I’m happy to release the first episode with none other than my man Chase Jarvis. Few people have figured out how to blend art and commerce like Chase and his experience with building a business around a creative pursuit is invaluable.

Chase Jarvis is widely recognized as one of the most influential photographers of the last 20 years. He’s won awards for his images on 6 continents, including contributions to the Pulitzer Prize-winning story SNOWFALL – the acclaimed New York Times interactive story heralded as the “future of journalistic storytelling” and an Emmy nomination for his work documenting the music scene in Seattle.

In 2009 he created BEST CAMERA app – the first photo app to share images direct to social networks which was #1 on iTunes, app of the year for Wired Magazine, Macworld and the New York Times, and helped kick off the global photo-sharing craze.

As if that wasn’t enough, he’s also the CEO of CreativeLive – the worlds largest live-streaming education company, with millions of students around the world and more than 2 billion minutes consumed on the platform.

Chase also just released his book, Creative Calling: Establish a Daily Practice, Infuse Your World with Meaning, and Succeed in Work + Life available everywhere now!

A few things we cover are:

•  Working towards discovering your calling
• Why hard work and action are paramount
•  The three phases of making your dream a reality
•  Building community
•  Much more

Follow Chase: Website | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Facebook

There’s no shortage of information for anything you’d ever want to learn, which is great…or is it?

I’ve learned everything I could about the music business…then podcasting, social media, graphic design, websites, email marketing and habit formation from one source or another. I’ve spent thousands of hours reading, watching videos, taking courses, etc…but the fact of the matter is that all of it would’ve been useless had I not put it into action!

Too much learning and not enough doing will turn you into an over-motivated under-achiever.

With the abundance of information available it’s easy to jump from one source of information to the next, looking for the next “hack” or “shortcut” creating MASSIVE paralysis by analysis. The rubber hits the road when you actually do the work. I get so many emails from people who ask me how to do this or that, or the best ways to practice…but I guarantee they’re emailing other people and asking the same questions…and not putting any of the advice into action. Most people think they’re one book away from finding the “answers” or they just need to listen to one more podcast or email one more person to “figure it all out” — please, don’t do that!

Honest question: Have you ever read a book that had you fired up with great, actionable items…and then you turned around and effectively did none of them? I bet you have…

Am I suggesting you stop reading, listening, and watching and emailing people for advice? Absolutely not! I’m suggesting…matter of fact, I‘m imploring you…TAKE ACTION with the information you already have. If you find a a great book, use the principles for a few months and see how they work for you. If they work, keep doing them. If they don’t, move on.

Compile the knowledge, sort our what’s best for you and put a plan into action. There’s no substitute for action.

There are no secrets.

There are no shortcuts.

Do the work.

I get emails every day rom people who have started a website, blog, or social media account asking me what my secret is for gaining followers. Everyone is looking for a “hack” or a “shortcut” to gaining listeners, followers, etc. But the truth is, there’s no secret. It takes time. LOTS of time…and consistency, value adding and genuine relationship building.

I know what it’s like to feel like you’re not making traction and it often feels like nobody is listening, but they are…you have to be patient. Before you throw out the “this dude got 50K followers in 4 months” comment or something crazy like that, I’ll admit…things like that happen…all the time in fact. BUT, numbers don’t mean shit. There, I said it. The quality of your engagement is WAY more important than the number of followers you have. If you have 1,000 engaged fans, that’s 1,000X better than 100K non-engaged fans. I know people who have 500–600K followers on Facebook but can’t sell 5 copies of their book when it comes out. Why? Because they don’t have QUALITY followers.

If you’re new at the social media game or have been at it for a while and can’t grow your audience, let me give you some advice:

Concentrate on the quality of the content you put out rather than how many likes and followers you have. You have 250 followers on Instagram? That’s AWESOME! 250 people actually care what you have to say, so concentrate on delivering the highest quality content possible to those 250 people. If what you’re putting out is good and offers a ton a value, people will catch on…I promise. Rather than trying to cast a net as wide as possible to get everyone to follow you, work on going deep and getting more intimate with the audience you already have.

This is a long game and instant gratification is a myth. Stay the course, add as much value as you can and don’t worry about your numbers. They’ll take care of themselves soon enough.

You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with. You most likely have around the same salary as your friends, have the same opinions, etc. It’s also said that your weight is usually around the same as your friends…even if they live in another state! Crazy, right? Well, not really…

Humans are like monkeys…monkey see, monkey do. If you see your friend taking another cookie, you probably will too and vise versa. If your friends typically go to the bar rather than hustling and working towards their goals, I’m guessing you’re sitting right there with them.

