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It's that time of year again. The one where we all vow to get healthy, save more money, and tackle all the goals and dreams that escaped us the previous year. But let's be honest – most of us could use some help in that area. If you're still trying to decide on your resolutions even though it's mid-January, here's how to conquer 2016 with grace and style, and really get your music career moving this year.
1. Reflect on 2015
One of the most important things you can do is take some time to reflect on 2015. If you'd previously made a list of goals, now's a great time to take a look and see how many of them you actually accomplished. If you fell short, ask yourself what caused that. It may be a little uncomfortable to confront perceived failures, but it can also be your greatest source of growth. Take a hard look at what the year looked like, your successes and failures, and analyze each one to figure out how to capitalize on your success and prevent future failures. The past is your greatest ally in regards to a strong future.
2. Make a list of goals
One of my favorite things to do is make a list of goals. Goals for the day, goals for the week, goals for the next three months, etc. While I don't expect everyone to share my enthusiasm for lists, I think it's an incredible tool to build your future and keep you on track. By writing down goals for three months, six months, and a year from now, you'll have something concrete to work towards.
Don't forget to include short-term goals, too. Daily and weekly goals allow you to tackle the day-to-day tasks with more ease without becoming overwhelmed. You can stay focused on your vision, because you'll have a better understanding of what your vision actually is.
3. Make a business plan
This is a must-do for any band looking to be successful. If you don't have a strong business plan, how can you truly know where you want the band to go? It's not enough to say, "We want to get signed to a major label in two years" or, "We want to tour nationally next summer." You have to take the time to really break down your goals and list out not just what you want, but how you're going to get there. Not only is this a great way to really sort out your ideas and force some deep thought on how you're going to get there, but it'll be a great tool when you get stuck in a funk or need to reflect on the following year.
[How to Run Your Band Like a Business Without Compromising Your Music]
4. Start making connections
I can't stress this one enough. In 2016, vow to make as many new connections as possible. You never know who you'll meet when you start putting yourself out there. It could be your next agent, a band that can help you get a spot on a show when you tour their city, an intern for a label you love, a blogger who ends up loving your music – the possibilities are endless. But unless you start putting yourself out there, getting yourself to conferences, taking part in online discussions, touring to the best of your ability (and making the absolute most of it), you'll never make the connections that you need to truly push yourself forward.
[5 Ways to Make Networking Suck Less]
5. Hold yourself accountable
This is the toughest one: holding yourself accountable. It's easy to get jazzed up about all the changes you're going to make in 2016, but the true test is staying inspired and motivated after all the excitement has worn off. Keep to your goals, and be vigilant about checking back and making sure you're sticking to them. Consider making a calendar filled with events you want to attend and dates you want to adhere to (such as album release or tour dates), and stick to them. Having that reminder should fuel you even on the toughest days.
Things are rarely as exciting or glamorous as you imagine, particularly on a day-to-day basis. But believe me, when you reach the end of 2016 and you're crossing off all the goals you had for this year, the hustle will be well worth the reward.
Angela Mastrogiacomo is the owner of Muddy Paw Public Relations and Infectious Magazine. She has also founded several chapters of the free weekly music industry meetup Balanced Breakfast. Muddy Paw specializes in working with up-and-coming artists on personalized campaigns designed to bring their careers to the next level. To date, they've secured placements on sites such as Noisey, AbsolutePunk, Substream, Property Of Zack, PureVolume, Anti-Music, and many more.
