What’s on your mind?

[Macky-Mac]

What else is on my mind, is that I need to figure out how to fix a huge mistake - that I didn't even realize was a mistake until now - and one of my biggest in life I've gotta be honest, because I sure was not seeing this coming.

Essentially, I have a YouTube channel, on which I mostly post my compositions, some computer-related content, and some other music-related stuff. It just so happens that when someone reached out to me (for something totally unrelated) and asked me to write a bio for myself, she referenced the channel's "About" page almost verbatim, and I was a little shocked. I didn't expect that a professional connection like that would result in the "proprietor" (not sure if that's the right word here...) referencing (again, almost verbatim), my YouTube channel description, which is quite unprofessional - well so is the whole channel.

So either I need to unlist all the videos (and delete the channel), or figure out some way to make it not something that professionals reference - or for that matter, figure out some way to turn the channel 180 degrees and make it professional. It makes me feel stupid honestly, how people are referencing it... it makes me feel very stupid, because it was a stupid idea in the first place (although I didn't realize it at the time). Although tbf, how could I have realized it when I created the channel?

I just hope that that's the last time something like that happens; it poses a massive risk for my reputation and how people think of me. I don't want to be thought of as a stupid content creator pushing out garbage.

you've expressed an interest in continuing on with your music, perhaps as a career....so it's definitely time to make your channel represent yourself in the best possible way.

I don't know that you have to think of its current content as a "mistake", rather that it's just time to transition the channel from a "kid's hobby" to something more useful for your future.

 

[yaxomoxay]

you've expressed an interest in continuing on with your music, perhaps as a career....so it's definitely time to make your channel represent yourself in the best possible way.

I don't know that you have to think of its current content as a "mistake", rather that it's just time to transition the channel from a "kid's hobby" to something more useful for your future.

This is good advice.

I recommend reading Cal Newport’s “So Good They Can’t Ignore You”

 

[rm5]

you've expressed an interest in continuing on with your music, perhaps as a career....so it's definitely time to make your channel represent yourself in the best possible way.

I don't know that you have to think of its current content as a "mistake", rather that it's just time to transition the channel from a "kid's hobby" to something more useful for your future.

Exactly. I think that is probably the only way to "fix" everything.

But also, my question is, was that even appropriate for the person to refer to the channel in a professional context? Was that the only thing she could've referenced? I honestly don't know the answer - personally, I don't think it was, but idk if that's the "right" answer; but since I don't want that kind of thing to happen in the future, I think I just need to handle it the way I'm going to handle it.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Without going into theological grounds, I don’t think that it’s random that most, if not all, religions and cults have part of their ritualistic nature periods of abstinence and calm. As a practitioner, and also as someone getting older but not necessarily wiser, I see those periods (lent and Amber days mostly) as incredibly important on a psychological level. I am sure that your cousin has a similar experience, as billions of various humans that follow a religion/cult/spirituality.

I honestly think that it’s rooted on the perennial fight between societal needs - which always require presence, activity, etc - and actual human needs - which require rest and moderation. Not long ago I was complaining on this very thread how much I miss the “Sunday boredom”, when stores were closed, and there wasn’t much to do if not mild entertainment (reading, listening to a soccer game on the radio, chats while walking etc) that I never appreciated as a kid. Silence, boredom, calm, the absence of tasks to do are very important and I do think that our society which wants us to spend money 24/7, be available via email 24/7, be plugged to the net 24/7 is very, very sick. We are affecting all that makes us human, including how we eat and sleep which are the two most basic physical needs of all living things.

Agree completely about the need - physical and psychological - for a day when one can sort of "switch off" from the 'normal world' - and devote one's time and oneself to different matters, family, interests, hobbies, simply doing nothing, savouring and relishing the fact of a more slowly paced day, irrespective of whether we may believe that it has been divinely inspired - or ordained - or not.

I think it profoundly unhealthy - mentally, physically, psychologically, emotionally - to believe that one should be available, on call, and alert - above all, in a professional context - for seven days a week, and that one should be "active" all of the time.

Balance, balance, in everything.

Emergencies are different, but not every crisis is an emergency.

Anyway, agree to a very large extent with what you have posted.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Indeed. Silence is an incredible gift. This is why encourage everyone to meditate, and I mean it as in just sit still with your eyes closed, when you wake up and when you come back from work or school, for 15 or 20 minutes. It’s revolutionary, and your generation truly needs it.

Absolutely agree.

I have only come to value, savour, relish, revel in, the gift of silence since my mother passed away, an appreciation that the pandemic also allowed me to enjoy.

