AC/DC: Consistency is "Who Made Who"

AC/DC has been in business for over 40 years, and has sold over 200 million albums worldwide. That's pretty darn impressive for brothers Agnus and Malcom Young, both of whom play guitar in the band, and brother George Young, who is the unofficial "sixth member" of the band. They have withstood the test of time and developed one of the most recognizable and iconic sounds in rock history. The minute an AC/DC song starts on the radio, you know it's them. In addition to their sound and stage presence, AC/DC has built a huge business around the band's brand, with all sorts of merchandise incorporating the AC/DC trademark and logo. Everything from t-shirts, neckties, beach cover-up dresses and baby bibs, to a range of wines, German beer and board games can be found with the name AC/DC attached. So how have they done it? What lesson can be learned from the success of this Australian rock band? Consistency.

AC/DC has built a loyal following through sticking to what it knows best - hard rocking guitar riffs and lyrics about sex, drugs and rock n' roll. It's simple. And it's brilliant. AC/DC is the place you go to when you just want to rock. Go into any dive bar across the country, and you are bound to hear an AC/DC song (or twelve) played on the jukebox. There is a clear identity to the brand and legacy of AC/DC. So much so, that AC/DC is able to take that brand and cross market into completely un-rock n' roll territory, like baby clothes and bibs. Whatever their brand touches becomes automaticall cool. Parents craving to still feel cool want to buy AC/DC shirts for their toddlers because it screams, "look at me -- I'm a cool, edgy parent." In fact, AC/DC is such a defined brand and legacy that their unwillingness to waver or change over the years has almost become a battle cry. They stand alone atop the great rock n' roll mountain waving their flag. And taking that brand to the masses through merchandising without softening the music or message has allowed the band great commercial success without compromising its own integrity. They, unlike so many, have stayed true to themselves. In fact, bringing their brand to mass retail chains and a range of products looks more like an attempt to corrupt the world with rock n' roll rebellion than it does to sell out and go corporate. I mean, who is to fault any artist for a larger audience or louder megaphone to scream through?  

The point of all this is that whether you are an artist, athlete or entrepreneur building your brand, stick to what you know. Do not let outside influencers tell you to be something you are not. Grant it, there is always room for change and a natural evolution. Who you are today may not be who you are tomorrow. But stay true to yourself and what you know you do best. When it comes to building a business and brand, having a solid core identity, and sticking to that identity, can be key to achieving long-term success.

Click here to read more about the AC/DC family business: http://www.forbes.com/sites/ruthblatt/2014/04/30/why-being-a-family-business-made-acdc-the-most-consistent-brand-in-rock-n-roll/

2014: How Do You “Make It” in the Music Biz?

Before you ask the question, how do I “make it” in the music biz, you must first answer a question: what do you mean by “make it” in the music biz? After all, how you define your goals determines whether or not you have successfully achieved them. Does “making it” in music mean global fame and selling out large concert venues all over the world? Sure. I don’t think anyone would argue that Beyoncé or Jay-Z have “made it” in music. But what about the little known musician who plays hundreds of shows a year, self-releases their own music through the various digital channels now available (and even has a small distribution deal for physical CDs, LPs, etc.), and pulls in anywhere between $50-150k per year solely through their music? Hasn’t that musician “made it” too?

If you are an artist who makes music because you are compelled to create and express the emotion that lives inside of you, then “making it” in music should be about developing a sustainable career in music, where you can spend your life working as an artist and creating your music. That is a very different proposition than craving fame or a life filled with material excess. Not that there is anything wrong with fame or money – by all means, please enjoy both should they come your way.  But it shouldn’t be the goal and you need to not get distracted by these things or adjust your business plan in order to achieve them. Building a sustainable career in music is by definition a long-term plan, and one which requires extreme dedication, hard work and patience. Rarely is overnight stardom involved.

 There is no precise formula for building a career in music, but there are some basic principles that apply. Here’s what I know:

 

·         You Have to Be Music. You have to know that you are an artist and that music is your greatest value and the gift that you unequivocally must bring to the world. Music must be your purpose. And you just can’t say it (there is no faking this one), you have to know it and believe in yourself. You are but a vessel through which music must speak and be heard. This is the hardest step because too often people are not honest with themselves. Sure, they may say they love music and may be talented, but the truth is they end up pursuing music for a variety of other reasons and not because it is their entire being and they absolutely have to. Maybe it’s the potential fame or exciting lifestyle, or maybe they figure they’ll just give it a shot because at that moment they have nothing to lose and, hey, a career in music could be fun. The truth is, if you are pursing music for any reason other than the fact that music is a reflection of your soul, then a sustainable long-term career is probably not what you really want and you will be less likely to succeed. If, however, you truly are music, the rest will not be so hard.

·         You Have to Work Really Hard. Simply being music is not enough; you also have to work really hard on making your music into a career. The good news is, if you are music, the hard work should not be that painful and you should revel in the process of building your musical career. The hard work starts with mastering your craft, practicing and becoming the best musician, singer, songwriter, performer, etc., that you can be, constantly looking to improve yourself. You should strive for perfection in every little step taken and note played or sung. Again, if you are music, this should come naturally and not be a burden at all. If you don’t enjoy mastering your craft, maybe you are in the wrong craft. Next is mastering the business of music and building a career based on your craft. You will have to completely immerse yourself in how the industry works and understand how the potential revenue streams work. If you are really not business savvy, you’ll have to try and find someone who can help you out with this part, and take on a partner of sorts (i.e., a manager). Either way, you (or someone on your team) will need to understand the business of music from all angles so that you can aggressively and strategically pursue the many outlets now available to independent musicians.

·         You Have to Never Give Up. This goes without saying. You can’t make music for your career if you stop making music. Stay at it. And stay focused. Remember, the goal here is to make a living making music. Too often, artists give up because they find that the living they are making is not enough. They want more. They feel that they are not getting enough back from their music and the hard work they are putting out. The reality is, if music is truly who you are, then being able to make a living (no matter how modest) that supports your music and gives you the freedom and opportunity to share your music with audiences big or small is all that should matter. If you are frustrated that you can’t buy a house yet, then what you really want is a house, and music is only secondary. In that case, get a job working for someone else doing something you probably don’t enjoy that will pay you enough to afford a house, and buy that house, or car, or whatever it is you feel you deserve out of life. Maybe that’s “making it” to you. Otherwise, keep doing what you were born to do and love. Keep making music, and be grateful that you can make a career doing so. Before you know it, as you continue to build a sustainable long-term career in music, some of that fame and money that others crave so immediately may start to pour in. And the house that is your musical career that you built with passion, hard work and integrity will have a much stronger foundation.

For more on why musicians fail, check out this article: http://www.musicthinktank.com/blog/why-do-musicians-always-feel-disappointed-about-their-career.html

To read some success stories about artists you probably never heard of who are making a living in music, check out this article: http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/permalink/2013/12/23/full-time-musicians

The Magic of Shaquille O'Neal: Daring to Dream Big

Shaquille O'Neal has always been larger than life. First of all, he stands at 7'1" and boasts a size 23 shoe. Then there is that grin. An almost ear-to-ear smile that let's you know immediately he's having fun. From the moment he entered the NBA, Shaq was the stuff mythology was made of, a basketball God of sorts who shattered backboards with thunderous power.

Today, Shaq is retired from the game of basketball but his presence and influence continues to be felt around the world. In addition to continuing to leverage his celebrity as a spokesperson for various brands, Shaq has managed to become quite the entrepreneur himself. He has a real estate firm, The O'Neal Group, was a pre-IPO investor in Google, holds stakes in Muscle Milk, Vitamin Water and social media start-up Tout, and owns 55 Five Guys restaurants, as well as multiple car washes and fitness centers.

The reason for Shaq's success? He's a dreamer.

When speaking about entrepreneurship at a South by Southwest conference, Shaq told the crowd, "I look for big dreamers, people like me," and that he is interested in people and companies who "help people, inspire people and change the world." In other words, Shaq, like so many other successful entrepreneurs, looks to the value that an opportunity can bring to the world first, understanding fully such an opportunity will inevitably bring value back to him.

Read more about Shaq's businesses here: http://www.celebritynetworth.com/articles/entertainment-articles/shaquille-oneal-nba-superstar-business-tycoon/

Get Inspired, and Be Crazy Enough to Think You Can Change the World!

