Meet Biff Swenson

We were lucky to catch up with Biff Swenson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Biff, thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.

Straight up delusion. These are dark times. A lot of things aren’t going well for many people. It’s hard to find purpose in the mundane or extracurricular, but these are the things that bring some of us purpose. I have to completely check out from reality in order to stay productive and optimistic. I have to choose to see the vision and work towards the goal regardless of the things that bring me down or otherwise occupy my thoughts in my down time. It’s a muscle that I have to stretch. There are plenty of days where my optimism depletes, my social battery is at zero, my lust for life is gone – but I try not to give myself too many of those days to wallow in it. The only way to meet my goals and get where I want to be in life requires the ability to deflect the bull shit and focus on the task at hand. I also try to fill those around me with the same level of optimism. Not only because the company you keep dictates your environment, but on the days when I’m feeling my lowest – I need my team to be able to recharge me in that same way. I also write physical to-do lists everyday, and I add a few things I already completed to the list in order to feel like I accomplished something before even beginning that day’s tasks. It’s a fake-it-til-you-make-it scenario in order to stay positive while barreling past my insecurities or life’s obstacles. Failure isn’t an option, no matter how many years it takes to cross the finish line; Straight up delusion!

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m a musician, a videographer, a graphic designer, a promoter, an event organizer, a ring-leader, an encourager, a motivator, a mover, a shaker, a son, a brother, a cousin, a lover. I don’t stop. I create day in and day out. I’m in several bands, where I not only play some combination of drums, bass, or vocals – but I also create all posters, album art, and music videos alongside my crew. I’ve been a DIY enthusiast since high school. I love the ability to create things start to finish, soup to nuts. I show up and I show out. I try to spread the wealth and offer olive branches to the underdogs whenever I can – but I’m also in it to win it. Everything is a competition if you’re goal is to be the best at what you do. Even when working a desk job 40 hours per week, I easily spend an additional 40+ on my craft/passion. There is no rest for the wicked. My music is all-consuming. Creating is the at the forefront of my mind no matter what I’m doing. When I go dead behind the eyes mid-conversation? It’s because inspiration just stuck! It’s a blessing and an illness, one I don’t care to find the cure for. I’ll sleep when I’m dead, and I’ll be content when everyone I introduce myself to already knew my name. I hear things that aren’t there yet. I see things that aren’t there yet. I can reach out into the ether and pull back a fully realized creation. I’m in over my head and don’t plan on coming up for air until my gang is a household name. Join our cult!

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

1. JUST KEEP PUSHING! I’ve been regurgitating this since high school and I’m not 36 years old. No one ever succeeded by giving up when it got tough. Receiving a “no” isn’t final, it’s just a speed bump. If someone doesn’t see the vision, it’s on you to serve it up for them to hear it different. The most financially successful people in their arenas biggest asset was ignoring rejection and persevering regardless.

2. PRIVATE-PRACTICE MAKES PUBLIC-PERFECT! Never let them catch you slipping. Hone your skills behind closed doors for as long as you can. I’m not saying to pretend to be flawless. You can be forthright and transparent with your downfalls, just don’t allow people outside of your inner circle to witness those shortcomings firsthand. No one is without flaw or limitations, but waiting to present anything publicly until you feel your best is essential for selling the dream.

3. YES, AND! Improv 101 dictates that the only way to play the game is to embellish on what your scene partner presented you. Life hands you lemons, you make lemonade. You failed at the thing you were aiming for? YES, AND – you’ll be better prepared for you next opportunity. The promotion you went up for went elsewhere? YES, AND – now you’ll make sure they regret that decision by thriving inside of the limitations they boxed you inside of. “NO” only applies when you’re burning a bridge and closing a chapter.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

I breathe! I count down from 1,000. I call my inner circle to vent, and then to ask for advice. I have a handful of low-stakes games or tasks that I fiddle with that don’t require much brain power, this way I can problem-solve and fester in thought while occupying my hands or feet. I don’t nap. I don’t check-out. I write to-do lists with pen on paper every day. I add a handful of tasks I already completed to that list as well, this way if I don’t tackle as much as I’d hoped to – I’m still feeling like I accomplished something for the day. I’m mostly delusional. I have a fake-it-til-you-make-it approach to anything I set my sights on. If failure was an option, then why try at all? I treat everyday like its my final day of struggle, as if success is imminent tomorrow morning! I try to get all of my ducks in a row before I let my head hit the pillow. I’m not here for a long time, I’m here for a good time. My musical discography and visual portfolio will be my legacy as much as it’s my résumé. No one will ever be able to say I didn’t give everything my all.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @biffswenson
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/biffswenson/
• Twitter: @biffswenson
• Other: Grasser: @grasserband
  Yawn Mower: @yawn_mower
  Dana Why: @dana.why
  Bristler: @bristlertheband
  Prop House: @prophousenj
  Earth Telephone: @earthtelephone
  Quiltary: @quiltary
  Scumming: @scummingband

Image Credits

All white background photo: Dana Yurcisin.

Flamingo light, Open door, Candle on table, and holding records photos: Melissa McLaughlin

Fisheye photo: Matt Pasquarello