Beginner Energy: What DJing Is Teaching Me About Leadership - Newsletter #39

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A few months ago, I started learning to DJ.

Not because I had to. Not because it was part of my job. But because I was curious. Because I wanted to make joy loud. Because something in me said, just try it.

So there I was—headphones on, gear I barely knew how to use in front of me, every button looking like it could launch a spaceship. And my inner voice saying: “Are we seriously doing this?”

Yes. We were.

And let me tell you, there is something humbling and electrifying about being a beginner again.

Especially when most of your day job involves knowing things. Speaking. Leading. Being the person who is expected to have the answers.

In those DJ lessons, I wasn’t leading the room. I wasn’t on stage. I wasn’t the one with the confident plan. I was fumbling. Learning. Starting from scratch.

And I loved it.

Beginner energy is underrated

We often associate expertise with confidence and leadership. And yes, experience is powerful. But there is a special kind of strength in beginner energy, when your mind is open, your ego is quiet, and your curiosity is guiding the way.

Being new at something strips away the polish. It asks you to listen closely. To try. To mess up. To keep going.

And in that space, something beautiful happens. You remember how to learn. You start asking better questions. You become a student again, and that humility softens you. It makes you more human.

The mindset of a DJ, and a leader

One of the things I love about DJing is that it’s not about controlling the room. It’s about reading the room. You are listening, adapting, responding. You are creating a vibe in partnership with the people in front of you.

That’s not so different from leadership, is it?

At its best, leadership is not about having the loudest mic. It is about paying attention. Adjusting your pace. Trusting your instincts, while remaining open to change.

A DJ does not just drop a playlist and walk away. She watches. She listens. She flows with the moment.

That is what I want to do more of as a leader. Not just hold space, but move with it.

Joy belongs in learning

There’s a myth that says we can only be serious leaders if we are serious all the time. That joy, play, and creativity belong after hours.

But the truth is, joy fuels everything.

Joy keeps you in it when things get hard. Joy gives you stamina. Joy is where resilience lives.

Every time I cue up a track and something clicks, even if it’s small, I feel it. That little spark that says, yes, this is worth it.

You do not need to be perfect to feel that joy. You just need to show up. Keep trying. Laugh a little.

Try something that makes you feel new again

Maybe DJing isn’t your thing. Maybe it’s painting. Or poetry. Or roller skating. Or finally learning how to use that design tool at work that’s always intimidated you.

Whatever it is, let yourself be new. Let yourself be bad at something. Let yourself be lit up by something that isn’t tied to your job title or résumé.

You can monetize it or not. You can post about it or not. Just let it be yours. Let it feed you.

We lead better when we remember how to begin

When you’ve been doing something for a long time, it is easy to forget what it felt like at the start. DJing is helping me remember.

It is reminding me that being the expert is not the only way to be powerful. That being in the mix, learning, laughing, and letting others teach you is a form of leadership too.

So here’s your reminder, friend. You don’t have to know it all. You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to stay open.

That is where the magic lives.

Big love and big bass 💜

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