MasterMind Drummer
Look Up… Or You Will Miss It
Well, as you probably know now, I am in L.A, and it’s exactly 2 hours before my Uber picks me up for my Primus audition. (And yes, it still feels strange to write that).
My phone is going a little mental right now, so I’ve turned off all notifications to chill, stay present, and remain in the zone.
I’m not nervous. I’m not anxious. Honestly, I feel pure excitement, and it’s a nice space to sit in.
So, why am I writing this newsletter now? Well, after all the prep, work, and effort to get here, this feels like the one thing I can focus on before the audition. Writing has always been my go-to way of locking in—a stream of consciousness I can tap into, focus on, and ride. And that’s exactly what I need right now.
I slept okay last night, but not great. To be fair, I’m very much a 5–6hrs a night guy anyway, and have been since I was about 19. Last night wasn’t too different from home life over the past year with young Maximus, anyway. Maybe I had a fraction less sleep, but honestly, being a little tired might work in my favor given the situation.
When I did Drumeo, I was a mess by all accounts—jet-lagged, exhausted, mentally drained—the works. I’d pushed insanely hard for 3mths leading up to it, and at the time, it was by far the biggest thing I’d ever done. It was intense.
But that exhaustion ironically helped me relax. It kept me grounded in the moment, and that’s exactly what I’m aiming for today.
Today feels like Drumeo x10 in terms of scale, but I still feel calm.
That feeling, though it’s been the goal, still surprises me to be honest, given the epicness of this whole thing. But, as I’ve said in previous emails, I know:
A. I’m here for a reason.
B. I do what I do well—and I believe that’s what Primus needs.
C. I truly, 100% believe I’m the right person for the gig.
That belief is unshakable.
Of course, there are many factors that play into whether this becomes a yes or no. For example, logistics alone could be an issue—being a Kiwi might feel like a hassle to them. And I get that.
It’s not a big deal for me personally. The 11-hour overnight commute from Auckland to LA is direct and easy by all accounts, and my wife and I have discussed all the possibilities, realities, and challenges this could bring. But I can see how it might feel complicated from their perspective. Ce la vie!
Speaking of my wife, she’s amazing. She’s my best friend, my biggest supporter, and honestly, none of this would’ve been possible without her backing me for the past 18 years.
We’re both big-picture thinkers. We’re about experiencing life to the fullest, even if it means stepping into challenges. YOLO, right?
And that brings me to the heart of today’s newsletter:
“There are two types of people in the world: those who look up at the stars, and those who don’t.”\
Big stuff, right? Heavy stuff! I know.
If you’re wondering where that quote is from—it’s one of mine. I wrote it when I was just 17.
At the time, I was living with two older guys. One was incredibly positive—a glass-half-full kind of person. The other was small-minded, always viewing life through a narrow, negative lens.
I struggled with the latter. His limiting thoughts and opinions were like a cloud, always hovering. That’s when I realized people’s attitudes can ‘leave their stink’ on you. You’ve got to be very careful who you spend your time with.
One night, I was sitting outside, smoking a cigarette, and staring up at the stars, just taking it all in. This was a common practice-The insignificance of our day-to-day trivialities has never been lost on me.
That’s when it hit me:
You’re either someone who looks up at the universe and understands:
A. Life is a gift, and it’s what you make of it.
B. Your potential is limitless if you believe.
C. The universe is listening—so start putting in the work now.
Or you’re someone who keeps their head down, assumes others are just “lucky” or “special,” and stays trapped in the monotony of small-minded thinking.
The people I surround myself with are star-gazers. They think big, dream big, and understand that their lives are a result of their actions, not mere accidents. They support those around them, and keep pushing forward.
Now look, I’m not in la la land, of course I know bad things happen—outside forces will challenge you. That’s an extremely important and valuable part of life. But it’s how we respond, and how we choose to move forward, that defines us.
Remember: Fear is good. Change is good. New is good. Hard is good. Different is good. Uncomfortable is good. Keep moving forward…
Every night, my wife and I take Maximus outside after his bath to look for “Mr. Moon.” He’s fascinated by the moon, as are we, but we’ve instilled that in him. We’ve already got him looking up in this life, and in return, he gets the gift of bewilderment. We also look for the first few stars, too.
This isn’t just a cute routine—it’s intentional. I want to instill in him, as I have with all my kids, that there’s a big, wide, weird, and wacky universe out there, and it’s far bigger and limitless than what’s right in front of us, now.
At just 18 months old, I talk to Max about how far away the moon and stars are. I tell him that one day, he’ll be able to reach out and touch them, he just needs to keep trying.
Because that’s all we truly have control over—the effort we put in on a daily basis. Life is a result, not an accident, so start logging those reps and give the universe a reason to take notice.
You’ve got this!
———————
Let’s leave it there this week as I’m about to jump in an Uber have have some fun 🙂
Have a fantastic week, and as always, thanks for the support. The lead up to this has been truly fantastic.
Talk soon,
Stay hungry (and healthy),
Stan