12 answers
Kyle
Student
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
1
Question
Asked
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How i do find my way in life?
How do I go about finding my purpose in life? I love music and anything creative but don't much confidence I have what it takes.
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12 answers
Jason Keller
Software Engineer
8
Answers
Portland, Oregon
Updated
Jason’s Answer
I spent a decade working as a studio audio engineer as well as teaching the subject before ultimately undertaking a career change and becoming a software engineer. I can tell you from personal experience that the music industry is extremely competitive and challenging to make a career out of. The two biggest things that most successful people in the industry share is 1) the passion/drive to always work at improving at their craft and 2) excellent networking skills.
First, identify what area actually interests you.
What exactly do you love about music and how do you want to contribute to it?
Are you a musician who wants to make a career as a performer/artist? Do you want to be a session musician playing on other artists recordings? Do you want to write songs for other artists? Do you want to teach?
Do you want to be a producer? This can mean many things, anything from making beats to being a visionary/mentor that helps other artists fulfill their visions.
Do you want to work on film soundtracks? How so, as a composer? An engineer?
Do you want to work as a roadie with touring musicians in a live sound environment?
Do you want to work as a studio engineer? If so, doing what exactly? Recording? Mixing? Mastering?
There are a million different directions that you can go in the music industry, identify which parts fit with your interests and skill sets. Then focus on them, learn everything you can, take an online course, read a book, buy some small pieces of gear and learn how to use them.
Once you've done that, look for opportunities to network with other people in the community. Look for opportunities to work with the people that you meet. See if you can find an internship to get your foot in the door. Just getting your foot in the door is the biggest challenge, once you've done that make yourself indispensable so that they can't help but hire you.
As challenging as the music industry can be it can also be equally rewarding!
First, identify what area actually interests you.
What exactly do you love about music and how do you want to contribute to it?
Are you a musician who wants to make a career as a performer/artist? Do you want to be a session musician playing on other artists recordings? Do you want to write songs for other artists? Do you want to teach?
Do you want to be a producer? This can mean many things, anything from making beats to being a visionary/mentor that helps other artists fulfill their visions.
Do you want to work on film soundtracks? How so, as a composer? An engineer?
Do you want to work as a roadie with touring musicians in a live sound environment?
Do you want to work as a studio engineer? If so, doing what exactly? Recording? Mixing? Mastering?
There are a million different directions that you can go in the music industry, identify which parts fit with your interests and skill sets. Then focus on them, learn everything you can, take an online course, read a book, buy some small pieces of gear and learn how to use them.
Once you've done that, look for opportunities to network with other people in the community. Look for opportunities to work with the people that you meet. See if you can find an internship to get your foot in the door. Just getting your foot in the door is the biggest challenge, once you've done that make yourself indispensable so that they can't help but hire you.
As challenging as the music industry can be it can also be equally rewarding!
Gui Zhong Qin
Sharepoint Designer
1
Answer
Chongqing, China
Updated
Gui Zhong’s Answer
Hi,
If you will be able to pick music as your career path that would be great because you will make a living by doing what you are interested in, otherwise, you still can pursuit your music dream while you are doing something else as a job. You can learn a music instrument like piano or guitar. You can kill your spare time by practicing the music instrument and as you progress, you will feel a sense of accomplishments, which will help you to better understand the meaning of life. Sometimes we cannot choose the ways in our life but on any way we can still enjoy the sceneries.
If you will be able to pick music as your career path that would be great because you will make a living by doing what you are interested in, otherwise, you still can pursuit your music dream while you are doing something else as a job. You can learn a music instrument like piano or guitar. You can kill your spare time by practicing the music instrument and as you progress, you will feel a sense of accomplishments, which will help you to better understand the meaning of life. Sometimes we cannot choose the ways in our life but on any way we can still enjoy the sceneries.
Matthew Tyas
Senior Devops Engineer
4
Answers
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Updated
Matthew’s Answer
Hi there,
I think fear of failure is a very natural thing early in life. The thing to remember is that everyone started somewhere, and when they started they didn't know anything or have any experience in their field.
There's nothing wrong with failing when you try new things. Just try to find something you enjoy and work at it. Share your art with the people you trust most and ask for feedback. Search online for communities in the areas that interest you, there's a Discord for almost everything and if you find the right one people will gladly answer your questions as you learn and give you feedback on your creations.
Lastly, you don't have to follow your dream job, or make your hobby your job. There's nothing wrong with working a reliable money earning job and working on your hobbies in your spare time. I've never worked for a games company, but have made many little games over the years because I enjoy it. More and more people are pursuing side hustles these days alongside a more conventional job, so maybe try and do both. Follow your hobbies, but if there are school subjects you enjoy keep studying them and see where they take you,
I think fear of failure is a very natural thing early in life. The thing to remember is that everyone started somewhere, and when they started they didn't know anything or have any experience in their field.
There's nothing wrong with failing when you try new things. Just try to find something you enjoy and work at it. Share your art with the people you trust most and ask for feedback. Search online for communities in the areas that interest you, there's a Discord for almost everything and if you find the right one people will gladly answer your questions as you learn and give you feedback on your creations.
