When you’re dealing with an unsatisfied customer there might be a long list of things you can’t do for them that they wish you could.
But if you’re truly wanting to serve the customer, dig deep and find the one or two things that you CAN do on their behalf.
A helpful hand is always welcome even if it doesn’t bring with it everything they hoped for.
Let’s do another one like that.
Like what?
A catchy headline that got a lot of clicks…or a high quality article article.
A tour where we got a lot of sponsorship money…or one where we put on a great show.
A song with all the same beats so it got added to the playlists with all the same beats…or one that we’re proud of deep down inside.
Both things in each scenario can be true. But when we get some traction we need to be clear about what piece of the excitement we’re picking up and running with.
You trade on the skill level you have.
And that skill level, paired with creativity, opens the door to get the gig. The next gig might be a little bit different from the first but it simply requires a shift in your creativity while utilizing the skills you already have.
Practicing is different than merely learning new material or a new gig.
Practicing is about getting better at what you do or learning a new skill to add to your set.
It’s easy to float from good gig to good gig over the years and forget about practicing or getting better. And you probably have the skills to be just fine doing that.
But the idea of sitting down to practice might be worth revisiting from time to time.
Getting better on purpose isn’t just for amateurs.
The song you wrote today…You could post a version of it right now. It’s probably a decent song. It’s got a verse and a chorus and a post chorus hook.
So why wouldn’t you? Because you’re holding it back in order to make it better before you let people hear it.
Makes sense. If you hold it back and it becomes a lot better, then it was worth the wait.
But what if you hold it back and never get around to making it a lot better?
Then you might as well have posted the day-of demo on Instagram so your fans could enjoy it and give you feedback…which might put the fire under you to make it better.
Anyone who paid to see your show again isn’t disappointed that it’s similar to the first time around.
The reason we want to watch again is because we liked the first one. We came back because we want another dose of the same (or similar) medicine.
No need to reinvent the wheel. Once you find your lane just keep driving.
You’re not always going to get the chance to clarify.
If you’re the type of person who speaks up consistently you’re going to have to be ok with being misunderstood.
To have the opportunity to say, ‘that’s not what I meant, what I meant was this…’ is a rare gift.
They didn’t hear it the way you meant it. They made inferences and drew conclusions that weren’t accurate. And they might even hold their conclusions against you without you knowing and without realizing they might not be true.
So if you’re the one speaking up it helps to be as clear as possible. The more clear the less clarifying needed.
If you’re the one listening, remember that the way you take something might not be the exact way the person meant it.