Category: Coming Up

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THE ESSENTIAL KEY TO SUCCESS

The greatest lesson I’ve learned over the years is that the essential key to success is Keeping Your Word.

If you’re an entrepreneur or an artist and you’re working with a team of people, the key words to your success are: Integrity, Trust and Respect. So how do you lay the foundations of your success? By doing what you say you would do. 

Yes, it’s as simple as that. You stay reliable and trustworthy even for the things that you think are insignificant because you never know they might be important to someone else and it could make a big difference for the development of your relationship / project. So when you say you’re going to email/call someone before ‘Thursday’ do it by Thursday, I know it might sound a bit harsh but reliability and timekeeping are the tools to build trust and that’s where your focus should be.

So the big question here is: what prevents us from keeping our word? I think that most of the times it’s due to ‘overcommitment’. If you’re anything like me and tend to be enthusiastic about new ideas/ and projects then there will come a time when you realize you said yes to a project but you cannot dedicate yourself to it  because of lack of time and priority. I’ve been there – it happens, but that’s why it is always good to think twice before saying yes, learn to prioritize and do what’s more beneficial for you and your career. It’s a matter of respect for you and the person you’re working with.

The music industry is tough but know that you can stick to your moral principles and still achieve your goal. Know that integrity and honesty will always get you farther in life.

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Coming Out About Coming Up

 

I have been publishing internet platforms  for almost 20 years . Back in the early days of the internet, websites and online marketing and publishing  was new and fresh and we really did not know what to make of it, in fact few would guess it would take over every aspect of our lives.

I recall the very first time some even used the word “World Wide Web”. It was when we were still using 286 computers and web-browsers were still being developed. For me it was like discovering a “New World” and would use that phrase “New World” to eventually launch one of my early websites. My first website platform was called New World Builders and I used that term because I felt we were on the verge of a virtual New World. I even used the sub-title, The New World Wide Web.

So convinced was was I of the possibilities of the internet that I sold everything I had, sometimes gave it away, and “retired” into a world dark and creative, to continue to pursue my dream to build a world wide web platform that would compel and challenge readers to look beyond themselves and to discover a new world themselves. A second platform I worked on was my ‘Dreamland” sites which embodied my creative bent and where I published a series of short stories and personal prose and romantic poetry that gave me way to vent my deepest thoughts and reflections about “this, that and the other thing”.

All in I would eventually manage to develop many websites and create thousands of pages of new and regurgitated content some of which had to do with building materials, indoor air quality, books,  art, clothing, cool home products, dating, high speed trains, and many others.

If I was ever asked “Why”, I suppose I would have to respond, because I felt and still feel  that the internet has allowed the average Joe a way to express, create, build, discover and invest of themselves as well reach audiences across the globe to promote and share. At no other time in history has one been able to create and share music, poetry, writing, stories, etc. in such a accessible way. This is evidenced now by the millions of personal blogs and websites that are published across the internet. Today anyone can write a book, pen a short story, build an art blog, upload and share their music, create and share a music video or many other things for virtually for free.

Coming Up Magazine is presently the only current project in development and originates from my earlier work and writings. “Coming Up” was a term I heard many years ago when people would come across something that they wanted and in some instances they either took or stole. Since then “Coming Up” has transformed into a more conventional definition meaning more “Up and Coming” or as many of you know, “Coming Up” as in up next. Today “Coming Up” is used thousands of times a day on TV and the Radio to announce what’s next.

Coming Up Magazine is a music and entertainment oriented website.  I was inspired to create one day after talking with my son about fundamental business and life practices. My point that day was to explain that instead of just being a writer or a photographer or an artist, be a publisher. Why write a story or book and hope that someone will pick it up.  Publish your book or story or promote your music yourself. Don’t rely on others, I told my son, to help you succeed.

A second reason I developed it was to help my daughter promote her music. As an independent band member and singer

Today, Coming Up Magazine is about new bands and musicians on the come up. People, places and things on the verge of coming up and on the road to success.  It’s also an extension of my original writings called “Coming Up – A Street Wise Guide Through Life, Learning and Love”.

For me personally, Coming Up is the transformation we all must make to improve ourselves and to become all that we are capable of becoming, individually and globally if we are to survive as a species and as a planet.

Years ago I began writing and creating – at the time while in College – and used this old Brother digital typewriter – and I have never stopped.  Writing and creating pushes the brain to stay sharp and creative. It also forces us to evaluate ourselves and our opinions. For me publishing and editing reviews and stories for Coming Up Magazine forces me to listen to music that I would not do otherwise. It keeps me fresh and open minded to younger people and their art.

Won’t you join me on this journey to become and to Come Up?

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Thank Heaven for San Pedro

I guess San Pedro translates as Saint Peter, which is were I am writing from. Were it not for Starbucks I would be sitting at the Yum Yum Donuts getting fat on buttermilk donuts and crappy coffee or at the 7-11 a few blocks down the street responding to emails from my car.

