybe the real question is, who is it that you really want to be following you? Because the rest, as far as you're concerned, shouldn't matter to you. If they hang on anyhow, they'll become converts and learn to appreciate your deeper message!
     
     Cheers,
     Troy

332. Frank Klucznik (2013-01-28) #

     I found that every individual grows and matures at a different rate. So we are not all at the same level all the time or even at the same level at the same time.
     
     Think about the people you knew in high school, college, before marriage, after marriage and before children, after children, etc. They are all different. My experience is that as we go through life we surround ourselves with people we can help us during a particular stage in our life. At some point we will move in to other stages in life, and surround ourselves w/ different people b/c not everyone we associated with in the previous stage is ready to move on w/ us.
     
     The key to all of this IMO is to continue sharing what you’ve learned and experienced. Put it out there for others to consume and decide for themselves whether or not it is relevant to them. They may read it and say: “Not relevant to me now.” And then may come back at some point in the future b/c it suddenly becomes relevant.
     
     Just stay true to yourself, share what you know w/ the intent to help others and the universe will provide opportunities for those who need it, to find it. You know what I say here is true b/c that is how I met you. I had no idea who you were several months ago; never even heard you name before. Then someone I know sent me your TED Talk presentation and it changed my life. That’s the magic I’m talking about!

333. Mike Rubini (2013-01-28) #

     That is so true and resonate with me. I believe there is a middle way between entertaining and "shut up": it's about doing the work we love and commit to do in completely loneliness, and then share it with others through a step-by-step process, even by entertaining, but aiming to educate people. For education, I mean the process of discovering, communicating and change together.
     
     Thanks for your article, Derek!

334. Ryan Rosoff (2013-01-28) #

     You connect with your audience by creating an experience. Whether it is tactile or virtual, it is the age of Instant Gratification, and you need to make sure that the audience is present to your message. It doesn't matter if it's fair or not - you have to make it palatable!

335. Dino DiNicolo (2013-01-28) #

     At the risk of sounding flaky, the true answer I find to all four of the last questions posed is "yes".
     
     The question to follow this is what to do when. That answer is always found in the heart/soul.
     
     As of late, I find myself staying connected and giving at whatever level feels comfortable. .. and then taking time (actually scheduled in) to work on the music. To practice or explore.
     
     love

336. Laurel Jean (2013-01-28) #

     Love the article! I tend to focus, but admit to people that I'm doing that. For me, that has helped to maintain a positive, supportive network of people who will be excited about the next project when it is time to entertain again.

337. David Helton (2013-01-28) #

     As much as I enjoy reading your posts which are always educational and usually entertaining as well as challenging and stimulating. Nuff butt kissing- you only get so many years on this planet no matter who you are or what you contribute to other people's lives, agreed? If you choose to do what's healthiest for you and yours and what's going to make you happiest in the long run, you will continue to inspire those around you in a positive manner long after you're gone. If that means stepping away from the spotlight for however long, so be it. If it means less posts a year or whatever it means, in the words of the Duke " a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do" ( actually someone wrote that for him : )). Derek I don't know what is you need to spend more time on that's gonna mean less time for your blog or having less of an online presence, whether its' time with your family, working on your business, finding a new church in your neighborhood, etc. but more power to you brother. You haven't posted a lot in the past two years, but when you do post the quality hasn't gone down any- that last bit about learning to write your own programs, it's not anything I was thinking about at the time but it stuck in my head and I may decide to work on that sometime in the near future because of that post. I'm still hoping to see you get muck work off the ground. btw next time you're looking to find something entertaining for a few minutes on a slow day, Google Jivemind Cooperateive Music Labs. You might find what Jeff and Dustin are doing there to be a little interesting. In any case, enjoy doing whatever it is that needs focussing on and let your most loyal audience know when you're back and/ or feel like being entertaining. For that matter anytime you just feel like sharing something educational and you're not into also being entertaining, that's okay with some of us (speaking only for myself, of course) too. Have a happy.

338. Ariel Joseph (2013-01-28) #

     There is no "either or" to this question.
     
     The only way to hone your message to an impact point for others is to hone it within yourself, first.
     And to do that, of course, you need to take SOME sacred time aside with yourself alone - to develop your message - or goal or objective - whatever.
     
     So, yes you DO need to withdraw from social networking for PART of your day - until you flesh out your message or objective. But for the rest of the day you also NEED to stay involved with your public and with what else concerns you. This will keep you balanced as you work out your new objective.
     
     Then, lastly you can take your new message or objective and design a medium for it to best communicate with you chosen audience.
     
     Thus, as I see it, to stay in tune and follow YOUR OWN MUSE (vs. just turning out what "They Say"
     they want) - you have to ride two horses, all the time. You'll find It's not impossible - if you arrange to ride them at separate times of your day - and use different parts of your talents to ride them to win!

339. Janice Lee (2013-01-28) #

     You have status. That isn't going to go away. You can absent yourself from the stage, and you'll be missed; and when you return, you'll be received warmly. Your audience isn't going to go away or even dwindle. What you've made so far, what you've built, is wonderful. The world is better off because you do what you do. Focus, my son.

340. Tom Ussery (2013-01-28) #

     Life is a stage.. use it

341. Donnie Clapp (2013-01-28) #

     The number of [mostly very thoughtful] comments on this simple little post is astounding. That is all.

342. Lee Cutelle (2013-01-29) #

     If I totally focus on getting the music right first then the rest seems to fall into place.

343. Aaron Yoshitake (2013-01-29) #

     Luckily, I haven't had to deal with this problem yet - I don't have a platform that I entertain people with, so I don't have an audience with expectations.
     I imagine this is a problem most successful Internet personalities find themselves dealing with at one time or another.

344. Dean Shull (2013-01-29) #

     10 If busy=no then give us your beautiful thought provoking blog posts.
     
     20 If busy=yes (AND You are still read the news=Yes) then just repost what you feel is awesome.
     
     30 If busy = somewhere in between AND/OR feelings=conflicted, then just blog a short post with your conflict asking for feedback.
     
     Hmmm, did I just get stuck in a loop?
     
     Derek,
     
     Somehow, I rarely comment on other writers articles, but love to respond to yours. You have such a welcoming vibe to your writing, hope you actually get to read all of these.

345. Dean Shull (2013-01-29) #

     Now quit asking me questions, I'm trying to focus.

346. Jody Whitesides (2013-01-29) #

     How about living? One needs to actually get outside and do things - ACTION. Once there is action, then you have something to post about on whatever the social network of choice is.
     
     Without actually doing something, there's really nothing to post about.
     
     The downside to this is - when you're out being active with living, often there isn't time to make such postings, unless you're into micro stops & starts of enjoying your action.
     
     Focus! Perform! Let someone else carry your torch online. For if you're actions are awesome enough, others will do exactly that.
     Ah, but getting outside and doing things is what I've been doing a lot of for the last few years, and it's very entertaining to others, but (to get really specific) what I need right now is to stop doing interesting things, and spend a few months, maybe years, with my head down, typing out some programming code that may make something really cool in the future. But man I'll be boring to others while doing it. Yet this is all I want to do right now. I don't want to go hang out, have adventures, travel, or anything else except work. — Derek

347. Jay (2013-01-29) #

     If your audience truly respects you, they'll not only make an allowance for this departure from entertaining them but they'll likely be equally intrigued by your self-discipline, focus, and desire to grow. The people you've inspired and made a deep impression on may self-reflect, following your lead. It will show your human element, your capacity for change and a deep shift in needs. We can all relate to that.
     
     By being up front and clear about your upcoming changes, I feel that those people who truly care about you and not just about what they get from you, will understand perfectly. They'll get it. They'll empathize.
     
     Go off, do your thing. Be a hermit like J.D. Salinger and Edward Hopper were, dive in, immerse yourself. Focus. After giving for so long, you owe that much to yourself. You've been "on" for a while now, flip the switch and conserve your energy until you're ready to light up the room again. Perhaps with an even brighter bulb using less energy.

