business mindset – Growing Forward

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Whether you decided to try to make your way in the world of music this week or you’ve been at the grind for years, all musicians are in the same boat. It’s hard for creative people to make their way in the world, but this is certainly the case in the music industry. The market has become so competitive because it’s easy for people to make music. DAW software is cheaper and more accessible than ever (some music software is free), so there’s nothing stopping people from getting started. But how are you going to stand out? Whether you’re a brand new artist or you’ve been at it for years, it’s hard to get ahead. Even those who have tasted success can struggle to hold onto it. In this article, we’ll talk about the things you need to consider if you want to start a successful music career in 2019.

Figure out what makes you unique.

If you want to do well in the music world then you need to adopt a little bit of a business mindset. Of course, the goal is to avoid draining all the excitement out of your career because creating music requires a degree of passion and creative freedom. However, you do need to develop a personal brand for yourself in the same way as any other entrepreneur, so you need to think about your image and identity in that sort of manner. You need to figure out what makes you unique in terms of your sound and your presentation. You don’t need to be eccentric for the sake of being eccentric. Take a look at bands such as Radiohead; they dress in a casual manner, but their music is the thing that makes them stand out.

So, what’s your USP? If you’re making rock music then why should people listen to you rather than the thousands of other rock bands out there? If you’re a rapper then how are you going to stand out? Are you just going to use the same trap beat as every other aspirational hip-hop artist out there? You won’t come up with a fresh new sound straight away. Even the most successful artists of all time started out sounding pretty similar to the musicians who influenced them. It’s all part of the creative process. You have to learn by creating. As time goes by, you’ll start to find your sound. You could consider vocal school to try to develop a stylistic identity for yourself and learn to adapt to a variety of different singing styles. It’s important to learn to be flexible if you want to be unique. Many artists stand out because they pull influences from many different places rather than simply sounding like artists from one particular genre, for instance.

Develop a strong work ethic.

The rise to the top might seem effortless from the outside, but artists don’t just emerge from nowhere. It takes years of grinding to reach the top. It took a lot of rejections and a lot of failed attempts for many of the world’s most accomplished musicians to reach the global platforms they have today. Don’t trick yourself into thinking it’ll happen quickly. You need to develop a strong work ethic if you’re going to start a successful music career in 2019. Maybe you’ve been trying to “make it” for years, but you’ve only been dedicating a small amount of your time to the cause. You need to be committed if you’re going to get anywhere. Take the time to make yourself visible and get your brand out there as well as working on your music itself. As explained in the previous point, you need to adopt a business attitude if you want to make it in this tough industry. Keep grinding, and make sure you only do it because you love it. That’s the key to making music which sounds good. Take the time to hone your talent.

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What goes into making a successful business? Why do some companies hit record profits, and others flounder within the first year? If someone could figure out the magic recipe for profit, then, well, there’d be no more competition. But perhaps finding one approach is futile, anyway. Instead of trying to figure out the one thing that will work, we should focus on devoting our energy to the aspects of a business that really matter. Below, we take a look at the factors that make the biggest difference. Nail these, and success might just come to you all the easier.

The Right Mindset

You could sit around wondering about ‘what if’ or ‘but,’ but what good is that going to do for you? Take a look at some of the most successful entrepreneurs in the history of business, and, while their industries and personalities might differ, you’ll notice one common thread: they’re hyper-determined. Even the biggest and best have failures under their belt, but did that stop from trying again and again, until they found the business that worked for them? Absolutely not. Have belief in yourself; it’ll be the best tool in your arsenal.

Capital to Grow

With all the will in the world, it’s unlikely that you’re going to go very far if you haven’t got the money in the bank to help you get ahead. While your idea will be important, it’ll be the cash that allows you to turn your dreams into reality that will make the most difference. So secure funding, and much of it. In today’s world, there are more ways than ever before to raise money, so if you’re turned down from one source, move onto the next one until eventually, you have the capital you need.

Assembling a Team

You’re an entrepreneur, yet while it’d be tempting to think you’re the main player in your business, there’ll be a group of people there that are even more important: your staff. Hire correctly, and you’ll have a talented team for whom failure is not an option. Rush through the process, and you’ll be left doing more work than necessary as you try to make up for what they lack. As Jozef Opdeweegh says, you should be looking for a team of staff that is “perseverant and energetic, smart and independent, and most importantly, naturally aligned with the corporate culture and core behaviors.” With them on board, you’ll be ready to take your business to the next level.

Working With Others

You’re not an island out there, all on your own, trying to navigate towards business success with an “it’s us against the world mentality.” Any business with that mindset won’t get very far! To be in this game, you need to know how to work with others. You’re going to be dealing with partners, suppliers, employees, and customers, and being able to bridge the gaps between all of these different groups will be an important part of developing a company that’ll be here for many years to come.