The David Andrew Wiebe Show

Today, I have a little surprise for you. I feel like I’m moving at a whiplash pace this year, so it’s kind of a surprise even to me. In this episode of The New Music Industry Podcast, I make a special announcement concerning a new product.

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Podcast Highlights:

00:34 – Special announcement

01:29 – Introduction to The Essential Guide to Creative Entrepreneurship

Transcription:

Believe it or not, it’s here.

Although you may have missed it, I announced it at the top of the year.

What am I talking about?

My new book, The Essential Guide to Creative Entrepreneurship: Making and Selling Your Neon Yellow Tiger.

There is a bit of a backstory behind the creation of this book, but that’s something I’ll cover on another occasion.

What I’d like to share with you right now is that this book is the perfect companion to The Essential Guide to Music Entrepreneurship. Where the music entrepreneur guide was more about mindset, the creative entrepreneur guide is more tactical.

This isn’t to say there isn’t some overlap, but I think you’ll get a better idea of how to set up and run your business if you have a read through this one.

So, I’d like to invite you to check out the book at davidandrewwiebe.com/creative. I don’t have an info page set up for it just yet, so that link will take you directly to Amazon, just so you are aware.

With that, I’d like to take a moment to read the introduction of the book for you.

Introduction to The Essential Guide to Creative Entrepreneurship: Making and Selling Your Neon Yellow Tiger

In the gig economy, side hustles have become increasingly popular.

For many, traditional job roles simply aren’t cutting it. The Balance indicates that in October 2018, U.S. consumer debt rose 7.7% to $3.964 trillion. Credit card debt, auto loans and school loans account for most of this debt.

The Balance also points out that, while home mortgages are a major loan category, they don’t classify it as debt–mortgages are considered a personal investment. I don’t agree with that assessment, but that’s beside the point.

Others pursue side hustles as a means of finding expression for their greatest passions. Whether it’s to augment their income, spend time doing something that makes them come alive, or save up for a rainy day, there are plenty of good reasons to diversify and be less dependent on jobs to make a living.

Then, there are those whose side hustles have become their full-time hustle, in the form of a small, independent business. Whether it’s selling hand-crafted jewelry on Etsy, publishing unique music videos to YouTube and monetizing them through Patreon, or taking on freelance graphic design work through a freelancing site like Upwork, there simply isn’t a shortage of opportunities.

As someone who’s been working entirely from home since summer 2016, I consider myself a proponent of the gig economy. Up until that point, I was dividing my time between ghostwriting and content work, audiovisual tech work at the University, helping organize and host unique creative events, teaching guitar and playing live gigs as a musician.

In case you’re wondering whether I was “making it” during those years leading up to 2016, I was paying down my debt at a ferocious rate and even stockpiling my savings. But it was madness.

As my ghostwriting and content work started taking off, I decided to leave “organized chaos” behind so I could focus on what was becoming a more lucrative opportunity for me–ghostwriting and content work. That also freed me up to put more time and effort into creative communities, gigging and building my small, independent business–The Music Entrepreneur HQ.

As I look towards the future and what I’m planning to accomplish, I can see that the possibilities are nearly limitless. My small business doesn’t need to stay small forever. My earning potential isn’t capped. I can make my own hours and work when I’m at my personal best.

And, though outreach is still a crucial part of what I do, people often come to me wanting to work with me, whether it’s independent musicians, music business owners or other creatives.

And, that’s the same opportunity that’s staring back at you.

This isn’t to suggest that entrepreneurship–or freelancing, for that matter–is easy. But it is simple. It’s all about finding a need and filling it. It’s about serving a hungry audience and presenting a solution that’s right for them.

But these ideas might seem a little elusive as a creative. You’re bound to have many questions:

How can I serve an audience with my art?

Do I need to sell out to make it?

Am I required to adapt my art so that it appeals to a larger audience?

And, the answer is “it depends”. It depends on what you’re hoping to achieve.

There’s nothing wrong with creating art for the sake of creating art. If it fulfills you and you find joy in the process, I think that’s worth more than any price tag you could put on it. And, if you’re lucky, simply engaging in what you love can attract an audience.

As a musician, I’ve often created music that I wanted to create as opposed to music that fits a certain demographic’s interests.

But I’m also under no delusion that this music will reach a huge audience and result in large sums of revenue. Music represents an important outlet for my creative self-expression, and to that end it will always serve my needs. Beyond that, it’s anybody’s guess.

But when it comes to serving my audience–namely creative entrepreneurs–that’s a different matter entirely. I am focused on creating content that benefits them and helps them reach their goals, whatever they may be.

Adding value to others can take many forms. And, sometimes the things you put effort into don’t always bear fruit. But I find the process fulfilling. Though I have certain business goals I want to reach, I’m more focused on the journey than on the destination. If I’m not enjoying the process, perhaps I’m not engaged in the right activity.

So, creative entrepreneurship may not be for everybody. But the good news is that you can pursue it at whatever level is right for you.

I know there are plenty of experts selling the idea of hustle out there. And, they talk endlessly about the fact that if you’re not struggling, you’re not getting anywhere. To succeed, you need to be pulling 14- to 16-hour days, butting your head against the wall, and if you’re not, you’re probably not going anywhere.

But I know for a fact that you don’t need that type of work ethic to earn an extra $500 to $1,000 per month.

So, if that’s your goal, you’re probably not listening to the right people.

Go as far as you can, and then you’ll see further. And, for you, going as far as you can might be starting a blog and sharing your poems on a weekly basis. There’s nothing wrong with that. Maybe, in a few months, or in a few years, you’ll want more. At that point, you can choose whether you’re ready to commit to more.

