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

Hi Liza, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
This is a big one for me! I used to be a self-professed “workaholic,” and that was a badge I wore proudly. I think when you grow up with immigrant parents, it is common to be raised to believe that ONLY hard work will take you far. It has taken me YEARS to slowly figure out that, at least for me, the energy-burn was more wasteful than productive, and I never knew how to work SMARTER rather than HARDER. I kept constantly putting myself in situations where I really wasn’t ultimately going to thrive. I think the year 2021 was a turning point for me. Many of us struggled with the pandemic blues, and we were forced to be locked inside with our thoughts the year prior. That led me straight into a state of depression I had never really experienced before. Finding “balance” was essential in my recovery from that. I knew that if I didn’t start handling myself with care, I wasn’t going to be good at anything or for anyone. I started by creating small routines and setting some boundaries. I would say, “OK, no phone when I first wake up,” or “10pm is my cut-off time for work, no matter what!” Those little things helped me reshape my process and put my mental health first. I also make it a point to get some intense exercise, even if it is only once in a given week. I also learned to say “NO”, if I feel that something isn’t going to help my long-term goals. All of these things combined have helped me be more focused, more productive, and experience a lot less burn-out than I was experiencing before. Ultimately, you have to prioritize your energy and time, which, if lacking, can cost you more money in the long run!
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve been performing for about 30 years of my life, was a professional songwriter for 10 of those years, and since have gained experiences in many facets of the business- from vocal coaching, vocal producing, artist development, and now content creation. It has been a fun, but wild ride. A career in the arts can be a rush and a mind-screw all at the same time. Of course, I can only speak for myself. There were moments that felt like they “landed in my lap,” and others I had to kick and scream for. All the while, I felt the wins and losses both very deeply. But, along the way, I’ve learned to try to stay focused on not creating from a place of ego. Every time I put something out there, I ask myself if it’s providing value for someone. Now, my focus is on content for my YouTube channel. There, I create videos where we check out some of the internet’s favorite performances and music with the intention of “Learning from Our Faves.” I love the community we’re building. They let me know if I’m sucking, OR they let me know if I’m providing that value. To me, that exchange is what it’s all about. I hope I can continue to create a non-judgmental space for music lovers and singers-alike to share in their love for their favorite music and artists, while learning along the way.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
First things first, I would ask all my very talented musician friends where they are performing that week and recommend any one of their shows! You can often find them at great places like Neme Gastro Bar, Kuba Cabana, Bougainvillea’s, Faena or the like. And, although I am admittedly more of a homebody these days, I would say food is still important to my husband and me, so I recommend trying La Fresa Francesa in Hialeah and Sweet Melody Ice Cream’s “ventanita” in South Miami.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to shoutout my family for supporting me to the fullest since day one, my husband for encouraging me to start my YouTube channel, as well as teaching me how to shoot and edit all my content, and my late friend, Jorge Gonzalez, for mentoring me early on in my music career. There are also many singers, songwriters, producers, and performers who have inspired me along the way, and I hope I’ve done a good job of letting them know how grateful I am for all of them. Particularly, genius guitarist, Camilo Velandia, who recommended me for this series!

Website: LizaQuin.com

Instagram: @LizaQuin

Twitter: @Liza_Quin

Facebook: Facebook.com/LizaQuinOfficial

Youtube: YouTube.com/LizaQuin

Other: @LizaQuinClips on TikTok

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