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Gather Your Troops

MarkPowers — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 16:00:04 +0000

I hate asking for help. I usually pride myself on autonomy and self-reliance. And, I’ve recently been reminded how extremely limiting that can be.

“Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much.” (Helen Keller)

For a while now, I have been planning a project titled Amaloboozi. I will be traveling to Uganda, East Africa this fall, to record an album of music with youth choirs and musicians in the region. The audio tracks will be turned into a CD when I return to the States, and 100% of the sales will directly benefit Show Mercy International. SMI is doing some incredible work in Uganda, providing a home, food, education, clothing and medical care to scores of orphaned and abandoned children.

Closing in fast on the date of my March 27th fundraiser for the project, I have been trying to do it all. Coordinating things at the venue, scheduling the entertainment, marketing, collecting donations for a silent auction, budgeting for the trip and recording, handling audio/video details, designing a poster, building a website . . . the list goes on and on and on.

And I’ve been pulling my hair out.
(Yeah, yeah, smartypants . . . I know I don’t really have any hair, but stop it- you get what I mean!)

Or rather, I was pulling my hair out. Then, about two weeks ago, I finally came to my senses, snapped to and realized that I couldn’t do it all by myself. I needed some . . . (gulp) . . . help. I mean, I could do it all. But there is no way that the event would turn out all that fantastic when I’ve spread myself too thin to give ample attention to each (or, any) of the many details. And I have so many friends who have strengths in areas where I don’t.

So I got my head out of my butt, swallowed my pride, made a few phone calls, posted a public plea for assistance on Facebook, and BAM! Like magic, friends and acquaintances started coming out of the woodwork to offer their time, services and donations to the project!

In a matter of hours, I had gathered together a small team of individuals to help me make the upcoming fundraiser not only a reality, but a success.

I will be updating the Thank You page of the Amaloboozi website regularly, listing everyone who is helping to make this project happen. I sincerely thank all that have joined me already in supporting Show Mercy and the children of Uganda.

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If you would like to help, please visit Amaloboozi.com to learn more about the project, spread the news via email, Facebook, Twitter and good ol’ fashioned word of mouth, and consider making a tax-deductible donation.

Moreover, if you’re in Oregon, it would be great to see you at the fundraiser:

Sunday, March 27th (2-5pm)
at Clockworks Cafe- Salem, OR
more info

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Time for you to gather your troops! If you’re anything like me, it can really be difficult to invite others to jump aboard your project, buy into your vision and devote time and energy to it.

But stop for a second and ask yourself these two questions:

1. Is it a worthy cause?
2. Are you passionate [I mean really passionate] about it?

If the the answers to both of these are yes, then why wouldn’t others want to be involved?

Make a short list of people you know who may be better than you at one or more of the tasks at-hand. Perhaps they are more efficient in a particular, more educated on a specific topic, or more socially connected in certain circles.

Whatever the case, block out fifteen minutes, take a deep breath, and start dialing. I would be willing to bet that, in the end, you’ll be super glad you did!

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Comment below and tell us about a time that gathering and rallying your troops helped you reach an otherwise potentially unrealistic goal.

Better yet . . . tell us how you need help now. Maybe some of the rest of us will be able to help by joining your ranks!

(photo by Cherie A. Thurlby)

17 Location Independent Entrepreneurs Define “Home”

MarkPowers — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 15:00:12 +0000

To some, house equals home.

But an ever-growing number of determined entrepreneurs disagree, and have been using creativity, hard work and today’s technologies to break free of the chains that hold most of us in one specific place, developing flexible, “location independent” careers for themselves.

In my own ongoing quest to travel more and more, two particular questions continue to surface.

#1) How can I find forms of income that will help sustain longer-term journeys? We’ll be discussing a number of methods in forthcoming posts.

And, #2) What about the value in being home? As cliché as it is, I, for one, have always felt that where I lay my head is home. I could honestly care less whether I’m sleeping in a cushy bed at the Grand Hyatt or on a woven mat on a Ghanaian friend’s floor, with a mosquito net MacGyver’ed overhead. What always have ben more important to me are experiences and people.

But would that change if I were to be gone more often, for longer durations? This seems like an excellent opportunity to turn to some people I look up to, who are already doing many of the things I’d like to be. The group of travelers, writers and self-starters below each inspire me to keep plugging away and pursuing a more mobile lifestyle- something I personally feel an increasing need for everyday.

A huge thank you to everyone that took the time to contribute and share their definition of “home.”

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Nora – TheProfessionalHobo.com
Most of us in North American society consider home to be our place of shelter and refuge from the elements (ie: four walls and a roof), filled with items that we buy which provide us with a sense of familiarity and comfort. But if we deconstruct this idea and look at the basic elements that provide us with that sense of familiarity and comfort – ie “home”, it doesn’t have to be such a physical thing.

Close your eyes, and consider these sounds: laughter, glasses clinking, and fire crackling. Consider these smells: scrumptious food cooking, aromatic flowers, and freshly cut grass. Do these ideas and sensations feel comfortable? Familiar? Warm? Enticing? They can be experienced absolutely anywhere, at any time.

Maybe the old cliché that “home is where the heart is” isn’t far off. For myself being The Professional Hobo and having lived without a fixed address for the last four years, my definition of home is an ever-evolving entity. But it is in the little things – the sensations that we often overlook and ignore in our busy lives – that I believe anybody can feel right at home.
@HoboNora

Greg – TheMisadventurer.com
As I’m never in the same place for very long, I seek respite more in a state of mind, rather than a location. I regard “Home” as a period of time that allows me to turn off the outside world, avoid the ever-exhausting stimulus of a foreign country, simply relax and be “normal”.