The greater the desire, the more work you’ll need to put in. But you don’t need to start off with 16-hour work days, especially if your goals are humble.

In the chapters that follow, you will learn about various aspects of creative entrepreneurship, from marketing your art to building a team and a great deal more. The ideas and examples presented should help you navigate the road ahead, whatever that may look like.

This book is intended as an overview to creative entrepreneurship. But there are references to plenty of great tools and resources you can access throughout. If you need additional help, I suggest that you refer to these. And, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to me personally.

I wish you success on the journey ahead.

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Are you looking to make 2019 your best year yet? Are you looking for a better way to plan your schedule and activities?

In this episode of The New Music Industry Podcast, I review a method I refer to as “defaults”. By setting defaults in your life, you can significantly cut down on wasted time, get more done, and foster more happiness in your life.

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Podcast Highlights:

00:34 – Getting more done in 2019 with defaults

01:27 – How defaults work

03:18 – Setting your defaults

10:45 – My methods for planning and organizing are constantly changing

Transcription:

Are you looking to get more done in your music career in 2019? Then this podcast episode is for you.

Last year I shared about a concept I call “defaults”.

The idea here is that you have a default plan for your day. What this does is it eliminates wasted time and energy.

If we’re constantly having to think about what to do now and then what to do next, then a lot of our time is being wasted having to plan moment by moment. A much easier and more productive way to go about your day is to have a clear plan and to follow it.

Time blocking is a popular way to go about this. People will use tools like calendar apps or spreadsheets to color code different parts of their schedule and account for every hour in their days and weeks.

So, maybe they would use red blocks to indicate when they’re going to be practicing their instrument. They would use blue blocks to indicate when they’re in a rehearsal, and so on.

If you’re a particularly organized person, I think this might be a great way to ensure you’re doing the right things to achieve your musical goals.

A default is far more flexible and less rigid. It’s a bit like conditional statements in computer programming:

If this, then that.

For instance, let’s say you typically rehearse with your band on Thursday night. We’ll call this variable A. If A happens, then you go to rehearsal. We’ll call this variable B. But rehearsals will sometimes get cancelled or moved to another night. That’s variable C. Finally, you have variable D, which is what you do by default when C happens.

When A happens, B is your default. When C happens, D is your default.

Let’s say you typically have Wednesday nights free and you’re looking for something to do.

If you leave this to chance, you’ll probably just end up sitting on your couch and binge-watching Netflix. But you’re looking for something more worthwhile to do with your time.

So, you could have going to an open mic on Wednesday night as a default. You don’t necessarily need to decide which open mic to go to. You would simply hold Wednesday night as your open mic night and keep that plan in front of you. And, of course, you’d follow through with that plan.

The benefits of going to an open mic as a musician are obvious. You can network with other musicians, gain live performance experience, sell some merch and maybe even get booked for a feature or a gig.

Now, it’s all well and good that defaults can set you up to be more productive.

That’s something I addressed in last year’s podcast episode too.

I mentioned that rest, leisure, entertainment and even spontaneous fun could all be made defaults in your life.

For instance, if you know that you don’t typically have any work to do on Monday, you could have going to the mountains as your default. Getting out into nature is good. It’s refreshing. You can get some exercise. And, it could be a good opportunity to think and reflect, too.

The value of regular reflection can’t be overstated, so just in case, here’s a little reminder – please remember to reflect, at least on a monthly basis!

Now that I’ve introduced the topic, why don’t we go back and listen to episode 76 which was all about setting defaults for yourself?

You can find 076 - Setting Your Defaults here

And I’m back to wrap up today’s episode.

Now, I should let you know that my methods of planning and organizing are always changing.

Last year, defaults made a lot of sense to me. This year, things are a little different.

One thing that hasn’t changed is the fact that I continue to use a desk calendar and yellow legal pad to plan my life. Honestly, it’s come to the point where I feel naked without these items.

Recently, I’ve been feeling the need to digitize my calendar as well, though I am somewhat reluctant to go in that direction. While I do work from home, I’m often on the go because of meetings, events, open mics, performances, recording sessions and so on.

But you might be wondering why I decided to revisit this idea of setting your defaults with you if it’s not something I’m actively doing right now.

That’s because I still see value in it, and I want to continue to share with you any ideas that may help you better organize your schedule, be more productive and happier overall.

If it’s not this method, then there will be another that’s right for you. Though I’ve adopted some of David Allen’s Getting Things Done methodology, I’ve tailored it to my needs. You can do the same things with defaults.

And, ultimately, productivity doesn’t change that much. Regardless of what method you use, you’re going to need to be diligent and intentional about the process.

As some of my mentors always used to say, success doesn’t happen by accident. So, start planning!

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We were publishing content at a feverish pace in 2018. So, it’s entirely possible you missed out on some great posts that could make a difference in your music career.

In this episode of The New Music Industry Podcast, we look at the top 10 HQ posts of 2018.

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Podcast Highlights:

00:34 – 2018 was the year of guest posts

01:58 – #1: How to Make Money as a DJ

02:22 – #2: Top 10 Tips for Beginner Vocalists

02:46 – #3: My Top 5 Favorite Pieces of Guitar Gear

03:03 – #4: Musicinfo: a Music Distribution Platform That Can Help You Reach Music Fans in China

03:40 – #5: How Important is Social Media Marketing for Musicians? – with Melina Krumova of Drooble

04:02 – #6: The Big List of Resources for Musicians

04:20 – #7: The Best Electric Guitars for Beginners in 2018

04:42 – #8: How to Set Up a Home Recording Studio

05:01 – #9: 5 Ways to Become a Better Band Member

05:21 – #10: What do I Bring to a Gig?

