What's up everybody! This is Eric Nam, and you are listening to my MINDSET.
Now, we're gonna get this day started off on the right foot. Unless you’re left-footed, in which case I respect that and we can start on your left. You decide.
Either way, we gotta start. It's gonna be a good day.
Now, wherever you are, on your bed, in the kitchen, maybe on your toilet or in the car, it doesn't matter. Is there a person next to you in the elevator? Don't worry about it.
Let's just go ahead and get this started. I want you to breathe. I want you to breathe in deep, and I want you to be intentional

with it. Breathe in deep. Inflate ya chest.
Now breathe out slowly through your mouth.
And one more time, breathe in through your nose deep. 'Cause you're filling yourself with that good, good energy. C'mon.
And now slowly let it out through your mouth.
Okay now if you can, roll your shoulders back, alright? Roll them in a circular rotation back. One, two, three.
You want to do more? One, two,

three.
Now we're gonna go forward, the other way, opposite direction. One, two, three.
I feel like I'm coaching some fitness class. This is not fitness. This is just a good energy, morning supercharge, alright?
Now, we're gonna stretch the body out in whatever way makes you feel good. You know what it feels like to feel good when you stretch, right? I don't want you to hurt yourself. Don't hurt yourself. We don't want to start the day off with an injury, but this is about feeling good. I want you to feel positive. You are going to absolutely

own this day. This is gonna be your day.
So stretch your body out because the day comes at you with a lot and you need to be ready to take it on, so make sure you are stretched.
Stretch it out. I like to stretch my neck up and down, side to side, swing my arms around in a circle. Just don't hurt yourself or anybody around you. What else?
Lock your hands together. Reach towards the sky as high as you can, and come down towards your feet. This is like,

the most, like, I don't know, unprofessional yoga class but this is not about yoga. This is about just getting your body warmed up, right?
So whatever it is you like to do as I talk, just do it. I'm just gonna keep blabbering on so you can stretch it out. Do your neck, do your back, do your shoulders, your arms, your legs.
It's good to get a little stretch in, right? So you feelin' okay? You feelin' okay? Is your body warming up? You should feel the blood start to circulate through your veins. Is it

circulating? It should be.
Now, we're gonna go ahead and move on to this next part. If you have a mirror, I want you to stand in front of it. If you don't, that's fine. No problemo. Just imagine that there's one in front of you and imagine your face. You're lookin' at your face.
Now, I want you to look at yourself in that real or imaginary mirror...and just check yourself out.  Ooh, you lookin' fine! You are looking beautiful. You are looking great today. You are glowing. You have an aura, a radiance that is shining

all around you.
Did you just fall from the sky? Because dang, you look like an angel. You have an aura, you got this glow about you.
Now I want you to smile. I want you to smile into the mirror wherever you are, whatever you're doing. You can smile, right? Smiling doesn't require much. Just smile. Bring your face into the widest, brightest, happiest smile that you think you can make. You can scrunch your cheekbones and let the ends of your mouth get as close to your eyes as possible like I am right

now as I do this.
And think of something wonderful. Beautiful. Delicious. Anything that makes you happy. Let's just smile. And just hold that smile. Even if it's forced, because I really think that if you are able to smile, and you are intentionally smiling, it's gonna just bring your energy up. It's important, right? We need to have a good attitude for the day.
So, puppies. Kittens. Clouds. A field of freakin' lavender that you are

frolicking through as the butterflies fly around your shoulders. I don't know. Just smile.
You smilin'? You feeling good about yourself?
Now, I want you to repeat after me. I want you to repeat this, out loud. If you, if you have people around you and you're embarrassed, okay. I, like, you can do it internally. But maybe when you get home or when you get a time and you get a moment by yourself, you can do this out loud.
Now, repeat after me:
I am strong.

I am beautiful.
I am smart.
And I am so sexy, ooh!
Do it just like that: so sexy ooh!
I am amazing.
And I can do anything.
You can do anything. You can literally do anything today!
Now, I want you to go out and make this day

absolutely, undeniably, incredibly yours. It is your day. Have a freakin’ amazing day.
Tell yourself you're gonna have an amazing day.
I'm gonna have an amazing day!
Now, go have that amazing day.
Love ya. Bye.

Listen to this for a fresh surge of good, good energy!

Morning Supercharge

Hi there. This is our little relaxation corner.
We're gonna relax and wind down.
Let's wind down together.
I’m sure you've had a long day.

Or you may be in the middle of a hectic one. But this will let you destress…from the craziness and the hectic nature of your day.
Now get into a comfortable position. Maybe in your favorite chair, maybe in bed. Get comfortable.

And shift the energy from around you and within you to the ground...and ground yourself.
Allow yourself to be here. To be present.
Now let your eyes settle comfortably,

or close your eyes and let your eyes relax, and release the tension that they've held all day.
Now focus on taking deep, slow, intentional breaths through your nose. And let it out slowly through your mouth.

When you breathe, feel the air fill your body...and flow from your nose, through your head, throughout your body, down to your toes.
Feel your chest inflate and relax.

And as you do exhale slowly, and let all the air inside your body leave.
Allow yourself to let go of everything that was in your day.
You have nowhere to be. You have nothing to do.

Just let your mind and body relax.
Now focus on your body. How does your body feel? If you have stress or anxiety, you may have tightness in your chest, your neck, or your stomach. You may have tension or tightness throughout your body that you've been holding onto throughout the day.

Let all of it relax. Let it release.
Send warmth and good energy to those areas and tell yourself,

everything's going to be okay.
Let all the muscles in your face relax.
Your forehead, your brow, your jaw, down to your shoulders, through your arms and your palms. Let it go.

And slowly allow yourself to find your natural breathing pattern.

Now think of something positive. Something that made you smile today. Or a favorite memory.
Let the warmth from that

memory fill your body slowly. From your head to your toes, and let it relax you, and bring you peace.
Now, let yourself drift off,

Listen to this when you're ready to wind down and relax.

Evening Wind Down

Transport yourself to a cozy fireplace and take a moment to relax with Eric.

Fireplace Soundscape

Jumpstart your day with a meditation session with Eric.

Peaceful Morning Meditation

Relax and unwind to the sounds of a rainy day.

Rainy Day Soundscape

Slowly drift off to sleep with Eric as he reads you a sleep story.

Lost Fisherman Sleep Story

Take a moment to recenter yourself and join Eric for a walking meditation.

Walking Meditation with Eric

Hey everybody, this is Eric Nam and I am so excited that you are here.

Now listening to this Mindset Collection probably means one or more of the following things: perhaps you're a fan of mine and you want to know a little bit more about my crazy, crazy life. Or you may just really like K-Pop or pop music and you're curious about songwriting, what it's like to write an album, all that entertainment industry behind the scenes stuff.

Or maybe, you're looking for something a little bit deeper. Something more intimate,

something to help you live your life to the fullest. Whether that's advice, tips, tricks, a form of mentorship — whatever it is, I really hope that you can find some of that here.

So whatever your reason is, first and foremost, welcome.

Now, I'm constantly in the spotlight, talking to people — every day, different topics, different industries. It's part of the job. It's what I do for a living.

But even so, I still

feel like I don't really get to open up about everything I'd like to. And I know a lot of artists and public figures probably feel the same way.

But it’s not just artists, right? I mean, everybody, anybody, can have an on-camera version of themselves, and then the more private, more honest, intimate, raw version of yourself. The one that you don't really let people see.

And I think that might have to do a lot with people not wanting to be judged, or misunderstood, or hurt. You know, sometimes we're dealing with so many scars and issues on the inside

that we're scared to open up, which is why it's a lot easier to focus on what makes people shine on the outside right?