So when there’s a quiet place to be had, I’ll pop in my earbuds, open a good book and enjoy some secluded “Home” time. – Though it’s the newness and unexpectedness of travel that we all crave so much, a couple of hours each week at “Home” are necessary to renew our energy and appreciation of the world in we are so keen to explore.
@TheMisadventrer

Jeannie – NomadicChick.com
Home – is where you feel the most comfortable, which isn’t tied to your birthplace. A place that tugs at your heart and forces you to be entirely yourself. That comfort could be found in a place or a suitcase. Cause the best part of this is there are no rules.
@NomadicChick

Wes – JohnnyVagabond.com
I have to say more and more home is becoming anywhere I lay my head. With email, Skype, Facebook and instant messaging it’s become so easy to keep in touch with friends and family that I really haven’t felt homesick once in over ten months of travel. I’m sure there’s an upper limit to how long this state can continue, but I’ve yet to find it. Check back with me in six months
@JohnnyVagabond

Matt – NomadicMatt.com
Home is where ever my backpack is right now.
@NomadicMatt

Brooke – BusinessBackpacker.com
I’d have to say that my idea of home has changed dramatically from the white-picket-fence that it once was. I left my home in Sacramento two years ago and bought a one way ticket to Bangkok with the goal to run my business abroad. I had my business consulting practice set up for a couple of years already, and made the transition online. My fantastic clients were willing to share the adventure with me, and I’ve been able to live in beautiful Krabi, Thailand doing what I love most. My life here is a combination teaching, climbing, diving, and helping my amazing clients grow their businesses.

I’ve definitely had to have a change in mindset of my idea of home. My old thought was that home is a proximity – keeping everything near and dear to you in one tangible place. But, recently, I’ve realized that I’ve found my home. My home is online. I can reach out and find like-minded people that are smart, fun, adventurous and want to create an incredibly exciting life. I can stay in touch with my friends and loved ones from all over the world. This enables me to live where the activities are that I enjoy, while still having a career that I’m incredibly passionate about.

I believe that you can have it all–you might just have to make your new home somewhere you never thought it would be… online!
@BizBackpacker

Jenny – WhereIsJenny.com
For me, when I’ve traveled long term I’ve always had a place to call my own to come back to. On this travel indefinitely trip I’m on now, I don’t. I feel a bit different. I’m at the point where home is where I’m at temporarily. Home is a state-of-mind when I’m with my friends. Home is when I’m with my family. Home is in my heart.
@WhereIsJenny

Everett – FarBeyondTheStars.com
We need to stop putting the idea of home in a box, it can’t be there anymore. We’re living in a digital revolution where people can live and work from anywhere, and they are. We’re a part of a generation of information generators who are re-investigating their nomadic roots with the added power of an Internet to oversee our futures. Home is where our feet are, but it’s also where our digital self is. We are in essence in a lot of different places at once. Let’s make them all home.
@EvBogue

Karol – RidiculouslyExtraordinary.com
Lately home to me is wherever I lay my head. That changed 7 times last year. But I still consider Michigan home even though I will never live there again. That’s where I grew up and spent 22 years. It’s where most of my family lives and where some close friends still live. That all said, we really need to make wherever we are home. Otherwise we get caught up in living in the past or the future and ignoring (or worse, missing) the present.
@KarolGajda

Colin – ExileLifestyle.com
Home is wherever I happen to be at the time.

So long as I’m able to connect to the Internet and set down my bag, I’ve got all the resources I need to set up shop, connect with my friends from around the world and relax a bit. The people around me are always different, the climates and languages and architecture is always different, but I know that I can build a new life from scratch without losing my existing relationships, and that enables me to feel totally comfortable in even the most foreign environment.

The WORLD is your home! Go visit some other rooms!
@ColinIsMyName

Chris – ChrisGuillebeau.com
home = WiFi, Coffee, Friends
@ChrisGuillebeau

Corbett – CorbettBarr.com
Home to me is where I have friends. Without friends or family, a home can’t exist.
@CorbettBarr

Sean – Location180.com
For me personally I have a hard time thinking of any place other than Eugene where I grew up as my true “home”. I’ve been in Portland for nearly 4 years, and while I refer to it as my home, I don’t always feel that it is. Frankly, I think home is whatever place you can feel comfortable and spend a extended period of time in. Bangkok was a home for me for awhile.
@SeanOgle

Dave – TheLongestWayHome.com
Home is something I’ve traveled the world in search of for the past 6 years. It’s a childhood dream. My definition is simply that the place feel’s right. It’s a gut, soul pulling feeling.

Today’s world of bureaucracy, economics, and society add more to prevent this feeling coming permanent than anything else. I work from the road, my website is my office desk, my wall to hang photos and a journal to record everything. My backpack is the reality of home, it sits in a hotel room most nights.
@TLWH

Jodi – LegalNomads.com
When you’re on the move quite often, home becomes wherever you happen to be that day. I’ve been in a new city for a day and said ‘Oh, I’ll email when I get home’. Constant travel breeds the ability to adapt more easily and get comfortable faster than you expect. For me, feeling at home on the road is associated with a favourite street food stall, the smiles from locals who recognize me coming to and fro and being able to call newfound friends to meet up for some eats.
@LegalNomads

Gary – Everything-Everywhere.com
Home is where your bag is.
@EverywhereTrip

Jason – LifeAfterCubes.com
Interesting question. I would say home means comfort to me. It’s where my family and most of my friends are. It’s where I’m most comfortable.
@LifeAfterCubes

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There are plenty of other old sayings and quotes that you may have heard, which echo the words of the location independent entrepreneurs above . . .