05:41 – Conclusion

Transcription:

Although we’ve been accepting guest posts for a while at The HQ, I don’t think it would be an exaggeration to say that 2018 was the year of guest posts.

One of the reasons I decided to begin prioritizing guest posts was because I knew I couldn’t cover every topic under the sun. So, it was a way to tap into the expertise of other musicians and music entrepreneurs.

And, the result is that we got plenty of outside perspectives on the industry and there were some that were especially valuable too.

Unfortunately, pretty much everyone under the sun - from marketers to content agencies started contacting me about the opportunity to write guest posts. And, it was clear that most of them didn’t read our guidelines or even understand the concept behind The Music Entrepreneur HQ.

Since I’m looking to build our brand around Confidence, Breakthrough and Fulfillment, it no longer makes any sense to accept low-quality guest posts that I end up spending all my time editing and formatting.

Unless you’ve already contributed to The Music Entrepreneur HQ to this point, I will not be accepting guest posts from you in 2019.

Another reason I felt it important to do this is because I’d like to simplify my efforts and continue to optimize the hundreds of value-adding posts we’ve already got. I’m not saying there won’t be plenty of new content too, but at this point I think it’s more important to put my energy into eliminating bottlenecks in my business.

In any case, as I already mentioned, a lot of great content went live on the site in 2018. Here are the top 10 posts from 2018.

1. How to Make Money as a DJ

https://davidandrewwiebe.com/make-money-dj/

The most popular post in 2018 was a guest post.

I think Graham Aubrey picked a great topic - one that many are sure to be interested in right now. And, I’m glad he contributed, because there isn’t much I could say about how to succeed as a DJ. It’s not something I’ve ever done, though I have friends who have.

With the popularity of EDM, I think being a DJ is also top of mind for a lot of people.

2. Top 10 Tips For Beginner Vocalists

https://davidandrewwiebe.com/top-10-tips-beginner-vocalists/

Guest poster Pamela Brown put together this listicle for us.

This is essentially a back to basics post featuring simple tips for beginner vocalists. But I’m sure there are plenty of vocalists out there that would find some value in this.

If you’re interested in finding out how you can care for your voice and ensure that it’s always in ship shape, you should have a look at this list.

3. My Top 5 Favorite Pieces of Guitar Gear

https://davidandrewwiebe.com/top-5-favorite-pieces-guitar-gear/

I had a lot of fun putting together this post, because over the years, I’ve owned a lot of different pieces of guitar gear. This list features the best of the best. Honestly, there isn’t much I would change about any piece of gear on this list because they’ve all served me well.

4. Musicinfo: a Music Distribution Platform That Can Help You Reach Music Fans in China

https://davidandrewwiebe.com/musicinfo-a-music-distribution-platform-that-can-help-you-reach-music-fans-in-china/

Music distribution services generally purport to distribute your music worldwide. In a general sense, this is true, but there are many that don’t reach every corner of the world.

There is a huge listening audience in China, to the tune of 720 million people. So, if you’ve ever thought about getting your music into the hands of Chinese music fans, you’ll want to check out what Musicinfo has to offer.

And, if you’re planning to use the service, use the promo code DAWESOME at checkout to get 10% off. That’s d-a-w-e-s-o-m-e.

5. 082 – How Important is Social Media Marketing for Musicians? – with Melina Krumova of Drooble

https://davidandrewwiebe.com/082-important-social-media-marketing-musicians-melina-krumova-drooble/

Having played with it a little, I can honestly say that Drooble is a cool social network for musicians. I’ve often thought about adding this channel to my marketing efforts but haven’t had the bandwidth for it.

Anyway, this episode of the podcast features an interview with Melina Krumova, Co-Founder & CEO of Drooble.

6. The Big List of Resources for Musicians

https://davidandrewwiebe.com/big-list-resources-musicians/

Is there a specific service you’re looking for as a musician? Do you need someone to handle some aspect of your career, whether it’s design or PR? Then you’ll love this list.

I spent time curating a lot of great resources for this blog post, and I’m planning to add many more in the future.

7. The Best Electric Guitars For Beginners in 2018

https://davidandrewwiebe.com/best-electric-guitars-beginners/

Not sure which electric guitar to buy as a beginner?

In this list, I share four options that are worth looking at.

Now, you could always spend more and get something better than what’s on the list, but if you’re just getting started and you’re not sure whether you’re going to keep playing over the long haul, then you should look at buying a guitar made specifically for beginners.

8. How to Set Up a Home Recording Studio

https://davidandrewwiebe.com/set-home-recording-studio/

Written by Faisal, this guest post gets into all the essentials you need when you’re setting up a home studio.

Based on the affordability of the gear as well as how easy it can be to record and make your own music from home, I think setting up a home studio is a great idea for many musicians.

9. 5 Ways to Become a Better Band Member

https://davidandrewwiebe.com/5-ways-become-better-band-member/

Nick Rubright of Dozmia is back with another great post about how to be the best band member you can possibly be.

When playing in a band, it’s easy to see yourself as being the most important person. But it’s important to get out of your head and look at how you can add value to your band members.

10. What do I Bring to a Gig?

https://davidandrewwiebe.com/what-do-i-bring-to-a-gig/

Guest poster Perry Bowers offers some great insights into the equipment you should bring to each and every gig you play.

