What I wish I knew sooner about turning what you have into more (no, not gratitude)

10 ideas worth sharing this week + special announcements for e-cousins

Recent(ish) snapshots of film, life, and the turn of the seasons in NYC

Hey E-Cousin, Travis Percy here!

Forever and a day ago, I promised to send a newsletter. I never got around to it. I was busy working on my craft and building so I had credibility and a deep well of experience and knowledge to draw from.

Well, after mending my broken heart, rebuilding my life from ash in NYC, achieving my dream of touring as a musician, facing my fear of public speaking to build a thriving community online, and getting thousands of DMs from you all about how my work has helped you, I'm READY to write!

Each week I'll share 10 points on creativity, culture, head & heart, and one momentum-making question to ponder to feel more empowered. Here are 10 things I thought deserved a share from this week.

Creativity

1. "A problem is a chance for you to do your best [and leave the rest to God]." - Duke Ellington

2. Constraints make us more creative — Whether you love or loathe the Beatles, you can't deny they're prolific. Did you know they recorded 10 songs in 10 hours for their album, 'Please Please Me' at Abbey Road Studio? John Lennon's voice was shot. Averaging two shows a day on tour, they churned out most of the project in one day. Amazing what‘s possible with constraints.

3. “What's right is what works,” a saying I swear by. Not until you're forced to sink or swim do you learn what you’re made of. When I moved to NYC in 2023, I fell on hard times. Got laid off, relationship ended, needed new housing, and my private student loan payment was due no matter what. So I set aside two days a week to busk in Central Park. Initially, I scoffed at the thought of performing in public. "How desperate, how tacky.” Boy was I wrong. Not only did my solo set draw a crowd, a woman in a wheelchair followed the sound across the park to hear me. My first Saturday singing in Central Park, I made over $200 in one hour. “What's right is what works.” Release the judgment, the story, the fear.

   

   Me in the park

Culture

4. "You aren't behind, you're being gaslit by generational wealth." The title says it all. I’m a descendant of slaves who could not buy property in the country they built. I’m a descendant of sharecroppers who were excluded from the part of FDR’s New Deal that helped other Americans build wealth through property ownership. I'm acutely aware of just how hard it is to play financial catch-up when your ancestors were structurally handicapped and you didn't grow up rich. This piece by the Financial Diet says what most wish they could.

5. How to stand out in a world where AI is low-key taking over everything creative? I can't be the only one thinking about this. Tech PR maven Lulu Chen Meservy highlights where creatives can outshine AI: genuine emotions, human experiences, and distinct perspectives born from our humanity. She emphasizes that you have a personal monopoly on our unique human experience and the perspective it creates. The human edge? Becoming better storytellers, deepening human connections, and bringing people together in ways AI simply cannot. More on this topic, here.

6. On giving yourself grace and permission to fail, Viola Davis — "I thought I had only two choices, succeed or absolutely sink, no in between. There was no grey area either you achieved or you failed. I had no understanding that I had the tools to dig my way out if I made a mistake. No understanding that there would be hard times but then joy would come."

Head & Heart

7. Used to feel ashamed to admit how often I get disappointed and walk myself out of the dungeon of despair and dread. It's not that I'm a miserable soul, it's that as a creative, I live on a rejection treadmill in hot pursuit of the ‘yes’ that makes the unrelenting flow of ‘no(s)’ worthwhile. While most hear, ‘no’ now and then, creative professionals hear it in dozens daily. I’m Olympic Gold good at feeling my feelings without letting them have the final say. What I know of resilience is that it’s about how quickly you recover after you get knocked down. Watch my recent podcast episode on the gift of disappointment for encouragement.

8. On unrequited love from friends & lovers — Before I had self-worth, I wasted a lot of time in relationships with people, holding out for them to change or value me as much as I valued them. If you've also been guilty of loving others more than you loved yourself, you'll enjoy this book we're reading in my Patreon, Matters of The Heart, by Dr. Thema.

9. Simple organization system for the creative and overstimulated. I love Notion. Here's how I've organized my personal Notion board.

Momentum Maker

10. Been reflecting on the gap between my words and actions lately. It's humbling to notice how often I say one thing but do another. I'm working on aligning my habits with my goals. Where might you do this? Feel free to comment below!

    (Example: Wanting a relationship while maintaining a schedule too busy to include anyone new? Wanting to grow online but not posting? Etc).

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🌻My current offerings:

• Patreon Community & Book Club — perfect for anyone who wants to dive deeper into the themes I write and talk about online, as we read a book, you access bonus content from me, meet like-minded people, and connect monthly.

• Transformational Coaching — If you are looking for support getting unstuck as you take your work or relationships to the next level, a coaching session could be great for you. Clients have experienced big breakthroughs. Book here.

As always, progress over perfection and much love, e-cuz!

- Trav 🙏🏾