Mirror Mirror

Cry Me a River

I remember going through one of my "victim mentality" eras while living in LA, as many creatives have been known to do. I had the opportunity to write and pitch songs to Steven Tyler. Struggling with the confidence to come up with any ideas, I was reminded by our mutual friend of something that really stuck with me during my moment of "woe is me." They said, "You know, Steven doesn't talk like you." Now, that was a wake-up call! I was just told that the difference between me and a legend I idolized wasn’t talent or ability—it was my mindset and dialogue.

I'm happy to say that this comment lit a fire under me, and I wrote three songs for Steven that he played on a loop while driving around in a limo. He never had the chance to record them, but his double handshake and an honest compliment from someone I hold in high regard were enough to snap me out of my funk. That experience almost didn't happen if it wasn't for someone telling me to grab a nice hot cup of shut the f**k up, quit complaining, and get to work.

The Biggest Challenge in Your Music Career

A while back, I reached out to five different artists with a question I thought would be easy to answer: What is the biggest challenge you face in your music career? The responses varied, but surprisingly, only one answered as I anticipated. One artist, without hesitation, answered, "Me, I'm my biggest challenge."

The Real Battle: Internal Dialogue and Mindset

If we really stop and think about it, what bigger challenges do we have in this world than the ones that exist inside our minds? The stories we tell ourselves, the limiting beliefs, the fears, and doubts. It’s all so easy to point to external forces—like the music business, the economy, or other people—as the reasons for our struggles. But what if the root of our biggest problems lies within? What if our internal dialogue and mindset are the seeds of our challenges?

Blaming the Business: A Common Pitfall

Time and time again in the music industry, I hear artists blaming the business—whether it’s the labels, streaming platforms, or the market—saying that these outside forces are holding them back. It’s easy to fall into that mindset because it gives us an out. If we blame the system, then we’re not responsible for our own lack of success.

But here’s the catch—those who are really succeeding in this business, those who are making a real impact, seem to have a completely different mindset. They don’t just see the business as an obstacle; they see it as a tool to navigate and leverage. They take ownership of their careers and, most importantly, of their mindset.

Mindset: The Key to Breaking Through

The difference between success and stagnation often comes down to mindset. Artists who own their story, who take responsibility for their actions and choices, and who cultivate a growth mindset are the ones who see results. They understand that the business may be tough, but it’s not the business that’s holding them back—it’s the way they approach it.

Think about this: When you constantly tell yourself that you're not good enough or that the industry is stacked against you, guess what? You’ll keep hitting walls. But if you can shift your internal dialogue to being truly honest with yourself in all areas of your life and focus on expansion, intuition, and resilience, you start to play the game above the game.

What Would Happen if We Took Responsibility for Our Inner Dialogues?

Imagine a world where artists take responsibility for their inner and outer dialogues. A world where we no longer blame external circumstances for our struggles or constantly beat ourselves up but instead look inward to discover how we can shift our mindset, embrace our uniqueness, and take action on our gut feelings. This could be the start of something revolutionary.

It’s not about ignoring external challenges, but it’s about recognizing that we have the power to change our internal world. When we change the way we think, we change the way we act. And when we change the way we act, we start to see different results.

What If You Could Break Through Your Own Limits?

If we apply the notion of speaking from a place of “it is already done,” then what we’re sowing in our minds will ultimately shape what we reap in the world. If we continue to sow thoughts of limitation, frustration, and helplessness, we’ll continue to reap the same. But if we sow thoughts of possibility, action, and self-belief, we open the door to new opportunities, new ways of thinking, and new results.

The most successful artists I know didn’t wait for the perfect conditions or blame the world around them. They took ownership of their thoughts, actions, and mindset, and that’s what propelled them forward.

A Call to Action: Change Your Mindset, Change Your Career

So, why is this relevant? The biggest challenge you might face in your music career isn’t the business, the industry, or external factors—it’s you. It’s your internal dialogue and the way you choose to approach the world. By changing the way you think and taking ownership of your mindset, you can unlock new levels of success and creativity.

If you're tired of feeling stuck, start by changing your thoughts. Shift your focus from what’s wrong to what you can control. Take ownership of your journey, and you'll find that the external challenges become a lot more manageable.

You have the power to change your mindset, and in doing so, change your career. It starts with you.

Want to know more? Visit MY private portal for solutions to help protect you and build a sustainable career.

This is your journey towards creating your own path to artistic freedom, without bending to external pressures.

👉 To Kick Off Your Journey:

• Tune into the Podcast: [Link] 
• Join the $4A$ Artist Accelerator Waitlist: [Link] Be among the first to access our exclusive training.
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• www.sold4asong.com

I'd love to hear from you! Hit “reply” and share your biggest struggle right now as an artist, songwriter, or producer. I personally read every email.

Looking forward to walking alongside you on this journey to craft something truly yours.

To your success and creativity,

Terrance Sawchuk
Founder, $old 4 a $ong Book™