“I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself.” (Maya Angelou)

“Peace – that was the other name for home.” (Kathleen Norris)

“Where thou art – that – is Home.” (Emily Dickinson)

“A man’s homeland is wherever he prospers.” (Aristophanes)

“My home is not a place, it is people.” (Lois McMaster Bujold)

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What are your thoughts on “home”?
I’d love to read your definition in a comment below!

(photo by Robinn. )

Guaranteed Flight Every Three Months!

MarkPowers — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 17:00:54 +0000

Anyone who checks in here once in a while has probably heard me mention fellow-Oregonian, Chris Guillebeau.

Author of The Art of Non-Conformity (which went straight to #8 on Amazon’s Bestsellers List after its release last September), and coordinator of the upcoming World Domination Summit (in Portland- June 2011), Chris is inspiring to me as a writer, entrepreneur and globetrotter. In his quest to visit every country in the world by age 35, Chris has become quite the savvy “travel hacker” . . . and I’ve become a huge fan!

[Note: this post does contain affiliate links, which help me keep this blog a-rockin'!]

I’ve considered Chris’ Frequent Flyer Master package to be the #1 available resource for travel hacking tips for quite some time . . . until now. Although getting your hands on FFM is a stellar way for the newbie to become familiar with some of the tricks that can gain you cheap or free travel, the ante has just been upped!

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Introducing (and launched just this morning) . . . the Travel Hacking Cartel!

The long and short of it is this: the Travel Hacking Cartel is a monthly service that aims to democratize free and low-cost travel. The membership site informs travelers exactly what they need to do to earn loads of Frequent Flyer Miles (without flying) and then how to redeem those miles for high-value trips. I got a sneak-peek at the site and am blown away by the info and tips being passed along to readers!

The best part? Chris is offering an amazing guarantee that I certainly can’t chance missing out on . . . if members spend at least 30 minutes a month following the site’s travel hacking directions, they’ll earn enough miles for at least one plane ticket every quarter (or four plane tickets a year)!

Highlights of the cartel’s service include:

- regular Deal Alerts (sent via email and SMS/text message), so that, when special promotions and other big opportunities come up, you’ll be the first to know!

- an extensive Knowledge Base and Tutorials to get people started with miles and points.

- the Refer-a-Hacker program, that pays current members 500 Frequent Flyer Miles for each referral.

Here are a handful of screenshots for you to check out (click on each to view a larger image):

Travel Hacking Cartel memberships are offered at three price tiers, ranging from $15-39 a month. I highly recommend checking it out- Chris is seriously the first guy I turn to when looking for creative travel hacking options! He knows ins-and-outs of the airlines and travel industry like nobody’s business.

If you’re not 100% ready to jump in headfirst like me, there’s still no reason not to at least give the cartel’s $1 14-day trial a shot. That’ll give you a chance to get inside, spend two weeks seeing what it’s all about and understand why I’m so impressed! Click here to get started travel hacking!

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Tell you what . . . how’s about you join me in the cartel and, a few months from now, we chat again about where we’ll head off to for a little group adventure?!

Who’s in? Let me know below!

The 2011 ImpossibList

MarkPowers — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 18:51:32 +0000

I’m a bit late in posting this year’s resolutions (and I know some people disagree about whether or not they should even be written in the first place). But I, for one, operate well and efficiently when I have clearly defined goals in place.

After a bit of a slump near the end of last year, I feel like I’m at an critical turning point in many areas of my life. As usual, my interests are varied and I continue to bite off more than I can chew. While that has been, is, and always will be, the case, I want to push myself this year. Although the following will hopefully not be the only things I accomplish in 2011, I’ve taken some time to set myself some very specific goals- a few of which will be rather difficult for yours truly. But I’ll be seeking some help, working my tail off and reporting back here on my progress!

So, without further adieu, and in the spirit of my friend, Joel Runyon’s, Blog of Impossible Things . . .

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My 2011 ImpossibList

Inbox Zero: I’m ashamed to say that I have become one enormous communication fail in the last several months. I know for a fact that some of you totally agree, as you sit there nodding your head right now. The first to admit that it’s 100% me at fault, I’ve allowed myself to become inundated with digital communication. Between email (currently at 134 unread messages), texts (which I also use as a mobile to-do list), voicemails and missed call logs (which I tend to ‘lock’ as I reminder to return), blog comments, messages via Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn and other online sources, I’m in way over my head. I’ve been a slacker in everyone of the above. Well, I apologize, and swear that that’s going to change. While the feat of keeping each of these inboxes at zero messages isn’t at all realistic, I can stay on top of each of them with minimal effort. It’s simply a matter of deciding so and putting a plan in place to make it happen. Part of that plan is to apply Email Triage techniques and maintain an extremely small number of active messages on any given platform.

gain 10+ pounds: Now before you go ranting on me about how you wish you had my problem, hear me out. Although many have trouble losing it, I can’t gain weight if I try. I’ve been a scrawny punk my entire life and have always wanted to put on a few pounds, maybe a bit of muscle, and feel that I was in a little more fit physical state. I can hit the gym, do some lifting and see slight results. But it’s super difficult for me to maintain anything gained. And forget cardio. As much as I enjoy running, that leaved me a skin-and-bones beanpole in just a matter of a few workouts. Again, wish you had my problem? Well, I’m here to tell ya, it still sucks. I guess the grass is always greener on the other side.