Have you ever wondered how your life would be different were it not for the Starbucks, Coffee beans, Targets, Walmarts and all the other corporate stores? I can tell you, personally I would be fatter and hard pressed to find a place to pee and connect with the internet while on the road. So far as much as we hate them, these Starbucks and McDonalds of the world, they sure do make our life a heck of lot eaiser, which is why I am in San Pedro to make life easier for a few tenants at an apartment complex who seem to have a difficult time when it rains because thier roof leaks.

 

San Pedro is also home to very cool ports of call and a huge freight terminal that has as many overhead cranes as a park has trees. I am sure the things most of purchase during the holidays come through these here ports!

Long live leaky roofs, ports of call and my favorite – Starbucks.

That’s a few random things I am thankful for this Thanksgiving week. What are you thankful for besides the normal things we all seem to remember?

Thought for the day: Be Thankful for even the things we bitch about.

 

Contentment – Love the One You’re With.

I probably should not attempt to write about such an important part of Coming Up as late in the night as this but I feel  I should. You see a friend of mine earlier today made a comment about how he was with someone the other night while thinking of someone else. I give them tons of credit for being so honest with themselves and others and admitting it. Most of us would rather ignore it or hide it.

But we have all done it, and likely do it quite regularly. It’s only natural. But is it fair to ourselves and to the person we might be with? Not really, but each of is guilty of it.

It can be an old fling, an old relationship, spouse, a friend, anyone really. Perhaps someone we would just rather be with or can not get out of our mind. Whoever that other person may be, they are important enough in our mind – or heart – that we can’t stop thinking about them. Maybe it is just a fleeting thought and we forget them as fast as they came to mind, or maybe the thought of them overwhelms us so much we call the person we are with by the other’s name. That could be awkward!

Being present in the moment is not easy. We daydream, fantasize, and long for things beyond the moment and far from our grasp. Sometimes when these emotions and longings become so strong they can become dangerous. An addict will feign for his or her drug of choice stopping at nothing to get it. They will do things they later regret just to get their next fix. Likewise, if we desire something beyond our reach or beyond the moment to such a degree, it can harm our relationships and jeopardize what we already have.

Few things in and of themselves are dangerous in moderation. Even the most awesome elements, such as water and fire are moderately safe when contained in manageable amounts. Open the flood gates or turn up the flame – watch out. Those candle lights or droplets will turn in to a raging inferno or white water rapids.

Thoughts and reflections are lovely and can help inspire and motivate, but let them become obsessions and they will quickly become overwhelming compulsions that will distract you from the present and even cause you to throw away what you already have for something you think you need or want.

Being content with who are you are with regardless of the relationship., ie. a wife, a family member, a friend, a business partner or anyone, is an important part of being in the moment. It is only when we are in the moment that we are able to feel complete and satisfied. When we are complete and satisfied, we will find peace and experience happiness. That is a critical element to ‘Coming Up“.

Don’t bury thoughts of tomorrow or abandon your  dreams  but realize that the most important thing any of us has is what we have at this exact moment – life and thoughts for the one’s we are with.

Thought for the day: I will be present with the people/person  I am with but I will carefully chose the people I decide to spend my time with.

No Man is an Island

‘Coming Up” does not mean at the cost of other’s mistakes

..”For any man’s death deminishes me for I am apart of all mankinde”.    John Donne

On China’s Failures and Successes

China is well poised to overcome the US on so many levels. Despite this, We Americans need to refocus our energies on education, creativity and technological progress. Not only must we build better mousetraps and products, but we must also build better character in ourselves and our children. If we do this, we won’t need to fear China, but celebrate her successes and mourn when she fails as well.

Brian Carrillo

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Torey10 mths ago

well now you make no sense how could something like this happen if we keep Democrats the ones that shut down the Shuttle Program in power they will just shut down the rest of space exploration…. what needs to be done is Strip power from both parties…. Religion has nothing to do with this so.Vilic

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I am no expert in Foreign relations but I am an expert in human behavior. We fear what we know little about. It’s easy to fear other nations and cultures that are not like ours, but does this help us and lift man as a species? No. It undermines all of us and eventually leads to our demise.  Instead of casting the stone at others consider your own shortcoming and ignorance. What are you doing to succeed? Are you blaming others and justifying your actions through hate and ignorance?

Today’s Thought of the day: I will embrace the differences in others and celebrate their successes and mourn their losses.   I will stand up for truth regardless if it is popular or not.

 

 

Good News

Today it is a little cold outside here in the Valley yet according to the latest news, the ice caps continue to melt at unprecedented rates and we have the hottest temperatures on record in the northern hemisphere. I also read that our nation is on the verge of economic collapse and bombs killed top officials in Syria earlier today, not to mention many others have been robbed, maimed, killed or robbed during random and/or planned crimes and accidents. There are many other depressing headlines but I think I will spare you the agony and move on to my point for the day which is basically, if you rely on the news to cheer you up, for get about it.

Happiness  comes from positive stimuli which for many of us will be the small things not the news we read about.

It’s the small things that make the difference in the world – not  the huge events.

