I want to make sure that I’m not misunderstood in my writing here at whyifailed.com. I want to make sure that you know that there are no set formulas for success, no fast track plans promising wealth and fame and no guarantees that what you sincerely desire to do with your life is going to work out the way you plan.
Sorry, but those things do not exist.
What I can promise you, though, is that your music career must be based on solid music AND business principles and skills and that all of them can be learned and improved upon over time. I can also promise you that one of the most important business skill is asking the right questions.
“Good decision making is about knowing what questions to ask and
questioning is inherently challenging (or negative, depending on your
point of view). But it should not be ducked, because the other way lies
the tyranny of the yes man culture. Reality checks are essential and
their great benefit is that the sooner they come, the less painful they
are.” – The No In Knowledge from Make Marketing History Blog.
What kind of questions?
- Who else does what I do?
- Why are they, or aren’t they, successful?
- What can I learn from them?
- Who are my customers?
- What are their needs? Wants? Desires?
- Can I/do I meet those needs, wants and desires?
- Who else could be a customer?
- How?
- Are there changes in music and/or business that are affecting my career?
- Are there changes coming?
- When?
- Am I ready?
- What’s a “good” customer?
- What’s a “great” customer?
- What’s a “bad” one?
- How can I get more “greats”?
- Should I keep the “bads”?
- Who are my great customers and do they KNOW they’re great customers?
- What can I do to change that?
I hope you get the idea. I suggest you create a list of 100 such questions. Yes, 100. Sure some will be dumb, but a few will change your life.
Which reminds me of a few more.
- What are my top 2 or 3 priorities in life?
- Am I living towards those?
- Why or why not?