Tough Mudder: Last October, Steve Schob and I teamed up for a Muddy Buddy race. This year, we amp things up. Significantly! We’re takin’ on the Tough Mudder, considered one of the toughest endurance races on the planet. Referred to as “Ironman meets Burning Man,” the Tough Mudder is a 7-12 mile obstacle course that’s designed by the British Special Forces. It’s not a timed race; the goal is simply to make it through and finish. I’m in! But there’s one huge problem: I can’t swim [for any decent distance or length of time at all] and their site specifcially says that, “if you cannot swim, then you shouldn’t enter a Tough Mudder event.” The solution? It’s time for me to learn. Fast!

put Guerrilla Influence Formula to the test: My good friend Tyler Tervooren (from Advanced Riskology) just recently launched an awesome eBook package called Guerrilla Influence Formula. He designed GIF to help bloggers substantially increase their online presence, and has guaranteed a gain of 1,000 new subscribers. Hmm . . . I’ve been blogging for a year now. I’ve gotten some excellent feedback from those of you that swing by the site, and it would be great to find ways to grow my readership. I smell a challenge coming on! I’ve decided to personally take on Tyler’s GIF system and put it to the test. More on this soon, as well as a video interview with the risktaker himself, next week!

write 1.5 blog posts each week: With my gig/travel schedule, it’s quite difficult to meet even my small, once-a-week, blog post deadline. Also suggested by Tyler Tervooren, this year I am implementing a new writing requirement for myself: writing a post and a half each week, although only one will be going live. This way, I can create a backlog of posts that can be used to help cover any weeks that I am on the road and unable to get adequate time online.

read the Bible, cover-to-cover: I’ve started before, but never made it past Genesis. Lame, I know. But I’ve gotta be honest, all that “begat“-ing always puts me right to sleep. Just bought a brand spankin’ new NIV Study Bible. This time I’ve got a reading schedule written out (thanks, Bekka Scott!), am going to get through front-to-back, and am taking notes to ponder and discuss.

travel to Cuba, Puerto Rico and Uganda: Not necessarily in that order, but I’ve got to hit all three! I’ll definitely be catching La Fiesta de Santiago in Loiza, Puerto Rico in late July. I’ll also be taking several drum/dance lessons while on the island. Speaking of islands, I’ve got to get back to Cuba for some more research at least one more time before launching my newest school percussion program this coming fall! And, still in the planning stages, the Uganda trip/project will be happening at some point. I’ll be recording an album with local musicians and youth choirs there, in support of an awesome organization, Show Mercy, who connect people in the States with sponsor children in Uganda.

$500/monthly passive income: To make some of my future musical/travel goals more possible, I am exploring a couple of less music-related income generating options. I’ve learned so much in the last year about using the internet for profit. My Products page has been an outlet to distribute my own percussion CD, books and compositions. Writing articles on travel (and occasionally, music) for online webzines has brought a few extra dollars. But, it’s time to take that to the next level. As what I do requires me to be increasingly “location independent,” it’s becoming equally important for me to find methods of replacing some of my current income with more passive forms. It’s necessary for me to be able to travel, but without losing money in the process. I’ll be sharing more about the path I’m pursuing in coming posts! I have some friends who are way ahead of me in the passive income game. Although they’re telling me that six months is a realistic timeframe to get this ball rolling rather strongly, I’m going to set a more modest target of reaching $500/month passive income goal by the end of 2011. Not enough to replace my monthly income, but hitting that mark will prove to me that it’s possible, and will be a great start!

100 Things Challenge: Anybody who knows me, knows that I have a rather extensive world percussion collection. And that’s most likely not going to change anytime soon. Many of the instruments I’ve collected (and continue to) around the globe end up being used in performances and the educational programs I present. That said, no matter how many other ‘personal’ items I get rid of, I can never truly claim to be a minimalist. However, all music-related possessions aside, this year I am fully committed to taking, and conquering, Dave Bruno’s 100 Thing Challenge. I’ll be more mobile, less cluttered, much happier!

write and publish 2 [free!] eBooks: Two? What are they about? Well, I’m not entirely sure yet. I’ve got a few ideas and have actually started on two in the past . . . but they’re not so far along, really. I can say that one will definitely be focused specifically toward drummers. The other . . . who knows?! If I’m not sure, then why is this even on this ImpossibList? Because: a) I want to force myself to work on my writing skills, and b) I want to create some resources to share with the readers who support my site!

100 pushups: That’s right, 100 straight through, no breaks! During the initial test I took on the 10th of January, I was able to pound out 32 in a row, allowing me to jump to Week 3 of the program laid out at HundredPushups.com. I’ve been hitting it roughly every other day and haven’t fully passed that week’s workout requirements yet. But I will. Twitter buds Trever, Joel and Anh are also on a mission to knock out 100. [edit: . . . as are Steve and Ryan now, as well.] I’ll keep you posted!

Single Strokes, and the Mangini Experiment: In addition to other, less tangible, music-related goals (regarding gigs, practicing, etc.), I have set myself one crazy, assessable drum goal. My technical “chops” have not exactly been up to par recently, and I’ve got to do something about that. Enter, what I’m titling, the Mangini Experiment: putting an almost unrealistic practice schedule (developed by monster drummer, Mike Mangini) to the test, I am going to increase my single stroke speed by 150+ notes per minute! For you non-percussionists out there, single strokes are simply hitting evenly-spaced, continuous alternating notes (with drumsticks): Right, Left, Right, Left, Right, Left . . . Right now, I’m sad to say that, at last attempt (using a shnazzy little Drumometer), I only squeezed 742 notes in over the period of 60 seconds. The most recent local record is 855. By means of some serious dedication to my Mangini Experiment later this year, I aim to hit 900! More on this later . . . and hopefully I can snag an interview with Mike himself!

