Josh Kear, 'Need You Now' Songwriter, Shares His Inspiration for Living Life

Picture perfect memories,
Scattered all around the floor.

If there's one thing that can reach our hearts and minds, it's music. A simple lyric or a catchy melody can transport us to a moment forever frozen in time. Music makes us dance, even if we're not dancers, and sing, even if we can't carry a tune. It gives us the ability to express ourselves and to say the words we don't know how to say.

A great song inspires us, but rarely do we get a glimpse of the inspiration behind the music -- the songwriters.

The above lyrics are the intro to the song, "Need You Now," recorded by Lady Antebellum, co-written by Hillary Scott, Dave Haywood and Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum and Nashville Grammy Award-winning songwriter, Josh Kear, joint recipients of the 2011 Grammy for Best Country Song of the Year and for Song of the Year (in all genres)!

Kear won his first Grammy in 2007 for co-writing Carrie Underwood's No. 1 song, "Before He Cheats." He's also written hits for Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw, Jimmy Buffett, Hank Williams, Jr., Martina McBride, Gloriana, Kellie Pickler, Gary Allen and Gweneth Paltrow, to name just a few.

"Need You Now" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, with nearly 500,000 copies sold in the first week! It has been certified four times platinum by the R.I.A.A. and is one of the most downloaded songs in history. Kear, along with Scott, Haywood and Kelley are also in elite company. They join the songwriters of Willie Nelson's hit, "Always On My Mind," as the only songwriters to ever receive the Grammy for the Country Song of the Year and for the overall Song of the Year in the same year.

Josh Kear's music inspires us, so we asked him to share his inspiration for living life. We're honored to share it with you here.

According to Kear:

1. There's no such thing as an overnight success. It's a matter of dedication, hard work, the right timing and meeting the right people. Keep the vision strong and continue moving towards your dream.
2. Collaboration works. There is a special energy that happens when you're bouncing ideas off of one another. Several people together can accomplish more than the combined result of the same people working individually.
3. Take the first step, even if you don't know the "right way" to do it. There is no wrong way to follow your dream. The important thing is to leave the judgment behind and just go do it, without the pressure of doing it the "right" way.
4. Be flexible and embrace change. Priorities change, and it's okay to go with the flow and make new goals.
5. Adversity happens to all of us. Fear blocks our creativity, so focus strictly on the joy of the opportunity and block out all of the negative self judgment, doubts and fears. Continue to follow the dream, regardless.
6. Start from where you are now. Take your dream seriously enough to prepare and do the hard work. Remember that the good idea you have today may be the one that gets you enough practice, so when you get a great idea, you'll know what to do with it.
7. Take the time to create. Set the space and block off time with the intention of following your dream during those hours or even minutes, if that's all the time you have.
8. Be grateful. When everything's going really, really good, be grateful for how well it's going. And, when things aren't really, really good, be grateful for the things in your life that are. Focus on what's good, rather than the things that seems to be going wrong around you. Be grateful for what you already have.
9. Follow your bliss. Find that which makes you truly happy when you're doing it, and then make that the thing that you spend the greatest percentage of your time doing.
10. Surround yourself with people who love you and whom you love. Surround yourself with those whom you are grateful for and who are grateful for you.

Just like powerful lyrics and a beautiful melody make a great song, this inspiration sounds like the perfect blend for creating a successful, inspired life.

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We invite you to listen to today's Free Inspired Interview with host, Gail Lynne Goodwin, Ambassador of Inspiration from InspireMeToday.com and today's guest, Josh Kear. Also, we invite you to check out our daily free inspiration! Thank you!

 

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Comments

[Monica Strobel]

02:11 PM on 04/07/2011

As Josh says, taking the first step is so important-- how many of us want, for instance, to write a book "someday" but never do? The best way to attract loving people who are the kind around whom you'll be most productive and happy is not just to be grateful for them, but to voice that in regular appreciation, too. I so appreciate hearing where this award-winning songwriter gets his inspiration-- and you, too!
www.complimentquotient.com

[sandrazimmer]

03:26 PM on 02/23/2011

Josh Kear has given us a roadmap for freeing our creative expression. Self-expression is one of the most life transforming activities possible. When we express ourselves freely, we also discover who we authentically are. We connect with our soul.

I can't get "Need You Now" out of my head. It is such a compelling melody and story! Josh and co-writers have captured an energy that digs deeply into our souls, reminding us that we can't always choose who we need. Love has it's own reasons.

Sandra Zimmer
www.self-expression.com