{"id":38488,"date":"2022-06-01T04:54:00","date_gmt":"2022-05-31T18:54:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress-328533-4778250.cloudwaysapps.com\/?p=38488"},"modified":"2022-06-01T10:24:22","modified_gmt":"2022-06-01T02:24:22","slug":"nicc-johnson-co-founder-at-music-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/balancethegrind.co\/interviews\/nicc-johnson-co-founder-at-music-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Balancing the Grind with Nicc Johnson, Co-Founder at Music Health"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Nicc Johnson is the co-founder at Music Health, a company building music wellness tools that make it easy for anyone to manage their mental and physical health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Learn how the most successful people in the world structure and manage their days. Sign to the Balance the Grind newsletter<\/a>!<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

1) To kick things off, could you tell us a little about your career background and current role?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I started my career as a professional DJ in Ibiza when I was 16 years old. This career allowed me to travel the world by the time I was 19. In my mid twenties I went on to become one of the resident djs at the most famous club in the world at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The big takeaway was to see how music impacted people the same all over the world, regardless of race or religion. I could see the impact first hand but I didn\u2019t understand the science, so when I was 20 I picked up my first book on Musicology and I\u2019ve been studying it ever since. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2014 I founded a music tech startup with a mission to help with the digitisation of music for the world of streaming. When algorithms dictate search and recommendation we need contextual metadata that relates to human taste – we built the AI Music Brain\u2122.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In late 2019 I had started tinkering on an idea to help my parents who are both now in their mid 70\u2019s and experiencing cognitive and behavioral changes. The initial idea was submitted to a national innovation challenge in Australia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We won and then COVID happened. It was clear that poor mental health was on an exponential trajectory affecting people of all ages. My co-founder Stephen and I decided we needed to do something about it and in November 2020 we founded Music Health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Music Health is digitizing music therapy with a mission to help the over one billion people around the world experiencing poor mental health. We\u2019re starting with dementia. I\u2019m the co-founder and CEO of Music Health and spend most of my time on the product, R&D, long term strategy, and day to day business operations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2) What does a day in your life look like for you? Can you take us through a recent workday?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In my usual routine, I wake up at 5.30AM and do some form of exercise – either stretching, yoga or boxing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I often have calls starting at 7.30AM and when that happens I don\u2019t have time to go boxing, so I will generally do some stretching and make sure to find time in the early afternoon to exercise properly. It\u2019s a big part of my routine to stay mentally sharp! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After my morning exercise, I have a shower and make myself a pot of (decaf) coffee. I\u2019m usually at my desk by no later than 7.30AM. If I am not on calls, I use this time to get through most of my emails in my inbox and read up on articles that I have bookmarked. My aim is to always be ready by about 9AM when the rest of the team starts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bulk of my work day is divided between supporting my team and working through the list of tasks I have on my plate. Oftentimes I have calls late in the evening and when I do, I make time in the afternoon to step away from my computer and do something non-work related. Regardless of the daily schedule, I\u2019m usually in bed by 10PM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The one constant is always music. I listen to about 3 or 4 hours of music daily. I start my morning with relaxing music to get me in the right flow. In the late morning I pick it up a bit with some more energetic music and in the afternoons I listen to songs I love that give me a happy uplifting vibe. This is a big part of my routine that has been a constant for the last 20 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3) Does your current role allow for flexible or remote working? If so, how does that fit into your life and routine?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Yes, it does. We started our company during a global lockdown so we had no choice but to work remotely and we found that our team is equally as productive. While we now make a conscious effort to see each other 2 days a week, the rest of the time the team can decide how they prefer to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve never understood the 9-5 it and wouldn\u2019t want to enforce that on my own team. My philosophy in excelling at your job and career, is to set yourself a series of tasks and just get shit done. Struggle to focus? That means you are going to work longer hours. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

4) What does work-life balance mean to you and how do you work to achieve that goal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To me it means your work and personal schedule are intertwined. When I hear of people having to take a half day just so they can schedule a dentist or medical appointment, it\u2019s absurd to me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I don\u2019t adhere to a 9-5 routine, but rather to a \u201cthis is what I need to achieve today and this is what I need to achieve this week\u201d routine. I like to start early in the morning because that\u2019s when I am most productive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Honestly, I\u2019m never not working, but I\u2019ve learnt over the years to do focused work and make time for other things for my brain to re-calibrate. I always take one day a week where I don\u2019t look at my work. On that day I focus on my hobbies, family and friends. I also always take one half day a week for deep thinking!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5) In the past 12 months, have you started or stopped any routines or habits to change your life?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Yes, I shifted back to waking up early and going to bed early. I was a professional DJ for 16 years with a crazy summer schedule which meant I usually didn\u2019t get to bed until 8 or 9AM. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, I’m the complete opposite. I\u2019m a morning person and love getting up early. I\u2019m more productive and clear headed and when I get a bit of exercise in, I have a lot of energy for the day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another big shift that really started 24 months ago is making a more conscious effort of what I put into my body. I\u2019ve drastically cut down on drinking and aside from not really missing it much, I have found my brain, in particular my information retention has significantly improved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6) Do you have any favourite books, podcasts or newsletters that you’d like to recommend?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I love podcasts but I don\u2019t listen to them enough because music takes up a big part of my day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My library of books mainly consists of music and science related topics. Couple of my favourites:<\/p>\n\n\n\n