The high-flying, glossy successes. It's more palatable, it's more digestible. Those are the versions of ourselves that we think other people want. The stuff that seems to make everybody happy.

But how long can that last? How long can that mindset last?

So in this audio collection, I want to be as unfiltered and as vulnerable as I possibly can be. I want to show you the

Eric Nam that I don't think I've been able to fully show yet. ‘Cause I think it's time to acknowledge that as a public figure, as a celebrity, as a singer, however you see me — I have the opportunity to impact a lot of people. People who want to feel understood, who want to be uplifted, who need and deserve to be inspired.

And that's my goal for Mindset. By you listening to Mindset, it's also a way for us, together, to make a statement for positive change.

This world is…it's stressful. It's overwhelming. It is just a lot of a lot. It is crazy at times.

But depending on your attitude, depending on your approach to life and your perspective, it can also be exciting. It can be beautiful. It is fascinating. Amazing.

With the right mindset, I think you and I both, we've got what it takes to not only survive, but to thrive. We can make the best of whatever

life throws at us.

So, you ready?

This is my Mindset.

Meet Eric Nam

Hey everybody, so this is Episode One: Always an Outsider.
So I was born and raised in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia, USA. And my parents were immigrants from Korea. And I think during my early childhood we lived in our own little bubble.
We spoke our own language, AKA Korean, and it wasn't until I think I started going to school that I realized that I might be a little bit different. That I might be an

outsider.
I think up until that point, all I had known was my home and church, which were both Korean. And because of this, I literally thought that, although I was living in the States, I thought I was in Korea. I just thought Korea was full of Black, White, Latino, and Asian people who were all just kind of mixed together somehow.
And I think as a kid, I was pretty confident. I was bright, outgoing,

a very happy kid, and I would sing all the time. You know, any place, anytime I was always singing. That's one of my first memories.
And I think I was so comfortable with myself and who I was, that it was to the point where I went to school and, this is kind of embarrassing, but my mom told me the only words I knew were "poo-poo, pee-pee". Like I didn't speak any English.
And I went to school, and my parents told me a few years ago, they told me this story where after the first day of school, I

got in the car, closed the door, and apparently I just started crackin' up, laughin'. Little Eric, laughin'.
My parents asked me, 윤도 (Yoondo), which is my Korean name, "What's so funny?" And I naively, very innocently responded that school wouldn't be able to teach me anything because nobody was smart enough to speak Korean. Now obviously, the joke is on me, and my parents were understandably very, very deeply concerned.
And I just remember I went to school, and first day I was just

like, "Oh my gosh, nobody can speak Korean."
And then the second day I was like, "Oh my gosh, I am in deep trouble cause I have no idea, no idea what anybody is saying to me. No idea what's going on. Nobody can understand me."
And I think, you know as time passed while I was at school, I started to realize that not only was there a language barrier, but a cultural disconnect between the Korean Eric and the English-speaking, American Eric.

And I think that's something that's kind of followed me throughout my entire life.
You know, I think there were a lot of moments of me feeling like an outsider. A lot of moments feeling like "other." Trying to fit in, trying to be more American, playing translator for my parents, trying my best not to stick out like a sore thumb, and being really stressed about that.
I just really didn't want to stand out. And I think that's something that is true for a lot of people, a lot of immigrant kids, or kids of immigrant

parents to this day. You know, I think as humans, we don't like to stand out. I think that's just kind of human nature.
But imagine that you have no option. You just naturally stick out.
When I was growing up, it was even less of a diverse population, especially in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia — this is the South, guys. And I just remember being very isolated, alienated, and I hated going to school.
You know it was the typical, "Where are you really

from? What's in your lunch box? You look like this. You look like that."
And I think, looking back, a lot of things were very racist, but as a kid they're just normalized and you just think, "I'm the weird one. I'm the one that's different." And it was just something that I had to deal with growing up.
You know, I was bullied, definitely. I was left out in a lot of things and...this is a story that I don't particularly enjoy sharing and I haven't really opened up about. Because it has, it, it

brings up a lot of weird emotions and memories for me.
One day I was, you know, I think this is middle or high school, probably middle school, I was going to gym. And I was in this hallway. It pretty much, this long corridor leads to the locker rooms, and I think we were going into the locker rooms.
And there's this dude who was right next to me, I think there were three or four of us walking down the hall together. I didn't particularly like the kid. Called my name, or he called me something

derogatory probably, and I look over at him.
And completely unprovoked, he pretended like he was sneezing, but he hocked and spit a loogie…into my eye.
Just straight onto my face.
And it was one of the most degrading, embarrassing, infuriating moments of my life, up until that point.
And I think, I think still, to this day. It’s a topic that I never feel comfortable speaking out about, but it

was to that point of, you know, feeling bullied and left out, and having a difficult time in school trying to fit in.
And I just kept thinking like, "What am I doing wrong? Why am I treated differently? Why can't I do this? Why do I not fit in? Why do I feel so left out?"
And I think it, it dawned on me. I don't know when. I don't think there was like a Eureka! exact pinpoint moment. But I realized that there's nothing wrong with me.
There's nothing wrong with me, there's nothing wrong with you.

Whatever you're going through, there's nothing wrong with you, us, whoever you are. Okay?
We are the way we are and the only thing that we can do, that we can control, is to make an effort to be the best version of myself, yourself, ourselves. Being better. Being the best, so that we can overcome whatever obstacle, whatever craziness, whatever bully-challenge there is.

People who experience bullying or these types of hardships, these are things that probably stay with you for your entire life. You know, this for me is what, 15-20 years ago, and I still remember it like yesterday.
It's unfortunate but most everybody's going to go through their own form of struggle or challenge, whatever it may be — in the form of a person, a certain situation, a scenario. That's kind of what life is.

And the way that I coped with it is this overactivity kind of way. It was to be so active, super active, overactive to the point that nothing else would matter, right?
I was never going to be the smartest. I was never going to be the most athletic, never going to be the best looking, or most musical or whatever. But I could try the hardest that I could, and it was going to get me to a place where even if I'm not number one, I could be number two or three. Now that's more than enough for me.

So that was my approach, you know? Let's do the best I can in whatever I can. Whatever I can control, whatever I choose to control, and whatever I can excel at, I'm going to be the best I can — to the point that you can't knock me, you can't disrespect me, you know? And I think that's what got me through these difficult periods.
So whatever bully, whatever challenge that was comin’ at me, it was never an issue of, "I'm going to be held down because of that challenge or that person." That person is going through something on their own and

that's their issue. It's not an Eric Nam problem.
Now, I'm not saying that this is going to work for everybody. I do not know your reality. I don't know what you're going through. But for me, this is how I coped with it. This is not a cure-all, band-aid answer for everybody. But it worked for me.
Being an outsider can obviously come with a lot of negative emotions. You know, I think the natural reaction is to say, "What do I need to change about myself? What do I

need to give up about myself, so that I can fit in? So that I can not be different?"
But I think it's in those moments where you can discover what makes you uniquely you. What makes you special. Whatever it is that makes you quote unquote "an outsider," I don't know, I think it's an opportunity for you to think about it as, "This makes me special. This makes me unique. This is why I stand out. Not as an outsider, but as an incredible individual."
And, and that’s how I, I tried so many different things — almost

to a fault. I think it was almost to the point where I was gonna try everything to kind of figure out who I was and what made me special. But it was this overactivity, this kinda craziness of overachieving or trying too much that I think I kind of neglected my real passions. I think I kind of lost myself in that.
Because, you know, as a kid, my dream

had always been to become a singer. You know, the same way that young kids used to want to be an astronaut or president...but apparently, like, these days, YouTuber and TikTok star is like the bigger deal?
But, you know, as a kid, I was like, "Man, I would love to be a singer." And you know part of it is my parents never allowed it. My parents were very, very much against it, and it was kind of like, "Oh, what if on the off chance, if I do make it, oh my life is going to change."
But my mom was always like, quick to be

like, "Oh, you're not good. Don't worry about it. That would never happen."
You know I've shared this story before, and if you've heard some of my podcasts or you've been to my shows you've probably heard this story, but I wanted to call my mother. My mom. And I want her side of the story. I want her to share what was going on in her mind at that time.
Because having a kid, especially your first kid, want to jump into something as risky as the entertainment business, that can't be easy, you know?
So I'm, I’m in Korea right now. My mom's at home in Georgia.

