Frank Sinatra Does Not Move Pianos
![](https://stevenpressfield.com/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/963b879b4be60471e157b7405ad127ab-circle-43dd749c9b633370d362bd92481c144a-5a5e21dc7eb3b.png)
This story (and the principle behind it) comes from my entrepreneur guru, Dan Sullivan. Thank you, Dan!
When Dan was in the army, his job was to book talent to entertain the troops. One of the singers he contracted was Frank Sinatra. Dan watched Frank work for several days. His big takeaway:
Frank Sinatra does not move pianos.
Frank does two things and two things only: he sings and he prepares to sing.
![](https://stevenpressfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/sp-sinatra-532x355.webp)
Dan applies this principle today to his coaching of high-end entrepreneurs, but it applies equally to you and me as writers and artists, meaning …
Concentrate on the one thing you do best and delegate everything else.
My own big realization about myself from getting burned out in the California wildfires: I’ve been living the Frank Sinatra life. I write and I prepare to write.
I’m not worth a damn at moving pianos.
This is not good, since now all I have to do is move pianos.
The weird part, when I think about the notes and emails I get from my fellow writers and artists, is that often they are GREAT at moving pianos … but they experience trouble when they try to sing and prepare to sing.
Do I have a solution? No. Do I even have a suggestion? Maybe.
I’m trying to switch my own brain into piano moving mode, at least for 50% of my day.
Maybe for all of us when we have trouble sitting down to our writing or our art … we should switch into Frank Sinatra mode, even if it’s only for one hour.
We don’t move pianos. We sing and we prepare to sing.
What a great story about a great performer! And I read it just when I’d sat down and decided to focus on what’s most essential in my screenwriting/ directing/ producing goals, and nothing else. But then, of course, I got sucked into the temptation to reply to texts, subscribe to a new book list, and check my email; the latter of which led me to this story at just the right moment to remind me that I’ve just picked up a piano to move rather than preparing to sing. Now I’ll get back to that. Thanks so much for the timing on this post!
That was touching. It made me tear up. Thank you!
Such a good way to describe it – thank you – it was so simple and zen in style. We do one thing and another, if we want to do that well, and not all of the flurry of the distractions of life. Thanks.
Perfect follow-up “on the other hand” to “NO.”
I was once trying to get through a narrow hallway in a school in Jerusalem, around a Rabbi and an Arab painter arguing that his workers were there to paint, not move furniture. In my best phrase-book Arabic, I said, “asmah li — excuse me.” I guess I got the accent right, because the Arab pivoted to me, saying — in Hebrew — “He speaks Arabic!” Then he went into a rant. He was sorely disappointed that I didn’t understand a word he said. https://web.archive.org/web/20170113185840/http://hamodia.com/features/nominating-the-predicate/
It’s so awesome to find another frum Yid on these threads!
Short and punchy article this week. Thank you Steven, point taken
Every time I sit down to write the distractions begin, a text, a phone call, a knock at the door, etc. I feel the need to post a message or a sign Dirty Harry style. “I’m already disturbed. You’ve got to ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky?’ Well, do ya punk?”
Others do not realize the transition it takes to get the mind from moving pianos to singing and preparing to sing.
Steve, thanks for hitting the keys each week for all of us out here.
I’m right on it! Another new sign for my workroom door! Thanks for the inspiration!
You’re right, Jackie. I does take quite a transition especially when your day is filled with disruptions. I’ve been thinking a lot about this the past year or so of constant unavoidable disruptions. The only good transition I’ve found is to create a trigger that resets my brain into ‘work’ mode from ‘non-work’ mode. Not foolproof but most of the time it works. Have to use it multiple times a day so its getting ingrained pretty well now.
Thanks Steve for another great illustration of the artist life and best wishes in your moving pianos role.
Appreciate the advice, Lin. I’ll give it a go. Good to hear from you.
I move pianos in service to those who sing.
Jack, this is a noble service. I’m a singer and rely on my piano daily. Thank you for what you do.
I am so sorry to hear about you getting burned out. period.
Same here.
That is a great perspective. Focus.”Be a writer, singer, dancer, painter” for one hour or two hours. Be that thing. Thanks for your words. And so very sorry for what that fire has taken from you and so many others.
Ha! Literally, this is what I actually do! I sing and prepare to sing. The prep includes composing the songs and the daily vocal exercises. The sing portion relies on the prep.
