Beyond the Classroom
When you think back to your school years, it’s rarely the tests or grades you remember. It’s the moments — the first time you performed on stage, the choir trip with friends, the guitar you couldn’t put down after school. Music stays with us because it taps into the most human parts of who we are: creativity, emotion, connection. Beyond its personal impact, music education strengthens neural pathways, boosts memory retention, and builds social-emotional skills that are critical to success in every area of life. Students who engage with music are not only more academically prepared — they are more empathetic, better at working in teams, and more resilient in the face of challenges. At In Tune, we’re committed to ensuring that every young person — no matter their background, neighborhood, or circumstances — has access to the transformative power of music. Through our mobile classrooms and culturally responsive programming, we are taking music directly to the students who need it most, removing barriers, and opening doors. Because music doesn’t just change an afternoon or a semester — it changes lives. It reminds young people that they are creative, they are capable, and they are connected to something larger than themselves. When we invest in music education, we invest in futures filled with possibility, hope, and harmony.
Creating Goals
When you make a choice, you change the future. – Deepak Chopra Traditionally, the time for discussing goals or dreams for the future is around New Years Eve and the month of January. We make resolutions and commit to new habits but while exciting initially, the reality is that most people do not stick to those resolutions. According to a study completed by Forbes.com, over 55% of people do not keep their self proclaimed goals for the entire year. When we make a decision to set a goal, resolve to do something new, or chase a dream, there needs to be a catalyst that spurs us into action. When you identify why you are inspired and truly grasp what motivates you, it will allow you to persevere when the initial excitement dissipates. Accomplishing tasks and moving forward in your life takes time. Usually it is not the flip of a switch or luck of the draw. It requires consistent effort over time. It is a constant decision to take the next small step and asking yourself if each step is getting you closer or further away from the desired end result. You are in control of your efforts and you get to write the story you are living. Be inspired. Be motivated. Be excited! And then do something about it. Define the goal with an attainable end result. Decide how you will know when you have accomplished the goal. Ask yourself, “what does success look like?” Give yourself a timeline for completion. Without a deadline, there is no urgency to prioritize the tasks and the goal will likely never come to fruition. My biggest caution that I will share from countless examples in my own life is to be realistic with your goals. I am not saying that you can’t have big dreams! Have you met me? I’m the queen of big dreams. But the smaller, bite sized goals that will help you reach those giant dreams must be realistic for the timeline you have set. A quick example is from a personal finance client I recently worked with to eliminate debt. She had a mountain of debt and wanted to clear it up as quickly as possible which is a great dream but there are steps that must be taken to achieve this big task. We broke it down into weekly goals. Instead of focusing on over $76k in debt and getting overwhelmed, her job was to find an extra $250 each week. Some weeks she was able to sell a piece of old furniture or outdoor equipment. Other weeks, she picked up a couple extra hours of work. This woman also had some larger assets and even though it took longer than a week, she was able to sell a $20k trailer and immediately knocked off a big chunk of the debt which was not only exciting but also motivating and kept the momentum going. Big dreams are accomplished by making a choice, defining attainable goals, and continually working toward a better future. To start making tiny changes to achieve remarkable results, I’d recommend reading Atomic Habits by James Clear. If you need specific encouragement, accountability, or guidance for your next steps, contact me. I’d love the opportunity to lift you up. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, which are not a penny more for you. I couldn’t be more grateful for your support!
Grit
Hey, it’s Lauren! I wanted to talk to you today about an experience, or multiple experiences, that I have had recently. There were stuck trucks, jackknifed trailers, and severe icy conditions. The skills that I learned during this wintery week are probably skills that I will not use on a regular basis. I will, however, use the gritty mental skills that were required through the whole process every day. For me personally, it is very difficult to ask for help. I like to do things for myself and on my own. The skill of knowing when to ask for help is invaluable. Realistically, we can’t do everything ourselves. Over the last week of challenges, I have had to call upon my entire network for help and education as I problem solve my way through the icy conditions and vehicle challenges. Getting stuck on an icy hill with minimal traction and a heavy load of hay, horses, or other loads, is precarious and a little scary. I didn’t have a winch, sand, and other practical tools for getting unstuck. It was just me, a pair of chains, and a shovel. I learned how to use tire chains and called upon all the laws of physics to get unstuck on multiple occasions. Over the course of a week, I put these new skills to use on more than one occasion at each time I found myself thinking, “ OK, this has to get done and I’m the one to do it. There are no other options. I have the knowledge and the skill to make it happen but there is no one else here so figure it out.” Oftentimes in business, we, as business owners, find ourselves in this lonely place of feeling like there are no other options, it’s an impossible task or goal, and it would be easier to give up or at least wait for the ice to melt in the spring! In that moment, you need to dig deep and find your gritty inner self to really focus and move forward one baby step at a time. When you can’t do everything, do everything that you can. Know who your resources are. Know when to call for help. Know that you aren’t truly alone, even if it seems so at that moment. You were made to do hard things. It is in your DNA to overcome obstacles and challenges. It’s OK to flex your muscles and be powerful, conquering the hard things in life. Allow yourself the ability to think outside the box, be creative, and problem solve in a way that shows off how amazing you truly are. Don’t be afraid to dig deeper than you even knew was possible. You can do whatever is required to move forward even just an inch. When it all seems impossible, grit your teeth, ask for help if you need it, and push forward just that little extra bit because you are capable of big, amazing things. Whether you are learning how to put tire chains on a very stuck truck or you are solving expensive problems in your business, learn the skills, get gritty, and be successful.
