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How to Get More Done - A Guide for Musicians

The new year is almost here.  That means we're going to see a lot of resolutions soon.  To get you ready to go when January 1st hits, here are some "get more done" strategies that I use in my life and business.

The idea to post these came from watching people's habits via Twitter.

For the last year or so, I've been using Twitter to post updates and photos from when I'm in the studio, on the road, or find something of interest to musicians, which might not warrant a full post here.  See my Twitter page, if you're interested.

To me, this is good use of Twitter.  Fans of this site, Music Business Radio, or other stuff I have going on can get more "behind the scenes" stuff and I've got a place to put all the related content, such a photos and videos.

One of the issues we all face these days is the massive timesuck that is Web 2.0.  80% of Facebook users visit the site daily and the average visit is 20 minutes.  That means millions of people now have 20 fewer minutes each day than they did just a few years ago.

Now, add email, the hours spent watching videos on YouTube, MySpace, chatting on IM, fooling around with your mobile phone, and whatever other "new technology" you've acquired to simplify your life...

Time is your most valuable asset.  If you have enough time, you can get anything done.  Yet most people throw it away. 

Can Twitter be used to promote your band?  Yes.  But it's one of those tools that can work for you or against you.  Like email, Google, mobile phones, or MySpace, it's easy to feel like you're working when you're just wasting time.

Last week, I decided to do something different with my Twitter page.  Rather than just post "music business" stuff, such as photos from when I'm in the studio, I posted my daily tasks from the moment I got up until I went to sleep at night.  Not everything...but close.

People often ask me how I get so much done.  Several books per year, the radio show, several blogs, etc.  If you look at my schedule, you'll see, not from the tasks themselves, but...

Consistency - I write daily.  I create daily.  And when I say daily, I mean it.  That may sound obsessive to some, but I believe that if it's worth doing at all, it's worth doing daily. 

This isn't to say that I spend all day doing it.  I judge tasks by their effectiveness, not time spent doing them.  More below...

Sleep - Sounds like a no-brainer, but this is important.  If you're not getting 7-8 hours of quality sleep per night, your waking hours are not as efficient as they could be.

Rest - Working a typical 8-5 day isn't effective for most people.  You'll get more done by breaking that time into chunks and spreading it throughout the day.  I understand that people have other things going on, such as kids or family obligations, which may require that a certain schedule be met, but don't use that as an excuse for burning yourself out with long periods of intense work. 

There is a point of diminishing return, which is usually sooner than you'd think.  Take more breaks, get away from your work, and when you do work, hit it hard and intensely, rather than going at 50% and taking twice as long to do the job.

This is what I refer to as...

"The Pulse" - This is where you work, take a short break, work again, take a longer break, and start the cycle again.

You can make your own schedule, but what I've found works for me is to break things down into chunks of 50/10, with 50 minutes of work and then a 10-minute break.  I do a couple of those in the morning, then eat and/or exercise.  Come back to the office, do another group, then break.  Then do another group in the evening. 

The length of time you give yourself is up to you.  I've played around with 40-50 minute chunks of work and 10-20 minute breaks and this has worked well for me, depending on the type of work I'm doing.  Obviously, your results may vary, but I can guarantee you'll have better results working this way than "marathon" sessions that fatigue your body and mind.

I like to use a egg timer to keep track of time.  Set it and forget it.

Diet/Exercise - I've been vegetarian since 1997.  I eat a lot of fruit, whole grains, and legumes.  If you're looking at incorporating diet as part of your "get stuff done" plan, you don't necessarily need to take it to this level, but I highly recommend you cut out the "burger and fries" diet that so many Americans are fond of.  Too much to ask?  Even cutting back on this stuff for a few meals a week will make a big difference.

I wasn't always like this.  I used to eat 12" meatball submarines and other similar food.  Had somebody told me when I was younger than I'd give up on meat, I never would have believed it.  But here I am, blogging about it... :)

Just try it. The amount of energy you'll get from fruit and vegetables will make up for the lack of taste...or perceived lack of taste.

As for exercise, this is something else which will help you to get more done.  Major companies are now allowing employees to have a two-hour break in the middle of the day, one hour to eat and one hour to exercise. They've found employees who take this option get more work done, even in a shorter amount of work time, than those who work a full day, with just a one-hour lunch break.

You don't have to do a lot...just do something.  Even walking on a treadmill for 30 minutes will give you big results as far as your productivity goes.

The specific process...

Morning Routine - When I wake up, I do yoga.  This happen daily and in the last seven years, when I started a daily practice, I've missed five days at most...usually because I'm traveling overseas and my sleep schedule is off.

