3 Secrets on the Musician’s Roadmap to Success and Living the Dream

I’ve been thinking about all of the independent musicians with the dream of getting their music out to the world so they can do their music full time. The first thing to note, is that most have day jobs and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. That’s how all dreams are cultivated. In between the need to make a living.

I had that same dream. And one day it changed. Here’s how I did it. I’ve done it many times in my career when I wanted to go in another direction.

Here is what it takes.

The 3 C’s of a Successful Career in Music: Commitment, Conviction, Courage

I hear a lot of artists talking about not wanting to tour. I get it. Cheap hotels, lugging around equipment, being away from home, family life, etc. However, that always sounds like a projection of what you think it will be like. If you were reaching thousands of people each week who loved your music you might feel differently?

1. Commitment comes first.

No dream was made from a weak commitment. A dream requires commitment – first. You can’t know you are going to accomplish it when you commit. The dream is BORN FROM your commitment. That’s how it works.

Commitment comes BEFORE the dream manifests.

It was 1998. I had a successful voice studio in New York City making a 6-figure income. But my music dream was still unfulfilled. I closed my studio on the suggestion of my ex-husband to find myself as an artist and to make a record. It was a risky decision. I didn’t know what would happen. The commitment came first.

What commitment do you need to make for your music career?
You don’t have to leave your day job like I did (I was ready for that level of commitment as I had been a successful singer and songwriter for several decades at that point.) It could be a small commitment to do your vocal practice every day. Or write songs every day.

What is your commitment?

2. Rock solid conviction.

No dream is created from weak conviction. Conviction is the fuel that helps you actualize your dream.

A dream is just a vision without a plan and the conviction to carry it through.

Commitment translates into action. Action is how you confirm your conviction. It’s in the daily actions and steps you take that makes your dream truly come true.

During my 2 year hiatus, I started by following my instincts. Books are one of the first places I have always looked for knowledge, insight and inspiration. After 3 recommendations, I picked up a book called “The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz – they say signs come in 3’s. As I read the pages, the words leapt into my heart and I heard music. I had struck “the muse.”

That was Step 1.

Step 2: I flew out to San Diego, CA for a weekend workshop and met Miguel, his teacher Rita Rivera and a community of spiritual seekers. Someone at that weekend even said “someone needs to write music to Miguel’s prayer The Circle of Fire. I had a premonition that I would write it.

Step 3: I flew home and wrote the music to his prayer The Circle of Fire. I then wrote a whole series of songs inspired by the heart opening spiritual experience I was having.

Step 4: I started making record quality demos of the songs to circulate amongst his followers.

I was committed and had the strength of my convictions to help me manifest.

Then on 9/11 my teacher Rita Rivera was pulled out of a prayer circle with the channeled instruction to call Janet Mills the publisher of “The Four Agreements” (Amber Allen Publishing) to tell her about my music.

Shortly after I signed a recording agreement with Amber Allen Publishing and the record was released. I played Carnegie Hall and Town Hall to a standing ovation. Dream come true. (You can find my record The Circle of Fire by Cari Cole on all digital platforms.)

What do you need to do to strengthen your conviction?
What daily habit or task can you commit to and strengthen your conviction to make your dream real?

3. Courage: Courage to stay the course, no matter what.

The only way to manifest your dream is to have the courage to put in the long, endless hours to reach it. And that takes courage. Courage in the face of adversity and setbacks. You do it because you must.

Most people don’t have this crazy dream. But you do. That’s how you know your dream is real and not just a passing thing. It won’t leave you alone. For a reason. That’s how the universe calls you. Are you listening?

I was listening that day at the weekend event in San Diego when I heard the message to write the music to Miguel’s prayer.

I was listening to my instincts telling me to keep writing and to record broadcast quality demos (which took a lot of time and work to create.)

Keep in mind that these instincts and messages are SMALL voices. The voices that shout at you in your head are the critical voices trying to keep you safe. The smaller gentler voices are the voice of your authenticity and inspiration. Those are the ones to follow.

What instincts are you ignoring?
What messages could you follow to manifest your dreams?

Oh and one more thing – give yourself no Plan B. If you give yourself an out, you’ll most likely take it.

You’ve got this. I’m cheering you on.

For more information, I recently wrote a series of blogs about how to create a real artist brand including how to monetize your music. They have all of the latest methods I use to build artist’s brands and attract real opportunities and build revenue.

I recommend that you read them:

1. The 11 Pillars of Artist Development Every Emerging Music Artist Should Know

2. The 9 Steps to a Successful Musician Roadmap and Making A Living Making Music

3. 22 Reasons Why Musicians Get Stuck and the Solutions to Getting on Track

Ready to make the commitment to your music and artistry? Join over 15,000+ artists putting in the work to make their dream of a career in music a reality inside my Artist Development program, Step Up to the Spotlight. Get in for the next cohort and start taking action and build your plan. Sign up here!