Regardless of the gig, it’s always best to be prepared. You just never know what problems or technical difficulties you might encounter, and if you’re ready to deal with them, your gigs will go a lot smoother.

Conclusion

What was your favorite post from 2018?

Are there any topics we should be covering in more detail in 2019?

I look forward to answering your comments in the show notes.

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Reading books is a great habit to get into. Some of the most successful people in the world are voracious readers.

In this episode of The New Music Industry Podcast, I share what I was reading in 2018. I highlight one book specifically that I read multiple times and had the biggest impact on me.

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Podcast Highlights:

00:34 – Cultivating the reading habit

01:01 – The one book that stood out for me in 2019

01:18 – Who is James Schramko?

01:33 – What is Work Less, Make More?

02:14 – What can you expect to learn in Work Less, Make More?

02:35 – An effective workday is about energy management

03:21 – An offer that converts is the beginning of a viable business

04:09 – Making money on books

04:49 – Set the thing you love as the thing you do every day

05:28 – Fewer products and services can be more profitable

06:09 – Is the book worth checking out?

06:42 – Getting more reading done in 2019

Transcription:

I’ve talked endlessly about the importance of reading books on the blog and the podcast.

And, judging by how much traffic posts about books tend to generate for The Music Entrepreneur HQ, it seems like most of you agree that it’s a habit worth creating in your life.

I consider myself an avid reader, though I will readily admit that my reading habit took a bit of a dive in 2017 and 2018.

I was still reading up on a variety of topics, especially online, and I did get around to finishing a few books too.

But there’s only one book that stood out for me. And, it’s also the only book I read multiple times in 2018 because I wanted the concepts and ideas to become a part of the DNA of The Music Entrepreneur HQ.

What book am I talking about? Work Less, Make More by James Schramko

Who is James Schramko?

James Schramko is the Founder of SuperFastBusiness, an online community where business owners go to receive coaching and learn how to grow and optimize their online businesses.

If you’d like to learn more about James, you can have a listen to episode 86 of the podcast.

What is Work Less, Make More?

Work Less, Make More: The counter-intuitive approach to building a profitable business, and a life you actually love (affiliate link) is James’ first book. I liked it so much, I bought two copies and gave one away.

In the hustle obsessed culture, we now live in, working less and making more sounds both counter-intuitive and refreshing.

James is a contrarian in this regard. He doesn’t agree with the many experts who are constantly pushing the idea that if you aren’t working 16-hour days, you aren’t going anywhere fast.

James himself is living proof. He works about 20 hours per week, and spends the rest of his time surfing, watching movies and spending time with his family.

What Can I Expect to Learn in Work Less, Make More?

Work Less, Make More is a shorter book with minimal fluff, and that’s by design.

So, virtually every sentence is packed with value. That’s not something I can say about the majority of books I’ve read.

Even if wanted to, I wouldn’t be able to communicate everything I’ve learned from this book. But here are a few examples:

1. An effective workday is about energy management, not time management

James talks extensively about the fact that what matters most as an entrepreneur is effectiveness and not productivity.

There are plenty of people out there who are obsessed about getting things done. And, while we all have things to get done, especially as business owners, if we aren’t focused on getting the right things done, we can waste a lot of our time and energy on the wrong things.

Further, a lot of people seem to focus on how time is a finite thing without considering that their energy is also finite. When should you work? At a time when you are awake, alert and focused.

So, tackle the most important items on your to-do list when you’re feeling you’re best. Leave low-impact activities for when you have less energy.

2. Once you have an offer that converts, then you have the makings of a viable business

It’s amazing how many people launch blogs and websites without even considering what their audience wants or what they’re going to sell to them.

There’s nothing wrong with having a blog. But a blog in itself is not a business.

Now, there are plenty of people online saying you should build your audience first and sell to them later. For the most part, there’s nothing wrong with this approach. The one downside I see is that when you finally do create something, you have no assurance that your audience will buy it.

But if you have a product that sells, you might have a real business on your hands. So, starting with product is not a bad idea. And, before you even build it, you can try selling it first. If no one buys it, don’t make it. If a few people buy it, then start making it.

3. People who make money on books do so because they have a high-value product or recurring membership to sell

This was an important insight for me, because when I was first reading it, I didn’t have something to sell on the back of my books.

I’ve since worked at selling bonus content packages, and also launched The Headquarters membership.

If you’re planning to put together a book, this is something you should also be aware of. There isn’t a lot of money to be made on books. I’m not saying it’s impossible to build your income over time, as I know there are some authors out there making five figures on a monthly basis.

But keep in mind you would have to write a lot of books. It’s much easier to make money if you have something to sell on the back of it.

4. Set the thing you love as the thing you do every day

This is something I’m still processing but I think it’s hugely important.

What James is saying here is that we should spend time doing something we love to do every single day. And, preferably, it should be something that brings us outdoors and gets us moving (i.e. exercise).

Skateboarding is something I’ve been fascinated by for a long time, ever since I started playing the Tony Hawk games as a teenager. So, gradually I’m beginning to think about investing in skateboarding gear so I can engage in a worthwhile hobby.

James says if you engage in what you love every single day, it will give you the energy you need to get important things done.

5. Fewer products and services can often be far more profitable

I’m not sure exactly how this could work in my business, which is maybe a problem.

But I will say this - I’m always looking for ways to update and consolidate my products, so they bring more value to those who consume them.