Ever wonder why so many successful artists, athletes and entrepreneurs say the same thing? Well, maybe that's because what they are saying is actually true and works!

Check out Sir Richard Branson leading with a quote from Steve Jobs in the link below:

"The ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world are the one who do."

Time and time again, you will hear the most successful people talk about believing in yourself and never giving up as two keys to success. If this is true, and I think the many success stories are proof that it is true, then there are only two reasons you have not achieved your own success, either: (1) you do not truly believe in yourself and your ability to accomplish what you have set out to do, or (2) it's just a matter of time (which if you don't have doubt and truly believe in yourself, you already know).

How do you come to believe in yourself to this degree? How do you become crazy enough to think you can change the world? While I doubt there is a simple answer that will satisfy everyone out there, I certainly believe that it has very much to do with finding out what it is you are most passionate about and what inspires you. When you are involved in something that you love and are passionate about, you will be better able and willing to complete immerse yourself in whatever it is, to learn everything you need to know and become an expert, maybe the best, at whatever it is. This will naturally give you confidence and lessen any doubt you may have about yourself. However, and perhaps more importantly, if you love what you do and enjoy the process of doing it, then you become less focused on an end goal. And if you are not focused on an end goal then you will not be consumed with doubt that you can actually achieve that end goal. This goes back to building a wall (http://theaaec.blogspot.com/2013/06/dont-set-out-to-build-wall.html). If you love building the wall and the process of laying each brick, then you are not focused on the goal of completing the wall. The idea of building a wall may seem impossible, in which case you may doubt that you can ever achieve such a grand feat.

So what does this all mean, and how does it relate to being crazy enough to think you can change the world? Being crazy enough to think you can change the world is knowing that when you do what you love and are passionate about, when you give the best you have to offer to the world, then you are in fact having an impact and changing the world already. There is no doubt. There is no fear. Because there is no goal to be afraid you cannot achieve. You are already achieving it, one brick at a time. So go, get inspired, and be crazy enough to know you can change the world. 

Read about what inspires Sir Richard Branson here: http://www.linkedin.com/influencers/20130722225611-204068115-what-inspires-me-game-changing-people-everywhere?trk=vsrp_people_res_infl_post

Find Your Truth of the Moment, and Don't Give Up

There is nothing in the world that you are better at then simply being you. And having the discipline and confidence to be yourself is the key that will unlock your door to happiness and success. Just ask Grammy award winning rapper, producer and entrepreneur Shawn Carter (better known as "Jay-Z" or "Jay Z"). When asked about his continued success in music, where most artists eventually fade away, Hova explains that "it is the discipline to not get caught up in the moment" or "jump on the next hot thing" that has made him successful, whereas other artists "don't stick to what they know."

"Just having the discipline and having the confidence in who I am and if I go into a studio and I find my truth of the moment, there are a number of peope in the world that can relate to what I'm saying and are going to buy into what I am doing, not because it's the new thing of the moment but because it's my genuine emotions."

Not only is being yourself what you are best at, it is also the most unique gift you have to offer the world. After all, there is only one you. If you want to do something great, or bring some small change to the world, take Mr. Carter's advice: find your truth of the moment, and share it with the world. There will be enough people interested in what you have to give, so long as it is geniune.    

The second piece to this puzzle, and perhaps the one that requires the most discipline, is that once you discover who you are and what you have to give to the world, you have to never give up. In reflecting on his own success, Jay-Z's states, "The genius thing we did was we didn't give up." Whether you are an artist, athlete, entrepreneur, band, brand, company, etc., you will hear the word "no" many, many times. Doors will be shut, and you will almost definitely feel at some point like you should just give up. This is a right of passage that every sucessful person must endure: finding the will and drive to insist on following your dream no matter what, to essentially be willing to die trying to achieve what you believe in. Get to that point, find yourself at that place, and you will have already succeeded. 

Here is a YouTube clip of Jay-Z discussing his success: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YL1lmXMhfo

Pearl Jam: Doing the Evolution

Pearl Jam is about to make a major announcement on Monday, July 8th, at 1:00pm. The band's website currently has a countdown clock leading up to the big event. What could it be? A new album? A new single? A world tour? Like any jammer, I wait with bated breath.

