Bob Baker's The Buzz Factor

A few months ago, my friend Mike was worried. The drum store where he had been giving lessons for a couple of decades had just closed.

Even though he made money playing out a bit and ran a home recording studio, this turn of events represented a big chunk of his income that suddenly dried up. The stakes were high, since Mike has a home and a family to support.

This week I talked to Mike for the first time in a while. I hesitantly asked, "So, how is your teaching schedule these days?"

He slowly said he still had a few students, but then he lit up as he launched into a long list of new things he was doing: New bands he was playing with, new studio clients, new fill-in gigs that came his way.

"Financially, it was rough for a while," Mike admitted. "But now so many cool things have come along to fill the void. If I had known all these opportunities were available to me, I would have cut back on teaching years ago."

He had made the mistake that many musicians (and most people in general) make -- sticking to what they know, inside their comfort zone.

One of the big reasons Mike continued teaching so much over the years was a genuine interest in supporting his students and seeing them grow. But in doing so he had to turn down a lot of new offers that came his way -- staying with his safe, predictable routine instead of taking chances.

That's understandable. We all do that to some degree.

But what he discovered over the course of the last few months was that the store closing and his short-term loss of teaching income was a blessing in disguise.

So ... what can you learn from Mike's experience?

What are you holding on to that isn't serving you any more?

What opportunities are you passing by because you maintain the status quo in your life?

What "disappointing" turn of events are you cursing instead of looking for the hidden opportunity?

-Bob

The photo above is by Mick & Wout. Get more tips like these when you subscribe to my free Buzz Factor ezine — the longest running music career tips email newsletter on the planet. Since 1995. Learn more about the free subscription here.


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