She hates interviews, but I convinced her to sit down with me and talk over Zoom.
So you finally get to hear her. This is my mom. This is Mama Nam:
(Mom) "Actually, it was very fun watching you on the stage, but when you tell me you want to be a singer, I thought it's gonna be very, very hard job. So I just want to...go back to your, you know, ordinary job. For the job

security. So because when you're in the college, you ask me, I remember you want to go in the American Idol so I..."
(Eric) "Mm-hmm."
(Mom) "...ask you, finish your college first. And then do whatever you wants to do. Because I didn't know my son, how great was singing, I mean, ah my English so bad. I didn't know actually how you can sing so well. Because I just heard, all the time, you scream at the bathroom, at the night,

2:00 a.m...but at the competition, I just realized you sing a song great."
(Eric) "How did you feel watching my last concert?"
(Mom) "Amazing."
(Eric) "Yeah?"
(Mom) "I cried actually."
(Eric) "Why did you cry?"
(Mom) "I got so emotional."
(Eric) "Mmm."
(Mom) "I just knew how hard you practice to show that...that...I cannot speak."
(Eric) "Mm-hmm."
(Mom) "I just feel your effort

as a mom all the time. You know actually, parents learns a lot from their children. I respect your courage. I told your dad too. You're doing great. I'm so thankful about that."
Thank you, mom. Love you. Appreciate it.
So my mom just had surgery and she was very, very much opposed to speaking on anything cause her voice has changed because of the surgery. But...thank you mom, for

making the time and for, for sharing your side of the story with us.
But, you know, a lot of you already know the story. You know the rest of the story goes after finishing college in Boston, I accepted a business analyst position in New York, and deferred that to do nonprofit work in India. And then I ended up on TV doing a show called Star Audition in Korea because I wanted to sing, right?
So I, I get to

Korea, and I think it was like the day after I landed, or two days or something I, I’m on this show. And I was auditioning to become a K-pop star. And it was exciting because I was finally able to pursue something that I had dreamed about for so long. It was for the first time that I was able to do something like that.
But it was really intense, and it was a lot of tension because I was so American, you know? The, the show, the

producers, the writers, everything about this show in front of these very, very seasoned veterans as judges and mentors…they're very Korean. And I was this kid from the West, this American kid who was too dark, who didn't dress like I was going to be a pop star, was just not the epitome of what people thought of when they think K-pop, you know?
And I think on top of all this stress of trying to make it and trying to make good TV, there was tension because A) I couldn't really speak the

language, you know? Yes. I could speak it as like a four-year-old, but as you grow up in the States, you lose all of that. You know as you try to fit in, you just speak English. You lose it. So it was gone.
And B) culturally, like, I misunderstood and I was misunderstood.
I remember trying so hard to fit in — again. I wanted to speak Korean fluently, I wanted to sing the way that Korean people sang because I just, you know,

musically, when you grow up on Korean ballads and that's like your way of singing, you're going to be naturally more inclined to sing that very well.
But me, I grew up on pure pop. And so I couldn't sing the way that a lot of these audition shows wanted. So there was a lot of like, push and pull culturally, musically, linguistically, all over again. You know I went all the way through college trying to fit in and just trying to make a name for myself. I get to Korea, and I find myself doing the exact same thing just in reverse.

Like this is, I don't know...why? But that's life, you know? It was all for a dream.
One thing that kind of sticks out, and kind of broke me was, you know, I was working really hard to learn the language, to become a better singer, to memorize lyrics, to fit in with this household of, I think it was like 13 people living in a house trying to become the winner of the show.
And one of the writers sat me down, and she was

like, "What are you doing? Why are you here? And do you even care?"
And I remember those questions coming at me as such like a shock, because you know, I've given up months of my life with no pay to just kind of be a contestant on this show.
And I remember her saying like, "Everybody wants this so bad, but you don't seem to want it at all. And you have, like, horrible manners, everybody talks about it, and I wouldn't be surprised if you're just kicked off soon."
And for me that was

this huge shock. I think the biggest shock was honestly the fact that she said that I had bad manners, because never in my life have I ever been told that I have poor manners. Nor do I ever misbehave, that's just my personality.
Like I have friends or even people around me who were just always so keen to break the rules. I was never that type, you know? I was always kind of like a fringe wallflower of just...blend in, and we'll just try to make the best of it. I don't

want to rock the boat.
And I remember crying. Like when I heard that, I cried. I literally could not stop crying, and I'm not one to cry.
But it was because I was so upset, and misunderstood, and frustrated that, how am I giving 150 percent of my time, my effort, my life, and you're gonna come and tell me that I am not worthy or that I'm not doing well because I have a horrible attitude.
And I went back, and I thought about it for a long time, and I

realize a lot of it is just cultural misunderstandings.
There were just so many cases of tension. Not only on this show, but beyond that, you know, during my tenure here in Korea. Even recently, there, there are things always coming up.
But once I decided to stay, once I decided to give this a real shot, I, I decided like, this is just something that you have to take on. I'm going to have to

go back into this mode of relearning how to survive, and thrive, and fit in. Again, not by becoming like everybody else, but using who I am, my qualities, so that I can stand out.
And, you know, it was these types of moments that were disorienting. They could be heartbreaking. But it was also a moment for, for me where I could learn.
You know and I, and I came to the

realization that if I'm going to do something in Korea, if I'm going to try to make a name for myself in Korea, I have to get used to this because that means I will always have a target on my back. I'm always at the risk of being misunderstood, and my words and my actions being misconstrued constantly. That's just the reality that I live in.
And I think this is something that really changed and shaped my perspective on how I would pursue anything in Korea.
So after all that… all that drama,

I ended up in the top five of Star Audition, and I started getting attention from labels, record labels. And from there, it was just go, go, go. Pedal to the metal.
My Korean was still horrible, especially on TV because I got nervous all the time, but it didn't matter. At one point, you know I actually started to play up my Americanness. I was there to be me, and I was finally okay with that.
And I, I just want to remind you, the listener, that the reasons you might stand out in a crowd are the very qualities that make you

distinctively you. You don't need to feel alone in that. You're unique, but we are all, in one way or another, unique and special.
And it can sound cheesy, it can sound elementary, but this is something that needs to be reinforced and we need to remind ourselves of, right? Be honest with who you are and where you're at, and be confident in it. Be confident in where you want to be and where you want to go.
If that means you have to be your only biggest fan, who cares? You're in control of you,

don't give that to somebody else. These types of words are things that I wish somebody had really shared with me, so I could be sure with who I am and what I was trying to achieve.
So, I don't know. I really hope that this first episode, it, it speaks to you in some way. And I feel like anybody anywhere has had an experience of, of feeling "other," of feeling left out or feeling on the outside. And hopefully this gets you to a place of wanting to have a deeper conversation, of wanting to

open up more so that we could be the best version, unabashedly, of who we are.
So get out there. Whatever you do, whatever you do today, tomorrow, wherever you go...just be you.
This is my MINDSET.

