Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Heather Rae. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Heather with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
A lot of my work ethic comes from my family. My great-grandmother moved from Norway and homesteaded on a piece of land when she was just 17. She survived an entire North Dakota winter with her only family, a brother, living over 2 miles away. My parents are both hard workers too, so I witnessed it first hand growing up.
I also grew up figure skating and being an athlete really teaches a person discipline. Every day, even when I didn’t feel like it, I still had to practice. I apply many of the techniques I learned as a skater to my music career today.
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 am a singer/songwriter and I have a brand new single that will be released on August 4, 2023! The song is called “Dumpster Fire” and it’s about learning to let someone you love help you through hard times.
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?
First is consistency. For a year, I practiced either my guitar or piano for 15 minutes everyday and I couldn’t believe how much I improved by the end of the year. This year, I’m writing music for at least 15 minutes everyday and I’ve written more music in the past 6 months than I have in my entire life. It’s the consistent, daily steps that make the biggest impact.
Second is a willingness to learn new tasks. Sometimes learning something new feels like the hardest thing in the world, but I’ve never regretted learning a new skill. (It also makes you a more valuable hire!)
Third, focus on what you can control and let everything else go. You can prepare, you can work hard but you can’t make someone like/hire you. If a door is shut, realize that there’s something else better down the road and keep focused on what you’re doing.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
Two of my favorite books have been “The Artist Way” by Julia Cameron and “Bird by Bird” by Anne Lamott. “The Artist Way” really taught me to slow down and be more gentle with myself. “Bird by Bird” encourages you to write badly first, so it can become something great later. Good things take time!
Contact Info:
- Website: http://heatherraemusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heatherraeofficial/
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/heatherraeofficial
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@heatherraeofficial
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@heatherraeofficial
Image Credits
Sammy Hearn