Why do so many college graduates in the arts abandon their career paths? The common belief is that the real world is simply too challenging—that the barriers to artistic and financial success are too high. But is that the whole story? Jazz saxophonist and composer Javier Arau takes us inside his thirty-year journey through the music industry, sharing personal stories of struggle, risk, and perseverance. From navigating setbacks to carving out his own place in an unforgiving field, Arau reflects on the timeless challenges that face any artist striving to succeed. But what does it really take to thrive in a world that doesn’t offer easy answers? Drawing from his experiences as a musician and entrepreneur, Arau explores unexpected insights that can reshape how we approach obstacles, creativity, and success. His talk offers more than inspiration—it offers a new way to think about forging a path forward when the odds seem stacked against you. Javier Arau is an American composer, saxophonist, conductor, theorist, author, and entrepreneur. He is the founder and executive director of New York Jazz Academy®, a popular New York City music school, leads the Javier Arau Jazz Orchestra, and is the author of several works on music theory and improvisation. A 2024 and 2025 quarterfinalist for Grammy® Educator of the Year, Arau has been touted as “pioneering” (DownBeat magazine, May 2022 cover story) and a “jam warrior” (JazzWise magazine, January 2023) and has been featured in The New York Times and as a two-time cover artist for Saxophone Journal magazine. His compositions have received awards from ASCAP, BMI, DownBeat Magazine, and IAJE, and are published by UNC Jazz Press and Dorn Publications. Arau is an artist-endorser of Virtuoso Saxophones and currently resides in New York City with his wife and two daughters. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx