Nathan Hangen » life

Make Nothing but Art

Nathan — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 22:39:18 +0000

I’ve spent most of my life either running away from failure or running towards my dreams…often a bit of both at the same time.

It comes at a price though, because I have a restless spirit.

I can’t remember a day gone by in which I didn’t feel some sense of urgency…”you must create.”

I don’t know what it feels like to be at peace with my accomplishments, nor do I know if I could live myself otherwise.

I’ve always been drawn to three things really:

1. Spirituality

Having been raised in a very traditional Christian environment, I know a thing or two about religion, most of which clashes with who I am.

So, although I’m deeply spiritual, I am not religious.

2. Making Music

I’ve been making music since I was in grade school. When I didn’t have instruments, I was making it in my head or on paper.

I played French Horn in High School (crazy right?), trumpet, drums, saxophone, and now play guitar and a bit of piano.

3. Writing

When I wasn’t making music, I was writing songs and bits of poetry. I was planning my next great novel. I was writing, writing, and writing more.

Even though I never considered myself a writer, looking back, I don’t see how I didn’t. I still recall hearing one of my teachers protest my decision to study science in college:

“But you’re a writer Nathan!”

Thank you Mrs. C

So, although I create, and I can’t stop doing it…I’ve got this strange need to see my bills paid on time. Crazy right?

I always thought that in order to do this, I’d have to have a real job or do something that I didn’t necessarily enjoy. I never saw art and money going together.

But then I met people that are doing just that…

There’s Hugh MacLeod, who despite his greatest efforts to the contrary, is becoming known not for his “side hustle,” but for his art.

There’s Danielle LaPorte, who is making art in a way that inspires others…in the form of wisdom.

There’s Seth Godin, Gary V, DHH and Jason Fried, and dozens more.

Sure, they might not all be artists of the painting type, but they are making art in the sense that they’re:

a) following their passion

b) making something remarkable

In my talk recently at the Influencer Project, I said that if you really want influence, then you need to make something worthy of influence. In other words, don’t try to get influence…try to create it.

So here I am, a dude that has done a bit of everything.

I’ve chased the dollar, and I’ve been a starving artist.

I’ve spent time at war, and I’ve spent time in my own personal wars.

I’m a born crusader…it’s not something I can change, nor is it something I want to change.

At the same time, I keep finding myself in a place where I feel pressured to compromise who I am in order to make a living, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

Here are 5 promises I’m making to myself right now:

1. I’m going to write a book by the end of the year. I’m just going to do it.

2. I’m going to start making music again, and I’m going to be creating my own music for Blogger Beats and the upcoming Soundtrackster.

3. Every post on this blog will either be art in its own right, or about artists…no more compromising.

4. The people I work with will be artists…they must have a mission.

5. Everything I create from this day forward will be evaluated not on how much money it can make, but how much closer it moves me towards my goal of doing nothing but creating art.

Is this idealistic or overly optimistic? Probably, but that’s what I like about it.

I’m nearly 32 years old, and I’m staring down the rest of my life. I simply cannot afford to negotiate with or to compromise my core in order to appease or to appeal…whether to myself or others.

There are plenty of people making a living doing what they do best, and to be honest, it’s fear that has kept me from following them.

But I’m an artist, and even though I might not be creating oil paintings, I’m still worthy of creating art. I think it’s time that more of us do the same.

When I speak of doing something that matters and of making a difference, this is what I mean.

Less time following the lead, compromising, and making it work…and more time leading…and making it work.

Who’s with me?

Make Nothing but Art is a post from: Nathan Hangen

Embrace Your Own Seasons

Nathan — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 23:23:28 +0000

Did you ever notice that different types of music go best with different seasons of the year? I have a giant collection of music, but there are certain songs that I just can’t get into unless it is spring, summer, winter, or fall. I’ve got an entire lineup of songs that I have at the ready, waiting to be used when the time is right and they just don’t sound as good any other time of the year.

Oddly enough, I’ve found that life also works like that. Perhaps less consistently, but the changes are still noticeable. For instance, I’ll be extremely interested in a certain topic for months and then find that without warning, I’ve lost all interest. In the meantime, I’ll have a renewed energy for learning more about another topic I lost interest in months before that. And so it goes…we drift from focus to focus like nomads in the desert.

In the past, I became frustrated by this change of energy because I’d be knee deep in a project and be unable to complete it. Like a fly banging into glass it cannot escape, I kept hammering away until I got angry or became physically exhausted. This pattern continued for years until finally…I had one of those “aha!” moments and decided to change my way of thinking.

When One Door Closes

While I was banging my head against a wall in an effort that I had no energy for, I failed to realize that had I picked up the momentum on my other projects, those that I had a renewed interest in, I could keep working as hard as I was before. Rather than frustrate myself, I could have enjoyed myself…accomplishing more while being happy all the while.

Looking back, I can see where the changes could have taken place. Looking forward, I can predict them before they happen. I’m not suggesting that you don’t finish what you start, but I am suggesting that you keep a list of several different projects so that you can change pace without skipping a beat.

Looking through my hard drive, I have several blogging projects, several music projects, several religious projects (I’m a zen master baby), and several triathlon and running projects. When I feel the momentum grinding to a halt, I look into my pool of interests for something else that gets me excited. I might not blow through every project on my list, but at least I am always moving forward.

