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Don't Die On This Hill

Today is my father's birthday and I've been thinking about the lessons he's taught me over the years. Here is one of them...

About 10 years ago, I had a federal lawsuit filed against me. I had one opinion about the situation and the guy suing me had another. My attorney thought we could fight it.

As you can imagine, something like this is pretty scary. I was talking it over with my father and he told me, "Don't die on this hill."

That doesn't necessarily mean that you should roll over and stop the fight, but even if you can win, realize that there is a price you'll have to pay. You'll use money, time, energy, and other resources that might be better used elsewhere.

In short, don't get caught up in "the priciple" and lose sight of the big picture. Sometimes it's better to walk away and use your energy and resources to create something brand new.

It's Just Money, Right?

A couple of weeks ago, after seeing the numbers for November, I was feeling pretty good. We'd been through some good times, some great times, and a few bumps over that last few years, but things were moving along well and everything was consistent. Even "bad" months were still pretty good.

Last week, I got an email from one of our distributors. Apparently, there was a problem regarding the rights to something we were selling through them. We weren't in violation of any laws or doing anything unethical, but there was some contractual stuff with another company, who claimed rights on a similar product, that they didn't feel like disputing.

The bottom line is that the other, larger company won that argument and we lost distribution. One day we were making money, the next day we weren't.

I didn't lose any sleep. Easy come, easy go. There are some things you fight for and other times when your energy is better spent elsewhere.

Yesterday, I got an email from another distributor we deal with notifying me they were terminating our relationship. Still sorting out why. All I can say for sure is that this one was responsible for 10x as much business...

But it's just money, right?

Sure, on one hand. On the other though, it's about people. It's about the well-being of those who work for me and they're counting on me to make decisions and take actions with that in mind.

So what now? That's where I am today.

I've already written about the entrepreneur death spiral and given thoughts on how to deal with it. The "recovery" plan I mentioned is something that I have to go through every time something like this happens...and sometimes multiple times. I've already put that into place.

It's a bitch to get back up when you get kicked in the stomach. That's what I physically feel like right now. I didn't sleep well last night, I'm not hungry, and my mind is so active with processing everything that it feels like I'm going crazy.

It would be extremely easy to blame "big business." That's not fair though.

And I could blame myself for doing these deals, which were ambitious, in the first place. That's not fair either though, because I was doing everything I was supposed to be doing.

The real question... Who is responsible?

It's me. Always.

This isn't over yet. I'm fighting like hell to get it back on track and salvage any aspects of the deal that I can. Beyond that though, I'm keeping in mind that I've experienced a lot worse and there has always been an unexpected silver lining that launched me into the next phase in a big way. 

In addition, I'm looking at the positive aspects of what's happening.  Something like this, if you let it, can be a great wake up call and help to mold you into an even better person, if by nothing more than shining an light on weaknesses that may not have previously been clear and increasing your capacity to deal with problems.

You're Going to Piss Some People Off...

Went to a live broadcast yesterday and, after the show, was talking to the main talent. One of the subjects that came up was how, no matter what you do, you're doing to piss some people off.

She told me a story about how a woman came up to her after a show and was very frustrated about a new part of the act.

"I just don't know if I'll be able to listen to you anymore," the lady said.

So I asked, "But you left it in the act, right?"

"Of course," she said.

Doing something like this isn't posturing; it's simply acknowledging the fact that not everything you do is going to work for everybody. Beyond that, some of the things you do are going to make people uncomfortable.

This doesn't just apply to people on stage; it applies to everybody. It's the reason that so many people never seem to make a decision or take a stand. It's the reason so many people hesitate to do anything...and end up going nowhere.

When you put yourself out there, whether it be through letting people know your goals or letting them know how you feel about something, you're opening yourself up to criticism. You're vulnerable.

But don't let that stop you...

People don't trust a guy who is waffling. They may not like what you have to say or agree with you, but at least you'll have their respect. More importantly, by speaking your truth, even though you'll frustrate some people, you'll keep from frustrating yourself.

Fail Fast and Fail Often

Google Buzz is going away. I think it was a Twitter knockoff.

