1. Wait an hour before responding, ideally two.
  2. Before going to bed, leave a note on my desk that tells me to do one creative thing in the morning before looking at any screens.
  3. It can always use more reverb.
  4. Avoid people who take themselves seriously.
  5. Write it down immediately. I will forget.
  6. Whatever I'm making had better be fun because I'm certainly not doing it for the money.
  7. Do not confuse my beliefs, complaints, and politics with having a personality.
  8. The best advice I’ve ever received was from a profane old Buddha in New Orleans: “Opinions kill motherfuckers. Experience saves lives.”
  9. Make it a game: "How quickly can I let this go?"
  10. Algorithmic recommendations are poison, cf. "the freedom to choose what is always the same." Never forget the joy of learning to deal with a piece of music or writing or art on its terms, even if it takes a while.
  11. For every hobby and pastime—music, running, movies, photography—there’s always a middle-aged man nearby taking it way too seriously. Don't be that guy.
  12. Artificial intelligence cannot make cool shit, but it can help me learn how to make cool shit.
  13. Look out for the moment when I make a situation about me. It's usually not.
  14. Waking up early does not make me a dork.
See also: the heavy metal version from Peter Rukavina.