By Cari Cole

We recently had an off-the-hook free training about building an unstoppable music strategy for the new year. Mama spilled the beans on her success and thousands of artists success and how you can move the needle on yours.

Within every musician is a path to prosperity, success and achievement. But will it be realized? Why do some people make it and others struggle to?

One third of the equation is staying power, one third is having the foresight and decision making savvy to get there and one third is knowing where you and your music fit and carving a strategy for that (and ignoring everything that doesn’t fit into it).

It’s such a big game to be played. And the last thing you want to do is be in the river without a paddle or up the mountain without a map.

“The music business is not a good place for people that don’t know things” says Mary J. Blige.

Nothing is more true.

It’s a complex business and it’s easy to make mistakes that will take years off of your climb ~ or decades if you’re not careful.

I see it all the time, and wish I could save each mistake from happening, especially when I have the tools and know-how to do so. That’s why I do free trainings throughout the year – to help you shave years off of your climb and save you from those mistakes.

An artist came to me just the other day telling me a story of getting signed by a label that was totally into them artistically, only to hold all of their material back from release and keep them captive for 2 years. That’s 2 years out of their artistic lives they could have been releasing material and growing their fan base. In the life of an artist, that’s a LOT of time to lose. Now they are in a “custody” battle over their music. Sigh.

Having a successful career is not just luck. It’s having the foresight and wisdom to know if the decisions you’re making are the right ones. It’s not grabbing the dangling carrot without thorough examination. And then even when you do examine, you never know how exactly it’s going to turn out. At some point you have to take those chances too. But I have found over time, that the thorough examination saves time and avoidable mistakes, and lots of them.

Here are the highlights from Mama’s free training: 7 Ways to Build to an Unstoppable Music Strategy in 2018

 

1. Change Your Inner Dialogue

The reason resolutions don’t stick is because you try to change the outside without changing the inside. The key to your future success is an inside game. If you can’t seem to change your mind or make a change in life, the key will be held in the subconscious mind. Expert coach John Burr says that “Approx. 95% of our life is directed by our subconscious mind (we do not possess the capability to direct our life from our conscious mind.)” The subconscious mind can be programmed, like a computer to direct our lives thereby creating the life of our dreams. Start by giving directions like “I’m looking forward to a successful year”; “I’m going to make the right connections for my music this year”; “I’m ready to take my music to a new level”, etc. Whatever you know you need ~ SAY IT. Out loud. Every day. With conviction. And remember, you are directing your subconscious to follow marching orders. Try it as an experiment. See if you get results! ????

 

2. You Can’t Get to Where You Want to Go, Without a Map.

Seems like an obvious thing, yet the music business is an incredible complex and diverse place. There is no map. It’s hard to make sense of. And, because it’s pretty much still a closed door business, you don’t get access to those opportunities that are exclusive to the industry. You’re on the outside until you are invited in — and it’s really easy to get frustrated and overwhelmed.

That’s why we teach the steps. There’s an order to it. To help you understand what happens when, and how to build your career, make connections and get your music heard and in the right hands.

The more time researching and planning you can carve out ~ the better.

3. Spend Ample Time Brainstorming & Brain-dumping

Most people are so busy in their lives trying to make things happen and keep afloat that they barely have time to think, let alone plan. However, a strategy Mama uses that has brought success in her life is — every time “when things get tough, make a pla-a-a-a-a-an.” And not just an hour — weekends, weeks, many hours until you’ve got a real plan – one that can take you somewhere. And that might mean consulting with coaches, talking to artists further up the ladder than you. Carving out ample time – over months to put your plan together. But whatever you do, spend time on this!!

 

4. Don’t Stop Thinking BIG.

So there’s the rubber-band theory. If you think big you create a momentum to your goal. Like a rubberband, the stretch creates momentum. If you set your goal too low, you won’t have enough energy to catapult yourself forward.

 

If you’ve been in the industry for awhile you burn out. You start lowering your expectation. You stop dreaming big. It seems foolish. Understandable because you don’t want to disappoint yourself. You try to write a “hit” + “second guess” yourself because you start getting desperate. But that is #certaindeath. But go back and think about why you started doing music in the first place.

Then set your sights for what you really want. And it may have changed since you started – that’s probable. But capture the truth about WHY you make music.

 

5. Take Risks.

Nothing great was created in the safe zone. You have to take risks to get what you want, because what you want is outside your comfort zone. My best advice here, is to think about what you fear, what scares you, and not only cop to it, stare it down.

The way to your freedom is to conquer fear. One step at a time. Make a plan.

 

6. Stop Isolating.

Musicians spend a boatload of time alone. They are loners. For the most part. But opportunities come from inside the industry. The artists I’ve seen over the past 3 decades working in the industry that get more opportunities are inside the industry. Get yourself in the industry instead of on the outside looking in. There are a whole bunch of people who are not big wigs at labels who can help you. Don’t isolate. We teach you how to connect.

 

7. Take Action Now. (or When Was the Last Time You Did Something For the First Time.)

We are a sum total of our decisions and even more, our actions. What are the actions you know you need to take but have been procrastinating on? Sometimes we don’t take action because of the little things that need to be done before we can take that action. Often you’re not even aware of them. Like you’ve been wanting to get out on tour, but you first have to make the connections to get out on tour. That can be overwhelming. Make a list of to do’s and then make a plan to take care of the little things to pave the way for that action you’ve been waiting to take!

 

I hope it helps you move the needle on your music this year!! ????