by David Andrew Wiebe | Sep 29, 2021 | Creativity
I remember putting together a video ad promoting a new product and it talked about how I’d spent well over $100,000 on my business, marketing, and personal development education. And someone responded with, “bull crap” (I cleaned that up for you).
If I’m being totally honest – not like I wasn’t before – that number climbs higher each year. I don’t know if I’m at $200,000 yet, because I haven’t sat down and done the math, but every year I buy multiple Kindles, take multiple courses, and pay for coaching. So, it’s not like that figure has ever stayed stationary.
You can call me out on that, that’s fine. Because this isn’t about me. I think the issue is really that artists don’t see themselves investing that amount in their own growth, so they think it’s strange when someone else does.
And yeah, it is a different way of looking at things. But if you hadn’t figured this out already, I’m kind of a different guy. And the thing I know about artists is we’re all a little eccentric. It’s why we do what we do, and at the end of the day, I think it’s beautiful that we’re so expressive with our thoughts and emotions. That’s what makes us great artists.
But so long as there’s a price that’s too high, or a workload that’s too great, or a discomfort threshold we can’t overcome, we can never overcome ourselves, you see. We might still make progress in the world, but at every turn we will still be hindered by ourselves. Because there’s an arbitrary threshold, we’re not willing to cross.
At some point, it’s just too much money, too much work, or too much discomfort. We want to turn and hide.
And the thing you need to understand is that this is what it means to be human. Trust me – everyone has times when they want to run.
One day, we’re walking along as adults, everything is going fine, and suddenly, we’re triggered and revert to little whiny kids. I’ve watched this happen in some of the programs I’ve taken – programs where some of the sharpest, most ambitious people gather.
So, what’s crucial to know is that while it’s not all about some arbitrary monetary figure, if you think any price is too high, you’re going to put a ceiling on your growth and success.
“I’m willing to do that, but I will never do this.”
We can measure money. We can measure workloads in the number of to-do items and projects you’re tackling, although I would still argue this is a little elusive. We can’t measure discomfort at all. It’s just something you feel internally, and no one else can feel exactly what you’re feeling.
The thing I want you to see is that you might be trying to put a quantity to things that no one can really measure. And if you’re in that realm, trust me, you’re not going to go the distance, because at some point, the price will just be too high.
Right now, I’m standing in the outcome that I can invest in courses and programs costing $2,000. Because I am just that excited about what more I can learn and discover, and what I can bring back to you as a nugget of insight.
And while I could probably find those programs as torrent files somewhere, I know I’m not going to value it as much. Because I haven’t invested in it.
We don’t value what we don’t pay for, at least not to the same extent we value what we do pay for.
If you’re getting stuck in your career, or if you’re bargaining with the price, do some looking. Take some time to journal. What are you unwilling to do? Because whatever you are unwilling to do, chances are you will end up having to do it to get to where you want to go.
For a proven, step-by-step framework in cracking the code to independent music career success, and additional in-depth insights into making your passion sustainable and profitable, be sure to pick up my best-selling guide, The Music Entrepreneur Code.
by David Andrew Wiebe | Jun 25, 2021 | Entrepreneurship
It’s official.
My new music biz membership is on its way.
I always had the intention of building it. And slowly, but surely, I was staring to add content to it (launching individual courses and products the public could purchase in the process).
But the leadership and management program I’m taking has solidified and cemented my resolve to get the work done. I have goals and milestones, and I have a team I’m working with to share in the creation of something amazing, while raising funds for a cause I care deeply about.
And I’ve been having a lot of fun as I build out the components piece by piece. Having been a part of multiple memberships, and a reviewer for many, I’ve taken inspiration from a variety of places and have fused them in the creation of my own. In retrospect, I think this was part of my education, and it was essential.
You can’t join the membership yet, and there isn’t a waiting list to speak of (although my email list is the unofficial wait list). But all of this will continue to be in development, and I anticipate that I will be sharing quite a bit more about it as it comes together.
I feel full of life. For once, envisioning my desired future has become easy again. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt that way, and prior to starting this program, I wasn’t present to the fact that I was so cynical and resigned. I knew I was having trouble envisioning the future I wanted, I just didn’t understand why.
