J Michael Dolan

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THE LONG RUN (Read time 0:39)

In the old world, the big impossible dream was to make a

record, get it into the hands of an A&R person, fasten your

seatbelt and hopefully blast off to the stars. Today the

chances of that happening are non-existent because that ol

worn out, antique formula has reluctantly retired. Besides, the

result of that illusion left too many great artists frustrated,

angry and broke. In the new world, the big impossible dream is

a much smarter one: quit your day job and make a decent

living doing your art full timefor the rest of your life! If your

ship blasts to the stars thats great, but if it doesnt, youll still be very content raising your family, buying your

house and living the life of a crazy, genius artist. The chances of this impossible dream working out are very,

very goodso long as you simply follow your brain instead of your ego. Heres the new formula: work smarter

and grow slower. Its no longer about getting rich quick; its about creating great art, and building a career that

lasts a lifetime.

Well , we're scared, but we ain't shakin'

Kinda bent, but we ain't break in' in the long run,

Ooh, I want to tell you, it's a long run

The Eagles

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CREATIVITY TO THE RESCUE (Read time 2:07)

I love watching (and critiquing) the Grammys, and like

many of you, Ive been fortunate to be invited to the

ceremony many times over the years. This years

Do what 1000's of other c

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THE LONG RUN (Read time

CREATIVITY TO THE RESC

2:07)

Get The Picture? (Read time

THE RACER'S EDGE (Read

NEW RULES: No Way No H

0:27)

THE SMART MONEY (Read

YOURE CRAZY! (Read time

Marco Romano Bhimani

DANCING WITH YOUR DEV

time 0:39)

LIBERTY!

NO DOUBT (Read time 1:17

WHAT EVER YOU DO, DON

AROUND (read t ime :39)

2011 Pos GRAND FINALE!

2-DOZEN WAYS TO MAKE

YOU COULD DO THIS! (rea

SURVIVING JAPAN (read ti

DEAR PRUDENCE (read tim

COMPLAIN ALL YOU WANT

IMAGINE (read time :57)

WEEKENDS (read time :33)

Maroon 5 Creates Aids Qui

PIXAR LETTER (read time 1

RESISTANCE CAN KILL (rea

Amateurs vs . Pros (read tim

Home About Bio HOT Consulting Speaking Bookshelf Vide

J Michael Dolan


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the devastating, sad passing of Whitney Houston.

However, the following is one of the many behind-the-

scenes stories that folks shared with me over the

weekendone that didnt make it to the front page of

HUFFPO or the prime time of CNN.

Imagine the scene at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on the day before the Grammys. Its only 19 hours

until show time and the giant indoor arena is now filled with hundreds of production workers in a melee of

organized chaos: lighting crews, grips, sound engineers, camera operators, set carpenters, painters,

choreographers, costumers, etc . P lus, scripts are getting the final edits, teleprompters are being tested,

camera angles are being set, cues from audio techs are getting locked in, and artists are right in the middle of

rehearsing and perfecting their precious 3-minute segment. Nothing but excitement and enthusiasm fills the

room.

Suddenly the news about Whitney begins to spread through the entire arena and the mood quickly changes.

First question on every ones mind, how will this affect the show? (Of course across town theres another

drama unfolding at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, which is being broadcast on nearly every network.) However at the

Staples Center the big question sti ll remains, how is this going to affect a LIVE telecast with 25 mil lion

viewers? At this point the CBS suits and the Grammy brass collide (behind closed doors, away from the

press) on what to do next. The big question: How do we insert a heartful and acceptable tribute to Whitney

into an already tight schedule, without offending anyone or concerning the advertisers at this late date? Plus,

they were missing the reliable proven leadership of John Cossette who produced the previous 20 Grammy

telecasts, and sadly passed away earlier this year.

So who did they turn to when the challenge got big and the risks got huge? The Creatives thats who! The

writers, performers, musicians, sound engineers, designers, editors, producers, programmers, etc. They were

the ones who had to work together (through the night) to re-write, re-light, re-direct, re-time and re-invent the

broadcast to accommodate the sudden challenge of the tragedy. Thank God for the talented, creative artists,

because the VPs, CEOs, financiers, advertisers and investors cannot produce a movie, a record, a book, a

television commercial, or a Grammy telecast without them.

But thats what the creative pros in this business do. When the challenges arise, the first thing they naturally

do is access the field of ALL possibilities. Its in the DNA of all creative types; they live for this kind of moment!

Those that dont understand call i t winging it, but its not that at all. Its really innovation at its best. Turning

dross into gold, lemons into lemonade. If there were a rule book for these sorts of calamities, the suits would

surely follow it. But theres not. It was the creative, crazy geniuses (many employed by both the Grammy

organization and CBS television, and many of whom are my readers), who had to pull a rabbit out of a hat on

Sunday. And given the unique emotional circumstances, I think they pulled it off beautifully.

Isnt this why were attracted to this business in the first place? Because deep down inside we thrive on the

risks, the uncertainty, the pure creativity. Heck, to the pro artist & entrepreneur EVERYDAY is a Live TV

show! Thats why its good to remind each other every so often, that as artists & entrepreneurs, when a huge

challenge suddenly steps out on to the path in front you, (whether its suddenly re-writing a live 3-hour TV

show, or figuring out how to pay your rent), you have the gift of creativity and invention. And while others

frantically search for an imaginary rule book, the pro artist & entrepreneur confidently uses imagination,

ingenuity and intuition to access the field of all possibilities.

Think about that the next t ime you or your impossible projects are faced with unexpected calamity.

NOT DEAD YET (read time

REQUIEM FOR A HONEYMO

1:09)

CAN YOU FEEL IT? (read tim

BRANCUSI'S VICTORY CRY

Letter From Yoko Ono:

BONO FIGHTS FAMINE (rea

SAIL AWAY (read time :43

ARTISTS RULE! (read time 1

SWEET RELIEF (read time :2

USE IT OR LOSE IT (read tim

START HERE (read time 1:2

UNCERTAINTY (read time 1

INBOX (read time (1:03)

STOPPED BY CALAMITY (r

ART (read time :57)

AUDACIOUS & UNSTOPPA

2:37)

WRITERS BLOCK (read time

BLOW AWAY DISTRACTIO

:31)

WAY OF THE CREATIVE W

time :27)

GOOD BYE LADY LUCK (re

CONFIDENCE IS EVERYTHIN

1:23) DEADLINE OR DIE! (read tim

MUSIC PEOPLE ON CALL (r

THE WIZARDS CLOCK (rea

CREATIVE PRIVACY (read

THE KOBE IN ME (read time

READY, SET, GO! (read tim

James Taylor Guitar Lesson

EVE OF DISTRACTION (rea

KEEP YOUR FEET UP! (read

JUST ONE MORE FOOT (rea

THIERRY KAUFFMANN (rea

MY MUSE DOESN'T CARE MISUNDERSTOOD (read tim

DUMP IT! (read time 1:19)

IS IT WORTH IT? (read time

THE 24 HOUR RULE (read t

MONK ON THE MOUNTIAN

lifetime)

IT (read time 1:37)

BORN TO SHOW (read time

THE STING OF REJECTION

THE ACTORS FUND (read t

LESSON FROM A ROCK ST

sec)

THUMB POWER (read time

EXPOSING THE WIZARD (re

HEY, WHATS THE BIG IDEA

1:37) THE WAITING WARRIOR (re

PLAY AT YOUR OWN RISK

sec)

BON JOVI OPENS HIS SOU

sec)

A UTONOMY HIGHWAY (rea

LIMPIDITY (read time :45 se

ED NORTON MAKES A CRO

WHY I MEDITATE (read time

YOUR SHADOW AGENDA

WHY I SOLD MY BUSINESS

CELEBS STILL HAILING HA

sec)

FREE SOCKS! read time :47


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THE RACER'S EDGE (Read time 0:41)

What if someone steals my idea, or launches a s imilar competitive site, or they

write, record or create superior art? I hear those worries from my clients all thetimefrom film composers to CEOs. Its a troubling trap to compare your place in

the race with others. Thats why they put blinders on racehorsesso theyre not

distracted by the competition, and they can focus on the finish line. Some artists

& entrepreneurs I work with spend sleepless nights worrying about the competition

and fretting about the future, when they should be envisioning, imagining and

inventing ways to better serve their customers and fans, with outrageous products

and jaw dropping art. Your enemy is not the competition. The real enemies are indecision & uncertainty, which

is the result of losing the battle to doubt & fear. And doubt & fear are what keeps every crazy, genius A&E

tossing and turning all night. Right? The best hedge against the competition is to wear permanent blinders,

and the best way to gain the racers edge is to use focused intelligence.