Two more paragliding pilot ratings: Last year, I did not make nearly as much time as I would have liked for paragliding. I am currently a first-level P1 rated pilot. While I should have passed my P2 proficiency early in 2010, I didn’t. That may partially be because a bit of fear crept into the picture after I hit some powerlines, but it’s mostly due to my own lack of time management and drive to get my butt moving in the wee hours of the morning. No more excuses . . . as soon as it’s decent enough weather around here to start running off mountaintops and get back into the skies, P2 here I come. And instead of stopping there, look P3 as well! That third rating requires me to log a minimum of 30 flying days, a total of at least 90+ flights and a minimum of 20 hours of solo airtime. That means a ton of flying. Which equals a ton of fun! And it will get me on my way to future Tandem and Instructor ratings. Keep an eye on the sky- you’ll probably find me there!

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Anything on your 2011 ImpossibList?

Leave a comment below and share with the rest of us . . . there’s nothing like supporting each other in our crazy endeavors!

(photo by Tim Regan)

Havana & the Universal Language of Music

MarkPowers — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 20:07:28 +0000

“Hmm,” I think to myself, “there’s a live band in here; this seems like the place to stop.” I’ve only been on the island a couple of hours, but it’s time to catch some music, maybe a Cuban sandwich and that Mojito that I promised my buddy John I’d try down here.

Apparently the band noticed me singing along with a few songs, and were surprised I knew them. How wouldn’t I know them? They played several tunes that are featured on my #1 favorite album of all-time: Buena Vista Social Club. On a break between sets, members of the band joined me at my table, and we had one of the most disjointed conversations ever. My Spanish was horrendous and between the group of them, they only spoke a few words of English. It seemed as though minutes would go by without my being able to grasp even the slightest semblance of what “we” were talking about. Each of us understanding one word here, one word there, we gradually piecemealed our way through the conversation, gathering little bits wherever we could.

(translated, paraphrased and less disjointed . . .)

“You are a musician?”

Yes!

“You play guitar? You sing?”

No, no. I play percussion. And drumset.

“You know our songs . . .”

Yes. Some are from Buena Vista Socia–

– “Yes, yes- very, very popular. Why do you come to Cuba?”

I traveled here to go to Matanzas and research percussion.

“Oh. Batá?”

Yes! And congas, too.

“Good . . . so you know Cuban rhythms?”

Not many. Only a few.

“What rhythms do you know? Do you know Tumbáo?”

Tumbáo? Yes- I know it. [Note: Tumbáo is a very common, steady 8th-note rhythm. Often played on congas, it's found in many Latin styles of music.]

“Then you will come play with us in a few minutes . . .”

Wha?! But, well . . . okay!

—–

I’m really not much of a conga player. But who in their right mind is going to pass up an opportunity like that?! A bit of sweet talking (and quick camcorder how-to) convinced the bartender to run around and catch some video of the song I played with the group that evening, which I am excited to able to share here with you:

[If you experience any difficulty viewing the above video, watch it on YouTube by clicking here]

Like I said, not the world’s greatest conguero (all you percussionists out there, bite your tongues and spare me the critique!). The playing here is not the point. It’s the fact that I’m playing. In Cuba. With a Cuban ensemble. Perhaps the novelty of a foreigner jumping in on congas was part of their motivation for bringing me onstage. But I don’t believe that’s truly the case. And, either way, here I am, over 2,700 miles away from home. Virtually unable to carry on much more than an elementary school verbal conversation. But music, being the incredible universal language that it is, allowed myself and this group to share several minutes of something very real and personal.

Music was the common denominator, the connecting link between otherwise very different individuals. This instance was definitely not the first, nor the last, time this had occurred. I’ve had similar experiences in Thailand, Ghana and Puerto Rico, not to mention impromptu jam sessions all over the US.

My recommendation to any musicians reading? Get out there and jam with anybody and everybody possible! Taking advantage of every opportunity to make music with new people will expand your musical vocabulary. That increased vocab gives you more command over our universal language, preparing you to speak it and communicate in every corner of the globe.

Non-musicians? How does this relate to your line of work? Can you identify with this idea of sharing through a method other than spoken language? I believe that music is not the only universal language, and I’d love to hear about another that you’ve found/experienced! Tell us all about yours in a comment below!

And uh, John? You were right. That Mojito was amazing!

Related Posts

Ghana: Day One

No Fumar, por favor

Es Un Viaje!

A Year In The Life (2010 Review)

MarkPowers — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 16:00:54 +0000

Whew . . . what a year!
(Click on links throughout for more details)

At the suggestion of several friends and musical/traveling cohorts, and without knowing the slightest bit about what I was doing, I ran my first ever post on January 1st of this year. BAM! Here’s your merit badge. You are now officially a blogger. I really didn’t know why exactly I was doing it, what I was getting myself into, nor where it would lead me. I still don’t.

And I’m not entirely sure when the answers to those questions will reveal themselves. As a matter of fact, amidst the process of writing I’ve reached the decision that, even without those answers, I have no choice but to continue. I hope that some of my writing and sharing has been beneficial to readers. But they have also been extremely beneficial to me. I have learned a great deal about myself along the way, and about those who have cared to participate in the comment discussions, contribute and share their own experiences.

Seeing as this is now the end of the year and, somehow, post #56, I figured that this would be a perfect time to take a step back, catch my breath and review what’s went down over the past twelve months.

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In addition to the usual gigs and private lessons, 2010 has been an eventful year. January brought with it a string of Elvis impersonation gigs (me drumming for them, NOT singing Elvis!), as well as a trip to San Francisco for the beginning stages of a drum book collaboration with legendary Cuban percussionist Walfredo Reyes, Sr., and authors Elliot Fine (“4-Way Coordination“) and Dave Stanoch (“Mastering the Tables of Time“). I wrapped the month up being the sole accompanist for my friend, Leslie Grasa’s, one-woman play, The Real.
* Check out this post: No Fumar, por favor

February included two serious musical butt kickings- one by The Rolling Stones‘ saxophonist Tim Ries; the other by longtime Mel Torme drummer, Donny Osborne.
* Check out this post: You on the WRONG bus, gringo!

