We recently connected with Coby Conrad and have shared our conversation below.
Coby, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
If I am being honest, I have not overcome imposter syndrome. Although I have learned how to live with it and move past it in certain ways. I feel that imposter syndrome is something that does not really just “go away” with a certain quality or habit, but then again maybe I just have not found it yet. It has been something that I have dealt with my entire life and not just through music and art. Imposter syndrome can effect all aspects of your life, but the key to living with it is having a great support system around you and being stubborn enough to keep pushing forward no matter what your mind is telling you. It is very easy to lose perspective on your own abilities so having people around you that can help bring you back to earth is priceless. Especially when those people around you are people that you trust and respect.
At the end of the day, even though I constantly have negative thoughts about the work I do, it does not stop me from making the next thing. Because that is just how life is when you are a creative person, it is not something you just choose to do because you believe you are good at it. It is something that you have to do because ideas are always going to spill out of you.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am in a band called HeadFirst. We are a Grunge/Alternative Rock band hailing from Boston, MA. We’ve been playing the Boston scene for around three years now and are getting ready to take the group to the next level with some new music!
We have been working non-stop on our 2nd album which has the running title “Modern Role Models.” We spent most of the month of January recording at Q Division Studios alongside our producer bringing the new music to life to a level far more professional than we ever have before. Even though we are not done recording yet, the results so far have been incredible! There has been so much love and care put into these songs that give them such a fresh feeling. We are so excited for people to hear what we have been working towards for the past year and a half!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Some qualities that I think were integral to getting where I am now is consistency, loyalty, and openness. When working towards any goal or dream being consistent is the number one factor that gets you closer to where you want to be. There are always going to be days where you feel discouraged, uncreative, or anything of the sort, but as long as you are doing something every day that will help you get closer that is all that matters.
I also believe that if it wasn’t for my loyalty I would not be in the position I am in today. I am the type of person that finds something they love and sticks with it for the long term. Even when there are problems I never forget the reason why I started in the first place. There are very few problems in the world that cannot be worked out and I strongly believe that growing something consistently is far more rewarding that finding fulfillment in many matters that you cannot fully put yourself into. I would always rather stick around and water the plants I have rather than go buy ones that are already grown.
Lastly openness is key when doing any creative endeavor. You always must be willing to try new ideas. Even if you are skeptical about them at the beginning, it cannot hurt to try things out and see how it feels when it is fully realized. Especially when you are in a band, making sure that everyone’s ideas are heard and given a chance is so important. It shows that you trust and respect that person’s opinions and also opens your mind up to new ideas you would have never thought possible. I am so lucky to have that type of relationship with my bandmates. That is what allows us to grow as people and musicians.
My advice for anyone who is just starting out their journey, is to just stick with it. Dream big and do a little bit of what you want to do everyday. As long as you keep some of these principles in mind you will eventually find success in your own way.
Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?
Over the past year my ability to see the things I have going for me and appreciate the beautiful people around me has grown significantly. I don’t think this was a weakness that I had previously, but rather just something that has continued to grow. Being able to take a step back when I am feeling overwhelmed and just appreciating that I am lucky enough to make music that I love with my best friends is priceless. And having the capability to pour everything you have into something is really an amazing thing. When you can really start being grateful in the moment rather than retrospectively, it transforms what you do and strengthens your connection to that thing. It becomes a part of you rather than just being something that you do. It begins to take on it’s own identity within you.
Contact Info:
- Website: weareheadfirst.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weareheadfirst/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551046199680
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDf7u3BAQX0JMftOwiKf7dw