After I do yoga, which is a quick practice that takes about 30 minutes, I have breakfast, usually in silence, and review my day.  This preparation helps me to get the most of my day and helps prevent me from ending the day asking where all my time went. 

Evening Routine - Before I go to bed for the night, I turn everything off and write down a list of everything that needs to be done the next day.  I get it out of my head and onto paper, so I don't have to worry with it while I'm sleeping.

Cut Out Distractions - This one is very important.

If you really want to get things done, you need to cut out distractions.  This means no phone calls, no text messaging, no IM, no email, and no Twitter.

Distractions like this take you away from your schedule and put you on the schedule of somebody else.  Don't let this happen.  If somebody wants to get in touch with you, let him leave a message, so you can get back to him on your own schedule.

While the actual phone call, text message, or email might take just a minute or two, the time it takes for your brain to "switch gears" to something new (and then back to your project) can be considerably more.

Turn the ringer off.  They'll call back.

No Multi-Tasking - It sounds counter-intuitive, but concentrating on one thing is better than working on multiple things at once.

Yes, there are certain tasks where you'll need to schedule things.  This is very similar to cooking a meal.  Some things have to happen first, some things will need to be thawed, etc.  This is what your planning session is for.  When you're working on something, work on it...don't be worried about what's going on in the background.

Think of it like this...  If you have three credit cards, it's much better psychologically to pay off one in full, then the next, and then the final one, rather than make payments on each and try to pay them off at the same time.

Focus on one thing at a time.  The other stuff isn't going anywhere.

Work From a List - This is another big one and what both your morning and evening routines are for.

Where do you start on the list?  It's doesn't matter.  Just do something.  When you finish it, do the next thing.  If you have the list planned out before you start your day, you'll get a lot more done than without it, since you won't have to waste time wondering what to do next.

Outsource It - If you don't have to do it, hand it off to somebody else.  As a musician, you need to play music and that's it.  Sometimes you need to write the music, if that's part of your gig, but even that can be outsourced.  And if you're a band like Blue Man Group or Kiss, even the playing music can be outsourced.

Final thoughts...

When adding anything to your life or taking anything away, it's best to do it just a little at a time.  You want something that is sustainable and a habit takes about 40 days to form.  Concentrate on making one thing happen and getting it in stone before moving on to the next.  For example, change your exercise plan then change your diet, don't change both at the same time.

I'll be posting more on time management in the next few weeks.  In addition, starting in January, I'll be teaching a six-week course on how to handle everything you face as an independent musician-- marketing, web traffic, music licensing, distribution, promotion, publicity, etc.  That's going to be free as part of IndieMusician.com.  If you haven't already, drop by and get my free course of music licensing.

Why Most Musicians are Broke

Having worked with thousands of musicians over the years, I can tell you that the biggest difference in those who are "starving artists" and those who are making a good living is mindset.  Yes, the music part of the equation is important, but just a few minutes listening to the radio and you'll hear that there is a lot of mediocre stuff out there...

For those of you interested in taking a close look at the personal beliefs that may be holding you and your career back, Bob Proctor (most famous for being in a DVD called the Secret) is doing a free teleseminar tomorrow evening.

If you can use a phone, you can be part of this live event.  Again, there is no charge.

11secretlaws.com has more info.

New Book for Musicians - Move Your Music Forward

I've taken a break from writing music business books for the last couple of years, in order to focus on other projects, such as Music Business Radio.

But I'm back...big time.

My latest print book is called "Move Your Music Forward" and should be available at all online and offline outlets by the end of the month.  I'll keep you posted.

This is a goal setting system, which I personally use, and have taught to hundreds of musicians that I've worked with.  The system centers around you writing down your goals and simply taking "the next step" toward achieving them.  Sounds easy...and it is.

If you've had issues getting things done or feel that you're not working to your potential, this book is for you.

"Move Your Music Forward" is the first of a series of books I am doing under the MusicMarketing.com brand.  Expect at least one more print book by the end of the year, and probably two.

In addition to print books, I've got a couple of audio books in the works.  In fact, I'm actually in the studio to record the first one next week.  Title is still up in the air, but the topic is selling more music.

Lots of new stuff is coming, all of which will help you to make the most of your music business.  Make sure you sign up for the feed and/or bookmark this site to keep updated.

What Is Effective Goal Setting?

Most experts in goal setting agree that the way in which you set your goals determines their effectiveness.  There are a number of guidelines that you can use to make your goal setting more effective.

