Be So Good....
April18
One of my favorite authors is Robin Sharma. He is also a fellow blogger and author, The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, who has plenty of wisdom to offer a musician. I remember a posting he made on his website that included the words of Steve Martin, the comedian. "Be so good they can't ignore you." What powerful words. If you want to make a splash in the music world be so good at what you do that they, whoever they might be, cannot look away or ignore you.
How do you "be so good" at what you do that you, your playing, your music, cannot be ignored? The short answer; self-leadership. Most musicians spend hours upon hours of their lives in isolation. There is no coach standing over your shoulder screaming and yelling for you to practice 10 more minutes, to push yourself past the point of comfort. As a musician, it is up to you to discipline yourself. Those that lead themselves well are those that are noticed, recognized, rewarded. This path is the one least traveled, but the most rewarding one.
Another suggestion is to live the life of the "great".
Read great books
Life is too short to fill our minds with mediocre literature or empty self-help books. Make sure you read the best literature, the best self-help books, and by all means the best books on music. If your life is music, make sure you know your subject/life. Be inspired by people, no matter their field of expertise. Read a book with a highlighter in hand.
Play great music
Play and practice music that inspires you. You are more apt to exhibit self-leadership in the area of practice if you are inthralled by the music you are studying. If your guitar instructor asks, or forces, you to play something you are not thrilled about, become thrilled about it. Find something in the piece that sets your soul on fire; a phrase, a technique, a form, the era. They are doing this for a reason, a good reason, to make you better. Dive in with no reservations if you are in this stage. You will not be disappointed.
Live a great life
Don't settle for a second-rate life. Do all you can to live the life you dream of. We are given dreams for a reason so do not squander them on useless, senseless living. Most of us never achieve our dreams because we do not lead ourselves well. We allow our circumstances to do the leading for us. A great quote to remember, "If you don't lead your life, your life will lead you." You will be tossed to and fro by the things of the world. So do all you can to be all you can. Remember, life is short.
Leave a great legacy
Let this thought marinate within a while.
Enough said....