How Do You Define Success? (Total reading time 1-2 minute)
Everyone has a different definition of success. Some people measure success by their popularity, their financial status, the house with the white picket fence, their car in the driveway. And then there are other people who measure success by their contribution to society, the potential, and their happiness.
You can measure success by creating a goal for your self. If you achieve it you have succeeded. Ultimately though it is still up to you to create the definition of what that is.
Success is not perfection. True perfection can never be achieved. Success is an ever evolving thing that will grow and change at many moments of your life.
The attainment of wealth, position, honors, or the like.
That definition sucks. How would you define success? For me success is happiness derived from living to my fullest potential while living with integrity.
Want your life to change? If you continuing doing the same thing your doing now that will never happen. What do you need to make that transition? A Leap Of Faith.
I’m not suggesting a trip to your local religious establishment, although there is nothing wrong with that either. What I am talking about is faith in your self. You can wish for success all you want. You still need to take the first step.
The first step might be small, like opening the door to leave your house or it might be much scarier like opening the door to a blackened, shadow filled staircase in a Hitchcock movie. Either way you will still need to make that step. Life only rewards people that are not afraid to take chances.
Why you need a plan. (Total reading time 1 minute)
Life is full of choices. Some of them easy, some not so easy. Without a
plan making a tough decision can consume you. When you have a specific
goal in mind the easiest way to make a decision is to see how that choice
effects your ultimate plan.
Sometimes that choice might not seem the easiest but it might be the best.
It is important that you share your plan and goals with the people closest
around you. In doing so they will ultimately support any tough decisions
you make.
How To Make A Successful Choice. (Total reading time 1 minute)
What makes a person successful? Is it their drive towards a goal? Their Talent?
The level of success you achieve is directly related to your ability to solve problems. Not mathematical problems, just whatever problem needs to be solved. To often people set out on a goal with great intentions in mind. Then as the goal becomes difficult or progresses through its first stages of failure they give up. I am a true believer that you can be anything that you want to be in life. The catch? You must truly want to be what it is that your are seeking.
Their is a very big difference between trying something and dedicating your self to it. If you are not sure you want to do something,
TRY IT. If you are sure then DEDICATE your self to it.
When challenges arise here is how you should face them. If you are DEDICATED to your goal FIND A SOLUTION.
If you are TRYING something out because you are just not sure, decide if you want to QUIT now and try something else, or become DEDICATED and FIND A SOLUTION.
A Day at the ASCAP New York Sessions (Total reading time 2-3 minutes)
I went to an ASCAP New York Sessions networking event today and it was a great educational opportunity to learn exactly how not to network. The day long affair was made up of various music business panels. Each panel was made up of industry insiders and professionals. A lot of good information, but besides a few inspiring stories, nothing drastically new to the people who are actually listening. There were a few hundred people at the event, with the majority of the attendees committing some major networking crimes. Take a moment to learn from their mistakes.
1. Not taking your self seriously. If you can’t explain to me what you do, how am I supposed to know?
2. Not having a business card, or something with your contact information on it. Then giving some one your contact information only to tell them a few minutes later that was the wrong number. Sounds like a real pro doesn’t it.
3. Flooding the panelists with CD’s. They’ll take them of course to be nice. Where they will end up who knows. I am not against giving people demos but i think it should only be done once a relationship of some sort has been established.
4. Asking questions of the panel that aren’t questions. Rambling on about something until one of the panelists ultimately stops you a few minutes later and says, “Whats your question?” -you don’t want to be that guy. The panelist and every one else in attendance knows at that point to stay away from you.
(The only exception to this is to say thank you.)
5. Begging, pleading and bartering to get some one to listen to your music just shouldn’t happen. (Especially in front of an audience). It’s just not professional and further creates a divide between where you are in your career and where they are. This is not the way you want break the ice.
So what is the right way to network?
Networking is very similar to a relationship. Getting some one to hear your music is like going all the way. You don’t take off all your clothes in the restaurant on your first date, shake your parts around and start quoting Austin Powers. Go slow. Talk, have dinner, a glass of wine get to know each other. A few dates later maybe things will get a bit more interesting. Getting sone one on the “inside” to hear your music works the same way. An A&R, publisher, or record label executive will be more then willing to listen to your music once they know who you are. Pushing music and giving out CD’s may work (or may not) for building a fan base but thats where it should stop. If there is a panelist you want to give your music to, ask them for their information. Send a few emails back and forth and let things develop. Find out what they are actually looking for. I used this approach this fall and secured a great new relationship with a company here on the east coast. You might not give out as many CDs but the demos you get through the door will be a lot more effective.
Lastly big shout outs to Ariel Hyatt.
I have been following her posts and updates on facebook for a while now. She has written a book on publicity for musicians and is one of the few people that practices what she preaches. She took the time after an early morning panel to talk to almost every single person that wanted to speak to her. This kind of attention is rare and should really be appreciated by all who attended. Although I didn’t speak to her my self, watching her in action was enough for me to see her book is worth picking up. I look forward to taking one of her future music success challenges.
