Almost may be the place keeping from your goals and dreams.
You’ve almost completed the _____.
You’ve almost made all the calls.
You’ve almost checked everything off the list.
You’ve almost finished the proposal.
The problem with almost is that it allows you to boast with, “look how far I’ve come.”
Finish it.
Separate yourself.
Don’t be locked into what your industry and the world has labeled you.
You’re more than a mom. You’re more than an artist. You’re more than a Realtor. You’re more than a coach. You’re more than a teacher. You’re more than a chef. You’re more than what your label infers.
If you were going make music for a living (a good living) would you simply take the music that has already been written and perform that?
No. You would pour yourself into YOUR music. It would keep you awake at night thinking about how to create, write, and bring to market the new. That’s what you would dream of performing. You would feel like that is why you are here…to bring about something new.
Separate yourself, because like it or not the world will know you by your music and block you by your noise.
Commodities = Noise. As you separate from the noise of commoditization there you will find an opportunity to make music and a crowd eager to hear what you’ve got say and play.
Let’s beat the dead horse. Success requires separation.
1). Externally focused.
2). Relevance.
3). Empathy.
Bang these together, and you will have your music.
Sub par.
Fair.
Mediocre.
Decent.
Average.
Good.
Great.
Superb.
Remarkable.
The best.
You’re going to have to choose one of these as your pathway.
The market will then, in turn, choose you in accordance to what you choose.
So it’s your first encounter with a possible client or fan.
How will you be remembered after the encounter?
You’re a band. Play so well and write music so unique that they want to come back next week and hear you again.
You’re an artist. Share the why that his hidden in your paint.
You’re in sales. Actually do what you promised.
The first encounter is never about sealing the deal or finding true love. Its goal must be to open the door to date or encounter #2.
With that being said, relationship is the stickiness of all great brands. Build it into every facet of what you do.
Ashton.Gustafson 