348. Gen Berthault (2013-01-29) #

     Jody at #358 has a point about being active in the world, but I think there needs to be a balance between learning and acting on what we learn. Everyone is different though.... If I didn't have to work I think it would be natural to focus on learning until I could do what I wanted to do with that knowledge. And I suspect that learning would shift to action and then back to learning occasionally and on and on. But I like the point that #286 makes, that it would be nice if you stayed connected while you were doing that.

349. Jeff Epstein (2013-01-29) #

     Great thoughts...but the question doesn't have to be binary. Many music artists, for example, "cut back" on the gigs to focus on a private or alt project without going silent. If you explain your intention, people are often willing to accommodate you.
     
     BTW, I'm a musician with a bit of stage nervouness, so thank you for the helpful photo of a smiling audience. It's going up on my wall! :)

350. Kaitlyn S. C. Hatch (2013-01-29) #

     I think my 'shut up and get on with it' is entertaining to people so by doing what comes naturally everything works out.

351. Ethan James Hagen (2013-01-29) #

     It is a never ending pile that you have to keep climbing, in all areas of life. If you make it to the top, you can’t stay there. To quote Prince “We all got a space to fill. Everybody can’t be on top, but life aint real funky, unless it’s got that pop.” So dig it, and enjoy what you are doing.

352. Laura Bruno Lilly (2013-01-29) #

     'To everything there is a season...' And that includes the artistic life. The solitary focus is harder for me, too, Derek, as I function well as an interdisciplinarian(!) And what do you know? It's my season for a solitary focus, confirmed by several factors. Leaning into this has given me great satisfaction; confirming, too, that if I'd resisted, it'd not be the 'best' path....I wish for you courage in your decision. Even though, I don't want you to go (reading between the lines of your post)!
     peace

353. Brian Vaccaro (2013-01-29) #

     It's difficult to juggle all of it if someone is independent.
     
     I'm back in the focus mode. It has helped me improve creatively and technically. Next is the creative part.
     
     I have read and watched interviews from various artistic professions when the artists, performers, the agents or the crew spoke about how there is time off or they are gearing up for something. Before I didn't get it because I was learning and had to do a lot all at the same time. Now I understand more.
     
     I also get why it can take a team to deal with an artists career. When you get to certain points, it is no longer realistic to always be ontop of your art and the marketing or contract part of it. Then there are fans or the public to deal with too.

354. Nicky Shane (2013-01-29) #

     There are times to create and times to motivate. There are times to draw and dimensions of music to write, sing into skype with nobody there, wearing just your underwear or hug a bear. I mean a bear hug, how about a beer hug? Whoa, I'd be hugging myself...Okay boring! (Yell it and it sounds like "Boing!")
     
     Just finishing my cultural skateboard art series...There I said it! It's out there!! Da daaa! //I can now go back out into the world!
     Sorry Derek, went around the block again looking for something concrete.

355. Kash (2013-01-29) #

     I like to Listen - so speak up! :)

356. Ed Teja (2013-01-29) #

     This is not a one off but a constant issue. As an artist or creator, your attention is often the process, which others don't care about as a rule. So authors and musicians spend a lot of time talking about how they did what they did, and that is not entertaining.
     
     Perhaps the key, the challenge, is finding entertaining ways to present the material. If you can show the internal struggle, then it will attract interest. It will entertain and maybe do a bit more.
     
     It is of no real consequence to anyone but me how much I struggle with a project, however, if I can see it from the outside, perhaps the struggle itself will be interesting.
     
     Laying low in an age when momentum is easily lost might be dangerous, yet trying to be on all the time can make you appear insipid and desperate for attention.
     
     So the question is, as always, finding a balance. Your own balance. One that gives you the outcome you want, because sometimes the goal is not to be the new flavor of the month but just to do something well.

357. J.J. Vicars (2013-01-29) #

     It's a moot point. A person should take care of what'simmediately in front of them, whether that involve working or resting.

358. Harry Werner (2013-01-29) #

     I would suggest to simply be honest....tell your fans that you are doing the deep work and then let them in on the things that you are working on. It's not like entertainment, but we are not full time entertainers. We are humans and we live human lives, we have joys and sorrows and ups and downs like all people everywhere do. So share some of that honestly and share your feelings about those things. If these things lead to a new song, tell them that, if not, the worst that can happen is your real fans get closer to you. You become human to them. Nothing wrong with that.
     
     A friend of mine who is a harmonica player (great one too) and does great things with harmonica repair and customization periodically writes to his followers just some stuff that he's been thinking about, something he recently read, or some other 'ah ha' moment that he was able to apply to his music and to his musical 'hard stuff'....these things are mostly always interesting and every now and then he serves me up a nugget of life.
     
     Isn't this what you do?
     
     Thanks Derek...always look for your stuff.

359. Bruce Maier (2013-01-29) #

     The audience grows with my web company and I do entertain them, then I find solace late at night studying my Robbins, Ziglar and Dyer - chanting my Mantras , saying my prayers and delving into quantum physics of which I know nothing. That's the only time I am allowed to shut up. But with a cell phone under my pillow, I am never " disconnected ". If it is to be, it's up to me.

360. Scott Sullivan (2013-01-29) #

     We have so many opportunities these days to produce and release material by ourselves and along with that comes the additional responsibilities of promotion and social marketing, which for most of us falls upon our own shoulders. Honestly , its easier for me to focus on making music , I would be happy doing just that all day. The challenge lies now for me to focus more on the social promo side of the whole thing, and still actually be entertaining as you said, so that I can get my art out there to the people worldwide that like it. How amazing is it that we have a direct line to a lot of our fan base? We are lucky that we have the ability to do that these days , so as Kim said, I think its worth taking just a moment of your day at least and trying to connect with your peeps. Sometimes its easier said than done though.

361. Khushnood Naqvi (2013-01-29) #

     Hi Derek,
     You are back in form, really enjoyed this post of yours. You have asked a very fundamental question. Not just at your level of popularity. It affects many other humbler folks, as well. :-)
     My solution: Totally gave up on FB, stopped short of deleting the account. Use twitter and G+, when just feel venting something. Also maintain an anonymous blog (might de-anonymize it at some point, in future).

362. Lou (2013-01-29) #

     Thanks for stimulating all this thought, Derek. There are some very good ideas here. Today my efforts are directed toward my audience. There were selfish times when I thought it was all for me, though. I try to practice daily, keep my mind open to inspiration, play the odd progressions that come into my head, listen to all sorts of music to grow in my own, and synthesize it all for the sake of my audience. Ultimately, my talents have no value unless I use them to serve others.

363. Laurie Mcclain (2013-01-29) #

     I believe it is a paradox, requiring balance in order to function at our highest level. While taking long breaks to hone our skills can be helpful at times, even that can be balanced so we don't disappear entirely for too long... And we all love to learn -- or at least most of us do -- serious stuff from a teacher who is also entertaining... I think this falls into the paradox of being a responsible self reliant grownup who hasn't lost the beautiful playful magic of being a child. Now that's my definition of success!

364. Danial Goodwin (2013-01-29) #

     My solution to this predicament is five minute posts. When I get a really cool idea that I want to share, I just immediately spit it out on my blog. Some days I may write five different posts, other times it may take five days to come up with time to post once.
     
     I probably could stagger my post burst into one per day or less, but that is less satisfying to me. It is good to know that I go on idea spurts. I like to get ideas out of my head so that room for new ones are created everyday.
     
     For the days I come up with an idea, but I am on a roll with my head down, then I would just quickly write a sticky note or save a bookmark to remind me on a future date to write about (which may be a month later if it takes more than an hour to write).
     
     I believe that posts don't have to be an essay in order for them to be of value. They just have to provoke the mind.
     
     Derek, I am highly satisfied by your shortest posts. Here is just one sample of your great short posts that I like to link others to. https://sive.rs/andor

365. Warren Whitlock (2013-01-29) #

     Connecting and being social with your network is best when it's authentic. If you know something, share it. If you don't, admit it.
     
     The connection value trumps and perceived expert status.

