Open Ended

When we ask the question, ‘Did we do a good job?’, it’s retrospective.

And it’s usually the completion of a task or project that triggers the look back to survey the quality of the work.

The problem most artists run into is that their career is viewed as one long open ended undertaking. There are rarely points of completion along the way that bring up, ‘Did we do a good job?’

But maybe that could change. Maybe you could start looking at your career as a rolling series of projects. Projects that have a beginning and end. Projects that can be learned from and moved on from.

If we want to do better next time we need to be clear about how we did this time…Did we do a good job?

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

Great Things

You don’t get great things in large quantities.

They come in small quantities.

So if you’re wanting more greatness, more great material, more magic moments…the only way is to keep going, to keep working.

Related to this…

The burning desire to keep working is often a byproduct of discomfort. When you’re uncomfortable, you’re willing to work really hard to get comfortable.

So then the hard won comfort (and success) actually becomes a block to being willing to do the hard work necessary to keep generating great stuff over the long term.

If you want to keep making great work…keep discomfort around, keep doing the work.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

Hail Mary

Before you quit and close up shop, swing for the fences. Try the crazy idea. The thing you thought was too extreme.

Why not go for it? You’re about to quit anyway. Throw the Hail Mary. Plus, your thing probably deserves one last shot.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

When Life Gives You Lemons...

If you’re going to be in the business of making lemonade out of the lemons given to you, you better have a steady supply of lemons.

Some people are great at making the best of the situation…and some people are great at serving up situations. i.e. The typical artist and manager relationship.

The lemon grower and lemonade maker need each other.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

Opportunity Will Knock

The best way to prepare for opportunity is to have the song.

You’re constantly hoping for the opportunity. And along the way you’re going to get the opportunity.

If you get the opportunity and you have the song, it’s going to go well.

If you get the opportunity and you don’t have the song, you’ll wonder why it didn’t go well.

And the truth is…everyone hopes you’ll have the song but doesn’t actually think you will. It’s why when you do, the gates open. You’re giving them what the hoped for while at the same time surpassing expectation.

Spend time writing.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

Size Of The Act

As a fan…

A band is perhaps easier to believe in because there are least three or four people who already buy-in to what’s going on here.

But with a solo artist, it’s very clear who I’m suppose to pay attention to.

When I see a band I want to be in the gang.

When I see a solo act I want to be best friends.

As fans, the size of the artist entity matters. It’s not make or break (the music is make or break). But it’s an insight that provides further relational underpinning for marketing and moving forward.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple