👋 Welcome back to the newsletter!
Every week, I share a few things I think you'll like to keep you creatively inspired and successful in your artistic pursuits.
Let's jump in. 🚀
🎉 100k Subscriber Milestone
In case you missed it, last week I finally hit 100k on YouTube:
I've been on the platform since 2006.
That's over 18 years leading to this milestone.
What's super interesting is the graph below the number - you'll see that my growth was NOT linear.
Here's a breakdown, broken into 6-year intervals:
- 2006-2012: 2k total subscribers
- 2012-2018: 30k total subscribers
- 2018-2025: 100k total subscribers
So - what's the takeaway, here?
First off, if you're just getting started, don't expect immediate results.
YouTube, like many long-term goals, thrives on the compounded effect of repeatedly showing up.
If my frustration of a lack of viewers and subscribers had taken over my enjoyment of making videos, I would have given up long before ever seeing the results I've gotten up until today.
So with that in mind...
The second component is to create short-term, intrinsic goals that can help you stay motivated and feeling fulfilled - even if you're not seeing extrinsic results like viewership or subscribers immediately.
For me, making content has (almost) never been about growing my business or attracting clients.
Those goals are always secondary to the internal goal I have of documenting my journey.
And I personally believe that a goal like that is the most sustainable way to keep showing up for anything creative - video-making, composing, writing, you name it.
Don't try to make a masterpiece.
Don't try to go viral.
Make something cool for yourself, and share it as a public record simply for your future enjoyment.
Thank you all for helping me hit 100k. 🙏
🐭 The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
One of my goals in 2025 has been to get back into reading more fiction.
My friend (and newsletter reader) Tim DeMoss shared some cozy book recommendations in his monthly newsletter, including The Wind and the Willows, and having not yet read the classic I decided to give it a try.
I'm obsessed.
Kenneth Grahame's range as a writer is incredible, depicting a melange of heartfelt tender moments and grand adventures between the timid Mole, the reliable Rat, the stoic Badger, and the trickster Toad.
I'm halfway through, but here's a few of Grahame's lovely turns of phrases in the book I've highlighted so far:
- "By the side of the river he trotted as one trots, when very small, by the side of a man who holds one spellbound by exciting stories."
- "Late in the evening, tired and happy and miles from home, they drew upon a remote common far from habitations, turned the horse loose to graze, and ate their simple supper sitting on the grass by the side of the cart."
- "Everything was very still now. The dusk advanced on him steadily, rapidly, gathering in behind and before; and the light seemed to be draining away like floodwater. Then the faces began."
- "The ruddy brick floor smiled up at the smoky ceiling; the oaken settles, shiny with long wear, exchanged cheerful glances with each other; plates on the dresser grinned at pots on the shelf, and the merry firelight flickered and played over everything without distraction."
If you're a fan of Redwall, Winnie the Pooh, or Animal Crossing, this book is for you.
☕️ My Favorite Coffee Roasters
In case you didn't know, I love coffee.
I often get asked what my all-time favorite roasters are, so I compiled some of them here for you if you're a fellow "hot bean water" lover. 🥰
- Greenwell Farms ($$$) - Straight from Big Island, Hawaii, it's by far one of the best black coffees I've had. Super smooth, low acidity, really good chocolate notes. Their medium roast is my favorite!
- Klatch Coffee ($$) - They've got fun subscriptions and a pretty wide variety of flavors/origins/notes. Hard to pick a favorite, but if you like fruity espressos these guys do great ones!
- Intelligentsia ($$) - I mostly have their espresso blends, but there's great flavors. Notes of cola, molasses/brown sugar, chocolate, and some fruity ones. Their Black Cat espresso is one of their classics!
- Lavazza Super Crema ($$) - If you're on a budget, this is a stable choice for a quality espresso with a great mouthfeel and flavor. You can get a huge back for 25 bucks!
Cheers! ☕️
👋 Want to work together?
Here's four ways I can help.
- 🎥 My YouTube. Watch 300+ videos covering my composing process, career growth, and personal mindset that's helped me stick around.
- 🎻 My Mockup Course. Master the basics of MIDI performance & programming to make your virtual compositions sound like a real orchestra.
- 🎬 Composing Career Bootcamp. Join 100+ students inside and build your confidence in networking, marketing your work, and landing your first scoring projects.
- 🚀 Work Closely with Me. If you're an experienced composer and ready to work closely with me for guidance in your art and career, book a call and let's chat.
That's all for now!
Hit reply to share thoughts or say hi.
Otherwise, happy music-making and see you next time. 🙂
- Zach
(P.S. Did someone forward this to you? Subscribe here.)