Stay in Your Lane: The Power of Focus in Audio Engineering
“When you’re a race horse, the reason they put blinders on these things is because if you look at the horse on the left or the right, you’re gonna miss a step. That’s why they have blinders on. And that’s what people should have. When you’re running after something, you should not look left or right - what does this person think, what does that person think? No. Go.” - Jimmy Iovine from Defiant Ones.
There's a powerful lesson we can learn from horse racing that perfectly applies to building a career in audio. When race horses wear blinders, it's not to limit them - it's to empower them. Those blinders serve a crucial purpose: keeping the horse focused solely on the path ahead.
This concept, highlighted by Jimmy Iovine in "The Defiant Ones," strikes at the heart of what holds many engineers back in their careers. Let's break down why this matters for you.
The Comparison Trap
I see it all the time in my coaching practice - talented engineers getting derailed because they're too busy watching what everyone else is doing:
Constantly checking other engineers' credit lists
Obsessing over gear choices in other studios
Comparing Instagram follower counts
Worrying about who's getting which projects
Every minute spent focusing on others is a minute not spent developing your own sound, refining your workflow, or deepening relationships with your clients.
Put Your Blinders On
Here's what focusing on your own lane looks like in practice:
Define Your Sound Instead of chasing every mixing trend, develop your unique approach. What makes your mixes special? Double down on that.
Set Clear Goals Create specific, measurable targets for your career. Not based on what others are achieving, but on where you want to go.
Build Your Process Develop workflows and systems that work for you. Don't copy someone else's studio layout just because it looks good on YouTube.
Focus on Your Clients Pour your energy into delivering exceptional results for the artists who trust you with their music. Their success is your success.
The Power of Sustained Focus
When you remove the distractions of constant comparison, something amazing happens. You start making decisions based on what actually matters:
Does this new piece of gear serve my workflow?
Will this project help me grow in the direction I want to go?
Is this mixing technique enhancing my unique approach?
Does this business decision align with my goals?
Moving Forward
The next time you feel the pull to check what everyone else is doing, remember the race horse. Put your blinders on and ask yourself: "What's the next step in my lane?"
Your path is unique. Your sound is unique. Your journey is unique.
Keep your eyes forward. Run your race.
Remember, the most successful engineers I've worked with aren't the ones who perfectly mimicked others - they're the ones who stayed focused on developing their own voice and vision.
What's one step you can take today to better focus on your own path?