And, I also understand why fewer products or services is better. It requires less infrastructure overall. The more products you have, the more funnels you’ll need to set up, the more blog posts you’d need to write, the more social media campaigns you’d need to run, the more emails you’d need to send, the more customer support tickets you’d need to answer and so on.

So, don’t always be thinking about adding a product to your business. Determine how you can optimize the ones you already have.

Is Work Less, Make More Worth Checking Out?

This is just one man’s opinion, but I think James Schramko’s Work Less, Make More (affiliate link) is a must read.

As I already mentioned, every sentence is packed with value. There are plenty of valuable insights in this book, regardless of what level you and your business are at.

And, it also gives you a way to measure your overall effectiveness. That’s more than I can say for most if not all of the experts pushing hustle.

I’m currently on my fourth read through of the book, and I can also tell you that there are plenty of things that will pop out at you with repeat visits.

Final Thoughts

Though I did less book reading in 2017 and 2018 than in preceding years, I’m planning to get a lot more reading done in 2019. First, I’ll start with the dozen or so books that are beginning to build up on my nightstand.

What books are you excited about reading in 2019? What do you hope to learn?

I look forward to answering your comments in the show notes.

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Setting theme words has become a habit of mine in the last few years. I first read about it on Chris Brogan’s blog and decided to adopt the process as my own.

As you begin to think about what you hope to accomplish in 2019, what do you want your year to look like? What intentions are you setting?

In this episode of The New Music Industry Podcast, I look back on my theme words from 2018 and share my theme words for 2019.

Podcast Highlights:

00:34 – Theme words are like intentions

01:05 – Where the idea of theme words originates

01:21 – First theme word for 2018: War

02:36 – Second theme word for 2018: Initiative

04:12 – Third theme word for 2018: Connection

05:41 – First theme word for 2019: Confidence

06:35 – Second theme word for 2019: Breakthrough

07:13 – Third theme word for 2019: Fulfillment

07:57 – In 2019, my theme words represent a commitment I’m making

Transcription:

Each year, my theme words have a passive impact on the outcomes I experience.

I think of my theme words as intentions. They set the tone for the year, and I believe they even influence the people, events and circumstances that enter into my life.

So, setting theme words isn't something I take lightly. But I also follow my intuition when coming up with them.

Because I have seen incredible things happen in my life as result of keeping my theme words in front of me, especially in 2017, I'm also quite intentional about the process now. It has become habit.

I always mention this, but I want to let you know that the idea of theme words originates with Chris Brogan. In the last few years, I've made it my practice and have adapted it to suit my needs.

So, it's time to reflect on last year's theme words and clear the way for the new.

1. War

The idea here was to wage war on the mediocre and things that weren't serving me.

I feel like there was a bit of a prophetic element to this theme word. Maybe I knew that I would have to make tough decisions in 2018.

In the end, I won a few battles. But I'm not sure I won the war.

There were a few people and projects I said “no” to in 2018. And, it wasn't necessarily easy to say “no”. But I also had to realize some things about my personal value. My time is worth something. And, it's crucial that the people around me respect that.

Because I'm self-employed, I don't get paid when people don't respect that. If you help me, I can help you. But it doesn't work any other way.

I recall one project that I got knee deep into that in the end I had to let go of. I tend to be a stubborn and giving person, so in the past I probably would have stuck with that project until the bitter end – and been miserable doing it too.

The fact that I stepped away is a victory of sorts.

So, there were a few battles I won. But that doesn't mean there aren't some unwanted things that persist in my life.

If I won the war at all - and I'm not saying I did - it's only because of the personal growth work I did. And, I think that set me up for a better year in 2019.

2. Initiative

Initiative was all about taking more initiative in life, especially in the area of personal relationships.

And, again, though I feel like I won some battles here, I wouldn't necessarily say I won the war.

I now realize the reason for that. I came to see that I had a lot going on in my head around connecting with others. What I now understand is that I didn't have my actions separate from my reasons for acting.

But the two are not mutually inclusive. An action lives in the real world. Your reasons for doing something only live in your head, meaning they are imaginary.

When I began to understand that, my reasons for doing or not doing began to fade. The only thing left was my actions. And, I either did something or didn't. Either way, I had to learn to be complete with happened.

In terms of actions taken to further my business, I certainly had some proud moments. I turned some of my pre-existing content into eBooks and handbooks. That was something I was somewhat afraid to do, but in the end, I discovered that there was nothing to fear.

So far, I've only heard good things about those products. And, that led to the creation of additional products that will be launched in 2019.

In the last quarter of the year, I also gave myself permission to focus on promoting just The Essential Guide to Music Entrepreneurship Pro Packs and nothing else.

That's not exactly how things worked out in practice, because I got sidetracked at times, but it was a different approach to launching and promoting a product, and it was worth trying.

Finally, I got around to launching The Headquarters membership, something I'd been planning but putting off for a long time. Regardless of the outcome, I'm proud of the action.

3. Connection

Again, connection was mostly about connecting with people.

And, prior to some of the personal development work I did, I'm not sure I had access to a different way of doing things.

Most of us just try to do more, do it better or do it differently without realizing that maybe “more, better or different” won't cause a Breakthrough. Breakthrough is possible when we've come to understand what's been holding us back doesn't exist. It probably just lives in our head.

So, with a new way of relating to the world around me, I found myself able to connect with others in ways I wasn't able to before.

I'm most proud of helping people understand their identity better. I've helped several people tap into that, and I must say the results were moving. I began to see the difference I could make in the world in a new way. I could see the difference it made for them too.

So, in all I must admit that there were some unexpected but pleasant results in this area and with all theme words overall.

