Goals & Planning

It's time to focus on your challenges and do something about them. I’m often asked, “How do I decide what are the most important things to focus on with so many things needing to get done?” Let’s face it, building a successful career has many moving parts and each one needs your attention at some time. But, do you have to take them all on at once? I think not. This week, let’s focus on your challenges. Let’s identify some of your greatest challenges and make a few lists. That way you can identify some of the most important challenges and concentrate on working through those one at a time.…

Have you considered why long term planning matters? As you stare at your calendar, panic sets in.  You have some dates locked in for June, a couple for May and a bunch for April. But, there it is, that cliff looming out there on June 20th, your last date on the calendar. Perhaps you've experienced this scenario in the past. Maybe this is what your calendar looks like right now. I'm only painting this picture to set the stage. The fact is, that if you only look out as far as the very next booking, your calendar may seem pretty empty two months from now. The solution is really very…

Remove emotions when making career building decisions and you will make better choices. How many times a day do you have to make a decision that might impact your career or even your life? What factors do you use to help you make your final decision? Most people are influenced by their emotional response to any given situation. Heck, that’s what advertisers count on as do car sales people, real estate agents…you’ve been there. You remember, “So what color car do you see yourself driving.” Emotional? You bet! When it comes to your career, you need to consider the facts and remove your emotions as much as possible. Do you…

Thinking BIG is often a challenge. I run into this all the time. Artists and other creative people are focused on their art, their music, their writing, etc. That focus keeps the thinking process turned inwards. The focus is on the day-to-day and most often the logistics and the minute details. Many artists are not in the habit of Thinking BIG! When it comes to negotiating gigs, I've found that so many musicians willingly negotiate themselves into comfortably smaller fees rather than going for it and asking what they really deserve. Do you fit into this description? Visual artists often under price their creations. Have you found yourself doing this?…

2018 Wow! Here's what's new for me, what's new for you? January is my birth month and every year during January I have a surge of energy and excitement for the possibilities of the new year. I'm sure being a Capricorn has a lot to do with it as all of my Capricorn friends and relatives are similarly energized. Whatever forces are tugging on my creativity, here's what I've got planned for the coming year: Celebrate an auspicious birthday as my sister and I swim with Dolphins. (mammals not the football team, Ha!) With a renewed excitement in cooking, I plan to start up my one- day gourmet retreats for…

Happy Holidays to you and yours. Here we are, the end of yet another year. I hope yours was a good one filled with great career growth and life 's joys. I hope your challenges were met with grace and your victories celebrated with humility among friends, fans and family. As the year comes to a close, do a few important things to set yourself up for a great new year: Celebrate and enjoy your accomplishments Remember your challenges and the creative ways you met them Honor and cherish those in your life who have been a part of your journey Plan for a better year next year by understanding…

It is time for your Year In Review. It’s December and the year is winding down. Every year during Christmas week I take a bunch of time to look back over the last year and see what I accomplished in my business. Then I look ahead and make some plans for the new year. I cherish this time as I look at all the new things that I was able to make happen or challenges that I faced head on and conquered. It’s not so much the numbers of things that were done that makes your Year In Review so important, it’s the processes behind the accomplishments that makes this…

Create your holiday focus on your fans. Politics got you down? Bah Humbug to that! When you focus on your fans, the ones who have signed up on your mailing lists, bought your CDs, shown up at your concerts, you can always come up with new ways of creating value for them—and in turn yourself. Think about what your fans want, their concerns especially at this time of year. Everyone’s busy with holiday happenings, parties, shopping, giving and getting gifts. So how can you create something of value for your fans who are thinking about those things without being all salesy? What kind of creative ideas can you come up…

Have a great Thanksgiving this week to all those celebrating in the U.S. Enjoy your friends and family. Hopefully, you've got some gigs lined up for Friday or Saturday. If you don't, then use some of your downtime to check the community in which you are celebrating to see what sort of performance opportunities might be possible for future visits. As a reminder, here are some ideas: Regular mainstream clubs, coffeehouses, concert halls House concerts Businesses and Organizations for private parties and fundraisers Elementary Schools, Colleges and Universities, (departments, clubs, organizations) Catering Halls, Civic Centers, Hotels, Conference Centers Ski Resorts and other Resorts Museums, Aquariums, Parks, Recreation Centers Local City…