Fake popularity and other stale strategies for self promotion
There is so much pressure in the music industry to appear popular. For example, promoters don’t want to feature artists unless they have a certain number of Spotify listeners and plays. So what do new musicians and labels do? They buy plays. They buy listeners....
Making it up as we go along: The secret to stardom and success
During the 3rd year of my snooty undergrad business program, I was confronted with the question of what I was going to do for a living. Originally I had visions of becoming a brand manager for Coca Cola or a consultant for KPMG because, money, but I quickly realized I...
The New Currency of Popularity
One of the main shifts I’m seeing in the music industry (and beyond) is that fans are flocking to people who have a strong core message and energy. This is a big change. Before: Popularity was driven by things like radio hits, reviews, tv ads, and being associated...
The thread that ties it all together: What we really remember
I was showing my partner an old SNL video of Guido Sarducci’s 5-minute university, where for $20, he’ll give you all the education you’ll actually remember 5 years after graduating college. Economics: Supply and demand Business: Buy low, sell high Spanish: Como estas?...
Are you waiting for a book, record or film deal?
I have had countless conversations with new authors, musicians and script writers who tell me that they are waiting on a record label, book publisher or movie producer to sign them before they release their first project. I always nod knowingly when they tell me this,...Featured Articles
Ever since I began studying online marketing for healing businesses, I’ve repeatedly heard the same trope about sales pages, masterclasses and enrollment calls…
Let’s talk about comparison, envy and jealousy, especially when it comes to art and creativity. You probably know the feeling, the burning desire to share your song, your voice, your art, and to feel good about it. And then the sinking feeling in your belly when someone phenomenally gifted absolutely KILLS it doing the same thing. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard someone say, “I can’t share my music now – everyone here is way better than me!” Or, “Who am I to be teaching this when there are people who know more than me?” And I can’t tell you how many times I’ve felt small or lame or untalented when I’ve found myself performing next to a musical virtuoso. Or wondered what I could possibly have to offer on a topic where other experts have been around much longer. It’s the worst feeling! And the thoughts that come along with it are so convincing. It seems so real that we should not even bother to try. The truth is, we will probably never be as skilled as some person who is better than us, because we won’t ever catch up to their growth unless they stop evolving. But more importantly, it’s not the point. Skill isn’t the whole story when it comes to art and self expression. The other day, I was sharing songs with a group – next to someone whose songwriting blows my mind (and heart). My guitar skills, rhythm, heck even my singing and songwriting may never be this advanced. It’s humbling to offer music after they play. Afterwards, I expressed how much I loved and felt deeply healed by one of their songs. To my surprise, this person then told me how moved they were by my song. They were truly touched, and tears were flowing. And then I remembered… oh yea. It’s not about our talent. Our skill level. Our status. Being a successful artist is only ever about how many hearts we touch. How many minds we open. How many souls are moved. Including, and most importantly – our own. This is what I remind my clients of every day: That your voice matters. That there’s no need to be “the best”. That it’s time to share when you feel moved to share. So if you find yourself with a bad case of comparison-itis, not-good-enough-itis or plain old jealousy, just remember that it’s all an illusion. The way you touch, move and inspire people will forever be uniquely yours. And that is always worth sharing. If you’re looking for guidance, support and accountability in sharing your gift, join me inside Create & Flow – my free 5-day course.
What I’m about to share is probably the most important piece of coaching I’ll ever give anyone, especially when they feel like they don’t have anything valuable to offer (or that what they’re offering isn’t worth much). It’s simple, but not easy to remember. I’ve found that we all need a lot of reminders! Even those who seem like they’ve got it all perfectly together. So… we all have those ‘lifey’ moments where something ain’t right, or we’re stuck on a big decision, or swimming in a sea of overwhelm. What I’ve noticed is that in these moments, most of us turn to our mentors, our friends, our teachers, and maybe even psychics, astrologers, and diviners, for help. We might even find ourselves telling the same story over and over again in the hopes of finding an answer somewhere along the way. But what I’ve discovered is that the only guidance or advice that usually works in those “make it or break it” kind of moments is the kind where: a) We feel more deeply seen and understood than ever before b) Our truth is uncovered beneath any blinding layers of BS c) We ultimately feel more confident in our own inner knowing The rest gets second guessed, ignored, and discarded almost every time… or worse, if someone actually takes advice that goes against their inner compass, they can wind up resenting the person who gave it. If you’re someone who has got some great medicine to share with others, there’s a better way. It’s better for a couple of reasons: it’ll solve your problem fasterit’ll make you way more confident in your ability to serve, and increase your sense of self worth The answer is this: Take a big heaping dose of your own medicine and apply your genius to yourself. Here’s why. Life periodically throws situations at us that are confronting, where we don’t know what to do or how to be. These intense moments are key opportunities to rediscover our unique magic – which we have access to because *we* need it the most. When we use our own genius to help ourselves, we increase our mastery of the medicine we carry. Which better qualifies us to serve it to the people who need it. (People need our medicine, not as a magic bullet – which doesn’t exist – but as a doorway to their own self healing!) This happens again and again, over and over. We learn, we practice, and we apply it forever and ever. Possibly for lifetimes! If we skip this step, and go on thinking that our own medicine isn’t good enough for us, not strong enough for us, not valuable enough to us – we’ll always feel like we’re “not enough.” Not helpful enough. Not skilled enough. Not worthy, Not worth paying. Not worth paying a lot. And on and on and on and on and on… But when we apply this medicine to ourselves and it inevitably helps us in some profound way, we become increasingly confident, and more able to be of service. So when you are facing down big blocks or despair the best question to ask yourself is, “How can my medicine remedy this? How is it the perfect solution?” And then allow yourself to receive the healing, and take note of how it helps you. I have yet to encounter a situation where this hasn’t turned out to be true. But don’t take my word for it… see for yourself! Reclaim your identity and give yourself the gift of prioritising your self expression. Join me in Create & Flow, a free 5-day course! See you there.