NEW RULES: No Way No How! (Read time 0:27)

No Way No How, will I allow the pettiness of a fallen industry to

influence my creative career or rob me of my impossible dreams.

No Way No How, will I allow the constraints of money (either the

struggle of making it, or the fear of losing it) to steal away my creative

energy and distract me from my mission.

No Way No How, will I allow an antique group of technophobic

marketers, old-time promoters and egoic managers to direct my future and rep my brand.

No Way No How, will I allow gossip, rumors and hearsay to guide my choices and influence my decisions.

No Way No How, will I allow the Devil of Doubt or the Demon of Procrastination to stall or stop my worthwhile

projects.

I'm a dedicated artist and a committed entrepreneur and nothing will stop me from expressing and manifestingmy ideas, inventions, innovations and art!

The world's mine oyster, which I with sword will open.

Shakespheres The Merry Wives of Windsor, Act II, Scene II.


MY QUEST FOR BARENAKE

(read time 1:47 min)

THE FANTASIES OF POSSIB

5:17 min)

THE TUG OF WAR (read tim


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THE SMART MONEY (Read time 0:25)

In the 33 years I was CEO ofMusic Connection we interviewed thousands of the

most successful artists & entrepreneurs in the world. And the common

denominator that always bubbled up to the top, was that most successful A&E's

are in it because they dont have a choice, they have to do it, its about the

mission not the money. Given todays challenging economy, now is the perfect

time to make intelligent choices regarding your spending, reduce your debt, and

put your attention on making your impossible "mission" a reality. Screw what

you dont have and instead focus on what outrageous, fantastic, irresistible art,

products and services you can produce that will benefit and contribute to

everybody, instead of just making you rich! Do that and your customers and fans

will be banging down the door clamoring for more!


YOURE CRAZY! (Read time 1:19)

I first found out I was crazy when I discovered I couldnt stop the constant

stream of impossible dreams, crazy fantasies and unlimited possibilit ies

frolicking around between my ears. It began when Sister Thomas Francis

dragged me out of math class, marched me down the hall to an all girls

English lit class and insisted I stand in front of the room and read the

Kipling poem, Gunga Din in my best English accent. (She overheard me

singing Beatle songs (with an English accent) in the cafeteria and was

impressed.) I loved it! After that incident, my confidence kicked up a

notch. I joined a theater group, started a rock band, accepted my dads

offer to work in the movie studios, and thus sealed my destiny in showbiz

forever. And out of that excitement and enthusiasm about knowing

exactly what I wanted to do with the rest of my life the download began;

a relentless stream of crazy ideas, outrageous desires and impossible

dreams that has never stopped.

Same thing happened to you (and all artists & entrepreneurs). Perhaps not inspired by the great Rudyard

Kipling, but something profoundly influenced your destiny way back in the daya song, a movie, a book, a

teacher, an incident, that changed everything and opened the unceasing floodgates of unlimited possibilities.

From the moment you (inwardly) committed to an independent, entrepreneurial life of creativity, the download

began. A free-flowing, non-stop st ream of ideas, thoughts, inspirations, brainstorms, videos, music , rhymes,

lyrics, beats, money-making schemes, frightening visions of the future, light bulbs over the head and sudden

bursts of intuition delivered directly from the divine field of all possibilitiesthat has never stopped and never


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will. Others may view it as scattered and unfocused. Thats because they dont get it! Theyre the ones who

ask, where did you get that idea? How did you come up with those lyrics? What possessed you to start

your own business? Youre crazy because while others struggle for the right answers, youre content living in

a world of endless possibilities, and people just dont get that. Not even your therapist gets itunless shes

crazy too! The truth is, only other crazy artists & entrepreneurs really understand.

Youre crazy because deep down inside, you know that being an artist, an entrepreneur, is much more than a

simple calling or a chosen vocation. Its in fact, a never-ending monster mission that must be pursued with

ruthless intention, rigorous enthusiasm, reckless abandon, and too often, irresponsibility. Its a life that was

independently chosenby you, and its impossible for you to be whole or complete doing anything else.

Being an artist or an entrepreneur doesnt mean youre better, smarter, funnier, prettier, wiser or richer. It just

means that you chose the way of the lone pioneer. And while others believe that politicians lead the way, its

really the artists and entrepreneurs of the world that we all look up to, admire, praise, emulate and follow.

Stop questioning and doubting your sanity, and finally give yourself permission to be the crazy, creative genius

that you areno matter what others think! Youve been granted the gift of independent thinking and an

unstoppable flood of innovative ideas. And the only thing missing, that may be preventing you from realizing

more of the fruits of your creative endeavors, are courage and confidence. The courage to go after your

impossible dreams and the confidence to believe you'll succeed.

"Tho' I've belted you and flayed you,

By the livin' Gawd that made you,

You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din!"

Rudyard Kipling


DANCING WITH YOUR DEVOTEES (Read time 0:39)

Used to be trickle down coercion was what motivated us

to spend money and buy stuff. We were force-fed mega

advertising from the top down until we finally gave in and

bought the product; whether it was a lame record or a Ford

Explorer. Not anymore. Now it goes the other way...from

the bottom UP!

Thanks to Internet transparency, the concept of truth in

advertising has finally become a reality. And if your followers, fans and loyal tribe of customers discover that

your product or service is absolutely jaw-dropping, then they will spread the word faster than a 30-second

media spot. Truth is, if youre not stomping all over the old, worn out, antique methods of marketing your

products and promoting your art, and if you, as the leader of your world, are not willing to transform your

thinking from whats in it for me, to whats in it for all, then youre going to always be barely making it, and

forever struggling to keep up.


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If you want to make a decent living selling your art, you need to focus your energy on dancing with your

devotees.

Your thoughts?


LIBERTY!

Distractions begone! Procrastination bedamned! I'm a dedicated artist and a committed entrepreneur!

Let me do my work today!

Do you often feel the same way?


NO DOUBT (Read time 1:17)

In my 200 years of running a media company, consulting with CEOs and working

with artists, nothing Ive ever seen can take down a legend or stall the progress of

a promising fledgling faster than doubt. Doubt is deeper than worry, more viral than

certainty, rivals confidence and can indefinitely delay a worthwhile project with one

simple, sophomoric word, Really?

Doubts prey of choice is artists & entrepreneurs because theyre the ones who

play on the risky, skinny branches of life. Doubt causes CEOs of multi-billion

dollar corps to have sweaty, sleepless nights, and forces remarkable

unconventional, groundbreaking artists to toss in the towelor at least become so

scattered, unfocused and uncertain that absolutely nothing worthwhile gets

produced. And while the arch-rival of doubt may well be confidence, theres only

one thing that obliterates doubt quicker and more completely than anything else;

Commitment. Once commitment enters the ring, the odds of doubt even making

it through the first round are slim.

Commitment is finally arriving at that lucid, cocky, confident, place where you no longer allow the pettiness of

others, the immaturity of ego or the damaging effects of self-doubt to stop you from achieving your impossible

dream. Oh, the demon of doubt will always be lurking in the shadows like a terrorist waiting for his moment to

surface and strike. However to the degree that you are ruthlessly, ridiculously, and crazy-committed to doing

the work that needs to be done; whether its completing the album, finishing the script, writing the book,

leading your team or launching the site, to that degree the demon retreats into hiding like the rat he is!

Doubt what Im saying? Listen closely to the words of the great writer and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson as he

whispers his wisdom to us from the grave:


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Don't waste life in doubts and fears; spend yourself on the work before you, well assured that the right

performance of this hour's duties will be the best preparation for the hours and ages that will follow it.


