208 – How to Stop Thinking & Make Things Happen in Your Music Career

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Trying to make things happen in your music career? Do you often find, at the end of the day, you’ve basically accomplished nothing of substance? Do you find yourself overthinking every decision you need to make?

That’s what we’re going to be looking at in this episode of The New Music Industry Podcast.

Table of Contents

Podcast Highlights:

00:31 – Mindset
01:01 – Tip #1: Stop relying on new training resources
02:32 – Tip #2: Recognize DIY stands for Do it YOURSELF
04:29 – Tip #3: Identify what game you’re playing
06:14 – Tip #4: Get a copy of The Essential Guide to Music Entrepreneurship
07:11 – Episode summary

Transcription:

Hey, it’s David Andrew Wiebe.

I know there wasn’t an episode last week. I needed a little bit of time with my family. But I’m back, at least until I go on break towards the end of October. Maybe I’ll be able to stockpile a couple of episodes for you before then.

Today, we’re basically talking about mindset.

Mindset is an expansive topic. More so than you may even realize.

Mindset is an expansive topic. More so than you may even realize. Click To Tweet

But in this episode, I’m going to try to keep it tight and tackle what’s most relevant as applied to this issue of getting into action versus getting caught in analysis paralysis.

Let’s get moving.

Tip #1 – Maybe Another Book or Course isn’t What You Need Right Now to Make Things Happen

*Gasp* What did he just say…?

Don’t get too excited. I said “maybe”, not “definitely.”

CD Baby founder Derek Sivers always held to the notion that you already know what your next steps are, you’ve just got to stop procrastinating, get up an hour earlier and do them.

You already know what your next steps are. Click To Tweet

I shared a little bit about that in my interview on The Unstarving Musician as well.

And, today I was reflecting on the fact that as human beings we feel most alive when we’re outside our comfort zone. It doesn’t matter to what degree we’re outside of our comfort zone, a lot or a little.

What matters is we put ourselves in uncomfortable territory because that’s how we know we’re growing. That’s how we know we’re taking actions that are going to get results.

This doesn’t automatically mean you’re going to win just by getting uncomfortable. That’s not how life works.

You have been turned down for a date before, haven’t you?

But when we procrastinate, there’s usually something uncomfortable about what we need to do next. Yet, we have a good intuitive sense that the thing that makes us nervous is exactly what we need to do next.

When we procrastinate, there’s usually something uncomfortable about what we need to do next. Click To Tweet

If that is the case, then spending time in books and courses is not what you need right now. You’ve already identified what needs to be done. It keeps gnawing at you every single day and I don’t need to tell you what that is.

So, take a deep breath, take advantage of your peak hours where you feel the most lit and energetic, and make that phone call, send that email, have that conversation, hit “publish”, whatever you’ve got to do…

Tip #2 – Don’t Wait for Your Savior

There’s literally no one coming to save you, no matter how much you want it. Society has done a pretty good job of conditioning us to believe that there must be a savior. When you were born, you had parents. When you went to school, you had teachers and professors. At a job, you’ve got a boss.

Now, just so we’re clear, don’t take this from the religious or spiritual context. That’s a different story.

But in your music career, there’s only you. You’ve got to be the ambassador for your brand.

As an aside, I would argue that there’s probably already someone in your life who’s incredibly supportive and even has the skills necessary to help you on your path.

The problem is we completely disregard these people because they don’t have experience.

Again, they are not your savior. But you’d best recognize them and ask them for their help, because you’re probably not going to find anyone like them again.

Getting back to this point, it’s getting to be a dead horse by now, but if I were to beat it again, hope is not a strategy. It just isn’t.

When you think about it, school and media have basically conditioned us to be selfish and insecure. And I can promise you that’s not where you’re going to find fulfillment, let alone success.

We’re most fulfilled when we’re helping others achieve their dreams and desires. Hmm… I wonder why I show up every single day to publish useful information for my fellow musicians…?