Don't let the feeling of being "other" stop you from embracing your true self.

Always an Outsider

Alright. Episode Two: Talk to People.
I've always had an interest in other people: what they think, how they perceive me and my actions, and that naturally led to me being a very curious kid.
I lived in a cul-de-sac, and every house had, you know, kids and a family.

I think at a certain point, because the kids were usually younger than me, I ended up befriending the parents. Or they just kind of looked at me as this, this cute little kid, who was always walking around different people's houses and asking questions.
You know, "Why is something this way? What does this mean? What does this letter from school mean? What is a good food to cook or to have that is American?"
I just remember always asking questions. And it was to the point that

somebody said, "You know, Eric?" And, and, they were telling my mom this. But they're like, "Yeah, you know, Eric's kind of like this little reporter. He's this little reporter, this little journalist in the neighborhood. He knows everything that's going on. He knows what's happening…in the cul-de-sac."
And I think that's where I got this little nickname, "the little reporter."
You know growing up, I, I loved talking to people. I was always curious, and I think I was always kind of a social person all the way through,

through college. I think becoming a singer, a celebrity, entertainer, actually made me a little bit less social just because I was overwhelmed with the experience.
But to get here, to become a singer, I think it required me to take the risk of just talking to a lot of people. Putting myself out there and approaching different people, situations, and groups with whatever I had to offer.
You know, it was different for whatever situation. So, you know, in some places it was music, it was singing. Other

places it was my academics or my athletics — I know, some people might believe I was never athletic, but I used to be athletic.
So different pieces of myself that I could enrich other people or groups with, that's how I really got closer to them and I think enhanced my life in return.
And so when I think about, like, on the music side, you know talking to people and singing for people, that's a completely different experience. I have, like,

little glimpses and memories of me singing at school or singing for my cousin's, like, wedding after-party. Like, I just remember being so terrified and nervous.
But putting yourself out there in that way and getting the feedback, be that positive or negative, allows you to approach and revise and revisit what you're good at, what you're capable of, and come to a better understanding of who you are and what your, what your abilities are.
And I think through that, I

found that music was one of my passions.
Here's the thing about passion, that I believe. I think passion, it comes and goes, truly. It really depends on the environment and depends on your individual situation. But finding a passion can be very, very challenging. It can be tough.
And for me, music was a passion, but it was never one that I thought I would actually be able to pursue. And so my passion, you know, was always just trying new

things and putting myself out there. And I think that's probably, like, what led me to find the best one for me.
When I speak to younger singers or younger college students or high school students who ask me questions, oftentimes, my advice is always just to try anything and everything you want. You don't know til you try. And you can stumble upon things that you think are great for you.
An example is, for me, interviewing people.
You know, in

Korea, one of the biggest ways that I became a household name was through my interviews of me talking to Robert Downey Jr., or Matt Damon, Will Smith. Who else? Like pretty much every Avenger, I feel like I've met? And I didn't know I would be good at that.
But once you find yourself in a situation where you excel at something or it starts to feel right, that becomes a passion.
And quite honestly, if you don't have a

passion in life, that's fine too. Like, live your life. Do you. Do whatever you feel like, you know? And maybe that is your passion, you just don't think of it as passion. You leading your life, living your life however you want, I think that's a passion.
There are also actual experts out there who study why we like what we like. It's so much more than just a, "Oh, find your passion." You know? It's not a one sentence, one minute, kind of sum it all up response.
But I'm just giving you some

anecdotal tips about my life and how I kind of fell into this passion.
One of the great positive outcomes of, I guess, putting yourself out there, and talking to people and going through the experience of connecting with so many different individuals is that, you'll find a few people who you really connect with.

Who can really guide you, who can mentor you in ways that are invaluable. 
And I think that's incredibly important. So for me, like, I, I think of a lot of people, growing up, where I would get advice from, I would get a lot of tips from, and they would help me out and look out for me in places and in areas that I needed.
In college, I had a few professors and people who were senior to me, alumni, that I would

cold call, cold reach out, cold email, and just be like, "Yo." Obviously I didn't start my email with, "Yo" but I'd say, "Hi. I'm really interested in doing what you do." Or, "Hi, my name is Eric. I'm a student. This is what I'm kind of struggling with, would love to get your insight on it because you're in a position, or you're in a field, or you teach a certain course that really encompasses my concerns."
And I was always so pleasantly surprised to see so many people respond positively.

Obviously, you're gonna get a couple where it's like, "Oh, I'm busy," or some won't respond at all because it's exhausting to really give yourself in some ways. But I, I truly believe to this day that a lot of people are looking to connect and mentor and be mentored, and finding those people is important.
So in my case, I had like, for example, a professor who from freshman year up until even this year we've stayed in touch. And it's just a, every once in a while, even if it's like once

a year, just to check in, "Hey, how are you? Are you healthy? Are you happy? Are you well?" And if we get into something deeper it's like, "Okay, let's talk about life and why you feel the way you do."
And I, you know, one thing to note is that I feel like when we’re like, "Oh, you reach out for help," like there's for some reason this stigma of like, if you reach out for help, like, you're struggling. That's not the case. You know, it doesn't have to be the case.
But this professor, former professor of mine, mentored and

was a great friend to me through college and I think even thereafter. And I'm very fortunate to be able to call him a friend and mentor. His name is Dr. Bob...and yeah, let's talk to Dr. Bob:
(Dr. Bob) "I'm Bob Capalbo. I teach at Boston College, and when I first met Eric I was the director of residential life and he was a student in the first year

of a very select program that we had just created called the Shaw Leadership House."
(Eric) "Do you remember the first time that we met?"
(Dr. Bob) "Oh I do indeed. The first real meeting took place in the dining hall. I was standing in line, there's a long line, I was trying to make out what these sandwiches meant. And this young student came up to me and said, 'Dr. Bob, Dr. Bob!' And I said uh oh, somebody from Shaw, because nobody else calls me Dr. Bob. And he very generously said, 'May I treat you to lunch?' Well students have meal plans and of course being very frugal

I said, 'Yes, that's wonderful.' And got my sandwich, went and sat down. And…'Who is this student, what is his name?' And so I carefully plotted and did not take a napkin with me. And he came over and being very polite I said, 'Oh, I don't have any napkins.' And off he went, and I grabbed his bookcase and went through all the books and found his name. When he came back, I said, 'Hi Eric.' He said, 'You remember me!' And I said, 'How could I forget?'"
(Dr. Bob) "The very first meeting..."
(Eric)

