Learning by analogy
The story of Hansel and Gretel is not actually about Hansel or Gretel.

You are surrounded by examples and lessons and case studies that clearly aren’t exactly about your project. There’s never been a book written precisely about the situation you are facing right now, either. Perhaps one day they will publish, “Marketing Low-Cost Coaching Services to Small Businesses Specializing in Graphic Design in the Upper Peninsula for Dummies” but don’t hold your breath.

Marketing, like all forms of art, requires us to learn to see. To see what’s working and to transplant it, change it and amplify it.

We don’t teach this, but we should. We don’t push people to practice the act of learning by analogy, because it’s way easier to just give them a manual and help them avoid thinking for themselves.

The opportunity is to find the similarities and get ever better at letting others go first–not with what you’ve got, but with something you can learn from.

And the opposite is even more true. We over-rely on things where the specifics seem to match, but the lesson is obscured by the trivial. Sometimes when we see something happen that we can learn a conceptual lesson from, we instead jump to conclusions that the specifics are the important part.

Remember that the next time you have to take your shoes off before you get on an airplane.

View the original post here.

This is a comprehensive, high tech, modular teaching program that is designed to help you develop a successful career in the entertainment industry. Nothing like this has ever been done before.

As we close out this year and enter a new one, now may be the time to make that move you’ve always dreamed about making. Today you can change your future and lean how to succeed in the music industry.

For a complete description of the course go here.

“Here’s my hunch: we’ve settled for wimpy grace. It politely occupies a phrase in a hymn, fits nicely on a church sign. Never causes trouble or demands a response..This book asks a deeper question: Have you been changed by grace? Shaped by grace? Strengthened by grace?..God’s grace has a drenching about it. Grace comes after you. It rewires you..Grace is the voice that calls us to change and then gives us the power to pull it off.” – Max Lucado

That’s how modern technology works today. A powerful medium like FaceBook displays an amazing quote from a noted writer and I click the link. Bam! Commerce is consummated.

Here’s the major insight, though. This post was from an old friend of mine. When she speaks I listen. Had it not been for her post, I may not have ever heard about Max’s new book. If it were not possible for me to easily purchase the book on-line, I doubt if I would have made the effort to buy it. And what’s even more incredible about this experience is that I’m writing a blog about Max’s new book, hopefully selling him more books.

What’s the lesson here? It’s not about technology or even friendships. It’s about great content. I don’t know how anyone can read this quote form Lucado’s book and not buy it. It’s here for you.

There are so many lessons from this piece from Bob Lefsetz that you’ll probably miss most of them. Be sure to watch the video of Scott McKain telling about meeting “Taxi Terry”.

Bob –

For quite a while, I have read your insight regarding traditional media versus what’s really happening today in terms of gaining both recognition and advancing your career. Even though my business is a bit different as an author and speaker (although I’m also trying to move product and book gigs), I had a pretty dramatic example this week of how right you are.

On Tuesday, USA Today ran a story that not only featured me, but had two pictures — one of me on the masthead of the Money section, and another that was on page three that was, I swear, the biggest photo I think I’ve ever seen in that publication. We were ecstatic…it was like winning the publicity lottery.

The article featured everything I could’ve hoped for…said I’ve traveled over 100,000 miles this year to gigs, worked internationally including Dubai and Sweden, successful author…and that even though I’m a fearful flyer, I do what it takes in order to take care of business.

Guess how many phone calls we’ve received to book a date as a result of that incredible, Godsend of traditional publicity? As of Thursday evening…none. Eighteen million readers…not one call.

Don’t get me wrong…my ego loved watching people at the hotel and in the airport on Tuesday reading the story and seeing my picture. But, it created zero business for us so far.

On the other hand, one little story about a taxi driver I had in Jacksonville, Florida that I put up on YouTube — giving people a chance to see and hear a portion of the program I do — has generated about $200K in bookings in the past twelve months.

It never would have occurred to me that a video I edited on my Mac and uploaded from my house would have a more dramatic impact on my career than two huge pictures and a perfect story in USA Today. But, it did.

Please don’t misunderstand…I’m thrilled and grateful they ran the article. However, the “career maker” for me was a strong piece of material, complemented by a good performance, that potential fans could see and share.

Thanks for helping me get my priorities straight, Bob.

Scott

Blog post with pic of “USA Today”: http://bit.ly/NAIj1z

“USA Today” article: http://usat.ly/Nzvh7X

_______________________

Note: A careful reading of the “USA Today” article makes clear the focus is on fear of flying more than Mr. McKain’s career. Therefore, this is not a perfect equation. But many people believe all ink is extremely beneficial. Furthermore, watch the YouTube clip. It does sell Mr. McKain quite well, you get what his act is all about. In other words, you can utilize the digital tools of the new generation to demonstrate your wares and reap rewards. If what you say has value, it reaches people and goes viral. Furthermore, YouTube is free. It requires only that you make an effort. Which is better done by you than someone you hire. And online sheen is less important than content. Don’t worry about getting it perfect, worry about getting it out there.

