You are your own island

A while back I had returned from THE most beautiful place: Bermuda. If you haven't been there, I highly recommend it. I was there teaching for the Bermuda Artist and Songwriting Retreat which is sponsored by Songsalive! It's a yearly event and this was the inaugural one.    Richard Bassett, our host, picked us up at the airport and we drove along a one lane road (the main road!) from one end of the island to the other. English cut hedges juxtaposed against wild jungles and rainforests, and the ever present turquoise blue water guiding us on our path. Bermuda is still a British colony but has its own government. They have made their Bermudian dollars of equal value to the U.S. dollar, and in fact are completely identical save for the cool colors Bermudians have chosen for their cash.

        I had no expectations of Bermuda except that I was going to be on a magical journey, and indeed it was. We arrived at 9 Beaches Resort, which is on the far tip of the long island (it's only 1.5 miles wide). The first thing I noticed was the array of huts (cabanas) all on stilts in the water. Was I in paradise? Apparently this Resort had once been an eco-living place. I couldn't believe the water, and the way this "village" was architecturally designed. Quite impressive. The cabana nestled perfectly on the side of the hill overlooking the water. I really felt like I was on a tropical island. Designed in white and blue cloth, with simple furniture, I ended up living in it for 6 days with peace, tranquility and joy. My view of the ocean gave me solace and inspiration.

        For three days, I taught and empowered Artists at the Bermuda Artist and Songwriters Retreat, co-created with Songsalive!, which was held under a huge white tent on the grass near the water. It actually rained for the first 3 days, with the heavens opening up in torrential rain one moment, and then sun the next. Very fickle weather, but all the time it was magical. I felt like we were truly on an isolated piece of property which is so perfect for a retreat. I can't remember when I felt so tranquil as this, yet so energized at the same time.

        Magic.

 

The grass is always greener…

We had roughly fifty participants in the retreat. My part was to work with them on Artist development, empowering the Artists to understand about the music business, marketing and taking their own steps to get out there, so to speak.

        One participant, known as Blac, was a talented reggae cross hip hop Artist. He spoke very softly and showed a lot of humility. Most of the time he sat listening and enthused, soaking up everyone’s presentations. In my session with the group, when asked about his goals, he meekly put up his hand and offered that he wanted to not only do well as an Artist in his country, but also in America. His dream was to make it in America. It’s an interesting phenomenon that happens worldwide, you know. We all want to “make it” somewhere else, because we think it’s bigger and better. Now, I understand that the U.S. has a lot that’s attractive about it: big population to sell lots of records… the Hollywood glamour. Surely we all want a bit of that, no?

        Most Bermudians want that too. They feel isolated because they live in such a small country, a small island in fact. The music scene there is small. But the music is amazing. They have such a cross section of people that the music is diverse and rhythmic, quite marketable for both America and Europe.

        I’d have to say the same thing about Australia. I left Australia mostly because I felt that the industry was too small, and the population also, to really have a go, especially as an indie Artist, where you can’t necessarily make a huge splash like the majors do, but instead build momentum over time with small markets at a time. In America you can do that with 250 million people. You can market yourself in one area, create some fans, then go to another, build your fan base, and over a few years you can have quite a solid mailing list of fans who love and follow your music.

        I’ve met countless Artists from Australia who seem to land on my doorstep in Los Angeles (as if I’m their long lost sister who can supply them with the Holy Grail) anxious to leave their country behind and find opportunity in America. I often ask them, “What’s happening back home these days?” All I get over and over again is, “Oh it’s dead. There’s nothing happening.”

“It’s too small, you can’t get ahead.”

“Just Australian Idols get on the radio and there aren’t many radio stations so there’s no hope.”

        I got the same answers from Bermudians. I get the same from Italian Artists, and English Artists. Any Artists from anywhere. Similar theme.

        But guess what, I get the same answers from Americans! This is not just a secular phenomenon. It happens worldwide. Many think the grass is always greener somewhere else.