WHAT EVER YOU DO, DON'T TURN AROUND(read time :39)

Keep looking forwardlooking back is a t rap. Plus it s not in

your DNA. Youre an artist, an entrepreneur, looking back only

gives you heartache. Why? Because your job is to look

forward, into a NON-EXISTENT futurea future that we depend

on YOU to create and manifest for us. A future filled with great

songs, exceptional soundtracks, inspiring stories, movingspeeches, phenomenal movies, encouraging books, award

winning screenplays, unique sculpture, expressive paintings,

breathtaking architecture, eye-popping websites and jaw

dropping mobile apps. Were certainly not depending on our leaders for that! Were depending on YOU, the

artist, designer, songwriter, scriptwriter, musician, author, director, producer, and courageous CEO. You

chose the path of the lone creative warrior and its your responsibility to create, manifest and contribute your

art & enterprise for the benefit of all of us! Were counting on you, the crazy, creative genius, to lead us into

the coming year. Do you accept the challenge?


GRAND FINALE!

Here we are at the grand finale of 2011, and I wanted to take a moment to thank you for being a part of my

awesome, crazy tribe of committed, foolhardy artists, entrepreneurs and big dreamers who have absolutely

ridiculous, utterly impossible goals and are nevertheless determined to achieve them!

My wish for you is that all of your biggest, most impossible dreams come true!

Peace & Love forever,

Michael


2-DOZEN WAYS TO MAKE 2012 BETTER!

Happy Holidays! I thought you might enjoy pondering my list of 2-dozen ways to make 2012 better, while


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youre celebrating with friends & family and eating leftover Tofurkey. Hope this is useful:

1. Make NO New Years Resolutions. Instead make intelligent choices. You already have a mission, your

impossible dream, commit to that for 2012.

2. Turn Off The News! Really, its the worst form of hypnotic poison and the most embarrassing product of

the entertainment industry. Say good-by to Wolf, Anderson, Storm, Erin, Piers, Forrest and all the other

talking heads with funny names. Allow others to gather around the TV and get stoned on the drama while you

respectfully step away and return to your studio, office or creative space. Youre an artist, an entrepreneur! You

have your own drama unfolding right in front of you; Your Art! Your Company! Your Project! And dont worry

about staying informed, if something critical happens youll rush to the TV for the latest info.

3. Re-Connect With Your Confidence. Confidence Is everything. It trumps experience, rivals talent and beats

the beans out of a good education. Re-read my blog Confidence Is Everything http://bit.ly/qXc9JY.

4. Get Real Healthy And Stay There. Exercise everyday and drink more (lemon) water. Plus, practice

Equipoise. Remain equally balanced with your mind, body and spirit.

5. Dont Immediately React to every digital poke, dont answer every text right away and dont automatically

jump at every FB friend request. And while youre at it, turn off the alert to your emails too. Youll be amazed at

how much more time youll have to spend on your art and your biz.

6. DONT FAKE IT! Keep your word. Become a count-on-able person.

People are attracted to the truth, especially these digital days when everything is so transparent. If you speak

the truth in your art, music , business, writing, etc. your fans and customers will follow you, support your

mission and join your tribe. If you try to hype it youll lose them forever.

7. READ At Least 5-BOOKS In 2012: You can handle that, right?Good books contain a treasure of inspiring, intelligent knowledge from so many selfless, brilliant experts.

Check out my personal bookshelf for some titles that have moved my world. http://bit.ly/uLMviZ.

8. Help Others Triumph: Give more of yourselfyes, especially in these tough times. Your listening, time,

money, art, contacts, coaching, empathy, etc. could easily change someones life forever. Giving and receiving

are different aspects of the same energy. And in our willingness to give that which we seek, we keep that

energy circulating in our lives. Make sense?

9. Transform Your Goals from possible to IMPOSSIBLE! Make them outrageously HUGE! In my world, a

dream is not worth it unless its impossible. Because in my world, ANYTHING is possible!

10. Detachment: Remain detached from the outcome: Youre an artist and unlike others, you are privileged to

have a stream of ideas & possibilities constantly flowing through you. In detachment lies the wisdom of

uncertainty. And in the wisdom of uncertainty lies the freedom from our past, from Certainty, which for an

artist or entrepreneur is the worst kind of prison. Kapeesh? Re-read my 1-minute blog Uncertainty

http://bit.ly/rYYpIf.

11. Keep Your Boots Muddy. Practice Practice Practice Practice Practice! Do the work and get your 10,000

hours in. If you dont know what that means read Malcolm Gladwells book Outliershttp://amzn.to/sucy8A


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12. Join My Tribe. Its free & easy: http://bit.ly/sB7dof

13. Grow Your Tribe and invite me to join. Whether youre an artist or entrepreneur or both, if you want to

make a decent living at this youre going to need a tribe, a fan base and a following. Watch this Seth Godin

video on tribes http://bit.ly/uyu0eH.

14. Become A Fact Freak NOT A Gossip Whore: Avoid the virus of gossip, hearsay, rumor and scuttlebutt.

And dont spread the virus of gossip, heresy, rumor and scuttlebutt. REACT to the FACTS!

15. Improve Your Computer/Tech Skills. Theres no excuse. Todays learning curves are much shorter and

the technology is much easier to learn. Youre smart, you can do this.

16. Make Up Your Own Prayerto who ever you call Godthen say it every morning.

17. Dont Worry About The Economy, its out of your control. Just make intelligent choices regarding your

spending, reduce your debt, and re-read #2.

18. Watch Your Words. Be vigilant what you say to people and how you say itespecially with short people

under 12. Your words are soooo powerful!

19. Shhhhh...Listen more...

20. Avoid Angry, Abusive Energy, plus people, movies, books, TV etc. Why absorb that negative energy

into your system? Youre an artist, you already have plenty of mixed-up, crazy, kinky energy bubbling up

inside you!

21. Prepare For Battle! The 3-heartless enemies of every artist and entrepreneur are waiting to take you on

every day: Procrastination, Distraction and Doubt. When you hear the bell, come out swinging!

22. Re-Think Karma. No debt in the universe EVER goes unpaid! "Every action generates a force of energy

that returns to us in like kind...what we sow is what we reap. And when we choose actions that bring

happiness and success to others, the fruit of our karma is happiness and success." Deepak Chopra

23. Dont Do Anything Stupid! Youre an artist, an entrepreneur, although its a tough row to hoe, its

nevertheless the only life for you. Dont screw it up!

24. Hire Me for a 1-shot consult. If you do, I promise you wont regret it. If you dont youll always be

wondering. http://bit.ly/rsAXjI.

BONUS #25!

Meditate! Learn to tame the beast between your ears. Ive said it a million times, I began meditating daily in

1985 and the balance Ive found in my life between the hoopla of rock & roll and the silence of my soul is

astounding. Im not sure who I would be without this one simple practice in my life. If youre a member of my

tribe Ill be glad to send you my personal guide to a simple meditation practice. Just drop me a note:

[email protected]. Again, you must be a member of my tribe (see #12)

Happy, Happy Holidays Great Readers! And remember, dont do anything stupid!


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DEAR PRUDENCE (read time :43)

This past year while The Prudent allowed themselves to be distracted by

Facebook, Wolf Bli tzer and Angry Birds, The Committed allowed

themselves to be consumed with their art, engulfed in their work and overrun

with too many creative ideas.

While The Prudent remained confused about the economy and anxious

about the future, The Committed were at work growing their company,

upgrading their websites and investing in exciting new ventures.

While The Prudent were hooked by the petty politics of the day, The

Committed were making tough choices, confronting impossible decisions and taking big risks.

While The Prudent were complaining about how hard it is to make it, especially in these tough times,The

Committed were designing new products, placing new songs, publishing new books and writing inspiring

screenplays.

While The Prudent scratched their heads and wondered what to do next, The Committed were forming

partnerships, making agreements, signing contracts and cashing checks. ..often BIG ones.

And while The Prudent pause (at the end of the year) to admire their prudent work, The Committed work to

improve theirs.

However not to worry, theres always next year.


COMPLAIN ALL YOU WANT! (read time :23)

As the CEO of a small publishing corp for 33 years, I ultimately got fed up

listening to people complain. So I finally took a stand and wrote a new

mantra: You have a request Im all ears, you wanna complain Im not

listening!Life and business changed after that and I learned a valuable

lesson: Complaining provokes reaction, however requesting invites resolve.

