Work Your Rockstar Lists To Create Your Life

by Cari Cole

Okay, I’m still talking about lists, lists, lists. But that’s because the power of your lists, the power of committing yourself in writing and in your word, cannot be denied.

How do you want to transform your world in 2010? What are the things that you want for this year? Think about this. What do you want? For your music, your career, your health, your finances, your happiness?

Many artists live in a dream-like visionary state – they dream about being on stage, being loved by their fans, getting recorded. But while those dreams can sometime fuel our art, they can also replace our creative action! That’s a problem we artists can fall prey to. It’s why I insist you must create and work your lists.

How can a list completely transform you? Putting it down on paper makes it real; your dreams no longer live in your head. Committing in writing is the first step to making things tangible and real. Make it so, because you say it so.

Here’s my formula: Marry the vision of who you want to become and the actual tangible to-do list of how you make it happen.

Start with a list of the 2 -3 things you’d like to be good at. Under each item, write 2 or 3 actions you can do each week to get better at that thing. What might be on your 2 to 3 list?

Ideas to Build Your List

• Your voice ~ vocal technique ~ practicing blues songs to improve your phrasing
• Your songs / songwriting ~ working on lyrics and new chord progressions to spice up your songwriting
• Playing an instrument ~ piano or guitar – pick one and go at it
• Working on performance for your songs ~ wanna be unbelievable on stage? Then be believable to yourself? What are the last vid’s you watched of your favorite artists? What were their moves? Did you make a note for yourself? Practice in front of the mirror? At band practice?

Let’s say you choose your voice as one area. What might you list as 2 to 3 actions you could take EACH WEEK to work on your voice?

Action Items for Your List

• Practice vocal technique 45 minutes 5 days per week
• Sing old blues songs 3 days per week to improve my phrasing and diction for contemporary music
  (HINT- Listen to old blues singers and copy what they are doing.)

This year, learn how to harness the power of your written word and the power of your spoken word. Remember: Make it so, because you say it so. Let your lists lead you to success through daily actions.