Got a hard drive full of half-finished songs? They’re not failures—they’re compost. Try this simple 3-step ritual to revisit your old demos with fresh ears. You might find your next song growing from the scraps. Includes a story, tips, and inspiration from Brian Eno.
How do you overcome self-doubt and find your creative voice? In this interview, I dive into my journey from drummer to singer-songwriter at 50, how songwriting became a tool for self-discovery, and the lessons I’ve learned along the way. We also explore my book Doubt Riding Shotgun and the power of music to heal and connect. Give it a listen here…
"The Power of a Fan Mail Folder"
When doubt or burnout creeps in, my Fan Mail folder is my anchor. Filled with notes from friends, family, and people touched by my music and coaching, it’s a reminder of the impact we can have—even when we don’t see it immediately. From a MySpace comment about a song I released in 2005 to heartfelt messages from clients, these echoes of love and gratitude remind me to keep going. Read on to see how this simple practice can keep you inspired.
"Self-doubt doesn’t have to drive the car."
At NAMM 2025, I delivered a workshop exploring the universal challenge of self-doubt for emerging musicians and creators. From learning how to reframe doubt to building a healthier mindset, this session was packed with actionable tools to help you grow as an artist. Sign up to access the full video and slides, and start transforming self-doubt into creative fuel!
Self-doubt can feel like a heavy weight, especially for creatives. I recently joined Erin MacCoy on her SoulBiz BFF podcast to talk about the interplay of doubt, creativity, and the transformative power of our voices. In this episode, I shared my journey of learning to love my voice and offered practical tools for building confidence and embracing self-expression. Tune in to discover how doubt can be a growth tool—and how your voice is one of your greatest strengths.
As the year wraps up, I’m reflecting on both the wins and lessons of 2024. While I didn’t meet every goal, I’ve created and grown in ways that make me proud. This newsletter is packed with two months of updates, from my latest single Irony Sings to airplay highlights, upcoming workshops, and insights on embracing creativity—imperfections and all.
Read this post for more 🎶 Music Updates
✨ Coaching Updates
transformational, even if they’re never released.
🎤 and more about NAMM 2025
Sometimes being 'too smart' can limit creativity. Unlearning helps us strip away old habits, letting curiosity guide the process and open up new creative pathways. In music and songwriting, breaking down foundations can lead to fresh inspiration and true artistic freedom.
As leaders rise in their careers, recognition often shifts from personal praise to compensation alone. Yet, even high-level professionals need to feel seen and appreciated beyond their paycheck. In this post, I explore why genuine acknowledgment matters at every level and share strategies to cultivate a workplace where all contributions are valued.
The Talent Trap: Embracing Boredom for Mastery
We often admire the talent of our favorite artists and athletes, but behind every performance lies hours of slow, repetitive practice. In this post, I share my journey as a songwriter and musician, learning how to love the grind of practice and the power of small, daily improvements. With insights from my mentor Stanton Moore, I explore how going slow and embracing boredom can unlock true mastery. Read on to learn how focusing on 1% progress a day can transform your skills.
Jazz camp is like Vegas for musicians—minus the neon. You take chances, crash, soar, and sometimes hit the jackpot. At the Port Townsend Jazz Workshop, even wrong notes lead to wins. It’s all groove, growth, and great people. Forget the slots—roll the dice on jazz camp instead.
This interview with Michael Shrieve covers Michael's reflections on his 25-year journey creating "Drums of Compassion," the influence of Olatunji, and how it shaped the album. We dive into personal stories and career milestones, including his time with Santana and other iconic musicians. Michael also shares how he overcame self-doubt and the importance of staying true to one's artistic vision. You'll gain insights into his creative process and his valuable advice for aspiring artists.
Exciting News: "Doubt Riding Shotgun" Audiobook is OUT!
I’m thrilled to announce that the audiobook version of "Doubt Riding Shotgun" is officially complete and will be available very soon! Recording and editing this audiobook myself was a labor of love. It was crucial for me to deliver this in my own voice, believing in the power of my own authentic, personal touch.
We often get caught in the "best practices bottleneck" - seeking advice from experts that doesn't apply to our unique business. This leads to analysis paralysis rather than action. The truth is you know yourself best. Instead of following someone else's best practices, just start doing and aim to continuously improve. Meet your audience where they are, build trust in the marketplace, and don't get hung up trying to check every box. Focus on what will drive real growth for your specific business.
As a former VP of Marketing, I juggled 100+ emails a day—now it's email, Slack, text, and nonstop social media. But how much is enough? How often should we post, respond, or engage? And who decides the rules for all this digital communication overload?
Why is context setting important for effective meetings? Even in a one-to-one conversation, context-setting is vital and often helpful to grounding the conversation and determining the agenda of what needs to be discussed. In an effort to help you have better meetings, here is a quick checklist to set the context and clarify the reason you are meeting: State what is the meeting about. Propose why is it important now and any recent developments. Define what you are trying to accomplish in this meeting. (Hint: the big opportunity — lean in folks! This is important.) Optional: If time allows, you might open the floor to questions before you begin. This can usually be done in less than one minute (with a few more minutes for questions).
