Posted on 13Aug2025
By Jerome Marcelo
Every band has that one jam session where things shift—where the conversation goes from "what songs are we playing?" to "where are we going with this?" For RMD, that moment didn’t happen on stage or during a recording session. Nope. It happened in a quiet room, with all of us awkwardly sitting in silence…
…with our eyes closed.
No, it wasn’t a nap. It was goal setting.
The Power of Closed Eyes and Open Minds
Picture this: A bunch of grown adults during a facebook messenger call meeting, all silently visualizing the future. At my signal, I asked, “Where do you see RMD in five years?”
At first, the vibe was uncertain—half meditation retreat, half group project gone rogue. But then something shifted. Smirks turned to smiles. Eyebrows relaxed. Postures straightened. We were there—mentally.
In our minds, we were on Canadian stages with bigger crowds, louder applause, and tighter harmonies (plus a roadie or two—because, let’s be real, hauling amps isn't the dream). We saw merch booths, meet-and-greets, cross-country tours, collabs with other artists, and a growing community of fans we call Lovesters.
What we were doing in that moment wasn’t just daydreaming. We were setting a goal.
Why Goal Setting Rocks (Even for Bands That Mostly Wing It)
Let’s face it—bands aren’t usually known for being “strategic.” We're good at feelings, vibes, and creative flow… but timelines? Spreadsheets? Action items? That’s corporate territory. And yet, here we were, applying classic goal-setting principles to our music journey. And you know what? It worked.
Here’s why:
It got everyone on the same page (or at least the same setlist).
It gave our dreams a deadline (5 years, baby!).
It made us realize what we truly value (spoiler: it's not just about going viral).
The Core Values That Came Through (Yes, Even With Eyes Closed)
During the sharing part (after the awkward silence), we noticed some big themes kept coming up. These weren’t just part of the “5-year plan.” They were part of our band’s identity—and possibly yours too, if you're building something from scratch.
1. Community Over Clout
We didn’t see ourselves chasing fame at all costs. We saw ourselves surrounded by people. Families, supporters, fellow artists—people who believed in what we’re doing and stuck around because of who we are, not just what we play. Clout fades. Community stays.
2. Consistency Over Perfection
Let’s be real—half of our rehearsals are a combination of “Oops, wrong key!” and “Wait, I forgot the lyrics!” But in five years, we saw ourselves as tighter, more in sync, more polished. Not because we suddenly got perfect, but because we kept showing up. That’s the secret.
3. Growth Over Comfort
Growth looks different for everyone. For one member, it was learning new instruments. For another, it was learning how to post on TikTok without a breakdown. For all of us, it was stepping out of what’s easy, into what’s possible.
4. Fun Over Fear
Let’s not forget the fun. The “5-year version” of RMD was still cracking jokes during soundcheck, still laughing through bad takes, still vibing with each other like a group of cousins at karaoke. We don’t want to “make it” if we’re miserable. Fun is part of the goal.
So… What’s the Goal Again?
Glad you asked.
In 5 years, we want to:
Do a Canada-wide tour with our original music.
Build a solid online and offline community of Lovesters.
Launch collabs with other Filipino-Canadian creatives and startups alike (like Garahe Streetfoods—you know we love you).
Be in a position where we can help other artists chase their dreams too.
We’re in Year 2 now. Sometimes it feels like we’re flying. Other times, we’re dragging equipment into a cold garage at 10 PM wondering, “Wait… where’s the mic cable again?”
But the goal? It keeps us going.
Goal Setting Tips (From a Band That’s Still Figuring It Out)
If you’re trying to set your own goals—whether you're in a band, a startup, or still figuring it out—here’s what we’ve learned:
Make it visual. Close your eyes. Seriously. Imagine it. What does your dream life/project/career feel like?
Involve your people. You can dream alone, but goals need a team. Share the vision and build it together.
Write it down. We put our 5-year vision in a Google Doc. You don’t need a vision board. Just somewhere to remind you what you're aiming for.
Revisit it often. Like tuning a guitar, your goals need adjustments. Revisit, reflect, and re-commit.
Celebrate progress, not perfection. Even the tiniest win deserves a cheer. (We celebrate with milk tea. Highly recommend.)
Final Thoughts (Before We Go Practice Again)
Setting a goal isn’t magic—but it can feel magical when done with heart. It gives you direction, focus, and something to laugh about when nothing goes as planned. At RMD, our vision fuels our jam nights, our long drives, and our late-night editing sessions.
We’re not just building a band. We’re building a dream—one chord, one fan, and one step at a time.
So next time someone tells you to “dream big,” close your eyes and try it. You might just see a version of yourself that’s braver, louder, and closer to the goal than you think.
And if you’re ever in doubt, remember our band motto:
“Practice makes progress. And progress sounds awesome onstage.”
💬 What’s YOUR 5-year vision?
Drop us a comment or DM us @thermdband.
Let’s keep dreaming—and jamming—together.
#rmdthoughts #LovestersUnite #CloseYourEyesAndRockOn