Passionate people want to believe that what they do matters. What you do does matter.
Passionate people want to believe that what they do matters and leads to success.
What you do matters, but what's your definition of success?
All in Self-Effectiveness
Everybody doing the same thing the same way means every provider is the same. That's boring! It's also confusing for the customer. Be different. Create clarity.
A great marriage forms when you reconcile the differences between what matters to you, and what matters to others, and make something better from both. However, this is not often the case.
Enjoyment Wins.
If you are a serious musician making high art, represent yourself that way. Find others who want serious music and high art. They will gladly pay you for you to share your craft. But then, in the same way, don't represent yourself as the party musician. That's not you, and to be what you're not is fake.
You operate a string quartet. You are one of ten string quartets in the area, and it's reasonable to assume you're all proficient. You all charge, relatively, the same amount with a few dollars difference. As a customer, who do I choose?
Stop Racing.
Be different than the rest. Create quality over quantity. Focus on what your customer needs. Deliver on that need better than anybody else. People will gladly pay top dollar for someone to meet their needs.
All of the musical talent in the world is meaningless unless you can effectively recreate memories.
The future of the general business, casuals, jobbing musician has changed, is changing; it's "changed!" Learn more.
Failure is only "failure" if you choose not to learn.
I woke up this morning in the best of moods: the sun was out, the wind calming, and I felt a cool breeze. Indeed, in my mind, I was "blessed and highly favored." How could this day get any worse? I live with my sister.
I've learned to realize what matters. Many things don't. When you can tune out the noise and focus on what needs focus, amazing things happen.
The problem is that when we get ahead of life, we have to always look back and retrace our steps. That's not efficient. The solution is to let life get ahead of you.
My father would tell me, as a kid, "God and 'me' make a majority." He would later come to regret imparting this advice.
If you're going to introduce a new product to the market, having access to the market is critical. Being able to connect others to your product or service leads to increased business. My problem was not the access; my problem was that I was aware others did not have the access I had.
When I used to be a bandleader, I had a terrible reputation as being a hard ass. I was. I dedicated my entire self and soul to the music I performed. I expected no less from those playing with me. That was my problem. My expectations did not allow for mistakes.
If you know me, you know that lawyers raised me, two of them. It's almost like the wolf pack raising Mowgli. My parents bred me to be a fighter. I don't like this quality about myself. Well, no, I like it in balance.
The only failure I know is the failure to embrace failure.
I keep my kindergarten diploma on my wall. I do it as a reminder that the most effective ways of being are the simplest ways of being — no need to overcomplicate the simple. Everything you need, you learned in Kindergarten.
On Impressions
"The best impressions are when people expect them the least." - John Brady
Why Be Average?
I hypothesized that bands that differentiate themselves from the others, have a clear customer focus, will have more bookings per year than others. I believe I am right. Here's why.