Luckily, this can work the other way too. If you surround yourself with positive, successful, and motivated people you too will start to become more conscious of how you think about situations, your level of hustle and hard work, how you spend your money, etc.

The best way to fast-track your “success”, no matter how you define it (new gig, more money, better health, etc) is to surround yourself with people who are already doing what you want to do and learn from them. Be challenged by them…their influence will push you toward bigger goals, better results, etc.

As a musician I’ve always sought out to play with better musicians than me. I NEVER want to be the best musician in the band..If I am, I won’t grow.

If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.

In business I connect with people every day who are operating at a higher level than I am. I ask questions and set up meetings to chat, and most importantly, to listen. This is one way that has always worked in growing my businesses…networking and surrounding myself with the right people.

I challenge you to evaluate your relationships and the people who you spend the most time with.

Do they inspire you?

Do they challenge you?

Do they push you to be the best version of yourself?

OR…

Do they doubt you?

Are they negative?

Are they allowing you to settle?

Are they dream killers?

Sadly, sometimes you have to divorce yourself from toxic relationships and make it a point to surround yourself with people who will lift you up, not drag you down. Try this for 6 months and check your progress. I guarantee you’ll be blown away how quickly things start to “happen” for you.

I used to think I’m a superhuman. I thought I could do everything, all the time and put 100% into each and every one of those things. The problem is, it’s not possible…and believe me, I tried. At one point I was the owner/operator of a restaurant with my brother, working for another company two hours away from the restaurant, starting a third company (Drummer’s Resource) and trying to practice 4 hours a day, tour and consult. I was effectively working 120 hours a week and wasn’t getting anything done. I was “busy”…not “focused”

“People think focus means saying yes to the thing you’ve got to focus on. But that’s not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are. You have to pick carefully. I’m actually as proud of the things we haven’t done as the things I have done. Innovation is saying no to 1,000 things.” ― Steve Jobs

Not a day goes by that I don’t get asked to be a part of something cool: A coffee meeting, a new business venture, a website launch, a consulting gig, etc. In years past I would have said yes…to all of them. That was until I realized how effective I can be if I limit my commitments and dedicate myself to 1 or 2 things, tops!

Unfortunately, every time you say yes to something you’re automatically saying no to something else. Say yes enough and you’ll scatter your time so far and wide that you won’t be focused on anything in particular and your results will prove it. Give 10% and you’ll get 10% back…no more, no less.

“To be everywhere is to be nowhere” — Seneca

My suggestion as you move into the new year: Be more protective of your time. Select a few things to commit to and say no to everything else. It sounds harsh and it may make you feel a little uncomfortable at first but you need to learn how to say no. Don’t apologize for it. Don’t feel bad about it. Just say no! It’s your time and you need to protect it like it’s your most valuable asset, because it is.

Now, make no mistake…I’m not saying that you shouldn’t ever take that coffee meeting or help a friend in need, but you need to be very specific about what you say yes to. If you don’t you’ll find yourself so “busy” that you don’t have time to get anything done.

Remember, the key to progress is focus…

I talk to A LOT of people who want a job in the music business. But, most of them never act on it because, in their own words “don’t know how to get a job in the music business.”

Let me start by saying that making up excuses and listing all the reasons why you can’t make it happen are NOT going to help you.

I get it. Music industry jobs are coveted and in-demand, but you have as good a chance as anyone to land that dream job. As simple as that sounds, it’s true. Music related companies are no different than other companies. They need graphic designers, accountants, janitors, customer service reps, managers, etc. If you’re looking for a job that allows you to sit around and play drums all day, you may have to create your own company. But if that’s not in the cards, keep reading.

Most people never attempt to apply for employment because they think there’s too much competition. The truth is, there’s less competition at the top.

The following is an excerpt from Tim Ferris’ “4-hour workweek” to explain the concept in more detail:

I was offering a round-trip ticket anywhere in the world to anyone who could complete an undefined “challenge” in the most impressive fashion possible. Results plus style. I told them to meet me after class if interested, and here they were, nearly 20 out of 60 students.

The task was designed to test their comfort zones while forcing them to use some of the tactics I teach. It was simplicity itself: contact three seemingly impossible-to-reach people — J Lo., Bill Clinton, Warren Buffett J.D. Salinger, I don’t care — and get at least one to reply to three questions…

Of 20 students, all frothing at the mouth to win a free spin across the globe, how many completed it?