"You...you're sneaky! I had no idea. I had no idea."
(Dr. Bob) "I actually, I-I've told that story so many times because I absolutely love it, you know. And quite candidly with your fame now, nobody can believe that I know Eric Nam. But I tell that story and they’re like, 'Yeah, you know him.'"
(Eric) "Before I called you, I did a quick search on my email and I realized that I had emailed you when I was in India, also you know before I went to India, as well, I consulted you on not starting

my job right away and taking a sabbatical. But then once I got to India, I had, you know, inflated this huge idea in my head. I went with the highest of expectations and when I got there, it was just not the right fit for me. And I remember being just miserable. I struggled a lot, I hated going to bed because that’d mean having to wake up, I lost sleep over everything. And for me it was tough because I don't think I had ever quit anything in my life before. I had never said, 'I can't do this.' So it was a very momentous occasion for

me. And I was very appreciative that I had people like you to kind of back me up and support that decision for me to go to Korea. And I, I'm pretty sure if I had not reached out to you for the guidance, I would not be where I am today. So I, I don't know if I've ever properly said thank you. So this is my opportunity to say thank you so much."
(Dr. Bob) "Thank you for being in my life and maintaining the friendship. I mean, you know, there are people who become successful and that's the last year ever hear of them. You see their

coattails going out the door, but you've always, you've always maintained a presence and it's a wonderful presence. I, I actually remember those emails that we exchanged and my basic philosophy is if I were 24 and you were 22, just two years difference, and I tried to tell you to do something, you’d resist it. And, and I think all young people, and people of all ages, should resist people who say, 'This is what you should do. This is how your life should be led.' What I try to do is to pull out of the individual

by a series of questions and conversations the answer that's already within them. I'm convinced that..."
(Eric) "Mm-hmm."
(Dr. Bob) "...we know what we want to do..."
(Eric) "Mm-hmm."
(Dr. Bob) "...but it's sometimes very hard to articulate it, there are many competing interests, 'I would like to do this and this and this,' but there's only so much time in the world, or there may, may be things that interrupt our attaining a certain goal. And so basically I try to do it through conversations and questions and, and just teasing it out of people. But in a sense, we all have to throw off the

old clothes, the clothes that are given to us, the expectations, the demands and live who we are. And we truly know who we are. It takes time to find out. And that, that's a courageous journey, looking into yourself and reflecting, and introspecting, and saying, you know, 'Who am I? Where have I come from? Where am I now?' And then the most important question, 'Where do I want to be?' And to have the courage to take that first step. And not to use that to be hackneyed about this, but you know the, the journey of a thousand miles truly begins with the first step. And, and in terms of self

discovery and self actualization, that's the most important step."
A good mentor is really able to think of you and kind of look out for you in many different situations and circumstances. Essentially, I guess now that I'm speaking about it, it feels like just a friendship, right? These are just friendships with people who are more experienced than you, in life, in your career, or in

whatever field you're interested in exploring. It's friendship.
Now, I think there are other cases of mentorship where, you know, you start off hopeful that they'll be able to guide you, or provide great feedback, or teach you something, but that's not always the case. So if you don't have the most positive mentor-mentee relationship to start out with, don't be discouraged by that. I think they're, they're out there somewhere. The right people are out there somewhere, and it's just a connection

that's waiting to be made.
I think that's any relationship though, isn't it?
So the question is like, okay, right, this Episode Two title is "Talk to People." Why does this, how does this correlate in any way?
I think more than the literal, "Okay, go talk to people," it's about putting yourself out there. It's about putting yourself in situations where you can have conversations, you can be in a position where you can try things that challenge your perception of comfort, that challenge the idea of what you're

good at and what you're capable of.
Because I think what you'll find is that we as people, as human beings, are built in incredible ways to adapt, and to survive, and to thrive in ways that are unexpected. And you don't know until you really put yourself out there.
There's an incredible importance to talking and speaking with people and, and sharing your life experience, and your questions, and your struggles, and whatever. But, I think it's even more

important to listen.
A great conversation goes both ways, and I think being a great listener, a great audience is incredibly key in also knowing what to say in the right way. Be very open-minded and courteous and understanding of what they have to say, be that advice or just listening to their concerns.
I think that's, that's the key in holding good dialogue.
There are certain things and certain topics that I would love, really really love to just,

like, blurt out and blast out into the world. But I stop myself because I don't believe that me doing that is conducive to positive change or to the outcomes or the effects that I would like, you know? Just because I feel a certain way it doesn't mean everybody else is ready for that.
So, there's something about timing. There's something about reading the room and reading the climate that I think are incredibly important so that when you do

share an idea or where you do share an answer, it is used for good in a positive way, rather than being distorted for negative use.
But I, I do think it is important to realize that like, yes, you can develop a skill, you can develop the ability to have great conversations and dialogue, but you know, when you have them, they have to be with people who are at least open to having these types of conversations.

I think we live in a, a day and age where so much of our lives are over the internet and they're over video, and it reduces this ability and increases this fear of talking to people in real life, or connecting with people. So I think that's why, you know, a lot of people do online dating, and they join different online communities — not that there's anything wrong with that and there should be no stigma around that.
But I think it's understood

that meeting people in real life, connecting with people face to face in real life has become a little more stressful and a little more nerve-racking than what it used to be before the internet.
You know, in a way, having the internet kind of allows us to have conversations with everybody without having to, to deal with the repercussions of real life. But there's something to be said for having the ability to develop meaningful relationships with people in real life. Cause there's something that,

you know, a phone call or video chat will never be able to replace.
And for people who are very nervous about talking to strangers or talking to new people, I completely get it. I've been there.
I feel that even to this day, more so as an adult, because I think as an adult, we feel like we have more to lose. We feel like we have some things that we stand for and letting certain people into your inner-circle or into your life, there's a

risk. An inherent risk.
But, when you do let people in, there's so much that can come from that interaction that is so meaningful and so powerful.
So for people who are a little bit nervous, who are a little on the shy side, I think it's, it's good to think like, you have so much to offer to this world and you have so much to offer to these people, right? As much as you might gain from learning about a new person or gaining a new friend, you're enriching their life as well. So if you think of it as, everybody wants to be

connected, and you have so much to offer to this world, I think that might allow you to develop and build some courage in approaching people in a new way.
So talk to people. Of course don’t force it but know when you’re ready, when others are ready. And hopefully by opening up you can discover more about yourself, and what you’re passionate about.
This is my MINDSET.

Building the courage to talk to more people can help you discover more about yourself.

Talk to People

Okay, Episode Three: Embracing the Process.
I think it took me a long time to accept that singing, that entertainment, was going to be my job. And I think one of the reasons was that...I didn't make money. I didn't get any form of payment for, for years after I started my "career" in

entertainment.
So for me I was like, I'm probably just going to have to go back to a day job or doing a nine to five, which there's nothing wrong with that, it's just, it's not working out for me. So it took a long time for me to feel like, "Okay, maybe I could do this for a living."
Maybe up until, what year was that? I'd say, to be very honest, probably not until 2018 did I feel like okay, I could do this long-term. From

2011 to 2018, it was tough because in entertainment nothing is really as it ever seems, and there's so much that goes beyond just the TV screen or the YouTube screen. There's a completely different world of economics, and politics, and reality.
You know what I think is tough is...I

feel like the majority of jobs in the world, or projects, or whatever you're doing, if you put in effort to it and you're consistent and you work really hard at it, it's going to pay off, right? You have results at the end of the day. You have a report, or you have sales numbers, or you have X amount of whatever it is that you need to get — you have it. You could study for a test, if you study really hard, chances are, you're going to do well on the test.
Now, there are few things where you

can work so hard. You put everything you have into it, work your butt off — and it completely fails. It completely falls flat.
There's like, research and development, like biotech R&D clinical trials. And then there's entertainment.
Because in entertainment, it's not just a song, right? Like I'm literally putting in my entire life. My face, my name, my stories, my music, my

persona, my personality — everything about me is pretty much public information, and it's out there for people to like, to listen to, to look at, to watch, to be entertained, to poke fun at, to do whatever they feel like they can. You put everything out there, you work your butt off.
But, the part of entertainment that's really sometimes disheartening is that, you can put it out and people can just say it sucks. You can put out an album, I can work on it for a year, have the best songwriters and, you know, make it really cool.

And for whatever reason, people can just say, "Meh, I didn’t like it."
This is something that I, that I kind of realized early on because...man, I was working so hard. It was so hard. Like, again, I can't speak the language, I have to be on TV shows, I'm not sleeping, I have to do all these different things and...so many things that I really sacrificed and gave up. But the success, the accolades, the response — it wasn't coming.

So how do you deal with that? How do you bounce back from that? How do you function? I don't know. I still think back on it and it was, it was tough.
Being a solo artist is a decision that kind of fell into my lap. You know, I met a ton of different labels and companies and everybody had a different vision for me. Labels wanted me as a solo artist, or in a rock trio, or a

ballad duo, but nobody wanted me to be in an idol group because I was too old. I think I was like 23 or 24 at the time, but in the industry, that was considered old. 
I don't, I don't get it. But yeah.
I was never a dancer. I was never a good dancer, I wanted to dance, but I was horrible. And, it, it's just embarrassing. I remember I took dance lessons in Korea and they're like, "We're just going to give up on you 'cause you're just not good."

And it's, it's...I think it's another thing about standards and having a sort of confidence in yourself, right? Like, yes, I know that I'm not as technically skilled as an idol group. But again, I didn't get training since the age I was 12 and up until like 18. Like, I didn't have that time. I just wanted to put music out, that was my passion.
And even now, like, it's wild, but like in Korea, people will be like, "Oh man, like Eric, his dancing is just not as sharp

as like an idol group." I'm like, "Of course!" But at the same time, I'm like, "But I do music, and I sing live in ways that some of these idol groups can’t either."
So I think it's more about focusing on the positive and what I can do and say, this is what is uniquely Eric, this is what uniquely makes him stand out. Instead of saying, "Oh, but he's not as strong of a dancer as XYZ group." 
I never said I was! I'm doing this as a form of expression of my music that I feel is true to myself. And that's all I need to do.

You know, being a public figure is not very easy. Let's just put it that way. People read into things and misconstrue and convolute things that you want to say, or you want to portray, and you just have to be super sensitive to so many different things that are happening. Not only in Korea, but around the world.
We live in a time and an age where the internet is

everywhere. It's ubiquitous, and it is almost, like, borderless, right? So, I think it's, it is stressful because, one wrong little tweet, or one wrong post, or one wrong comment, right, can really send things spiraling. So that's, that's, there's that pressure.
But the other thing is just understanding that...it's weird, I feel like people hold celebrities to a certain

standard, where if you don't match that standard, you're going to get canceled. And so it breeds this...atmosphere and environment of always being on your toes. Always being a little paranoid, which is not necessarily the most healthy thing.
So, I think what it taught me is just to be super cautious and that's probably why, you know, my personality changed once I became more of a public figure. I became a lot more

quiet. I became a lot more reserved.
You know, I know we talked about meeting people and putting yourself out there and that's how I got to where I was. But once I got there, you're like, "Oh...man, people can really use knowing me, knowing this person, against you or like to their advantage that can look really weird." So, like, so many new realities, that I never really expected to change my life, happened.

I don't think I was ever really, like, fascinated by a celebrity. I think I was fascinated by artistry and the passion that drives them to make great things. And, and, you know, if you see a celebrity like, "Oh, that's cool, that's, that's a celebrity." But I don't think I was ever like, "Oh, I want to be a celebrity so bad." So I didn't really have a lot of, like, preconceived notions of what it would be like.
I think one thing that I did do, and one thing that I was very aware of and cognizant of getting into the

spotlight was that, any of this, all of this could just be gone in an instant. It can disappear.
People will tear you down. People will rip you apart. People will judge unnecessarily. And I've seen it happen to friends, I've seen it happen to people around me, and so, I think that was like the tough part to, to kind of come to terms with.
Like, end of the day, celebrities are people, you know? You are wildly celebrated for being good or standing out in a certain

way, but then you are, in an instant, disposable. And that was what was kind of really scary to imagine.
I think I always had a lot of self doubt and I was always worried and fearful of change. Because not being able to control things was really kind of scary. But when you approach it from a perspective of, like, that's just

life and you just have to take it, you gotta roll with the punches, and you should just do whatever you want — that kind of frees up how you can maneuver your music, your career, and your work.
I think I cared too much about what people thought. And although you can say, "Okay, well, that's what kind of got you to where you are," yeah again, if you're telling a 22-23-year-old Eric, I'd be like, "Be more adamant and confident in what you want to do and fight for it."
I think

too often I was like, "Okay, you gotta play by all the rules." You don't have to play by all the rules. You can play by some of the rules, but you can make some of your own rules.
So this episode, obviously it's called "Embracing the Process." And the importance of this message is to be completely okay with failing. It is completely okay. I know this is the most cliché thing to say, it is the most redundant, annoying saying that can be heard. But truly, you don't know what you

can be, what you can become if you do not fail.
I have failed so much and I think it's just, that's just part of the process of getting to where you want to be, you know?
Let’s think about this in, in other ways. Like, this is very embarrassing, but senior year of high school, I said, "I'm gonna, I'm gonna make an album. I'm gonna make a CD. And this is gonna be great."
Only to find that writing songs is not easy. Writing songs is very

difficult, and if you’re not trained in it or if you don't have practice in it, it sounds awful. It is so embarrassing to listen to, and I cannot believe I am sharing this on this MINDSET, but dear Lord it is embarrassing.
I cannot believe I'm doing this, but here's a little snippet of an early, early song that I put together. Oh my gosh, I'm, I am, I'm about to tear up just thinking about how embarrassing this is gonna be, but anyways, here it is...
(Eric’s high school song plays)
Oh my God, I can't believe that you guys heard this...I'm sure as you can tell from where that song is to where my

music is now. It's a completely different place.
It took what, five, six, seven years of me trying to write songs, of me trying to really just butt my head against the wall and say, "I'm going to make this song work." And just trying all these different processes, all these different routes, and formulas, and equations, to try to create my version of success. Be that a song, be that a career, be that a TV personality, whatever it is — it took forever.

And it sucks. Like I really wish, I truly wish that everything was easier. I truly wish that none of us have to go through the pain and the struggle of having to deal with the crap that we have to deal with. But that's just life. That's just the way it is, you know?
And I guess like you hearing these, I don't even want to call it a song. You hearing this song, these songs, and the progress that's been made, hopefully it gives you just a little bit of hope. And it gives you just a little bit of, you know, a little gentle

kick in the butt to say, "You know what, I’m gonna embrace this process. I’ma take control of my life, and I’m not gonna let failure keep me down.
I'm gonna do whatever, whatever it is I need to do to make that song great. Or whatever school project, or business plan, or any dream that I have," any dream that you have, whatever you gotta get done. You’re gonna do it, you're gonna do it well, and you’re just gonna kill it. 
So whatever process you are going through, whatever

process I’m going through at the moment, let's embrace it, and let's embrace it together. Cause we’re gonna do it well. We're gonna knock it out of the park.
This is my MINDSET.

Life is never a straight line. Roll with the punches and don't let failure keep you down.