        So let’s get back to Blac in Bermuda. I was critiquing everyone’s demos and Blac offered his up for critique. He gave me a 4 disc CD handwritten on the CD face. He did have a professionally designed CD cover though. I listened to the first track and whilst it wasn’t an in-your-face hit, being slightly R&B but not quite (when you record in a certain genre you really have to nail the production to make it sound authentic, especially to American ears who invented R&B), it was still a nice song and I thought it would do well in Bermuda. He was talented. I suggested swapping out the first slow track with the second, more up tempo song which seemed to be really, really good. I told him, “good demo, a work in progress, and good luck.” I left him at that. He was thankful, ready to work on his material, humbled and sat down in his seat, ready to hear the other critiques.

        A bird in the hand…

Here’s the hook: a week after I left Bermuda I heard that Blac won the Bermuda Music Award for best dance song. These Awards are by no means small. They are respected worldwide. He won the best award in Bermuda for that very song (the second more up tempo song on the CD that I critiqued, and… phew.. the one I liked) which also had been in high rotation on local commercial radio.

        Lessons: one, you never know who’s going to be in your vicinity (or your own workshop, that’s one for me) who come across humble yet are really successful, and two, you are your own island.

        This means that even though you may want to “make it” somewhere else, or think that somewhere else is better than where you are now, don’t ignore the very real possibility that right where you are has the most magnificent, awesome opportunities and rewards. It’s like owning your own island. Blac may have been holding onto the notion of “making it” in America, but meanwhile on his own “island” he is a star.

 

Think about where you are right now, soak it in and be thankful for what you have, what you have created, and what you are about to realize in your own backyard.

Be your own island.

 

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

 * * *

The silent warrior is in all of us. It's not about war, nor fight and definitely not about struggle.

It's about an inner peace and a whole lot of courage to face all fears in un-chartered waters, finding the path least traveled and at the same time, finding the path of least resistance.

I am a warrior girl and I encourage everyone to tap into their warrior within.

* * *
~ by gilli moon


Come work with me in one-on-one artist coaching, and see how you can align with your sense of self and worthiness to make your dreams come true: http://www.warriorartistcoaching.com

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JUST GET OUT THERE
Achieving Abundance, Self-Empowerment and Professional Success as an Artist Entrepreneur

NEW BOOK BY GILLI MOON OUT NOW

"Take charge of your Artistic destiny"

www.justgetoutthere.net

*******************************

Australia’s Hollywood based Gilli Moon is an Artist, Author, Motivational Speaker Author and Artist Entrepreneur.

JUST GET OUT THERE, Gilli Moon’s 2nd book, is the Artist's bible to achieving abundance, self-empowerment and professional success as an Artist entrepreneur. 300+ pages filled with in-depth tips, tools, steps and resources on getting out there as an Artist, all the while achieving personal, financial and professional success and joy. The book covers topics such as defining your uniqueness; building your dream and creating a plan around your goals; balancing the art with the 'business' through time management and prioritization techniques; fundamentals in producing, releasing, marketing, promotion, performing and touring; using the Internet; and a plethora of in-depth tips, tools, steps and resources on getting out there as an Artist. Throughout this book, Gilli is guiding you, asking you questions, giving you exercises, and making you think and act  the way a strong business savvy Artist should, leading you to the Artist you ultimately want to become. JUST GET OUT THERE provides Artists inspiration: a sense of hope and assurance through anecdotal stories (some about Gilli’s personal life), motivational messages and real, practical, tried and tested strategies.  Ultimately it’s about enjoying the journey along your path to creative success.

Grab your copy at www.justgetoutthere.net

More about Gilli Moon at www.gillimoon.com

Love, Joy and flow. What more could you want in life?

I was driving around LA the other day and became depressed listening to NPR news on the radio. Middle East discontent (when was there ever a different time?); political discontent; shootings, kidnappings, armed robberies, car chases, police blockades; economic woes: NASDAQ this, WallStreet that; Foreclosures, unemployment,… the list went on and on. I started to feel the tension in my hands, as my fingers began to clutch the wheel harder than usual. I honked at a driver in front of me who cut in too close, and my jaw started to clench.

I turned the radio off. “Enough!”I shouted  to myself inside my car, driving along the ever-being-repaired 405 at snail pace speed. Cars choc-a-block on the freeway, all going at about 10 miles an hour, even though a new lane was built to help the process.

