The Complicated Big Stuff

I recently wrote to the head of a music library that I work with and asked him if there were any styles in particular he was looking for at the moment. He wrote a helpful response, and also said something that stood out as quite profound:

"Everybody does the simple stuff.. if we have a shot it's almost always in doing the complicated big stuff.. it will set us apart, get the doors to swing open a little wider.."

Although he was specifically referring to writing big complex orchestral music, I think this idea applies in so many areas in life that I had to comment on it. He's absolutely right; the simple stuff is easy to do and therefore that's what most people write. Moody ambient cues, dull repeating ostinatos, techno tracks that loop eternally. That's all so easy to do that it requires very little effort, hardly any energy. Writing big complicated orchestral music is hard work and as we all know, work sucks. So most people don't do it. But those who do put in effort that matters are a select few, and as a result their work is going to stand out above the noise.This is true not just for orchestral music but business as well. Sitting in your studio writing music and waiting to be discovered is "easy". Getting your ass out there and making as many meaningful relationships you can is really hard. But which method do you think is more likely to work? (Hint: it's the hard work.)Where are you being lazy? In what parts of your work or life are you taking the easy route, doing what's comfortable and free of resistance, even if it's also common and generic? If you invested more into what you're doing, would it pay off?There was a recent post by Leo Babauta of Zen Habits titled "Do One Thing Well". Although he means literally one thing, I think the same way of thinking can be applied to the one thing that you're doing in the moment. Whatever you are focusing on right now, do it well. If that means reading this post and thinking about how to apply it to yourself, then pay attention and don't get distracted. If it means writing a new action cue, then don't get lazy with loops and push yourself to orchestrate in ways you never have before. Whatever you are doing right now, do it well.