Joyful Noises LLC

01/15/2026

That moment when I got to ask James Patterson a question...right after the group tiara photo! Because that is also a thing at Author Nation...

I wear many hats. Maybe my tiara should be my official marketing and copyediting hat?

(Also, I am actually 52 - this just happened to be the tiara I had handy.)

01/15/2026

I love this illustration by Victor Juhasz. Did anyone else feel like this when stepping into your first leadership role? I know I did...and I'm grateful for the supervisors, mentors, and coaches who guided me along the way. This is one of the reasons I'm so passionate about wholistic real-world supervision. Feel free to message me or check out my Linktree if you're curious to learn more:
https://linktr.ee/joyfulnoisesllc

And, if you connect with this post by JJasonHicks and his perspective on leadership, I invite you to join Leadership Lessons Learned. You will also receive 13 Actual Traits of Most Leaders when you sign up:
https://j-jason-hicks.kit.com/acccb03ceb

"One does not know what to expect when becoming a leader.
To embark on a leadership role is to step foot into a blood-soaked arena, unaware that you are a gladiator."
The War of Leadership, p.2

As I shared last week, when we are starting out in the work world, first jobs make a bigger impact than I initially realized. The camaraderie, the complaining, the drama, and all of the resulting ups and downs set up the framework of expectations I held for when I progressed through the career work world. I did not find what I expected.

Each new arena held surprises along with familiar characters and tropes. I began to see patterns in behaviors and people that helped me navigate difficult and sometimes treacherous waters. I was successful, but I was unfulfilled. Rather than putting the entirety of myself into my jobs, I took the learnings I gained from them and put these into my creative pursuits.

What were your first jobs? What do you remember most about them? How did they set up the expectations you had for future roles?

Each new job is a new adventure, a new opportunity to practice what you’ve learned before and to learn something new. A wider perspective and sense of play can help you apply these learnings beyond the work world into your creative pursuits.

Join Leadership Lessons Learned (also accessible via the Linktree in my bio): https://j-jason-hicks.kit.com/acccb03ceb

Illustration by

01/15/2026

Here is a for January, shared with gratitude for all the folks who joined our Grounded Gathering last night... Please share your favorite reflection resources so that we can continue to fill our cups and share our wisdom together.

01/15/2026

Some powerful reminders that are particularly timely after our Grounded Gathering last night - thank you for sharing, Sharon!

I hadn’t fully grasped how the idea of a better future sustained me – now I, like many others, find it difficult to be productive

01/14/2026

Thank you to The Neurodivergent Music Therapist for these creative self-care ideas! I'm excited to include them as part of our Grounded Gathering this evening...hope to see you there!
https://forms.gle/Hh9zVzoDzhpr78As8

How loyalty cards, tiny wins, and better tools are turning upkeep into an experiment I’m excited to try I’m trying something new right now, not because I’ve figured out self-care or finally unlocked the secret to consistency, but because I want a way to show up for myself that feels steady and...

01/14/2026

Helpful for parents/caregivers and music therapists...

On sorrowful days, many parents and caregivers are searching for ways to support their children as they hear about violence and traumatic events in the news. We’ve gathered trusted guidance and reputable resources to help you have age-appropriate, supportive conversations that can reduce fear and build a sense of safety. Visit our website to read Talking With Children About Violence in the News: Guidance for Parents and Caregivers and find tools to support your family during difficult times: https://namimn.org/talking-with-children-about-violence-in-the-news-guidance-for-parents-and-caregivers/

Via Early Risers Podcast

01/12/2026

Please register to join us so that we can continue to fill our cups and share our wisdom together:
https://forms.gle/By9J31u4HDAenUYd8

01/01/2026

Copyediting and marketing The War of Leadership (by JJasonHicks with illustrations by Victor Juhasz) has truly been a joy. This is SUCH an important book, and I am so excited for it to be out in the world - global release at the Tucson Festival of Books!

Join us in the arena: https://j-jason-hicks.kit.com/acccb03ceb

“Politics (Business) has no relation to morals.”
Niccolo Machiavelli

I’m not sure anyone knows what to expect when they enter the work world. I’m not sure anyone knows what to expect on their first day at a new job. To some degree, we are all a bit naïve when we enter those new arenas. There is so much to learn, and so much that is untaught.

For me, there was a progression moving from being utterly alone to being a part of a family. How about for you?

What did you expect in your first job? What was the reality?

Learning how to survive in the leadership ranks is a challenging process, and it IS possible. You are not alone.

Join Leadership Lessons Learned (also accessible via the Linktree in my bio): https://j-jason-hicks.kit.com/acccb03ceb

Illustration by Victor Juhasz

01/01/2026

As we begin this new year, I invite you to pause...and ground yourself in whatever ways are meaningful for you. And, if community is helpful for you in doing this, I encourage you to join us for our Grounded Gathering.

We will meet synchronously on Zoom on Wednesday, January 14th, 6:00 - 9:00 pm CST to reflect on, envision, and plan for the new year ahead.

This Grounded Gathering is open to ALL. You don’t need to be a music therapy student or professional. You are welcome to bring a friend, partner, or spouse, and you may join us for part or for all of the time. You may keep your video on or off, and you are welcome to use the reflection documents I will provide - or plan, create a vision board or artwork, play music, or do whatever else would be most grounding for YOU for the year ahead.

This gathering is free and will not be recorded. You will receive the Zoom link after registering. If you have any other questions, please comment or message me.

Register to join us using the link in this post or the Linktree in my bio so that we can continue to fill our cups and share our wisdom together:
https://forms.gle/By9J31u4HDAenUYd8

#2026

12/30/2025

It is truly a joy to have gotten to copyedit JJasonHicks's first non-fiction book, The War of Leadership! It is such an incredibly powerful book, and I can't wait for YOU to have the chance to read it, too! Global release is at the 2026 Tucson Festival of Books!

Sign up for Leadership Lessons Learned to find out more:
https://j-jason-hicks.kit.com/acccb03ceb

TITLE REVEAL!

Over the past few weeks, I've shared some of the things that keep us from our creative work and how to battle through them. I've intimated a bit about my own challenges and also about the books on the other side, including not only my epic high fantasy series The Annals of the Last Emissary but also my first nonfiction leadership book. Introducing:

The WAR of Leadership: Hard Lessons and Practical Truths for Surviving In and Beyond Leadership

When you sign up for Leadership Lessons Learned​, my new weekly email series that will begin in 2026, you will immediately receive my list of 13 Actual Traits of Most Leaders. You will also be the first to see the cover for The WAR of Leadership on January 1st! In addition, you will witness this book come to life and gain insights into the "shadow career" world I worked in while avoiding writing my books.

Sign up today via the Linktree in my bio or directly at https://j-jason-hicks.kit.com/acccb03ceb

The venture continues...

12/24/2025

It is truly a joy to serve as the Communications Coordinator for this incredible coalition of creative arts therapies associations!

What is NCCATA?

The National Coalition of Creative Arts Therapies Associations, Inc. (NCCATA), founded in 1979, is an alliance of membership associations dedicated to the advancement of the creative arts therapies professions. ​

​The Coalition includes the American Art Therapy Association (), the American Dance Therapy Association (), the American Music Therapy Association, Inc. (), the North American Drama Therapy Association (.dramatherapy), and the National Association for Poetry Therapy ().

Curious to learn more? Check out https://www.nccata.org/ (link also in bio).