Embracing the Process

Episode Four: Burnout.
I think the hardest part of my job, of this job, is that nothing is ever finished. Like it's a, it's a never ending constant loop of

projects that never finish.
I think the other thing is, the fact that I just do so much. I do so many different things. I think that's something that's very unique to Korea in terms of entertainment, is that you can't just be a singer. It's very rare for people just to be singers, you have to do everything.
So I would, you know, be doing radio, and TV, and interviewing people, while writing music, recording, then performing it, and doing business development

and project development on the side. They're all different things.
By the way, that's just for Korea. If you want to do stuff internationally, that's another team that you have to manage to build stuff out.
Now I, I’m not saying this for people to be like, "Oh, that's so sad," or like, "Oh, this must be, oh so exhausting." Like it's exhausting, but that's just the job. And when you learn to manage it the right way, you know, it's very, very fulfilling. But to get there, it took a long time.
So getting to a point

where this seemed at all manageable had a lot of growing pains and a lot of strife that came along with it.
There is truly nothing called "normal" in my life. There is no normal schedule. There is no nine to five. It's more like...I don't know, what day is today? Hold on what is today?
A normal day in my life is different every day. And it's a blessing and it's a curse. It's a blessing because every day is different and it's exciting. It's a

curse because we cram so many things into a single day.
Like it's not unheard of for me to be doing five or six different, "schedules," is what we call them here, in a day. That can be a radio show, a TV show, a shoot, an interview, plus a recording, or a rehearsal. We'll cram all those into one day.
Even today, as I do this interview,

this is like, I think my fourth schedule and it's 3:00 p.m. in the afternoon. And I have podcasts, I have a meeting, and I have a dinner, like, it just doesn't end.
I think that's the hardest part. Nothing ever ends. No matter how much you do, nothing ever ends.
Even from Episode One, you know I shared that I am an overachiever. I am overly stimulated, and I am probably a

workaholic. And the word "workaholic" obviously has a negative connotation to it. And, while at first I was like, ah, it's not the best word to use. To me, it's the only way that any of my life makes sense.
Because I think I have this sense of, obviously I'm ambitious. I'm ambitious enough to move to a different country, make a name for himself and, like, build a career and a team. But I also have a sense of responsibility. Where if

I'm not working, if I'm not physically moving, then I have people who rely on me, who work with me to pay their bills. You know?
It's, this is, I mean, obviously no celebrity really is gonna talk about stuff like this I don't think? But I'm just, this is MINDSET. I'm being very real. I'm being very honest and open here. 
So, there are times where I'm just like, I don't want to do any of this. Like I would love...I see, I see other celebrities where like, "I took a month off in Bali and I just, I did a

silent retreat with monkeys." And I'm like, man...that would be great.
But the reality is, like, I can't. And there are moments where you're like, "Ah...I'm exhausted." But at the same time, it's for me, it's like, you gotta keep going. And that's just the way it is.

When you work at the pace and caliber that I do, you learn to adapt so that you can take moments of reprieve, and rest, and healing where you can. There were definitely moments where in my career, like I was so overwhelmed, I couldn't, I-I just couldn't do anything. And that's where it's like too late, and you just have to like, you force yourself to take a break.

So like, for example, in 2019 I was, you know I did, I think 12 or 13 cities in Europe for a tour. And this was off of me doing a lot of stuff in Korea before I went straight to Europe, did the tour, went back to the States, and I think it was like right after I landed, I had to go to Nashville to write for my new album. And then I flew to L.A. to write more, and then I had to go back to Korea for like, festivals. Something, it was like some ungodly schedule, right?
And the only songs that I

could write at that time were songs about burnout and feeling exhausted. I literally have a song that's called "Burnout." And then that's where, like, "Love Die Young" came from.
And so, being able to channel those types of energies in a way, luckily for me, it's a creative outlet, but it's not, again, it's not the healthiest thing and I don't recommend it. So, what I ended up doing is trying to carve out pieces of my life

where I allow myself to really deal with whatever burnout or issues that I have, in whatever way I feel is right.
Before coronavirus, it was for me to just be like, "All right, peace, I'm going to go." And then I'll just get on a flight and go somewhere, and have a new, you know, environment or a new atmosphere to be working out of.
But the other thing was, at a certain point, when you work in the way that I do, you try to find

happiness and fulfillment in, like, the smaller things. So for me, it was about changing the lens of like, instead of thinking, "Oh I'm exhausted or I'm whatever." It's like, "Well, I worked my ass off." Can I say that? I can say that. "You know, I worked my ass off. I'm going to eat an ice cream and a McDonald's burger and a milkshake at 2:00 a.m. Why? Because I feel like it and I deserve it." And just learning to be okay with that, and just finding, like, stress release in those moments.

So I mean, it's so simple and it's so mundane and it sounds really stupid, but that's like literally how I deal with it. There’s no trick. And then there's also just physically letting yourself rest when you can. Like, forcing yourself to rest.
Which kind of brings me to, like, I guess I don't, I didn't share this too much, but, you know I'm obviously in my early thirties now, and I think my body started reacting in ways that were very painful. And I tried I think for a while to kind of cover it up?

Like, I went through my twenties at such a, an intense speed, just trying to make things work, and trying to make ends meet, and trying to survive, that I really neglected my body.
So, I get back from tour in 2018, and like, I woke up in the middle of the night and I couldn't really feel parts of my right arm and hand. It was just numb and it was painful in certain places, and come to find I have, like, disc

issues in my neck and my back. And that's something that is chronic, but it's just something I, I have to deal with.
And then 2019, I think I had like a lot of digestive issues. And again that was due to stress and like, overworking. So I couldn't eat, like, food that I wanted for like three months. I'm on tour in Europe, surrounded by amazing food, and all I could eat was like the most simple, simple foods for the majority of the time. No alcohol,

and that went for months.
So like, all to say, as much as I am glad that I got to where I am, due to the hard work and effort that I put in, I do wish I had taken time for myself even more. I wish I had taken breaks. I wish I had made time for, for myself to not get so caught up in the rat race of life, to take a step back and allow myself to smell the roses along the way. To make the trips out to friends when I could, and to

generally put my health first. I think I wish I had done that a little bit more.
You know early, early in my career, when I first started, like, I started this because I just love singing. But once people start to critique you, and you're on audition shows, and you're on competition shows for different things, and you're getting judged, music became un-fun. It was not cool. I did not enjoy it. I

didn't want to sing.
Because all people do is point out why you're not good enough. And it felt like work.
But then I got to a point where I was just doing so much TV and radio that doing music was fun. It was my stress release and that's how I cope with issues. And I think for the most part I'm glad that it has stayed that way, there are moments where I'm like, you have to get an album out and I'm like, I can't write because I'm not inspired. And that's just the way that life goes.
But I generally enjoy writing music. Other things that I just

generally love doing is watching movies, and getting a great meal with friends, and drinkin’ a nice glass of wine or whiskey. I think it's, it's amazing.
Like, working this hard and pushing yourself to your limits makes everything else so much, for me, so much more enjoyable, and gratifying, and puts everything into a different perspective.
It's interesting

talking about burnout because it's something that's so prevalent today and in today's society, because we're constantly overloaded with options, we're overloaded with things that we can do, things we have access to. We live in a time and place and a space where we have incredible access like no other time in the history of mankind. And I think that in itself can be overwhelming.
But when you apply this to your life, when you apply this to your job, or your

profession, or your studies, or whatever it is you're doing, I think it's important to just to keep in mind that A) balance is important, and B) it's important to go for your, your dreams and your passions as much as you can, but also to keep, again balance, keep a level head on what reality is.
One of the biggest critiques that I had starting in the music industry was that people had a hard time working with me

because they, I'm not even making this up, they said I was too smart. And so, people literally said, "Eric is a great kid, but he's difficult to manage because he's too smart. And he has too many ideas and thoughts."
And that, to me was just like, I don't know if this is an insult or if this is like, something I should be proud of, but that's just my personality. Like I have ideas, I have thoughts, and I need to get them out there.
But I think when I look at it from a more positive perspective, it's like, "The dude can