My 3 Words for 2019

In 2018, I attended several personal development seminars, which were all about creating new possibilities.

One exercise they had us do was to talk about ourselves as a possibility. So, in that process, I decided that who I am is the possibility of Confidence, Breakthrough and Fulfillment.

I also decided that these should be my theme words for 2019 as well as the words that represent The Music Entrepreneur HQ brand for the foreseeable future. I find it exciting to have a more defined brand focus for the business.

So, here is how I define each word and how I see them playing out in 2019.

1. Confidence

Self-belief forms the foundation of achievement. Without it, you'll stop yourself short of doing the things you need to do to reach toward your dreams.

And, that's exactly what I mean when I say Confidence. It's a necessary ingredient in your personal success. Plenty of things will stop you on that path if you don't believe in your ability to solve problems and overcome fear.

I believe one of the reasons I chose this word is because I was starting with a clean slate. I wouldn't have defined myself as confident in the past. But I now see it as a possibility. And, in 2017 I experienced quite a bit of healing that allowed my confidence to shine through.

Now, confidence takes many forms and mine may not appear the same as yours. As a child, I was brought up in Japan, and that has had an irreversible impact on the way I am. But I embrace that. And, that's a form of confidence too.

Regardless of who you are, you can find your confidence and it begins on the inside.

2. Breakthrough

I represent Breakthrough for others because I can shine a light on their blind spots. We all have things we don't know that we don't know, and that's where Breakthrough tends to happen.

Generally, there's no Breakthrough in improvement – only incremental change. And, incremental change is nothing to sneeze at. But it's not going to lead to your next quantum leap.

Although I love helping others achieve more, I'm far more interested in causing Breakthrough in them because I've seen the difference it can make. It can be life changing.

So, as an example to others it will also be my mission to Breakthrough on a personal level. That means taking actions I previously would have been afraid of taking.

3. Fulfillment

Fulfillment is what most of us tend to focus on when we set a goal and begin driving towards its achievement.

But Fulfillment also represents the work you do, because we can be fulfilled in doing the work. I find my work fulfilling. Do you?

In addition, Fulfillment means to deliver. So, thinking about the promises you've made to yourself, your family, your friends and others, are you fulfilling on them? Don't focus on how others haven't fulfilled on their promises. Focus on the promises you need to keep. You are a walking promise, so be the example you want others to emulate.

I know that there's a lot I've promised to deliver on in 2019, not the least of which is the launch of Flashes of Elation. Again, I want to set a good example for Fulfillment.

Final Thoughts

My theme words for 2019 don't just represent intentions. They represent a commitment – the commitment I'm making to myself and the commitment I'm making to you. I've never taken that approach to theme words before, so I'm excited to see how things unfold.

And, as I've already shared, these are the words I want associated with The Music Entrepreneur HQ brand. So, I'm going to be far more intentional in incorporating these themes into the content I create.

2019 is officially here. What happened in 2018? Do you feel like you achieved a lot? Was it a difficult year for you?

Regardless of what happened, it’s important to close the chapter on the year past so you don’t drag it into the year ahead. In this episode of The New Music Industry Podcast, I close the chapter on 2018 and explain how you can do the same.

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Podcast Highlights:

00:18 – Happy New Year!

01:21 – An overview of 2018

02:01 – Michael Hyatt’s process for closing the chapter on a year

02:53 – #1: Genre of the year

03:29 – #2: Themes of the year

04:09 – #3: Achievements of the year

04:56 – #4: Lack of acknowledgement in 2018?

05:20 – #5: Disappointments in 2018?

05:58 – #6: Missing from 2018?

06:27 – #7: Life lessons in 2018

07:22 – Final thoughts

Transcription:

Hey friends, welcome to 2019.

Although I published a blog post discussing what’s to come in 2019, I realized that not everyone who’s listening to the podcast is watching the blog or vice versa.

So, before getting into today’s topic, I just wanted to give you a quick overview of what to expect moving forward. Here are a few bullet points worth mentioning:

One of the things I want to do is create content that’s more centered on whatever needs you have and challenges you might be experiencing in your career. So, if you have any suggestions, I hope you’ll leave a comment in the show notes.

I’ve decided on Confidence, Breakthrough and Fulfillment as the words that represent The Music Entrepreneur HQ brand. So, as much as possible, I’ll be creating content that revolves around these themes.

I’m planning to launch several new products this year, including Flashes of Elation, The Essential Guide to Creative Entrepreneurship, Growth Hacking for Musicians and other handbooks. Keep an eye open for these.

Alright, so with that, let’s get into closing the chapter on 2018.

Unlike 2017, it felt like 2018 breezed by.

And, as I started reflecting on 2018, I was feeling as though I didn’t accomplish much during the year.

That’s not the conclusion I eventually came to, as you’re about to find out. But for now, let’s forego the spoilers.

Regardless, if you don’t feel like you had a great year, that’s certainly a good reason to close the chapter on it. After all, you don’t want to carry last year’s baggage into the new year. You need to get complete with whatever happened and didn’t happen, or you’ll just repeat the same mistakes, make incorrect assumptions and add to your convoluted view of the world. This will all begin to weigh on you like an anvil.

There’s a process I like to follow when it comes to closing the chapter on a year, and it’s the same process I’ve been using since 2014. Thanks to Michael Hyatt for creating this framework.

Here are the seven questions Hyatt asks himself as he looks to close the chapter on another year (and I’ll be asking myself the same questions):

If the last year were a movie in your life, what would the genre be?

