my new job title

Recently a friend said to me, "I want to know what Caleb can do without a drum."

At one point in my life, maybe a decade or so ago, that would've been a tough pill to swallow. At that time, all I wanted was to be known as a drummer. It was everything to me to have that moniker bestowed upon me professionally and socially.

But now, my friend's curiosity resonates. I feel a bit like I've put myself in a box as a "drummer" and even as a "percussionist"... and I'd say I have a healthy dose of claustrophobia and don't love being in boxes. (I also acknowledge that Caleb at 26 would've been SO STOKED to have this honor and privilege, so simultaneously patting myself on the back for this achievement.) In a recent whiteboard session with a close friend and collaborator, I wrote about my desire to "go beyond drumming."

And so, in my winter hibernation mode — while I felt like a little seed underground waiting for the sun to help me grow — I searched and dug and considered.

I landed on two words that I've never heard strung together, and they excited and invigorated me: "Rhythmic Catalyst"

Immediately, thinking about Rhythmic Catalyst as a role — a new job — started to open up new possibilities and broke down the walls of the aforementioned box. It took me outside of me. Instead of asking "how can I, Caleb, apply my skills to this project or potential client?" I could ask, "what would a Rhythmic Catalyst do in this situation?" "How could a Rhythmic Catalyst be effective and helpful in this project?"

When I think of myself as a drummer, it denotes a thing that I do — I play the drums. As a Rhythmic Catalyst, my work is automatically bigger than me; people are precipitated to access rhythm. Having a focus on other people has always been important to me, and this distinction helps me lean more deeply into that desire and intention.

I also realized that, if I zoomed out and looked at my work, catalyzing rhythm in others is basically what I've been doing...

I see it in corporate workshops when I hand over the reins to a group of 30 team members to create their own beat and explore how that can translate to problem solving and team dynamics in the workplace.

I see it in sound meditations and breathwork sessions when people fall into the natural rhythm of their breath and can feel the groove of their body creating a beat. Bonus points when they start tapping on their bodies, on the floor, or engaging in some kind of horizontal dance.

I see it when I'm performing and a quarter of the audience starts air drumming (or actually elbowing their way to play my drum).

The reminder that I love to share is that rhythm is everywhere in our lives. We have a rhythm to how we communicate (and that rhythm likely changes depending on who we're communicating with!); we have a rhythm to how we interact with and go about our daily routines; and yes, our bodies are rhythmic and everything happening inside of us ebbs and flows rhythmically.

(Finding "rhythm" in Niseko)

For years, my question has been, wouldn't it benefit us to be in touch, or even more in touch with rhythm? With our rhythms?

This, I've come to discover, is where my unique ability lies. I connect people to rhythm, and that connection creates better communication, less anxiety, and more self confidence, or, put another way: unlimited possibilities. This isn't just about drumming, and that's what excites me. But, because of my understanding of drumming, of rhythm, I'm uniquely qualified to be a catalyzer of rhythm for others.

My sharing of this realization isn't to sell you anything. This, to me, feels like a proclamation as I'm emboldened by this discovery and this shift in how I view myself and my work. Drums and percussion will undoubtedly always be a part of who I am and how I create. And, I'm also opening myself up to playing with this new "job title."

I'm here to be a Rhythmic Catalyst; to be your Rhythmic Catalyst. What does that mean or what could that mean for you? How would catalyzing rhythm in your life be helpful? Where could you see an opportunity for a stronger groove?

To set you up in a new groove for today, I made you this playlist.

Thanks for reading and for being you.