Passion Party #530 - Quarterly Goals

I love quarterly goals.

 

I love creating goals that are measurable and achievable.

It is so much more fun

than long term goals that I never seem to reach,

losing the weight

or having my first million dollars in the bank...

 

90 days is a good amount of time.

I can see the goal line

and I can easily make up an action plan

chunk it down

one day at a time

one week at a time

 

And if I set 3 goals for myself

in the next 90 days

and I take action on all three

but I only achieve one...

what a huge success!

Passion Party #529 - Failure and Endurance

We all face failure.

 

In the real world everyone does not get a trophy.

People keep score

and there are winners and losers.

 

Fear of failure can stop many a dream.

If you don't try, you won't fail

but you also kill the chance for success.

 

I went through the early part of my life

taking jobs that taught me what I did not want to do.

It did not feel like failure

it was more a situation of learning form my mistakes.

 

Over the years I learned endurance.

Life should not be a sprint,

its a marathon

and I want to be one of the people

that can run 100 miles;

then it is not about winning

it is about personal achievement.

When failure is just a lesson learned

then endurance is often the key to success.

*Come join me tomorrow, at Main Event Masters in San Diego
or
on Wednesday night at Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood, CA

Passion Party #528 - A Dream Realized

You would think after 7 self-produced and released jazz records I would have learned my lesson

but actually each experience has taught me different lessons.

 

This album started as a thought:

It would be great entertainment to have a jazz band fronted by three singers who could do Andrew Sisters-style 3 part harmony AND also sing in various solo styles.  The show would consist of an evening of jazz and blues, covering the history of vocal jazz styles from the '40s forward.

 

So the Jazz & Blues Revue was born, initially as a once-a-year special event.

 

Then after 4+ years of performing clubs and concert halls

there was another thought:

Why not make an album of this material that really captures the talents of this group?

 

This is not so easy.  A first-class recording of 13 songs with a 9-piece group including 3 singers would definitely cost time and money to produce and release.

 

In January 2014 I started researching the possibility of using crowd-funding to make this dream happen.

On June 1 we launched our Kickstarter campaign to raise $18,000 to make the recording.

On July 10 the campaign ended,

and over 250 fans had pledged over $20,000.

Two weeks later, with recording budget in the bank,  the band went into the studio and started recording.

Even after dealing with everyone's summer vacation schedules the tracks were all "in the can" by Labor Day.

On September 6  the mixing and mastering process began, along with designing the CD package.

On October 1 the final master, plus all the album artwork went off to DiscMakers, to press the album.

 

And now 1000 copies of the Jazz & Blues Revue sit in my garage, ready to market.

 

The official "Release Date" for the George Kahn Jazz & Blues Revue will be November 20

but NOW, on October 22, we get to share our dream with you with our CD Release Party.

I hope you can join me

in  this dream realized.

 

Wednesday October 22 at 8:00 PM (doors open at 7:00)

Catalina Jazz Club

6725 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028

                                                RSVP for best seats    Call 323-466-2210

Passion Party #527 - Blessings

For this blessing of strength

 For this blessing of talent

For this blessing of passion

For this blessing of health

For this blessing of desire

For this blessing of intuition

For this blessing of creativity

For this blessing of vision

For this blessing of generosity

For this blessing of support

For this blessing of friends and family

 

an abundance of blessings

to carry me through this day

Passion Party #526 - Pain and Strength

Some times we are given emotional pain,

we can't see a way out

and we have to dig deep

to find a place of strength  to help us get through.

 

Some times we are given physical pain,

we have an accident

or our body gives out from "normal" wear and tear

life becomes depressing

we question carrying on.

 

Some times we seek pain

in the belief that it will motivate us,

pushing us towards a better life.

The pain strengthens  our resolve

and helps us focus on the pleasure to be found

when we get through to the other side.

 

If pain is the problem,

strength is often the answer

and we need to search inside to find it.

 

Or maybe pain and strength go hand-in-hand

pushing us forward

to a better life.