What were the two or three major themes that kept recurring?

What did you accomplish this past year that you are the most proud of?

What do you feel you should have been acknowledged for but weren’t?

What disappointments or regrets did you experience this past year?

What was missing from last year as you look back?

What were the major life-lessons you learned this past year?

Now, here are my answers to these questions.

My Answers to the 7 Questions

1. If the last year were a movie in your life, what would the genre be?

Science Fiction. I say that because 2018 was a bit of a whirlwind and at times unreal. I admit that there was quite a bit of video game time compared to years past, and at times it was entirely necessary for me to distance myself from my work because of exhaustion. All that gaming put me in a bit of a trance-like state. Another element that made it feel a bit like a Sci-Fi is the discoveries I made about myself because of the personal development work I was doing. I came to understand some things about being human I never knew before.

2. What were the two or three major themes that kept recurring?

Financial challenges. I experienced a bit of a low time in my business from about November 2017 to February 2018. That didn't do me in by any means, but I don't feel like I've fully recovered from it either. Regardless, I'm looking forward to a more prosperous 2019.

Personal growth. “Personal growth” isn't even the right term for it. What I experienced was change, an emptying of past baggage. I shifted as a person when I started unloading many of the mental blocks that have been holding me back. I think my discovery of self is far from over, and I can see myself clearing more space for what's ahead.

3. What did you accomplish this year that you are most proud of?

Launching the How to Record, Promote & Sell Your New Music Release - Single, EP or Album eBook. I nearly forgot about this project, but I think it was worth putting my time into. This launch prompted me to create a framework for promoting new products, and that was a bit of a victory too.

Launching The Essential Guide to Music Entrepreneurship and associated bonus content.

Launching The Headquarters membership.

Recording and publishing 53 podcast episodes.

Interviewing James Schramko.

Recording my yet to be released EP.

Appearing on Unconventional Life.

Teaching a Musical U masterclass.

Publishing 32 original articles on Medium.

4. What do you feel you should have been acknowledged for but weren’t?

Change. The reason you end up occurring to others exactly as you did to them in the past is because they have a history with you. Even so, I know that I've gone through a transformation and would love a chance to start fresh with some friends and family members. Fortunately, there are a few people that see, acknowledge and admire this change. Maybe that's all that truly matters.

5. What disappointments did you experience this past year?

I’ve been feeling like I didn’t accomplish much in 2018. I guess, by my standards, I didn’t feel like I was working that hard. But looking back, I can see that there were plenty of great seeds planted, some that will surely result in a harvest of Breakthrough in 2019 and beyond. Dare I say I was more effective with my time because the time I allotted to work was more limited. I allowed myself to experience and enjoy life while concentrating on the most important aspects of my career and business. Perhaps I'm not disappointed by what I achieved, but rather the outcomes, which I cannot control.

6. What was missing from last year as you look back?

Vacation time. Looking back on past reflections, it's become a bit of a theme at this point. I was hoping to at least get out to BC for a week, as I did the year before. And, if I had planned better, I could have gone towards the beginning of August. Unfortunately, I didn’t. At this rate, I'm going to have to make up for my lack of rest at some point here in 2019, and a weekend away probably won't do the trick. I need at least a week off, if not two.

7. What were the major life-lessons you learned this past year?

My time is worth something. It’s not worth working with those who don’t understand this. If they help me, I can help them. If they don’t pay for my time, my products or services, then it’s probably not worth my time.

Life is not the meaning you attach to events. Our brains do this on autopilot without us ever consciously realizing it. So, we go through life with a lot of baggage. This baggage is the direct result of the meaning we attach to events. And, that meaning has very little or nothing to do with what happened in reality. It only lives in our minds. This is what it means to be a human being. We make stuff up and live as if it's true. When you finally separate the two, what's waiting for you on the other side is a sense of peace, calmness, emptiness. Not emptiness as in a lack of purpose. Emptiness in the sense that you feel free and clear to engage in life.

Final Thoughts

Looking back, I can see that I accomplished far more in 2018 than I thought I did, regardless of whether I took more time for myself and my friends.

There is a great deal more I’m looking to accomplish in 2019, and I know that I’m going to need to learn a lot more along the way to get it all done. But I’m excited about that.

Have you closed the chapter on 2018? What did you discover about the year you just completed?

Upgrade to Members Only Audios for more exciting, exclusive training.

Are you wondering how you could be making more money as a music instructor? Is there a way to generate income passively without having to trade hours for dollars?

In this episode of The New Music Industry Podcast, I bring Brent Vaartstra of Passive Income Musician and Learn Jazz Standards back to talk about revenue streams and passive income streams for musicians and music instructors.

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Podcast Highlights:

00:18 – Brent Vaartstra is back!

00:47 – What Passive Income Musician is about

02:14 – Is it possible to make income passively?

03:24 – Finding your way as a music instructor

06:26 – Internet marketing is a key component to modern day success as a musician

08:16 – Serving a beginner market

09:30 – What is passive income?

10:18 – What types of revenue streams are there for music instructors?

17:37 – Some income streams are disproportionately better than others

19:20 – Putting ads on your website

20:08 – Membership sites

22:02 – What is your strategy around generating regular sales on eBooks and courses?

23:46 – How important is it to have multiple streams of income?

26:56 – How do you find out more about your audience?

28:02 – Did you have a plan to build Learn Jazz Standards to six figures?

29:45 – Doubling down on what’s working

31:06 – How do you build a large social media following?

35:30 – Final thoughts

Transcription:

Coming soon.