I looked at the traffic, and I felt the blocks inside mirroring this tornado of a world I was seeing and hearing.

“I don’t want this life of strife. I don’t want disharmony. I want harmony. I want joy. I want fun. I want things to turn out like I dreamed. I want… flow…”

The minute I said “flow”, the traffic started to open up and i could regain normal speed. It was like I attracted a clear road just by thinking good thoughts. All of a sudden, the whole lane was empty in front of me. I had a clear path, an easy path. I turned the radio back on, and NPR was now playing a really nice and vibey smooth jazz number. I began to sing along,and my heart felt at peace.

Abraham, (of Abraham-Hicks)says, “move to a place of less resistance: focusing activates a vibration, and then the law of attraction manifests it.”

Sounds like a lot of words here, but let me dive in to explain.

It’s not about getting the things done, that you said you’ddo, and being a stress bucket. It’s not about being busy for the sakes of being busy. Nor is it about drama, clutter, negativity, world doom, or unrealized dreams. We’re here for the fun of life: to experience life, for ourselves – and we can, in a joyous, dream filled, flowing way.

By turning the radio off, I immediately took the focus off the negatives, and all the stuff in ‘bigbad’ world, and opened up my mind and heart to what I wanted, in my world. I started focusing on what I wanted, and how I wanted to feel. By the way, focusing means:thinking -  believing - and creating. It’sall one in the same. As an artist, I relate to this a lot. I create a song, I focus on the joy of it. I believe in the process of doing it. It’s all one.

To put it simply, if we start focusing on what we want, andit’s a good “want” that emanates from love and pure desire, then that is the first step for actualizing that want, because the universe gives a little help too, in delivering it to you.

Some of my artist clients (in my coaching sessions) complain about how hard it is to achieve something. They often remove a really great goal they want to achieve, from their written Plan, because it seems too daunting to achieve. My advice is that not all goals are meant to be achieved by your own sweat alone. In fact, if you merely put the goal into action, even just a little bit, you’ll be surprised at how the universe starts opening doors for you to lighten your load. One minute you have no idea how to achieve it.Next minute you have that achieved and more opportunities come flooding in.

It takes the first step. A single step. A joy-filled step.

 I wrote my book, “Just Get Out There” as an artist bible on achieving success and abundance. But look at the title: Just…. Get out there. That word, ‘just” is the key to it all. Yes, we all know we need to get out there. But when you make the shift to know you should get out there, no matter what, even if you don’t know how to, it’s amazing how things start falling into place to show you the way. Just… give it a go. Just…. Try.  Just… do, with no deep analysis: just…. Flow….

I am really skilled in giving artists, and individuals, the impetus and inspiration to create, write down and begin goals. But the actualizing is up to you. Having your goals close by, with some simple strategies on how you can achieve them, is the perfect start. Don’t worry about the missing links, the knowledge on how to achieve them: put some trust in the universe to help manifest them for you. And put some groovy music on the radio while you “just” do it.

Abraham also says, “TheBasis of Your Life is Freedom; the Purpose of Your Life is Joy.”

No goal can ever be accomplished if it isn’t one filled with joy. You have to LOVE it, and WANT it for it to come true. Really. How many times do we put off mundane tasks because we despise doing them. How many times do we become depressed when all we do in life is boring, disconnected duties.We must live our lives on a daily basis doing what we WANT to do, loving the journey and entering into the activity joyfully. It’s about the FUN of it.

Artists and musicians have an easy time creating because it’sso much fun to them. When something is fun, you get to a place of less resistance. Everything because easy,… and it is realized fast.

Next time you feel like you’re stuck out at third basewondering how to get home, ask yourself these questions:

1.      Am I enJOYing what I’m doing right? (If not,change the feeling. Maybe it’s time to do what makes you happy and fills you with joy, and let go of the yucky feeling tasks)

2.      Am I listening only to the positive? (if not,turn that bad “radio” off. Critiquers, your inner critique, and nay-sayers begone).

3.      Am I achieving what I want to achieve? ( If not,change direction. Maybe it’s time to take a new path,… of less resistance).