Lastly, you don't have to follow your dream job, or make your hobby your job. There's nothing wrong with working a reliable money earning job and working on your hobbies in your spare time. I've never worked for a games company, but have made many little games over the years because I enjoy it. More and more people are pursuing side hustles these days alongside a more conventional job, so maybe try and do both. Follow your hobbies, but if there are school subjects you enjoy keep studying them and see where they take you,
Kelly Liu
Student
1
Answer
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Kelly’s Answer
Hi there!
I suggest that you listen to this podcast. It will give you a sense of what you should be looking for in your life to find your own purpose.
https://hiddenbrain.org/podcast/cultivating-your-purpose/
Best of luck :)
- Kelly
I suggest that you listen to this podcast. It will give you a sense of what you should be looking for in your life to find your own purpose.
https://hiddenbrain.org/podcast/cultivating-your-purpose/
Best of luck :)
- Kelly
Shawndrea Corbin
Director, Growth Marketing
3
Answers
Phoenix, Arizona
Updated
Shawndrea’s Answer
Hi Kyle,
One of the best pieces of advice I can offer you is: "You can fail at what you don't want to do, so you might as well take a chance at doing what you love."
There are so many different ways you can share your passion for music/creativity with others, whether that's becoming an arts teacher, producing your own music/art, creating music for advertising purposes, etc... so stay flexible in the application of your passions (i.e., don't get stuck thinking there's only one way to be a successful musician!).
Regarding finding your purpose, I think that's an ongoing pursuit that may very well change over time. For example, I didn't major in, or expect to change my career to, marketing... but here I am! It took me a few years actually to realize that marketing still allowed me to do my favorite thing, which is telling stories through the written word and imagery.
For confidence, I have to quote my grandma and say "Bigger dummies than you," meaning that other people who are less talented/driven/etc. than you are out their living your dream, so why NOT you? If they can, you certainly can.
Best of luck to you!
-Drea
One of the best pieces of advice I can offer you is: "You can fail at what you don't want to do, so you might as well take a chance at doing what you love."
There are so many different ways you can share your passion for music/creativity with others, whether that's becoming an arts teacher, producing your own music/art, creating music for advertising purposes, etc... so stay flexible in the application of your passions (i.e., don't get stuck thinking there's only one way to be a successful musician!).
Regarding finding your purpose, I think that's an ongoing pursuit that may very well change over time. For example, I didn't major in, or expect to change my career to, marketing... but here I am! It took me a few years actually to realize that marketing still allowed me to do my favorite thing, which is telling stories through the written word and imagery.
For confidence, I have to quote my grandma and say "Bigger dummies than you," meaning that other people who are less talented/driven/etc. than you are out their living your dream, so why NOT you? If they can, you certainly can.
Best of luck to you!
-Drea
Elliot Jordan
Web Developer
66
Answers
Indianapolis, Indiana
Updated
Elliot’s Answer
This big question is an important one. I believe it is a long, lonely walk you'll take over time to find the answers to. It has to be - only you can really steer your own path. All the other answers posted here have merit. Its a combination of gut instinct, curiosity, discovery, perseverence, trial & error, luck, and other things. We all want to find our path or yellow brick road. There is no one specific correct way but there could be several or many for you. Find the things you really like and enjoy. Art/Music? Fine. Its tough and competitive but so is just about everything. Work hard. Use time wisely. Focus on quality. Go to good reputable schools. Be confident - you CAN succeed if you work hard and can solve problems and be an asset to someone or thing. What could be your PURPOSE and PASSION? What problem will you solve? What are you good at? What would you LIKE to do? If you get any idea - push forward with it and good luck!
Annelise Ingram
Color, Materials, and Finishes Designer
6
Answers
Fort Collins, Colorado
Updated
Annelise’s Answer
Hi Kyle,
I ask myself this a lot. What I try to do when this happens is reframe the question to myself, "How do I build purpose into what I'm doing right now?" because when it's framed like that, I see the power I have over the situation. Whether or not I'm chasing what I thought my dream career would look like, I try to think about how I can purposefully impact the people that I work with or the experience I am creating for consumers, or if I am adding beauty to the world in some small way.
When I started school I wanted to be an artist, but I didn't really know what that would look like. I studied art, but as I talked to people in other majors I realized that I could take my passion for art and apply it to fashion design- still kind of lofty and out there in terms of stability, though. After that I discovered the job of being a Colors, Materials, and Finishes Designer through an internship. I wouldn't say that I was ever 100% confident that I'd be a great artist or designer, but by not giving up on what I liked and by being open to the different ways it could look to use my passion, I found a job that makes me feel like I'm using my talents well and that I enjoy doing.
That's all just to say the sometimes "finding your purpose" isn't a linear path. Sometimes you have to just start at something and be willing to change course as needed. But whatever you are doing, you can do with purpose.
I ask myself this a lot. What I try to do when this happens is reframe the question to myself, "How do I build purpose into what I'm doing right now?" because when it's framed like that, I see the power I have over the situation. Whether or not I'm chasing what I thought my dream career would look like, I try to think about how I can purposefully impact the people that I work with or the experience I am creating for consumers, or if I am adding beauty to the world in some small way.
