Perhaps surprisingly, a successful entrepreneur will often share attributes with musicians and music lovers. For example, a lot of famous and successful people are musically gifted. There’s Paul Allen, cofounder of Microsoft. Roger McNamee, founder of Silver Lake Partners and Elevation Partners. Even Steve Wozniak, cofounder of Apple, is a performing musician. Music has some pretty clear ties to success, and by learning what those ties are you can turn your love of the art form into a way to benefit you as a businessman or businesswoman. Here are 6 specific ways loving music or being a musician can help make you a successful entrepreneur.
1. You become a better listener.
A musician or a true fan of music has to be an attentive listener to earn one of those titles. By listening for specific beats and riffs on a track, you can piece together why a song is of a high or low quality. Likewise, a successful entrepreneur knows how to separate the good from the bad. By listening closely to others’ ideas, they can dissect what parts work and what parts don’t. That ability to compartmentalize is a key attribute of musicians, fans of music and successful entrepreneurs alike.
2. You become more disciplined.
Musicians absolutely dedicate themselves to their craft in order to reap big rewards. Far before they’re partying like rock stars they’re earning their way to that rock star status through hard work and impressive displays of discipline. In the same way an emerging talent transforms into a best selling artist, take the time to build new skills and hone the skills you already have so that you can become a successful entrepreneur.
3. You experiment.
A good musician, or even someone fond of making quality mixtapes, understands the importance of experimentation. They have to be willing to get their hands dirty in order to discover sounds that nobody else has imagined or to come up with a compilation of tracks that produce unique experiences. A successful entrepreneur has to similarly find new ways to mesh things together and come up with fresh perspectives. A great business solves a problem, so a successful entrepreneur has to be someone who is willing to experiment until they figure out the problem they can profit from solving.
4. You become more collaborative.
Music makers and music lovers alike need to collaborate with others to reach their peak potential. Even the best singer benefits greatly from a back-up band, and making mixes is all about sharing your love of music with others. A successful entrepreneur equally benefits from smart people by their side. You can get pretty far on your own as a businessman or businesswoman, but you really need the advice and wisdom of others to maximize your opportunities for success.
5. You get used to life “on the road.”
Musicians spend most of their time touring, and the most passionate music fans will often follow them on the road. Through their travels they learn to brave new environments and find ways to live on less. A successful entrepreneur also has to be prepared for sometimes uncomfortable experiences as well as the lean times inevitable for even the most impressive businesses.
6. You learn that success takes time.
As a musician you’re probably not going to start your career closing out a concert at Madison Square Garden. More likely, you’re going to be opening for a small local band at a small, sparsely-attended club. And that’s okay. You have to work your way up the ladder in order to be either a best-selling musician or a leader in business. Knowing the long shots of becoming a successful recording artist helps you appreciate the somewhat better odds of becoming a successful entrepreneur.
Featured photo credit: margaretes via flickr.com