First, be sure and make your goals a positive statement.  Focus on what you want, not what you don't want.  This may seem an obvious statement, however, many of us unconsciously focus on what we don't want.  When we do this we give our energy to the wrong result.

Second, be as precise and as specific as you can be when goal setting.  Decide on dates and times that you plan on completing your goal.  If you are focusing on a money goal, then make sure you state the exact amount you plan on achieving.

Break your goals down into small steps that are believable and achievable.  If your goals are too big, you will tend to become discouraged.  Setting small achievable steps will have the effect of building momentum and propelling you toward your end goal.  Remember the old saying:  You can only eat a hamburger one bite at a time and taking big bites only causes indigestion.

Next, be sure and prioritize your goals.  Having too many goals is just as bad as having none at all.  We can effectively focus on one thing at a time.  This doesn't mean we can't have multiple goals.  This means that it is best to keep the number of goals small and manageable.  In this way we can give our attention to one goal at a time and not become overwhelmed.

In goal setting, don't be afraid to adjust your goals as you go along.  This doesn't mean you're a failure.  Things happen and we often face obstacles we didn't plan on when working on our goals.  Examine how you feel about your goals at that point.  If some of them have become no longer important, then drop them and focus on the ones you still want.  Be flexible with yourself, but, at the same time, keep your eye on your end result.

One of the most powerful acts in goal setting is writing them down.  The very act of writing down your goals supplies a kinesthetic connection to our brains.  It helps make our goals believable and achievable.  Some goal setting experts advocate writing down your goals every day.  This reinforces the goals.  Try this and see if it works for you.

Finally, your goal setting and achieving should be fun and enjoyable.  If your goals become drudgery, then you need to reexamine them.  Effective goal setting should bring joy into your life and make your life an adventure.    

Keeping Goal Setting Flexible in a Changing Society

Goal setting is the key to success in any endeavor.  Anyone who is successful in any area sets goals.  This statement is probably truer than any time in the history of our society.  People are demanding more of themselves and reaching for greater personal and professional achievements. 

The number of people seeking some form of advanced education has sky rocketed over the last thirty years.  The same is true of people starting and succeeding with new businesses.  The information age has brought with it an explosion of opportunities for both personal and professional development.

This has all been made possible through the power of goal setting.  However, this is also the age of change.  Things change faster now that ever before.  New technologies and ideas seem to emerge almost overnight.  We have come to expect change.  What does this rapid change mean for our goals?  Does our goal setting allow for effective change?  Good questions.

We have always been told that our goal setting must include goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and believable to us.  Our goals must be quantifiable and not vague ideas.  They also must be tied to a completion date.  Last, to be truly effective, our goals must be written down.  Writing down our goals gives them a psychological concrete certainty.

However, when approached in this manner, does our goal setting set us up for failure?  In other words, if we don't achieve our goals by the date we set, does it mean we are failures?  We must conclude that this statement is not true when we examine our goal setting process.

Change happens and it happens all the time.  Our goals must be flexible enough to allow for this change when it occurs.  Goal setting has undergone a reexamination in the last few years.  Goals use to be viewed as written in stone.  This model is no longer effective.  A better approach is to view goals as points along a line and not endpoints in and of themselves.

For example, the goal of having a successful business is made up of a number of smaller goals along a continuum.  Straight lines don't exist except in mathematics.  It's a given that the path to the achievement of our goals will encounter detours and switchbacks. Our goal setting must stay flexible enough to accommodate these changes while keeping our eye on the horizon.

In your goal setting, make your goal planning a living document that is open to change and modification.  Goals that take longer than a few months to achieve are certainly going to experience change.  Re-evaluate your goals at least once a month.  Decide if you're still on the right path, or are modifications in order? 

Last, and perhaps the most important, is to not allow the flexibility to accommodate that your goals need cause you to give up.  Keep your eye on the point on the horizon that you've decided is your goal.  Effective, flexible goal setting will help you succeed in this changing world.

Why Is Setting Goals Important?

Why is goal setting important in our lives?  The obvious answer is that if we don't know where we want to go, then any destination will do.  This may be an oversimplification of goal setting, but it has the ring of truth. 

Whether we realize it or not, we are setting goals everyday.  Each day, from the moment we wake up, we are deciding what we are going to do with that day.  For the vast majority of us, we do this unconsciously.  We decide what to have for breakfast, what to wear, how to get to school or work on time, what we must accomplish that day, or just waste the day away watching television.  We make a lot of choices and set a lot of goals in the course of a day.

