Meet Derek Flores

We were lucky to catch up with Derek Flores recently and have shared our conversation below.

Derek , we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

My mom – easily. I was very lucky to come from a very strong woman. We fight a lot and rarely agree, but seeing her work and how she navigates life and STILL raising me and my siblings (despite our age) makes me feel like I can overcome any obstacle thrown my way. When I face something that feels like the end of the world, her first response is usually “Okay, well keep going.” I love you, mom.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m a musician and singer, songwriter. I write my own music, but am always up for playing instruments to back up other artists. I’ve been told it has given me an industry identity crisis, but I love what I do.

Whether it’s backing up someone else or taking center stage, I just love performing.

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?

Taking criticism – always take criticism. I feel like you know when criticism is valid. Yes, there will be people with their opinions on how to do it, but you’ll always know what works for you.

Be easy to work with – Something I pride myself on is, when I come on to play for someone, my mindset is “How do they want it done?” I’m never too stuck in my ways to think my way is better than someone else’s.

Love of the game – all the advice in the world means nothing if you don’t love what you do. I don’t care for fame or having fans. I just love music and playing it.

If you love what you do, success will come.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

When I was a kid, my parents told me they didn’t want to buy me a guitar because I made a habit of picking things up and then abandoning them. They took a shot, bought me a guitar, and supported all my decisions along the way out of the blind trust it would be the ONE thing I wouldn’t quit.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://Instagram.com/_DerekFlores
• Facebook: https://Facebook.com/Derekfloresofficial