It’s up to you if you want to force the paddles to try and row up stream. Or, let go of the paddles and let the boat gently carry you downstream without any resistance, while you enjoy the beautiful sunshine and nature along the way…

…flow…



~ by gilli moon


Come work with me in one-on-one artist coaching, and see how you can align with your sense of self and worthiness to make your dreams come true: http://www.warriorartistcoaching.com

Retweet this

JUST GET OUT THERE
Achieving Abundance, Self-Empowerment and Professional Success as an Artist Entrepreneur

NEW BOOK BY GILLI MOON OUT NOW

"Take charge of your Artistic destiny"

www.justgetoutthere.net

*******************************

Australia’s Hollywood based Gilli Moon is an Artist, Author, Motivational Speaker Author and Artist Entrepreneur.

JUST GET OUT THERE, Gilli Moon’s 2nd book, is the Artist's bible to achieving abundance, self-empowerment and professional success as an Artist entrepreneur. 300+ pages filled with in-depth tips, tools, steps and resources on getting out there as an Artist, all the while achieving personal, financial and professional success and joy. The book covers topics such as defining your uniqueness; building your dream and creating a plan around your goals; balancing the art with the 'business' through time management and prioritization techniques; fundamentals in producing, releasing, marketing, promotion, performing and touring; using the Internet; and a plethora of in-depth tips, tools, steps and resources on getting out there as an Artist. Throughout this book, Gilli is guiding you, asking you questions, giving you exercises, and making you think and act  the way a strong business savvy Artist should, leading you to the Artist you ultimately want to become. JUST GET OUT THERE provides Artists inspiration: a sense of hope and assurance through anecdotal stories (some about Gilli’s personal life), motivational messages and real, practical, tried and tested strategies.  Ultimately it’s about enjoying the journey along your path to creative success.

Grab your copy at www.justgetoutthere.net

More about Gilli Moon at www.gillimoon.com

How much are you worth?

I remember when I only had $600 in my bank account and I felt wealthy and abundant because I didn't owe anyone any money. Being rich is not necessarily about money.

Do you feel wealthy? Have you ever thought about how much you are worth?

Don't buy into the buzz that you have to lack, or that you are just one of the minions that must go without due to the 'economic crisis'. Believe in your self and your WORTH.

Let's look at the word: WORTH. The free online dictionary says,

worth¹

for all one is worth to the utmost; to the full extent of one's powers or ability

worth one's weight in gold extremely helpful, kind, etc.

n

1. high quality; excellence

2. (Business / Commerce) value, price

It's interesting to me that "worth" is defined not only by a dollar amount, but also by a quality (excellence; high). So if you are contemplating your worth, consider that it doesn't just come in monetary talk. It can also be connected to the value you are able to bring to others, a situation, a project, a deal,... or a song.

Worth attributes to wealth. If you feel you have a strong worth, you can then be deemed as wealthy. See where I'm getting at? So look outside the box when you start thinking about your value. You may not  have lots of money, and you may be an unknown artist, and you may even have little experience or credits: but if you FEEL that you are rich in talent, rich in experience, rich in a catalog of hundreds of songs, even rich in AMBITION,... you will go along way in proving your VALUE and WORTH to the situation or the people looking to you to prove yourself.

So, this leads me to the next part. It's difficult to know your value, and feel your worth, if you do not feel your worthiness. Do you feel "worthy" of the opportunity in front of you?

I for one have had doubts in my life when faced with an opportunity of situation, whereby I may not have felt worthy to receive the opportunity. This may come from lack of confidence, or experience, or perhaps a feeling of lack of talent. But all of this manifests due to self esteem.. your sense of self. My last blog was centered around sense of self. (Read it here).

If you really feel like you can do the job, or that you know you are talented, then FEEL WORTHY of it. If you put out that sense of self, you will attract the positive response in return. It's all about your attitude.

I wrote music to these Anonymous lyrics, and called it "Attitude". Check them out:

Chorus

Attitude, you know is better than aptitude

With the right aptitude and a modicum of aptitude

You can succeed in anything you choose.

