Just Be Yourself — Here’s Why

Hi! My name is Rachel Hurley, and I am a 30-year veteran of the music business. I currently own a boutique music publicity firm, Sweetheart Pub, where I work with up-and-coming Americana, Folk, and Country artists. For more info about me and what I do, please visit http://sweetheartpr.com.

I was recently reminded of this lecture given by Charlie Kaufman that includes some of the best advice on being an artist I’ve ever heard.

You can watch the video to get the full effect, but I have transcribed the critical parts for you below.

Say who you are. Really say it, in your life and in your work. Tell someone out there, who is lost, someone not yet born, someone who won’t be born for 500 years. Your writing will be a record of your time. It can’t help but be. But more importantly, if you’re honest about who you are, you’ll help that person be less lonely in their world, because that person will recognize him or herself in you.

And that will give them hope. And it’s done so for me and I have to keep rediscovering it. It’s profound importance in my life.

Give that to the world rather than selling something to the world.

Don’t allow yourself to be tricked into thinking that the way things are is the way the world must work. And that in the end selling is what everyone must do. Try not to.