Startup & Small Business - Page 11

It’s not enough to simply drop old habits: you have to replace them with something. That something is a new frame of mind, the “Go!” mindset. It’s the most uncomfortable mindset you can have, at least at first, because you’re committing yourself even when you’re unsure if you’ll succeed.

I remember when I decided I would start getting up earlier to get a jumpstart on the day. To do that I had to train myself to go to bed at a certain time, set my alarm clock, and force myself out of bed when the alarm so stridently informed me that it was 5 a.m. Needless to say, the transition wasn’t an easy one. The first few days I hit the snooze button enough times for a whole infomercial to come and go before I actually got up. By then I’d easily be heading into a 6 a.m. or later start.

Sometimes I didn’t even hear my alarm go off, and when I finally arose I felt incredibly disappointed that I’d stood myself up yet again. It was like putting myself through boot camp and I had to be my own instructor – the Major Payne version, the one that yells, curses you out, and calls you ugly names when you fail to complete a task. I had to bring attention to where I was falling short so I could get it right. The new way of doing things didn’t sink in the next day either. It took repeated attempts at going through these new steps and only over days and weeks did things get easier.

Now I don’t have to be nudged by an alarm clock to get my butt out of bed. Sometimes I’m awake before that, and I know that it’s definitely the training and perseverance that gave rise to this new habit.

You have to want to change. You’re putting your mind, body, and spirit through this new routine because you so desperately want to renew yourself. But so often you’re about to throw in the towel because those old habits have been formed over the course of your life and now you are shocking your system and training yourself to do something entirely new.

Don’t despair. The pain is temporary!

Training takes time and preparation, and much of the time it’s lonely, strenuous work done in the corner of a musty gym. Worse, however, is the fact that we have to sever our ties to our old self, cutting out old habits and making choices that we’re not comfortable with.

Luckily there are a few things you can do to stay on track, to say“Go!” with renewed vigor each and every time your alarm tells you it’s five in the morning.

Action Plan

“Go!” means doing. You’ll never know what you’re capable of achieving if you don’t start the preparation and training phase, since without the attempt there can be no progress toward personal and entrepreneurial goals. You have to activate your thoughts by getting physical and taking action, even if it’s just making a list. Which is where we start.

Planning is crucial: you have to know what you’re aiming for. So Go! out and act on it by creating some goals. When you commit your goals to paper, you are designing a map to help you reach your ultimate destination. If everything stays in your head, there is no course of action to bring it to fruition.

1. Make a list of your goals for the day, week, and month, and see how they fit into your long-term plans. As you create your list, include action steps alongside the bigger goals to help you to complete them.

2. Keep an eye on your list and update it constantly. Adjust, remove, or add to the list as needed. The most important thing is to keep it current to help you monitor your progress.


3. Allocate time to work on your list. Don’t write up a list of goals and tasks only to stuff them in a notebook somewhere. Carve out chunks of time throughout the day or week to work on the list, just as you would do so with a list of tasks given to you by a supervisor on a job.

4. Focus on you. If you’ll go at your own pace and move away from trying to keep up with others, you allow yourself the space to tap into your creativity. And if you stay focused on you, chances are you’ll be less likely to be completely influenced by someone else’s thoughts or ideas.

5. Take breaks. Work on giving yourself some space as you work on your project. Taking a breather and stepping away from work will help you clear your mind – like emptying the trash and browser cache on your computer – to make decisions and visualize better. Go do something you enjoy. It doesn’t have to be an all-day event. Read a few pages of a book you like, grab an ice cream cone, or take a brisk stroll in the park. The goal is to not focus on the work at hand and to allow yourself some time to recharge before you hop back in.

Our minds possess a mechanism that functions like a central control station, tasked with overseeing the entire body, but its primary duty is to trigger action within us. It goes without saying that action is necessary for reaching your goals, even a mundane task like tying your shoelaces, driving a car, or deciding whether you want pizza or salad. All three require you to act. So do bigger decisions. Will you hang out with friends on Saturday night and catch up on old times, or will you get the much-needed rest you know you need because you’ve had an extremely tiring week and you’ve got an important pitch on Monday?

One of the reasons people settle into 9-to-5 jobs is that they feel comfortable having someone else make decisions for them, to run the show, to keep the business profitable. Branching out as an entrepreneur is the opposite: you are the sole individual responsible for the end-result of these considerations.

