Promise Smaller, Deliver Bigger

With Music Entrepreneur HQ, my motto was always:

Promise bigger, deliver bigger.

And in the early years, when I had more time to dedicate to the business, I was able to follow through on most of my commitments, including weekly content.

But the realities of a self-funded, independently run company are that you are responsible for every aspect of the business, be it accounting, taxes, social media, marketing, or otherwise. And, perhaps most importantly, finding sources of funding to keep the company afloat.

I have embraced these realities from day one, and have often collaborated, delegated, and hired at the level that made the most sense for us. It hasn’t always been easy, but that’s what makes entrepreneurs entitled to the lion’s share – they take the most risks.

In the last couple of years, though, I’ve been promising bigger and delivering smaller, and I’ve become increasingly aware of this fact. It’s been weighing on me.

Some may think my daily publishing efforts have intruded on my ability to deliver – and I understand the concern well – but that’s not quite true. The content I’ve been developing has been forming the basis of podcast episodes, live streams, Members Only Audios, newsletter content, and even my most recent book (which I’m very proud of), The Music Entrepreneur Companion Guide.

The number one thing that has gotten in the way of me delivering is the many freelance projects I’ve taken on to fund my life and my business. It sucks to admit, but much of the time, I work my ass off for aggressively mediocre pay. Or maybe it would be better to say, the end doesn’t justify the means.

I would expect to be working 12-hour days four days per week and two to four late nights per month for a six-figure income, not a five-figure income. But this has been my reality for months and years. The good news is I see this all changing very soon.

But declaring the last phase of my business complete has been creating an opening in my life. And I now have a better sense of what I was put on this green earth to do.

So, from now on, I’m going to be promising smaller and delivering bigger. It only makes sense. I may only have the weekends available to work on my business, at least in the next year or so, so trying to fulfill on the ridiculous number of projects I’ve committed to has become unworkable. If anything, it has been unworkable for nearly two years, a fact I’ve covered elsewhere.

I still have the same commitment to see you thrive in your independent creativity and independent life, and I’m here to help in any way you need.

But if there’s an impact to the changes I’m making, let me know. If you like the new direction, let me know. Whatever is there for you, let me know!