If you think you are beaten you are

If you think you dare not you don’t

If you’d like to win, but think you can’t

It’s almost a cinch that you won’t

If you think you’ll lose you’ve lost

For out of the world you’ll find

Success begins with a fellow’s will

It’s all in the state of the mind

(Chorus)

If you think you’re outclassed, you are

You’ve got to think high, to rise

You’ve got to be sure of yourself

Before you can ever win a prize

Many cowards fail

Before their work is done

Think big and your deeds will grow

Think small and you’ll fall behind

(Chorus)

Life’s battles don’t always go

To the stronger or faster one

But sooner of later the one who wins

Is the fellow who thinks that he can

Attitude, is better than aptitude

You can succeed in anything you decide

Its all in the state of the mind.

 

I ask you all, do you feel wealthy today?

Come work with me in one-on-one artist coaching, and see how you can align with your sense of self and worthiness to make your dreams come true: http://www.warriorartistcoaching.com

Retweet this

JUST GET OUT THERE
Achieving Abundance, Self-Empowerment and Professional Success as an Artist Entrepreneur

NEW BOOK BY GILLI MOON OUT NOW

"Take charge of your Artistic destiny"

www.justgetoutthere.net

*******************************

Australia’s Hollywood based Gilli Moon is an Artist, Author, Motivational Speaker Author and Artist Entrepreneur.

JUST GET OUT THERE, Gilli Moon’s 2nd book, is the Artist's bible to achieving abundance, self-empowerment and professional success as an Artist entrepreneur. 300+ pages filled with in-depth tips, tools, steps and resources on getting out there as an Artist, all the while achieving personal, financial and professional success and joy. The book covers topics such as defining your uniqueness; building your dream and creating a plan around your goals; balancing the art with the 'business' through time management and prioritization techniques; fundamentals in producing, releasing, marketing, promotion, performing and touring; using the Internet; and a plethora of in-depth tips, tools, steps and resources on getting out there as an Artist. Throughout this book, Gilli is guiding you, asking you questions, giving you exercises, and making you think and act  the way a strong business savvy Artist should, leading you to the Artist you ultimately want to become. JUST GET OUT THERE provides Artists inspiration: a sense of hope and assurance through anecdotal stories (some about Gilli’s personal life), motivational messages and real, practical, tried and tested strategies.  Ultimately it’s about enjoying the journey along your path to creative success.

Grab your copy at www.justgetoutthere.net

More about Gilli Moon at www.gillimoon.com

Building a sense of self

In coaching creative artists around the world, I’ve come to discover that there are similar issues or situations that constantly comes up in the sessions, no matter what type of artist, level of success, age, or where they live. It centers around these feelings and questions such as:

“I’m not good enough”

“Why am I not getting to a level I want to get to?”

“People tell me I should do this and that, or don’t understand why I’m not on the radio or a success”

“Others judge me”

“I can’t finish because it’s not good enough”

“I’m overwhelmed, I just can’t get it all together”

“I don’t want to make a big goal, in case it doesn’t happen”

All these, and more, can have their own reasons and answers, but it emanates from one key, core aspect: our sense of self.

To be clear, I see “sense of self” as different to self-esteem. It includes self-esteem, and is dependent on self-esteem, but it is more than self-esteem.

What is a sense of self:

I have read in dictionaries and the like that a sense of self pertains to the increasing awareness of self, the world, and interpersonal relationships as we become adults from childhood. Yes, I do understand this definition, but I’d like to postulate that a true sense of self is actually more like how children see themselves. A child, unbeknownst to the big world and all that is (good and bad) have a remarkable sense of self in that they are honest and strong in their beliefs (whether true or not), and generally are inhibited. They listen to themselves and play when they want, and create when they want, and express when they want. I wish adults had more of a child’s qualities, or at least to be able to look at the world with child-like yes: fresh, ambitious, open, and creative. Unfortunately, as we get older, we start to build judgments on ourselves and others, and start comparing ourselves to others, to a point where we can lose our inner identity and trust in our own instincts.

My definitions of “sense of self” are:

·         An innate feeling/sense/trust/knowing of who you are and who you want to become.

·         Finding and speaking your voice.

