S3E42 3_25_24 Nikki Abissi: Trombonist, Educator, Inventor, Entrepreneur.

Guest: Nikki Abissi, professional trombonist Key Topics: Nikki's musical journey from growing up around NYC to attending Juilliard, New World Symphony, and becoming an orchestral musician Dealing with performance anxiety, negative self-talk, and the importance of mindset work The "3 envelope" audition preparation strategy Bringing a sense of "play" back into music practice Losing your professional identity and how to rebuild Nikki's invention of the "Extend Bone" slide extension device Being newly diagnosed with ADHD as an adult The value of normalizing struggles and being vulnerable Takeaways: Have strategies and techniques for audition prep beyond just the music Find ways to quiet the analytical brain and focus on performing Titles don't matter as much as value you provide - build an authentic platform Normalize discussing mental health, mindset, and personal struggles Read "Peak" by Anders Ericsson on developing expertise deliberatively Memorable Quotes: "My other superpower is I don't care about being vulnerable and honest." "Your title doesn't matter. What matters is can you solve a problem for someone."   Stay Connected with Us: Subscribe to the Honesty Pill YouTube Channel for the latest episodes and updates. Follow us on Instagram for behind-the-scenes content and exclusive updates. Sponsor Message: This episode is brought to you by the Yamaha Corporation of America. Visit Yamaha Corporation of America to learn more about their products and services.