Author: Zents Music Studio

I am a music instructor/radio DJ/singer-songwriter and book author who enjoys speculating on the future. When I was a child I used to walk around with a little microphone. It was square. It was not operative, but in my mind I used it as a walkie talkie to talk to myself. I turned out to be a radio broadcaster. I do like to observe the world and come up with opinions about where it is heading.

You need yourself to lead yourself

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How do we present ourselves? I saw a very cute saying, “Your vibe attracts your tribe.” The things that we value, and the things we remember, are things that are important to us and our way of life. They are often the things we are attracted to, or are drawn to, and respect.
Notwithstanding, there are those who track everything we are interested in. They’re trying to market to us. And again, others try to influence us with their opinions. However, not every idea suits every person. We can filter ideas.
How do we sift through all the muck and mire to get some benefit from the Internet? We need ourselves to lead ourselves. Plan your work, and work your plan. Don’t get sidetracked if you can. Find the best and forget the rest.
These may all sound like cliches. Still it’s good advice if we don’t want to wind up lost in a vast wasteland of clicks and distractions that suck up our time and rob us of our focus.
Decide what’s most important. Seeing it in this light, you can use your focused and purposeful vibe to attract your focused and purposeful tribe.
Have at it and lead yourself to success!

Musically yours, Amy Zents

The Beer Revolution

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I went to a beer tasting class this weekend. I learned a lot about beer making and it’s primary ingredients water, barley, hops and yeast. A good beer is made up of a few simple components, and a bunch of scientific processes. The cult of craft beers has taken beer-making into another realm.
I found out that in our town, there will soon be a new tap room that only serves sour beer. Sour beer is a cross between champagne, wine and beer. In pushing the boundaries of beer, the beer-makers use fresh fruits such as, lemons, apricots, gooseberries, raspberries and other fruits to make a variety of this puckery, bubbly concoction.
We think of the future of beer-making and we ask ourselves how can they improve on beer? Just pass one over here. Whether or not you like sour beer, lager or good old-fashioned ale, the beer revolution is on. In the science of beer-making the brewmaster is a scientist and an artist. Both roles are valuable to him. When it comes to yeast culture in the beer, the brewmaster can be happy to exclaim: “It’s Alive!”

Musically yours, Amy Zents

A drone in every home

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Drones have been in the news a lot lately. And if not totally silent, they are pretty quiet, unlike human drones who natter on endlessly. Another use of robotic power? Definitely! Another definition of a drone is: unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or when armed known as an unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV)

Mostly, a form of amusement, novelty, and functionality. But seriously, it can be considered a weapon as well, and there are many out there who would like to stop them. Outside of probable nefarious uses, drones are often used in gaming, and in agriculture. Drones can deliver goods and go where humans fear to tread. There will probably be more fancy drones created in the future that will do things on a level we currently are dreaming up. And soon, there will be a drone in every home.
My! Oh my! The places drones can go.

Musically yours, Amy Zents

Future communities

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Your tribe is out there

So are you afraid of the future?
Some prognosticators imagine that in about 75 years all drudge work will be automated. Already, a lot of jobs have been lost to computers, automation and oblivion. So if you hate your job, wherever you are on the totem pole, there’s a big chance your job will be taken over or eradicated, eventually. It will most likely be taken over by a robot. Robots have a lot of assets we humans do not. We are building smarter robots, and we are relying on them more and more.
However, the Internet has created a bridge that is conducive to human connection, communication and creativity. When you go online you are able to address a much bigger audience then at the local town hall. Are you on the edge of society? Is there a niche you are drawn to? Whether you love cribbage, history or physics, know there is a tribe just for you. It is possible that your online community will help you embrace the future and earn your keep. Seek and you shall find. Your community is out there.

Musically yours, Amy Zents

Happy hour every hour

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We all love happy hour. Traditionally known as “beer-thirty,” and immortalized in that country song, “It’s five o’clock somewhere.”
To make happy hour every hour of the day and night, it doesn’t take large volumes of alcohol, and delicious, crispy deep-fried munchies.
With judicious planning, every hour of your day and night can be happy hour. It all boils down to your self-direction and follow-through.
Try this little experiment. Get up in the morning, and make a note to yourself as to what you would like to do for the next 12 hours. In other words, lead yourself first. Keep your heart happy by focusing on each task you have to do or just want to do. (Keep your list near.) Throughout the day, imagine how good you will feel when you have reached your target or your intention. Take a little time out here and there to enjoy good food and drink, and revel in your innate power. You can do it! Go for it and make every hour, your happy hour..