A request guarantees one of three responses: an acceptance, a counter-

offer, or a denial. A complaint prolongs the debate and inevitably invites a

combative reactionwhich costs t ime and money. Make sense?

Therefore, when dealing with your staff, customers, fans, bandmates,

manager, agent, publisher, producer, partners, distributors, investors...even friends and family, YOU be the one

committed to resolvin the dis ute not the one tr in to win itso that ou can finall et back to runnin


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,

your company, working on your art and creating something worthwhile!

Care to comment?


IMAGINE (read time :57)

Imagine a new world where you were encouraged to create, innovate,

invent and manifest something different, unproven and risky. Where you

were not only hailed for making a profit, but also acknowledged for

making a difference.

Imagine a new world where record companies could no longer pillage

a whopping 77% of your hard earned, well deserved cash, then rip off

your fans with high-priced product.

Imagine a new world where publishing companies did not decide how

your art is marketed, who uses your music, what articles and graphics get published or what chapters get

deleted from your book.

Imagine a new world where you have the choice to run a business, produce a record or publish a book from

your kitchen table...in your PJs.

Imagine a new world where you were encouraged NOT to make a five-year plan, simply because there were

too many fast-changing factors and endless possibilities that lie in your futureanxiously awaiting your arrival.

Imagine a new world where you could attract thousands or even millions of customers and fans without any

salespeople or advertising. A tribe of devotees that follow you because they like what you do, use your

products and services and enjoy your art. NOT because they were provoked or manipulated by mass media

marketing.

Imagine a new world where if you wanted to continue to manifest, express and profit from your creative

offerings, you had no other choice but to respectfully (and courageously) walk away from the old world and

embrace the new one.

Imagine you were reading this message from a device that you were holding in your hand that was connected

to the entire world what would you do next?

You may say Im a dreamer, but Im not the only one...John Lennon


WEEKENDS (read time :33)


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our use s a war w e emon o s rac on an ey re o

fighting to get your attentionespecially on the weekend! The Demon of

Distraction knows when the weekend is near because he can sense it in

your excited anticipation. However, your Muse doesnt own a calendar

and could care less what day it is. Her only mission is to get her ideas,

visions, designs, lyrics and innovations into your thick skull24/7.

Reminder: Youre an artist, an entrepreneur, and you already know that the only way to beat the beast is

BATTLE! Dont fall victim to the petty temptations of distraction. Remain focused on your work, your art, andcontinuously recommit to your impossible dream. And never forget that your Muse, your creative spirit, your

inner warrior and the entire Divine universe is on your side...me too.


PIXAR LETTER (read time 1:03)

I recently received an email which included this hand-written letter from PixaranimatorAustin Madison who

shares his wisdom and experience with aspiring artists, in a bid to inspire them through times of creativedrought. It's an eloquent letter, and in fact contains advice which is valuable to ALL artists & entrepreneurs. I

hope you find it as inspiring as I do:


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RESISTANCE CAN KILL (read time 1:37)

Just came home after 3 days in the hospitalbig bad car crash.

Broke 6 ribs and fractured my sternum, OUCH! They say the air

bag saved my life. They also say that the fact that I didnt see it

coming may have contributed to fewer injuries because I was

completely relaxed, therefore I put up NO RESISTANCE. The big

lesson here for all of us artists & entrepreneurs is that resistance

can take you out of the game or critically injure a creative project.

And while its true that resistance can show up anytime during

the creative process, it s also true that it shows up the strongest

the closer you get to the destination; the final edit of the film, the last verse of the song, the closing chapter of

the book, the looming launch date of a new site, the last signature on the contract or in my case 1/2 mile from

home. The fear of getting it wrong or making a stupid decision will inevitably invite resistance to the party and

then everything changesbecause resistance and fear are inseparable brothers. Like Marine Corps buddies,

whenever fear is present resistance is always there to back up his bro. However, make no mistake, resistance

and fear are the mortal enemy of the true artist & entrepreneur, and will do anything to derail the creative

process and take the artist out of the game. And it gets worse: unlike the unaware victim of a car accident

(me), artists & entrepreneurs DO see it coming, therefore its much more of a challenge to NOT tense up in

anticipation of the crash.

Heres the good news: there IS a defense against the beast of resistance and its a very simple one: the thing

to do when the monster shows up is to notice it, observe it, watch it, even point to it If you can. Just the simple

act of acknowledging the inner beast (and admitting that its got a temporary grip on you) will help diminish its

strength and provide you with a little more power and clarity over the situation. All the great sages and swamis

tell us that the deathblow to resistance and fear is Truth. Therefore if you can manage to look beyond the fear

and stand toe-to-toe with the beast youll begin to realize that what youve been resisting is Maya, the

madness of the mind, which most often has no reality attached to it at all.

The truth is youre an artist, an entrepreneur, and (unlike others) when YOU are faced with impossible

challenges, youre also blessed with an arsenal of creative solutions and unlimited possibilities that can help

you break down the walls of resistance and crash through the most fearful situations.

Make sense? I look forward to reading your feedback while I mend my broken bones...and ego:-)

By the way, don't forget to buckle up!


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ay orwar , sen s ar c e o a r en

Amateurs vs. Pros (read time :57)

Amateurs use procrastination to hide from the angst, effort and challenge of

creating something from nothing. Pros know procrastination well, having lost

and won many gallant battles, and yet they continue to soldier on.

Amateurs permit distractions to steal their attention away from the art and

work that is beckoning their concentration. Pros turn off, shut out and disallow

any distractions to thwart the task at handto the point of being rude. Then

they take on the inner battles of the creative process with precision and focus;

whether it be a song, a screenplay or a business venture.

Amateurs believe it when the demon of doubt delivers a devastating blow to their creative abilities, and it often

takes weeks or months for their fragile ego to recover. Pros confidently allow the demon of doubt to declare his

forecast of doom, all the while knowing (from experience) that the shallow criticisms of the inner beast are

meaningless and futile.

The big difference between Amateurs and Pros has nothing to do with talent. In fact there are far more talented

amateurs waiting in the wings than there are successful pros currently working. The difference between the two

is the courage and willingness to soldier on and fight the inner battles that only true artists and entrepreneurs

are privileged to be charged with.

Im not funny, what I am is brave!Lucille Ball

Your thoughts?


REQUIEM FOR A HONEMOON (read time 1:09)

My wife and I are currently in India for a few weeks attending the wedding of

my dear friend Mukul. Weddings in India are a HUGE event and this particular

celebration will see nearly 800 people in attendance. That big of an audience

requires weeks of planning, scheduling, organizing, coordinating and

rehearsing. Eventually, all the preparations will lead up to Showtime when


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,

by reciting a litany of ancient marriage vows and claim his wife as his very

own. Then finally, after all the curry and naan bread has been devoured, and

the lights go out on the dance floor, all 800 guests will return to their homes

and villages, and Mukul and his beautiful bride Neha will embark on a romantic

honeymoon in Paris. A beautiful love story indeed.

However, while the prep is very similar, the artist's love story is much different. After weeks of planning,

scheduling, organizing, coordinating and rehearsing, eventually it will all lead up to Showtime when the artist

will take the stage and wow the crowd with her unique form of creative expression. After that, the lights will go

down, the doors will close and the audience will return to their homes and villages. However, as opposed to

enjoying a lovely honeymoon, the artist will be left alone, to begin the process all over again.

The true artist never stops. When the audience has finally gone home and is sound asleep, the mind of the

artist is still awake, creating, imagining and dreaming an impossible dream. The only real honeymoon for the

artist is to just keep working, keep growing, keep learning and keep improving her artin preparation for the

next Showtime. A beautiful honeymoon indeed.

Care to comment?


CAN YOU FEEL IT? (read time 1:47)

Payback Day has finally arrived for the true artist & entrepreneur. No

longer will a deceitful industry dictate to an artist how it will be. Sc rew the

archaic protocols of the past. Screw the business bloggers and music

critics who repeatedly forecast a future of doom. And screw the dying

gate-keepers who once prevented you from exploiting your art or business

to a huge audience.

