As an artist or producer, have you ever had an idea that was so big, so groundbreaking, that you were afraid to share it with anyone?
You know the feeling.
Your heart races, your palms start to sweat, and you begin to doubt yourself…
“What if this idea isn’t as great as I think? What if it doesn’t actually move the needle and impact the world?”
Those negative thoughts can be crippling, and they often prevent us from taking that first step toward success as a producer, artist, or any sort of professional creative.
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But what if I told you that your mindset is the key to unlocking those big ideas? That by simply changing the way you think, you can open up a world of possibilities?
It sounds too good to be true, but it’s not. Mindset is everything when it comes to success as an artist. If you want to truly succeed on your path to being an artist, you must first believe in yourself and your talent. You have to have a passionate and positive mindset towards your art, no matter what anyone else says.
Fortunately, some simple mindset hacks can help you develop a more positive and successful outlook. We will break down some hacks that will help you create a more positive and successful mindset as an artist.
We had the opportunity to sit down with Hussain Almossawi, a leading expert on helping creatives harness their fire, flex their courage, and supercharge their ideas, and let him share his high-level knowledge about how you can level up your music entirely through your own mindset.
Check out his book, The Innovator’s Handbook (slated to come out September 6, 2022), to dive even deeper and unlock the invaluable resources trapped inside yourself.
What is a Mindset?
Mindset is the attitudes and beliefs that shape our thoughts and actions. It’s the lens through which we see the world, and it can either hold us back or propel us forward.
There are two types of mindsets: fixed and growth.
A fixed mindset is when an artist believes their skills and abilities are set in stone. They believe they can’t improve or change, so they don’t even try. A fixed mindset can be incredibly limiting and often holds people back from achieving their full potential.
Some develop a fixed mindset out of fear. They find themselves surrounded by negative people who only speak criticism – causing them to turn away from risky ideas.
On the other hand, a growth mindset is when someone believes that they can improve and grow. They see mistakes as learning opportunities and always look for ways to push themselves further. They surround themselves with positive people who can truly encourage them to see greater possibilities with their work.
Read How Sustainable Mindsets Can Help Save Music Fests <<<
With a growth mindset, you will find that your ideas aren’t just ideas – they are seeds that can grow and blossom into something extraordinary.
So how can you develop a growth mindset?
Here are some small mindset hacks that can make a big difference.
1. Embrace Your Inner Critic
One of the biggest roadblocks to success is our inner critic. That little voice in our head that tells us we’re not good enough, that we can’t do it, that we’re destined to fail.
The inner critic is influential, but it doesn’t have to be in control. You can learn to recognize when it’s speaking and choose to ignore it.
Start by acknowledging your inner critic. Give it a name, even. And then start to question its motives. Why is it saying these things? Is it trying to protect you from failure? Or is it just trying to hold you back?
You can also reframe your inner critic’s statements.
For example, instead of “I can’t do this,” try saying, “I can’t do this YET.” When you can see your inner critic’s statements for what they are – false and unhelpful – you can start to move past them.
2. Train Your Brain to See the Positive
Our brains are wired to focus on the negative. It’s a survival mechanism that has kept us safe for centuries. But in today’s world, it often just leads to anxiety and stress.
Fortunately, you can train your brain to focus on the positive. The first step is to become aware of your thoughts. Every time you catch yourself thinking a negative thought about where you’re at on your journey as an artist, stop and question it.
Is it really true?
Is there any evidence to support it?
If not, let it go and replace it with a more positive thought. For example, “I’m not good enough” could be replaced with “I’m doing the best I know I’m capable of.”
Over time, you’ll find that your brain starts to default to more positive thoughts. And when you can see the positive in every situation, success will start to feel within reach.
3. Visualize Your Success
When you can see it, you can believe it. Visualization is a powerful tool that can help you to manifest your dreams into reality.
Now, this doesn’t mean living in fanciful daydreams. Visualization is about being clear and specific about what you want and then creating a mental image of yourself achieving it.
See yourself taking the stage, or finishing your painting, or whatever it is that you’re striving for. Really feel the emotion of success. And then let that image drive you forward.
Much like a track athlete who maps out their race in their head before they even step on the track, visualization can help you to see the finish line and go for it.
4. Take Baby Steps
One of the biggest mistakes that people make is trying to do too much at once. When we have a big goal, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and give up before we even start.
The key is to break your goal down into small, manageable steps. Then, focus on just taking one step at a time.
For example, if your goal is to play your first music festival, your first step might be to get a few of your demos signed to a smaller label. Your second step might be to network with five local promoters and start building your connections . And so on.
Each time you complete a step, celebrate your success. And then keep moving forward until you reach your goal.
5. Be Willing to Fail
No one likes to fail, but the truth is that failure is a necessary part of success. You can’t be afraid to fail if you want to achieve big things.
Instead of seeing failure as a roadblock, see it as a learning opportunity. Every time you fail, you’re one step closer to success.
And don’t forget, even the most significant failures can lead to success if you learn from them. Thomas Edison famously said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
So, don’t let failure get you down. Use it as fuel to keep moving forward.
Conclusion: Mindset Is Everything
Your mindset is the foundation of your success. If you want to achieve big things, you need to believe in yourself and your ability to make it happen.
But your mindset doesn’t change overnight. It takes repeated, consistent efforts to train your brain to think more positively.
Fortunately, these five mindset hacks can help you to get started. So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to start hacking your mindset and crushing your goals in the music industry as an artist, producer, DJ, and more.
Read about The Innovators Handbook, and find your unique way of transforming your creativity into sustained innovation.
Will Vance is a professional music producer who has been involved in the industry for the better part of a decade and has been the managing editor at Magnetic Magazine since mid-2022. In that time period, he has published thousands of articles on music production, industry think pieces and educational articles about the music industry. Over the last decade as a professional music producer, Will Vance has also ran multiple successful and highly respected record labels in the industry, including Where The Heart Is Records as well as having launched a new label with a focus on community through Magnetic Magazine. When not running these labels or producing his own music, Vance is likely writing for other top industry sites like Waves or the Hyperbits Masterclass or working on his upcoming book on mindfulness in music production. On the rare chance he's not thinking about music production, he's probably running a game of Dungeons and Dragons with his friends which he has been the dungeon master for for many years.