·         Tuning everybody out. Listening to your own higher purpose. I call it “seek no one else’s approval but your own.”

·         Being secure with who you are.  Meaning, opposite of being insecure. So, you trust who you are, you know who you are (as much as you can as we are discovering ourselves our whole lives); and you believe in who.you.are.

·         Being the master of your destiny, not the victim of circumstance.

·         A “sense of peace”.

·         Tapping into your instincts and trusting them (rather than second guessing).

What blocks a sense of self:

·         Need of other people’s approval – many of us look out, not in, for approval. We listen to others and take in their comments, often judgmental. This causes us to second guess our initial instincts and often creates what I call “commence-aphobia”: the inability to start due to fears of not being good enough or not meeting other people’s expectations.

·         Judgment from others (allowing them to judge you) - Remember, we don’t get judged, we allow ourselves to be judged and we listen to what they say.

·         Self-judgment – “I’m not good enough.”, or “I can do this better”, and any negative words and feelings that your inner critique.

·         A skewed sense of perfection - If you think you can’t begin something, or put out to the world something you’ve been working on, it may be that you have a funny sense of what perfection is. Maybe you want it to be “perfect” but what does that really mean? In a way, by not completing something because it has to be “perfect”, may really be that you think you are “imperfect” and therefore won’t begin/complete/share your work.

How to build a sense of self:

Journaling/writing positively – often a great way to push out the negative thought and conjur up positivity. Take time out on a daily basis to write your thoughts and hash out any concerns. Then create positive affirmations you can live by. Stick those affirmations on your mirror, wall, door, anywhere you can remind yourself about who you really are.

Follow through without judgment – take a step, even the smallest, decide to not only do it, but actually finish it. The art of completion can be tough, but it helps your sense of self as it gives you a great sense of achievement when accomplishing even the smallest of tasks. Why do you think I titled my book, “Just Get Out There”? Because by just getting out there, no matter the outcomes, or even knowing the way, you will achieve and succeed by the very act of doing.

Inner Listening! - Listen to what you like; listen to your instincts (that inner positive voice that tells you what is good versus bad. It’s there all the time for you if you tap into it and push out the inner critique.

Build strong goals, both short term and long term. I’ve spent quite a bit in my book “Just Get Out There” on how to build a solid plan to achieve your goals. It takes time (not just in writing ,but in implementing, so time management is key), as well as feelings of hope and wanting to write a goal. If you don’t have a strong sense of self, it’s hard to even write one goal.

Let’s look at the initial questions and issues again, and match them with a balanced sense of self perspective:

“I’m not good enough” – I question, “what barometer are you comparing yourself to be “good enough”? This ties into my “perfection” analysis above. Don’t compare yourself to others. Just do your best.

“Why am I not getting to a level I want to get to?” – I don’t agree with levels. It shows that you are comparing yourself to someone or something that is beyond your control and a false notion of success. Read my blog (also a chapter in my book “Just Get Out There”) http://gillidiary.blogspot.com/2006/01/levels-to-nowhere.html . I wrote, I’m successful already. I define success on my own terms. I don’t believe in “levels”. I see our creative journey as simply that, a wonderful journey, and I don’t feel like I have to climb the steps to any pearly gates in order to be a better artist or be successful. So… in my opinion, there is no level to climb. It’s all one level.

“People tell me I should do this and that, or don’t understand why I’m not on the radio or a success” – Yes, this can certainly stop you in your tracks and make you question your own judgment. Simply put: don’t listen to everybody’s “you shoulda, you coulda” unsolicited comments. Define success on your own terms. Another aspect to this is those who are not in the entertainment industry basically know nothing about it. No, you don’t learn about it by reading glossy/trashy magazines of people on the red carpet. Knowing what it takes to “make it”, so to speak, is a giant black hole. The answer is, “making it” is an illusion. Define success on your own terms, not by others’ standards which are usually ignorant of where you, yes YOU, want to be.

“Others judge me” – again, don’t listen to their judgments. Learn from those you respect, and only listen to chosen few who you admire. Other than that, seek no one else’s approval but you’re on. People will judge. Get used to it. The more you are in the public spotlight, the more people will judge. It’s up to you how you respond, or not. I recommend don’t respond, and don’t listen to the naysayers.