Exactly… none. Not a one.

There were many excuses: “It’s not that easy to get someone to…”, “I have a big paper due, and…,” “I would love to, but there’s no way I can…” There was but one real reason, however, repeated over and over again in different words: it was a difficult challenge, perhaps impossible, and the other students would out-do them. Since all of them overestimated the competition, no one even showed up.

According to the default-win rules I had set, if someone had sent me no more than an illegible one-paragraph response, I would have been obligated to give them the prize. This result both fascinated and depressed me.

The following year, the outcome was quite different.

I told this cautionary tale and six out of 17 finished the challenge in less than 48 hours. Was the second class better? No. In fact, there were more capable students in the first class, but they did nothing. Firepower up the wazoo and no trigger finger.

The second group just embraced what I told them before they started, which was…

Doing the Unrealistic is Easier Than Doing the Realistic

From contacting billionaires to rubbing elbows with celebrities — the second group of students did both — it’s as easy as believing it can be done.

It’s lonely at the top. 99% of the world is convinced they are incapable of achieving great things, so they aim for the mediocre middle-ground. The level of competition is thus fiercest for “realistic” goals, paradoxically making them the most time- and energy-consuming. It is easier to raise $10,000,000 than it is $1,000,000. It is easier to pick up the one perfect 10 in the bar than the five 8s.

If you are insecure, guess what? The rest of the world is too. Do not overestimate the competition and underestimate yourself. You are better than you think.

— [end of excerpt] —

The main objective is to DO. Apply for that job, network in the right circles, call in favors, etc. The same way you’d work towards getting a job at Amazon or Google is the same way to approach getting a job in the music business. It may take a few years and you may have to challenge your comfort zone, but 80% of the equation is just showing up. Or, in this case, applying.

Maybe you don’t have a strong resume or maybe you’re a hustler and don’t like to sit around and wait. Here are a few ways you can accelerate the process.

1. Start something
There are plenty of opportunities to start a website, blog, podcast, etc about the industry you’re interested in. I’ve had a ton of employment opportunities in the music business since I launched Drummer’s Resource. DR has opened many doors to consulting with big drum brands, working with smaller music companies, passes to networking events and much more. By creating your own “thing” it gives you a reason to email, call, and network with people while avoiding the “can we meet for coffee so I can pick your brain” email.

2. Play the long game
Start building relationships as soon as possible. The music business, like any other industry, is all about who you know. If you’re a graphic designer who has been friendly with someone for a few years and they’re looking for a graphic designer, guess who they’re going to call. Example: Four years ago I was sitting at Starbucks and I read an article about a local drummer, Dylan Wissing, who had just won a Grammy Award. I emailed him, asked if I could check out his studio and chat drums. Over the past few years we’ve become friends, have worked together on many different projects, and Dylan even recommend me for two consulting gigs. Yes, it took four years, but I invested in the business relationship and gained a good friend out of it too.

3. Don’t generalize
If you’re sending form letters to every company and spamming their social accounts by tagging them, along with every other drum company you can think of, please stop! This is a small industry and everyone knows what you’re doing (or trying to do). Do yourself a favor and be original. Make your message specific to the company your contacting. You’re looking for a JOB…not a shout-out on Twitter. Before anyone takes you seriously you have to take yourself seriously. Be professional and be personal. Think about how well you respond to spammy, form-letter content directed at you. That’s how you look to companies if you’re doing the same thing.

4. Leverage your strengths
Everyone is good at something. You may be a great web designer, writer or accountant and you should use that to your advantage. If you have the ability to create compelling videos it may be an asset to someone’s company. You may be such an amazing drummer that you can be the poster child of a brand and help them sell a million drum kits. Or you may be a great copywriter who can craft a company’s story so well they sell a million drum kits from your ads — same outcome, different angles. Play to your strengths and don’t try to be someone you’re not. I have strong business skills…that’s what’s given me an edge in the drumming world. It’s not because I’m the most amazing drummer anyone has ever seen — and I’m ok with that because it’s who I am.