The Benefit of Having Multiple Personalities

I might not be the average blogger, but this is the way that works best for me. You might do better working through a single project until completion. The point isn’t that you need to do what I do. The point is that you need to understand the way that your mind and body work. You need to spend time learning about what drives you and why. You need to dive deep into those frustrating moments so that you can dissect the problem and into a more productive activity.

In my case, I’ve learned how to cope with burnout and how to manage multiple interests. I’ve learned how to identify what really makes me happy and what doesn’t. As a blogger, it is very easy to put off today’s problems for tomorrow in order to finish one more post. I dont’ recommend it. If you feel unhappy at any time, I suggest that you stop what you are doing and think about your path.

We’re all destined for greatness, but we have to get out of our own way. Embrace your own seasons and stay fluid, physically and mentally. You can try swimming upstream, but I don’t recommend it.

Embrace Your Own Seasons is a post from: Nathan Hangen

Life is a Game of Inches

Nathan — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 10:00:51 +0000

I know you’ve probably seen this video before, but when I saw it the other day (probably the 10th time I’ve watched it), it still gave me goosebumps. This might be a movie, but there are so many truths inside Pacino’s speech that I wanted to share it here.

Life is a game of inches. There are moments when you quit when you could have just gone the extra few inches, and there are times when you kept going when you knew it wouldn’t be easy. Make sure that when you make your choices, that you choose to claw your way out of hell instead of giving up and living a life of misery.

Choose friends that will help you go the distance and remember, that no one can do it on their own.

Life is a Game of Inches is a post from: Nathan Hangen

Do You Have a Release Mechanism?

Nathan — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 14:54:53 +0000

Courtesy of ConoTube

I have a tendency to work too much when I’m involved with projects that I enjoy. I love consulting, building websites, writing, blogging, creating products, and a little bit of everything else, but the problem isn’t that I love work (who could ask for more?) but that sometimes I let it consume me. When you are knee deep in client work, it can be easy to lose track of the big picture. You stop taking breaks in an effort to get more done and in the end, you get burned out and lose your drive, purpose, and motivation.

You can feel it coming long before it hits you, but we often push it aside thinking that if we can finish just “one more” task, then we will be OK. Of course, you get in a rhythm and stopping is not only an afterthought, but a scary one at that. If you want to have long-term success as an entrepreneur, you will need to change that thought process.

I believe that everyone needs a release mechanism to help them avoid this cycle so they can refresh their mind and body before, during, and after long sessions of entrepreneurial work. Even if you love what you do, the process of grinding out work all day long can wear you out. This includes spending time on Twitter, responding to messages on Facebook, and commenting on blogs. Any act of engaging with others can be considered work because you aren’t in a state of natural rest.

So what does it mean to be at rest? I’m not asking you to sleep all day, rather I’m simply asking you to let your mind have a break from time to time. Even better, find a way to engage your body in order to energize your mind. I call this a release mechanism because it helps you reboot your mental process in order to come back with a more refreshed and well-balanced state.

My release mechanism is running, but I also go cycling and swimming to prepare for Triathlons. Some people enjoy Yoga, while others spend 30-60 minutes per day in meditation. If you like using weights, hit the gym and burn out your arms or legs. I know it sounds crazy, but spending time to exhaust your physical body can help you energize your mind.

Even though I encourage some type of physical activity be implemented in your weekly routine, release mechanisms don’t have to be physical. The simple act of writing in a journal can help you unload a heavy burden in your mind. Sipping coffee and listening to classical music with headphones on can be a great way to refresh the senses.

The bottom line is that regardless of what you like to do for fun, and what type of fun you like to do for work, you need to make sure that there is balance in your life. If you find yourself slipping into a workaholic frenzy, gently remind yourself to release some tension via an activity enjoyable to you. It feels good to get things done and cross another project off the list, but the price paid for a life of doing nothing but can be much more damaging then taking time to energize yourself.

Do You Have a Release Mechanism? is a post from: Nathan Hangen

How Much Do You Want It?

Nathan — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:20:13 +0000

Image by MarcelGermaine

I’m curious about you…I’d like to know if you are willing to do what it takes to not only create a successful business, but also to create a successful life.

Many people say they want all sorts of things, but when it comes right down to it, they don’t feel the reward is worth the risk. Either that or the pain of the sacrifice is more than the pleasure of the reward. Regardless, it comes as no surprise to me that more people aren’t happy – too many people convince themselves to settle for less.

You hate your job, but what are you doing about it? Have you already given up and decided that you’ll just deal with it? Have you already resigned to live a life of quiet desperation?

It makes me sad to see so many people with so many gifts – yet their talent and their hope is squandered for the gain of something else. What are you gaining when you sacrifice your happiness?

Would living in a cardboard box be terrible if you knew you’d be living among the stars in the future? Really, what are you holding on to? Are you suffering from the comfort zone scenario? Just comfortable enough not to change your life?

I’ve already made the commitment to live my life as a butterfly…I’m never going to live in a cocoon again, even if I have to fly in a garbage heap – I’m still going to fly.

You lose it all in the end anyway right? So what’s the harm in giving it one more glorious effort? Don’t bottle up all the hope and innocence that lives deep inside of you. Let it out and see if you can change the world.

How Much Do You Want It? is a post from: Nathan Hangen

Nathan Hangen » life

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