–
Visit the archive: http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/

I’m a big fan of Ken’s work but I’m also a big fan of the man. I remember the day he told me about the idea for this book. He had just made a commitment to change a lot of things in his life that were bothering him. What I found interesting was that he believed lasting improvement was going to have to be holistic – body, mind and spirit. Improving just one area was not going to provide the lasting results he was after.

I hear a lot of people (especially men) declare that they are going to get in shape or work on their spiritual lives but most never follow through. I’m not sure why but I find myself doing the same thing almost every year. I think it has something to do with having a lack of discipline.

But that is one thing Ken doesn’t lack – at least not these days. After blowing up like a “beached whale”, as he described himself, and believing that his best years were behind him, Ken found a verse of scripture from the Apostle Paul that changed his life – “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection.” That verse, along with some action steps he figured out, changed him into the man we all know and love today.

I can’t recommend this book highly enough. It is a manifesto of sorts for the Boomer Generation and a wake-up call for everyone. Ken’s energy is infectious! And when you meet him you’ll see that the results of his method speak for themselves. After reading Fully Alive you’ll be saying, who doesn’t want a piece of that?

Registration is limited and there are only a few days left to obtain a seat, so you’ll need to act now if you’ve ever considered a career as an Artist Manager. Learn more here.

Part of the program includes an opportunity for registrants to watch the process of a “real live” artist’s development and all of the steps necessary for their success in the entertainment business.

It’s all explained in detail here. This has never been done before so I believe it’s an “Historic” event. I promise you, it’s extremely well done!

In a recent episode, Elaine, who is the Secretary of State played by Sigourney Weaver, has a conversation with a reporter as they are flying in a private jet. I found her response so profound that I asked Jan to re-wind the scene so I could watch it again several times.

The reporter asks Elaine how she lives with all the ugliness and meanness of politics and all of the hardships she has had to endure in life. She responds with the following dialog:

“Most people believe that if you work hard and give it everything you’ve got, tomorrow will be better than today. The truth is that most of life is hell. Most of life is filled with failure and loss. People disappoint you. Dreams don’t work out. Hearts get broken. And the best moments of life, when everything comes together, are few and fleeting.

But you’ll never get to the next great moment if you don’t keep going.

So that’s what I do.

I keep going.”

Scene from Political Animals starring Sigourney Weaver
USA Network.

I am grateful for the freedoms we all enjoy as citizens of this great nation. I’m also grateful for the many veterans who have fought for us to have these freedoms.

My dad was a career military man who fought in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam. That is chiseled on his headstone in a military cemetery in Oklahoma.

My brother is a highly decorated Vietnam Vet and a bona-fide war hero.

I achieved the rank of captain in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam conflict before I was 24 years old.

As you can see, my family made a choice to proudly serve in the military.

Early next week you’re going to have an opportunity to make a choice. This choice is not a life and death decision like serving in the military can be, but it’s a choice that could put your life on a different path.

In case you missed it, I’ve been telling my life story over the course of several videos – my life as an artist manager and how I got to where I am today. You can get caught up here.

I’ve been doing this for a reason.

I want you to consider changing your life.

Enjoy the holidays, be safe and enjoy your freedom.

I’ll be in touch shortly.

Mike

Most things I get ready to do really need to be done because something is not right if it’s left undone. It needs fixin’. Take the decision making process for example. Someone very wise once told me that we are the sum total of all of the decisions we ever made in our life. If that’s true, shouldn’t we get really good at making decisions if we want a better life?

I’m fixin’ to launch a program that will teach you how to succeed in the music business. Check it out and see if it can help you make a quality decision that may solve a problem in your life that needs to be fixed. Keep in mind, I’m a country boy..

Learn more here.

A Singer who sings songs about desperation for those in despair, who no longer wish to be desperate.  A Songwriter who writes songs about brokenness for the brokenhearted, who no longer wish to be broken. (from his web site)

Tattooed, vocal cords sliced by the razor-like effect of too much bourbon and hard living…smoky bar rooms and sleepless nights, countless songs sung until the wee hours of the morning but a heart, nonetheless, that

overflows from
honest faith, commitment and obedience to God.  That’s my friend.  I am one of his biggest fans.

He only performs in prisons nowadays.  Fame and fortune are not in his heart.  Here’s an excerpt from his journal after performing at Rikers Island prison in NYC.  I believe the last line should be a manifesto for every Christian artist and performer, perhaps all of us:

“As for today, all I know is this: We are all children of God. I don’t care what you’ve done, or where you’ve been. You’re still valuable, and you’re not forgotten. The power of Healing through Christ….the power of Reconciliation through Christ…..well….that’s the place I want to stand in the middle of….and these are the men I want to stand with. Some will start over…some will not. But I will keep going back and singing for them. My hope and prayer is that they will forget my name and walk towards the cross.”

Amen, Nathan…

http://nathanleemusic.com