We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Alex English a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Alex, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
I believe resilience comes from multiple experiences and emotions. One is not born with resilience, it is made.
For me, looking back, I think a lot of my resilience came from having a strong support system. Yes, many things along my career, especially in music, have troubled me, bothered me, hurt me, put me down, and the list goes on. However, it is how you handle those emotions that make or break you. I thank my family and biggest supporters for always showing me that what I was and am doing is worth it… always. I live by my one or a million theory. If my song touches one person’s heart or one million hearts, the effect is the same and my job was a success. My resilience is knowing that what I am doing is worth every moment put into it.
My vocal teacher Tom Rexdale also used to say to me that “ego” stands for “ease God out” and that stuck with me throughout life. Having an ego is having a blown perception of yourself and your capabilities. In contrast, having resilience is having a true understanding of yourself and your capabilities. Then, when someone comes to question your true capabilities, it rolls off your shoulders. Again, resilience is knowing that what you’re doing is worth it and having that understanding, no matter what is thrown at it.
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?
I own an LLC named Alex English Music LLC where I sing, songwrite, produce, and perform throughout the tri state area. Professionally, I work in marketing for specialty chemicals in pharmaceuticals.
If you were to ask me this question a year ago, it would be different. What excites me the most about my brand and career right now is my ability to learn and gather insights from different industries and bring them together. My marketing skillset, my confidence in communications, and my resilience has developed exponentially. I really think that is what makes Alex English so different. Overtime these skills seep into the person you are, developing you beyond your wildest imagination.
The reason I say this excites me the most is because with the insights I have learned – I will never launch a song the same way again. Fully understanding your art is one thing, knowing how to bring it to market is another… and that’s the bridge I’m navigating now. Stay tuned!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I think three main qualities that have been most impactful in my journey is having independence, drive to learn, and resilience.
Early in your career, be self-sufficient, and if you’re not – learn how to be. A co-worker of mine once told me, “the only thing sure in life is change.” Referring to this, being independent will allow you to go through the hills and valleys of life. You’ll always be able to perform or carry your art on your own. Additionally, when others do step in and join you, you’ll be even more aligned with them allowing your talent to shine. Money, no money, friends, no friends, fellow musicians, no fellow musicians… you’ll stand the test of time.
This directly correlates with having a drive to learn. You can’t be independent if you don’t learn how to be. Learn your art and support it, you’re all it has.
Lastly, resilience which I’ve touched upon earlier. If you give up, everything you’ve done is lost. You don’t have to reach for the stars to be happy and love what you do. The more you ground yourself and truly enjoy your art, the more resilience you’ll have to keep it alive.
Overall, develop your independence, find your drive to learn, and don’t let a toxic ego destroy your most precious gift. Love your talent, no matter how far it takes you.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
I feel overwhelmed 99% of the time! Just kidding, but slightly not. There is a fine line between being overwhelmed and pushing your boundaries to help further your skillsets. It’s important to walk this line, recognize it, but don’t pass it. Once you’re overwhelmed and can’t dig yourself out, you’ll find yourself in a state of stress, anxiety, and frankly frozen on what move to make next.
However, if you keep a safe distance but push yourself, being overwhelmed and succeeding at it will bring you immense joy and pride in the work you’ve accomplished.
If you do find yourself in a rough patch, my best advice is to physically write down all the things you have to do and that you’re worrying about. On that list, cross off all the things you can’t change…. Forget about it and pick it up when you can change it. I promise you, this will knock off any unnecessary worrying and rewire your brain on what’s important in that moment.
Source: Bold Journey Magazine