I had no plan when I started making videos and putting ideas together.

Honestly, I just thought: "What do I know how to do?"

First and foremost, I know how to play the drums. So, I started creating cover videos.

Over time, I started thinking about how I could improve them—adding more cuts, trying new angles. When I first started, it was just a single static shot of me playing. Now, it's evolving into something more polished.

Lately, my perspective on social media has shifted. Posting isn’t just about getting likes or views—it’s about internalizing ideas, deciding if they bring value to you, and then sharing them with others.

For me, making videos and writing these newsletters help me organize my thoughts. And that leads me to a question:

Who is stopping you from sharing what you are learning or what you know how to do?

Most of my videos where I’m just talking to you? They start as one or two sentences.

Recently, I’ve realized how powerful writing is—not just for content creation but for life. I know it sounds obvious, but here’s why I’ve been doing it:

At any given moment, I have about 20 thoughts bouncing around my head. So, I set a timer for 45 minutes once a week and just write. It helps me empty my brain onto a page, making those ideas more manageable.

Writing helps you see patterns between your passions, and sometimes, that opens new creative pathways you wouldn’t have considered.

By writing, I’ve learned to break down my thoughts, making them clearer when I share them with others.

If you’re not writing yet, I highly recommend it. And if you are, I’d love to hear how it’s helped you. Reply to this email and let me know!

This process varies depending on the difficulty of the song, but if I really want to memorize something quickly, I use a form outline.

A form outline is a simple way to map out a song’s structure. It looks something like this:

This step alone is super helpful, but sometimes, the gig requires a little more. In that case, I’ll take the outline and start transcribing—writing everything out on manuscript paper and listening back over and over.

We’ll dive deeper into transcription techniques in a future issue, but if you want a one-on-one lesson on stuff like this, visit the store.

Find someone to help you level up.

Eight years ago, I took a drum lesson with Dave Elitch.

I don’t remember a lot the technical stuff from that hour, but I do remember two recommendations he gave me:

That one lesson didn’t seem like much at the time, but it created a ripple effect that shaped my path.

So here’s my advice: Take the lesson. Find the mentor. Sign up for the course you’ve been thinking about.

You never know where one small decision will take you.

There are moments when you have to pause and ask yourself:

"Is this what I really want to be spending my time on?"

Not saying you need to quit your job or make a drastic change. But small shifts in focus can lead to big results.

For me, that shift was realizing I didn’t need to prove myself by playing a certain genre. I spent so much time thinking “I’m not a real drummer unless I play X”—but that thought held me back.

Once I let go of that, I started improving at the styles I actually love. And more importantly, I enjoyed playing again.

The same goes for creating and sharing.

For years, I waited for the “right time” to post my work. I felt like I needed someone to tell me I was good enough. But the truth is—you don’t need permission.

Outside influences will always try to drown out your passion. The doubts, the excuses, the fear of what others will think.

At some point, you have to decide:

Do you want to keep waiting, or do you want to create?

If you're on the fence about making something, just go for it.

The first attempts won’t be perfect. But they’ll be yours. And that’s what matters.

Final Thoughts

If any of this resonated with you, hit reply and let me know—I’d love to hear your thoughts.

And if someone sent you this sign up for the newsletter here.

Until next time, keep creating.

Elias