Talent Makes You Blind

The following is an excerpt from my free e-book, 8 Reasons I Failed in Music and 3 Ways NOT to Follow in My Footsteps. Click here to download a copy.

From the time I was two, which was when my parents spotted my musical talent and bought me a drum, I was told that talent was all that mattered. Maybe not directly, but the message was clear: I had musical talent, I had better put it to good use. I also clearly understood that talent would lead to a successful career in the music business.

In other words, I was just like you: totally focused and reliant on my talents.

Talent Makes You Blind

The problem is that belief and reliance on talent makes you blind to “life’s feedback” about you, your skills, abilities and career. So when you don’t get a gig it never crosses your mind to consider:

• Was I as prepared as I could’ve been? Musically? Otherwise?
• How did I handle myself in the audition? Was I friendly? Did I clearly communicate my answers to their questions? What was behind the questions they asked me? What were they looking for musically? Non-musically?
• How ‘bout all the other interactions with the band and/or management? Was I a professional in everything I did and said?
• Did they understand how I could help them accomplish their goals? Do I even know what their goals are?
• Do I agree with their goals? Would us working together help them AND me?
• Was this the right gig for me? Was I the right player for them? Why or why not?
• Should I follow-up and ask for referrals and recommendations? Why or why not?

Talent Isn’t Enough

I’m not saying talent isn’t important, it is. I’m not saying you don’t have to be talented to succeed in music, you do. What I am saying is talent is not enough. There’s more to a career in music than showing up and performing well. Anybody can do that and everybody does. So why should anyone hire you?

And don’t say because you’re good: once you reach a certain level in the world of music, everyone’s great. Even the “lowest levels” of professional music has scary good talent.

Drop the belief that you will succeed because you’re talented. You won’t.

What has talent kept you blind to in your own career? What can you do about it?

Be sure to download your free copy of my e-book by clicking here. There’s a special discount code at the end too.