Regardless, I can say I'll miss it, because I'm pretty sure I never actually used it.

Google does a lot of things that fail. In fact, most of the things they do fail. But the things that hit, like Adsense, hit big.

The business I'm in, music, is the same way. Only one out of every eight albums make money.

Which brings up the question, "How do you know when something will fail?"

The answer... You don't.

Speculation kills innovation and growth. The only way to really play the game is to jump in and see what happens. We can speculate and assume all day, but in the end, the only way you're going to find out what will happen is by getting in the ring.

3 Secrets to Starting Your Own Business

I started my music marketing company in 1995, while still attending college. I had a bit of background in direct response marketing, from an earlier "company" I had attempted to start (it was shut down by the school, because I was running it out of my dorm room) as well as a little sales experience, but not much more than that.

Looking back on the early days, I've often asked myself, "How did you do it?"

Last week, I was in Toronto, visiting the Big Boss, and had an experience that reminded me why I was able to make it all happen...

While I was there, I decided to go on top of CN Tower and do something called "Edge Walk." The photo to the right explains it better than I could with words.

I'm not sure how tall the "Edge Walk" is, but the tower is 1815.4 feet. Sounds intimidating, but I found the experience to be quite easy...until I looked down.

And that's the first secret to starting your own business...

1. Don't Look Down

Focus on the work. Sometimes it's better that you don't know everything. Walking 1000 feet in the air is no different from walking on a 6" sidewalk.  

2. Don't Worry About Other People

I went to school in Memphis. It's about the same size as Nashville, but the music industry is nowhere near as big. Had I been in Nashville, where there were a lot of "intimidating" people to compare myself to, I'm not sure I would have started at all.

Again, sometimes not knowing everything is a great advantage.

3. Focus on the Outcome

If you know what you want to happen, go for it. Don't worry about every single detail. Most won't matter anyway, since you really have no idea what you're getting into until you jump in 100%.

Clarity is the most important thing needed to make anything happen. When you're clear on why you want something, the strength and perseverance you need in order to make it happen will come through.

When your "why" is big enough, you're ready to take on anything.

Why You're a Failure (or Not)

Don Lapre died yesterday. He died in custody from an apparent suicide, while awaiting a trial, which was scheduled to begin tomorrow.

I don't know the specifics around Don Lapre's situation or exactly why he was in custody, other than a "fraud" charge, but I've found it disturbing how the public has turned on this guy. Read the comments on his various YouTube videos or news stories covering this situation to see what I'm talking about.

From what I've seen of Don Lapre, I think he has a lot of good advice. You find something that works, like a "tiny classified ad," and you replicate it. 

Was success in this business as easy as he made it look? No.

Is anything as easy as it looks? No. It's the job of professionals to make things look easy though.

Nobody wants to see a concert where the dance moves and musicianship are being worked out. We want it to look easy. Nobody goes to a Cirque du Soleil to see a flawless performance, not some guy falling down or hurting himself.

How do you make things look easy? Work at it.

One of the things you never hear about on television infomercials, whether they be for diet pills, exercise equipment, or "make money" stategies, is that you get back what you put in. Like Newton said, "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction."

But that doesn't sell.

I could write a book called, "How to Make $500 on the Internet Working Just 20 Hours" with a hundred ways for people to do just that. "$500 in 20 hours" isn't nearly as sexy as something like, "How to Make $10 Bajillion Online...In Your Underwear!" though and it's unlikely that the "$500 book" would sell as well, even though the title would be a lot more believable for most people.

People want a fantasy. They don't do the work it takes to make big money because it's not as much fun as living in a dream world. And they don't look at themselves when things don't work out, because it's much easier to blame a guy like Don Lapre.

You can tell yourself whatever you want, but the reality is, if you're not making enough money or haven't achieved a goal you want, you're the one who is responsible.

Drugs Were to Blame

Just got an email from CNN...

Flamboyant fashion designer John Galliano was found guilty Thursday in a French court on charges of making anti-Semitic comments against at least three people in a Paris cafe. He has been fined 6,000 euros but has not been sentenced to prison time. One symbolic euro has been awarded to each plaintiff.

