So, You Want to Be a Rock Star? (Part 2)
by Draven Grey
In part one of this series, I mentioned two things that seem to be repeated over and over again by best selling authors on what it takes to be successful in a business venture (and yes, in every sense of the phrase, your band is a business venture).
- Having the right people on the bus
- Having laser-like focus
I mentioned author Jim Collins having a great summary of these principles and much more in his book, Good to Great, Why Some Companies Make the Leap…and Others Don’t. I also mentioned how the people on board, and the clarity of your goals can make all the difference between a struggling band and one that is consistently moving forward in their career. Together, we quickly touched on a few myths about what it takes to be a highly successful band, and we explored the first part of our newfound “formula” for success: having the right people on the bus.
In this article, we will turn our focus to the second and equally important part of the formula, and find out what it means to have laser-like focus.
Despite popular belief, you do not have to shoot laser beams from your eyes.
Having laser-like focus means both being brutally honest about where you’re at, and being crystal clear about where you’re going. Not just clear about where you’re going, but forming all of your actions and all of your decisions around that extremely vivid picture of where you want to end up. You must maintain a culture of brutal honesty, probing questions, and open dialogue. Never finger-point or blame and never ignore the facts. This culture must be combined with the faith and determination that you will not fail in the end, regardless of what problems you have to face along the way.
All of these things can be summed up into one simple action: be openly and brutally honest with each other. Here are some helpful things to remember:
- You are a team, and each of you are dependent on the others in the band to help you reach your goals.
- Everyone on your team has the best intentions in mind, even when they are looking out for themselves.
- Having questions rather than answers can help all of you figure out solutions together.
- Listening to each other and having an open dialogue or debate accomplishes much more than trying to convince another member of the band that you have the right answer.
- Have a system in place that keeps everything out in the open and impossible to ignore. Doing so will keep each of you from letting issues fester internally. Letting things fester will only lead to a devastating explosion.
A culture of honesty is the first part of having laser-like focus. Your judgement will not be ill-informed or clouded by hidden and dishonest ideas about how devoted everyone on your team is. With a culture of brutal honesty, your focus and decisions can have a clear and untainted goal. And that brings us to the second part of having laser-like focus, a tiny little creature called a hedgehog.
In part three of this series, we will explore exactly what you can learn from a little creature like a hedgehog that is so vitally important to your success as a band.
On the ridged and often dangerous path to “making it” in the music industry, Draven Grey and Rockstar Mindset have been described as a friend, guide, and schoolmaster. For years, they have challenged artists to dream big and take precise action. For more information about the resources, courses, and services they provide to challenge you into becoming the rock star you want to be, visit http://www.rockstarmindset.com.
©2009 Rockstar Mindset LLC
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