I’m No Genius But This Is Pretty Obvious

By Paco Arespacochaga

When the iPad launched early this year, people were divided about its value and usage. There were those who saw its purpose from the “get go” while there were also those who felt that it was a waste of their money. And then of course, there were those who simply got excited about it because of the fashion statement it was going to create.

Although I still don’t own one, I am leaning toward purchasing the iPad. It just simply makes sense! And I’m no genius to see the importance of what this appliance/device can contribute to my simple daily life.

Let me name a few:

Consolidated Magazine & Newspaper Subscription: If you want to go green and save the planet, imagine how many trees can be saved by simply converting all of your magazine subscriptions on this nifty device?

Online Bill Pay Made Easier: While most of us have adapted the habit of paying our bills online from our desktops and laptops, the iPad has made it easier to pay our bills “on the go” without having to SQUINT at the little smartphone lcd screen.

Virtual Book Library: All your Sweet Valley High, Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, Tom Clancy, Dan Brown or whoever author you have in mind, and all their catalogue in the palm of your hand. Read whatever, whenever… WHEREVER! Imagine the amount of space you can reclaim at home. I heard that major publishers are releasing their catalog to the iPad.

Virtual Audio Library: iTunes. I don’t need to explain this. *wink*
Movies On the Go: Bring your “digital copy” movie wherever you go. If you need more movies, there’s always iTunes!

Apps, Apps and More Apps: Who isn’t amazed and amused by new apps, paid or free?
And I only scratched the surface of what it is and what it can do.

Now here’s the twist of everything I’ve written. I am not only excited with the iPad from a consumer standpoint. Instead, think about what the iPad, as a digital platform, can do to bring your business/personal brand in front of millions of people.

Now should be a good time to be talking to your marketing team about your online visibility and online reputation. You want to get in now and take as much market share as you can.

This isn’t going away folks. Embrace DIGITIZATION or be ready to lose market share.

Guitarist Series - Otchot Cortes

Otchot Cortes
by Paco Arespacochaga



What would have happened to me as a musician if I hadn’t encountered Otchot Cortes in my life? Maybe, I really wouldn’t be into music the way I turned out to be. I don’t know.

One thing I do know, Otchot thought me how to appreciate music for what it is and for what I could do to alter it. Alter it? WOW!

Otchot Cortes influenced me intellectually. I didn’t care much about his guitar playing style. I was more interested in “why” he came up with a certain part for a certain song. I was more intrigued with his philosophy. I wanted to pick his brains out. He encouraged me to fill my intellect with its own philosophical approach so that my thoughts can permeate through my music, releasing the hook of the song. He was always good at creating the hook!

Every now and then, whenever I think of writing an interesting song or an interesting blog, I simply ask myself… “What would Otchot do?” And from that answer, the choice is mine to follow or go against what his thought process would have been. The results always make me smile!

The Series

by Paco Arespacochaga
photo by Tune Jardinazo aka Clickrhappy

Here I am in Dallas TX trying to figure out what to do with my downtime and it occurred to me that I should write another blog!

Now, for those of you who have been following my blog on Twitter and Facebook and elsewhere, you know that I've been writing about topics that make us realize what we can do to be better. I appreciate the fact that you've liked what I've written.

To pay it forward, I'd like to start a tribute blog to people that have made an impact in my life. I'll call them the "Series". They could be broken into:

• Family Series
• Friends Series
• Guitar Series
• Co-Worker Series and whatever I Can think of.

I'll tag each "series" entry so that you can read it, link it or do what you want to do with it.

Today, I'll start with the Guitar Series

To Fish or Not to Fish

I’ve been helped and have helped. I’ve helped other people and have been helped by other people as well. I’ve benefited from all of the help I’ve received and I’ve felt blessed being able to help others that are also in need.


However, the one thing I’ve found to have been really beneficial to both me and whomever it was that’s helped me was the time spent to have taught me how to fish. And I’ve had quite a handful of “life fishing” lessons from people who took the time to show me the ropes and have taught me the rudiments to fish for my own food and to be able to be good at it so that I can then teach other people how to “fish” till they get good at it.


However, like many of you who have loved ones, we can get crazy and passionate in helping them that we tend to “fish” on their behalf. Instead of showing and teaching them how to cast a net, we set out to sea ourselves and feed them with our own catch. And there's no problem with that... until you're taking away from your own family's catch. But that’s our "nurture" instinct, specially toward other people who also matter to us. But does it truly help them? And does it truly help you?