When I started school I wanted to be an artist, but I didn't really know what that would look like. I studied art, but as I talked to people in other majors I realized that I could take my passion for art and apply it to fashion design- still kind of lofty and out there in terms of stability, though. After that I discovered the job of being a Colors, Materials, and Finishes Designer through an internship. I wouldn't say that I was ever 100% confident that I'd be a great artist or designer, but by not giving up on what I liked and by being open to the different ways it could look to use my passion, I found a job that makes me feel like I'm using my talents well and that I enjoy doing.
That's all just to say the sometimes "finding your purpose" isn't a linear path. Sometimes you have to just start at something and be willing to change course as needed. But whatever you are doing, you can do with purpose.
Heather Rodin
Product Manager
20
Answers
Phoenix, Arizona
Updated
Heather’s Answer
MOST will not figure out what their purpose is until we are old. I figured mine out when I was 35 and went to college 4 times.....
My suggestion is to go for what is natural to you. What are you naturally good at. Look at job postings for that area and get more knowledge on the possibilities. Then once you kinda have an idea of what career(s) then look up schools or programs that teach this career. From there you can filter which ones take the longest, cost the most, etc, etc.
Job Shadow - this is the single most important task I recommend. Email/Call/Ask someone to job shadow them for a day
My suggestion is to go for what is natural to you. What are you naturally good at. Look at job postings for that area and get more knowledge on the possibilities. Then once you kinda have an idea of what career(s) then look up schools or programs that teach this career. From there you can filter which ones take the longest, cost the most, etc, etc.
Heather recommends the following next steps:
Rebecca Tang
Banking
1510
Answers
Hong Kong
Updated
Rebecca’s Answer
Thank you for your question. I am glad that you start thinking about this question at your age.
in fact, this is a question to yourself. What do you want to achieve in your life? What do you find what is interesting?
If you are interested in Music, why don't start composing your own music to shar your feelings, emotions, etc. ? You can make some songs and put it online. You may hear feedback from the audiences.
On the other hand, you can consider to continue your study in a music school. You can learn more knowledge and skills in the college. This can also help to develop your career in the music.
Be confidence to yourself! If you are interested in music, it is a good way for your to express yourself.
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
in fact, this is a question to yourself. What do you want to achieve in your life? What do you find what is interesting?
If you are interested in Music, why don't start composing your own music to shar your feelings, emotions, etc. ? You can make some songs and put it online. You may hear feedback from the audiences.
On the other hand, you can consider to continue your study in a music school. You can learn more knowledge and skills in the college. This can also help to develop your career in the music.
Be confidence to yourself! If you are interested in music, it is a good way for your to express yourself.
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
Michelle McNicholas
UX designer
1
Answer
Dublin, County Dublin
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hey,
First up, don't stress. I would suggest just keep creating, try it all out. Do the stuff that makes you happy. You'll probably have to write a lot of bad songs till you hit the gold. You'll design a lot of bad interfaces but we've all got to start somewhere. Don't be afraid of failure. You won't know until you try these things out. There are a lot of free courses online, lots of free content on YouTube and great communities online that are full of knowledgeable people who are willing to share.
Explore, get interested and dig in.
And lastly, enjoy the process! I stressed about what I was going to do when I was your age and what I studied I didn't really use. I finished college, travelled, worked a load of different jobs and discovered what I wanted to do, which I thought was graphic design, but once I started studying it, I found UX to be more interesting to me and pursued that on my own.
Best of luck with it all, I hope you have fun along the way .
First up, don't stress. I would suggest just keep creating, try it all out. Do the stuff that makes you happy. You'll probably have to write a lot of bad songs till you hit the gold. You'll design a lot of bad interfaces but we've all got to start somewhere. Don't be afraid of failure. You won't know until you try these things out. There are a lot of free courses online, lots of free content on YouTube and great communities online that are full of knowledgeable people who are willing to share.
Explore, get interested and dig in.
And lastly, enjoy the process! I stressed about what I was going to do when I was your age and what I studied I didn't really use. I finished college, travelled, worked a load of different jobs and discovered what I wanted to do, which I thought was graphic design, but once I started studying it, I found UX to be more interesting to me and pursued that on my own.
Best of luck with it all, I hope you have fun along the way .
Jonny Booth
United States Marine
32
Answers
Davenport, Iowa
Updated
Jonny’s Answer
Plunge boldly into anything that sparks your interest. If it doesn't fill you with happiness, feel free to investigate other possibilities. If those don't seem right either, continue your quest. Finding your genuine passion isn't an immediate journey. It demands real-life experiences and a strong desire to succeed. So, don't hold yourself back, just give it a try. This adventure will guide you to reveal your true purpose.
Jonny Booth
United States Marine
32
Answers
Davenport, Iowa
Updated
Jonny’s Answer
Plunge boldly into everything that sparks your interest. If it doesn't make you happy, feel free to investigate different avenues. If they don't seem right either, continue your quest. Unearthing your genuine passion isn't a quick event. It demands practical experiences and a strong desire to succeed. So, don't hold back, simply take the plunge. This adventure will guide you to reveal your true purpose.