Galliano, who was fired by fashion giant Christian Dior in March after a video surfaced showing him praising Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, testified when the trial opened in June that drugs were to blame.

Uhhhh... Where do I begin on this? Specifically, where do I begin on his "drugs were to blame" testimony?

This is why he was working as an employee and the company is called Christian Dior instead of John Galliano.

Owners take ownership. Period.

The $10 Million House

Got together with a few business friends of mine to "mastermind" with each other. One owns a $10MM house, so we decided to meet at his place, rather than take a vacation, which is what we've done in the past.

This place isn't just a big ass house; it's a castle. The best way I can describe it is a cross between a Harry Potter ride at Disney World and a casino in Las Vegas. It has secret rooms, a secret floor, a "cave" themed swimming pool, a DJ booth and dance floor, a wine cellar, a theater, waterfalls, a recording studio, huge baths, a steam room, and more. Food was prepared by a private chef and there was a massage therapist on-site.

Is it over-the-top? For some people, it would have been. But for my friend who owns it, it's a pefect match.

This guy got his start as a magician. What better house for a magician that a quirky place that looks like a castle and has bookshelves that turn into doors and lead to secret passages?

But he's single... How can one man possibly take advantage of six bedrooms, multiple kitchen and bar areas, an eight-car garage, a gym, and several outside decks and balconies?

The answer to this question is one of the reasons I feel he was able to make this situation happen. Yes, he's a single guy, but he makes great use of the space.

On the last morning I was there, I woke up to kids running around outside my bedroom, which was near the pool area. As it turns out, these were the kids of the guy who was there to fix the audio system. My friend had invited him to bring them along to have fun in the pool.

This type of hospitality was something I saw over and over again throughout the few days of my meeting. It was very inspiring.

Beyond that, if you're wondering how he was able to get the house, here are a couple of things I noted...

1. TRUST - He trusts things are going to be ok and work out well. Rather than be intimidated by what most would be considered a huge challenge, he looks forward to the adventure of it.

2. GRATITUDE - This guy is a businessman, just like you and me. Just a normal person who wakes up with the same amount of time and ability as the rest of us. He doesn't take what he's been able to accomplish for granted and is very grateful for it.

Regardless of your goals in life, I feel the skills of generosity, trust, and gratitude will help you to make things happen.

NOTE: If you want to see full-size photos, click on the thumbnails above.

Should I Get a Job?

In the last 24 hours, I've had a couple of really good job opportunities come across my desk. Both are high-level positions with companies you've heard of.

And that got me thinking... How much money would it take for me to even consider taking a job?

You never know about a job until you get in it, but knowing what I know now, which is just the "job title" and a basic description for each, I came up with an annual salary of $250,000 for me to even consider it. And even at that salary, I doubt I'd be successful...unless both the job and the people I was working with were cool as hell.

Money is often one of the first things people think about when looking at a new job, but it's actually something that stands between us and what we really want.

For example, "ease" is one of the things I want, and money can help that, but it's not absolutely necessary. I have "ease" now and trying to get more money, such as by taking one of these jobs, wouldn't necessarily mean that my life would be any easier.  In fact, it would likely mean I'd be adding more stress and other things that I don't want, which would have just the opposite effect.

Other things I want in my life...

• Happiness
• Satisfaction
• Contentment without Settling
• Forward Movement
• Accomplishment
• Peace
• Vitality and Invigoration
• Wholeness

Would a job help me to get closer to these things than I already am? Based on several previous experiences I've had working for other people, no.

So there's the answer.

Vegetarian (Except I Eat Fish)

"Fish" is an animal. You'd be amazed at how many people don't get that.

But sometimes it's cooler to call yourself "vegetarian" than to actually follow the plan.

Same goes for entrepreneurs...

If you're working a job, you're not an entrepreneur. The word for somebody who works a job is "employee."

Nothing wrong with people who eat fish or work jobs, but don't think you're something when you're not. Thinking you're an insider when you're on the outside will get you into trouble.