I once moved my grand piano two inches and it nearly killed me. I no longer do this.
The fact that Steve is “not worth a damn at moving pianos” is a testament that he walks the walk, has been following his own advice for a long time…
Steve, I’m hoping you’re soon able to delegate some of these unusual, heavy, piano-moving tasks to trusted folks– getting you quickly back to “living the Frank Sinatra life.” SF
Love this, Steve! Thank you! I needed to hear this today.
Thank you very much dear Steve, and thank Dan Sullivan for the idea. My instinct tells me you are damn right. What I feel also is that the hard part is to manage to find that one thing that one does best. It seems to me it’s not as simple as a “sit down and write” concept. One must dig deep.
I will share another expirience from these days as food for thought.
After a period of not being able to write good although I try, a flow of writing happened to me twice last week. It wasn’t long, but it was good. It was that writing we do when it is inside us, remember? Not only it is automatic, but also as if the heart, not logic, moves the pen.
That’s how I want to end my book. Through writing that comes from the heart, or better said, from a hightened consciousness that is represented by a symbol of the moment that arose from within.
I went to walk with fast pace for about 1 our and a half. Last week I discovered a list of the best metal albums of my era, and every time I’d walk fast I’d listen to one of them. That specific night I was absolutely admiring a piece of music art, from a band I had missed as a child: “Queensrych, Operation Mindcirme”. While I was hearing it I was laughing, feeling elevated, *feeling like home, like when I was a child.”
As I was walking fast on the coastal road and that was happening, a beautiful pair passed me. I slowed down and watched them. The young man was steady, and the young lady’s body and energy were young and wondrous, as if she was athletically sculptured by the best of sculptors. She would lean on him with her energized energy that was very beautiful, showing adventure and respect to him through love language. I watched them disappearing as I felt a relevant unrealized part inside.
After a few minutes I was home, outside the door, wearing my gloves and gym scarf etc. There it happened. I went to the notes session of the mobile and I started writing with flow at the corridor of the block of flats, standing. It was my first original work as I feel it after a long time. The two symbols I refered to did this: they became the glue upon which everything could be connected. I wrote about 30 lines or so I think. But they were all tense, not words hoping to gain life.
The other time the same happened, only with the first symbol, the music.
A third time I was about to do the same. Do you see the change here? “I was about to”, not “that thing happened”. But then my heart knew that it would be the lower automation, no more soul, no more originality. So I didn’t write, I chose not to.
My best wishes for you and Diana for the difficult days. Maybe all the disaster is some stuff for creating from art to new trees and lives.
I was in Dan’s coaching program for eight years. He has a lot of great stories, and this is one of them!
Now I’m curious about your Kolbe Index. It sure does provide clues to where our Resistance hangs out.![🙂](https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/14.0.0/svg/1f642.svg)
Now I’m curious about what a Kolbe Index is, and what it has to do with Resistance?
Just don’t forget to use “sliders” when you move those pianos!
Still working on photos for you. Ginger (& Roger)
Thank you Steve. This is a great analogy and I can see how it can be applied to many of life’s situations. Continuing to pray for you and your family and all those affected by the wildfires!
I have to do physical things to maintain my sanity. If I only write all day, it will make me miserable. I have to get outside and move my body. And I’d argue that everyone should get off their ass and move a piano once in a while.
But I get the point. If you want to be good at something, it takes a lot of focus. I’d give anything to have the income to write 4 hours per day.
But everyone is different.
Steve,
Thank you once again for having the right story and advice to hit me right where I am today. This could not have been more timely if you had known me personally. This is just what I needed to refocus my efforts in the right place and stop dividing my energy in the wrong direction.
I’m so sorry for your loss to the fires. You and your family are in my thoughts. Your calm and grace during this time is an inspiration.
Thank you, Steve!
Even amidst your trials with the wildfires, you remain thoughtful and inspiring to us all.
My Frank Sinatra moments are all about direction & where to focus my energy. I am like a squirrel with many curiosities. I should stop and evaluate what interests of mine align with my values and go from there. I tend to want to watch, read, experience, and listen to everything that intrigues me! It is a blessing and a curse at times!
So, I will set a baby step goal towards the big picture. Once that is crossed off, I’ll go to the next baby step goal.