Thanks to the many creative geniuses who have contributed so much in

our lifetime; tech-geeks like Steve Jobs, bio-geeks like Bruce Lipton,

guru-geeks like Deepak Chopra, psyche-geeks like David Hawkins,

marketing-geeks like Seth Godin and inventor-geeks like Ray Kurzweil.

Thanks to them and many others, we are all now profoundly connected to

each other. And our awareness level has been kicked up a notchcan

you feel it? Can you sense a shift in the wind?

As we witness awesome breakthroughs in new technology everyday, and as we see the pillars of established

enterprise begin to weaken and crumble, the world is slowly beginning to see thru the old worn out


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. , ,

writers, editors, programmers, inventors, philosophers, poets, songwriters, script-writers, story tellers,

directors, producers, thought-leaders, creative thinkers and innovative entrepreneurs who are leading the way

to a more transformed world.

The human family is now eagerly inviting (rather depending upon) all creative entrepreneurs and artists to put

their ass on the line, take big creative risks and inspire, teach, entertain, lead and motivate us with their

impossible visions, fantastic inventions, intuitive technology and extraordinary productionsfor the benefit of

ALL of us...with no one left out!

Are you ready for such a shift? As a creative person, can you see the unlimited opportunities that are staring

you right in the face? Are you prepared to boldly manifest your most outrageous ideas and impossible dreams

for the benefit of all of us?

Listen once again, as the great Irish Nobel Prize winning poet and philosopher, George Bernard

Shaw whispers to us from the deep silence of his grave: I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the

whole community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. Life is no brief candle to

me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got a hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as

brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations."


BRANCUSI'S VICTORY CRY (read time :57)

Once the great Romanian artist Constantin Brancusi finally battled his

way through poverty, resistance, fear and doubt, he planted his flag atop

the highest peak of riches and fame and shouted his most profound

victory cry so that all artists & entrepreneurs throughout eternity could

learn the great secret of how to be victorious:

"Create like a god! Command like a King! Work like a Slave!"

Create like a god: Make something from nothing and create with

abandon. Get out of the way and allow IT to come through you: songs,

books, scripts, scores, products, start-ups, designs, photography,

videos, websites, television shows, movies, art, inventions, new

technology, etc. Be mindful of when doubt and fear sabotage the flow of great ideas, and learn to create a

clearing for creative inspiration to flow through you like the blood pumping in your veins!

Command like a King: With intelligence, confidence, and your own style of cockiness, forever ban pettiness

and ego from your creative world and insist that all those who work at your side and participate in your projects

demonstrate unwavering loyalty, honesty, commitment and integrityor theyre out!

Work like a Slave: The biggest insult you can say about a successful person is they were lucky. Theres no

such thing as luck, its an old worn out myth! The only reason professional artists & entrepreneurs achieve

success is because they take big risks and work their ass off! They've learned that the only way to achieve

their grand desires and impossible dreams is to remove their socks, walk across the hot coals, and DO THE

WORK! And while the amateur pauses to admire his creation, the professional works to improve his...and

never stops improving it!


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Your thoughts?


SAIL AWAY (read time :43)

As I write this note on my iPad, Im stuck for the

words to properly acknowledge Steve Jobs. For the

past 24 hours, so many have said it much better than

I ever could. Ive been slower today, quieter. Like

when Lennon and George left. I began the day at 4

am with a longer than usual meditation and its now

4:30 pm (pst), and it feels like I havent yet left that

space of deep silence. Steve Jobs was one of my

greatest gurus, a teacher in so many ways. I read

almost everything he wrote and have seen almost every one of his presentations (not to mention gave him

most of my hard earned cash). He epitomized and cast in stone the true meaning of what it is to be an artist &

entrepreneur. He made such an impact on my life, and my business (and so many billions of others around the

world) that the only way I (we) can truly honor the man is to attempt to follow one of his greatest and most

popular teachings:

Why Join The Navy If You Can Be A Pirate?


ARTISTS RULE!(read time 1:23)

Saturday Night Live Producer Lorne Michaels once said: They dont call

it Show Art they call it Show Business,and he was right...at the

time. But not anymore! More then ever showbiz today is less about the

industry manipulating the artist and more about the artist owning their

career. However, the biggest problem that faces most artists today is

not the constraints or deceptions of a transforming industry, the biggest

challenge that faces most artists today is freedom!

Used to be that artists were beholding to the tower for everything, from

balancing the books to promoting the show. And the truth is, that made

life easier, freeing artists to concentrate on their art, and leave the left-

brain responsibilities to the company (who in turn, screwed the artist

out of millions). Fact is, artists today now have total autonomy and freedom to assemble their own

management/marketing team and design their own destiny (I.E. Adele). Thats bad news for the o'l time gate

keepers who continue to resist the technology of the day, and good news for the artist who embraces the new

showbiz with intelligence, confidence and rigor. There are so many opportunities and possibilities for talented,


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creative, artists & entrepreneurs today, that theres only one person to blame for not making a decent career of

itbecause you can no longer continue to blame an archaic, antiquated system. For pity's sake, youre sitting

right in front of a device thats connected to the entire world! Are you using it to produce your product, share

your art, exploit your talent and educate yourself? Or are you the victim of procrastination; still kvetching that

technology is not your thing, waiting for the industry of the past to magically manifest your dreams of the

future?

Thank God for the intelligent, creative artists & entrepreneurs today, because the banker, financier or investor

cannot produce a movie, a record, a book, a television commercial, or even a You Tube video without them. If

nothing else know this: extraordinary talent and jaw-dropping, innovative projects rule the roost today, and if

youre smart...if you employ all of the available tools of modern technology, and if you surround yourself with a

trusted team of astute advisors and committed coaches, you do have a shot at achieving your impossible

dream.


USE IT OR LOSE IT(read time :53)

The inspiration for a great idea doesnt linger, and a light bulb over the

head doesnt stay lit forever. When an idea, vision or melody begins to

bubble up inside, you must act on it soon or it will slowly find its way to

another artist who will. Thats not to say you have to jump on every idea

you have. It just means that if you snub it, youll lose itsimply because

there are far too many distractions and excuses that arise at the same

time that will eventually thwart it. Make sense? You cant surrender to

the dog Procrastination. When inspiration hits, youve got to grab the

bucket and start sloshing color all over the canvas. Youre an artist, an entrepreneur, your first reaction to

inspiration and intuition is much more acute then others. Why? Because youre a channel for a never-endingflow of creative thinking, and your (uncertain) independent, artistic lifestyle depends on your ability to download

and process good ideas and great visions. Thats why you chose to be an artist or entrepreneur in the first

place (or rather, IT chose you)because its rooted in your being, its embedded in your DNA, its your Karmic

Dharma! So the best thing to do when a great idea unexpectedly arrives: honor it, respect it, be grateful for it,

and use it to make something extraordinary.

Your Thoughts?

8 commentsPay it forward, send this article to a friend

START HERE (read time 1:27)

Its not the art you create or the music you write or the business you run

youre really good at all that. Its the resistance to actually starting the

next project. Unfortunately the beast of resistance is so sly he can

convince even the most committed artists and entrepreneurs to avoid

starting just a li ttle while longer:


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Perhaps you should clean the studio before you begin working.

Maybe nows a good time to scan through the emails.

Youve got the rest of the week to prepare that presentation.

First go run errands, then come back and start the project.

Ring a bell? The brute called Resistance will stop at nothing to prevent you from taking even one step toward

your next project. However, the professional artist knows that the conflict between starting the work and

avoiding it takes place on the inner battlefield, and that the only way to win the war is to get into the studio and

start creating. And the professional entrepreneur knows that his place is at the helm of the company breaking

through opposition, confronting indecision, staring resistance in the face and doing the work.

Kind of like, continuing to put on your tennis shoes, at the same time the beast of resistance relentlessly

recites a litany of reasons why you dont have to jog today.

All that said, go up and ask ANY artist or entrepreneur if this daily battle is worth it, and youll get a loud

resounding, Are you crazy! Of course its worth it!Because the professional knows that once you defeat the

mighty demon of resistance, youre on your way to a glory thats only reserved for the battle-worn warrior.