366. Nancy Joseph (2013-01-29) #

     Derek, what's your ultimate goal in life? I say, make sure every step you're taking is leading you toward it. We're not promised tomorrow -- or even the rest of this day, for that matter -- so, each step, each minute, each second we spend on things that don't really matter to us is, in reality, cheating us out of achieving our own life's mission. That said, if your ultimate goal includes teaching and entertaining others while you gain insight(s), why not use stream-of-consciousness posts as an all-purpose too that can help everyone: for yourself (journaling); for your pupils (processes & lessons learned); and for your audience (entertainment). Come on, baby, light your fire!

367. Rich Baumann (2013-01-29) #

     What new thoughts can I notice right now? What new contributions can I make? What new empowering question can I ask?

368. Dan Redman (2013-01-29) #

     Derek,
     
     This post really strikes a nerve for me. I've been leading a virtually-secret life creatively, completely disconnecting from my professional world of content production. It's taxing, because in a perfect scenario the things I enjoy doing would help pay my mortgage and push my career to greater heights. Maybe one day, but not today. Thanks for writing this!
     
     Daniel Redman

369. Laiki Huxorli (2013-01-29) #

     Your reply to a commenter very possibly contains your answer (in the last two sentences, to be specific):
     
     "Ah, but getting outside and doing things is what I've been doing a lot of for the last few years, and it's very entertaining to others, but (to get really specific) what I need right now is to stop doing interesting things, and spend a few months, maybe years, with my head down, typing out some programming code that may make something really cool in the future. But man I'll be boring to others while doing it. Yet this is all I want to do right now. I don't want to go hang out, have adventures, travel, or anything else except work. — Derek"
     
     It, meaning life, all boils down to what one does in the PRESENT moment, since both past and future are non-reality...mere mental constructs. Your last two sentences clearly indicate what you want/need to be doing right now. So go for it...and mazel tov! When it's time to do something else, you will no doubt be just as clearly pointed in that direction by your own desires.
     
     And BTW, yours is one of the few blogs I read...in large part because you don't waste my time with dozens or hundreds of dutiful-yet-snooze-inducing posts.
     
     Laiki

370. Greg Parke (2013-01-29) #

     (Quote from Derek)
     "Ah, but getting outside and doing things is what I've been doing a lot of for the last few years, and it's very entertaining to others, but (to get really specific) what I need right now is to stop doing interesting things, and spend a few months, maybe years, with my head down, typing out some programming code that may make something really cool in the future. But man I'll be boring to others while doing it. Yet this is all I want to do right now. I don't want to go hang out, have adventures, travel, or anything else except work. — Derek"
     
     Derek...I think you just answered your own question with the response you gave to someone elses comment! You obviously have a major project that you want to pour your whole being into, but it appears you are having a hard time letting go of the results of past acomplishments? My advice....let it go! We will all still be here if and when you need us! Are you experiencing a "HELL YEAH, or no" moment? (Remember that?!)Then go with the Hell Yeah! I took your advice on that some time ago, and it has helped me tremendously!

371. Greg Parke (2013-01-29) #

     Wow, I just saw that the post just previous to mind is along the same lines, and even used the same quote from you...Maybe we're on to something???!!

372. Michelle Scott-Chiodo (2013-01-29) #

     Hi Derek,
     Been missing exchanging ideas with you.
     
     As you know, we produce and publish music and books and I think what is going on today with not being able to focus on the "entertaining" part, is the whole huge disappointment with not really knowing how this "world internet market" works. (words of an artist)
     
     We all need, want, have! to make money! After awhile, there isn't much satisfaction in being the creator, the artist, the promoter if there is little or no income or recognition. For a while we are happy our fan base is growing but are they buying the music and books?
     
     What we do, is be sure we are still creating, no matter what. Searching for, finding and producing new material every minute possible in the studio, encouraging the talent, presenting them in places where they can receive appreciation and sometimes money.(but we are certainly not agents)
     
     I think too, that the dreams are so huge because of the possibilities presented by this world market.
     I have never really done anything in my life since a child except music business related endeavors. I have nowhere else to go. Nor do I want to go anywhere else. We all need to share, ask for help, not feel alone in the big puddle called Earth.
     Did you remember that our music and sounds travel though out our universe and maybe beyond? I think sometimes about "other ears (receivers)" hearing something I created or helped produce.
     Thanks for bringing the subject up. It made me step out of today and think of forever. Ms M

373. Gen Berthault (2013-01-29) #

     Maybe you haven't hit on the set up you want yet. There's something not quite "Hell, yeah!!!" about this. Sounds like you definitely ought to do the programming but- won't people will respect your need to program? Hmmm. The thick plottens. I can't understand your uncertainty. YOU not being sure? How delightfully human of you. Um... sleep on it!!!! I wish you an illumination that clears up your uncertainty.

374. Art Stucco (2013-01-30) #

     Everyone wants to be entertained, but you can't entertain without doing your work -and- if you don't entertain, you will not really know what work needs to be done. So "Work On" 'entertainers' and "Entertain On" 'workers'. What a beautiful dilemma.

375. Lawrence Ball (2013-01-30) #

     Enjoyed being stimulated by your article "Focus, entertain or both". Not sure whether you're writing this as a musician, writer, ex-CDBaby director, or web designer or ......?
     
     What you are offering up for discussion is to me a broader, more universal, question, of reinventing one's self.
     
     Serious (I hate the word!) composition has always been a tradition of writing for the sake of beauty or magic, rather than for immediate commercial returns.
     
     Then again, to take a vivid example from jazz, Miles Davis is a musician/writer who underwent several "reboot" phases, usually punctuated by a solid gap/retreat, and some changes of fellow
     musician, often to a younger generation.
     
     I assume you're addressing musicians and writers, but this applies to much offline and online business and presence work.
     
     Reinvention vs. sustained pubic presence is the issue.
     
     Your question with the "3 options" has many shades of answers, all 3 might be appropriate for an individual or group at different times, or certain ones for appropriate artists. Another option is to share roles. Your image suggests a solo artist/self-promoter. A composer
     colleague of mine in Paris has a manager he really trusts and who has not only sold many albums, but also placed tracks from them all on national TV commercials.
     
     Skills as you define them can be online skills, as well as writing and performing skills, these all need refreshing at creation points.
     
     For myself, I started out in music realising that only a handful of folk responded to my music, but in those cases hugely so. This led me to support myself by working as a part-time private tutor, so I could
     compose and mount concerts without any commercial pressure. I continued that, and subsequently founded a music festival to promote my own music and other composers who I felt to be profoundly good. I have run 8 so far and am planning a 9th. www.planettree.org
     
     So I build in to my life time to reflect and self-reinvent, but I had to engineer that with some pain and even now I lead a financially precarious existence. It means I don't perform as often as a band, say, but when I do I can bring something up to date and some new work.
     And these days more musicians are beginning to pick up my (170 and counting) scores.
     
     Your images of focus and entertaining as 2 polar complementaries is fascinating. It belies and exposes the idea that the public does not
     know what they want ultimately, will cling on to the familiar at the expense of adventure and risk, and should not be paid attention to too much.
     
     The issue of how to create art and have an internet presence is one not being yet fully addressed. It is more demanding than doing one or the other, and the factoring in of a "reinvention", or at the least, a
     learning course or self-study process, does shake up the model somewhat. For folk who wish to keep evolving, that is a tall order. At least for me (!).
     
     Mastery is also, I have to say, an illusion, or at least a pathway, not a destination. I have heard that very accomplished folk in any field will say, when asked, that, no they don't feel they have mastered the particular field.
     
     For a classical-centred composer such as myself you raise good questions and thoughts. I am fortunate enough to be able to explore what arises in my intuition, but also just about make ends meet, whilst also attempt to move my work out there so folk can appreciate it. I
     use all 3 of your strategies you mention but even navigating those is a highly creative affair most of the time.

376. Nina Gomes (2013-01-30) #

     I balance between the two. Sometimes, I entertain; sometimes I shut up; sometimes I stand, sometimes I sit down; Sometimes, I get flighty and sometimes I focus. It is the dance between balance and flat 9s. Yin and yang. Keep calm and just do.... or not do.... which is doing..... Wishing you peace.

