But If You Try Sometimes, Well You Just Might Find

As an artist who is leading your band and team, it’s vital that you learn how to express what it is you need.

You finally get that meeting with the label, manager, agent you love…so what do you do? You talk on and on about how great you are and how well things are going and growing.  So why do you need the label?

You express your leadership, confidence and strong culture by effectively expressing what you need and what you can offer…not by touting all your fantastic statistics.

“If someone is boasting, they’re usually losing”- Bob Lefsetz

It takes guts, insight, strategy, generosity and courage to express needs in a way that inspires others to meet them by taking action.

But you first need to be incredibly clear with yourself and your team about what you need and how fulfilling that need benefits the other person.

Growing this skill (skills) will grow your success.

I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com

I Would Fire Me

If anyone talked to me the way I talked to me, I’d fire them from my business and my life.  

If anyone talked down to me the way I talk down to me, I’d be through the roof with anger.

If anyone doubted me the way I doubt me, I’d never trust them or speak to them again.

If anyone gave me as many excuses as I give myself, my frustration level would be astronomical. Fired.

But instead, the true me sits with this “person” everyday and keeps giving him ample opportunity to pipe up and share his destructive thoughts.

Sometimes I ignore him, but I never have the guts to dismiss him, to fire him.

So I keep this jerk around…No one else on the planet would ever hire him in a million years.

I’m making plans to send him packing

Would you fire you for talking to yourself like you do?  

We need to hire a new voice.

 I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com

Making A Promise

When is the last time you made a promise, declared a promise to someone or a group?

A promise that when you made it you started sweating a little bit because you knew you were really going to have to push your limits in order to come through on your promise.

If it’s been a while, make a promise. And don’t sell yourself short by making an easy one, that’s not the point.

Making promises and keeping them raises the value of your band, your team, your family, friends and your world.

But you have to start with the “making”.

I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com

Singing With An Appetite pt. 2

Good food always makes a difference. It’s not that much more expensive and a great way to boost morale.

Especially when you’re on the road together, every 3-5 hours every person you’re with experiences the same need. Food.

If that communal need gets met with (at least) average to above-average food and drink, the communal need turns into a bias toward communal joy and satisfaction.

This is a real thing.

I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com

Sing With An Appetite

Sing hungry.

Sing with a pit in your stomach that needs to be satisfied.

Sing with an appetite for something.

For what?

I don’t know…you tell me what you sing for. Or better, tell yourself.

Watching videos of the greats back when they were great…they definitely weren’t full, they weren’t fat and sassy, that’s for sure.  

More like skinny and longing…and hungry.

I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com

Something Useful With Your Phone

Get out your phone and do something useful with it.

Take initiative with someone.

You know that guy in the band that you don’t know as well, or the team member you’ve never talked with one on one, or the person’s texts you’ve ignored the last few times or the person who popped into your head when you read “take initiative with someone”?

Take initiative.

Today. Ask them to dinner or drinks or popsicles.

Today. Now. Right now.

If you aren’t willing to take initiative for the sake of others (and for the sake of your life), eventually you will become relationally bankrupt.

Talk less

Listen way more

Give attention (unselfish), as opposed to paying attention (expecting something in return)

Nothing is happening on Netflix, Twitter, Facebook, Periscope or e-mail that will be more life giving and meaningful than carrying out this task.

You can do this. You’re out of practice but you can do this.

I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com