5. Work for free
Yes…work for free. I understand this isn’t the sexiest tactic, but it works all the time. You start as a volunteer and your services become so valuable that they hire you part-time or full-time. As long as you continue to produce good work you’ll continue on a path to transitioning to a full-time position. A prime example is Justin Thomas. Justin reached out to me and offered to produce the podcast for free because he believes in the mission of Drummer’s Resource. I was extremely appreciative (I still am) and last month I was able to offer Justin a monthly salary to continue to work with me. The goal is to bring Justin on as a full-time employee at some point. (Click here to thank Justin for his amazing work on the podcast)

6. Network your ass off
Every single opportunity you have to get out there and meet people, do it! Go to PASIC, NAMM, jam sessions, networking events, cold call people, send emails, etc. I’ve literally sent thousands of emails to people I’ve never met. Some respond and some don’t but it’s a numbers game. The harder your work the “luckier” you’ll get. I went to NAMM, alone, for 3 days to meet people. It was the scariest thing I’ve ever done but was 100% worth the effort. The relationships I gained that year are still thriving today, including Dave Reid (founder of Boso Drumsticks) who I’ve worked with for the past 3.5 years advising his company. I also consider him one of my best friends on the planet. Ah, the power of networking…or as I call it, “fostering relationships.”

You can sit around and make excuses or you can make things happen. The choice is yours. I hope you’ll choose the latter.

If you’re thinking about starting a company or going off on your own to be a soloprenuer, here’s a bit of advice I’ve gathered over the years through my various entrepreneurial ventures.

1.The buck stops with you

When you have partners or work in a company it’s easy to rely on others, use them as a support system or even as a scapegoat. (don’t do that) But when you’re your own boss there are no excuses. If you have a team, reward them for their successes and take credit or their failures. Never blame anyone else for what happens to your company — it’s your responsibility.

2. If you don’t work, you don’t eat

This is especially true if you’re a solorepreneur. You level of activity and more importantly, your productivity, is directly related to your income. If you’re not hustling every day to make the next sale, call the next prospect, or biz dev, you’ll be wondering where your next meal is coming from in no time.

3. There are no days off

Without sounding too “rah rah…work 24/7/365!” your business needs to be your top priority…especially in the first few years. Working nights and weekends is required, so get ready to skip a few parties, drinks with friends and happy hour celebrations. Learn to say no and keep your nose to the grindstone.

4. Hustle like someone is trying to take it all from you

Chances are you’re not entering a market with no competitors (if you are, you may want to reevaluate your business.) There’s always someone who’s smarter than you, has more connections, has more money to throw at the problem, etc. Use hard work to your advantage and outwork the competition.

5. Consistency is key

You don’t have to make huge strides every day but you do have to make progress. It’s easy to work at something for a week but can you work at something for 1, 2, 3 years without seeing a big return on your time and investment? That’s what’s required when starting/running a business. Stringing together 6 months of productive days is harder than you think.

6. Know what motivates you — what’s your WHY?

Maybe you want to buy a new house for your family or pay your child’s college tuition or maybe even quit your job. Determine your “why” before you start and use that as fuel for your fire to push you on the days you want to give up, throw in the towel and let your dreams go to die.

7. Don’t chase the money…you’ll lose

This probably should have been at the top of the list. If you’re chasing the money you’re going to lose…period. To be clear, revenue is the most important part of business, but you can’t let it drive you personally. If you do, you’ll never make enough and you’ll never be satisfied. Focus on providing the best product or service and the money will come naturally.

8. This isn’t for everyone

Not everyone is cut out to be an entrepreneur. It’s physically and mentally draining on a regular basis. There is risk, uncertainty, sleepless nights and extremely long hours. It’s not for the faint of heart and most people can’t handle it.

9. It’s a rollercoaster

There are good days and bad days. Sometimes there are good and bad hours in the same day. You may find that you’ve lost a key client and your best employee is quitting the same day. The beauty is that you never know what tomorrow is going to bring…but therein lies the curse.

10. Done is better than perfect

Perfection doesn’t exist so don’t try to achieve it. A good idea that is finished is always better than a great idea in a notebook or on your mind. You have the ability to change and adapt along the way so focus on getting your product or service out to the marketplace and make improvements as you go.

11. Pay yourself last

Your responsibility is to pay your employees and your bills. If there’s anything left over I suggest reinvesting it into the business to fuel growth. If you must take something, take as little as your need to put food on your table and keep the lights on.

111 – Don Lombardi Takeover: Don interviews Nick Ruffini

Entrepreneurship as a Creative Endeavor | Nick Ruffini | Drummer’s Resource

http://lifelistened.com/life-work/lwep10/

https://solopreneurhour.com/podcast/537-launching-a-successful-niche-based-solopreneurbusiness-
with-nick-ruffini-from-drummers-resource/

Edge Magazine 2017 (2)

Edge Magazine 2017 (1)

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