do so many different things that it's kind of hard to, like, figure out what to do with him. There's so many options that we don't know what to do." Much like, again, in life, in what we're living today.
So, for me, the goal was always music. But for other people, for a label or for management, they're like, "Okay, but if we put Eric on TV, if we make him an MC or a host, he's going to make us much more money there than what he's making as a singer right now. So let's just push him completely that way." Right?
And luckily for me, I was, I was like,

okay, that's fine. As long as I can balance everything out, I'll be good. I guess the best way to say is, there are things that you are good at, and there are things that you want to do. There's the passion that you want to pursue and there's the realistic, practical side.
There's passion. And there's practicality. And I always say, if you can take both, that is the best situation that you could possibly be in, right?
Whenever people say, "I'm going to quit everything and become a singer," I’m like please don't quit everything. Keep your day job, do

whatever you want, do whatever you need as you pursue music, but make sure you're practical. 
Because chances are that like, it could work, it could also not work. I don't want anybody to think that, like, any of this is ever easy. Nothing in life is easy. Ever. Like, that's just the unfortunate truth. It's a painful truth. But the faster you come to terms with that, the easier I think it is for you to to be on a healthier road to pursuing what you really love.
So, taking it back to me, my passion, music. My practicality,

in Korea, it became TV, radio, hosting, and on the side, like working on random gigs. You know, I was, I didn't want to, but I had to.
So to pay the bills, I was doing chorus and guides for other idol groups and singers. You know, I was doing a lot of, like, random, odd jobs all throughout my career just to kind of keep things goin'. Like, I even was on a TV show where literally I was blowing bubble gum. And the competition

was to blow the biggest bubble gum. And I was just miserable. Like, "Why the hell am I here on a Saturday morning, with hair and makeup, chewing gum and making bubbles? And how does this in any way get me any closer to becoming a singer?"
But on the practical end, apparently I had to do it. So it's, it's about striking this balance. It's about strikin' what you're good at

and what you want to do.
So yeah, find balance. Also be practical. Don't forget or don't let your passions go, right? But be practical, and don't burn out.
Now, if you are burnt out, understand why you're burnt out. Realize it, accept it, embrace it, right? Don't go into like a, a hole, a well of being burnt out. But take time for yourself. I think that's

incredibly important.
And it's when you take time for yourself and you really let yourself reflect, that you are able to come out stronger, and bigger, and better on the other side. So whatever situation you're in, whether you're going for that passion, or if you're being only practical, don't let either go.
And if you have been going too hard, take a step back, take a deep breath. I'll do it with you. Breathe in through your nose and breathe out slowly

...and just take the time. Make the effort to care for yourself.
Truly. Truly do that.
This is my MINDSET.

Take the time to care for yourself. And if you're burned out, understand why.

Burnout

Episode Five: When Your World Falls Apart.
I'd say like 2014 through 2016, even maybe '17...was really difficult for me.
There were definitely some low days.
A lot of artists go through a point in their life and career, where and when they feel like they've lost

control of their lives, and they don't have a say in what's going on. And I don't think this is specific to Korea or K-pop, I think this is a universal experience that people have in music and in entertainment.
I think a big part of it is that, whether we like to admit it or not, we are seen as, in a way, a product. We are a business. And some

companies and some labels try their best not to look at it that way, and they do it from a much more human, person-to-person system.
But there are many who look at artists and a brand as just numbers, as figures, as dollar signs. And I think when that shift and when that focus goes that way, into the financial way, strictly the financial way, artists tend to lose a sense of self, identity, of control...and what

started as for most people, as a love and a passion for music and for performing, becomes a fight and a struggle for a sense of identity and self.
You know when you first get to Korea, when you're

first joining an industry, you're first setting off to achieve a goal...whether you want to or not you have to kind of play by the rules. When in Rome, right? You have to play by the laws and the structures that are already established.
But, what I found kept happening was that any time there was an issue, the blame would always come to me. Because I was too American, or I was too Western, or I was too smart, or I was not fluent enough in Korean so I didn't understand. Like it was always my fault.

And it created this horribly toxic environment where I felt trapped, I felt underappreciated, I felt undervalued, I felt like I was stripped of many things that I felt like should be mine.
And in any system or any structure, change is hard, and there is a lot of friction and there's a lot of backlash when you're trying to change things. And I think I really had like the full, blunt force

effects of that change with my personality and the structure. Like I felt that full force for a long time.
What happened was, I felt like people were painting me to be a crazy person. They were painting me out, making me out to be this super entitled, smart-ass American kid who didn't play by the rules and so he was causing all these problems.
I was like, "Bro...no way. I, like, that is so far from what is happening."

And I just, I couldn't deal with it.
I, I started to lose my mind. I thought I was going crazy. I second guessed everything about myself, I second guessed everything that I knew. I didn't know how to trust or believe in anything or anybody.
I could see and feel myself unraveling before my own eyes.
And even if I tried, even if I wanted to, I couldn't stop it. Like, I tried so hard to hold onto every bit of

sanity and, I guess, health that I could. And I could see it all kind of crumble down.
During that time period, I had a lot of issues with trust, with anxiety, with a form of depression and anger. It was just like the worst of the

worst emotions just all mixed together. And it was just tied up inside of me. Like, I would feel a physical burning sensation in my chest and my stomach. I could feel like my heart was gonna explode.
But the part that was really hard is that I had to pretend like nothing was wrong. Because you're a public figure. Because we're supposed to be selling happiness as musicians or as performers.
I was on TV all the time. I was

doing everything, everywhere. You know, I'm at the peak where I'm building right to the peak of my career...but I was so full of pain, and scarring, and just, a lot. And I didn't know how to deal with it.
And so, I wanted to seek therapy, I wanted to seek a therapist or a psychologist or I don't even know what the exact term is. I needed to talk to somebody. And, I remember the initial reactions were like, "No, no, no, no, no, no. You can't. You can not."
I was

like, "Why?"
It's like, "Because if somebody gets word of this, if somebody gets word that you are having a mental breakdown or you're having issues, that can be a career-ending move."
I was like, "What is, huh, how is it possible that if I am seeking help to get better and to be at a better place, how is this gonna end my career?"
But, at that time, having an open discussion about mental health and about getting to a better place

was very, very stigmatized. I feel like it still is stigmatized to a certain degree, but it's gotten a lot better. But at that time, I remember it being like, "No, no, no, you can't go. If you go, like, all these bad things will happen."
And, what ended up happening is they found me this place, like, that was kind of, like, kind of far out from where anywhere that I had been before. Took me to this, like...weird, I don't even know. Said it was a therapist. Went there, had one talk, but again, like, my

Korean's not perfect, but then, like, everything that I'm saying, even to this therapist, they're just like, "What, like how? What?" And I felt like that was so reductive of, like, what I was going through as well.
But I knew, all along, like, what the issue was. I've always known it. It's just, I didn't know how to get out of it. I didn't know how to deal with it. And that was causing like these mental breakdowns and me kind of falling apart.
Don't worry, I'm fine. I am well. I am healthy.

When you're at your lowest moments, know that you're not alone, and know how to ask for help.

Eric Nam

Meet Eric Nam

Always an Outsider

Talk to People

Embracing the Process

Burnout

When Your World Falls Apart

Giving, Receiving, and Learning from Feedback

Creating with Purpose

Allowing Yourself to Feel

21 Questions with Eric

Collection Highlights

Eric Nam x Mindset

Eric Calls His Mom

Gallery

You might also like these artists

Become a Mindset Member

What's included:

Annual Membership, $/month

What our listeners are saying

Introduction

Episode 1

Episode 5