Pragmatic Creative Output Yields Accomplishment Despite Unmet Goals

The Motern Media Infomercial Podcast · · Listen to Original Episode →
Original Title: Surrender!
Pragmatic Creative Output Yields Accomplishment Despite Unmet Goals - Episode Image

TL;DR

  • Completing 10 out of 12 monthly releases, despite creative bankruptcy, fulfills an enormous goal, yielding a sense of relief and accomplishment.
  • Setting numerous deadlines and goals throughout the year, rather than passively experiencing time, prevents the feeling that time is passing too quickly.
  • Booking smaller, more appropriately sized rooms for performances, rather than large ones, prevents the negative perception of empty space and shows respect for the audience.
  • The decision to "cut losses" on the final two monthly releases, rather than forcing subpar content, demonstrates a pragmatic approach to creative output.
  • Collaborating with other musicians, like Pete and Tom, who contribute lyrics or solos, allows for musical directions and outcomes that would not otherwise be explored.
  • The practice of "just listing friends" in songs, rather than merely listing names, opens up narrative possibilities and potential for future conceptual projects.
  • The creative freedom to "write a thought just to immediately invent a mythology" allows for evocative lyrical imagery and listener interpretation.

Deep Dive

Matt Farley, the host of the Motern Media Infomercial Podcast, has concluded his year-long project of releasing 12 monthly "No Jokes" musical collections, having ultimately decided to scrap the final two intended releases for November and December. Despite not meeting his initial goal of 12 releases, he expresses relief and satisfaction with completing ten, viewing this as a significant accomplishment that yielded some of his best work. This creative endeavor has led to a substantial body of new music, with a curated playlist of 13 songs available on Spotify, showcasing the breadth and quality of his output over the past year.

The core of Farley's recent creative output has been driven by a commitment to setting ambitious goals, even if not all are fully realized. This approach is demonstrated by the "No Jokes" project, where the intention was to produce a song a month, leading to the creation of 98 songs in total. While he acknowledges the effort involved, the ultimate value lies in the refined selection of 13 tracks that represent the project's high points. This process involved significant collaboration, with Farley working with multiple artists like Pete, Tom, Scalzo, and Froggy, each contributing to the songwriting and production. The collaborative nature of the music creation is a recurring theme, with Farley often sending musical ideas or partial lyrics to collaborators and then incorporating their contributions, sometimes with his own adjustments. He emphasizes that even though he may make final decisions on song arrangements or lyrical choices, the collaborative process itself is immensely valuable, pushing his creative boundaries and leading to unexpected yet positive outcomes. The release of a curated playlist of the best songs is a strategic move to consolidate his prolific output for listeners who may not have followed every monthly release, offering a more accessible entry point to his recent work. Furthermore, Farley is actively promoting live performances, including a tour with Froggy in December, highlighting his ongoing efforts to connect with his audience and promote his music through various channels, from live shows to his personal phone number for fan engagement.

The overarching takeaway is that consistent, ambitious creative output, even when it doesn't meet every self-imposed deadline or goal, yields significant artistic results. Farley's experience suggests that the journey of consistent creation, collaboration, and refinement is more important than the perfect execution of every single output. The decision to "cut losses" on the final two planned releases, while still celebrating the success of the ten completed, reflects a pragmatic approach to managing creative energy and audience expectations. The emphasis on a curated playlist and live performances suggests a strategy to maximize the impact of his prolific songwriting, ensuring that the best of his recent work reaches and resonates with his audience.

Action Items

  • Draft a system for tracking creative output, defining 3 key metrics (e.g., song count, release frequency, collaboration rate) to measure project sustainability.
  • Create a feedback loop for creative projects, soliciting input from 5-10 trusted collaborators to identify potential burnout triggers early.
  • Analyze 3-5 past projects for common themes or patterns that led to creative exhaustion, documenting findings for future reference.
  • Implement a structured approach to goal setting, aiming for 75% completion of ambitious creative targets to ensure consistent progress.
  • Develop a template for post-project debriefs, covering 4 areas (e.g., successes, challenges, lessons learned, future improvements) to capture insights.

Related Episodes

Key Quotes

"i aim to do 12 no jokes releases in 2025 -- ten out of 12 ain't bad so and oh it feels so good this morning upon waking up i i've been thinking about it but i ultimately resolved to do it this morning and it was such a relief um so i'm done i'm done with that project and it is so great and you're welcome for it folks"

Matt Farley explains his decision to cut short his "No Jokes" project, aiming for 12 releases but settling for 10. Farley expresses relief and satisfaction with this outcome, framing it as a success despite not completing the full goal. This demonstrates a pragmatic approach to creative output, prioritizing completion and satisfaction over absolute adherence to an initial target.

"i really don't i think it goes right right it goes right on time it's quite predictable time the passage of time quite predictable says matt farley"

Matt Farley challenges the common sentiment that time flies by. Farley argues that by setting numerous deadlines and engaging in diverse activities throughout the year, the perception of time passing too quickly is mitigated. He asserts that the passage of time is quite predictable, a perspective he holds firmly.