Marketing 101 courses typically talk about the “4 Ps” of marketing: Product, Price, Promotion, and Place. While these are still important, I find that using 8 Ps is more nuanced and helpful when planning a product launch or new campaign. This article will help you think over each “P” below with my starter questions to see how you and your team might improve your next go-to-market plan, product launch or sales campaign.
This year, I fearlessly embraced my voice as a songwriter, releasing several songs that hold deep personal meaning. From overcoming grief to finding catharsis in music, I leaned into my doubts and discovered a new passion. Join me as I reflect on my creative rebirth, share my journey, and offer insights into how you can unlock your own voice.
Do you know what makes your heart sing? What lights you up? What makes your heart sing? Or as I like to say, what gives you goosebumps?
I think it’s really important to listen to your heart and body as they tell you how you find your best joy.
Inspired by a powerful message from Andrew Huberman’s podcast, I reflect on the idea of living without waiting for a diagnosis. Don’t wait for life’s wake-up call to start appreciating and acting on what truly matters. In this post, I discuss how the simple advice, "Don’t wait for the diagnosis," can motivate us to take action and embrace life fully.
Recently, I’ve had the opportunity to be interviewed on several podcasts where I discuss leadership development, self-doubt, and my coaching approach. Check out my conversations with Matt Poepsel, PhD, Sharon Spano on Other Side of Potential, and JP Hogan on Next Steps. We dive deep into topics like personal growth, the power of music, and how coaching helps us navigate life’s challenges.
Here's a fun and historic piece of music I performed on with Michael Shrieve (The original drummer for Santana who played at Woodstock ‘69)
I am so proud to have played at this event and am thrilled it ended up being something that Michael released.
I even helped composed few of the drum set grooves along with Michael and another Seattle drummer named Conrad Ormsby.
In my book "Doubt Riding Shotgun," I reference an inspiring story from the remarkable Irish poet, David Whyte. He once recounted an interaction with his aunt where she scoffed at his decision to become a poet. She said, "Well, you certainly must think highly of yourself!" And without hesitation, David replied, "In fact, I do! And so should you!"
This story has resonated deeply with many readers, so I thought I'd make a video reminding us all of the importance of embracing our worth and recognizing the unique qualities that make us special.
There is not book that can tell you the best coaching question to ask. Instead, I use my gut. My goal is to ask a great coaching questions to help the client learn what's the story behind the way the client is presenting what they are discussing? I want to help the client learn about their own story.
Self-doubt (aka as our inner critic) is trying to protect us. I like to imagine that doubt sees the rumble strips on the freeway and is warning us to stay in our lane. Once we tell doubt we hear the warning, we can often move on along our intended path.
My mom was great at knowing when she needed a break. After a long day, she’d say, "I think I need a mental health day," and take time to care for herself in a way that reconnected her to life. Inspired by this, I’ve come to think of these moments as "taking myself on a date." When we intentionally spend time alone—relaxing, reflecting, and nurturing ourselves—we create space to hear our inner wisdom. In this post, I share ideas for self-care practices to help you reconnect with yourself and embrace your worth.
In Doubt Riding Shotgun, Dave Hill Jr. explores how to work with self-doubt rather than against it. This book helps readers understand their inner critic and transform self-doubt into a manageable passenger on their journey. Through personal stories and practical advice, learn how to navigate imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and other common challenges.
Process goals focus on refining how you work rather than obsessing over the final outcome. By developing and testing processes, you can create a sustainable path to success that feels rewarding. Learn how to define, test, and refine your process goals for more effective and enjoyable business growth.
Process goals are a different way of thinking about working on your business. Instead of having “S.M.A.R.T.” goals that are specific measurable, attainable, , relevant, and time-bound, process goals help us work with harder to predict paths. If we are in-process, we are making progress. Refining the process is the goal.
Have you ever stopped to question your "should" voice? It’s bossy, isn’t it? In this post, I explore where our shoulds come from and how they shape our decisions. By becoming aware of their origins, we can choose which shoulds serve us and which ones we can let go. Dive into the learning with real-life examples of how to analyze and reframe your shoulds for a more intentional life.
Not every meditation session goes as planned—and that's okay! Sometimes, what you truly need is a nap. In this post, I reflect on how we can embrace both meditation and rest, dropping into whatever we need in the moment. Meditation isn't about perfection; it's about presence and self-compassion.

Dave Hill Jr.
Hi, I’m Dave. Thank you for reading my words. Wishing you great things inspiration.
Check out my book: Doubt Riding Shotgun to learn a more holistic way of working with your self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and inner critic.
Mosaic MI blends open mic energy with the intimacy of a songwriting circle. Whether you’re performing or just listening, this welcoming space invites connection, creativity, and community through the shared experience of music.