Most of the time, the people who've ask for help and support aren’t the most sensitive about issues their "fishermen" are having. For example, in the past, I’d go ask for help from any of my aunts without conscious regard if they were capable of helping me or not at that specific moment. And sometimes, I'd feel bad if they couldn't spare me a "fish" or two. (how selfish!)


I would remind whoever that was helping me that they “committed” to fish for me! (was I even entitled?) I didn’t even care if that person was even in good shape to “fish” for me. It was all for my benefit at the expense of other people. It was their fault if they disappointed me. (how absurd!)


Falling face flat on the ground a decade ago made me realize that I had to learn how to fish for myself. I had to be a fisherman and not a mere consumer of someone else’s catch. I realized that the more I “set out to sea” to acquire my own catch, the more other “fishermen” were willing to help me out.


It wasn’t long until I had “seasoned” fishermen teaching me better principles on HOW TO FISH and how to multiply my catch exponentially. I earned the respect of others and I felt good about myself. I counted my blessings and have shared them as well. And it has been better, both for me and the person that I've helped. The result always yields a different kind of pride.


Now stop for a moment and think about where you are in the sea of life. Are you by the shore, waiting for the fishing boat to set in so that you can ASK (not buy) for some catch. Or are you out there with the rest of the fishermen, casting your net and taking home your own catch no matter how little… no matter how great?


Enjoy the week!


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Photo by Andy Zapata Jr.

Are You a Player or a Spectator?

By Paco Arespacohaga

At an early age, I learned that only 10 people (max) could play basketball at any given time. The rest will have to sit in the sideline or on the bleachers. They’re called spectators. The people on the court are called players. My dad, who was an avid sportsman, would always ask me if I was a player or a spectator. I remained silent. Playing sports wasn’t my thing. I did play sports but I was mediocre at it. I was better off being a spectator. But I had to please my dad.

In my mind, his question reverberated my thoughts… repeatedly I asked, “am I a player or am I just a spectator?” I was nobody at school. I was certainly not Mr. Popular. But I really refused to be a spectator. I was determined to find my voice, to find my calling, to find what I was good at and to really be good at it!

People close to me were really pigeon holing me to be a spectator, to remain on the sidelines. I REFUSED! (So should you if you’re in this place right now!)

I found refuge in music. I knew it was what I wanted to do. I told my parents I was going to pursue it and be a “player”. It was my calling! They gave me their blessing. As a matter of fact, my mother tried to be in every show I ever had up until the day she died. My father supported me in silence. After he passed on, I learned from a lot of people that my father would keep stock of my CDs in his car, randomly asking his peers or friends of his peers if they knew a musician named “Paco Arespacochaga”. Whether the answer was a “yes” or a “no”, he’d proudly hand over a poster of my band and a CD and claim, “the drummer of that band is MY son!”

I made a living being a musician. I was a player. I was in my playing field and I played the game well. I had many spectators. Moreover, they were called supporters or followers. They supported my body of work and I showed them how grateful I was. I still am!

But the lesson I learned from my father’s question was priceless. It became the gauge to whatever endeavor it was I was trying to achieve or accomplish. In everything I did, the question was clear, was I going to be a player or a spectator?

As a lover, as a father, as a husband, as a brother, as a musician, as a friend and as a person, I have to be a PLAYER. I can never just sit in the sideline. I HAVE TO PLAY!

Make it a great day!

The Summit of My Life

By Paco Arespacochaga

38 pushing 39 is a verbal statement running around my head. It can be depressing though. And while I try to smile at the minute accomplishments under my belt, pride fully engulfs me when I am reminded that I am married to the most beautiful woman in the world and am the father of two of the brightest kids in world. All of a sudden, the world becomes a better place again.

And it really is! But then I realize that I may just be at the summit of my life. Or maybe I’ve passed it. Or maybe, I’m way beyond it… the summit of my life. I don’t know and I don’t want to know. I do want to hope. I do want to hope that I live long enough to see my children have children of their own. I want to live long enough to enjoy life with my wife and just laugh and smile at the joy that is while watching the sunset beyond the horizon.

And though everyday seems to be a struggle, everyday remains a blessing, an opportunity to right what is wrong. And to take one step closer to ones dream. And like most, I do have a dream!

Like most nights, when all is asleep and I am the only one awake in the quiet of my living room, I am reminded once again that I am 38 pushing 39, fervently hoping that I am not as close to the summit of my life.