Stop Comparing Yourself to Others
by Madalyn Sklar
Reposted from GoGirls Elite Music Blog, 4-20-05. It's so good that I decided to run it again!
Okay today is the day to stop comparing yourself to others. It's time to appreciate all that you have accomplished. Do this... make a list of all the things you have done that make you proud. My list includes speaking on panels at some great music conferences, creating an online community supporting women in music, producing lots of benefit shows, being named one of the 15 people you should know in the biz by indie-music.com, being a mom, working out of my home.
Where am I going with this? Focus on the positive things in your life.
Yes, focusing on your accomplishments, your accolades, and YOU! It's so easy to get wrapped up in negative thoughts about where you are going in your music career. It's also easy to worry about what other bands are doing that you are not. Your CD is not selling as well as you would like. You can't seem to get enough people out to your shows. Focus on the positive. It's a great way to recharge and refocus your energies in the right direction.
So what if a band with bad hair and a shitty attitude is selling more music than you. So what if you don't draw as many to the club as your opening act.
Now take the "so what" and focus on you and your efforts. Why aren't you selling more CDs? Why aren't you getting more people out to your shows? Go back to YOU. Don't blame others. If you think your band sucks, do something about it. If you are tired of your drummer not giving a shit about the band, fire him! Take charge... take control... write out your goals... make a to-do list... then get back to me in 6 months and tell me how much ahead of the game you are.
I welcome your feedback!!
Rock on,
Madalyn Sklar
IndieMusicCoach.com
~providing one-on-one indie music consulting & coaching~
http://www.indiemusiccoach.com/
Reposted from GoGirls Elite Music Blog, 4-20-05. It's so good that I decided to run it again!
Okay today is the day to stop comparing yourself to others. It's time to appreciate all that you have accomplished. Do this... make a list of all the things you have done that make you proud. My list includes speaking on panels at some great music conferences, creating an online community supporting women in music, producing lots of benefit shows, being named one of the 15 people you should know in the biz by indie-music.com, being a mom, working out of my home.Where am I going with this? Focus on the positive things in your life.
Yes, focusing on your accomplishments, your accolades, and YOU! It's so easy to get wrapped up in negative thoughts about where you are going in your music career. It's also easy to worry about what other bands are doing that you are not. Your CD is not selling as well as you would like. You can't seem to get enough people out to your shows. Focus on the positive. It's a great way to recharge and refocus your energies in the right direction.
So what if a band with bad hair and a shitty attitude is selling more music than you. So what if you don't draw as many to the club as your opening act.
Now take the "so what" and focus on you and your efforts. Why aren't you selling more CDs? Why aren't you getting more people out to your shows? Go back to YOU. Don't blame others. If you think your band sucks, do something about it. If you are tired of your drummer not giving a shit about the band, fire him! Take charge... take control... write out your goals... make a to-do list... then get back to me in 6 months and tell me how much ahead of the game you are.
I welcome your feedback!!
Rock on,
Madalyn Sklar
IndieMusicCoach.com
~providing one-on-one indie music consulting & coaching~
http://www.indiemusiccoach.com/
Madalyn Sklar is a music business coach & consultant, blogger, social networks expert and author. She has spent over 12 years working with a wide range of independent musicians all over the world. Her goal is to help indie artists achieve greater success in the music business by working smarter not harder. She is also the founder of GoGirlsMusic.com, the oldest & largest online community of indie women musicians. 
Monika Herzig is a jazz pianist/ recording artist for Owl Studios and a full-time member of the Arts Administration Faculty at Indiana University. She has performed at many prestigious jazz clubs and festivals. 
"Madalyn not only gives me marketing strategies during our consultations, but she gets me thinking in a whole new direction."
"Madalyn’s high-energy, can-do attitude was the shot that I needed to get me going!"
"Madalyn has played a key role in helping me build a strong foundation for my music business."
"In just one session, Madalyn was able to answer tons of questions we had about the music industry and making a living as an independent artist."
