One reason the business aspect of a singing career seems so tough: no one really understands what it entails.
This is the first in a series of strategies that I want to introduce to you that will help you think differently about dealing with the business aspects of your singing career.
Having an amazing natural instrument, flawless vocal technique and instinctual performance ability might get you noticed, but if you don’t have an understanding of how to do business and a solid plan to get it done, getting your foot in the door as a professional singer might just remain more of a wish or dream than a reality. This process requires that you recognize and wake up your critical thinking brain cells; you know the ones that help you question and figure things out.
You are as capable as the next person. What we tend to do is ask the easy questions of ourselves instead of the hard ones which we don’t already have the answers to and make us afraid because we don’t know how to tackle them. One must become a consummate critical thinker like Sherlock Holmes always questioning and sleuthing; then following up on and sorting through what you just discovered and learned to see if any of this information is worth saving and using. Instead of recognizing the truth of the matter, situation, issue, and getting to the heart of it, you often draw imaginary connections between what you see, hear, feel and what you expect to see, hear and feel, and call this “the truth”. We all do this unconsciously from time to time. The important point is that now you can become aware that you are doing it which then allows for an opportunity to step outside of your comfort zone and find what exactly is the truth and reality instead of doing the same ole, same ole, then wondering why nothing changes. Critical thinking allows one to slow the process down, learn how to honestly define a problem, and focus on what is unique and important about the decision you are about to make.
Here is the first of several steps I am going to share with you over the next few posts that will help hone these critical thinking skills:
Telling yourself and believing the truth that you can handle anything that comes your way is a major key in giving yourself permission to take risks, and deal effectively with problems, failure and mistakes. And here is the difference between taking a risk verses taking a chance: Taking a risk involves lots of research, questioning and understanding (critical thinking) of what will be involved, the consequences, if you decide to take that risk. Taking a chance is just jumping in with no thought just because someone else said it was the thing to do without any self examination and not knowing, or truly caring what the outcome will be, while hoping that something good comes of it. So when there is adversity or confrontation, or you experience what we call failure or make mistakes, you have a choice to make – you can run and hide while your internal “Brat” runs rampant, telling you “I told you so”, or you can slow down, get calm internally and find the real obstacle in the issue or situation, allowing you to see beyond the familiar, turning your critical thinker on, and focus on what is really unique and important about this decision situation. Step up and out of your comfort zone, and know you don’t have to be trapped in your myopic mental model of running amuck. Wouldn’t you rather have choices which contain lots of sort of scary experiential goodies that help you learn and grow as you become more of who you truly are? And you will notice that every time you learn to handle a problem or situation, failure or mistake, your self-esteem is raised immeasurably.
Critical thinkers question everything in a good way. It means you can no longer just swallow every fad or do what the next guy is doing without questioning the why, how and what of that particular tribes beliefs and take others opinions as “the truth” without questioning any of it, or you will lose your competitive edge. Always be challenging current beliefs and mindsets, including your own and you will start strengthening those amazing critical thinking synapses of your beautiful brain to step outside your comfort zone with more panache and confidence.
Stay tuned. Next time we will discuss more interesting strategies to getting you going with confidence. Remember, no one has ALL the answers. And because not everyone is wired internally in exactly the same way we are allowed and privileged to be unique having different strengths, with not just one path to follow. Avanti and Ciao until next time, Carol
How to Step Up Your Game Plan
