This Might Not Work

To go from 100 people at the show to 800 people at the show…

To create a website where your fans want to spend time there…

To get on the most played Spotify playlist…

To get a YouTube video with a million plays…

To connect with that person in your band that you don’t connect with…

…you’re going to have to do something that might not work.

“It might not work” is an indication that it might be the exact idea to roll with.

In fact if you come upon an idea that will “definitely work”, it’s probably not going to get you very far in achieving your goal.  Keep digging for something that might NOT work.

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

Mikey’s Goonie Idea

When someone comes up with an idea and champions it and it doesn’t work, all we usually remember is that here’s a person who’s ideas are bad and don’t work…rather than classifying them in our minds as a person who is willing to push for better, to think outside of the box, to be risky, to be better.

We are all idea people. Some people just have more courage to voice them.  

Here’s a kid influencing his team with an idea to keep pushing further…when they thought he was crazy.

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

You Should Quit Now pt. 2

Now that you’ve taken the last couple days to think about quitting, you’ve either decided to quit or you’ve decided to keep going.

But YOU decided.  You had the option and you chose.

So no complaining either way anymore.

If you chose to quit: the next meaningful course of action you take is going to be just as difficult if not more so.  So quitting your current situation very well could have been the right move, but don’t for a second think it’s going to be easier now.

If you chose to proceed: you’re in this now.  You are, in essence, pre-deciding that when things get really awful and difficult that you’re going to keep pushing through. You’ve considered the goal, and the sacrifice and the reason why, and it’s all going to be worth it.

So congratulations, you’ve made a declaration. At least to yourself, in your mind.  The next step is to declare it to someone else. It will become more real that way.

Onward.

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

You Should Quit Now

Whatever meaningful journey you choose, whether it’s being a musician, in the entertainment business, a carpenter, a financial advisor, an astronaut, the dark days are coming.

At some point, multiple points, you are going to feel really really bad about everything: what you’re doing, what you’ve done, where you’re heading, the people you’re with, the person you are.

It’s going to get ugly, you should just quit now.

Save yourself the stress and depression. That’s not what you signed up for anyway.

It’s too hard and too lonely to stick with it.

Quit now and at least you’ll have all those stories of what you almost did.

It’s not worth it.  Stop and return to the middle where all your pals are hanging out.

p.s. Go get Seth Godin’s book The Dip. It will make a difference.

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

Who Makes It In Show Business?

Alec Baldwin: Who makes it in show business?

Jerry Seinfeld: The people who want to make it in show business

It’s the people who stick it out, who live through the hardest parts and keep going, who feel the awful feelings of the low low low parts of the journey and decide that pushing through is going to be worth it.

Yes, we dance and get hyped up on the latest over-night sensation in music, but we revere and respect those who stick around and don’t wash out.  

We all want to be young and successful but find our hearts drawn to the little bit older and the little bit wiser.

Are you going to make it in show business?

Do you want to?

What if it’s really hard and takes a long time?

Do you still want to?

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

My Two Dominant Modes

I have two dominant modes…teaching/delegating and steam-rolling-independence.

Unfortunately for me, I’ve had a hard time bringing the two together at the same time.

It’s great to be a hard charging leader…better to be a hard charging leader who can and will take time to influence, inspire, delegate and teach others to also charge hard in the midst of it all.

If you’re truly a leader, two things are true: your eyes are pointed forward, and you have people following you.

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