Think about the fitness and gym industry, for example. Many of us set goals at the start of the New Year only to lose the excitement and enthusiasm after the first couple of months. For some of us that happens in the first few weeks or even days. The fact that the fitness industry counts on unused gym memberships is an example of how expected it is that people will lose motivation and abandon their hopes of reaching their goals. In 2016 USA Today reported, “A gym membership may seem like the first step in any resolution to be healthier, but usage statistics suggest they may not, in fact, be that great of an investment. The average gym membership costs just under $60 per month, and 67% of memberships go unused.”

This business model exploits the laziness of people – and to fantastic success! So unless your dream is to create a business that caters to pure sloth, you need to retune your brain to the possibilities: the five-pound weight loss, the new career opportunity, an optimistic view of life, and so forth. When you shift from passivity to action, your life changes. You reawaken those long-dormant dreams and take control of your destiny.

Many people put off that dream for years or wait until some magical, auspicious date rolls around, such as New Year’s Day. Our list of resolutions tend to unfold like a crinkled sacred scroll, signed and ripped along the edges – you know, like in the Indiana Jones movie, except with all types of goals jotted down nice and neat and with much thought. We load ourselves up with all sorts of positive thinking toward achieving the aspirations we’ve now set for ourselves. We hit the ground running mere hours after overindulging at that New Year’s party on Third Street where we kicked back a few vodka shots and cocktails. It’s the start of a brand-new year, another opportunity to show up and do the things we’ve only dreamed about doing.

Our intentions to cross off each item on our New Year’s lists are aligned with our attitudes at that time: everything is jolly and we’re happy with all the wonderful prospects presented by a fresh start. Then we settle back into to our normal routine, our comfort zone, and the list is forgotten and we’re back to square one. While we might start off heading in the right direction and get several weeks of progress under our belts, somewhere along the way the act of doing something new becomes too much.

Even going to the gym becomes monotonous, as if we’re on an assembly line. One, two, three, LIFT. One, two, three, LIFT. We start to burn out and it’s barely mid-February. What happened to all the excitement? What happened to the promises that we made to ourselves?

Here’s my first tip: uncertainty is part of the growing and learning process. Courage, on the other hand, is the quality of facing such uncertainty and finding the strength to continue. While it may seem like starting a new venture is a lofty goal and completely out of reach, this is actually the perfect time to become your own boss. All you need is a little attitude adjustment – to grasp the importance of perseverance, positivity, and courage.

I don’t know if I’d be where I am today if I’d played it safe and stuck with a traditional career. Even when I was flipping burgers or serving as the office secretary for a furniture company, in the back of mind I always knew there was something for me beyond grueling, minimum-wage drudgery. Although I didn’t have a clue about my purpose or what was in store, my heart was always telling me it was possible for me to achieve something by running my own business.

The thing is, I was good at my jobs in customer service, and that was exactly what made me believe I could do more. I was limited by the chain of command, however, and although I didn’t know what “more” meant, eventually the time came when I just had to take the leap of faith. When I finally decided to fully ditch traditional employment around 2009, I quickly went from store clerk and aspiring entrepreneur to successful entrepreneur and business owner.

I don’t mean to say you should ignore uncertainty altogether, but you should definitely question its source and whether you want to give it more power than it deserves. More often than not, the uncertainty you hear in the back of your mind is the voice of someone else or even a more fearful, younger version of yourself. Instead, learn to be guided by sheer determination and faith, regardless of the cruel, everyday reminders of what’s practical or acceptable.

Although I’ve worked alongside business partners and collaborators, I consider myself a solopreneur. Still, I’ve always relied on the input of others for inspiration, especially from those working toward similar goals. I find it fascinating that so many people have such incredible ideas brewing inside them, just waiting to bubble to the surface, with things like productivity apps for more mindful and efficient living, technical fitness gear, eco-friendly home furnishings, pocket-sized grooming kits, portable pet baths, and food and beverage start-ups. While some of these entrepreneurs took a leap of faith in starting their businesses – leaving comfortable jobs to gain autonomy, freedom, and control over their destiny – others did so out of sheer necessity. Regardless of their businesses’ origins, all of these people have moving stories and provide invaluable insight into the nature of entrepreneurism.

Because there are so great many stories out there, I launched an entrepreneurial-based podcast in 2016 called “SOB: Style of Business The Podcast,” with the hopes of showcasing others’ work as well as different perspectives on what it really takes to launch and manage a business. I’ve had the opportunity to speak with some fantastic entrepreneurs and creators who have managed to launch businesses across various industries, including human resource management, financial services, food and beverages, marketing and advertising, fashion, entertainment, and technology.

