Episode 282 – Four Thousand Weeks

On average, a person has approximately 4,000 weeks in their lifetime. With roughly 80 years to live, we're all granted the opportunity to explore and experience things. It allows us to dream and desire in a world of possibilities.

But time is finite. Even if you have an immense desire for music and singing, one human lifespan may not be enough to venture into this field's roundabouts. With that comes the need for us to have a solid relationship with time, so we don't end up feeling lost at the end of the day.

In this episode of The Intelligent Vocalist podcast, John Henny talks about how to manage time and the choices related to one's singing career. If this topic is something that interests you, keep on reading!

Key Takeaways:

• Being realistic with your singing goals will help you be more efficient and productive with your time
• There are trade-offs with the goals you decide to pursue
• A mentor is a valuable asset in helping you make and achieve those realistic goals

In the book, "Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals," Oliver Burkeman teaches us the idea of how an average human lifespan—if one gets to live until 80—is ridiculously, contemptuously short. It aspires to explore how people currently relate to time and how they can make the most of a limited lifespan.

John uses this as an inspiration to relate time management to singing, which is the capacity to use your time effectively and productively. You can think of time management as having enough hours to complete everything you need to do without being consumed by your struggles with time.

Human impulses can often lead us to procrastinate or be over-productive in extracurricular activities that don't help us grow as musicians and as humans. But that's where time management comes in. It teaches us to become more efficient with our time and get more things done quicker. This is especially helpful for singers, who are often under a lot of pressure to perform well and quickly learn songs and techniques.

If we use our time correctly by aligning the remainder of our time and the goals we set, we can make more progress in our singing career. It's crucial to stay organized and realistic about how much time you have to practice your craft.

If you want a happier, less stress-filled life in your singing career, you should take a much-needed reality check. Your finite time is ticking, and you must have an insightful reassessment of what fantasies and realities are when it comes to your life as a singer.

We might have heard that singing is a "world of possibilities." The statement is both true and false. It is true in the sense that there are so many facets to explore in singing. And yet our limited time cannot cater to all these possibilities. That said, John teaches us in the podcast how essential it is for us to make valuable decisions.

We can't do everything—not within 4,000 weeks. But we can still live a fulfilled, meaningful life when we learn to reassess our singing vision and goals. This means that you must learn to prioritize.

If time is your most precious commodity, then you might be aware of the pressures of time. If we want to reach the pinnacle of life satisfaction, we must spend our days making our life richer and more practical.

To use the remainder of our 4,000 weeks productively, John suggests that we could look for opportunities to enhance facets of our singing career. He provided us with a comprehensive guide to help us progress in our careers and meet the demands of life. Let's explore them!

Setting realistic goals for your singing career is one of the most essential steps in achieving success. While it can be hard to determine what those goals should be, it's vital to break them down into smaller, achievable steps. This way, you can stay on track and ensure that each goal takes the same time and effort. This will help you stay motivated and focused on what is most important.

There are a few things you can do to help you set realistic goals for your singing career and even your holistic human life. Here are some of them:

1. Be realistic about what level of success you want to achieve. If your goal is to have a successful career as a singer, don't immediately jump for international stardom. Instead, take baby steps and set smaller goals. You can perform at local events or join school clubs and organizations relevant to singing.
2. Think about what you need in order to achieve your goals. Some people spend most of their lifetime training and trying various things to become better singers. Creating a to-do list is a great way to stay organized and on track. Make a list of tasks that need to be done in order to reach your goals, such as practicing scales, attending local events, or joining choirs. This will help keep you focused on the task at hand so you can make the most of your limited time.
3. Make sure your goals are achievable. Time can be your most precious resource. So, suppose you're aiming for a successful singing career. In that case, it's important to remember that achieving success takes time and effort.

Be prepared to put in the work. People have a modern obsession with getting everything done at once, but don't be afraid to take small steps toward your larger goal.

If you want to succeed in your singing career, it's essential to calculate how much time you realistically have to achieve your goals. In the same vein, it is also important to focus on what matters most in your singing career. It is easy to get overwhelmed by the possibilities and end up wasting precious time.

Instead, take a step back and prioritize the most important goals for you and your musical journey. This will help you stay focused and motivated as you move forward. That's why it is important to understand that there is no "ideal" amount of time you must devote to your singing career. On the contrary, the amount of time you put into your singing career will entirely depend on what you want it to achieve.

You may feel a sense of anxious hurry growing intensely when you realize that every second takes a portion of your 4,000 weeks to achieve your singing goals. But bear in mind that doing so is an efficient approach to productivity in this journey.

Take the time and make a realistic exploration of how our lives work. You'll realize that making decisions doesn't only entail dividing our daily hours into work and leisure time. In reality, our time on earth is composed of trade-offs.

As John mentioned, decision-making can be very stressful. During this phase of life, you'll realize that reality and fantasy rarely collide in positive ways. Hence, we must learn to compromise.

Real life entails choosing one thing over the other. Deciding to become a voice teacher and eliminating the idea of joining the opera. It's about setting aside your dream to own a studio and become a choir member. It's part of the human struggle to close a door whenever they open another.

To improve your singing career, you must decide what is essential and what can be postponed. There are many paths you can take to achieve success in this field, so it's crucial to figure out which suits your personality and skill set best. Some things to keep in mind when setting singing career goals include:

• What type of music do you love?
• How much experience do you have singing?
• What type of performance venues do you want to work in?
• What financial security do you want for yourself and your family?

If you want to make a successful singing career, it's important to have goals and some guidance from someone who knows what they're doing. Mentors are an invaluable resource for singers seeking to set realistic career goals and achieve them.

There are plenty of singers out there who have achieved great things without formal training, but if you want to achieve the same level of success, you'll need the help of a mentor. Make sure that the person you choose is compatible with your goals. Look for someone who has similar skills and interests. This will help you connect with someone who can offer guidance and support as you work towards your goals.

In this article, we've discussed how you can use your four thousand weeks to make decisions about your singing career and find a mentor. Each of these steps is crucial for success in the field of singing. Remember that every second counts, so it's important to stay focused on your long-term goals and strive for excellence every step of the way.

If you want to know more about John, you can visit johnhenny.com. There you can listen to previous episodes of The Intelligent Vocalist podcast, as well as access his blog posts. Join John's mailing list to get special offers that are exclusive to his mailing list, and stay up to date on new courses and books.