The question we must ask ourselves is are we effective in our goal setting?  Since goals are so important to us, are we taking the time to think about the impact they are having in our lives?  Are we considering where we are putting our time and effort?  Do we get to the end of our day, or the end of our lives, feeling as if we wasted valuable, irreplaceable time in accomplishing little or nothing?  Remember, time goes by very fast.

The first thing we must do to effectively live our lives is to give some thought to what we want in life.  This is where goal setting comes into play.  We are not one-dimensional creatures.  We have many facets to ourselves.  We have, among others, private personal areas, relationship areas, family areas, business and career areas, financial and spiritual areas in our lives.  Each of these areas demands and needs our attention.

We have decisions to make in each of these areas.  Again, most of us drift through life wondering why we are getting nowhere.  This is why goal setting is so important.  To get the most out of life, we must give each of the above areas some serious thought.

Of course the earlier we start in life with goal setting, the better.  However, it is never too late to learn to set goals.  You can begin today.  Take some time to sit and think about your life and what you want out of the rest of it.  Examine each area of your life.  Think about where you are now and where you would like to be in a few years. 

Write down what you would like to accomplish.  Begin with just the day in front of you.  What do you want to do with it?  It's a gift that won't come again.  Plan your day to get the most out of it that you can.  Then expand your horizons.  Set goals for this week, this month, for the rest of the year, for the rest of your life.

Goal setting is one of the most important and valuable exercises we will ever do.  It defines our lives.  Give serious thought to your goal setting.  The rewards will be greater than you can imagine. 

Goal Setting and Time Management

The computer age was supposed to make our lives easier and leave more time for leisure pursuits.  Wrong.  What has happened is that our lives have become overwhelmed with work and personal demands.  We now have actually less time than before for family and personal pursuits outside of work.

Are we doomed to race through our lives like hamsters on wheels?  Can goal setting help us organize and manage our lives so that we can get the most out of them?  The answer is yes.  Goal setting can literally save our lives.  Here's how.

One of the obvious answers to goal setting and time management is to use an appointment calendar and organizer.  Appointment calendars and organizers allow us to schedule our daily personal and professional lives.  There are a number of good ones available.  A trip to your local office supply store will solve that problem.

However, appointment calendars and organizers, if not used correctly, can actually add to our time management problems.  When goal setting, be sure and avoid over-committing yourself.  That's often easier said than done.  We have so many personal and professional commitments vying for our time that it's often difficult to make choices.

This is where goal setting helps us the most.  We have to decide what is truly important in our lives.  We have to choose what our most important goals are in the business, family, relationship, spiritual, and leisure areas of our lives.  Once we have decided what our most important goals are in each area, we can then get on with the process of daily goal setting.

Our goal setting should include daily planning with an emphasis on only those things that we must get done that day.  We should be careful to stick to our daily plan and not take on too much in one area.  Taking on too much will only erode time from other important areas of our lives.

In our personal and well as our professional lives, we can learn to delegate responsibility to others.  We do not have to be responsible for every thing.  Effective goal setting means letting others help us.  We don't have to be "super mom or dad" or "super boss or employee." 

There are things we can do with goal setting in our business lives that will make things easier.  Keep meetings brief.  Agree on an agenda and time frame before the meeting.  That way we respect everyone's time including our own.  Show up on time and be ready.  It is surprising how much time we waste by being late and not prepared.  Lead by example and expect the same from others.

Our person life goal setting should include planning time for our families and friends, time for meals that aren't rushed, time for exercise, and time for sleep.  If reading is important to you, include that in your goal setting.

Another time waster is the TV.  Turn it off for certain periods in the evening.  Spend that time with those who are important to you or doing things you never seem to have time for.  Our lives are multifaceted.  Don't let one area dominate the others.  Goal setting can help us get more out of and into our lives.   

Goal Setting For the New Year

It happens every January.  New Year's goal setting, otherwise knows as New Year's resolutions.  It seems that most of us experience a burst of creative energy right after the holidays and begin to set lofty goals for ourselves.  We resolve to lose ten pounds, change jobs, or completely change our lives. 

What's wrong with us?  Do we have some kind of weird masochistic tendencies that lies hidden in our DNA all year long until January comes around?  We must.  It's a sad fact that New Year's resolutions are usually short-lived if not completely forgotten by February.  Are we doomed to and endless circle of goal setting and failure?

Can we really make goal setting for the New Year successful?  Can we break the chain of miserable failure?  Yes, the good news is that we can be successful with our New Year goal setting.  We can succeed if we follow a few simple steps.

