Stop Caring What People Think!

If you read my last blog, you know EXACTLY where I'm going with this after you read the headline. If you want to be the best at what you do, want to rise to the very top, you will FIRST have to STOP CARING WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK ABOUT YOU.

"But wait T-Jack, I thought to get to the top you have to have the approval of others!" You might be thinking.

Well the truth is, you are only halfway correct. To get to the top, yes you will need the approval of others, in CD sales if you're an artist, or positive references for projects, and venture capitalists that are willing to invest in your cause. BUT before you can get these people to believe in you, you have to BELIEVE in yourself 100%! You have to APPROVE OF YOURSELF!

Take Kanye West for instance. He wears the most outrageous clothes, and comes across as overly cocky to some people. But when you watch his video "Good Life" (Link here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyEoaOmcSBo ) you can tell that he could CARE LESS what ANYONE ELSE thinks about him, he is living the GOOD LIFE because he BELIEVES that HE IS THE BEST !! If you don't believe you are the best, NO ONE ELSE WILL!

Do you really think that the artists that make it to the top come to promoters and label execs and say "Hey, here is my best music, hope you like it." NO. The BEST come with the attitude that their music is the best, and everyone else should think it is as well. And the weird phenomenon that occurs most of the time (unless the music is truly GARBAGE!) is that EVERYONE STARTS TO THINK IT'S THE BEST MUSIC OUT THERE!

It is as simple as that. I get a lot of demos sent to me nowadays, and sure, some of the artists have the right attitude, but the WRONG music. Others have GREAT music but don't believe in themselves and come at me with an APOLOGETIC tone, like "Sorry to disturb you, hope you like my music."

Let's be real here.. Do you REALLY think that you're going to make it to the top if you come at people like that? RESPECT is one thing, COWARDICE is another. When I push artists, CD's, and shows, I do respect the PROFESSIONAL opinions of others. But if I truly believe 100% in the artist's work and abilities, I'm gonna have the attitude of "Here is what I got. Either you like it and buy it or SOMEONE ELSE WILL!"

BOTTOM LINE: Do all the research you can, make your music (or whatever your hustle is) the best it can be, and BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE THE BEST at every Performance, Interview, Recording.. Basically everything you do.

The ONLY caveat you should be wary of is coming across as OVERLY COCKY. No one likes an artist that thinks they're the best, and has no respect for anyone else. So INTERNALIZE this as much as possible, especially the BIGGER you get in the industry. Kanye West does not come out and say "I'm The BEST", but it is downright obvious in his lyrics and mannerisms that he believes this to be the case. ALWAYS have respect for others, but do not let ANYONE talk down on you. GIVE respect, and DEMAND it back.

Keep Hustlin,

T-JACK