“I can’t finish because it’s not good enough” – This ties into self-esteem, and a false sense of perfection. You can’t finish because finishing it any less than perfect may just rock your boat, and not being able to finish is more about you not feeling good enough. You ARE good enough, for your own definition of success: I say, just put it out there! Besides, who cares if you don’t finish it? Too much is spent on completion. Enjoy the journey of creating! It’s way more fun!

“I’m overwhelmed, I just can’t get it all together” – I spend a LOT of time with my clients talking about time management and learning to prioritize. The sense of being overwhelmed does not mean you have too many things to do, or too many goals to achieve. You can do it ALL, but…. Not necessarily at the same time. So, that means prioritizing what comes first, second, third, and that takes a little time management skill. My book, “Just Get Out There”, has a great chapter on this called “What’s Time Got To Do with It.” A little time management structure and scheduling ideas can remove your feeling of being overwhelmed, and instead, help you with getting your best work done.

“I don’t want to make a big goal, in case it doesn’t happen” – The self-defeating prophecy: I won’t dream incase it will never come true… How do you know it won’t come true? Actually, it won’t come true if you don’t plan it. Ever learn about the Law of Attraction? Big dreams and goals only come to us if we focus on them, so start writing your goals down, and creating a plan of action. I love working with artists on their plan, and together we create step by step tangible strategies to realize them. Without you knowing, all of a sudden, they come true!

Come work with me in one-on-one artist coaching, and see how you can align with your sense of self to make your dreams come true: http://www.warriorartistcoaching.com

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Whitney Houston and the death of my own childhood music business fantasy

Today, Whitney Houston died. When I heard the news, I cried. Tears poured down my face. I had to sit and think why this affected me so much. Was it that she was famous? Was it because she was such a talented singer? Was it because she was relatively young (48)? Was it because I liked her music? I'd say it was all of these, but more importantly her death, and leading up to her death, her unquestionable demise as a pop star, including her drug addiction problems, represented an unspoken distaste I have for the music business.

Who me? I distaste the music business? Yes. I acquiesce to my true feelings here. If little Whitney ended up a teacher, or a bank teller, or some mundane, ordinary nine to five worker girl, I strongly believe she would be alive today. Fame killed her. The music business, and what it does to stars, killed her. These are strong sentiments and I'm putting the blame on a machine that rises these talented artists to famous "stardom", only to then be chewed up and spat out by the same hand that fed them. It's disgusting.

I was eighteen when I fell in love with Whitney Houston's first album, and I knew every line to every songs. In fact, I would sing along with her in my living room. She was my vocal teacher. She was my idol. She was the epitome of everything I wanted for myself as a singer. I wanted her life. It was Whitney who drew me to New York first, then Los Angeles, to wanting to work in the music business, to wanting a record deal, and to make music videos. It was Whitney, signed to Sony Records, who inspired me to walk down Madison Avenue in New York, when I was 21, and walk into the Sony Columbia Records lobby and dream of my future. It was Whitney's music that encouraged me to write songs with soul and feel, and lyrics about love and "dancing with somebody."

And it was Whitney that lost my faith in the whole fame making machine that the music business is a culprit of, like all entertainment businesses.

Being in the spotlight has its stress: you are put on a pedestal by fans and industry around the world; you are expected to be something that is an illusion; you make money, you lose money; you marry other celebrities (because they relate to what you're going through), and you lose marriages; you fall victim to the party life, the fast life, the drug and alcohol life; you get dropped by the label that made you a star; and when you're lying on the ground trying to get back up, no one is there to pick up the pieces. It's a lonely, cruel life.

Now, I'm not going to speculate as to why Houston died, but I know that she had a tumultuous personal life, with her marriage to Bobby Brown, and subsequent drug addiction issues. But more recently, she seemed to be making a "come back" (whatever that means, 'cause I don't know one artist that stops creating and then "comes back". We're always moving forward, you just don't always see it on TV). But I know the powers that be in the biz weren't able to elevate her to the status she once had. It's a tough barometer to climb back to, having been the number one superstar singer in the world. It's a tough ask to try and be normal in a very un-normal world.