Once you actually START, and begin doing the work, youre in your own worldat one with your task, giddywith your art, lost in your dance. Once you commit, and the tip of the brush finally touches the canvas,

everything changes and youre in the zoneand once youre in the zone, as Deepak Chopra would say, youve

entered the quantum field of ALL possibilities!

Ive said it many times: youre not alone. Every artist and entrepreneur in the world, successful or not, knows

exactly what you go through to maintain your adventurous, risky lifestyle. Dont forget, if resistance couldnt be

ass-kicked, there would be no Van Gogh, no Beatles, and no Steve Jobs!

Your Thoughts?


UNCERTAINTY (read time 1:19)

The biggest challenge for the artist & entrepreneur is

uncertainty, because creativity itself is uncertain. The

very nature of creativity is uncertainty. Otherwise it

wouldnt be called creativityit would be called certainty.

When an artist approaches the canvas with a dripping

brush, shes uncertain. When a songwriter jots down a

lyric, hes uncertain. When an entrepreneur makes a tough

decision, shes uncertain. And when a manager assures

his client that everything will be ok, hes really uncertain.

A person with a real job wakes up in the morning into certainty; a start time, an end time, and a paycheck.

When an artist or entrepreneur wakes up in the morning, uncertainty is sitting impatiently at the foot of the bed

with a list of unfinished works and unsolved mysteries...that only creativity can solve. And you can forget the


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certainty of a paycheck!

So the t ruly committed artist and the most successful entrepreneur live in a perpetual state of uncertainty. No

wonder theyre always a little edgy, no wonder they have quirky personalities, no wonder they rarely have time,

and no wonder...everyone loves them.

Certainty is safe and dependableUncertainty is risky and speculative.

Certainty makes folks feel comfortableUncertainty makes folks squirm a little.

So much we can learn from UncertaintySo much we already know about Certainty.

Uncertainty includes ALL possibilitiesCertainty is limited to those options that are Certain.

The capricious works of Uncertainty may keep fans & customers curious and coming back for more.

The predictability of Certainty may bore fans & customers into moving on...in search of Uncertainty.

Its Certainly possible that your degree of success as an artist or entrepreneur is in direct proportion to your

willingness to accept and embrace Uncertainty.

Of course, Im not certain about any of this, how about you?


STOPPED BY CALAMITY (read time 1:37)

If you scan through the comments of my last blog Art youll come across

a message from a reader named Tom who posted a simple but profound

comment, But when the entrepreneur is bleeding money and the artist can

no longer buy art supplies it's a sad day indeed. I sat with this comment

for a few days, until a response finally began to bubble up.

First of all its well known that when he couldnt afford brushes, the

emotionally tormented Vincent Van Gogh made his own, with sticks and

horsehair. Proving that if youre a true committed artist or entrepreneur,

NOTHING can stop the creative urge within from getting out. Actually, you

have no choice. Like a raging, rushing river, the torrential flow of great ideas

and pure creativity MUST find its way through the rocky resistance of fear

and doubt in order to ultimately arrive at the ocean of expression. Give up,

and that river dams up somewhere deep within the dark, inner world of the

artist causing frustration, resentment, envy, anger, and too often, resignation.

While it s true that money, whether you have too much or too little, can often be a contributing factor in stalling

or pausing a worthwhile creative project or career, its also true that the persistent unwavering Muse of

creativity cannot be stopped by the crush of financial calamity or the pettiness of egoic behavior. The Wall

Street Journaland E-News Dailyare filled with stories of rich and famous artists & entrepreneurs who are

buried deep with money problems and personal crisis. Yet the best of them rise again and often do their best

creative work evereven while their personal lives are spinning out of control in a whirlwind of upset and

turmoil. How do you think those artists & entrepreneurs can still focus creatively and work at the top of their

game with all that personal distraction going on? Because somehow, some way (perhaps thru coaching,


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therapy, meditation, etc.) theyve learned how to leave all that drama outside the doorwhen they enter the

studio, walk on the set, pick up the brush, or call the meeting to order. Thats what separates the haves from

the have-notsthe courage and fortitude to just do the work, and relentlessly go for the impossible dream,

even in the face of adversity. And dont think that just because they have money they can buy their way out of

woes and heartache. We may perceive them as happy and successful, but they too fight the same inner

demons as you and Idemons that cannot be bought or bribed---fear, resistance, doubt, uncertainty, lack of

confidence, worry, etc .

Mohammad Ali once said: I hated every minute of training, but I thought, dont quitsuffer now and live the

rest of your life as a champion.''

I guess the message for Tom is this: Do whatever it takes to survive and care for your family, but never give up

your dream. When the entrepreneur is bleeding, grab a band-aid and get back in the game. And when theres

no money for brushes, grab a stick and a handful of horsehair. Because nothing, neither inner demons nor

outer calamity can stand in the way of a jaw dropping idea, an inspiring soundtrack, a breathtaking piece of art

or an innovative, worthwhile business venture.

How would you respond to Tom's comment?


ART (read time :57)

Art is NOT in the eye of the beholder like some would say. Rather art is the

heart and soul of the artist, living at risk. Its the blisters on the fingertips of the

guitarist, the steady hand of the painter and the filthy fingernails of the

sculptor. Art is the skilled precision of the bassist, the surgical timing of the

drummer and the naked emotions of the singer. Its the angst of the writer, the

eye of the designer, the ear of the producer and the skilled savvy of a good

manager. Art also lives in the fearless entrepreneur who willingly puts at risk

who she is, for who she could become. Art begins with spontaneous

inspiration from who knows where, and ends when the artist says its finished. Art dwells patiently in the

deepest part of the soul wondering with uncertainty whether it will ever get the chance to be noticed, let alone

loved. However, the artist has an enemy. The enemy is neither the self-serving critic nor the unimpassioned

financier. Arts regal foe is the demon of doubt; tempting and taunting the artist to back down, give up and do

something more meaningfulmore responsible. When that happens, the true artist, the courageous

entrepreneur, the creative professional knows exactly what to do. They put on their boots, grab their shovel and

get back to work. Its the only way they can ever get closer and closer to their impossible vision.

What kind of an artist are you? How do you defeat the demon of doubt?


AUDACIOUS & UNSTOPPABLE (read time 2:37)

Back in the day (circa 1981), all of us in the media had our eyes and ears keenly


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focused on the rapidly emerging Rap scene...actually it was a movement. The

crusade was desperately culture-driven so not everyone could relate. However, the

contentious rhymn message was clear, as it rode on the back of one of the deepest

driving downbeats ever recorded (at the time). An annoying, electronic chest thumping

beat so low, and so deep it would rattle the contents of the glove box in the car next

to you. The music itself was unique enough, however its rapid growth was

astounding. It was socially viral, before viral socialism was even born, and certainly

before Zukerberg was born. Back then, Rap music was the only music ever to achieve

astronomical sales figures with little or no airplay and absolutely zero tour support.

Why do you suppose that is? How do you suppose Rap ever got so HUGE, without following the traditional

marketing ploys of the day?

Here Are 2 Essential Lessons Every Artist & Entrepreneur Can Learn From Early Rappers:

1) AUDACIOUS INVENTORS

Early rappers remained unbelievably dedicated to their newfound expression, the art of rhyme. They were not

going for world domination, they werent headed to the Staples Center or Carnegie hall, and they were not

interested in the SoundScan tally at Tower Records. The commitment was to just keep writing, keep

expressing, keep rhyming, keep improving, and keep inventing. Remember, they werent just taking R&B to a

new level, or simply playing an off-street style of rock. They were inventing something totally new, that no artist

before them had ever done. They were innovating before the word became so popular. And as a result, they

not only built a following, they built a tribe. This was long before Myspace, Youtube, Facebook, Twitter,

Linkedin and Seth Godin, and it was definitely before Google!

The lesson here is to stay focused on producing outrageous, impossible, extraordinary art, music, products,

services, websites, networks, etc. Venture outside the accepted confines of normal behavior. Dont just make

a better APP; create one we cant live without! Dont just write another rock ballad, reinvent the genre! Thats

what Rappers did. They invented a new sound, a new category, a new Billboard Chart...heck, they even

invented a new fashion trend right under the radar of Vogue and Prada. They knew they couldnt compete withmainstream Pop, so they didnt even try. They were using the Blue Ocean Strategy before that methodology

was ever contrived!

