Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kara Brusven. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Kara, so happy to have you with us today and there is so much we want to ask you about. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others developed certain skills or qualities that we are struggling with can be helpful. Along those lines, we’d love to hear from you about how you developed your ability to take risk?
I believe that taking calculated and intentional risks is an essential part of the learning process, both in life and music. However, when people think about “risk,” they usually dream of a wild experience like moving across the country, jumping out of an airplane, etc. When, in reality, risk is simply an opportunity to try something new that pushes you beyond your comfort zone. With this in mind, the best way to develop your ability to take risks is to start small and adjust how you define the term itself. Start by asking those questions sitting in your mind after class, trying out some new food at your favorite restaurant, etc. If it pushes you out of your comfort zone in a healthy way, that means there is a level of risk that has value to you individually. Additionally, you need to become very comfortable with failure and train your mind to see failure as a starting point to pivot from instead of a dead end. Lastly, make sure the risk you are taking has a meaningful goal attached to it. Mindlessly trying random things, without any sense of purpose or direction, is foolish and basically the same thing as trying to hit a moving target while blindfolded. A lack of purpose behind choices is where many people get stuck and waste a lot of time, money, and energy. As long as you keep these main points in mind, risk-taking can be an incredibly rewarding experience that has changed the trajectory of my life countless times.
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?
As a multi-genre guitarist, I have gained over ten years of musical experience in both the recording studio and on stage. I have also expanded my work as a producer, composer, arranger, teacher, singer, and multi-instrumentalist. In general, I am the type of musician who thrives in diversity, consistent challenges, and work that is deeply meaningful. Whether I am performing with a band, tracking parts for a music release, teaching a student, or producing an album; I always love bringing out the best in those around me while creating content that listeners can deeply connect with. Moving forward, I am excited to continue gigging in Miami in a variety of genres, traveling a bit for some upcoming projects, mixing and mastering my upcoming album, and working on various recording and performance projects with other musicians from around the country.
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?
Three key habits that have consistently helped me are goal-setting, time management, and establishing healthy boundaries.
First, setting clear goals and plans behind your actions allows for better boundaries, effective energy and time management, and the ability to prioritize what matters to you instead of what is expected of you. Goals may evolve over time and can sometimes be vague starting out, but maintaining a general trajectory will help guide decision-making.
Second, time management, along with being fully present, is vital for producing high-quality work efficiently, preventing burnout, achieving work-life balance, and combating overthinking. Utilizing timers and techniques like the Pomodoro technique can be helpful in maintaining focus, taking breaks, and improving overall productivity.
Third, establishing boundaries in communication, time allocation, and energy management is crucial. Boundaries should not be seen as barriers in relationships but as a means to foster healthier connections, honor self-worth, and prevent mistreatment. Also, broken boundaries are not a sign that your boundaries are invalid. When boundaries are consistently disrespected, it often indicates underlying issues such as communication problems, conflicting values, or emotional unhealthiness. This information clarifies your response to others’ behavior, rather than simply expecting them to change, by guiding you in adjusting the level of access an individual has to you both personally and professionally.
Overall, it is important to note that my methods for reinforcing these habits are subjective and may not apply universally, so feel free to experiment and find what works best for you! Also, be open to your methods changing as you mature, and never expect absolute perfection from yourself. It takes time to build healthy habits, so be patient with yourself and enjoy the journey!
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
I think a common challenge many musicians are dealing with in the music industry is how to ensure their time, abilities, and energy are being respected financially and professionally. Creativity is a driving force behind every musician; it is essential in this industry, but it can be difficult to act on inspiration when we are always advocating for the basic right to be treated with respect and value as professionals. The lack of regulation for a minimum income, as well as education that can keep pace with current trends, has been a disservice to artists for years. Although any creative pursuit can be utilized as a hobby, it takes a high level of ability, dedication, and entrepreneurship to make a career out of your chosen art form. This is often unseen and under-appreciated by the general public.
These issues are just the tip of the iceberg, and no individual artist can claim to have all of the answers. However, I think a valuable first step is to draw attention to these problems and create spaces where we can proactively discuss solutions. It is essential that artists know their worth, set and maintain boundaries, and also continue to educate themselves regarding both music and business. Although musical ability is important, you can no longer assume that excellence musically, without any knowledge of business or entrepreneurship, will automatically translate to success professionally. As artists diversify their skillsets and continue to maintain healthy boundaries with clients, I hope to see the minimum standard raised over time and more regulation within the industry. We cannot expect to be treated with respect professionally, during a time where the independent artist arguably has the greatest professional autonomy in history, if we cannot even respect our own time, energy, and creative capability at the individual level.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://karabrusven.com/home
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karabrusven/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraBrusven/
- Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/kara-brusven
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrusvenKara
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KaraBrusvenGuitarPianoVocal
- Other: https://linqapp.com/kara_brusven
Image Credits
Photographers: Tyden Rickard, Janelle Finton, Yilong Zhang, Ed Talavera Editor: Kala Wallace
