There comes a point… where in the passing days of life we may find ourselves rather unhappy with our progress towards our long-term goals. Knowing well that the time has come for something to change.
It starts with a questioning of why have I not done this yet… progressing to a matter of how can I bring forth this change… then transforming into a matter of when will I do this?
How am I going to reach the insurmountable goals I have laid out before me?
This is my hypothesis: any profound change in our lives are made possible by setting a date in which we are striving to complete something by.
This week, I’ll detail some of the things I have planned in the pipeline. And why I decide to be hyper-aware of the days remaining until I fully nudge myself into achieving my once impossible goal, to realize it was not so hard after all.
Goal #1: Starting a Podcast
In a previous post I wrote called “Doubling down on yourself”, I wrote about the importance of treating everyday as a learning experience and advocated that building is the best way to learn. Naturally, I set a bold goal to start a podcast by Wednesday, September 22nd, 2021. Little did I realize how quick this date would come!
“As far as all of these details go, I will make a declaration today by stating that this will all be figured out by the first day of fall: on Wednesday, September 22nd, 2021.” - (Doubling Down on Yourself) - Originally published on May 13th, 2021.
Just as it was then… there are still lots of questions and explorations for me to make in the meanwhile, as I am actively taking the steps to build this podcast out.
However, this doesn’t mean that I will shy away from a date I set out months ago. This only means that I will double down on this idea, working to ensure that a podcast is something I launch by September 22nd, 2021. This isn’t because anyone said that I am required to do so by this date, it is entirely driven by the fact that I said so… myself.
55 DAYS UNTIL A PODCAST LAUNCH.
Goal #2: Releasing a new album (Top Priority)
As you all know, I have been grinding away at getting more music out, whether this is my monthly BARTYDARTY mixes or releasing original tracks of my own such as “LET ME GO” dating back to March 26th of this year.
This will be the first time I will be publicly making this announcement:
It is my intention to release a new album filled with original tracks by my 26th birthday: December 27th, 2021.
This is something I have been putting a lot of time and mental energy towards, as I have consistently been putting out mixes (often with other very talented artists tracks) and feel I have reached the point in which I am ready to release music of my own. I am ready to have music of mine featured in other up-and-coming artists mixes.
The idea with a new album is to build up more credibility with original tracks. As well as seek opportunities to perform live more regularly. Between a show in Detroit with close friends and a few house parties, I haven’t been able to put myself out there creatively as much as I would like to. An original album will help change this.
What will the album consist of?
Great question.
The idea is that it’ll straddle the vibe of tropical disco as exemplified in “Let Me Go” (which will have you dancing), while also encompassing piano compositions (which will have you in deep concentration). I am hoping to aim for anywhere between 8-12 tracks included on this album and have a full intention to have this released on: Spotify, Audius, as well as on my SoundCloud.
Releasing a full-length album has always been a goal of mine. This is something I am really excited to strive towards, and I am grateful that you are all on this journey with me ❤️
151 DAYS UNTIL THE RELEASE OF MY DEBUT ALBUM.
Why a countdown?
There is something mentally powerful about consistently revisiting your long-term goals, as they have this inevitable way of being viewed more in the short-term.
Over the past four-five years, I have created something similar to a vision board, where I have a countdown (in days) and erase the previous number of days writing the new number until my eventual due date reaches.
Revisiting my long-term goals daily each time I erase the remaining days to subtract by one day helps keep my vision top-of-mind. This is often the very first thing I do each day and it serves as a lovely reminder of what is to come/the work I have already done and will continue to do.
There’s this ease of comfort in obtaining my (initially) outrageous goals, as I plan my daily activities to directly correlate to these long-term ambitions.
My theory is that deciding on the when (due date) of an ambitious project is the toughest mental exercise initially. However, overtime, you grow comfortable with this due date. Soon, you’ll find yourself beginning to tell others about your ambitions. This serves as a motivator, not only for you, but for to set outrageous goals for themselves too.
So why did I set due dates on two things that are seemingly unrelated?
EMBODYING THE LIFE OF AN IDEAJ
Starting a podcast. Releasing an album. Do these have anything in common?
It is the next act of becoming an IDEAJ.
Being an IDEAJ: is the crafting of our story aided by the technologies we have at our disposal, creating meaning in our lives by thoughtful curation.
Being cross-disciplinary with my work is something that I have been incredibly excited to do rather than pigeonholing myself into one core specialty. The days of immense specialization are now long behind us with the waning age of industrialism.
We are in great need to shift away from this idea, found very resonant in the industrial age, of specializing in a particular niche, say as a factory worker in a textile factory. And working that same role for years on end.
The future of work is malleable.
With the opportunities created worldwide by the internet, the possibilities are endless for the type of work one is able to do. The idea that you are going to be working in the same profession your whole life is simply not the truth anymore.
Defining what you want your career to encompass, in terms of its variety, is up to no one else but yourself. Recognizing this is of crucial importance for anyone at any point and time in their career.
You are never stuck. The opportunities are out there. You just have to have the initiative to start working towards it yourself!
Now more than ever, we can truly shape our work into what we really love to do.
Becoming an IDEAJ is a lifestyle I am determined to create as well as embody.
For me currently, this entails: undergoing a freelance graduate education, writing a weekly newsletter, creating monthly mixes, building a podcast while also releasing my very first album by the end of this year. In other words, the more I have chased after my dreams the easier it has become. My argument is that this will be the case for you too.
I won’t even try to lie & tell you that there are not struggles to this lifestyle choice, because there are.
Overtime actively making the decision to work towards the goals you have laid out will actually become easier and easier. I guarantee it will be exciting to wake up and realize that the only person you have to answer to in terms of striving towards your goals… is yourself. Once you make that decision to push through, you will be amazed by your results, as well as your output.
What deadline can you set for yourself?
Cheers to lifelong learning,
Adam Bartley
PARTING NOTE
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