When it comes to the pursuit of your music career, it’s guaranteed that not all your plans will come together – but having a backup plan in place when failure inevitably hits can help keep you on the track to success.
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Guest post by James Shotwell of Haulix
We’ve all heard how the best-laid plans of mice and men will go awry, but that’s where when-then plans come can save the day.
When people ask us about achieving success in music, we often tell them there are two things they need to master: The ability to practice and not let failure break them.
Everyone needs to practice. Whether you plan on being a famous musician or someone who works with artists, practice is what separates hobbyists from professionals. Those who make and maintain careers in music do so by learning to never settle for their current skill level. They are hardworking, driven individuals who know that they are only as good as what they bring to the table, and they always make sure to work towards being better than they are right now.
Failure comes for us all. Even if you have a plan to practice and make good on your efforts to see it through, life will throw curveballs your way. You will need to take time off, and you will need to keep that passion you possess for music alive while you do so or it could burn out for good.
When-then plans are a series of checks and balances that ensure failures or shortcomings do not deter you from chasing your dreams. A good example is:
When I am unable to work on songwriting, then I will spend my lunch break reviewing recent compositions and making changes as I am able.
When-then plans will not make up for the time lost, but they will ensure you don’t lose focus, so take the time to develop and implement them today.
James Shotwell is the Director of Customer Engagement at Haulix and host of the company’s podcast, Inside Music. He is also a public speaker known for promoting careers in the entertainment industry, as well as an entertainment journalist with over a decade of experience. His bylines include Rolling Stone, Alternative Press, Substream Magazine, Nu Sound, and Under The Gun Review, among other popular outlets.