Meet Brian Goodall | Nonprofit Director and Songwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brian Goodall and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brian, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
This is REALLY HARD and I’m constantly trying to figure it out. I work diligently to prioritize relationships and protect my time, but one thing I’ve learned is that there’s no such thing as finding true balance. I think the pursuit of balance is too rigid. Picture a gymnast working to stay upright on a beam while dodgeballs are flung their way. Life is unpredictable and wildly out of our control. What I’m learning is that it’s all about creating rhythms — like a drummer who’s able to adjust and find a groove when instruments are added or taken away, or when the beat completely changes. For me that means trying to identify my most important activities and relationships in my world, ones that will elevate all of my work, and creating space on my calendar to prioritize them. Often they fall in the “Essential Non-Urgent” category (for those who remember Stephen Covey’s four quadrants of time management). If I don’t put them on my calendar, they won’t get my time. And because they’re non-urgent, if I miss here and there as life happens, my world won’t fall apart.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve been smitten by the songwriting process since elementary school. That passion and curiosity has stayed with me to this day. Throughout my life I’ve written music for just about every genre available, from full orchestra to hip hop. One of my majors in college was Music Theory and Composition. Although I pursued songwriting at a collegiate level, creating music was mostly relegated to a hobby I would engage in on the side. That all changed when I started a project in 2012 that involved collaborating with other songwriters, particularly on music projects that positively impact my community. It’s now my full-time job. I love being involved in meaningful work and I love partnering with musicians and artists as they pursue meaningful work.

Collaborating with others can be super scary. You make yourself so vulnerable. There’s huge risk involved when you bare your soul and wait for the response. I’ve had to overcome so much fear and insecurity. I’ve had to figure out how to define my mission in order to protect myself from comparing with others. I’ve had to fight critical thinking. And I’ve had to persist through rejection over and over and over again. Persistence is, in my view, the most important character quality for artists and musicians.

I’ve learned there are so many different ways to approach the songwriting process. Everyone I meet has a different approach. I’ve also learned that there’s an important place for every songwriter, regardless of how popular or skilled they are. Music is by nature subjective. There are ways we might define musical excellence, but the waters tend to get really murky when we decide what’s “good” or “bad.” Someone might say Taylor Swift writes bad music, but then tens of millions of others would strongly disagree. It’s so subjective.

We all want to know if we have what it takes. If we’re searching to find that answer before we take the risk, we’ll never write music. How many people need to approve your music before you feel qualified to write? It’s not your job to decide whether or not you have what it takes. In the same way, it’s also not your job to decide for others whether or not they have what it takes. If you feel called to write music, you need to write music. Period. It doesn’t matter if it blesses one billion people or only one person.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m not sure how many people outside of my city know this, but Tucson has some unbelievable coffee. I’m a bit of a coffee connoisseur. I’ve explored a wide variety of roasters from places around the world. My favorite roaster on the entire planet, though, is right here in the Old Pueblo. Presta Coffee Roasters has several locations around town. I like their shop near downtown the best. It’s located in Mercado San Agustin which is a market with eateries and shops all surrounding a beautiful courtyard area arranged for outdoor dining, small concerts, and just chilling out. Grab a cup of the Costa Rican brew and then take a couple of steps next-door to La Estrella Bakery to combine the flavorful coffee with a delicious Mexican pastry. A perfect pairing! It must be noted, though, Presta isn’t the only amazing coffee roaster in Tucson. Savaya, Blessed Grounds, Yellow Brick, and Arbuckle provide outstanding competition. They’re all great.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The correct answer here is my wife (haha), Kate, who has the strongest voice (outside of God) to build confidence in me through all of my risk taking. There are so many people and groups who have poured into me throughout the years — more than I could mention here. And I’m so grateful. But the name that immediately comes to mind is Dennis Watson. Dennis coached and mentored my WEEKLY for over 11 YEARS. He walked with me through some of my most challenging seasons and guided me in the process of developing such a strong clarity about my life, my relationships, and my work.

Website: citypsalms.com

Instagram: instagram.com/citypsalms

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/brian-goodall

Facebook: facebook.com/CityPsalms

Youtube: youtube.com/@citypsalms5257

Image Credits
Personal photo: Patrick Murphy