You Have Two Products

In yesterday’s 4+2 Formula post I mentioned that of the two sets of combinations you have to work with, the first is the “personal, and power-full, combination of you and your art.” In other words, you – as an artist – have two products.

Your Art

This is the product you think of all the time. In fact, it’s likely that it’s the only product you think about.

This is understandable of course, mostly because this is all you’ve been told matters. From the time you first played music you’ve been told you do it wonderfully and that you’ll be a star, right? It’s also the thing you’ve spent your whole life perfecting, it’s what you create and it’s what everyone focuses on.

But there’s another product you have that is far more important because it’s uniquely special in every way:

You

Yes, you.

Combinations

Whether you recognize it or not, who you are – and all that implies – affects every part of your music career. I’m suggesting you recognize it. I suggest you:

• Understand and cultivate you. Learn about your strengths, weaknesses, etc. Then encourage and grow your strengths so they become an even bigger advantage. This will help you to:
• Become a valuable person to work with. This goes far beyond showing up on time and doing your work – anyone can do those things. I’m talking about bringing more – ideas, creativity, enthusiasm, etc.
• Bring you, fully. This is the crucial step and the one most often overlooked. It’s crucial because people do not want to work with or buy music from machines. Your career success will be in direct proportion to your ability to bring you, the real you, into everything you do.

Put what you do and who you are together well, and you’ll have the personal, power-full combination you need for success.