My passion for creativity originated from my love of guitar & music.

As a kid, my parents were always playing an eclectic mix of music from my dad’s extensive vinyl record collection. I was exposed to some of the best bands and musicians of all time across so many different genres (e.g. rock, jazz, blues, funk, pop, classical, soul) from a very early age.

At age 11, I began taking guitar lessons and became OBSESSED with playing guitar, creating songs, jamming with other people, and discovering new great music.

I’ve played in all sorts of bands since then - rock, pop, jazz, funk, country, hip hop - you name it. And I’ve created original music for myself, with producers who’ve had billboard charting hip hop songs, for podcasts, for TEDx events, and animations.

These days my primary focus in music is on creating wild & crazy, original ​​kids music - not your cookie-cutter kids music - inspired by my wild & crazy 3-year-old son, Hendrix.  I do this under the artist name, MrBoodaddy.  My latest release is called Trash Truck :)

After I graduated college, I founded an online community for guitar players called GuitarPlayerZen. 

This community was focused on helping people develop their own unique style of playing and approach their playing from a more psychological, developmental, and contemplative manner.  And I interviewed a ton of professional guitar players and created audiobooks and lessons to help guitar players make music their living.

With this, I learned that I had a deep passion for coaching & teaching people how to best tap into, and amplify their creativity.

Unfortunately, GuitarPlayerzen.com got severely hacked - and I lost everything.

It's now some weird spammy affiliate site that somehow is still up and running (bleh).

My band dissolved, and somehow I found myself in a HORRIBLE job experience as a sales representative in a Fortune 500 company (wtf!?!?). 

Around this same time, my band wasn't working out - it was clear that despite how talented we were at creating & performing our original songs, that the lead singer and I just had different visions about where we wanted to go next.

I didn't know what to do and was experiencing a lot of pressure from people around me to get a "real job."

So I did.

On paper, my new looked like a great opportunity, but in actuality, it was a toxic work situation with a boss who managed everyone out of fear & anxiety.  It was his way or the highway - and there was no room for creativity.  During this time I completely burnt out - and even developed chronic fatigue syndrome due to a confluence of other factors as well.

It was one of the lowest times in my life where I felt completely lost.  

Looking back, it's no wonder I felt so bad. 

I had gone astray from my authentic values & goals and landed in a soul-crushing situation where creativity & authenticity were disallowed. 

But then everything changed...

I remember it like yesterday.  There I was, sitting in my favorite Dallas, TX coffee shop, feeling lost and searching for answers on how to get my life back on track.

I had with me my favorite book of all time, Flow: The Study of Optimale Experience.  I was hoping that somehow, it would give me a clue as to where to go next with my life.  And it delivered...

I remember turning to the back author page and finding out that Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi had actually founded a graduate program in positive psychology out in Los Angeles County at Claremont Graduate University.  

Suddenly, I had a grand vision of what my life could be like, and how I could contribute towards helping people live more creative, authentic, meaningful lives.

A few years ago, I completed my PhD in Positive Organizational Psychology from Claremont Graduate University, where I studied under the author of “Flow” & founder of positive psychology, Mihaly (Mike) Csikszentmihalyi 

My research focused on how to help people learn, develop, and lead more effectively to better achieve creative goals in their work.

Around and during the same time as I was finishing my PhD,  I served as Head of Talent & Organization Development at a couple of creative marketing agencies based in Los Angeles, where I designed leadership coaching and performance development programs for creative leaders & employees.

It was during this crazy busy time when I was working full time, trying to finish my PhD, juggling a new baby, doing my coaching on the side, AND writing music that I REALLY refined my skills, process, and coaching approach to help creative professionals & leaders bring their biggest ideas to life (while juggling a million other things).

I am always looking to sharpen my skills and level up the value I bring to my creative clients. 

Recently, I've become an ACE-certified coach after leveling up my coaching game through an innovative coaching development program designed by David Peterson the #1 coach in the world and former Head of Google's Executive Coaching & Leadership team.

I've created 3 unique online learning courses on creative work & leadership in partnership with LinkedIn Learning and Domestika - and plan on creating more courses to contribute to my mission of helping 1 million people bring their biggest ideas to life and scale their impact.

And I am always in the process of developing impactful new 1-on-1 and group coaching programs towards fulfilling my mission of helping 1 million creative people bring their biggest ideas to life.

So, what about you?

What's your story?

What journey have you been on - and more importantly, where would you like your journey to take you next?

Let's Connect.

Let's chat more about how I can help you design your ideal creative life.
If we're not the right fit, then I will help you find a coach that is.

My Creative Projects I'm Currently Excited/Proud About

Strategies to Get (and Stay) Unstuck - LinkedIn Learning (Nov 2021)

As a creative person, the absolute worst feeling in the world is to feel stuck, to not be moving your ideas forward and out into the world.

But as you grow in your career and tackle more challenging problems, you'll inevitably get stuck along the pursuit of your biggest creative goals. The good news is that, despite how it feels, there are clear actions you can take to get yourself unstuck and keep yourself that way.

This course is all about getting unstuck and creating meaningful momentum with your creative work.

Check it out here on LinkedIn Learning. I believe it should be free for you within the first 24 hours of clicking this link - or if you had a subscription to LinkedIn Learning

Daddy Skeleton (Oct 2021)

Ever heard kids music that actually rocks? Me neither. That's why I create the kids music that I do (and because my son, Hendrix, absolutely loves to rock, too!)

This is a Halloween track inspired by a goofy game Hendrix and I started playing months before Halloween (for some reason, Hendrix has been completely obsessed with Halloween and Halloween songs.

This is just the single for now, but I plan on releasing a Halloween EP in 2022.

Check it out here (on Bandcamp), or click on image below.

Trash Truck (Feb 2021)

You guessed it, the title track of this EP originates for the sheer joy & excitement my son gets from seeing trash trucks on trash day.

Other tracks include bangers like I'm Gonna Do This, Swiffer Boy, and Rock in the Bucket.

This album has been described as "Beastie Boys for Babies" by the head of NARIP.

Check it out here (on Spotify), or click on image below.

Pat Your Belly Like a Hippo (July 2020)

I have another batch of 3 wild songs that I created, performed, and produced that captures the essence of Hendrix's experience from 12-18 months.

It has been a lot of fun creating goofy music for toddlers that integrates my own musical tastes.

Check it out here, or click on image below.

The Hendrix Experience: Year One (Dec 2019)

After the birth of my totally awesome son, Hendrix, I was inspired to write & produce music for and about babies & toddlers that deliberately stands out from traditional "baby/kids music" - music that draws upon the true perspective, feelings, and experiences of the baby/toddler (as well as the parents) that is also catchy, singable, and fun for both baby and parent.

I drew upon my decades of guitar playing, my eclectic music experience, and my influences ranging from Jimi Hendrix, Hip Hop, Pop, Funk, Jazz, and Blues to create The Hendrix Experience: Year One, an album for and about my son. This was released on December 29th, 2019 (his 1st birthday). Check it out here.

*All music has been tested and approved by my son. Guaranteed to satisfy any baby or toddler with good taste in music.