When I was CEO ofMusic Connection, I kept looking for better ways to make our mag, our product, our

service even better. While others on the team are figuring out how to market it, someone has to be in the

production room or studio constantly improving it. There can be no pause here. Youve got to keep working and

improving your art or product. Really good is no longer acceptable. Heck, great only gets a quick glance. We

expect extraordinary today. We expect our jaw to hit the floor and our eyebrows to hit the ceiling! We expect

Audacious!

2) UNSTOPPABLE

Rappers never quit. They never gave up. Mainstream media totally reamed rap a new one in the beginning, but

Rappers never quit. TV news blamed Rap as the source of violence in our cities. Rappers never quit. White

folks were afraid of it. Rappers never quit. Politicians publicly condemned it. Rappers never quit. Pop

musicians were threatened by it. Rappers never quit. Policemen demanded that Rappers cease and desist

because they were afraid of being targeted. Rappers never quit. Parents demanded that their teenagers never

listen to that devils music. Rappers never quit. Womens rights organizations insisted that Rap lyrics openly

degraded women. Rappers never quit. Rappers never quit. And like a slow moving ocean swell headed toward

a crowded shore, Rap music kept growing and growing and growing until it garnered a tsunami of followers

from coast to coast...still with little airplay and no touring. Then and only then did MTV have no choice but to


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start airing (soft core) Rap. Then and only then did RUN-DMC and Aerosmith create their breakthrough Walk

This Way video (1986). Then and only then, after it had become so clear that Rap wasnt going away, did it

become cooler to love it, then it did to resist it. The lesson: Never quit no matter what.

If your company, group, start-up, band or Corp wants to continue to grow and survive in this uncertain

economy, it may not be a bad idea to swing your Long Tail strategy in the direction of a proven path. Follow

the tracks that the inventors of Rap laid for us over 20 years ago, and build...rather invent something

extraordinary, not just a new way of doing the same thing. Grow your tribe slow, without urgency. And never,

never, never quit no matter what.

Enjoy this great video memory: The classic 1986 Rap/Rock face off between RUN-DMC and

Aerosmith, Walk This Way. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4B_UYYPb-Gk


WRITERS BLOCK (read time 1:47)

Calling it "writers block makes it sound like a privileged, private club for writers who

have their own exclusive excuse to not do their worklike a secret handshake. Doesnt

it sound so very narcissistic? "I am a writer, therefore I suffer from a recurring disease

called writers block . It s very painful and there really is no cure...sorry, you wouldnt

understand." It's a statement told by a victim, filled with ego and loaded with excuses!

Truth is, if there is such a thing as writers block, then it should be called "Creative

Block because you can't exclude musicians, songwriters, painters, sculptors,

designers and entrepreneurs.

In my second book, Mastering Showbiz, I wrote, Creative block is simply the head interfering in what the heart

wants to say. Its an internal dilemma caused by either allowing yourself to be distracted, giving way to

resistance or succumbing to procrastination.

Any way you look at it, the enemy is our relentless chattering mind, which constantly questions and doubts

every step we take, every thought we think and every choice we make, to the point of creative exhaustion. I

recently got a tweet from the recording artist Pink, who asked if there was a remedy for writers block. The truth

is, the only remedy that has ever worked for me is meditation. I take 30 minutes (almost) every day to calm

down the bully between my earsIve been doing it for over 25 years. Ive learned that when my mind

continues to aimlessly chatter away, my creative muse cant possibly break thru the sticky silly putty of all my

thoughts. So when it all starts to get to the point where my crazy thoughts are getting in the way of my

creative projects, I have to apply a little self-disciplineso I meditate. Even when the beast within insists Im

wasting my time, I meditate anyway. If youre interested, check out my 1-minute blog Why I Meditate. That

said, when the bully in your brain is on the warpath, just surrender. To the degree you simply allow your

persistent thoughts to be, to that degree they will eventually give way to inspiration, intuition and wisdom.

It doesnt matter if youre a writer, an artist, a musician or an entrepreneur; youre still a creative professional.

And pros always know the exact, precise spot where the rubber meets the road. Why? Because they take

that rough bumpy ride down resistance highway every day.


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shows up at the Academy Awards and claims the credit right on TV, saying I feel so LUCKY to be among

such a talented group of nominees.

So its time to let her go. I know, I know shes been there (hiding in the shadows) all your life, but shes too

elusive and unreliableshes a flake at best and the truth is she only exists when you say she does. Plus,

(need I repeat myself) shes never around in the beginning of a project when youre the one busting your ass

doing all the work! Its time to cut her loose, give her the boot and slam the door behind her!

I want to introduce you to a new flame. A real hottie! Shes sharp, count-on-able, reliable and someone you

can really trust. Plus, shes always on your side, no matter what, without ego. Shes also someone wholl

come through for you time after time and she will respectfully step aside and allow YOU to take the well-

deserved credit. Her name is Muse and youre gonna love her. Shes your creative spirit, your inspiration,

your intuition and your bright ideas. Shes the stand you take, the word you give and the 10,000 hours youve

put into your career. Shes a lover, a giver, a partner and a best friend, and her only request is that you silence

your inner critic, and heed her soft whisper of wisdom.

Get to know your Muse, embrace her and honor her. With great respect and love, she patiently dwells deep in

your soul, waiting to be expressed, eagerly anticipating your acknowledgement and anxiously awaiting her call

to action. Shes so intelligent, so brilliant, that some great sages insist that she knows EVERYTHING! She

wants to help you write that music, finish that book, sell that script and splash paint all over that canvas. Shes

there to help you make executive decisions and there to help tweak your website. Heck, Lady Luck hung

around your neck like a noose and did nothing but watch you hang! What have you got to loose? Why not give

your Muse a chance?

Someone once said: Jump, and the net will appear. I suggest that you simply TRUST your own judgment,

your own intuition, your own creative spirit and your own talent. Then follow your Muse in the direction SHE

wants to go.

Id love to here your whisper of wisdom...


CONFIDENCE IS EVERYTHING (read time 1:23)

Confidence Is Everything. It trumps experience, rivals talent and beats the

beans out of a good education. So what youre broke, who cares youre

buried in responsibilities, big deal you failed before. Youre an artist, an

entrepreneur for pity sake! This is the life youve chosen, this is your destiny!

Take a good long look at your career. Youre either living your dream, working

on it and making progress, or stalled on the sidelines. Either way, ask

yourself this: What If Nothing Changes? What if your current circumstances

remain the way they are, and nothing changes?

Its time to call forth the warrior of confidence that dwells within you, and once

and for all confront and defeat the six most relentless enemies who hide in

the (inner) shadows of every artist and entrepreneur, and who are hell bent to


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Theres a common rule of thumb in the law: Never ask a question that you dont already know the answer to.

Theres also a common rule of thumb in business: Dont proclaim that youll release, print, launch, publish or

ship unless you already know youre going to make that deadlinelike it was embedded in your DNA.

How about you, do you set deadlines in your world? Personal, business or project?


THE WIZARDS CLOCK (read time :57)

In one of my favorite novels, The Way Of The Wizardby Deepak Chopra, the

most famous wizard of all, Merlin, lived backwards in time. In other words, he

never relied on his past to guide him into the future. He simply created his future

minute-by-minute, moment-by-moment, BEFORE he lived ittherefore living life

out of a vision of the future, rather than living life from the history of the past. A

perfect example of this is when I was the publisher of Music Connection

magazine. My team and I would create a theme for an upcoming issue; it could

be an exclusive interview with a rock star, a unique directory of industry services

or an informative how to story or feature article. We would dream up ideas, sketch out graphics, make up

headlines and create a grid, a layout of the next issue. That became the vision. Then all we had to do was

work backward from that vision and fill in the details; assign writers & photographers, create graphics, solicit

the advertising, all in support of a vision called the next issue. Same as making a record, writing a book,

starting a company or launching a website. First comes the vision, then work backwards and fill in the details.

