Rick Rubin ON: Why Unconventional Methods Lead to Success & The Secret to Genuinely Love What You Do
Jun 5, 2023
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Rick Rubin, a nine-time Grammy-winning music producer known for his minimalist style, shares fascinating insights on creativity and success. He emphasizes the power of curiosity and authenticity in pursuing one's dreams. The conversation covers overcoming societal pressures, the importance of self-care, and how audience dynamics influence artistic expression. Rubin also delves into the transformative nature of meditation and encourages embracing vulnerability as a means to deepen personal growth and connection with others.
Being true to oneself and not worrying about others' opinions is key to unleashing creativity.
Changing the context, environment, or point of view can unlock new creativity.
Having a supportive community and sharing work with others can help foster creativity.
Embracing distraction in the form of a different activity or environment can sometimes lead to breakthroughs.
Deep dives
Creativity and Authenticity
Creativity is accessible to everyone and is not limited to traditional forms of art. Being true to oneself and not worrying about others' opinions is key to unleashing creativity.
Changing Perspectives
Changing the context, environment, or point of view can unlock new creativity. For example, a song can take on a different meaning when sung to a different person or imagining a different backstory. Changing the environment, such as playing in the dark or trying unconventional recording techniques, can also spark new creative possibilities.
The Power of Community and Feedback
Having a supportive community and sharing work with others can help foster creativity. Feedback should be taken with a grain of salt, as it reflects the perspective of the giver and not necessarily the true value of the work.
Overcoming Procrastination and Distraction
Procrastination and distraction can hinder creativity. Embracing distraction in the form of a different activity or environment can sometimes lead to breakthroughs. Procrastination, on the other hand, can be a roadblock that stifles creative progress. Healthy habits, like changing work environments and setting specific goals, can help overcome procrastination.
Importance of Listening to Your Intuition
Rick Rubin emphasizes the importance of listening to our inner voice and following our intuition. He believes that we should trust ourselves and not rely too heavily on the opinions or advice of others. Through tuning into our own internal guidance, we can make decisions that align with our true desires and values.
The Power of Observing Dreams
Rick Rubin encourages journaling about dreams and paying attention to the messages and symbolism within them. He highlights that dreams can offer insights and wisdom from our subconscious mind. By writing down our dreams and reflecting on them, we can potentially uncover patterns, themes, and hidden meanings that can shed light on our thoughts, emotions, and life experiences.
Embracing Uncertainty and Openness
Rick Rubin emphasizes the importance of maintaining a humble and open mindset. He advises against seeking absolute certainty or holding rigid beliefs, as true wisdom comes from recognizing that we don't have all the answers. By embracing uncertainty and being open to different perspectives, we can continue learning, growing, and making authentic creative choices.
Following Your passion without Compromising Stability
Rick Rubin shares the importance of pursuing our passions while ensuring that we can support ourselves financially. He suggests that having stability in our lives allows us to freely explore and express our creativity without the pressure of monetizing our passion immediately. By finding a balance between pursuing what we love and meeting our practical needs, we can create a fulfilling and sustainable creative journey.
Today, I sit down with Rick Rubin to talk about living a life of creativity. Rick shares his insights on why curiosity is a powerful tool when it comes to achieving dreams and finding success, the influence our attitude has towards the things that we do and the people we surround ourselves with, and how to stay focused on your goals and not get distracted by negativity and lack of support.
Rick Rubin is an influential music producer and record executive known for his work with artists across various genres. Co-founding Def Jam Recordings, he played a vital role in shaping hip-hop music and produced albums for iconic acts such as LL Cool J and the Beastie Boys. Rubin's production style combines rock and hip-hop elements, and he has collaborated with diverse artists like Johnny Cash, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Kanye West. His minimalist approach and emphasis on capturing raw performances have earned him numerous accolades and established him as a highly sought-after producer in the industry.
You can order my new book 8 RULES OF LOVE at 8rulesoflove.com or at a retail store near you. You can also get the chance to see me live on my first ever world tour. This is a 90 minute interactive show where I will take you on a journey of finding, keeping and even letting go of love. Head to jayshettytour.comand find out if I'll be in a city near you. Thank you so much for all your support - I hope to see you soon.
What We Discuss:
00:00 Intro
00:22 At the core of it, who do you see yourself? Who are you trying to create?
02:42 Why are we addicted to becoming accepted?
07:38 How did curiosity develop for you and how did it start?
10:41 Habit is something you get better at the more you practice
11:43 Some are fearless in life, and there are some who are fearless when it comes to art
13:11 Commitments in life differ from the commitments you make in art
15:24 How does our attitude change things around us?
17:59 We all have a creative decision and it what makes a difference in our daily activities
19:49 What have been the biggest blocks in creativity?
24:05 Is creativity stifled and why does it matter?
27:19 We all have a story and we all can learn from each other
30:19 There are several ways to sing your life song
32:29 Why can't I be creative? What can I do to get better?
34:36 How do you stay confident in a competitive space and share your work openly?
38:21 How do famous people deal with criticism and stay unaffected?
43:30 How can you differentiate procrastination from distraction?
50:24 How do you submerge yourself in your craft?
52:35 Listening to monks can significantly change your life
56:36 Understanding the power of meditation and how to practice it
59:29 What is the biggest challenge in your life and what did you do about it?
01:05:31 What is the best way to inspire someone when most people don’t like being told what to do?
01:07:45 What is your purpose in life?
01:10:06 Why do we often feel unworthy of happiness and love?
01:11:21 How does first success feel? Did it make you happy?
01:15:50 What’s the best moment you’ve celebrated over success?
01:20:56 This is how you can preserve a good dream
01:24:56 We can’t predict an outcome so choose to do what’s interesting for you
01:29:41 When you receive an advice, listen to your own intuition