One of my mentors Daniel Guy Martin said he would deliberately look for opportunities where his music could serve others. And he blew my career out of the water in a matter of months.

Is that part of your practice? Do you go looking for collaborative partnerships?

If you want to do something with your music, start creating your own contacts, and actively seek opportunities to add value them with your music.

The only way to get out of your own way is to set your eyes on serving others. Unplug from The Matrix and get connected to your heart again.

The only way to get out of your own way is to set your eyes on serving others. Click To Tweet

Tip #3 – Treat it Like an Experiment

We often get caught up in thinking everything in life is meant to be taken seriously. When it’s all just a grand experiment. A game if you will.

It’s not a game where there are no consequences for your actions. You can’t throw a stone in a pond without it creating ripples.

But people often don’t realize that if they started asking for what they wanted, and didn’t get it, they’d basically be in the same situation they were before they asked. They’d be no worse off!

Here’s something I paid good money to learn:

Do you want to know what the most successful people in the world have in common? They ask for what they want.

Successful people ask for what they want. Click To Tweet

But please do look for the win-win. Again, it doesn’t help when our communication and intentions are inherently selfish. You can make bad impressions with high-level influencers doing this and I see it all the time in my inbox.

Want to know how to interact with others? Call them by their name. Compliment them on something. Show genuine interest in their lives. Create a win-win proposition. Keep it brief. That’s it!

Bottom line – you’re afraid of things that aren’t happening right now. This is called inauthentic fear.

Your fear would be authentic if you were running from a lion right now. But I doubt that’s what you’re doing while listening to this podcast.

Your career is an experiment. And it’s okay if you fail. You always learn from failure.

Your career is an experiment. And it’s okay if you fail. You always learn from failure. Click To Tweet

But most of the time what you call “failure” is just a lesson, a steppingstone, or even an open door. You won’t know for sure until you’re on the other side of it! So, don’t be too quick to judge any circumstance. You’re not god, and you don’t know what might come of it – maybe something better than what you started with!

Tip #4 – This is a Bonus Tip to Make Things Happen

Pick up a copy of The Essential Guide to Music Entrepreneurship. This book is chalked full of mindset tips.

Yeah, I know I said you might not need a book or a course right now, but this is a quick read. You can get through it in 60 to 90 minutes, and it should leave you feeling inspired and ready to cause breakthrough in your life.

Christopher Sutton of Musical U had this to say about this book:

Really excellent book. Concise and to the point, and most importantly it focuses on what really matters: not the nitty-gritty tactical stuff that changes practically every week – but the crucial mindset and strategic thought work that’s required to succeed as an entrepreneur.

For any musician wondering what it’s going to take to make a living with their music in the modern world, this book is a tremendous all-in-one resource to answer that question for you.

You can go to MusicEntrepreneurHQ.com/Essential to get your copy. Make things happen.

Episode Summary, Make Things Happen

So, here’s your episode summary:

Perhaps, instead of trying to study and learn more, just go and do exactly what you know you need to do instead. You probably have a pretty good handle on that already.
Don’t wait for a savior. When it comes to your music career, you’re on your own. Be your own ambassador, strike up your own relationships, and intentionally go looking for opportunities where your music will be appreciated.
Just think of it like an experiment. Stop taking life so seriously. Have fun. We are talking about your passion after all.
Pick up a copy of The Essential Guide to Music Entrepreneurship. If there’s some aspect of mindset that confuses you, or you’re in a hopeless rut, pick up a copy of the book and devour it as fast as you can. You can find it at MusicEntrepreneurHQ.com/Essential

This has been episode 208 of The New Music Industry Podcast and I look forward to seeing you on the stages of the world.

Author
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David Andrew Wiebe

Founder & CEO at Music Entrepreneur HQ

Award-winning composer, best-selling author, professional musician coach, and podcaster of over 10 years. Wiebe helps musicians like you unlock your full potential. If you'd like to be notified whenever the blog is updated, click here to subscribe.

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