So, I was really sad because in a way Whitney Houston's death is like a mini death of my own youth expectations and assumptions I had about what the music business could deliver me. It represented the death of my own childhood music business fantasy.

I have already realized that the only way to succeed in this "business" is to define success on your own terms, as I have done. I created my own record company, Warrior Girl Music, and released music the way I want people to hear it. I've been in charge of my own destiny, so much so I've written two books about it and speak on it at music conferences. I've been the rebel. I've been the "Indie Queen". I've been told I wouldn't be "mainstream" because I have been the rebel, and defiantly Indie. Well, I don't know if I chose to be Indie. I wanted a record deal. I wanted a big fat record deal that gave me all the fame and fortune I needed. But that didn't come along (and I learned that wasn't my fault or lack of talent but I could have easily been in therapy thinking it was all my fault). No, the music business changed as I was growing as an artist, to the point where there was no choice BUT to do it myself, unless I was going to be left on the sidelines.

I decided I didn't want to play hard ball, or dress like a slut, or demean my music choices, to fit into "someone else's" idea. I decided that I didn't want to spend my life pitching songs for a possible deal (that were going to 18 year olds even though I was only 28, but still already too old), but INSTEAD just get out there and DO IT. So i DID it. I didn't waste time waiting. I recorded my albums, and toured THE WORLD, on my dime, mind you, but under my creative control. I've had a BLAST these last 12 years doing just that. MY WAY.

And just when I thought, hey I could use a record company, I started to see the economy and the music business shifting so much so that what I WAS DOING, pioneering on the Internet and running my own label, was THE BEST way, and now everyone is following what I have been doing. Wow. A Pioneer in a new movement called "ARTIST ENTERPRENEURSHIP". Who would have thought?!

I even canceled my membership to the Grammys as I have my own definition of music success.

But.... somewhere in my heart I secretly hung on to the notion that maybe, just maybe, one can be successful authentically in the music business. That maybe talent and hard work does pay off, and that people do come along and help you "make it" and share your music to the world, the right way, without any negative attachments. So I always thought, yeah maybe I could still be signed to that big label, who will take care of me and give me all the things I need and then I don't have to work so hard on my own and all will be well...

But Whitney's death today reminded me that that is not true.

And while there are glimmers of that (Adele seems pretty level headed at age 22, at the top of her game but who knows how her business affairs are going...), I fear that.... really..., like I've witnessed all along...., "making it big time" has it's price.

A huge price to pay.

A personal price. The notion that even after "playing the game", and doing business with the devil; even after writing, recording and performing your songs with heart; and even after managing all the people and vampires who suck off your energy,... the personal price could be just too much to bare.

Perhaps I'm not cut out to win a Grammy or be number one on the radio station you're listening to right now. But I know that I'm talented. I know that my music is real. I know I am a kick ass live performer on stage. I know that I make the best business judgements I can.  I don't get caught up in the glamour business, or the fame business, (because that's what it is now... it's just a "fashion business" this music business.) I no longer do deals with vampires and devils in the business (and yes, I have in the past for how would I have learned my lessons?)  I make a humble, modest living, I live authentically, and I work hard to express who I am. I can go to sleep at night knowing that I rolled up my sleeves today and put in some good work, hopefully to provide change and joy to the world.

I don't want to pay the personal price. But I do want to share my creativity to the world. I don't want something for nothing. I am willing to work for my results. But I do know I need a modicum of that "fame" stuff so that the music can be heard. So where do we find that balance? How can we live authentically and yet be empowered immensely?

I can only trust in the warrior in me to be the self-empowered, enlightened, giving person; attentive of the snakes, and attracting the good spirits, in this quest called self-expression.

It's a balance, and an acknowledgement of deep, hard truths, that I am learning to accept. (It's so easy to want to continue to believe in that childhood fantasy.) But as I continue to believe in my own path, I know I've made the right choice: to live and create authentically.

I think I'm finally growing up.

~ gilli moon
polymedia artist and expressionist.
www.gillimoon.com