Think and grow (into a) Rich (songwriter)

[asiabackpacker]

Amazing to see how this thread has unfolded....I feel like I'm just tagging along for the ride now You guys are an inspiring group!elliott

[ephlat66]

Interesting topic!! Music in general, and songwriting in particular are both metaphysical and spiritual. It is no coincidence that the phenomena that Napoleon Hill describes applies as well to the creation of music as to the creation of wealth (and subsequently, the creation of wealth through music, i suppose).I have often felt that music comes through me rather than from me. I don't mean to set myself up as some sort of musical prophet, but in my experience, the existence of someone or something bigger than me is an undeniable fact. I don't think it necessary to expound my particular doctrine, or the specific principles upon which my faith is founded, but to me there is no doubt whatsoever that a greater power than myself exists and is at work in my life. I am very blessed in that I feel the influence of that power most profoundly through music - playing, listening, creating. This influence is so strong at times, that often my goal in writing is simply to get out of my own way, and let that part of me that can truly hear... well, truly hear.I wrote a lyric recently that expresses this metaphysical process:Steady as she goes my friendUntil the vision clearsYou know nobody knows my friendThe symphonies you hearYou feel it on the edge againWhere you most often liveIf you could free your soul my friendWill He reveal the sound?This time I swear I will listenBring it to life as they gather 'roundLord I can hear You nowSpeak to me here somehowVoices and words and notes in my head nowI am Your instrument So blow me awayVoices and sounds and words in my head nowI am Your testamentSo blow me awayMelodies they wander inLike they were never lateYou have no choice but to let them inWith breathless hope you waitHarmonies they haunt your dreamsAsleep or awakeIs it magnificent obsession orSimply a leap of fate?Is it the duty of appointed mission orJust the way you overcompensate?Lord I can hear You nowSpeak to me here somehowVoices and words and notes in my head nowI am Your instrument So blow me awayVoices and sounds and words in my head nowI am Your testamentSo blow me away (if you'd like to hear this song, btw, click here:http://www.taximusic.com/song.php?song_ ... tream=true Hope this post doesn't seem too didactic or pompous, it's just a subject to which I've given alot of thought, and this thread kind of touched a nerve.I read Think & Grow Rich many years ago, and watched the DVD version of The Secret a few months ago.I must confess that in many areas of my life - most notably the financial, I have not... how can I put this... I have not allowed myself the bounty that is available. I have tended to be something of a pessimist, as hard as that is to admit. It has taken me 25 years of talking and dreaming to finally get around to actually DOING something to create a music career.Someone once said that you NEVER get what you want, you only get what you picture. I have learned how to create the picture of being a conduit for beautiful, meaningful and, yes, potentially commercially useful music. The rest of my belief in what I can create for myself and my family is a work in progress. This thread is no accident - for as a previous post said, there are no accidents - and I thank you all for helping me on my way with your inspirational words!

[rfrey]

It has been years since I read that book, but another concept that I am always reminded of is the idea of surrounding yourself with excellence. In other words, surround yourself with people who are excellent in their area, such as an awesome vocalist, or guitar player, etc. Its amazing how powerful musicians working together can be creatively. Thanks for starting this thread.Rich

[ginstl]

Here's how you can test your powers! The next time you try hard to remember somebodys name you have forgotten,: Stop thinking about trying to remember the name and think about something else and all of a sudden a while later the name you could not remember pops into your mind out of thin air.Greg.

[ibanez468]

Quote: One day while sleeping, I had this dream,(if I remember correctly, dreams happen in the "light" phase of a sleeping period) where I was hearing this great song on the radio. As I started to wake up I realized the song was something I had never heard before and I had "composed" it in my dream. I immediately got up and grabbed my hand held recorder and started singing the song into it. I can relate kouly. I've had that very same thing happen to me as well. Unfortunately, I was too sleepy (or too lazy, can't remember which) to get up and record something. I don't even think I had anything available to record with at the time, like a mini cassette recorder or something like that. Which is probably why whatever I heard, never got recorded. But I don't make that mistake anymore. I've always got something nearby. You never know when something is gonna' pop-up in your mind. It's never predictable, so ya' gotta' be ready. As far as the "Think and Grow Rich" material, I have that and also Napolean Hill's "The Laws of Success", which is a thick hard-cover book. The guy spent his life tapping into the minds of successful people, trying to find out what made them so successful. Very interesting reading. The kind of information that makes you go, "Hmmmmm...I never thought of it like that!"ibanez468

[linziellen]

Just what I was looking for, thank you Elliott for taking the time to post this. From tomorrow I will be walking around with my eyes closed lol, seriously though it's probably going to help me a great deal. Lindsey.

