Is One of These Myths Killing Your Career?

“In the end it still comes down to dumb luck – having the right product in the right place at the right time with the right people there to hear and see it.”

I find this quote from a popular musician’s forum fascinating. In one sentence, the writer has captured the paralyzing attitude of most of your industry.

An attitude based on myths that kill most careers and could be killing yours.

The Myth of “You’ll Never Make It”

At best, the not so subtle message of the above quote is, “don’t get your hopes up.” At worst, it’s, “why even bother.”

Either way, it’s a sad reminder of the myth that you’ll never make it in music. I beg to differ.

There is always room in the world for great music and there are billions of potential fans and supporters for yours.

You can make it in music as long as you don’t believe:

The Myth of One Path

If there is one unique quality to the music industry, it’s the mistaken belief that superstardom is the only measure of success.

Most people in “the real world” do not set out to be CEOs or Presidents. Most set out to use their skills and gifts in industries they love. Despite different dreams, goals and ambitions, they have several things in common:

• Abilities: they know their abilities and their limits and find the roles and responsibilities that suit them best.
• Contributing: Within their position, they find satisfaction in contributing to the best of their ability.
• Living: They understand their job is what pays for the life they want to live. While it’s true some will reach “the top,” most will not, and no one says they’ve failed.

They also don’t hang around in the lobby of corporations waiting to be discovered, which brings me to:

The Myth of the One Big Break

Successful careers and lives are built moment by moment, day by day, and year by year. Every “big break” you’ve heard about was preceded by a period of hard and focused work.

The Myth of Dumb Luck

Notice I said hard and focused work.

What I find most fascinating about the negative quote above is that it tells you how to fight these myths and find your success: have “the right product in the right place at the right time with the right people there to hear and see it.”

So I ask you: what can you do today to focus your efforts getting your music in front of the right people at the right time?

Steve Grossman

As a writer, speaker, and consultant, former Grammy Award winning drummer Steve Grossman encourages musicians and creative artists to uncover what it is they’re meant to do and how to build success-full careers and lives. He is the author of "Why I FAILED in the Music Business and How NOT to Follow in my Footsteps" and a recently released follow up for all Creative Artists.

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