I couldn’t wait for March to arrive . . . time to pack the (less than 8 lbs.) bag and wait for Lucinda Vette to fly in. Then we were off to visit my best friend, Benjamin Cloyd in Thailand! Gigging on the island of Ko Tao, visiting the ornate Buddhist wats, touring the Tycoon Percussion factory, getting smack-dab in the middle of the Red Shirt protests, walking into tiger cages, connecting with friends Brad & Emily, making new friends (Cody, Jodi, Sean). All around, an unbelievable trip!
* Check out this post: Witness to the sacred

After four years of living in Oregon, my little sister visited in April, becoming the first of my family to ever make it west of Yellowstone. I also got to travel to Seattle once again to teach three classes at the World Rhythm Festival. What a great bunch of excited and supportive percussionists- I can’t wait to get back up there in a few months! On the very last day of the month, my friend Rose gifted me the opportunity to see/hear former South African President and Nobel Peace Laureate F.W. de Klerk speak in the area. He relayed a powerful message, speaking about diversity, the current immigration issues our country is battling and future changes needed in our education system.
* Check out this post: Fearless . . . ruthless

In May, I sponsored a Middle Eastern percussion workshop and performance in Salem by the superhuman Raquy Danziger. I also played loads of gigs, participated in the 28-day $100 Business Forum, and headed to Vancouver, British Columbia, for some snow hiking in Garibaldi Provincial Park. Other than a couple issues crossing the border with a drumset and bear spray, it was an amazing way to wrap up the month!
* Check out this post: Confessions of a Thief

June: Back from Canada and off to California again . . . this time to play a gig with The Spazmatics in Santa Rosa and spend a little more time working on the book with Walfredo.
* Check out this post: Repurposing Your Life

I did recording sessions in July for two different album projects. I also backed up my all-time favorite impersonator (he’s the spittin’ image of John Denver), presented a couple of my “Sights & Sounds of Ghana” West African percussion workshops, caught one of my old drum instructors playing with the Steve Miller Band, took my annual study trip to Puerto Rico, and gave myself a mohawk for an M-80s gig . . . not necessarily in that order!
* Check out this post: I’m Such a Failure

Announcing an official blog “Grand Opening” in August, I created a plan of attack to help keep myself on-track with goals that are important to me. Two more performances of The Real, two shows with visiting Canadian artist, Barbara Chamberlin, and a visit from my mother, who has never before traveled outside the Midwest! Also got an enormous boost of inspiration from finally meeting Tyler Tervooren!
* Check out this post: Ups, Downs and Pushing Buttons

A busy month of writing, I took my first stabs at guest posting on other sites in September. After putting mom back on the Amtrak, a whirlwind ensued. My adult hand drum class performed at the State Fair and then I hopped a flight to Wisconsin to stand up in my best friend’s wedding. Immediately upon returning from that trip, I was in zombie makeup, rockin’ out onstage at Amanda Richards‘ CD release show. After having the pleasure of catching one of my drum heroes, Roy Haynes, perform live for the first time, it was nothing but a stretch of gigs for me until the end of the month. Oh yeah, and getting to meet the incredible Tammy Strobel . . .
* Check out this post: How To Be The Next Starbucks

I only need two words to describe October: Muddy Buddy! I teamed up with good friend Steve Schob and pounded out the bike/run/obstacle course, culminating in a crawl through the infamous mud pit. Oops, sorry . . . two more words: Matt Koenig. Tracked down this super cool cat who lives just south of me. Well, that is, until he moves his entire family to Indonesia next year for a 1 year sabbatical. I’m sure meeting a ton of unbelievable people this year!
* Check out this post: What A Cup Of Coffee Will Buy You

November was full of yet more recording. I can’t wait to hear this forthcoming CD, which includes Lee Worden and Nathan Olsen, two of the best players around! I also got interviewed by ShakeOffTheGrind and played the first of two concerts that I did this season with the Salem Pops Orchestra.
* Check out this post: Kick Procrastination in the Arse

Wow- another year gone by already! December was an interesting month for me. I launched my new personal charity project, TheDonatingDrummer. While I was excited about getting that off the ground, I hit a bit of a slump in many ways. But, c’est la vie, I suppose. And after getting some much appreciated (and much needed) support and advice from friends and readers, I am back in action and ready to rock the coming year! This month has been loaded with gigs: the Trillium event that funded this month’s TheDonatingDrummer project, six Singing Christmas Tree performances and seven other local shows. To top it all off, I fly out to California first thing tomorrow morning, for a New Years gig with The Spazmatics. For a number of reasons, one of my favorite gigs; and drumming with that crew is the best way I can imagine to ring in 2011!
* Check out this post: Change Your Direction

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2010 has been a fantastic year- most definitely due to all of the amazing family and friends in my life!
Thank you, thank you to every single one of you that I have the pleasure of knowing and learning from, musically, personally and otherwise, online and offline. Here’s to ’11- another year of music, travel, adventures, growth and slammin’ through that bucket list!

If you’ve been enjoying my posts so far, stay tuned, I’m going to be covering all sorts of topics in the next several months! I invite you to pass the site on to anyone else you think might be interested. Just click on any or all of the buttons in the upper right of this page to share and subscribe. Thanks again!

