Why Bring Your Own Mic
10.4.22
Had a few people ask me yesterday: what does “bring your own mic” mean? Now, did I intentionally not explain that in initial post to cause wonder and curiosity similar to how those Cloverfield teasers back in the day gave us almost no detail causing me to stop writing my papers at UT and to go down a four hour Google black hole trying to find out what that mysterious monster/alien/thing was going to be and thus having to go see it at midnight on opening night just to find out?!?! Um. Yea. Sure. :)
Bring Your Own Mic was actually inspired by two sources:
- A friend, Nick True, ( check him out here: https://mappedoutmoney.com/about/ ) when we were at Space Retreat ( https://austinlchurch.com/space-retreat/ ) about a year ago. He opens his backpack, and in addition to the things we all have in ours — computer, notebook, pens, chargers — he had a podcast style microphone along with some other fancy equipment. To help paint the picture of why I was surprised… we were in the middle of the woods of East TN at a cabin with no cell service there to get space and clarity and peace. And this dude has a mic! After inquiring, he tells me about how he always likes to travel prepared to record if the spirit so moves him and that having the right equipment is key to the professionalism and quality of his product; his content on his site, youtube channel, podcast, etc. I loved this commitment and seriousness with which he took his craft. Loved it so much, I became a client of his!
2. Joh Acuff wrote (spoke if you listened to it on Audible?) in his book, Soundtracks ( https://www.amazon.com/Soundtracks-Surprising-Overthinking-Jon-Acuff/dp/1540900800 ) about how he would bring his own mic to all of his speaking engagements. It not only had better quality than most of the ones at the events he went, it also had this feeling and probably appearance of professionalism and of taking a craft seriously. There is a confidence and a swagger involved with showing up with your own mic.
So that is the reasoning behind the title of this blog: I am showing up with swagger, taking the craft seriously. I either made this up or heard it somewhere but it has helped me a lot in life:
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Clarity comes when you stop worrying about what to do next and start focusing on who you want to be.
James Clear takes it further in Atomic Habits ( https://www.amazon.com/Soundtracks-Surprising-Overthinking-Jon-Acuff/dp/1540900800 ) by saying that you should “simply state that you are that which you want to become.” Let’s give it a try.
I am a writer.
Do I have lots to learn? Yes! Do I have it mastered? No! Do those questions/answers change that statement prior to it? Nope. In the same way that any other role that’s attached to action (runner, athlete, singer, speaker, pastor, etc.) there is no presumption that perfection has been achieved nor that it is mastered at any level. Only that this person does said activity or loves said thing enough to do it and be that. So, go bring your own mic to your day today!
In addition to being a writer, I am a father. And Beau is awake and ready to take on the day!
TGIT!
Go Get It!
Drew
