This is a repost from my now-defunct personal site snowofbutterflies.com:

An inspiring talk by touch guitarist Trey Gunn on finding your own authentic voice, applicable to lots of fields besides music. Trey is not only one of my favorite musicians, but as it turns out, he is a great presenter as well – watch the video:

Trey Gunn on Original Voice (~30 min.)

Highlights:

• Originality doesn’t come from having clever ideas.
• Notice things, and notice what you notice.
• Build your Toolbox out of ideas that are core to you.
• Anti-notice: the things you notice are missing from your field may turn out to be your work.
• If it doesn’t serve your aim, let it go.
• Pull some things out of your Toolbox when you are working.
• Make lots of things. Don’t treat the first thing as precious – make a hundred of ‘em!
• If you have a burning question, that can lead to a whole body of work.
• Be amazing. If you can’t be amazing, or if you’re still on the way to being amazing, be authentic.
• Be financially independent (expenses way lower than income) if you want to be an artist.
• Be aware of the challenges – don’t fool yourself into believing it’s easy.

Originally posted on snowofbutterflies.com on July 8, 2012.