Silence is a gift, and I realise that I love it; and, while I do love and greatly appreciate music, there are times I prefer silence, which is something I never thought I would write.

 

[yaxomoxay]

Agree completely about the need - physical and psychological - for a day when one can sort of "switch off" from the 'normal world' - and devote one's time and oneself to different matters, family, interests, hobbies, simply doing nothing, savouring and relishing the fact of a more slowly paced day, irrespective of whether we may believe that it has been divinely inspired - or ordained - or not.

I think it profoundly unhealthy - mentally, physically, psychologically, emotionally - to believe that one should be available, on call, and alert - above all, in a professional context - for seven days a week, and that one should be "active" all of the time.

Balance, balance, in everything.

Emergencies are different, but not every crisis is an emergency.

Anyway, agree to a very large extent with what you have posted.

Agreed. This is why I am very afraid (terrified) of VR/AR and most especially the idea of remote work. I think it will end up like emails; we will say “oh finally we can do work from home!”; employers will say “oh finally they can do work from home” with the quasi-identical sentence carry a very different meaning and consequence.

 

[yaxomoxay]

Absolutely agree.

I have only come to value, savour, relish, revel in, the gift of silence since my mother passed away, an appreciation that the pandemic also allowed me to enjoy.

Silence is a gift, and I realise that I love it; and, while I do love and greatly appreciate music, there are times I prefer silence, which is something I never thought I would write.

Precisely. Obviously it is a noise:silence ratio. In this age of constant, relentless, loud noise we can see that the ratio is completely off. As you say, balance.

 

[rm5]

I think it profoundly unhealthy - mentally, physically, psychologically, emotionally - to believe that one should be available, on call, and alert - above all, in a professional context - for seven days a week, and that one should be "active" all of the time.

Which is also so true. I have had to be physically stopped (mostly by my parents) from doing things 7 days a week... because it just causes too much stress.

I've always had the philosophy of "always saying yes" to opportunities, but a problem arises when I say "yes" to too much, which has happened often this year especially.

I know the consequences of "running and running" - back in the fall, I played two gigs when I had a bad cold and I didn't feel well at all, but I felt like I was "forced" into doing it - even though I wasn't. By the end of the day (the two gigs were on the SAME DAY, mind you), I felt so awful that I honestly could barely walk - it was bad. So I know the consequences.

 

[yaxomoxay]

ad the philosophy of "always saying yes" to opportunities, but a problem arises when I say "yes" to too much, which has happened often this year especially.

Watch this:

And this:

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Agreed. This is why I am very afraid (terrified) of VR/AR and most especially the idea of remote work. I think it will end up like emails; we will say “oh finally we can do work from home!”; employers will say “oh finally they can do work from home” with the quasi-identical sentence carry a very different meaning and consequence.

Just because the technology allows for you to be contacted at all hours, is no reason for a superior to conclude that they ought to, or should, contact you at all hours.

When most people (in the western world) could be contacted by (landline) telephones, there was an assumption (most of the time) that they should not be contacted in a professional context outside of working hours (unless there was a genuine emergency; and, as I have written in a previous post, just because there is a crisis of some sort, just because something is important, does not mean that it is an actual emergency), and that to do so was inappropriate.

At the very least, it shows that the time of others (such as subordinates) is not respected, still less the idea that many - if not most - people desire some sort of work/life balance, and that this should be facilitated where possible, as burnout benefits nobody.

In any case, I think - and this has already occurred in France - that a time may come when this may be (or will be) regulated, at least in the EU.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Which is also so true. I have had to be physically stopped (mostly by my parents) from doing things 7 days a week... because it just causes too much stress.

I've always had the philosophy of "always saying yes" to opportunities, but a problem arises when I say "yes" to too much, which has happened often this year especially.

I know the consequences of "running and running" - back in the fall, I played two gigs when I had a bad cold and I didn't feel well at all, but I felt like I was "forced" into doing it - even though I wasn't. By the end of the day (the two gigs were on the SAME DAY, mind you), I felt so awful that I honestly could barely walk - it was bad. So I know the consequences.

As @yaxomoxay says, learning to say "no" (politely but firmly) - learning to set boundaries - is a valuable and necessary life skill.

However, (and I write from experience), it takes time (and confidence, and, perhaps, maturity) to learn to do this, and it is difficult to have the confidence in yourself to say "no" - and to recognise when it is appropriate to decline what might be represented as "opportunities" when you are young, and desperate for recognition and respect in your chosen career, profession, vocation.

 

[ericwn]

Most of what is on my mind would put me in danger of being arrested if I posted it on a forum.