"amazing anyone out there planning to host a thing get a small room get a small room don't be don't be like me planning to respectable crowds and that look is disrespectful because of all the empty all the negative space negative space is bad so book a small room"

Matt Farley offers practical advice for event organizers based on his experience performing in a large venue with a small audience. Farley suggests booking smaller rooms to create a more intimate and impactful experience, as negative space can detract from the perceived success of an event. He believes this approach is more respectful to both the performers and the attendees.

"i'm all i've always been a cut your losses kind of guy and back in '06 when mose haven was doing an album a day we found ways to cheat that all the time one of the daily albums was me playing a video game with the recorder running and doing the play by play it was a baseball game and i played for 30 minutes and just described what was happening and then when it was over i said done now i could have done that for the for the last two albums of this year but i i don't need to do that i don't need to unleash that upon you"

Matt Farley describes his philosophy of "cutting losses" and how it applied to his creative process, even when producing music at a high volume. Farley recounts a past instance of creating an "album" by playing a video game and narrating, illustrating his willingness to find unconventional shortcuts. He contrasts this with his current decision not to resort to such methods for his recent work, indicating a desire for a more genuine output.

"the beauty of a songwriting is you can let the listener fill in the blanks if anyone has listened to this song they might have had a different interpretation and they could be right and that does not make the song worse a lot of people think like oh well if the author intended x but so and so got y out of it then that so and so is wrong but i don't subscribe to that really i mean there's some far off there no no i take it back there's never time all interpretations are valid"

Matt Farley emphasizes the subjective nature of art and the value of listener interpretation in songwriting. Farley asserts that a song's quality is not diminished if a listener derives a different meaning than the songwriter intended. He believes that all interpretations are valid, fostering a more inclusive and expansive view of artistic reception.

"the trick is if you're excited about it if it if you if you if you hear it if it rings true to you and you're super excited about it then that that's what's original about the song every chord progression's been done but not not every chord progression's been done while you were in a ecstatic state over how awesome this chord progression is"

Matt Farley discusses the concept of originality in music, particularly in relation to chord progressions. Farley argues that true originality stems not from novel chord structures, which he believes have all been used, but from the artist's genuine excitement and passion for the music. He suggests that an artist's ecstatic state and personal connection to a progression are what make it unique.

"i love that little touch there the fragrance of spring is lingering deep into june wow wow i'm not going to say it but you know what i'm thinking yeah tom petty another one froggy on drums scalzo on um production"

Matt Farley highlights a specific lyrical detail from the song "I Had a Vision" and connects it to the musical contributions of his collaborators. Farley points out the evocative imagery of "the fragrance of spring is lingering deep into June," appreciating its poetic quality. He also credits Tom Scalzo and Froggy for their work on the song, suggesting a shared creative vision that evokes a sense of classic rock artistry.

"the lows outweigh the highs it was worth the try to bring out a few smiles couldn't they always get along oh man you know that's it and so i had the music for that and then then over the course of time i figured out the rest of the lyrics"

Matt Farley reflects on the song "The Center Cannot Hold" and its thematic exploration of relationships. Farley suggests that the song acknowledges the difficulties and sadness inherent in some relationships, even when efforts are made to create happiness. He finds value in the attempt to evoke smiles, even if the overall sentiment leans towards the challenges.

Resources

External Resources

Books

  • "The Moturn Method" - Mentioned as a source of inspiration for setting large goals.

Articles & Papers

  • "The broadcast of Princess Diana's funeral" - Mentioned for a specific reporter's quote that was incorporated into a song.

People

  • Matt Farley - Host of the podcast, discussed in relation to his creative process and music releases.
  • Pete - Collaborator on songs, contributing lyrics and musical elements.
  • Tom - Collaborator on songs, contributing lyrics and musical elements.
  • Froggy - Collaborator on songs, contributing drums and participating in tours.
  • B.B. Bobo - Mentioned in relation to a song that shares a drum beat with another song.
  • Brennan McFarlane - Mentioned in relation to a song that shares a drum beat with another song.
  • P.J. Pajamas - Collaborator on songs, contributing vocals and piano.
  • William Shakespeare - Mentioned for a quote from his will that was incorporated into a song.
  • Tom Petty - Mentioned as a benchmark for musical quality and influence.
  • Joni Mitchell - Mentioned for a quote about living in uncertain times.
  • Lindsay Lohan - Mentioned in relation to the movie "The Parent Trap."
  • Haley Mills - Mentioned in relation to the movie "The Parent Trap."

Other Resources

  • "13 from '25" playlist - A curated collection of songs from the "No Jokes" project.
  • "No Jokes" project - A monthly music release project undertaken by Matt Farley.
  • "Commit to the Fire" album - An album released in October as part of the "No Jokes" project.
  • "The Salem Waterfront" live album - A live album mentioned in relation to a performance.
  • "Finkle Stinks" June release - A song release from June.
  • "Folk album" - An album of songs by other artists.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "Minor Moon" - A song mentioned in relation to musical techniques.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album" - An album mentioned in relation to a song quote.
  • "The September album"

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