The most important lesson I have learned as an artist is: pursue what you like doing and it will grow.
The advice I would give to an up-and-coming artist is: reach beyond your best, to reach your destiny.
The advice I regularly give my students is, there is always a next level.
Fun Fact:
I found out a few years ago I was walking around with an untapped talent. A student said he could out rap me, and he did. I used an old rap I figured they never heard. My competitive side kicked in. I figured, if I was going to lose again, it wouldn’t be with someone else’s rhymes. So, I wrote my own lyrics. I did it in the classroom; the students thought it was great. I have been rapping since then. I also won a few talent shows in high school and college for doing the moonwalk.