377. Paulette Richardson (2013-01-30) #

     My thought is...You continue to connect by updating your info keeping your fans up to date on your status by simply letting them now new material is underway but you need to take time to create substance specially formulated for their entertainment and taste but stuff that will be so great it will meet if not supercede that which you currently have in place and if your fans are true to you, they will happily wait.
     
     Artistry is important to both you and your fans but if your material is dull and boring, you will only disconnect from them instead of helping to keep the bound. More often than not you have to go into hiatus and take the necessary time to be even more creative than your work in the past. This will ensure longevity with your fans while at the same time giving you more monetization of your product.
     
     But it is also very important, not to totally disconnect yourself during the process. No response is worst than an excusal in my eyes. However, if you feel that bad about disconnecting from your audience or giving them updates without true material, you can always marry up with another artist who is already on the scene or one attempting to get in and showcase their artistry as a way to keep your audience connected to you while at the same time appreciate your willingness to not just hug the limelight, but share it with someone else/others as well.
     
     I truly feel this was a very important post as mundane as it may seem to be to others. I, myself found VALUE in this post especially since I am in the same process myself. I have recently took down most of my website revamping it, but still left up a trace of it so my followers can still connect. While at the same time I send a tweet or two periodically (about every other day) letting them now I am still here and giving them access to me via telephone and email (although only a limited few get thru on the telephone, but they do). I also offer connection to me via text as well so as not to totally lock anyone out. When going thru a change of state one must have some down and alone time to meditate and set/get things straight.
     
     So with that; I just want to say - Derik.... I truly appreciate your blogs and have had some wonderful information and food for thought to work with, ones every artist ought to have in their menu of things to do or not to do in order to be successful in this business and that's the plain old truth. Thanks a Mil and GOD BLESS. MUCH SUCCESS TO ALL THE ARTISTS DOING THEIR THING.

378. Melanie Eatherton (2013-01-30) #

     Excellent questions. Perhaps you should ask what is most important to you... focus so that you can produce good, informative and entertaining content or.... try to do it all ? I would say focus. Your readers (me included) know that what you put out there is for our benefit... We can all entertain ourselves...and if we can't well...we are the one with the issue. I look forward to your focused efforts!! :)

379. Keith Thompson (2013-01-30) #

     In these times and actually it's always been this way, an artist must balance both. Entertain and focus on his/her art. Not easy but necessary to keep contact with our audience and potential audience.

380. Ryan Chilcote (2013-01-30) #

     I'm not going anywhere, sometimes less is more Derek!

381. Sharon Benson (2013-01-30) #

     I don't know Derek, it's a hard call. i often read your articles and others to help me out when I'm not sure what to do. What i've done is just focus on my music and not give a bunch of reasons why the music isn't out or it will be out soonzzzz. People what something concrete. Since i'm not sure when i don't say anything until i'm ready to let my audience know i'm ready. I think putting out more senseless conversation turns people off, so much so when you do release a project they really be turned off possibly ignoring you totally...
     this is just my take on things

382. jimi (2013-01-30) #

     The problem I see is attention span. No matter how entertaining someone may be, we live in a multitasking world. I've heard of surgical assistants tweeting during procedures, & these days EVERYONE "lights up" their cells between sets, sometimes between songs. Used to be you wanted everyone to turn off their cells & pagers (remember those?) before the gig, now you want 'em ON so they can stream your show to a wider audience. So as artists, we also need to multitask as well. Do as much as possible & find help to do the rest.
     If a tree falls in the forest...
     Who the heck cares?
     But if someone is there to stream it, environmentalists, loggers, entertainers, campers & anyone randomly interested in trees, falling, noises or other keywords will surely be notified, comment on it, move on & forget about it until something else happens to catch their pintrest.
     That's why they call it an AXE.
     Rock on!

383. Barry ( Skully) Waddell (2013-01-30) #

     Focus on real things that people can see with their eyes and hear with their ears. Spend less time on the "Internet" and focus on real relationships and creating "real product" that matter to you and your music career personally. This will help make the things you do offer on the "Internet" have more real value to those that seek it. There is way too much fakey-ness out there on the "Internet" clogging up the regular pathways of real talent and showmanship. Make the "Internet" work for you and then log the hell off. :) There is my brutal two cents.

384. John Foval (2013-01-30) #

     I think it is one of life's biggest accomplishments to learn the skill of: learning exactly what you want and then doing what you want and ignoring what others want you to do.
     
     BUT/AND
     
     You can have anything you want in life if you will help enough other people get what they want.-Zig Ziglar
     
     
     How do these fit together?
     
     I think that you need to fill others needs in life to become truly successful in an earthly sense as Ziglar points out. But one must realize that there isn't just one crowd of people (the current crowd you are pleasing). If your desires and wants have changed it may be time to change crowds as well. The earth is plenty big to gather around a group of people to help you meet your new goals by helping them meet theirs.
     
     Hope this helps.
     John

385. Pete Fegredo (2013-01-30) #

     Hi Derek,
     I say each must follow his own path, and entertain if one feels a need too. Ask questions of what one's doing and use what is useful. Encourage participation and most importantly be honest and believable. That is the key.

386. Nancy Goldwin (2013-01-30) #

     Pro: I am glad to find out that I am not the only one that asks these questions in my head and/or under my breath.
     
     Con: Just when I thought I could quiet the conversation, you come along in my inbox and I foolishly click your entertaining subject line. ARGH!

387. Elaine Menardi (2013-01-31) #

     What I've learned:
     The energy is in the questions.
     We have all our own answers.
     The vocation is to wrestle.
     Peace.

388. Gloria Hylton (2013-01-31) #

     that depends i guess on who u r and why ur online...maybe entertainment is just a by-product of ur mission...and whether or not the fickle mob is 'entertained' is inconsequential 2 ur destined role on the planet...these days i go with the flow as much as possible and trust a higher power guides me...when i can get out of my own monkey mind that is ;~) may the Divine Source B U me and every~body...A.rchangel G.lory M.ae

389. Mark Leiren-Young (2013-01-31) #

     To tweet or not to tweet...
     A question I think most artists in the age of social media should always be asking.
     Thanks for sharing this.
     Mark

390. BENJAMIN WARREN (2013-01-31) #

     WOW. So often come to this same fork. The perception of what I do as a composer and producer vs the actual end user enjoyment and fulfillment of the music I produce and share.
     
     The tedious hours composing, editing, tracking and then design of the album, working 2 jobs just to pay for my passion, fans do not see this side of things nor should they.
     
     Thanks for the article, I often wonder if I am doing a "good" job with the social media outlets available and yet focusing on the nuts and bolts of what I do , create music. Being torn and wanting to please both sides, trying to find a happy medium, that has to be one of the biggest daily stressors. Thanks for touching on it.
     
     
     Cheers,
     BW

391. Therese Lorbert (2013-01-31) #

     If you only act to entertain people your are not authentic, you will be a clown afterwards , loosing your SELF ::)).Please sty authentic and go into the "cave" as long as you need to. There are enough entertainers in the world ....!

392. Steve Soucy (2013-01-31) #

     I'm doing my first single gig as a piano player/singer in 25 years. I've really only been playing in bands that whole time, rarely singing lead.
     
     Last night was living hell... I felt like I couldn't entertain/sing/or do those fabulous flowing conversations that I see other great singles doing. So I went to bed feeling like a failure.
     
     I woke up today still pissed and frustrated, then ran across a quote from Wayne Dyer about using a shitty moment to either shrink from, or grow from.
     
     So my dilemma, is solved. I'm simply going to do MORE of what I personally am great at... playing the snot out of my piano... and acting like the class clown instead of trying to appear to be some cool ultra-hip artist.
     
     The path to mastery is different for everyone. What I think is entertaining... might not be entertaining to you... same with quality of art or marketing. I used to think there was some kind of formula that all artists/entertainers could tap into. But really, I think there are only moments now... hopefully we learn how to string a bunch of successful feeling ones together. Every artist one needs to build/live their own formula, and re-edit it when necessary.
     
     Is it undisciplined to spend less time on something you're not good at? Or is it being true to your heart, and what genuinely moves you? It's an interesting conundrum to me. I guess we test ourselves with things outside our comfort zones, and try to discern if we should spend more time on those, based on the results or feelings we want to have about ourselves.
     
