I typically start my work day by checking in with my European clients since their day is 5-7hrs ahead depending on the client. Later in the afternoon it's time for the U.S. West Coast clients. Whether I'm working on a video game score, TV cue, or a song cowrite and production, I'm always working in Logic Pro. I'd say the most important personal qualities are the ability to get along with everyone, be open-minded, and have a thick enough skin that you can digest feedback without taking it personally. Creating music is a very personal thing, but when you're doing it professionally, the end product needs to match the client's specs, and sometimes that means redoing things in a different way from how you first imagined it. I got into music composition, songwriting and production because I've always been obsessed with music, and doing anything else for a living didn't feel quite as rewarding. I've studied music my whole life in one form or another, from lessons as a 2-year-old to a music degree, and then attending the film scoring program at UCLA.
The music industry and Direct Primary Care share surprising parallels—both require authentic connection, consistent practice, and the courage to perform without a safety net. My typical day involves patient consultations that feel like intimate acoustic sessions—one-on-one conversations where listening skills matter more than technical prowess. The most crucial qualities are empathy, patience, and the ability to improvise when standard protocols don't fit the patient's unique situation. My journey started with traditional medical training, but the breakthrough came when I realized healthcare, like music, works best when you strip away the industry machinery and focus on the human connection. Key tools include active listening, pattern recognition for health trends, and the confidence to practice medicine without insurance company interference—much like independent musicians who bypass record labels. The turning point was understanding that both music and medicine heal through authentic relationships, not mass-produced experiences. Great healthcare, like great music, requires vulnerability and genuine care for your audience. That's how care is brought back to patients.
Working in the music industry is both exciting and challenging, with daily routines varying by role. Managers usually start their days with emails and communication with clients and collaborators, organizing schedules and project statuses. Their calendars are filled with meetings to discuss releases and promotions. In contrast, producers often work in studios, focusing on recording sessions and mixing for artists, handling the technical aspects of music creation.
Music industry careers require the same strategic networking, creative storytelling, and persistent relationship-building skills that nonprofits must master to secure sustainable funding and community support. Just as musicians, producers, and managers must understand diverse audiences, market trends, and collaborative partnerships to succeed, grant writers must research funder priorities, community needs, and stakeholder interests to craft compelling proposals. The music industry's emphasis on authentic artistic expression while meeting commercial viability mirrors how nonprofits must balance mission-driven programming with funder requirements and measurable outcomes. Musicians learn to adapt their performances for different venues and audiences without compromising their artistic integrity, paralleling how successful grant writers customize proposals for specific funders while maintaining organizational authenticity. The resilience required to navigate rejection, criticism, and industry challenges in music translates directly to the persistence needed for grant writing, where multiple rejections often precede funding success. Music professionals also understand the importance of building long-term relationships with industry contacts, venues, and collaborators, similar to how nonprofits must cultivate ongoing partnerships with funders, community leaders, and program participants. That's how impactful grants fuel mission success.