It’s been a while since I started one of these with a quote—but this one felt poignant:
“You must see every setback, every obstacle, and every hardship as an opportunity in disguise, as a means for the lessons you need to learn. The things that hurt us instruct us.”
— Robert Greene, Mastery
I’m actually reading Mastery at the moment…
It’s been one of those reads where every second page feels like a slap in the face and a pat on the back at the same time. It’s basically a guide to help you figure out your purpose, and then find the path that lines up with it. No fluff. Just real, direct stuff about growth, work, and craft.
Its comfortable. I’ve been here.
It’s actually echoing a lot of what I’ve been working through over the past few years. Stripping back. Rebuilding. Getting clearer on why I do what I do, and how I want to show up doing it.
That’s really what this journey has looked like lately—refining things. Not just my playing, but my thinking. The way I show up. The way I explain ideas. The way I connect with people.
Look, I’m weird, you’re weird, we’re all weird—I am just like everyone else. My brain works in strange ways, and trips me up sometimes. So I spend a lot of time thinking (usually while I’m running), just trying to crack my own code.
Thats it. And then I share what I find.
I’m in a constant state of trying to figure out how to turn chaos into clarity. And one thing that’s helped massively?
Simple systems. Simple routines. Clear definitions. Clear categories.
It’s probably not the most fun for most people (although weirdly, I do actually enjoy it)—but it works. It helps me take all the scattered thoughts in my head and turn them into something useful. Something actionable.
I talk a lot about building your personal value here—because that’s our foundation. Without it, nothing moves forward.
But in today’s newsletter, I want to shift gears slightly and give you a way to think about growing your professional value—and how that connects directly to the personal side. Lets get into it…
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Goals First. Always.
Let’s zoom out.
Everything starts with goals. Big picture (macro) and day-to-day (micro). Whether it’s running a marathon or mastering a sticking pattern, your goals shape your path.
And pretty much every goal you have is going to fall into one of two main areas:
- Personal Value
- Professional Value
They overlap. They feed each other. And you need both.
Personal Value: Who You Are Behind the Kit
If you’ve been following me for a while, you’ve probably heard me talk about this. Like i say, it’s what I consider the foundation—the person behind the player.
Here’s how I break it down:
- Health – Internal (nutrition, rest) + External (movement, exercise). The body is the filter to the mind, so everything must start here.
- Wellbeing – Input vs Output. What you read, watch, listen to… all feeds the quality of your output. Garbage in, garbage out.
- Relationships – Friends, family, bandmates, community. These are your mirrors, but also, your fuel.
- Business – Brand, income streams, skill stacking, habit building. Are you thinking only like a creative? Or are you thinking bigger? So leveling up your business mindset?
When these are in check, everything flows much better. You feel more grounded. You make better decisions. You position yourself (and your career) from a much more honest place.
Now, into the meat of it…
Professional Value: How You Show Up in the World
This is the part I’ve been working on more deeply lately—and what I want to focus on today.
When I talk about professional value, I’m talking about the version of you that the world experiences. The one on stage. In the studio. Online. At a jam night. Teaching a lesson. Pitching a project. Leading a rehearsal. The career version.
Like with everything, I’m always trying to find the fastest way to the clearest information I can find.
Here’s the framework and definitions I’ve come up with for building your professional value. It breaks down like this:
- Mastery
- Confidence
- Communication
- Visibility
Let’s go even deeper…
- Mastery – The Foundation
Everything starts with the craft. Period. Your value is always tied to your ability. That doesn’t mean being the fastest or flashiest—it often just means being undeniably solid in what you do. Musicality. Control. Consistency. Oh, and some Range couldn’t hurt too.
I’ve built so much of my life around this idea—and it evolves depending on your goals.
For example, years ago when I shifted from just being a touring drummer to also stepping into the role of educator, I had to chase a completely different kind of mastery. One that wasn’t just about what I could play, but how well I could explain it.
So ask yourself:
What’s the next level of mastery you need to chase? Remember the 5-year vision we spoke about a couple of weeks back? Set the goal, outline the path, and start moving towards it.
2. Confidence – Know Yourself
“The world can show you the truth, but no one can force you to accept it. That’s your job. Self-awareness. Self-honesty. These are the keys to confidence and freedom.”
— Ryan Holiday, Stillness Is the Key
This one’s internal. It’s about knowing who you are and what you bring to the table.
For me, confidence never came from being better than anyone else. It simply came from doing the work, seeing the results, being proud of what I can do, and not being held back by what I can’t—because at the end of the day, I’ve got control over that too… reps reps reps!
I’ve spent a lot of time reading Stoic philosophy (big Marcus Aurelius fan over here). It’s helped me quiet the noise, drop the ego (unless I need it), and focus on what I can actually control.
The more I leaned into that, the more solid I became. Even when I was still just trying to figure stuff out.
3. Communication – Say It So It Lands
By-in-large, I learned this one outside of music. I left home and school very early, at the age of 15, and because if that, I had to survive.
I got into hospitality, became a barista, and many years later, actually ended up owning cafes and a coffee roastery. I had to talk to customers, manage staff, sell ideas—and learn how to make people feel heard and understood. All weighted on communication.
And now? It’s one of the most important tools I use—especially in teaching and content creation.
It’s not just what you say—it’s how clearly you say it.
Can you explain your ideas without confusing people? Can you share your thoughts with confidence and ease?
Most people struggle here. But this is 100% a skill you can build. And no—you don’t need to run a café to do it. 😉
Start by listening to great speakers—Jim Rohn, Earl Nightingale, Zig Ziglar. Pay attention to their storytelling, their pacing, the way they make ideas stick. I have listened to 100s of hours of these guys. I just love it!
Then, get to work! Start practicing telling your own story. Refine your message. Make your words land.
Do not undervalue this. Clear communication is key.
4. Visibility – You’ve Gotta Be Seen!
This is where so many talented people fall short.
You can be the best drummer in the world—but if no one knows you exist, it doesn’t matter.
Visibility is about being discoverable. That means showing up consistently:
- In person: jam nights, gigs, music schools, networking
- Online: social media, newsletters, website, content creation
It doesn’t have to be overwhelming—but it has to be intentional, and it has to be YOU!
Build something people can find. Let them see who you are as a person, and a professional, on and off the kit. Let them see what you offer, and what you do.
When It All Comes Together
When you develop both your personal value and your professional value, you become someone powerful, with presence, purpose, and impact.
That’s what I’ve been working on lately. Well, for many years. to be honest. Bit by bit.
Getting clearer. Simplifying. Showing up more intentionally.
And the more I lean into it, the more things align—on the kit, in business, and in life.
Some Final Thoughts
If you want to increase your professional value, don’t just think about doing more. Think about becoming more.
- Dial in your craft
- Build real confidence
- Communicate clearly
- Make yourself discoverable
Don’t forget, the goal here is to have a long, sustainable, and creatively fulfilling career. It sounds like a big ask, I know, but its not. Its totally doable.
Does it require work? Yes! Does it require focus? Absolutely!
But if you work on the person alongside the player, and in turn, increasing your personal and professional value, it all happens much faster… Trust me!
Now… Get to work! 😉
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Let’s leave it there this week. I’m off to the studio to get some practice in. 🙂
Thanks for taking the time, and feel free to hit me back if you have any thoughts of your own you’d like to share. I love reading them.
Stay hungry (and healthy),
Stan