3 Barriers to Success…
Ever feel like you’re cruising down the music highway but forgot the roadmap for the business side of things? Trust me, you’re not alone. We’re masters at our craft, belting out tunes or tickling those ivories with finesse. But when it comes to the nitty-gritty of running a sustainable music biz, many of us find ourselves scratching our heads or worse, throwing in the towel. Unlocking success through mindset shifts is the key.
That’s where the magic of business workshops and networking events comes in. I recently dove into the Small Business Expo and stumbled upon a gold mine of insights during Nicole Denise’s keynote speech. She dropped some truth bombs that not only shifted my mindset but also transformed the way I approach my business (and life!).
Now, I know what you’re thinking. Mindset stuff? Isn’t that a bit woo-woo? But hang tight; it’s the secret sauce to unlocking success, trust me on this. We tend to complicate things, don’t we? But honing in on our mindset can be a game-changer, shaping not just our business strategies but our entire outlook.
Ready to dive deeper? Let’s break down three major roadblocks that often trip us up on the path to success. Buckle up; we’re in for a ride!
1. Lack of Clarity and Direction
This can cause you to go down the wrong road. What does that mean? Once you start this journey and you realize how much you don’t know, many of us go into education mode. We are trying to learn as much as we can, but many times this causes us to stop our forward motion. We are waiting until we learn more and we begin to start the “shiny object syndrome.” There are so many ways to learn and so many “gurus” out there who are trying to teach you how to be successful based on what they have done. You see where they are and you want to be there, but that is not where you need to start.
In my personal experience, I have purchased courses I should have waited to purchase and I have tons of resources that were created for someone further along than me. I wasted quite a bit of time learning new skills that were not appropriate for where I was in my business. The best thing you can do is be real with yourself. Write down what it is you really want to do, what is your end game is. Then work backwards from there by starting on ONE thing. It is the most difficult thing you can do, focusing on one thing, but this is the key to making actual progress. This is the start to unlocking success in your business.
2. The Fear of Failure and Success
We need to deal with the things in our personal life that bleed over into our business. Maybe you have people close to you who think you are crazy or believe you should have 9-5 job aspirations instead of pursuing music. Just to be clear, I am not against a 9-5 job, it can help you build your business if you allow it to.
Sometimes we are so fearful of failing that we don’t even try. Been there and done that! I am such a perfectionist that I worry about what other people think of me. What if I do … what if it doesn’t go well? I will never be able to work again if I make one mistake. Really? One mistake? Sometimes I tell myself the craziest things.
Sometimes there are people in your life that talk smack about being successful and maybe that stops you from truly going after what you want. Is there someone in your life who speaks negatively about owning a business, making a lot of money, or wealthy people? Are you afraid people won’t like you anymore if you are pursuing your dreams and crushing them? It took me a minute, but when I really thought about it, I had some negative thoughts about being successful that were deeply rooted. Take some time to check this. Holding on to these thoughts and beliefs can sabotage your success and unlocking and releasing that false belief can help you reach your goal faster than you ever dreamed of.
3. Limited Network and Support System
Ok so many of us laughed when she said this.
“Your support system is not your family and friends most often.” Okay, how many of us have shared our dreams with family members or friends and they thought you were crazy? ✋🏽 I am a part of this club. Now some people have awesome families that are super supportive and will do whatever it takes to help them make their dreams happen. But many of us have doubters in our close networks. They really do mean well and they think they are helping us to be realistic because they want us to succeed, but they don’t believe in the way we were created to succeed. I must say, this is not their fault. Your gift and vision were given to you and not them.
I heard this analogy that may help you get some perspective. You are a giraffe and your family member/friend is a turtle. When you get to a raised curb, you can clearly see over the curb but the turtle only sees a barrier. Sometimes we have turtles in our lives and it is best to keep things to ourselves.
We all laughed when she made us say this out loud.
“My family is not required to support me!”
Look for and network with people who are on the same path as you. This can make a world of difference in how you progress and most importantly gives you the support you need. Our families may be awesome, but if they don’t see your dream or believe in it, don’t let that discourage you from fulfilling your purpose. I am a part of a collective filled with women who are also building businesses. We met almost two years ago through a business course and we have been meeting consistently twice a month. These ladies are Ahmazing and I don’t know what I would do without them. This roller coaster ride is not for the faint at heart, but it is definitely easier with friends. Sometimes the people closest to me don’t get it, but they do and it makes all the difference.
✅ Action Items
- Take time to think about and write down what you really want to do as a musician. What is your end game? Then start with the end in mind and go backwards so you know where you need to start. And start with just one thing!
- Do a self-examination and think about how you really feel about success and failure. Once you own that and recognize your true feelings, then you can begin the work of changing that perspective so you can move forward with confidence.
- Say this out loud every day or multiple times a day! “My family is not required to support me!”
If you want to learn more about how you can unlock your success through mindset shifts, check out Nicole Denise’s website HERE
And if you want to stay in touch with me, sign up for my weekly business-building emails HERE
Warmly,
Deanna 🙂