[montster]

The more time I spend in here (this Taxi forum) the more I am just bowled over on how amazing and unique and sincere all of you truly are. This particular thread revealed insights that I have been exposed to but seeing them pop up here was an affirmation that, as was mentioned, there's a reason for everything, like there is no such thing as mere coincidence. I've known this intuitively but it's great to be able to discuss it openly with others who really understand it and articulate it well and make it work for them, tapping into it selflessly and letting go to express what is always there.The best songs from me to date have never been forced, they happened within an hour as if they always existed and I was simply a vehicle, lyrics, chords basic arrangement.The notion of "the Secret" popped into my head as I began to read through this thread before I had stumbled upon it first being mentioned and there it was in the next sentence. I've dreamed everything in my life and I can just about remember exactly where I was when I brought the significant things into existence, yet I wasn;t focussed or fixated on them, they're just what I felt was where I was going and what just needed to happen, fairly unconsciously, yet this is the point you are all raising, that these things can be done exactly, specifically and consciously!! What an inspiring group I'm honored to have an association with!!Thanks!Raags, we missed you during our Kirtan in the lobby of the Rally this last year, I'm going to make a point to chant every year I attend!!! Maybe you'll join us!!

[montster]

I will be bookmarking this thread to refer to it every day to keep on track!!Dreaming Into Existence....I get a deal from my first forwardMy music school gets out of the red by the end of the year and becomes the most successful performing arts academy in Northern CaliforniaEnough Disposable $$$ to fund the whims of my dreamings(I loved the "disposable Income" thing cant help but throw that in here) The Hippest Vegetarian Restaurant within 100 miles run by me and my closest friends!!Wow this is fun, but I'll stop here.... my hands are getting too hot!!

[asiabackpacker]

Hey Montster!I've found that visualization can be a lot more powerful in past tense....Just for kicks, see how it feels...I GOT a deal from my first forward.My music school GOT out of the red before the end of 2008!My friends and I established the hippest vegetarian restaurant.....etc...we GOT all kind of cool writeups in various newspapers!etc...Dream on brother!Elliott

[linziellen]

So, after having a better read of this thread I felt the need to add my two cents worth! Firstly I am in agreement with Monster, Taxi and its community is amazing and even though I've only recently made a come back I already feel a sense of belonging I don't get anywhere else. I think we're all sailing very similar boats! Secondly I have a wonderful friend who supports me both mentally/emotionally, here is something I learned from that person...I think it's relevant to this thread.The universal law of attraction. Have you ever noticed that when you think of something, loads of coincidences start to happen? This is the law of attraction. For example you find the car of your dreams and the bonus or one of the things that attracts you is that you don't see them very often, it's a car that hasn't really been discovered and while you're in the process of buying it you start to see it all over place...out on the road, in the magazine at the dentist, adverts on TV or at the cinema. Similar thing with music. We can listen to a song all our lives and then something changes like we move away, split up with a partner, find someone new, fall in love have a baby etc and suddenly the words of that song take on a whole new meaning...yet they were there all along.The world does not change, its your mind that does. Just because you're fixed on one idea/outlook doesn't mean there aren't many many more out there.Also I just want to mention a paragraph from a book I often turn to when things aren't going so well, it's called "Natural Superwoman" (sorry guys) , it focuses a lot on power of the mind and it gives me an extra boost when I'm feeling low.Learning to live'The aim of life' says Henry Miller, 'is to live and to live means to be aware, joyously, serenely, divinely aware'. Developing a positive, confident attitude to the possibilities and changes that life presents is within the capability of all of us, and Time for You accommodates this flexibility. Learning to give yourself a break, to play, takes practice. But nothing happens until we take responsibility, and decide that we are more than who we have learned to be. And the rewards are incalculable. Our lives are of our own making and it is down to us to decide the outcome.Goodness, I think that's more than two cents worth! Thanks again to Elliott for starting such an eye opening (lol) thread and here's hoping we all sail our boats in the right direction and get to wherever it is we want to be!Lindsey.