Upgrade to Members Only Audios for more exciting, exclusive training.

Are you a music teacher? Do you wish you could find more ways to earn money from your passion?

In this episode of The New Music Industry Podcast, I interview Brent Vaartstra of Learn Jazz Standards and Passive Income Musician to discuss his journey to this point and how he built a six-figure music instruction website.

Download the PDF Cheat Sheet

Podcast Highlights:

00:18 – Who is Brent Vaartstra?

00:31 – When did you first start getting into music?

02:31 – What is your background?

04:30 – How profitable was it for you to play jazz?

06:34 – The importance of networking in the music industry

07:57 – How did the Learn Jazz Standards website come about?

11:09 – How did you come to know that there was a hungry market in jazz?

12:31 – Obsessively practicing as a musician

14:25 – How long did it take for you to build Learn Jazz Standards into a six-figure business?

17:20 – Passive Income Musician podcast

18:29 – Making books for Hal Leonard

21:53 – Why engaging an audience is an important skill in today’s music industry

23:17 – What is one of the biggest challenges you’ve encountered as an entrepreneur?

26:21 – What is one of the biggest victories you’ve experienced as an entrepreneur?

28:57 – Are there any books or resources that have helped you on your journey?

31:22 – Closing thoughts

Transcription:

Coming soon.

Upgrade to Members Only Audios for more exciting, exclusive training.

Social media can be a massive distraction. But if used correctly, it’s a tool that can help you work smarter instead of just harder.

In this episode of The New Music Industry Podcast, Monica Strut answers some of the most common questions you’re likely to have about social media and how to make the most of your online presence.

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Podcast Highlights:

00:18 – Who is Monica Strut?

00:57 – Social media reset

01:51 – How to fail on YouTube

03:16 – Consistency on social media

04:50 – How important is Instagram?

06:48 – Maintaining brand consistency on social media

07:49 – Using your personal profiles to promote your music

10:45 – How often can you post to social media?

11:38 – How important is social media for musicians?

15:40 – Working smarter not harder

16:40 – Why did you start your business as an artist coach?

20:55 – The issue with traditional business plan

21:48 – Is it overwhelming to offer a lot of different services?

27:55 – What’s the biggest challenge you’ve experienced in your business?

29:13 – What has been your biggest victory?

30:07 – Overcoming mental blocks

31:34 – Are there any books that have had an impact on you?

34:15 – Wrap up

Transcription:

Coming soon.

Upgrade to Members Only Audios for more exciting, exclusive training.

When it comes to engaging in creativity and building something you care about, coaching, training, support and accountability can make all the difference. That’s why I launched The Headquarters membership program.

In this episode of The New Music Industry Podcast, you’ll learn what The Headquarters is all about and whether it’s right for you.

Download the PDF Transcription

Podcast Highlights:

00:18 – Overcoming mental blocks

00:48 – The launch of The Headquarters membership

01:09 – Who is The Headquarters for?

02:04 – What do you get access to when you join The Headquarters?

03:36 – How much does membership cost?

04:13 – Feedback

Transcription:

I’m still in the midst of promoting The Essential Guide to Music Entrepreneurship Pro Packs. And, I had no plans of launching anything new while I was still focused on that.

But I’ve recently had some breakthroughs in overcoming mental blocks and all the reasons I had attached to doing or not doing something. With those squared away, I found myself able to act without constraint and restriction. I was able to set aside my perfectionistic tendencies and mental paralysis to engage in something I said I wanted to do but wasn’t taking any action on.

That’s why I finally put together the membership component of The Music Entrepreneur HQ, called The Headquarters.

And, it came together extremely quickly. Even I’m amazed.

This is still at the ground floor level, so in time it will be even better than it is today. But I already know that those who join are going to get tremendous value from it.

So, who is The Headquarters for?

It’s for musicians and music business owners who are looking to create breakthroughs in their careers and businesses. I mostly specialize in taking mid-level musicians or small business owners to the next level. If you’re already in motion, but your career isn’t what you want it to be, or you’re looking to grow your business, then you’re a perfect fit for The Headquarters.

If you’re just getting started, that’s a different matter. I might be able to help you, but it’s so much harder to steer a parked car than it is to steer one that’s already in motion.

Additionally, I specialize in the areas of uncovering untapped revenue streams, online marketing and building an online presence, personal development and developing a strong mindset, and achieving more freedom in your career. I’m well-versed in a variety of other subjects, but no one knows it all. So, if you need help in the areas I just mentioned, you’ll benefit a lot from your Headquarters membership.

Now, what do you get access to when you join The Headquarters?

Right now, there are three components to the membership.

First, you gain the opportunity to connect and mastermind with like-minded music entrepreneurs. I think interaction and community is extremely important, as you can ask questions, share ideas and resources, make lasting connections, get support and accountability, and more.

Second, you can get personalized answers, coaching and support from yours truly. I know that many of you have pressing and important questions. And, I’ve talked to enough of you to know that your needs are often unique and individual. When I ask the question, “what do you need help with?” I find the answers I receive tend to vary a lot. This tells me that you could benefit from personal coaching. There’s a lot to be gained from personal attention that you simply won’t get from reading blog posts.

The third component of the membership is the monthly live training calls. Based on your interests and questions, as well as what I’ve been learning, I will be putting together a 45- to 60-minute presentation to share with you on a monthly basis. This will immediately be followed by a Q&A. Each of these calls will essentially be courses or course modules unto themselves.

These training calls will be made available to non-members as well, but instead of getting access to them for a low monthly fee,