Muddy Buddy

MarkPowers — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 15:00:35 +0000

Check another item off the ol’ bucket list! As I mentioned a while back, the Muddy Buddy is a two-person, off-road, bike/run/obstacle course that concludes with a crawl through their infamous mud pit to reach the finish line. It’s something I’ve been wanting to do for years now, ever since reading about it in a mid-flight magazine.

And I finally did it!

The middle of last month, friend & fellow percussionist Steve Schob and I aired up the tires on my old Trek mountain bike and [literally] dove into one of the most fun outdoor events I’ve ever participated in.

Set in the beautiful Milo McIver State Park just outside of Estacada, Oregon, the 5.7-mile course consisted of five 1 to 1.5-mile stretches of running and/or biking. Each two-person team shares one bike, swapping it at transition points, so that the team members are continually alternating between run/bike duties. An additional obstacle also has to be completed at every transition point. This particular race included a high wall to scale, a low crawl, balance beams, climbing a 20-foot inflatable wall and, of course, a filthy scramble on all fours through the [at least one-foot deep] mud pit!

As I pulled myself out of the muck to run the last few feet across the finish line- face, helmet, gloves, shoes, socks, shirt, pants and underwear completely full of dark, squishy mud- I felt . . . incredible! The combination of reaching such a longtime goal, splashing away in the cold, wet mud, post-race adrenaline and the brisk morning air, all put me on a serious high.

Mind you, my initial goal was to participate in the Muddy Buddy, not necessarily to be competitive. Which we certainly weren’t. For a variety of reasons (or excuses), neither Steve nor myself trained at all leading up to the event. Saying we were prepared would be about as far from the truth as you can possibly imagine. Our goal was to bust out there, have a blast and get dirty.

Mission accomplished, 100%!

That said, after having experienced the Muddy Buddy firsthand, our views have changed a bit. We both want to do it again! And we want to go out and kick some butt next time. Not that it’d be realistic to assume we could win the thing (or could we?). The fastest team had a time of 39:19; ours was a sad 54:09 (28th out of 41 teams in our age bracket; 217th out of 587 teams overall). But we both know that with even a bit of training beforehand, we could better our own time significantly, and otherwise better ourselves in the process.

So, here’s to setting goals, checking them off, making new ones and growing as a result.
Here’s to Steve for teaming up with me, and helping to cross this one off my list.
And here’s to the next Muddy Buddy!

Have a goal of your own that you plan to pound out in the near future? Post it in a comment below so we can all support each other in our endeavors!

Text Message Inspiration

MarkPowers — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 20:46:55 +0000

I received the following text message this past weekend from a close friend, while she was off traveling across country. I instantly identified with her words and promised to save them, so that she could later read them when they were needed.

They spoke to me because I share her feeling of clarity and inspiration when in the middle of new experiences, new places and new people.

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So here it is . . . for her, for myself and for anyone who can use an occasional reminder to get out of your comfort zone (whatever that may be, or mean, to you) and clear your mind.

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I believe my response to her was something along the lines of, “So, this trip has already been really good for you?” To which she replied:

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What could you use an occasional reminder of?

How (and where) will you leave yourself that reminder?

(hint: do it now)

Leave a comment below and share your thoughts.
Thanks for reading!

Want To Travel? Do It NOW.

MarkPowers — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 06:44:42 +0000

We didn’t travel much when I was a kid. Maybe to Indiana a time or two to see the grandparents. But no Disneyland, no Grand Canyon and definitely no trips out of the country.

My first time off of US soil was exactly seven years ago, when I got this hairbrained idea to go study drumming for two and a half months in a small Ghanaian village that lacked both running water and electricity. By almost anyone’s standards- after paying for all the necessary supplies, vaccinations, malaria pills, room and board, four hours of percussion lessons five days a week, buying and air cargo’ing home an insanely huge pile of instruments, and getting suckered out of a few bucks here and there- the trip was freaking expensive. That very well could have been my one and only foreign adventure. The first and last. The big one that I relive over and over in my head until I finally have my own grandkids to torture with its tales.

It might have been. If it weren’t for meeting William. And we’re going to call him William because I don’t ever recall actually getting his name.

Near the end of my stay in Ghana, I decided to take a short break from the village of Kopeyia and check out some of the other sights and sounds that the rest of the country offered. One of my first stops was Big Milly’s in Kokrobite. Certainly the most touristy area I’d been in. By that I mean, there were tourists. Having just come from weeks of being in a place where I was the only non-African, seeing the faces of other travelers was both exciting and weird. On top of that, there was a beach, incredible food and electricity (which translates as: ice cream!).

Enjoying a [for once, cold] drink at the edge of the waves after dinner, I struck up a conversation with a white-haired English gentlemen doing the same. William and his wife had been married for over forty years! He shared with me that they had spent their entire lives making a neverending list of all of the amazing places they were going to visit when they eventually retired. And then she died.

William told me that, amidst struggling with the loss, he had realized that their “smart” decision to work hard, work hard, work hard, until they could one day [hopefully] take off and see the world, was the stupidest decision they made in those 40+ years. His life was changed immediately. Partly to honor her, and partly to keep himself from continuing any further along that path, he quit everything, left home and had no clue if and when he might return. He informed me of things I’d never heard of . . . the shadow puppets of Bali, the Trans-Mongolian Railway, the ridiculously expensive Maldive Islands.

And he begged me to not make the same mistake they had for so long. Ultimately, too long.

I was strongly impacted by the short chat with William that evening in Kokrobite. While his story isn’t the reason that I want to travel, it is the reason I choose to travel NOW.

Where do YOU want to travel?
What sights have you always told yourself you’ll check out . . . someday?

