OH NO! I'M A LOSER!
Published January 6, 2010
I’m watching one of my favorite basketball teams play while I’m writing this. They’re not doing so well. Nothing seems to be working. They’re taking the shots, but nothing is falling. It’s not that the other team is better, it’s just that my team isn’t scoring.
It’s frustrating. And that frustration leads to more mistakes and more desperation. It’s a vicious cycle.
It occurs to me that our business is a lot like that. There are days when nothing we seem to do works. No matter how hard we try, the auditions don’t work, the sound just isn’t right, and the clients go with someone else.
I had one of those days today.
So, what do you do when that happens?
Let me make a few suggestions:
1. Listen to your coach.
Who’s your coach? Do you have someone that is your coach, or are you your own coach? In any case, listen to your coach, whether it be your inner or outer coach – someone who sees the bigger picture; someone who knows your strengths and weaknesses; someone who can refocus you on what you do best.
2. Don’t panic.
Nobody ever makes the right decision when they panic. Those kind of decisions are made by fear, not by wisdom, confidence, and experience.
3. Go to your aces.
In a close game you always go to your big players. It’s no different in business. When the pressure is on, call on your main clients. They’re the ones that believe in you and know how they can use you. Your chances of changing the momentum are better with them than with trying to land a new client.
4. Take your best shot.
Do what you’re good at. When things don’t seem to be coming together, trying something new and different is usually not the way to go. You’ve probably worked hard at establishing yourself with a particular vocal style and delivery. Capitalize on that.
5. Remember what doesn’t work.
The old saying goes “Those who ignore history are destined to repeat it.” The principle applies to our business also. If you don’t remember what doesn’t work, it will have a way of coming back to remind you again and again.
I just don’t have that “imaging” voice – you know, that voice that the big rock stations use. That voice that you can feel in your chest. I hate those guys. They have it easy. All they have to do is open their mouths and people throw money at them. But I digress.
Every once in awhile I get a call from some station that would like me to do some imaging for them. And suddenly I think “Hey, maybe I can do that.” Bad idea. I’m just not that voice. And when I try to be that voice…FAIL.
So, it’s a lesson to learn. At best you are only going to score on 10% of your auditions, and probably more like 5%. Be what you’re good at. Know who you are…and who you are not.
Oh, by the way, game over. And the good news…my team pulled it out!