Day Trading

Why do we swap the extended for the instant? The delayed for the immediate?

Are we that microwave'd of a society? In a world where connection is the greatest asset businesses have, and the most powerful force for promoting new music, why do we settle for the immediate?

Seth Godin wrote in his blog recently "In the connection economy, the thoughtful, patient, mature and modern approach wins out. Because connection is built on trust and generosity, not on snark and short-term wins."

Let's apply this to the music business, which happens to be a business that thrives off of connections and their apparent authenticity. Why would we celebrate the surface-level coffee conversation we had with an executive as a victory in networking? When they begin to confide their problems in you, that is a victory because that opens the door for you to innovate for their benefit...and eventually yours. Do not expect them to give you something, like a job. Try to give them something, like a solution. That will CREATE you a job.

Why do we day-trade instead of invest for the long-term? Invest in human capital, people are worth your time and authenticity and vulnerability.

-Garrison

Servant Leadership. Permission Marketing. Create a Vacuum.

 

Psalm 62:1-2

Friendships and Business Relations

This is the plight of nearly every great entrepreneurial venture, every gifted initiator, every sage-innovator and every sub-par middle manager who has a desire to see those he cares about furthered in their careers.

Business relationships defined previously by friendship are dangerous. This is obvious. They are kryptonite to reputation and poison to brands. What may not be so obvious is the underlying cause to the majority of this danger...the personal and evetual perceived threat to livelihood.

If we dig deep into why most business relations that began as a close friendship have unwanted and adverse friction, it is simply the fight or flight instinct taking over. When we feel an attack coming on, that is, the opposition to change or 'improve' or 'adapt', we seek to stamp it out.

When it is our blood-brother leading that charge against norm, we feel this instinct even more deeply. It becomes a personal offense.

Is this not true? Let's take a moment of self-reflection. The last time you felt that rise in your gut to hastily protest some proposed action, and your best friend proposed it, is it not because you were ultimately more scared of the outcome and threat to your livelihood (however you define livelihood in that moment) than the weight of your trust for your friend's intentions and knowledge?

That fear outweighs everything you knew of your friend. But ask yourself this? What is most important for the end game? This moment of instinct or my relationship?

Please always pick the relationship, regardless of whether you continue to do business together. That is what life is about.

Servant Leadership. Permission Marketing. Create a Vacuum.

Psalm 62:1-2

Built To Assist - Easter Eggs

I am sure you all are familiar with the term 'easter eggs.' White, oval breakfast food turned objects of pursuit by your adorable eight-year old niece on Easter, or projectiles subsequently smashed against your house by the angsty local teenager who didn't get invited to the egg hunt.

In this case, I am actually referring to the finding of something, not necessarily an egg. In the video game culture, gamers refer to bonus items or activities that have to be discovered in each scene as 'easter eggs.' They help the player deviate from the scenario for short a time to keep the playing interesting and earn helpful bonuses. It gives the gamer a moment of unexpected challenge that isn't detrimental to the overall result of their performance in the game.

In day to day life, it is the bonus question on the test. It is the opportunity for a safety in American football. It is the opportunity to teach your little boy how to air up his bike tire.

These actionable bonuses are everywhere in the music business. Wherever you are in your career, looking for the additional tasks and pursuing them, despite the additional labor, will undoubtedly benefit your client and paint you as cool-headed over-achiever.

Never let additional labor or challenge from your colleagues dissuade you from pursuing an obscure, yet potentially profitable opportunity. Be comfortable changing the plan, and having the ability to seal a deal at a moments notice is nothing to spit at.

Servant Leadership. Permission Marketing. Create a Vacuum.

Psalm 62:1-2

Built To Assist - Comfortable Ambiguity

In the music industry, you may never have a real job, 9am-5pm. Are you ok with that?

If not, you might want to look into another career.

Because that is exactly what this industry is: a commitment to career-lifestyle that encompasses every corner of your life.

No other industry is this way. So how do we, as humans who crave consistency, survive and thrive?

You have to do your work for a bigger purpose. Music cannot be your all in all. It will never fulfill you. Personally, I am a Christian, so I believe that I should do everything I do for others and, in turn, to turn recognition for success back to God and His grace in my life.

I would recommend this way of thriving. But, for many people, they work for their children's futures, philanthropic purposes, or the satisfaction of fully serving others. As long as you keep your eye on something above simply music, something more glorious and divine-purposed, you will always have fuel in the tank and be comfortable with the ambiguity of our particular industry.

Because, then and only then, success that is normally defined by money, stature, or finite means will hold no allure for you. You will see the purity in labor.

 

Servant Leadership. Permission Marketing. Create a vacuum.

Psalm 62:1-2