     There is always one thing I'm reminded of tho... without an audience, there's no show. And if there's supposed to be a show.... and people have paid their two bits to see the high diving act... there better be a high diving act.
     
     thank you Derek for sharing what matters to you

393. Zoe Wood (2013-02-01) #

     I would find it entertaining to be allowed insight to the psychological process of mastery, including the boring parts. From my vantage point, you have attained mastery already in some areas. Therefore you have the capacity to follow through with a process until a level of mastery or success is achieved. My interest - how did you get through the hard parts? The Boring parts? Did you get depressed, or frustrated, what did you do about it? How about nutrition, rest, exercise, meditation or related..... it seems that mastery of anything is a similar process regardless of specific discipline. I am seeking mastery too, and looking for perhaps a parallel mental process that can help me overcome my own blocks. Certainly there is some humor available in the process too - all this combined in a periodic sharing of this process would be "entertaining" and interesting to me.

394. Bill Groh (2013-02-01) #

     Do you see those smiles on those faces in the photo above...that's magic! That's what you're here to spread...I see those smiles quite often...and never get tired of seeing them! It's magic!

395. Rachel Taylor-Beales (2013-02-01) #

     A few thoughts...
     
     Maybe its a kind of Zen and the Art Of Motor-cycle Maintenance approach... only to programming code in this case!
     
     You aren't a shallow person- your whole life has been about diving into the deep end and learning how to swim as you go... and you seem to be self-aware enough not to be caught up in the status seeking/ approval needing artisty thing (or at least to admit to yourself when it is)
     
     You love lots of things... but without the focus you won't be able to achieve or realise the vision that you need to at this time... Life has its season also and you seem to be feeling that for you at this time its code programming... however still wanting to take folks along with you on the journey... so maybe its using the programming and code making experience of your research and trials and errors as the basis for charting your own growth or lack of it as you go... ? a bit like songwriters sometimes blog about their creative processes... its your honesty and creative way of communicating that is entertaining...
     
     Otherwise just wait until you have something to say...
     and focus in the meantime...

396. Khan (2013-02-02) #

     Assuming you are referring to time related issues, I find that it is easy to stay connected when you take a quick break from the private mastery, and mindfully interact for a bit before coming back to it.
     Switching focus temporarily like this lets me stay focused and get more done.
     -Khan

397. capnmatt (2013-02-02) #

     Well, I didn't have time to read your post - I was too busy being entertained by reading all of the comments.

398. Yume Knight (2013-02-02) #

     I've been doing the "shut up" and was not working for me because I was born to entertain so here I am! It's super hard to balance both...but I'll keep trying...practice makes it perfect right? It was like you read my mind Derek!

399. Ryan J. (2013-02-03) #

     I think there really needs to be a balance. We as humans naturally like to laugh and enjoy the atmosphere. If we can draw something valuable from a situation and get that same feeling, that might be the magic formula.

400. Tilo (2013-02-03) #

     Yes, this happens to me. I try to strike a balance, really. When nothing very exciting is happening and I am in 'focus' mode, I try to keep posting every once in a while, so as not to completely fall off the grid.
     But posting is definitely less frequent in those times.

401. Ryan Michael Galloway (2013-02-04) #

     I would rule out being only entertaining. That leaves you with two courses, and no right answer. For my world, I find a way to make my boring struggles and learning process entertaining to those who will follow me, and share those struggles and processes. Many of them will be right behind me, many of them will be far behind me, but all will benefit from the mistakes I make and the wins I achieve. The hardest thing is to become vulnerable. To share mistakes even though your status makes eveyone think you can't make them. But in seeing someone of status make mistakes and share the process, others are inspired to see growth that is both painful and possible, in fact, inseparable.

402. Harris Byerley (2013-02-04) #

     Interesting perspective, as always, especially from someone who is "there", always on and always seemingly prepared....(a gift I presume)
     There is, in this epistle, an inherent aspect applicable to to every ones life. We are "on stage" when writing, interacting on personal levels and in our business lives.
     we face , unconsciously or somewhat consciously, the little nagging teeth of self consciousness biting at the heels of our sincere attempts at being fully honest in our reactions and responses to others, especially in our postings to the rest of the people in our respective individual worlds. The crowds waiting expectantly and eagerly, to hear the latest in an ongoing series of profound and informative as well as entertaining contributions to the greater good an enlightenment of all.
     What began as "fun" to do, and the enjoyment and accolades realized as our "just" rewards, somewhere along the way became often enough a chore, then progress intermittently to a sometimes dreaded "responsibility", hence the fun seemed watered down or even washed out, occasionally.
     I feel that, as I am responsible for that which I personally created, beast or friend, I will always kick back , relax , savor a series of deep breaths amid a selection of appropriate and applicable prayers, wait for the "remembered" pleasure of the feelings from the rewards for my efforts to resurface and once again sally forth in pleasure to my self appointed rounds, without a dreaded sense of "obligation".
     The "newness" freshness, and valid worth or entertainment value of my offerings to be decided by my "audience" at large. Once again waiting with eager anticipation for the incoming flood of responses for good or ill in their nature.
     The time "necessary" for the reorganization of ones own creative mind is a variable that cannot be pre determined. An artist myself, the prerequisite "solitude" to stir up and restart the creative juices is an imperative not to be ignored. Do what you "gotta do", those of us who truly appreciate the depth of your contribution to us, individually, can exercise our respective patience quotients and wait, whether or not you resurface as a popular "public" resource among your devoted acolytes.
     Just an opinion from an old man, I could be wrong.
     Loving Sing! Derek
     Harris

403. Daniel Park (2013-02-04) #

     derek,
     
     I have listened to "anything you want" so many times I can almost recite it in my sleep. Every time I listen to it , I get something new from it. So thank you for being an inspiration to entrepreneurs and musicians alike (i happen to be both).
     
     Oh but I think this all depends on the audience. Yes it is really hard to keep the younger generation to pay attention because they are used to entertaining themselves with their iPhones and iPads. But there are some folks who are out there that want to listen, that want to BE entertained. I think if you FOCUS your energy on pleasing the small number of people that want your entertainment, that's what will push you forward. And yes, it might take time to build that audience, but if you keep up the effort, those audience members will enjoy the journey you are experiencing.

404. Kyle Eschen (2013-02-04) #

     It seems like they, in many cases, are one and the same. With everyone needing to "sit down and shut up" and the lack of people actually doing it, I think it's becoming refreshing to show the pain. Show the process and the bore and the blood on the way to exciting, showable results.
     
     At least this is what I'm attempting... of course the most productive year of my life is the one that I banned myself from facebook...

405. Dave Feder (2013-02-04) #

     I can never predict when, during my regular continuous self development work, an inspirational idea may pop into my consciousness. If I think it's worthy of sharing or may be useful to others, or good for a laugh, then I share it. Otherwise I do not post at all. (Other than gigs etc.)
     My readers sometime will comment when I do not post often enough. But it's nice when they miss me.

406. Annie Andre (2013-02-04) #

     I think it is ok to be quiet once in a while. just let your readers know. tell us what to expect. but give us a good reason top wait around too.

407. Jessie Kirkwood (2013-02-05) #

     Sit down and focus. In the long run it will be rewarding, and in the meantime there is always something to share about hard work and focus. The type/subject of "entertainment" you provide might change, but it will always be meaningful.

408. sarah (2013-02-05) #

     I think about this dilemma all the time. My mind changes every few days or even weeks. At times, I want to be very entertaining, and then I get into a deep focus and just want to be isolated and work on my craft. I think I need both in my life..

409. Candace Asher (2013-02-06) #

     This is personal to each creator methinks. Some operate best remaining on the stage through the messy phases of growth as they cultivate mastery with any luck. Some fall from grace in the process. Others take the back seat, disappear and do the messy work at home before re-emergence. I list no websites as I am the latter type. Some have jobs, pocket books, benefactors and creative processes that allow for or demand behind the scenes maturation. Others have to plant, sow, grow and harvest to stay alive. It's a challenge of the age. And a personal decision. If credibility and longevity are to be maintained, both the short view and the long view kind juggling act need dexterity. Great topic!

