David Andrew Wiebe's Development Blog

Most of us are trying to be like people we weren't wired to be like, and then sit around wondering why we’re not as successful as they are. This is why I can’t help but cringe when I see an artist walk onstage at open mic night, wearing their singular influence on their sleeve. This phenomenon is the ugly twin of a cover band. (“Okay, already. We know you like Bob!”) Maybe that’s cruel. I know we all have to start somewhere, and I’m not down on newbies. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. No one is without influence, and we are all derivative of something. The thing is… Artistry comes from taking various ingredients to make your own soup. Expression comes from accepting and speaking your authentic truth. It’s easy for an artist, a side hustler, or even an entrepreneur to bypass this process entirely, thinking they are shortcutting their path to success. But they are really shooting themselves in the foot. Maybe they’re not missing out on the success or the money (debatable...

 Hollywood is calling! 🌴 I am beyond excited to head to the Musicians Institute for Music Pro 26, and I want to bring some of you along with me. This isn't just another music conference; it’s a masterclass in Creative Entrepreneurship featuring some of the biggest names in the game. Whether you're a gear head, a songwriter, or an independent artist looking for Creative Expansion, this event is built for you. What’s happening at Music Pro 26? ✨ A keynote from guitar icon Steve Vai on the art of composition. ✨ Insights into the "unlimited distribution" model from the experts at DistroKid. ✨ A look at the legendary craftsmanship of Paul Reed Smith (Paul, if you're watching, I'm still waiting on my PRS! 😉). ✨ Deep dives into session work and hits with David Paich of Toto. ✨ ...and much more The best part? I have a limited number of FREE badges to give away to my followers! 🎟️ If you can get yourself to Hollywood, I can help get you through the ...

 Lately, I’ve been going live a bit extemporaneously, taking you behind the scenes of what I’m working on creatively. A lot of entrepreneurs have camera crews following them around, turning their day into content. I don’t have that (yet!), but this is my DIY version of that idea. In this new video, I walk you through the real, messy process of designing a custom t-shirt I’ll be wearing at Music Pro '26 in Hollywood later this month—something that basically introduces who I am and what I do before I even say a word. You’ll see: - 🎬 Time-lapse from Session 1: Me trying a bunch of ideas that were way off from what I actually wanted (welcome to my neurospicy process). - 💬 How Your Feedback Changed Everything: I missed some of the live comments at first (thanks, StreamYard…) but when I finally saw them, I realized the design was a bit too vanilla and not “peacocking” enough. - ⭐ The Star That Changed the Design: A member of my Facebook group said, “Your brand needs a s...

Answering emails. Crushing to-do lists. Creating. Publishing. Showing up to every meeting. Being a good facilitator. Jumping on every opportunity. Demonstrating kindness. Helping others shine. That was me. But it wasn’t always for me. That’s the part that I think some people struggle to understand. I often sacrificed myself for others. Because I believed in them when they didn’t believe in themselves. Because kindness to me is not a ruse – it’s exactly who I am. But that person is gone. It’s not me anymore. And I’m probably more surprised than anyone. In the last few months, and especially in January, I’ve had a lot of time to reflect on my past, all the people who didn’t show up for me when I needed them to, the betrayers who sabotaged me when it mattered most, the countless challenges that nearly took me out, and the loneliness I’ve felt on this journey… (Okay, some of you reading this really don’t think I’ve gone through anything hard, but just in the last three years, I’ve gone thr...