In goal setting, the first thing you must do is pick goals that are believable and achievable for you.  They have to be the right goals for the right reasons.  If you don't believe that you can achieve them, then you are doomed from the start.  For example, if your goal is to lose 10 pounds this year and you don't believe you can do it, then you have set yourself up for failure.

Effective goal setting has to include thought and deliberation.  Think long and hard about what you want to accomplish.  Decide that the goal you have chosen has meaning for you and you are willing to commit to achieving it. 

Make your goals achievable but not so low that they lose meaning for you.  On the other hand, don't set them so high that you become discouraged.  This is a tricky area of goal setting.  The solution is to break your goals down into smaller chunks that you can reach.  For example, if you goal is to lose 10 pounds, then set a reachable goal of one or two pounds a week.  This will help keep you motivated.

Another strategy for goal setting is to be specific.  Set a date that you want to achieve a specific goal and then work backward, breaking it down in to smaller chunks.  If your New Year's goal is to "lose weight," then you're beaten before you start.  It is more effective to decide that you want to lose ten pounds by March 1st.  Stating it this way makes the goal concrete and believable to you.  You are much more likely to achieve a specific goal with a time frame than a vaguely stated goal.

Write your goals down and post them, so that you see them often.  This reinforces your goal setting.  You might try standing in front of a mirror and saying your goals out loud every day.  This also makes your goals a formal commitment.  Don't give up.  Goal setting can help us make positive changes in our lives if we follow a few simple rules.

What Are Your 2008 Goals?

It's now 2008.  When you look back on the previous year, can you say that you accomplished everything you wanted to?

I'm going to spend the next couple of weeks talking about goal setting, so 2008 will be a great year for you. 

An important part of attaining your goals, or one that at least makes getting them easier, is having other people in board to help you...or at least not work against you. :)  I'm going to keep things general, and not specifically about the music business, so feel free to send your family, friends, and co-workers here, so they'll better understand what you're trying to do and be able to help you with your goals.

Your Music Business Goals

Have been working on a lot of "goal setting" content to prepare for all you New Year's Resolution types...  Decided to go ahead and post some thoughts on goals now though, since it's never too soon to start working on what you want.

Think about your life goals for a moment.  It could be a specific music business goal, or you could think about just general goals in your life. 

Have you ever set a goal and not achieved it?  Most people have.  In fact, it's quite common for people to get stuck in an endless cycle of setting goals and then quitting them shortly afterwards ñ and accomplishing nothing at all.

Why do people do this?  One of the biggest reasons is a lack of commitment to their goal.  Without commitment a goal will gradually shrink in importance, and the temptation to quit will seem much more attractive, especially when obstacles cause setbacks and delays.

On the other hand, if you make a serious commitment and then continually remind yourself of it, you'll be much more likely to persevere and achieve the goal.

Here's how to commit to your goals:

1)    First and foremost, you have to make sure that every goal you set is of VITAL importance to you.

This can be tricky because we so often fool ourselves into thinking we want one thing when we want something entirely different.  Take some time with this part of the process, and be sure that you get to the heart of what you really want.  Why do you want it?  What will it do for you?  What positive things will it bring to your life?  How will it help you?  How will it make you feel when it's accomplished?

Write all of this down and keep it handy so you can refer to it as often as necessary if you feel your commitment beginning to slip. 

Also ask yourself if your goal is worth the effort and sacrifice that will be needed to achieve it.  If you can honestly answer yes, you are on the way!

2)    Think about what will happen if you don't follow through. 

Would nothing much happen if you don't achieve your goal?  If not, then you need to raise the stakes!  You have to make your goal the most important thing in the world, and if you don't do it, you'll deal with negative consequences.  Even if you have to indulge in a bit of 'make believe" in order to do this, do it.  For example, play up the fact that you'll lose respect for yourself if you don't follow through; or you might agree to give up something you love if you don't make it happen.

3)    Then, each and every day, renew your commitment. 

It's easy to be committed you're your goal is new and your motivation is high, but you need to be able to STAY committed - no matter what!  Each day when you awaken, read through the goal you wrote down on the first day, and stress again how vitally important it is to you.  Promise yourself that you're going to do as much as you can to work on your goal that day, and every day until you achieve it.

When it comes right down to it, no one can achieve your goals for you.  If you want to achieve them, you'll have to find the determination necessary to keep going.  Inactivity and procrastination are usually nothing more than bad habits.  Turning those habits into something more positive and productive is as simple as taking it a day at a time and working your hardest to change your life.  The more committed and determined you are to making your goal happen, the more likely you'll do just that.

Good luck!