Musically yours, Amy Zents

The future of feedback

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If the glass is half empty or half full you should be able to say it without signing your name to it

Sometimes it hurts you to be criticized and sometimes it helps. But more often it is the critic who gets punished. People don’t like you when you speak the truth. In the future, I think people will be able to express their opinion in a way that is helpful without compromising their personal security. I found in smaller cities and towns you cannot write an editorial to be published in a newspaper without revealing your name. If your identity has to be put on the line, how can you express the truth? Granted some people have less than noble motives for criticizing the system or others, but nevertheless, I don’t think a person who puts forth an idea or a valid argument should be punished for it or have to reveal their name.

Musically yours, Amy Zents

Be there or be square

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I recently saw a so-called motivational speaker pretending to be interested in what she was talking about. Many of the attendees were not very interested in what she was saying.
Never forget that perception is everything. People are very intuitive. Often times they will not critique anybody outright in their community or even in their world, in order not to hurt other people’s feelings. But, even without filling out a review card, the truth will out. You can tell when someone is just going through the motions. Well it’s okay for a factory worker or even a bus driver or a waitress to just have at it when it comes to leader and/or teacher, it is very frustrating for the audience. Whenever you encounter that, it’s good to remind yourself that when it’s your turn to present you should try to be present, alert, and whatever you do, try not to bore your audience! One way to bore the audience is to pretend to enjoy what you’re doing when you really would rather be somewhere else. Perhaps it’s time to hang up your career and do something you love. Or it’s time to get less mercenary, and resurrect the passion you had at the beginning by taking some time out to examine your motivation. Or else, maybe you need a good night’s sleep. Believe it or not, we can tell when you’re with it and when you’re not.
Giving feedback is not easy either. Do you want to be hated? Most of us keep our critiques to ourselves. The truth hurts and no one wants to be harbinger of bad news. I predict in the future there will be ways to get instantaneous feedback that is private and does not hurt the audience who can sense the truth.
It’s easy to become a victim by yelping. That’s why so many of us keep our mouths shut.

Musically yours, Amy Zents

Once every 4 years

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The dog can’t fiddle so he sleeps instead.

Procrastination is pandemic. We tend to put things off that we find hard to get started, or things that we dislike. A little snowball turns into an avalanche. For want of a nail the horse was lost. Little things mean a lot. Don’t put your future on the back burner.

If we can jump like the frog-hopper, that’s a great big leap for humankind!

Hop to it now and happy leap year!

Musically yours, Amy Zents

There are educators everywhere

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You have to jump puddles at your own speed

I wasn’t going to blog on Saturdays, but since I have time today I will. Today I was thinking about simplicity in education. So much of knowledge is free for you in our time. You don’t have to buy any books or any informational secrets. There are no secrets. It’s all out there for you. And it’s free. I predict in the future, all book-based education will be free, and all skills-based education will be as it was in the past, based on apprenticeship, counsels, guilds, or networks. I believe professional organizations will definitely continue to exist.
Show me, tell me, let me learn. Academic learning has it’s place, but I do not believe that it is the highest form of learning for every field. The Ivy Leaguers admit that their tuition is higher, but that is no guarantee of any future prosperity or occupational success. What it takes is up to the individual. Once you get into your profession, you are responsible only for yourself, and whether you rise or fall will be based on your capabilities of listening, understanding, and performing to the best of your ability. “Follow your heart,” means you need to get a good education that is applicable to what you aspire to, and then trust your gut. You will be taught well: either by someone else, a book, or yourself!

Musically yours, Amy Zents

Menu Please

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Sometime in the future I predict we will be able to call a Medical Center and ask for a medical procedure without having to go through a receptionist. Perhaps we could push a button to make an appointment. Perhaps such a thing already exists and I have no clue about it. I recently found out our Medical Center is offering Botox injections. I decided to call and make an appointment for a consultation. My reception was met with confusion. I had to repeat 3 times the nature of my call. It made me feel very shameful and embarrassed to have to explain over and over again what I wanted. I raised my voice, and lowered my tone: “Botox,” I said, again. Finally, they told me they needed to talk to the nurse and they would have to call me back. I felt an ache in the pit of my stomach. I would have preferred to deal with an impersonal menu button. It got me thinking about other people who need to call about medical appointments. Does the receptionist need to know all the details of your visit? A nurse finally called me back. She told me they will not be getting started with the Botox until March. They said the scheduler will call me back in order to put me on the list. Someone just called me and said they were only just informed about this new service and they are still awaiting approval on it. I will go in Monday at 830am for a consultation. I went to a hair salon to have my hair done and spoke to the hairstylist about it yesterday. She said I didn’t look as if I needed Botox. Bless her lovely heart.