Meet Brian Quirk

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Brian Quirk a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Brian, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
Life has so many bummers in it and I just simply don’t like being a part of that. I don’t think it’s possible to be entirely optimistic all the time, but I would so much rather lead someone to a smile or a laugh and take them away from the negativity that already exists in their lives than contribute to the ever growing piles of unpleasantries we all already have. It really is crazy to me how one person’s energy can shift the entire mood of a room based on how they interact and carry themselves. I’ve always had a passion for seeing other people happy and I think so much stupid nonsense already happens to all of us on a regular basis that it’s nice to have a little break every once in a while. Things get so serious so quick that it’s nice to not take them so seriously sometimes. I like to be that little break for someone when I can.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I work on oodles of different music projects and constantly create things I think will make people laugh or smile. I make songs for my solo project under my own name (Brian Quirk) and I also play bass and sing in my band My Cousin’s Girlfriend’s House. We are constantly writing and performing songs when we’re not cooped up in the basement making demos. A lot of what I do also involves having a solid social media presence and consistently entertaining those around me, good thing I love doin that 🙂

I think playing music is so electric (figuratively and literally) because nothing makes me more excited that seeing someone inspired by me doing what I love. The long drives, gas station food, less than ideal sleeping conditions, and gallons of sweat are all worth it to hear that somebody resonated with a lyric you wrote or were filled with a burst of adrenaline from watching you jump around all night. We are quickly approaching the dates for a few new songs we are releasing (New single July 12th!) and the rush of having to get everything in order is so exciting. Work isn’t work and burnout isn’t burnout when you have fun doing it. Get me another cold brew and get me back in there. Coolest occupation in the world.

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?
Oh man, just 3?? Well, I think the most important skill in any avenue is the skill of making friends. My Nan always raised me to go out of my way to socialize with everyone I meet. Even if it’s a brief interaction, everyone has unique experiences, knowledge, and charm that you will know nothing about if you don’t get to know them. The same goes for you! The people around you will never know about everything you have to offer if you don’t give them the opportunity. Which leads to my next skill, taking risks. There are definitely risks of all shapes and sizes, but if we don’t dip our toes in the water and seize opportunities sometimes, we will never grow. Even if it’s just being “that guy” who starts a conversation with someone you’ve never met, you will never know what’s on the other side of that door if you don’t open it. Thirdly on an ironic note I would say brevity is a great skill. If you can’t tell I am a huge rambler and I think there is tons of merit in being able to say what you mean in a clear and contrite way. This is obviously one I’m still working on, but hey, nobody’s perfect!

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
I’m sure I’m not alone in this one, but I am always my biggest critic. It’s so easy to overanalyze something you have created or worked on and assume that it’s not “good enough” because it may have taken you longer than you thought or not turned out quite as polished and perfect as you expected. It’s okay to ask people for help, it’s okay to not know how something you’re passionate about is going to play out for you. The more we break through those fears, the less we give them the time of day in the future. As much as I preach about it, my hands are certainly not clean in the “feeling less than” department. But I do think that is one of the most beautiful things about art, it’s all relative. A song that’s mediocre and not good enough to you could be exactly what someone else was looking for to comfort them in a difficult time or speak perfectly to their current life situation. You truly never know how someone will perceive your work, and I think solving that mystery makes pushing through our fears and doubts so worth it.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Photos 1-5 & 7 credits Credits: Kaddy McAuliffe (@rebellious1_photo) Photo 6 credits: Brandon Richie (@brandonrichiepa)

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Resilience
Where do you get your resilience from?

Resilience is often the x-factor that differentiates between mild and wild success. The stories of

Productivity
Beating Burnout

Often the key to having massive impact is the ability to keep going when others

Leadership Development
Finding Your Why

Not knowing why you are going wherever it is that you are going sounds silly,