Ready For The Big Break

A couple things here…

-Don’t waste your time trying to decide if you’re ready. Prepared (just enough) and willing are more important.

-The most likely scenario is that there won’t be one big break.

Having said that. You need to be ready for your big break.

It pays to have a great show before you get asked to play the big gig next week.

It pays to have already written lots of songs when your publisher finally gets you in the room with your hero.

It pays to know how to read analytics before your song gets on the big playlists.

It pays to know how to spend ten thousand dollars effectively when you get an influx of a hundred thousand dollars…and then a million.

If you hang around long enough and keep getting better and keep putting out good material, some unexpected great surprises are going to come your way.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

Making And The Maker

First Monday of the month, new Hum Love playlist on Spotify and Apple

Painting a picture and throwing it away.

Writing a song and never recording it.

Designing a company logo and never clicking save.

There is something about the making that changes the maker. The making is a gift to the maker.

Releasing, contributing, sharing it with others…those are separate, and are important…but don’t let those get in the way of making.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

Develop A Taste For...

The things you have.

This is not the same as settling for the things you have.

It’s just a lot more fun to have a taste for (to appreciate, value, respect, hold dear) what you have rather than minimize, negate or despise it.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

The Truth About Achievement

Professional achievement doesn’t heal you. We’ve all watched enough Behind The Music documentaries to know that.

But we think we’re the exception. We’re still surprised when we achieve the thing but are still the same as we were. We think life will be different…we think WE will be different after reaching the summit.

None of us are the exception.

And yet that shouldn’t deter us from achievement. Rather, it can cause us to be more focused and intentional on exactly what we’re doing and what we (and others) will gain as a result…and what won’t be gained as a result.

It’s worth telling ourselves the truth about achievement.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

Big Stars and Feedback

(This loosely pairs with yesterday’s post about feedback)

I know a lot of performers who know and admit they don’t have live performance figured out, that their shows aren’t perfect, that they have lots of room to grow and learn.

AND YET…the overwhelming majority of performers refuse to ask for help and guidance to get better…so while they readily admit deficiency, they act like someone who has it all together.

Ironically, the ones who actively seek this type of coaching and guidance are often the biggest stars.

»» At first it feels really weird to be asking questions like, ‘what’s a better way to hold the microphone during this song?’…but then things start clicking and it gets really fun.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

If You're Asking For Feedback

Seek feedback from trusted sources when you’re still willing to make changes.

If you ask for feedback but aren’t going to make changes…you’ll probably internalized the feedback as criticism, getting frustrated and upset…and you’re actually undercutting the care you’ve asked for.

High quality feedback is priceless as are the trusted sources that can provide it.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple