How To Make 2011 Your Year To Remember

by Cari Cole

There is nothing like progress in my music that puts a smile on my face faster. I’ve been at this for a very long time, longer than I’d like to admit. I’ve had major ups and major downs, and probably a lot like the rest of you, I was hooked from an early age. Music was always a balm for life, a refuge from the storm, my joie de vivre, and my compass. Friends and family would say I’m preoccupied and obsessed. I say – I’m driven.

This year I have a lot to celebrate. I have 2 songs in 2 Indie films (written for and with my artist Rainsford). One song is in Sundance (and I’m performing there accompanying my artist Rainsford on Jan 22nd) – and I’ve made major inroads with key industry players and have launched 2 successful programs online (Step Up to the Spotlight & Singers Gift Warmups) that have already changed artists’ lives, helped them win major competitions and gain serious ground in 2010! 2 Artists got signed, 4 got contracts with producers, one became famous, another artist reveled in her Grammy from 2009, 10 released records and 62 of them made significant progress with their music and careers.

I am now standing on fertile ground for 2011. I spent the last year building the Systems and Foundation for success to come… And it’s such a good feeling, I want you to have the opportunity to experience it for yourself!

Here are some key mindset shifts for how to set the stage, lay the groundwork and set up your foundation this year so you too can be on fertile ground at the turn of 2011 next year.

3 Mindset Shifts for 2011 ~ How to tip the scales and Make 2011 Your Year to Remember!

1. Take Your Music Very Seriously.When it comes to having a successful career in music, taking yourself seriously is a requirement – in craft and business that is. This is where the rubber meets the road and what separates the girls from women (and boys from men!). Why dip your toes in the water when you’ll get better results if you jump in? Are you afraid you may not make it, so you give it a half-hearted attempt? That way if you lose, you didn’t lose your pride? Are you holding back, afraid your efforts will be in vain? A surefire way to NOT be successful. A career in music requires one thing – discipline. Discipline means to become a disciple of your music. Doesn’t that sound awesome? Become a disciple of your music this year and you’ll never look back.

2. Take Off Your Rose Colored Glasses. Most of us go through life not looking it square in the face and quite frankly taking way too much personally. (If you have that issue – don’t we all – I highly recommend reading The Fifth Agreement by my good friend, don Miguel Ruiz – a Practical Guide to Self Mastery). Sometimes rose-colored glasses help people function (I admit I like to wear them from time to time). It helps to avoid depression and make the world seem better — it’s ok in doses. But.. when it comes to the nitty-gritty of your career and life, it’s important to take them off so you can see clearly. Seeing the real world around you (and I don’t mean the negative stuff) is the key to setting up the right structure so you can excel at your music. For instance, instead of wishing and hoping that the world would recognize your talent, you might create a strategy for what you want to accomplish this year. One of my students actually had a major breakthrough this year in this area. She realized that she was unintentionally allowing her life to distract her from digging in to her deeper work as an artist. That her social life was taking precedence over the work she needed to do for her career. So she made a conscious decision to change that this year, so she can move forward and she immediately experienced forward motion. She is learning to say no — more than yes– to anything that pulls her off her course. She is pointing her arrow to her goal and not letting anything get in the way this year. How did she do that? By taking off her rose colored glasses, and taking a long hard look at reality and firmly dedicating herself to her music. I can’t wait to see what she creates this year!

3. Do Things Differently Than Last Year. The definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over expecting the same results. So why not go for broke and dial in a totally new way of doing things for 2011? Start by taking an Assessment of the year past – what worked, what didn’t, and what could you improve? The best way to do that is to make a list. Did you know List Making is considered a strategy builder and is one of the most important things to do on a regular basis? I am constantly making lists and have a master To Do list that gets edited and updated once a week!

(1) Make a List:

a. What went well last year?

b. What didn’t work so well?

c. What could you improve?

d. What would make this year a home run?

(2) Get out your Calendar for 2011 and implement the To Do’s from above. Make it real by putting it on your schedule! Don’t worry if it’s not exactly scheduled perfectly – imperfect action gets you in motion toward your goals – just do it!

(3) Set a Goal for the year. My coach, Christine Kane sets a Word of the Year. Check out her Word of the Year conversation on her Blog here. Last year my word was “Systems.” I wanted to systematize my business and set up the foundations for it to run smoother and connect with my audience. We set up this Standing in the Spotlight Ezine that I’ve been writing for one whole year to you – every week! (no small effort). We created a new site, 2 online programs, The Ultimate Performer Programs for my one-on-one coaching, upped our presence on Social Media, and wrote over 100 songs with my artists. As a result I worked with 4 record labels, 5 major management companies and 10 producers brought me artists this year. Everything we did involved setting up a system (thanks to my VA’s Anne Braudy and Ann Pope) and boy, we probably could get a nod from Martha Stewart for our organizational efforts! Now, not only are things flowing more effortlessly, but almost on their own.

I’m working on my Word for 2011 – so excited to set the theme for next year.

What’s your Word of the Year for 2011? What do YOU want to create for your music and business this year?