Like many Pearl Jam fans, I have grown up with the band. A once plaid shirt-wearing, angst-ridden kid, who would get motivated for school by singing such Pearl Jam songs as "Leash" ("Drop the leash/drop the leash, get out of my f'ing face"), I have matured over the past 23 years right along with many of Pearl Jam's themes. Today, now a father of two young boys, I continue to take solace in Pearl Jam's songs, which have grown to reflect the sort of awareness about life that only comes with age and experience. You see, like its fans, Pearl Jam has grown up too. And rather than fight change and try to continue being what they once were, Pearl Jam has not only embraced its own evolution, it has become defined by it. It is precisely this evolution that I find most facinating about Pearl Jam, and most relevant to their staying power. And their story in this regard is one that many other artists and entrepreneurs can learn from.

The all-too-often used phrase for today's modern world is "adapt or die." I think I would like to replace that with one simple word: evolve. Pearl Jam never adapted to the idea of having to make music videos, or doing extensive interviews, or pushing a radio-friendly single, or really any traditional method of music marketing. Yet, they did not die. Instead, Pearl Jam consistently made honest music, toured the world, fought for causes they believed in, and were genuinely appreciative of their fans. In fact, Pearl Jam did not "adapt" at all.  But they did evolve, and continue to do so (Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready has gone so far as to call the new album that the band has been working on "experimental," something few 23-year musical acts would dare set out for).

The problem with adapting is that you run the risk of becoming something that you are not, and following the flavor of the month. Long-term success is rooted in authenticity. Staying genuine to your brand and allowing yourself to grow naturally over time just may end up being your greatest strength.

Here's a link to Pearl Jam's last music video, "Do the Evolution", released some 15 years ago - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDaOgu2CQtI

You Don't Set Out to Build A Wall

"You don't set out to build a wall. You say, I'm going to lay this brick as perfectly as a brick can be laid. And you do that every single day, and soon you have a wall." ~ Will Smith

When Will Smith was 12 years old, his father tore down a wall in front of his business and told Will and his 9-year old brother to rebuild it, which they thought was impossible. When they finished the wall a year and a half later, Will's father said, "Now don’t you ever tell me there's something you can't do."

I have given this story and the above quote a lot of thought, and there are at least three lessons that aspiring artists, athletes and entrepreneurs (or anyone, really) can learn from this story. That is, there are at least three reasons why you do not set out to build a wall.

1. Do Not Overwhelm Yourself by Thinking About Achieving Some Grand Outcome. The idea of building a wall, especially to a 12-year and his younger brother, can be overwhelming or, as Will said, even impossible. So too can the idea of pursuing your dreams. Rather than thinking about achieving an end result, which may seem very far off or unrealistic, instead focus on the first step that needs to be taken, and then the next step and the step, etc. Too often, if you spend too much time thinking about how far off an ultimate end result may be, then you never start in the first place because of how overwhelming or impossible the tasks seems. You think, "I can't possibly do that." Ironically, the only way you for sure cannot possibly do something is if you never try. The key is to take that first step, lay your first brick, and continue moving forward.

2. Strive for Perfection in the Little Things. Everything you do is a reflection of who you are. You have a gift, something of value to give to the world. Why would you ever want to give half of yourself? Allow yourself to shine. Everything you do in life, every brick that you lay, you should care about and give it everything you can. Try to make it perfect. Not for perfections sake, but because that brick and how it is laid represents you. In addition, if you lay each brick perfectly, then when you are all finished you will have built the strongest, most perfect wall. The quality of an end result is only as good as the steps you took to get there. Otherwise said, there are no shortcuts to success.

3. Life is Not About the Wall; Life is About Laying Bricks. Whatever brick you lay, whatever journey you start out on by taking that first step, you’d better love and be extremely passionate about. The worst thing you can do is to put yourself in a day-in-day-out situation where you are unhappy because you think the end result, your wall, will be what you want. Most often for people, that wall is mistakenly money. The reality is that it could take years or a lifetime to build your wall. And let's face it, many walls are never finished. Success is a journey, not a destination. And life is not a means to an end. So make every day count by finding bricks that you love, and laying each one perfectly.

Check out some inspirational clips of Will Smith here (the wall story appears at 3:02): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfWGoLj1JCM