You can do both and most of us have to, if there are people in our lives who by necessity rely on us to “move pianos” on their behalf. The ability to shift channels – deeply and wholeheartedly – and focus just on the one thing before me for whatever time I’ve allotted that one thing (revising three chapters of the current novel in progress, wading through the intricacies of yet another disability benefits review for my daughter) is a hard-learned life skill that serves me well. Thank you, as always, for the thoughtful nudge.
True we don’t move pianos …..we sing and prepare to sing!…..
But there’s so much to sing!!!!
(I love Frank….)
Thanks Steve
A good reminder. I realized lately that I have been delegating too little and taking on too much. Perhaps due to the weight of responsibility for wanting things to improve at an organizational level. But to the detriment of my art & work. So I’ll sit today and “switch into Frank Sinatra mode, even if it’s only for an hour.” Frank Sinatra mode, has a ring to it.
Sorry for you trials with the fires. Best wishes, thank you for the inspiration!
how many times have we heard, St. Jerome: ‘Good, better, best. Never let it rest. ‘Til your good is better and your better is best.’? sorry that is NOT efficient. i certainly don’t want a doctor or lawyer or tax pro working for me that is working on their ‘getting better’ as opposed to what is ‘their best’
Do what you are good at.
Let the professional piano movers move pianos.
It’s a New Moon. Time to take it easy on the whole judging ourselves routine. Reset.
![🌸](https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/14.0.0/svg/1f338.svg)
![🌑](https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/14.0.0/svg/1f311.svg)
![🌸](https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/14.0.0/svg/1f338.svg)
jeff Korhan referred to a “Kolbe Index” and what it has to do with Resistance. Is that a Dan Sullivan thing. I’m curious.
Glad that you and yours are safe. The fires just won’t quit.
Perfect. I blamed myself for feeling elitist, but it’s not like that at all, really. It’s about total focus on what we are called to, want to do and know how to do.
![🙌](https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/14.0.0/svg/1f64c.svg)
![🙌](https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/14.0.0/svg/1f64c.svg)
Thanks for this, Steve. All the best.
Perfeito. Me culpava sentindo-me elitista, mas não é nada disso, realmente. Trata-se de concentração total no que somos vocacionados, queremos e sabemos fazer.
Obrigado por mais está, Steve. Tudo de bom aí.
Thank you for this insight Steven. Also, thank you for not being a piano mover. Also, thank you for your easily consumable writing style. As I know you know, you do it this way on purpose. As I know you also know, doing it this way isn’t “easy”, but it makes it easy for “those who wind up reading your SH*T.
Thanks for this, Steve. May you have the strength and ability to move pianos, move them quickly, and get back to that which you are so good at–writing. Many people can move pianos, but there is only one who can write like you.
Dude!! I CANNOT BELIEVE your “go-to guy” is Dan Kennedy! I have a SIGNED, dog-eared, highlighted & underlined copy of his “NO B.S. Time Management for Entrepreneurs” I’ve had since attending one of his conferences back in the early 2000’s! It’s chock-full of great advice (although I’ve often wondered if he’s been able to resist owning a cell phone, because at the time his book was published in ‘04, he was adamantly opposed to having one); when I was teaching middle school English for LAUSD, I used to incorporate many of his ideas into my classroom management, even adapting his Chapter Nine “Hiw to Handle the Information Avalanche” into a helpful manifesto for my students!
To this day, I still think of his advice to “drive stakes through the heart of Time Vampires”![🤣](https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/14.0.0/svg/1f923.svg)
Sing it.
As a singer I have moved a lot of pianos. Many were on wheels. Easy.
Once, in preparation for an important recital, I moved a concert grand up a small step by myself because I wanted to sing from that spot on the stage. Everyone I asked to help claimed “back problems.”
All it takes to move a piano (or conquer any other obstacle) is determination, will, and focus.
P.S. I no longer sing or move pianos and my writing has gone to hell, too.
This is true. Unfortunately for some of us it’s piano moving that pays the bills.
Best wishes to you, Steven, as you move to the next phase of re-establishing your home. I’m very sorry you and your neighbors have to go through this terrible period of loss and rebuilding.
I love this!
But don’t hit think at the beginning of our craft, webmobe pianos?
Cheers.
I love this!
But don’t you think at the beginning of our craft, we move pianos?
Cheers.
The Sarkari Network platform is an excellent example of how technology can simplify job searches. Their focus on user experience is evident and appreciated.
Pressfield skillfully weaves together his personal experiences to create a powerful message that encourages geometry dash meltdown not only in writing but in any other field.