I recently heard about a sneaky method for reaching your music goals.
So I did some research.
And goshdarnit, it’s a real thing that works for people.
Below, I’ll talk about the method, evidence that it works, and how you can put it into practice when pursuing a music career.
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Table of Contents
Write Down Your Music Goals (and Envision Them Happening)
After you create small, output-based goals, you need to write them down.
Scientific studies back me up on this.
Dr. Gail Matthews, a psychology professor at Dominican University in California, did a study on achieving goals.
She showed that those who wrote down their goals were 42% more likely to reach them.
“My study provides empirical evidence for the effectiveness of three coaching tools: accountability, commitment, and writing down one’s goals,” Dr. Matthews said.
Another study found similar results.
It found that, by writing down and envisioning your goals, you’re up to 1.4 times more likely to reach them. That’s 140%!
Now let’s look at a real-world example…
You may have heard the famous story about actor and comedian Jim Carrey.
In 1985, he wrote himself a check for $10 million for “acting services rendered.” Then he dated it ten years into the future and stored it in his wallet.
And in November 1995, he landed what would become one of his most famous roles: Lloyd in Dumb and Dumber.
And weirdly enough, this role paid $7 million.
Am I saying you should write yourself a $10 million check? Pff, no.
But the concept stands: write down your music goals and envision yourself reaching them.
It holds you accountable and helps you envision where you want to be.
How To Effectively Track Your Music Goals
Okay, so we know that writing down your music goals can do amazing things for you.
But how do you write down those goals in the most effective way?
Here are two methods super successful people use…
Find your ideal career, then envision it
Athletes at the top of their games have been visualizing their success for a long time.
And clearly, it works.
After 19-year-old Bianca Andreescu beat Serena Williams in the 2019 U.S. Open, she shared her visualization trick.
For years, she would imagine herself defeating Williams in the U.S. Open
And it’s not just a freak coincidence.
Author and entrepreneurial coach Jack Canfield writes about the four main benefits of visualizing your success. He said it…
- Activates your creative subconscious which will start generating creative ideas to achieve your goal
- Programs your brain to more readily perceive and recognize the resources you will need to achieve your dreams
- Activates the law of attraction, thereby drawing into your life the people, resources, and circumstances you will need to achieve your goals
- Builds your internal motivation to take the necessary actions to achieve your dreams
So what kind of musician do you want to be? Figure that out, then visualize it.
Write it down on The One-Thing-A-Day Worksheet. Then imagine yourself getting to that place.
Yeah, it sounds silly. But it clearly works for a lot of people.
Focus on the process, not the outcome
Smaller, output-based goals work better than big, outcome-based goals.
First, these little goals help you avoid burnout and stay encouraged.
Small goals are easy to reach, so you’ll accomplish them more frequently.
Hence, keeping you motivated and moving onward.
Second, if your goals are based on what you do rather than what you want, you’ll be more focused on what you’re doing.
You’ll be more focused on the process rather than the hoped-for outcome.
You’ll enjoy making music more.
And if you’re enjoying the process of making music, the music will be more authentic and full of…well, you.
Smart goals for musicians are small and focused on the process.
Closing Thoughts
Here are the steps to most effectively reach your music goals:
- Figure out your ideal picture of success as a musician
- Write it down on The One-Thing-A-Day Worksheet (FREE download below)
- Imagine yourself living in that success
- Set small goals based on your output
- Imagine yourself reaching those goals
- Always focus on the process, not your expected outcome
Setting goals and envisioning yourself reaching them is how to be successful in your music career.
Tap into your imagination and visualize your way to success.
It sounds outlandish, but it’s worked for plenty of people. So it’s worth a shot, right?
A worksheet for your music goals
Grab this FREE worksheet to help you envision your success and set attainable goals
Featured image of Jim Carrey via The New York Times