Now I know why.
Dreams aren’t meant to be pursued alone.
For more inspiration, be sure to sign up for my email list.
by David Andrew Wiebe | Apr 19, 2021 | News
So, it’s April 19, and as I mentioned in yesterday’s #StrategySunday post, it’s time for a change.
I hate to admit it, but I was growing tired of focusing so heavily on daily publishing. That became the focal point of the first hours of my day, which meant that I wasn’t making progress in the areas that mattered most.
Who’s responsible? Me, of course. Which is why, at the risk of confusing some folks, I’m doing things a little differently now.
I’ve designated Monday as “Music Entrepreneur HQ Day”, where my focus will be exclusively on pushing changes on the website and promoting its resources. I’m setting aside the remaining days of the week for product development, client work, and other content.
What I Learned Today:
As you’re about to see, today ended up being quite productive. I guess that’s the power of batching.
I focused on Music Entrepreneur HQ work (which has built up over time) from 10 AM to 5 PM. I ordered and picked up a pizza for lunch time and maintained my concentration on the task at hand throughout the day (it’s only 10 after 5 as I write this).
And while going through my task list, I even ended up processing most of my email, something that usually gets relegated to “later” and sometimes “never.”
I also signed up as an affiliate for several new services, and it made me present to the fact that there are still many opportunities worth pursuing.
Yep. This is the way to do it.
Just remind me to change my routine again if and when this becomes unworkable…
What I Accomplished Today:
Again, the following only applies to Music Entrepreneur HQ.
- Sent two podcast episodes to my editor for editing
- Syndicated recent podcast content to YouTube
- Made some minor design updates to the website
- Processed some emails
- Started preparing guest posts
- Delegated transcription of recent podcast episode
- Added transcription to episode 200 of the podcast and scheduled a tweet about it
- Wrote and scheduled two emails and published one to Medium
- Started creating a register of tools I use to promote my music inside my LifeSheet
- Added a new opt-in box on posts
- Added podcast highlights to episode 229 of the podcast (and this video)
- Created a new lead magnet
- Signed up as an affiliate for Fiverr (affiliate link)
- Signed up as an affiliate for The Indie Bible
- Signed up as an affiliate for ConvertKit
- Spent time optimizing the website (made some solid progress here today)
What’s Next for Music Entrepreneur HQ:
These are some of the changes I’m looking to make next week and in the weeks that follow:
- Find a video editor
- Make my new lead magnet the main opt-in on Music Entrepreneur HQ
- Discontinue Leadpages (affiliate link) subscription and move primary lead magnets to Content Marketing Musician
- Put together a new authority homepage
- Continue my content audit to completion
- Reach out to guests I want to be on my podcast
- Reach out to podcasts I’d like to be a guest on
- Move all email marketing activity from Mailchimp to ConvertKit
- Create a resource guide for my latest podcast series
- Write Life Updates for January, February, and March
- Add The Music Entrepreneur Code video to the sidebar
- Cull the recommended tools list
- Start new autoresponder series
- Create a Medium publication for musicians
What’s Next for Me:
The universe is nudging me towards personal development again.
I’m taking The Gold Within course for the third time. I’m picking up where I left off with my Landmark Worldwide courses (likely beginning May). And, when time permits (it might not be until next year, but I’m hoping sooner), I’ll be taking Russell Brunson’s Affiliate Bootcamp.
In terms of business, I’m looking to:
- Move most if not all my free reports, eBooks, books, and courses over to Content Marketing Musician.
- Add to The Renegade Musician (I want to add one more PDF to make it a three-pronged offer).
- Finish my next book, The Music Entrepreneur Mindset.
- Reposition my books for entrepreneurs and sell them on AppSumo.
Concluding Thoughts
In terms of my new schedule, I’m still “making it up as I go,” but I’m sure the remaining pieces will fall into place.
I will still be writing a few long-form, informative articles for Medium and News Break per week, but aside from that, progress updates will probably be my modus operandi.
I suspect that these progress updates will still be quite instructive though.
For more inspiration, be sure to sign up for my email list.