410. Heather (2013-02-06) #

     Take a break for yourself.

411. Joe Matzzie (2013-02-06) #

     Thanks Derek,
     
     I think it's important, for me, to be able to focus, and very important to be open to new things. We all apply some filters to our lives, but being what we consider "open minded" means that there are a lot of varied things that you're not filtering.
     
     I don't see online as a stage. I see it as a social party. Everybody that we interact with has their own set of mental filters. For me, to post things is to be engaged, on some level with the social media, not just sending out but also taking in, so when I get focused on a project I naturally post less. I think it's possible to share certain ideas or cool stuff that we find, but when I'm working on a project, focus is key and more filters are necessary for that. Likewise it is possible to post when busy but the posting becomes some sort of doodle that can't require too much thinking about what aspect of my self I want to put forward.
     
     Joe
     
     There's nowhere you can be which isn't where you're meant to be. - John Lennon

412. Nate Hatico (2013-02-06) #

     Hard to accomplish the loftiest goal without "sitting down and focusing. But perhaps there is enough spare energy and time to share a bit of the process, and maybe the audience will still appreciate it?

413. Lisa Theunissen (2013-02-06) #

     Loving what Chris Franzen says, yup yup yup 100%...great questions, love your work Derek :>

414. Ed Taylor (2013-02-09) #

     Nicely Done Derek. Its always good hearing from you man. How are things? The New Marriage Good? What about you? Its been a long time and we need to catch up.
     ET

415. Yo Vanderkley (2013-02-09) #

     After writing and recording late into the night I don’t always feel like being social online, updating my website or searching through promo shots for one that looks like a better version of me...
     but when I start to resent being my own boss and staff, I think about the alternative.
     
     I could be the one standing at the bus stop at 6:00am, five days a week. I could be tied to a 9 to 5 schedule until I’m 65.
     And I stop whining...

416. Tom (2013-02-09) #

     Personally, I think the "shut up, sit down, and focus" bit is the more important. While it may seem at times like everyone in the world is capable of doing things like creating great music or coming up with innovative ideas, I believe it requires a certain introspection that you really cannot share with most people. If you don't do it, and it is one of your god-given talents, then you are cheating yourself and the rest of us. (And yes, I'm also talking to myself here!) Consuming brilliant output is the kind of entertainment that means the most to me. We can all be funny and entertaining as a side job.

417. Kenny Feinberg (2013-02-09) #

     Yeah wow,
     Don't have the answer. Is there an all of the above?

418. Joanie Simon (2013-02-10) #

     I am currently struggling with this. The best answer I have so far is scheduling my day out, putting aside specific time to focus (turn off the e-mail, Twitter, phone, etc.) and then specific time to go bananas on entertaining everyone. Entertainment in fits and spurts.

419. Dave Martin (2013-02-12) #

     "What I need right now is to stop doing interesting things, and spend a few months, maybe years, with my head down, typing out some programming code that may make something really cool in the future. ... this is all I want to do right now. I don't want to go hang out, have adventures, travel, or anything else except work."
     
     I think you've found your answer. ;-)
     
     A wise man once said, "Just pay close attention to what excites you and what drains you."
     
     Don't worry, we'll all still be here when you get back...

420. Jonathan Cisneros (2013-02-13) #

     I'm dealing with this myself. Perhaps it's a mix of both. How long does it really take to keep in touch online? Post an update here and there? Batch a bunch of updates that get posted automatically while learning C++ (or whatever)? Not very long at all, especially if you have a good capture method (for me, a notepad) of all your brilliant insights, hilarious jokes, etc. Sometimes just an interesting picture is enough. Or a Spotify playlist of music you've been digging lately. You know, things you're doing anyway.
     
     Right now I'm re-working major parts of my life while taking on a project bigger than anything else I've ever done. Plenty of new exciting creativity but not necessarily the energy to spread the results yet. There are plenty of ways to keep in touch while going 'full recluse'... Thanks for removing the barrier and resulting 'snowflake syndrome' by thinking out loud.
     
     - J.

421. Dave Blue (2013-02-13) #

     My opinion: they're not mutually exclusive and should compliment each other. Entertain a bit when the moment strikes, but never at the cost of sacrificing your goals. After all, "entertaining" is good PR, which is an important part of the "focus" thing. Win-win.

422. Dave Blue (2013-02-13) #

     And for what it's worth, if you don't blog or Tweet for 6 months (or longer), I think I'll survive. I'd rather experience the fruits of your labour.

423. Barry Burrows (2013-02-14) #

     let the audience in with minimal disruption to your work. The mudane can be nurturing and instructive. exploring the myth of overnight success and keeping on top is effortless is worthwhile even if boring. The needy will be satisfied. The capable challenged to pick up the slack. And the critics will have fun.
     
     WIn, Win, Win
     
     By the way what band was playing in the leadership video.
     
     (I wrote this to a friend that shared your TED video with me, - before I learned in your bio you were a clown :) We have been going deeper and deeper, my hope is the group was flogging Molly as I am going to see them tonight in Nashville.)
     
     As I mulled over your new observation, I began to see what was identified as the leader as a first follower. The band was the leader with the music the communication. My values then are not so different from that first leader now more clearly seen as a first follower who added(perhaps poorly although not to the detriment of the message) because like as I supposed about my rationale despite the lack of reward his emotional satisfaction must have been greater than the loss from submission of independence or other social negatives.
     
     Your observation to note(pun intended) what is missing - the music, is an important part of understanding the dynamic of what was happening. What is missing from our observation, what are we not hearing that leaders hear. Is that what the thousands of management books try to identify, but jump as we do to the mechanics after the hearing and mislabel a follower as a leader. Someone who has combination of talents, the sensitivity to hear what others may also hear but also has the ability and conviction to build trust and collaboration to create buy-in and commitment. The rarity is not the components, but the combination.
     
     Back to the leader as the band, the chemistry, the members,the music. Bands are leaders sometimes overrated but when they get it right highly rewarded. Did the presenter consciously decide to not share the music as that would blur his message? Or to drive the entertainment value as the audience would not be so condesending if they too connected with the piper.

424. Adam (2013-02-15) #

     Chances are, you aren't Madonna, Coldplay or even Josh Ritter. Being real is rewarding. Optimistic but real. Who cares how many likes you get? Presentation of perfection is showmanship, but countless threads of pearly-gate, life-is-an-oasis status updates will make everyone hate you. Be real. Look how far Coke got with just that slogan.

425. Michael Kowalczyk (2013-02-15) #

     In that case I would choose to focus on one thing. If something you currently do is not entertaining to the audience I would stop posting. I believe in quality not quantity.

426. Japetus (2013-02-17) #

     As a studio artist I'm not a performer so my distraction choice is Focus or Play... well... all play with creative focus points.
     
     Having unlimited time can be daunting.
     
     Like that great Syd Barret story about him not getting out of bed for months (years?) because if he put his feet on the ground he will have made a choice... and missed all the others... but while he lay in bed he was safe. Um... Google...
     
     "He used to lie in bed every morning, and I would get this feeling like the wall between our rooms didn't quite exist, because I'd know that Syd was lying in bed thinking, 'What do I do today ? Shall I get out of bed ? If I get out of bed, I can do this, and I can do that - or I can do *that*, or I could do that.' He had the world at his feet, all the possibilities, and he just couldn't choose. He had great problems committing himself to any action. As for committing himself to doing anything for any length of time - he was the kind of person who'd change in the middle. He'd set off, lose his motivation, and start questioning what he was doing - which might just be walking down the street."
     http://www.schizophrenia.com/stories/sbarrett.htm

427. R. Scott (2013-02-18) #

     So timely for me. I'm sure we're all feeling this. Thanks for putting it to "paper'.

428. Daforce (2013-02-19) #

     Derek you are the man,, i Like how you pick things apart, so that everyone can understand how to find their own way of doing things.. amazing keep it coming!!!!

