Note: when I first wrote this article back in 2012, I was really big into network marketing, affiliate marketing, Your Wish Is Your Command, Global Information Network, law of attraction… some (but not all) sketchy stuff. I will forever look back on 2011 fondly for the amazing turnaround that occurred in my life, but I’ve since had to separate the wheat from the chaff. I still believe in much of what I shared here, which is why I’ve left this article up for your reading pleasure. But I have added a couple of notes just to clarify things. I wish you nothing but the best in your music career. – David Andrew Wiebe, February 2016
Here is a list of things to do this year to make it your best year ever. You can change your life in 2012.
1. Make Health a Priority
You have to take care of yourself before you can ever expect to take care of anyone else – mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally.
Make sure you are eating a healthy diet, exercising, meditating, sleeping, resting, and scheduling some recreation time in your life. Take care of yourself so you can give your best to others.
2. Invest in Your Personal Development
Purchase some great books and audios that you are going to delve into this year. Subscribe to some blogs and podcasts. Continue to learn, grow, and develop your own potential. There is no other way – you have to plunge into some great material.
3. Commit to Practice and Excellence
Perfection is a stifling force, but practice is a key ingredient to ongoing personal improvement.
Commit to practicing your instrument, vocals, songwriting, producing or composing skills. Set aside some time for this activity, and put it in your schedule. Strive for excellence in your chosen field.
4. Find a Mentor or Connect with a Group of Like-Minded People
Remain a student of life and decide to learn from others who are doing what you want to do, or have gone before you and attained success in their field.
If Tiger Woods needs a coach or a mentor, how much more do you and I? Find someone you can be accountable to.
5. Tie Up Loose Ends
Finish any projects that are hanging in the air. Resist the temptation to start anything new (but do make sure to write down any sparks of inspiration that you have) until you’re done with existing projects.
Do you want new things in your experience? Then strive to clear away the clutter in your life.
6. Dream-Build on the Weekends
Instead of loafing on the couch, watching TV, or playing video games, take some time to think about what you want in life.
Buy a travel magazine. Post pictures up around your house and in your dream book (make a dream book if you don’t have one). Test-drive your dream car(s). Ask a realtor to take you to some million-dollar-homes.
7. Attend Workshops, Conventions & Other Events
Get around the scene and see what people are up to. Learn about new developments. Make new connections, and develop new friendships and partnerships.
8. Commit to Frequency
If you write blog posts, set up a schedule to roll them out on a consistent basis. If you produce podcast episodes, likewise get on a regular schedule. Put out more updates.
If you’re a recording artist, consider recording more singles and EPs, or put together demo packages as free downloads.
9. Do Some Things That You Fear
Try something new and different. Talk to a stranger. Make some phone calls to old friends. Go to a meetup group you’ve never been to before. Go skydiving (you don’t have to go skydiving specifically, but you know what I’m getting at).
10. Travel or Take Road Trips
Spend time away from home, and explore the world. It will get you out of your normal routine. Your routine is great if it’s producing results you want, but will have to be altered if it’s not. There’s no better way to get out of your rut than to travel.
11. Visualize & Meditate on Your Success
Even in small things like making a good meal or seeing your house or living space clean and organized, start to see desired results in your mind’s eye.
Practically every successful person does this. Imagine everything in detail. Imagine sights, smells, sounds, colors, sentences or phrases that would be said when you reach that destination, and so on.
12. Get Involved in Network Marketing
Note: don’t go into any business without first knowing what you’re getting into. I still believe that network marketing is great for teaching you the ins and outs of business, but you can end up spending a lot of money in getting that (expensive) education. Still better than going to college or university for the same education (in my opinion), because they don’t really teach you what you need to know about business, but contrary to what they might tell you, I don’t believe network marketing is for everybody. So take my points here with a grain of salt.
It is fine to talk about your financial needs, but it’s better to do something about them. I am pretty enthusiastic about affiliate marketing and network marketing, and so is financial expert Robert Kiyosaki.
In these tough economic times, I think it would be best to consider options you haven’t before. There are great financial and health benefits, but more than that, there are great personal growth benefits too.
Bonus Tip
One, final, bonus tip: streamline your finances. Cut off the cable TV, turn the thermostat down a bit, unsubscribe from entertainment services, magazines, newspapers, etc. Take away the distractions so you can focus on what you really want.
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