Poor you. In most places I visit on gets arrested after the crime, not prior.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Just because the technology allows for you to be contacted at all hours, is no reason for a superior to conclude that they ought to, or should, contact you at all hours.

When most people (in the western world) could be contacted by (landline) telephones, there was an assumption (most of the time) that they should not be contacted in a professional context outside of working hours (unless there was a genuine emergency; and, as I have written in a previous post, just because there is a crisis of some sort, just because something is important, does not mean that it is an actual emergency), and that to do so was inappropriate.

At the very least, it shows that the time of others (such as subordinates) is not respected, still less the idea that many - if not most - people desire some sort of work/life balance, and that this should be facilitated where possible, as burnout benefits nobody.

In any case, I think - and this has already occurred in France - that a time may come when this may be (or will be) regulated, at least in the EU.

It’s very very rare for me to receive a call outside of hours. Heck it’s very rare for me to receive a call.
But emails and messages are a 24/7 thing. Especially as we have suppliers and staff around the globe in different time zones. But it’s up to you if you choose to read them and respond in the evenings and weekends.

As for silence I could have done with some of that today. The office was very busy. A lot more people in than usual. But I’m working from home tomorrow, so at least that’s something.

But when I am in the office I do try and get out for a 30 minute walk at lunchtime. Makes me get a proper break and gives me a chance to clear my head as well as check in with Mrs AFB to see how her day is going.

 

[rm5]

It’s very very rare for me to receive a call outside of hours. Heck it’s very rare for me to receive a call.
But emails and messages are a 24/7 thing. Especially as we have suppliers and staff around the globe in different time zones. But it’s up to you if you choose to read them and respond in the evenings and weekends.

I would guess this is on a per-job and/or per-position basis. So probably for you, you have a certain set of responsibilities at your job, etc.

If you call playing music "working," then sure, I get calls, emails, and texts all day every day. Although it does get annoying when I find the person wanting to talk for an hour or more (this has happened several times), because it then feels like there's a lack of respect for my time. I mean I'm okay with that most of the time, but when I'm especially busy and the person calls multiple times, that gets annoying quite fast.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

It’s very very rare for me to receive a call outside of hours. Heck it’s very rare for me to receive a call.
But emails and messages are a 24/7 thing. Especially as we have suppliers and staff around the globe in different time zones. But it’s up to you if you choose to read them and respond in the evenings and weekends.

As for silence I could have done with some of that today. The office was very busy. A lot more people in than usual. But I’m working from home tomorrow, so at least that’s something.

But when I am in the office I do try and get out for a 30 minute walk at lunchtime. Makes me get a proper break and gives me a chance to clear my head as well as check in with Mrs AFB to see how her day is going.

Messages 24/7 from all around the globe are one thing (though I am of the opinion that one should attempt to exert some degree of control as to when one chooses to reply, as long as it is reasonably promptly), and one can see why they would land in an inbox at all hours.

However, I once had a boss, the head of mission, (on one of my deployments) who had a charming little habit, a special trick, of sending me emails at around 23.40 many nights, expecting a response; I'm nocturnal, but not every communication requires - or merits - an instant or immediate response, and, indeed, I schooled myself and steeled myself into developing the habit of not replying until early the following morning; that same individual - who clearly did not respect the time of anyone else - was invariably (very) late for meetings (the twice weekly senior management meetings, which were part of the regular standard weekly schedule).

 

[Apple fanboy]

Messages 24/7 from all around the globe are one thing (though I am of the opinion that one should attempt to exert some degree of control as to when one chooses to reply, as long as it is reasonably promptly), and one can see why they would land in an inbox at all hours.

However, I once had a boss, the head of mission, (on one of my deployments) who had a charming little habit, a special trick, of sending me emails at around 23.40 many nights, expecting a response; I'm nocturnal, but not every communication requires - or merits - an instant or immediate response, and, indeed, I steeled myself and schooled myself into developing the habit of replying the following morning; that same individual - who clearly did not respect the time of anyone else - was invariably late for meetings (the twice weekly senior management meetings, which was part of the regular weekly schedule).

Lateness to meetings is one of my annoyances with work. Even if it’s a teams meeting I generally log on a minute or two beforehand. Then I just carry on working whilst you wait for others to login.

 

[rm5]

Messages 24/7 from all around the globe are one thing (though I am of the opinion that one should attempt to exert some degree of control as to when one chooses to reply, as long as it is reasonably promptly), and one can see why they would land in an inbox at all hours.