This is what Merlin meant by living backwards in time, only in the book he lived his whole life that way. Merlin

never paid much attention to that which was rooted in the past, calling it a waste of good memory. Rather, he

would create his life, moment-by-moment, from a vision of the future and live backwards from there.

How about you? Do you live backwards in time, or forward from the past?


CREATIVE PRIVACY (read time :43)

Do you agree that its best to keep your creative projects private until

youre ready for input and criticism? Other than a significant mate or

working collaborator, try and resist the tug to tell anyone about your

script or allow anyone to listen to a new song or read your works in

progress. The meaningful suggestions and opinions of even your closest

friends and family will often contaminate your creative process and lure

you away from your original intention. Its like asking an opinion for a


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painting with only a few dabs of color on the canvas. Some people have so little confidence in their creative

ideas that they immediately seek the opinion of others for reassurance or a temporary ego stroke. Often those

outside suggestions contaminate the process and provoke an inner creative battle that could derail an

otherwise worthy project. Theres a time for such input but not during the earlier stages of the work. Rule of

thumb: Honor your Muse by keeping your ideas private until you have plenty of paint on the canvass.


THE KOBE IN ME (read time 1:13)

Kobe Bryant, captain of the Los Angeles Lakers is arguably one of the worlds greatest basketball players (in

spite of what happened in the playoffs). When asked: How do you deal with players waving their huge hands

in front of your face when youre trying to make a shot? Kobe replied: What hands? I dont see any hands, I

only see the basket.

Whats the message here for us in showbiz? Everyone has an opinion on how

to make it in todays new thrilling techno-biz; how to make a hit record, how to

get a million YouTube views, how to build a profitable website, how to get your

script read. Do we run with Spotify or wait and see? Do we lease a smaller

studio and cut the budget? Should I follow my dream or follow the money? All

these choices, decisions and opinions are like waving hands in your face

attempting to block your shot at the ultimate goal.

Heres how I make the hands go away: To the degree I have a crystal clear

vision of the project; and to the degree I remain committed and true to that

vision no matter what; and to the degree that every decision I make correlates

with my commitment; then to THAT degree I rarely see the distractions and

usually have a clear shot at my goal. Sometimes I hit the rim, other times I

swish. However, the less I allow opinions, gossip, hearsay and hoopla to distract me, the closer I get to

achieving victory.

So whats the lesson here? Always keep your eye on the basket? Have clear goals in mind? Dont be

distracted by the hoopla? KNOW that youre the MVP and just take the shot? You tell me...


READY, SET, GO! (read time :47)

Im good at SET the last mix before we master; the final proof before we publish;

the one last link-test before we launch. Im also good at GO that instant when the

print command is given; the site is finally launched; or the producer yells, thats a

wrap! At that moment Im ready to celebrate!

However, the READY part is much more challenging. The READY part is everything

that comes before SET. Thats where the real work lives. The planning, the meetings,


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the choices, the meetings, the decisions, the meetings, the arguments and the

approvalsoften from folks who are only concerned with the bottom line. The only way

to really survive the READY part is to put on your boots and step on to the battlefield.

And why do we do it? Because at that very instant when you arrive at GO, when the curtain opens, the record

is released, the book is published or the site is up and running, that divine rush is so profound it takes your

breath away. Thats when you realize that the satisfaction, joy and bliss you experience when you finally arrive

at GO, is always worth whatever it takes to get READY.


EVE OF DISTRACTION(read time 1:29)

She wakes up before you do every morning, patiently waits for you to open

your eyes, then softly whispers, better check your emails... She doesnt

say, turn over and hug your mate, she doesnt remind you to brush your

teeth and she doesnt even suggest that you go in and wake the kids. The

very first thing she whispers is, perhaps theres something new on

Facebook you should see... Shes compelling, alluring, informative, sexy,

seductive, exotic, fun...and you actually believe she likes you!

The last thing that Eve of Distraction wants you to do is your lifes work. Shes one of your inner demons for

Petes sake! Shes a narcissistic ego-manic who hates it when you ignore herand shell get her revenge if

you do! She wants to lure you into her world and shell use all of her skillful powers and compelling charms to

tempt and entice you; Facebook, Twitter, CNN, Google, Blogs, MSNBC, Angry Birds, iPads, upgrades,

emails, family photos, talk radio, weekend plans, call mom, Netflix, even NPR and Wolf Blitzer!

Shes the Real Terminator! Shes tireless, relentless and demands ALL of your attention! And guess what?

She doesnt like you at all! In fact, she despises you! She thinks youre weak and unfocuseda loser at best.

Her only mission is to constantly tempt you away from your work, your life, and your art. Procrastination is her

kingdom and Eve of Dist raction is the reigning queen!

Dont allow this vicious she-devil to tempt you, or blindside you today. Just for today, stay committed to

your project, stay true to your lifes work and dont s top expressing your art. Even if youre an accountant,

you're an artist. Even if youre a salesperson, youre an artist. Even if youre a business owner, youre an artist.

Even if youre a doctor or a nurse, youre an artist. Screw Distraction! Youre an artist! Keep work'n it...just for

today...stay focused on your art.


KEEP YOUR FEET UP!(read time 1:09)

I guess a lot of people have had this experience and now I can

proudly add my name to the list. My wife and I rode the rapids down

the Rio Grande River in a rubber boat (it was her idea). To this day I

still dont get it; sharp rocks, rubber boat...hellooo! At one point, a


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few folks decided to get out of the boat and go down the rapids in just

their life jacketssame thing, canvass jacket, sharp rocks...huh? I

really didnt want to do this but I just couldnt dispel my wifes belief

that she married a manly man. So I reluctantly volunteered for this

potentially suicidal mission. For anyone who has ever done this, you know that the first rule is never put your

feet straight down when you slip into a rushing riveralways keep them up in front of you. So what did I do? I

put my feet straight down and immediately went tumbling head over heels like a Cirque du Soleil contortionist!

As I was ferociously swept away by the merciless current, there was definitely a vulnerable feeling of being

totally out of control. And the more I fought it, the closer I came to the sharp, jagged rocks. However, once I

finally relaxed, put my feet up, and let go of fighting and resisting the strong pull; and once I began to trust

my own instincts, and just go with the flow, it only took the slightest coaxing of my body, to avoid the rocks

and actually maintain control, even though, I was sti ll totally out of control!

Perhaps the big lesson I walked away with (rather, survived) will resonate with you too: That often I feel like all

of my gallant dreams, schemes and projects are being ferociously swept away by my own petty

circumstances; money, time, my ego, the voices in my head, distractions, you name it. The only real choice I

have is to release my grip on the situation, resign my righteous position, surrender to the gods, and ever-so-

slightly coax my way around the rocks and boulders of life. When Im able to do this, I usually wash up on

some sandy beach with a smile on my face and a story to tell...a story about surviving one more of lifes

challenging adventures. The other lesson I learned: always keep your feet up when you go down the rapids

without a boat.

Have you ever had that in control/out of control felling? Ever gone down the rapids without a boat?


JUST ONE MORE FOOT(read time 1:57)

In his brilliantly written story "The Will To Victory,"my hero, and

master novelist Stephen Pressfield tells a story of the great Theban

general, Epaminondas, who was destined to fight a great battle with

the notorious Spartans, at Leuctra in 371 B.C. On the eve of the

infamous battle, Epaminondas called his weary, beaten warriors

together and sadly told them that they may lose tomorrowthat no

army has ever beaten the great Spartans. However, he could guarantee

victory if they would obey just one commandall at the exact same time, at the exact instant he issued it. His

devoted soldiers of course clamored: Yes! Yes! Tell us what you want! The general confided: When you hear

my trumpet tomorrow, give me just one more foot. Do you understand...summon all of your strength and push

the foe back, just one foot.

The dawn came and the battle began. The two armies locked up, sword to sword, shield against shield, in the

center of the fighting field. Both sides were heaving and pushing, seeking to gain the advantage. Swords were

clanging, shields were crashing, and blood was spurting. Epaminondas sat atop of his black s tallion and

watched and waited. Endless minutes passed. The warriors legs were cramping, their knees gave out, but still

both sides shoved and strained against each other, trying to break their opp

Documents

J Michael Dolan