Today I am answering a series of questions about my work and work lifestyle. Hopefully you read something that interests or relates to you in my answers. Let me know in the comments!
Location:
I work at home. I work from coffee shops and libraries and from friends couches and random basements and practice rooms.
Current gig:
Currently I am working as a guitar teacher, an audio engineer, and am an online task manager.
Current mobile device and computer:
I work with an iPhone 6 and a MacBook Air.
One word that describes how you work:
I work sporadically. In bursts.
What apps/software/tools can’t you live without?
I need ProTools, Notes, YouTube, and I am working on cleaning my calendar (a necessity).
What’s your workspace like?
My workspace includes a living room with an open space and a table and chair. I eat there sometimes. My workspace is also mobile.
What’s your best time-saving trick?
I save time by getting into a rhythm. Once I am consistently achieving a task, it makes it easier to keep achieving that task rhythmically and efficiently. The longer I maintain these rhythms, the more work I get done.
What’s your favorite to-do list manager?
I don’t have a favorite to-do list manager besides keeping hundreds of sticky notes and writing physical lists. Trello has been recommended to me so I will start there.
Besides your phone and computer, what gadget can’t you live without?
I can’t live without my Zoom H4N Recorder. A high quality stereo mic that helps me record ideas for products and collect audio samples anywhere at anytime.
What everyday thing are you better at than anyone else?
I have good aural recall. I notice the pitches and rhythms of everyday objects. I remember what you said and how you said it.
What are you currently reading?
I just finished The River of Doubt by Candice Millard (a great book about mapping a tributary to the Amazon River) and I am just starting Thomas More’s Utopia (recommended to me by my brother).
What do you listen to while you work?
I listen to a lot of free jazz while I work. When I’m writing I don’t want to get distracted by lyrics or consistent time signatures. Free jazz keeps my mind engaged and moving while allowing me focus my brain on producing or thinking analytically. If the task is more mindless, then I will bump just about anything (random example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mn6u55IUq-w).
Are you more of an introvert or an extrovert?
While I need my space to reflect and self-maintain, I thrive in motivated and energetic communities.
What’s your sleep routine like?
My sleep routine is eclectic. Sometimes consistent, sometimes nocturnal. I have to purposefully plan my sleep schedule when I want to adhere to one.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I have ever received is to approach situations with an open mind. This can give opportunity to relieve yourself of preconceived expectations and remain (at the very least cautiously) optimistic. Being open and flexible has gifted me many different experiences, interactions, and chances to learn.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
I am thankful for my family for giving me the daily opportunities I have to live and work. I am feeling incredibly fortunate to be where I am today.
Best,
Nathan