However, I once had a boss, the head of mission, (on one of my deployments) who had a charming little habit, a special trick, of sending me emails at around 23.40 many nights, expecting a response; I'm nocturnal, but not every communication requires - or merits - an instant or immediate response, and, indeed, I steeled myself and schooled myself into developing the habit of replying the following morning; that same individual - who clearly did not respect the time of anyone else - was invariably late for meetings (the twice weekly senior management meetings, which was part of the regular weekly schedule).

I've learned, especially being a musician, that I should expect those types of things - a call, email, etc., to happen every night. And I also expect to get called for a gig any day at any time. It's just a "fact of the trade" I think.

I never get annoyed by pushes/pings. I've made that clear in my Discord profile description, too. I never get annoyed by them because it's it's just something that happens.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I would guess this is on a per-job and/or per-position basis. So probably for you, you have a certain set of responsibilities at your job, etc.

If you call playing music "working," then sure, I get calls, emails, and texts all day every day. Although it does get annoying when I find the person wanting to talk for an hour or more (this has happened several times), because it then feels like there's a lack of respect for my time. I mean I'm okay with that most of the time, but when I'm especially busy and the person calls multiple times, that gets annoying quite fast.

Quite a lot of responsibility yes. Comes with the territory in my position. But then I like to keep busy.

 

[rm5]

Lateness to meetings is one of my annoyances with work. Even if it’s a teams meeting I generally log on a minute or two beforehand. Then I just carry on working whilst you wait for others to login.

Same here. On video calls, I ALWAYS log in five minutes early, to ensure that there are no audio issues (because I use pro audio equipment - mic, audio interface, ...), and also as a form of politeness. I always show up to class on time - I don't think there's been a single day this year that I've been late for class. There's never been a single lesson I've been late to this year either.

To be brutally honest, the people (many of whom I know) who are late, and/or don't meet expectations and deadlines... are gonna have trouble later on in life.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Same here. On video calls, I ALWAYS log in five minutes early, to ensure that there are no audio issues (because I use pro audio equipment - mic, audio interface, ...), and also as a form of politeness. I always show up to class on time - I don't think there's been a single day this year that I've been late for class. There's never been a single lesson I've been late to this year either.

To be brutally honest, the people (many of whom I know) who are late, and/or don't meet expectations and deadlines... are gonna have trouble later on in life.

So true. There’s a guy in the office some days and his alarm goes off at 9 am. Just shows us all what time he gets up on his WFH days!

 

[rm5]

So true. There’s a guy in the office some days and his alarm goes off at 9 am. Just shows us all what time he gets up on his WFH days!

I mean what the hell, I always got up at 7:45 for 8:00 AM classes during the pandemic...

I think that's a good thing to learn how to do—to get up early enough that you're all the way awake for whatever you might have going on. I certainly didn't learn that until about a year ago, I've gotta be honest.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I mean what the hell, I always got up at 7:45 for 8:00 AM classes during the pandemic...

I think that's a good thing to learn how to do—to get up early enough that you're all the way awake for whatever you might have going on. I certainly didn't learn that until about a year ago, I've gotta be honest.

These days I’ve had a run (usually 4 miles), a shower and breakfast before I start work. Many of my colleagues have breakfast at work. I think it’s just weird to turn up and go make yourself some porridge!

 

[rm5]

These days I’ve had a run (usually 4 miles), a shower and breakfast before I start work. Many of my colleagues have breakfast at work. I think it’s just weird to turn up and go make yourself some porridge!

See, I wish I could do that, but if I were to do that, I'd have to get up at 4:30 or 5 in the morning, which would mean not enough sleep for me, because I usually end up going to bed at around midnight. I generally don't eat breakfast (because I'm never hungry in the morning) - sometimes I'll get some food from the cafeteria when I get to school, but that doesn't happen very often.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

See, I wish I could do that, but if I were to do that, I'd have to get up at 4:30 or 5 in the morning, which would mean not enough sleep for me, because I usually end up going to bed at around midnight. I generally don't eat breakfast (because I'm never hungry in the morning) - sometimes I'll get some food from the cafeteria when I get to school, but that doesn't happen very often.

I'm in agreement with you on this; for my part, I am not a morning person, and sleep is wonderful (although, when you are young you think that you are immortal, that life is eternal, and that your energy and endurance are both boundless and bottomless).

 

[compwiz1202]

Lateness to meetings is one of my annoyances with work. Even if it’s a teams meeting I generally log on a minute or two beforehand. Then I just carry on working whilst you wait for others to login.

The most annoying thing with that is the organizers try to be sneaky and state something will start 1/2h or more earlier, so the ones who know how to be on time are sitting there bored.