So what are the small things?  The small things are the often overlooked stories or events that are difficult to find or which become overshadowed by the nuts and bolts of life. But if we dig a little, or tune down the TV or music we might find it and hear about them.  They can be a huge butterfly flying around your yard or a hummingbird hovering outside your window. They can be the new oranges on your tree that will be ready to eat in a few months or the figs you see growing on your baby fig tree.

They can also be the smile of neighbor or the dog barking in the back at a squirrel.

A phone call from a friend, an email from your kid who is away at school or a note from your bank telling you have more money than you thought you did.

As for Good News, here are a few headlines that I would consider ‘Good News” to help you with you mood adjustment:

If these are not enough for you, I suggest you just go outside and do some stretches and look up.

That’s what I just did and I feel better already.

Thought of the Day: Today I will go outside and stand under a tree.  It’s these small things (or big things if you have a big tree like me) that will make me rich and a little cooler when it’s hot.

 

 

Stillness

Consider the movement of river or stream. At times it is still and at other times is like a roaring lion. What’s interesting is that regardless of it’s appearance, the river holds the same energy.  What causes the river to increase it’s speed has more to do with the angle in which it is flowing and the opening in which it is flowing through.

Both these elements can be manipulated either naturally or through mechanical means. Does this mean that there is more water originating from the source? No. It’s still the same river.

Stillness affords us the opportunity to relax our force and to preserve it for the right occassion. Each of us has a life force that will run out – it is inevitable. Calming our mind and our spirits allows us to preserve it and to live a healthier more energetic life.

To enjoy the beauty of nature we must embrace the moment.

Thought for the Day: I will live for the moment and celebrate tomorrow when it arrives.

Finding Your Keys

TO FIND YOUR KEYS IT JUST MIGHT BE NECESSARY TO LOSE THEM

“…Our fate lies within us. We just have to be brave enough to find it.” From the Movie Brave

Not too long ago my girlfriend, Katie, and I took a weekend trip to Carlsbad, a little beach town a few miles North of San Diego and about 100 miles South of Los Angeles. It rained the entire trip.

The first night we were there we walked in the rain to a very nice restaurant a few blocks from our hotel.

The dinner was fantastic, the service was great and place was worthy of a return, which we did the following morning not because we wanted breakfast, but because we lost our keys and were unable to locate them in our room or in our bags.

We figured we must of left them there the night before and were hopeful we would find them when the owner greeted us at the door. Unfortunately, they were not there, or any where else we looked including the hotel lobby, the Mexican restaurant we visited for lunch the previous afternoon or inside the car.

Completely bummed out from our misfortune we decided that the only way out of the mess we were in was either to pay for a replacement set (which would have been extremely expensive as the style of keys we had were the new fangled smart type keys that were part robot, part personal computer), or hitch a ride back to our house where the spare was kept.

Fortunately for us we were able to get a ride from one our family members who was nice enough to make a trip from Long Beach and drive us back to my car located in Fullerton.

In the end we made it to Fullerton and then to Encino and back again to Carlsbad in time for dinner. By the time we were able to drive both cars from Carlsbad to home it was well into the late evening. To say the least, it was a very stressful and tiring day.

It was the following day when I received the call from Katie who telephoned me from her office to tell me she found her keys. They were right in her purse where she left them on that rainy, wet night in Carlsbad.

After we laughed and considered how silly we were to have not check the little pocket in her purse where they were placed, we moved on and promised ourselves we would both have spare keys nearby just in case we managed to make a similar mistake or if we lost our keys while on another holiday.

For as small as keys are they certainly are an important part of our lives. Without them we would not be able to enter our house, our office, start our car or unlock the many locks we have protecting our belongings.

When we have them, life is great. When we don’t, well life can get pretty chaotic.

We should look at our special qualities, talents and gifts as keys (formulas for happiness and success).

This morning I received a call from Katie who called to tell me she accidentaly left the same set of robot-keys on the hood of her car when she took off for work. She heard them fly off of the car as she sped off from one of the intersections down the street.

Frantic and stressed, and ready to get sick, she returned home to pick up the spares we keep and drove me down the block where I found the destroyed set laying thrown and splattered all over the street in one of the busiest intersections in the San Fernando Valley.

The bad news was the metal keys – the ones to the house and locks – where utterly destroyed, bent, broken and completely non-functional, but the good news was, the Robot-key – made of plastic – was a little scratched but otherwise okay. How that happened no one could say.

Once again we were forced to address the issue with keys and we confirmed we had extras just in case something like this happened again.

In every endeavor there is a key. An element or solution that will allow you to perform what ever tasks are necessary to accomplish your goal and mission.

Many of us will seek out the answers and the formulas to life’s mysteries by reaching to exotic places and trying to locate the keys far beyond where we may be.

In many instances the answers and secrets to a happy and successful life are closer than we think. We have them deep within us.

Unfortunately, because of the noises in our life and the chaos and company we keep (in Coming-up we will call them people, places and things), we loose sight of this or we are unable to discern them even when they are right in front of us or in us.

Thought of Today: Today I will slow down and be silent. I will look within myself to find happiness and my highest fate . It’s here that the secrets to my life and my success will be found.