429. Eahoue (2013-02-22) #

     Everyone's path is different. I faced this conflict also and decided that I would not entertain and chose which was better for me (I needed solace to soar). Let others find their way and in growing it becomes theirs. Sponges are always thirsty and must be squeezed to get something back (lazy and greedy).
     Entertaining is a tiring burden. If they want the Light it will come to them that are truly seeking. I have peace and when called will be ready. Isn't this the duty of us all? Maybe it's time for you too to do what is best for you. Go inside for a while.
     In Love....

430. John Harley Weston (2013-02-24) #

     I think it's important to keep it real. People can see right through fake. If you find it hard to juggle the grand scale social media thing and be 'entertaining' with it then just converse with your friends and fans. Connect. That's all we need as humans. People listening to what we have to say and helping us out along the way.

431. James Moore (2013-02-25) #

     I say share the spiritual or personal growth journey as you go. If you can't do that within what you're doing, then what you're doing isn't allowing your true voice to shine through.
     
     Others may be inspired and take on something similar themselves.

432. Alex (2013-02-26) #

     Definitely a solid mix of both!

433. Rae Taylor (2013-03-04) #

     I'm focusing. A deep need right now after long period of promoting, promoting...now quiet time in the studio and taking care of my love life and daily business and getting outside (Ahh! skiing)
     Hope you are well derek,
     Rae

434. Cristina (2013-03-04) #

     I loved everything I read. I am a true believer in this sentence: be the change you want to see out there...in this small world. People like me are rare...but our role is so important...we show others how they could act...in life. (but in a nice way)...Cris

435. Madhukeshwar (2013-03-06) #

     Another nice post from the author, keep up the work, this will help many !!!

436. Jeff (2013-03-06) #

     Hey Derek.
     
     As always, a great moment of zen at your blog makes me take pause and consider another angle. thanks for that.
     
     Jeff

437. Robert Smeets (2013-03-11) #

     Derek,
     It's always interesting reading your articles and viewpoints. As a professional artist, this is something that I have to deal with on a daily basis. I've been everything from a recluse to wide open out loud in public at some point or another. I can't provide any specific answers on this topic, but for me it has come down to a few basic realizations about life, time, work and direction. First, for me, it's all about balance. There is no deep without shallow or fun without boring. With that in mind, I've realized that just like any biological cycle, my life and work also have their own cyclical patterns (which naturally balance each other). I mostly entertain during the spring and summer. I work, write, develop and grow during the winter. Fall tends to be a great time to keep connections strong (trips to see family/friends). On a smaller time scale, I've realized that I can also do this daily. Five minutes out of my day to entertain or get in touch with someone is only five minutes. I've got the rest of the day to go deep into a book or work on my writing or practicing. Some days I will only go deep for five minutes and be entertaining the rest of the time. Typically these daily cycles rotate every few weeks or about once a month where my focus and direction change course a little (within whatever paradigm I'm currently working under). It's like taking a side road for a minute to enjoy the scenery. You can still get there, but you'll have more to talk about when you do. The adventurer takes all routes possible. Hope this helps!
     
     Rob

438. Jose (2013-05-05) #

     Derek,
     
     Great question! I'm not going to be contributing much by saying this, but its also a question that I've been asking myself. I'm glad someone is highlighting that this world is not black or white, but a grey...

439. Hao Zheng (2013-06-01) #

     For a 20 year old like me who yet doesn't know exactly what he wants. I just want to learn more about the world and find out what exactly I want. There are options so many seemingly good possibilities and options, but not focusing on any one of them make one lack the mastery of one discipline.
     
     I think focus is more important, we will always be able to come back right?
     
     Like you said, trust your instinct?

440. Mark G Whitty (2014-05-30) #

     Hello Derek,hope you are going well. I am doing much better, eyes perfect now. All Cataracts gone, new lenses, reading music fine again. 2 gigs a month (3 this one). 76.5 now, don't feel old most of the time. 13 fine grand-children. Our 15ys old Miles is a genius on guitar & trombone. Others all are gifted. Best, Mark

441. Debi (2015-01-21) #

     You put your oxygen mask on first.

442. Mary (2015-01-21) #

     Do the deep work. Withdraw and be quiet. It's not your obligation to be entertaining. It's your obligation to know yourself, and to plumb the depths most fully, and yes, absolutely. When you "come back," it will be rewarding for everyone, including yourself.

443. Anthony Crusco (2015-01-21) #

     Hi Derek,
     I'll wait until I'm fully off the grid to duck out from social media, but I do try to manage the time and break away to get the hard creativity going for longer stretches than is possible being online too much. Yet I get distracted by the world condition; its like watching the news, but of course the internet allows one to be vocal and active in everything they choose. I think that a lot of people are incorporating various activisms in their lives to an unprecedented degree. The stage I see everyone on more and more is one of the issues. Anth

444. Graeme (2015-01-21) #

     I'm going through the same thing, socially. I had little social life when I started my business. Work, work, work.
     
     It paid off. People are impressed with what I did. This translates into more social opportunities.
     
     Back when I started, I had so few chances to see people that I didn't develop and habit of turning stuff down. Now it feels I spend more time telling people what I'm doing than actually doing it.
     
     I spent today doing the opposite. I worked from 9am to 9pm, with a break in the middle.
     
     It felt great, I got a lot done. Nothing was different than on similar days four years ago.
     
     I still am going to see people. But I think I can throw in days like this where I just connect from everything and everybody and focus. (I'm on break now, winding down the day).
     
     Too much of work mode in the first couple years was productive, but unsustainable. But too much of social mode also isn't sustainable.

445. Lena Levin (2015-01-21) #

     I've shut up and focused for about a year, with occasional sharing of what I've been working on, but somehow the audience grew almost twice in that year. So maybe people aren't really avert reading about "boring"?

446. Andy Hoke (2015-01-21) #

     Hey Derek. An online identity is a new thing. As your presence continues to grow, the real you begins to show through for anyone paying attention. It's the beginning of the information age.
     
     If you're worried, please don't be because the real you is amazing.

447. jb (2015-01-21) #

     what?

448. Miro (2015-01-21) #

     Awesome Derek, you've hit the nail square on the gead once again. 1 such post from you every few weeks is easily enough "material" to work with. Thanks a lot

449. Gavin Sharma (2015-01-21) #

     Just be You. Whatever that may be in that moment. The right ones will stay.

450. Dre Baldwin (2015-01-21) #

     Most definitely.

451. Bruce Wesley Chenoweth (2015-01-21) #

     http://www.amazon.com/Essentialism-The-Disciplined-Pursuit-Less/dp/0804137382

452. Chuck (2015-01-21) #

     Here we are now, entertain us!

453. Michelle (2015-01-21) #

     There are years that ask questions and then there are years that give answers. Years for contracting and years for expanding. You've done so much for so many for soooo many years. It would make perfect sense to take the journey inwards for a bit. Xoxo

454. Mr Twenty Twenty (2015-01-21) #

     Hi Derek,
     
     Share the "boring" mate.
     
     You might be surprised, how darn many people like me would be fascinated by it.
     
     I just finished a 90 day experiment with a "chi kung" practice from WujiFa, which had me "standing" for 15 minutes minimum first thing every morning...
     
     And the small group I shared my experiences with LOVED it.
     
     And the health benefits - fantastic.
     
     Boring to many, fascinating to those who want to know more.
     
     I want to know more about your boring.
     
     Feel free to share with me at least.
     
     Blessings,
     
     Mr Twenty Twenty

455. Lillian Hamlin (2015-01-21) #

     You make a good point, Derek. I believe disconnecting is not necessarily the thing to do because you are "out of touch" and basically invisible, which is not something to do (at least not permanently). But, a little mystery goes a long way. You don't have to post prolific posts or at worst post every single detail of your life, but you can have a sort of reflective, presence in a sort of "meditative state" where you're still there to be a part of social media, but on your terms. I think people think they have to be so resounding even if they don't have anything with an authentic, original nature that transforms into something other than being yourself.

456. meng (2015-01-21) #

     Cory Doctorow somehow manages to pull this one off … how does he do it?