What do I Think about The Thank You Economy by Gary Vaynerchuck (Total reading time 2 minutes)
Last night I finished reading The Thank You Economy by wine guy (Check out his new site Daily Grape), and social media guru Gary Vaynerchuck. I think anyone who must promote and market themselves whether as an individual like a musician, freelance worker, or as a business big or small should read this book. The book outlines the importance for you to care about your work, and do the right thing for people. Gary stresses this through his own passionate view points and many different examples. If you are afraid of social media this book will help you understand its importance.
If you do not have time to read the book. Gary also included a short 2 page cheat sheet going over all the main points of the book as well. You can find it in the back. Here is my short recap:
Do the right thing, people will talk about you.
Do the wrong thing, people will talk about you.
Doing the right thing if you are genuine and honest will help you succeed.
I recommend you read Crush It, Gary V’s first book to get a feel for his style and to understand his passion, and then pick up the The Thank You Economy afterwords. Crush It is more actionable and motivating. The Thank You Economy is more of a wake up call to the people that just don’t get the effect that social media is going to have on society.
One last thing that Gary did in his book that I felt speaks more about his personality and honesty then anything else was written in last line of the acknowledgements in which he thanks Stephanie Land calling her “the best ghostwriter of all time”. As a person who has done “ghost” work I have a lot of respect for that.
Life’s most difficult decisions are the ones that question your integrity, your dreams, your discipline, and your commitments. In my own personal quest to live with in my definitions of those terms there have been many conflicts and tough moments. Making bad long term choices in life is often a result of your focus on one of these elements becoming weak and temporarily out of perspective. Slow things down so you are not making decisions in haste. Life is ultimately about the journey not the destination so its okay if you take a little time to get where you are going.
Ride the wave. Listen To Your Life. (Total reading time 2 minutes)
All things in life have rhythm. From your heart to the changing season rhythm surrounds us every where. With some things the rhythm can be easy to find. With others the movement can be slower or moving in a way that you can not see from your current perspective. As a freelance composer and small business owner I have learned that it is important to understand these rhythms and accept.
Look for the rhythms in your own life.
When do you like to exercise?
When do you work the best?
When are you most creative?
What time of the year are you happiest?
What time of year is your business rocking?
When are things difficult for you?
Using the answers to these questions to influence everything from your scheduling to financial decisions can make your life easier in a flash. I know based on the rhythms of my business in the past that december is a very slow month. The music industry typically quiets down for the month and takes it easy from thanksgiving to christmas. January typically picks back up when both big business and independent labels are motivated to take on the new year.
Take a deep breath and pay attention to the things moving around you in your life.
“You fail only if you stop writing” – Ray Bradbury (Total reading time 1-2 minutes)
I was skimming through another book about writing today and came across this quote by American author Ray Bradbury. “You fail only if you stop writing”. If we forget for a second that Ray Bradbury is a writer, a really good one at that, and condense that a bit we see that the real message here is :
You only fail if you stop.
As a composer and a musician this is a lesson I continue to learn daily. Composers do not buy a copy of the local newspaper, circle a few want ads and walk around to interviews. The career path for a composer is a long slow road. Ultimately it is not about reaching a specific goal it’s about the journey and enjoying what you do in the process.
Think of what you could do if you just did not stop trying. Whatever it is that you can think of-you can do. It might hurt. It might scare you. It might take longer then you expect. And it might actually happen.
Now go do something. Not inspired yet watch this video by Michael Jordan.
A Philosophy Buffet. (Total reading time 2-3 minutes)
Today on my quest to read fifty books in the year I finished reading number 8. A Philosophers Notes by Brian Johnson. The little book has almost two hundred pages packed with philosophy, self development and spiritual goodness. Don’t be scared it is actually pretty easy to understand. The author uses a simple, current and conversational approach to make some pretty serious ideas understandable.
My favorite part of the book is that unlike many other books in the self development genre it is not overly preachy. Brian Johnson presents the reader with a buffet of ideas and take aways. You are free to pick and choose what you would like as appetizers, the main course and dessert. Yumo!
In life spirituality and religion sometimes collide. A Philosopher’s notes shows us that living with Integrity, Blissipline, Gratitude, and a Positive Mindset is a cool thing to do.
The book is also packed with tons of inspiring quotes that on their own are seeds of wisdom.
Hear is a doggie bag of questions from the book to get you started.
Do you honor your commitments?
What do you want?
If you had all the time and money in the world what would you do?
What inspires you?
Besides the book, Brian Johnson also has a really cool website called-you guessed it Philosophersnotes.com . He takes us on a tour of 100 Self Development, Psychology, and Success classics. For a fair price you get 100 20-30 minute mp3s highlighting the major points and concepts of each book. Its the perfect way to absorb knowledge while out on a run or sitting in traffic. The mp3s are also an indispensable motivational tool for when you’re having one of those days that just plan sucks.
Along with Leo Babauta’s book The Power Of Less it is probably one of things I recommend to my friends most. I have actually had people return and thank me for the great resources each has to offer. Turn the TV off and dive in. There is an entire you out there waiting to be discovered.
