Starting the new year with a set of goals is an empowering way to set the stage for your success in 2008.

This article is designed to assist you in creating a personal roadmap for achieving what you would like with your musical career this year, whether you consider music your hobby or you are making a living out of it full-time.

Three percent of all people have their long-term goals written down and it has been proven that by simply writing down your goals you are ten times more likely to achieve them.

Dr. Edward Banfield of Harvard University concluded, after more than 50 years of research, that long-term perspective is the most accurate single predictor of upward social and economic mobility in America. It is more important than family background, education, race, intelligence, and connections in determining your success in life and at work.

It's the most powerful thing I did for myself in 2007. and IT WORKS!

In January of 2007, I wrote down what I wanted to achieve for the year, both personally and for my business, and every month I wrote down what I had achieved and or checked something off the list when I completed it.

I managed, just by measuring my goals and continuously keeping them present in front of me up on the wall I made them happen!


Goal Achieving TIP # 1 - THIS IS A GAME YOU CAN CHANGE THE RULES AS YOU GO

Goals are not written in stone and they are not the word of the almighty! They should be looked at as beacons and guiding points for you to keep yourself on track along your journey. I would not recommend changing them every week but the music industry is changing so rapidly its hard to know what goals are reachable in this landscape. So if the course of the year your goals change its OK to cross one off or modify another or start the game again and write new ones down as you go.


Goal Achieving TIP #2 - DON’T BEAT YOURSELF UP!

This is a process intended to take a whole year and you will have your days where you may get frustrated, and you will start to beat yourself up (sound familiar?) This is something I see a lot of my musicians do.

A client I represent will play an amazing set, get off stage, and all of a sudden start ripping into themselves saying it sucked, or the sound was awful, or I couldn't hear myself, or I screwed up the entire second verse.

This kind of self criticism will interfere directly with achieving your goals and dreams. So, the next time you are making yourself wrong for the bad note you hit or the drummer that was late to the rehearsal. Take a step back and try to take a moment to acknowledge the good, and even gasp -- celebrate the wins.


Goal Achieving TIP #3 – 5 SUCCESSES EACH DAY

I'm inviting you to write down five little victories a day for this entire year. I learned this powerful technique from T. Harv Ecker, who says that you should write down five positive things you do every single day. Once you start getting into this habit, you are training yourself to put the focus on the positive and get your brain to stop being so critical and mean.

So put a notebook in your gig bag or next to your bed and each day write down 5 things. Make one or two of them music or band related.

Here are some examples:

1. Went to gym.
   
2. Started writing lyrics to that song I've been thinking of.
   
3. Called three clubs for potential booking.
   
4. Did laundry.
   
5. Reached out to a music blogger Who will love my music.
   
6. Made dinner for my boyfriend/girlfriend.
   
   

Right now, stop what you're doing and write down five tiny successes you had today and yesterday.


WRITE DOWN YOUR FOCUS AREAS

Here is a list of some areas you may want to focus on. Skip the ones that are not for you and write out each goals around each year, think big, be unreasonable, and don't hold yourself back.

I suggest you write in pen using paper. Your intention is different when it comes from a pen and not from a computer. The act of writing it down accesses a different part of your brian.

Branding -- Your USP.

Creating a monthly newsletter.

Marketing -- What will you do this year for your marketing plan.

Social Networking strategies.

PR -- Getting covered on radio, online, write down where you see yourself reaching out for PR.

Booking -- Touring or local gigs.

Writing songs -- Are you recording an album this year?

Number of CDs/ downloads you would like to sell.

How much money you would like to earn.

Film and TV placements.

Building your fan base -- How will you do this?

How many people should be added to your fan mail and e-mail list.

Number of people at your next gig.

Getting a manager / booking agent

Building a new website or diversifying your online presence.

Buying a new instrument.

Having friends or family members get involved with helping you.

Personal health so your performance is better – exercise, eating etc.


TECHNIQUES FOR WRITING THEM DOWN

• Be really clear about your goals – give dates and as much detail as you can – write it as if its already happening
  
  
• Your goals should involve you and only you (they can’t be contingent on someone else)
  
  
• Make them so they are realistically achievable
  
  
• Do something everyday that moves you towards the goals (your list of 5 successes will help with this)
  
  
• Make daily lists of what you need to do to get your goals met – the night before! Do the hardest thing first in the morning- don’t procrastinate.
  
  
• Delegate the little activities that waste your valuable time to other people (you would be amazed what you could do with 4 hours it takes to clean your house).
  
  
• Build a TEAM to help you!! Get an intern or two – log on to entertainmentcareers.net and post as an employer seeking interns – you will be amazed at how many bright young people would like to get their feet wet in the business.
  
  

If you don’t have an office to accommodate them that’s OK, Meet 1X per week at a coffee shop and have your intern work remotely from home.


Goal Achieving TIP # 4 – MAKE ONE HAPPEN ASAP

Start with the easiest one on your list and give it two to four weeks and a deadline and then write exactly the deadline in the present tense, like this: By February 15th, 2008, I will have 25 new quality friends to my Facebook page.

Now, go back and put dates on every single goal.


Goal Achieving TIP # 5 – MAKE THEM LOOK PRETTY & HANG THEM WHERE YOU CAN SEE THEM EVERYDAY

I highly recommend re-writing your goals neatly on paper. Use colored pens or crayons and illustrate them and hang them in a place where you can see them everyday. Remember, if your goals change, that's okay. Just cross one off and add a new one. the one in charge of my goals.

Here’s to your success in 2008!

Love,
Ariel