457. Zola (2015-01-21) #

     I believe that, given your generous nature and choice to share your life lessons, creations and knowledge, I think the option to totally disconnect might be too extreme. While the deep focus is necessary to further your goals, give new projects your best, you might still communicate now and then, perhaps with a teaser of things to come, or a "just popping in to say hi...hope you're doing something fulfilling today " or as a break for yourself, relate a tiny anecdote or humour" ....a communication that requires no heavy work..... That all being said, I would guarantee that, if you chose to opt for a lengthily silent retreat, your extensive and loyal fan following would wait as long as it took to soak up your next entertaining and inspiring communication/posting/book/paper/article/TED TALK/ seminar/blog.... So, teacher, friend and guide, do what makes YOU happy in your soul!

458. Judy Lemay (2015-01-21) #

     When questions come ...I know I have lost my focus.For me the gift of the written word is divine ...whether scribbled on a piece of note paper or journaled ,once I dive in and just write it all out with full and crazy abandon,I pick my head up..and I know what to do.

459. Bonny (2015-01-21) #

     How do you know what is "best" for anyone else (or the audience)? Is this not something that might at least on occasion be the "best" for oneself? Sometimes I justify my own path by adjusting my idea about what 'audience' is. I want to open my thinking wide enough to handle the reality that it is probably just about everyone I come in contact with, in public, in a class, on or offline.

460. Dominik (2015-01-21) #

     If it's really important stuff which I guess it is or you wouldn't think about all this, I'd focus on the work. Sometimes you really need some quiet time to do things that matter. It's like being in a room full of people when you need to focus on something. Sit in a quiet corner first, so everyone is still around and you can sometimes look around you and talk to someone if you need it. But if you can't get your work done, you may have to leave the room for a while and when you come back, everyone will be happy to see you again.

461. Vandana (2015-01-22) #

     we should be our authentic self ,this would attract those who admire us and love us for what we are . Doing what we feel like is the best thing to do but the fact is that we don't always feel the same .
     Namaskar 🙏

462. Tanya Monteiro (2015-01-22) #

     you answered your own question at 356. "I don't want to go hang out, have adventures, travel, or anything else except work." Am curious to know if this post has one of the highest comments? You spoke to my soul here! Selfishly, I hope you do the work AND you share some insights along the way, they always appear just at the right time for me and by these many comments for many others too.

463. Dale Leitch (2015-01-22) #

     Provoking as your usual self is,Derek.I feel it comes down to balance and being real,very hard to be consistent with all the time.Sometimes what we achieve and how we do it,is not always exciting however we are always learning from each other,hopefully.

464. Pavitra Amin (2015-01-23) #

     My spontaneous answer is "Do what is best for you, for your inner growth and progress...life's too short to be doing what others expect you to do." At the same time, you cannot run away from life to make real progress. It is easy to be peaceful if you live in a cave --- much harder when interacting with the world.
     
     Meditate and the right answer will come to you.

465. Andrea (2015-01-27) #

     Quietness speaks to me the most. That still voice inside can have such a profound effect on how to move forward. Love it..:-)

466. ROBBIE JO MICHAELS (2015-01-28) #

     When we are silent...we are open to new thoughts, feelings, creativity....The "art" of silence, yes?

467. poeina (2015-02-04) #

     well this is exactly why I love that you can schedule posts on fb because you can get all your posts out at the beginning of the week. People always say they have been watching facebook and I'm so busy and doing so many things. In reality I'm sitting behind a desk a lot right now writing, recording, standing in front of a microphone, doing wordpress and seo. It's impossible to be entertaining all the time online and people expect it. Other times I just embrace the fact that I'm not entertaining all the time and leave social media unattended for a day or three so I can do the real work that all these people are following me for in the first place.

468. Ben Bettinson (2015-02-05) #

     Hi Derek,
     
     I've been thinking about this post lately, and wondering about it. And then I read Amanda Palmers book. I don't know if you've read it, its similar to her TED talk, but way more expansive. I was curious as to your thoughts about it, especially concerning how she views her fans. Her connection to her fans IS her work. She's a constant blogger/sharer, and that's integral to her work. In many ways, I think its pertinent to your questions. I don't know if its an either/or answer you need, but more of an integrated one (posting online, asking online, working with others to help you learn more/create more.) Just some thoughts I had about it. I'm also thinking about Deepak Chopra in the Deconstructing Deepak doc, where he couldn't put his cell phone down, even at monastic retreats, to keep a pulse on everyone else, everything else that is happening. Can you force learning? I know I have a drive to learn, but I wonder if you can force yourself to learn anything. Now I'm thinking about the Talent Code by Coyle. And isn't teaching learning twice? Wish I could help. Thanks.

469. Suzanne (2015-03-02) #

     I struggle with this whenever I'm creating something new. What's helped me is shutting off my phone and turning off all notifications for 3-4 hours each and every day. Monotasking has saved my sanity. You get more done in faster time and then maybe at the start or finish of each day you may have something to say to your audience. Maybe it's not entertaining, or maybe you just listen. But disconnecting completely does create an anxiety in me that I've fallen behind while trying to build forward. So I compromise with myself.

470. Jared Rogers (2015-04-04) #

     Derek - what I'd ask yourself is this:
     
     How happy or how miserable does the prospect of engagement make me feel?
     
     You've earned the right and your freedom through your past ventures, we all end up in the same place, I wouldn't trade your piece of mind for success.
     
     2 Examples of authors I love, Robert Greene, and Seth Godin.
     
     Greene creates such thorough and gigantic pieces of work, that I do not at all mind not hearing from him, being a reclusive academic researching away feels like it's part of his brand.
     
     Seth Godin creates a huge volume of smaller digestible bits, I find myself continuously reading and engaging with his work. He even responded to an email! Because of it I've invested myself in purchasing 6+ of his books, two of which I did right after he emailed me back.
     
     Accessibility and engagement shows you care, and in return -- some will pay it back. However most will accept and respect the need to be reclusive if the work deems it necessary.
     
     The key for you then might be accessibility mixed with reclusiveness as needed.
     
     (PRN if I ever wrote a prescription ha)
     
     Derek, I hope you're not tearing yourself up over it, life is too short to do so. If you would care to be friends on Facebook I'd like to think I'm a good one, https://www.facebook.com/jared.rogers.1485
     
     Warm regards!
     ☺ Thanks for the thoughts, Jared. Really good point. I hadn't thought of that difference. Thank you. — Derek

471. Jared Rogers (2015-04-04) #

     "Piece of mind" wasn't a typo, I just realized for YEARS I've been using the saying incorrectly!!! "Peace of mind" --sadness ha

472. leo (2015-04-12) #

     In my opinion, go hard and disappear.
     Its better that people miss you than get disappointed by your half-hearted effort.
     And if they liked you before, they will be excited to see you reappear

473. Maha (2015-04-23) #

     I found that there are two kinds of people that follow you. One type cares about your growth, the others, just chase you for your status and for personal benefits. The former kind, I keep constant touch with, but of course, many times such people quickly find their way into my phone book :). The others, I just reciprocate their attitude. Not sure if this is a good approach, but this is what I do.

474. Sam Birdsong (2015-12-17) #

     I don't think you can always predict when you are going to be entertaining, but to the extent that entertainment is experience of nuanced emotion and to the extent that nuance implies 'new' and emotion implies 'motion out of' ... it's safe to say that whenever you find your focus moving you out of the old, familiar, standard and moving you into the new, uncomfortable, edge, sharing that experience with your audience will entertain them.
     
     In other words, focus is the yin to entertainment's yang and a virtual stage runs through it.

475. Sean Crawford (2017-08-07) #

     I like hearing various specifics in the comments, such as for music and so forth. So here's mine:
     
     For me, regarding "virtual stage" I decided from the start to be boring like broccoli, because it's good for you. Of course this means no glorious reader statistics for my blog, but my ego is OK. I have serious things to say, things that, like literature, take a while to properly sneak up on. There's a reason Shakespeare's plays were not written as sound bites.
     
     This week I quoted an old newspaper columnist who bitterly regretted being entertaining. He said "once they hear your jester's bells" it's as if you have lost credibility, because they no longer want to think about your serious stuff. There's more money in comedy, but I'd rather stick to blogging stuff which has meaning for me.

476. Steven Long (2020-07-26) #

     Love your stuff. Awesome.