Not Having It All Figured Out
Growing a successful music career often looks like a straight line. This straight line has milestones clearly marked out, and the journey appears direct and intentional. Or at least, that’s what I use to think. I believed that step 1, 2, 3 (etc), would all be clear and easy. Sort of like a handbook to follow. That’s insane! Growing a successful music career is messy! The only time you can clearly see steps or milestones, is when you look back. Rarely as you look forward.
Most of us meander, wade through the mud, and stubble on success after countless failures and missteps. And the path forward is always hazy and unsure. We just learn to take the next step and try to make the best decision in the moment.
So why do successful musicians talk about their journey with such clarity and confidence? Because they’ve got to tell a story you’ll want to hear. And I don’t mean this in a negative way to pick on them. Frankly, If you ask me about the last 10 years of my life I’m going to tell you a cohesive story that evolves and is a little interesting. That’s only because you wouldn’t listen if I told you the last 10 years we’re mistake after mistake, failure after failure, and then the occasional (emphasis occasional) success or win.
What’s the point of this post though? To rag on folks for telling good stories? Not at all. I want to encourage you, wherever you are on your journey know it’s a messy process. If you currently feel like you don’t have it all figured out — you’re not alone! That means you are right here with the rest of us, doing the best we can. Yet, we must do the best we can. We can’t figure out the right path by sitting idle - by waiting for the right answer to appear. We figure out the path forward by movement. And yes, even the missteps.
Be encouraged today that you’re not alone. If you’re working hard, but still feel like you’re trying to figure it out - we are too. Know that those who’ve gone before you, while having a great story now, felt like clumsy toddlers taking their first steps.