Music is easily one of the toughest businesses to be in. Yet so many musicians dog it out year after year with the hopes of someday “making it big”. There’s a lot that we entrepreneurs can learn from musicians (and vice versa). So what does it take to be a successful musician/entrepreneur?
Vision
It sounds cheesy, but you’ve got to have a vision and you’ve got to believe in it a thousand percent. It’s this passion that will end up deciding whether you see your venture through until the end or if you will give up half way. Musicians and entrepreneurs both know what they’re walking into when they start down their respective paths. In order to get their art or business out to the world (a vast majority) have to sacrifice money, time, and more. Having that vision of success is a huge part of what keeps them going.
Commitment
I hate to say this, but most musicians sound terrible to the average Joe. Yet that doesn’t stop them from trying. Passion like that is what can drive musicians and businesses to the top of their field. Simply put, if you don’t love what you’re doing, you just won’t be able to do it to the best of your ability. Even the best musicians in the world won’t make it to the top without steadfast commitment to their work, and the same goes for us entrepreneurs.
Talent
On a completely different note, you’ve got to have the talent. And unfortunately in the real world, this doesn’t always mean just being able to play good music. This means being able to play music that will sell. As an entrepreneur, if your product or service isn’t top notch AND marketable, you may just get back in the employment line.
Personality
As an entrepreneur, you’ve got to step it up and take a personal stake in your business. The brand has to be attached to you and your name or it’s gonna be a much steeper battle to the top. Bands are the same way. Think about it. Steven Tyler is just as much of a legend as Aerosmith.
Support
Musicians are generally able to do put in so much effort, time, and commitment because of the support they have from their family and friends. It’s really tough to set off on such a risky and perilous journey alone.
Luck
Perhaps the most important trait is plain luck. You can do everything right, but if the right opportunity doesn’t come by and present itself, you’re going to have a much tougher time succeeding. Having (and using) all the other traits helps, and all the opportunities in the world won’t do you any good if you don’t take advantage of them, but you can’t control your luck (outside of not breaking any mirrors).
What Do You Think?
What other similarities do you see between musicians and entrepreneurs, and where do you think we can learn from each other?
These is a very instructive post. These traits are a key to success and to reach you vision smoothly. Although it’s very difficult to achieve excellence in every trait but we can try to improve those traits which we can make more better by using our capabilities and hard work.