Someone recently told me that they don’t like hearing people use the word entrepreneur because they feel it sounds a little too ‘early stages’ (my words, not theirs). The thinking was, convey to people that you are established and have been at it for a while.
At what? In my case it would be running a PR agency (not to mention podcasting and speaking), but you might be an author or perhaps you make music or you’re a podcaster or YouTuber or a similar creative such as an actor, filmmaker, etc. but the bottom line is, it’s your full-time job. Congratulations. You’re your own boss.
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Mind you, I know there are lots of you who have that as your goal and you are doing something else on the side (dare I call it, “on the quiet”) because you long to do just that (pick one from the paragraph above).
Regardless of whether you’re all in with your vocation or are chasing that dream, don’t get stars in your eyes at the idea of being the boss having glamor attached to it. Never mind the fact that with it comes great responsibility. While you might be picturing the freedom that comes with being the one who has the last say, what are your decisions based on? Do you just go with your gut? Did you hear some expert say it one time on a webinar? Is it, gulp, the advice of Google or AI?
On my weekly “Now Hear This Entertainment” podcast, guests will often cite their influences. They’ll talk about artists they listened to when they were growing up and who, as a result, they feel you might hear a bit of in their own original music. But then you’ll hear them talk about, for example, a producer who has really helped guide them or a manager or maybe they had a parent who was an entertainer and has been there for the lessons and advice they need.
Do you see the difference between an influence and a mentor? I submit that the latter is far more important than the former. After all, you do want to be original and not have your audience spend all their time comparing you to someone else. I know, I know, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. But let’s get back to getting you ahead and what’s shaping your thoughts.
The movie “The Odyssey” is big right now and Homer’s original Odyssey birthed the term central to this week's blog post in that the king leaves his estate under the care of his trusted friend, (named) Mentor, which is seen as the first use of the mentor archetype in literature.
In other words, it’s not a new concept, so embrace it. I can point to two mentors (bosses) I had in my professional career, before I started my PR agency. Even though, present day, I have someone (a strategist) who is my go-to advisor as it relates to running Now Hear This, Inc., there are lessons I still hold onto from back in my previous jobs.
And yes, if you’re still working a job to keep steady pay coming in but have a mentor there, they know your goals. In the season finale of “Ted Lasso,” Season 2, Higgins says, “A good mentor hopes you will move on. A great mentor knows you will.”
I can’t tell you who your mentor should be, but I will say (a) don’t choose a ‘yes man,’ and (b) it’s true what they say, “Don’t be the smartest person in the room.” Your mentor should challenge you and should only have your best interests at heart.
In fact, your mentor should also talk about where you both want to get to, as in, “We’re working to triple your business in (time period).” That means that you should already have a vision for your goals and your timeline. Interestingly, I suspect that if you’re splitting your time because you’ve got another job to keep a steady paycheck coming in, there is a stronger likelihood that you already have a target date when you want to be full-time with your creative endeavor. (Those of you who are full-time should use that as a kick in the pants to do goal setting of your own.)
In other words, a mentor isn’t someone you (feel you can) call upon once in a blue moon when you want to bounce something off them. Want the relationship to be taken more formally and more seriously? Pay them for their time and expertise. Hold regular meetings. Accountability can really help change the nature of the relationship.
As with everything else that gets published here every Monday, there is a strong desire to motivate you. However, don’t get so inspired that you set a goal of identifying a mentor in the next 24 hours. This is not a decision to be taken lightly. If you happen to be in the music business, think of this as choosing a band member. It’s someone you want to have alongside you for the long haul. And is it really best for it to be a family member or close friend? Ask yourself, “Why is this who I think is best qualified? What do they bring to the table?”
At the end of it, you’re still the boss. You still have the final say. The pressure is still squarely on you. But you won’t feel alone.
A Member of the Recording Academy, I have been helping indie music artists, authors, actors, entrepreneurs, podcasters, filmmakers, small business owners, and more for over twenty years. What challenges are you having in your creator career that I can lend some insight to? Connect with me so you can take advantage of all my experience, and I can help and keep you moving forward.