I’m here to tell you that most destinations are not nearly as difficult or pricey as you may think. Get your butt onto SideStep (or you other travel broker of choice), put a revised, tight budget into effect for the next couple of months, get your passport and get outta Dodge.

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Want to save some serious money? Check out CouchSurfing or WWOOF’ing.

Ready to go super hardcore? Buy Tim Ferriss’ The 4-Hour Workweek, read Chapter 14 and, like my new friend, Matt Koenig, take a 1-year sabbatical!

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Okay- where are you going? And when? I want to hear all about your plans in the comments below!

Check out these related travel posts:

Fly for free! Travel Hacking tip #1

Pack it up, pack it in . . . in under 8 lbs.!

Ghana: Day One

Witness to the sacred

4+ Jerks, 1 Lesson

MarkPowers — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 06:52:32 +0000

Bikers, travelers, and musicians . . . oh my! All about the analogies today, let me explain four ways that I’ve learned the same lesson. And we begin with a story . . .

(1) I’m driving down Powell Boulevard in Portland yesterday morning when a motorcyclist (let’s call him Biker 1) blazes past me, hotdogging all over the road and swerving back and forth in the lane next to me. A minute later, as we’re both sitting at a red light, another biker enters the intersection from the cross street and goes blowing by us, treating everyone within a five-mile radius to an aural dose of his 100+ decibel aftermarket loudpipes. Biker 1 watches Biker 2 peel away down the street, then turns toward me, shaking his head with utter disgust written all over his face.

Who knows exactly what the issue was . . . maybe Biker 2 was showing his immaturity and/or disrespect by being so obnoxious. Maybe his ride wasn’t cool enough to be so boisterous. Or maybe he was just having too much fun. Whatever the case, it certainly seemed that Biker 1 was upset that he wasn’t the only bigshot out terrorizing the city streets. In his little world, the road belongs to him and there just isn’t enough room for anyone else in his territory.

(2) Driving out of town, the motorcycle incident brought to mind a scenario I experienced seven years ago, in Ghana, Africa.

The majority of my two months in the country was spent living in the small village of Kopeyia which, at that time, had neither running water nor electricity. During my entire stay in that area, there were only a couple of instances when I came in contact with other Westerners. The few of them that ventured into Kopeyia were extremely cool and sociable. It was when I left the village, and traveled to the markets in nearby towns, that I had a problem with fellow foreigners.

I remember well the first time it happened. I was navigating the narrow pathways between hundreds of outdoor vendors, overwhelmed by the beautiful textiles and fresh produce, when I looked up and was surprised by the sight of a white face passing by me! My smile and exuberant “hey!” was met with . . . nothing. No reply. No eye contact. My new friend went hustling by me as if I were completely invisible. And don’t try telling me that I didn’t stick out like a sore thumb! It sort of caught me off guard. Why would a traveler in such a remote part of the world NOT find it [at least mildly] interesting so see another foreign face among the throngs of locals? A few minutes later, we were again in close proximity, and I tried again. This time, we made some progress . . . almost. My small-talk comment about some unusual looking fruit got a whopping “eh” out of him. And then he walked away.

Why? I’ve discussed this with many other travelers over the years, and most seem to agree. Many of us, as we’re traversing the globe, like to believe that we are the only ones out there doing so. I am the lone vagabond, going where no one else will dare; following in no man’s footsteps. I am a real life Indiana Jones.

(3) The same phenomenon is found in the music world, as well. I wish I could count the number of times that I’ve heard an instrumentalist, who feels that he’s breaking entirely new musical ground, turn around and rip another player apart (often behind his/her back) for trying to do the same. Songwriter after songwriter feel that their album will be the one everybody’s been waiting for. They’ve created something different; they’re poised to appeal to the masses. But then they scoff at other bands’ cheesy lyrics, “hooks,” arrangements and orchestrations. Apparently, only they have the magic touch. Everyone else seems to be unoriginal, a ‘poser’ or, at best, merely mediocre.

(4) And what about in life in general? How many of us know someone who is constantly talking down other people and their ideas, instead of focusing on improving themselves? You know who I’m referring to: that guy that’s always talking smack about everyone else’s relationships, while not able to maintain one himself. The girl at work who somehow turns that ‘life goal’ you discretely shared with her into a joke that gets passed around the office and used as fodder to heckle you with. The dude sending jeers your direction after each missed shot during your pool game at the bar.

What brings that type of behavior out of someone? It may be insecurity. It may be jealousy. It may be a need for attention. Or perhaps he/she doesn’t already have enough to do, so they feel their time and energy are best spent pointing out others’ failures, shortcomings and the [potential] negatives of everyone/everything around them. It sure can make you feel better about yourself and help you overlook your own.

But what really becomes of that tunnel vision nay-sayer? First of all, chances are, other people take notice. They hear a complainer, a whiner, a jerk. In their eyes, you might as well have a giant “L” on your forehead. That’s right, I said it . . . Loser. Your words begin to carry less weight and have less impact. Your opinion no longer matters. Your reputation is shot.

Secondly, all of that attention focused on dissecting [and turning your nose up to] everyone else’s lives probably comes at the expense of focusing on your life, goals, relationships, weaknesses and growth.

The takeaway: don’t be a jerk. Ignore the flaws of people you know, work with and meet. Instead, dedicate some time to working on your own. Or, if you really do feel the sincere need to make someone aware of a weakness that needs some work, do so with a genuine interest in their well-being, and accompany your comment with an offer to help.

And please, should you ever catch me doing one of the aforementioned, slap me and point it out, will ya? Thanks. Otherwise, ’til next time: Ride Hard, Live Free!

Have a similar example? Additional thoughts?
I wanna hear ‘em . . . drop a comment below!

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