During these interviews I try to capture the essence of their motivation in launching their own business and how did they went about doing so. The passion in their voices when discussing their ideas and what it was like for them to implement them reacquaints me with my own original vision. It’s important to get a sense of how unique the journey is for each entrepreneur, since there’s no specific formula for success, no right or wrong. One of the main purposes of “Style of Business” is not only to encourage aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners but also to show that they can carve out their own path.

As I speak with more and more individuals during my podcasts, I find that elements of their stories are quite similar. Many start out by simply reaching out to people with know-how and expertise and a good track record, such as a community figure or a local business group like the Small Business Administration – which is what I hope to do with this book: help you get started. I want to share with you my own experiences, what keeps me motivated and on track, and how you can stay positive throughout the challenges.

Another common theme is that these individuals make the decision to simply start. So if it’s your goal to launch your own company, explore entrepreneurship, or change careers, Courage is a Muscle is for you. My goal with this book is to share my journey and the obstacles I faced not so that you can avoid making mistakes – they’re crucial for learning and adapting – but so that you won’t get discouraged, so that you’ll have some strategies for dealing with the emotional turmoil that comes along with the highs and lows, and so you’ll come to understand that a little discipline and fortitude goes a long way. I’ll provide inspiration and a diversity of perspectives, and I’ll give you tips and solid advice for applying the methods herein, not just general platitudes.

New situations often freak us out, and it’s easy to lose hope when there is no certainty that a venture will succeed. Starting a business is the first step toward a life of independence and freedom, but there were many days when I realized my life would be easier if I was still working for someone else, fulfilling their dream. Then I’d remind myself that there was something bigger for me, and it didn’t include clocking in, Monday through Friday, from nine to five. It wasn’t until I started my entrepreneurial journey that things started to unfold and I learned who I truly am and my purpose here.

I invite you to sit with the idea of what launching a business or being an entrepreneur would look like for you. What goals, talents, or skills are you suppressing out of fear or the belief that you’re incapable of obtaining success? Keep that in mind as you begin this journey with me.

This one’s for you, Grandma.

And so it begins. Here’s the introduction to my new book “Courage Is A Muscle.” I’m sharing the first few chapters here on my blog – each week I’ll post parts of the first 3 chapters. Happy Sunday and I hope you all enjoy.

Most of us have experienced something that make us feel as if we’ve been swallowed up by a black hole of despair. It’s these experiences that flood our hearts with emotions, both positive and negative, but it’s at times like these that we learn what we’re made of. We might even be surprised by what we’re able to endure and accomplish once we’ve made it through to the other side. For some of us, it also inspires us to reacquaint ourselves with our dreams and even pursue them with renewed vigor.

One of the most profound moments in my life was when my grandmother passed away in 2013. As kids my brothers, sisters, cousins, and I had dreaded the thought of life without her, to the point where one of us would become visibly upset with tears and anguish if someone were to mention her fictitious death. I too believed she would always be with us – she’s Grandma. She was around long before I’d gotten here, and I wouldn’t dare picture her being anywhere else. 

I can still recall in the weeks leading up to her death how agonizing it was not only for me but for the entire family as we prepared for the loss of our beloved matriarch, but if there was one good thing to come out of it, it’s that something so drastically life-altering nudges you toward self-awareness: you find yourself wanting to know the purpose of it all, of your life. You suddenly find yourself almost desperate to get things right. 

 That was me. After cycling through confusion, frustration, doubt, disbelief, and a physical pain in the pit of my stomach, knowing that there was nothing I nor anyone else could do to change what was inevitable, I realized that my grandmother wouldn’t have wanted us to put the brakes on our lives. She empowered us with stories of her youth, reminding us that it took determination and persistence to move forward in life, especially instilling in us the fact that things weren’t going to be handed to us.

I think about her words often, especially when things aren’t going as planned, because it’s easy to lose yourself in the daily struggles of life and business. She always had a few wise words to let us know that opportunity was still out there, and that we were more than capable of accomplishing anything we wished. The only thing holding us back was our courage, which I came to believe was little more than a muscle that helps the heart get its work done.

I remember that when I was in college, one of my dreams was to write for an entertainment publication. It was my senior year and I was applying for internships and sending samples of my writing to any music-based magazine that listed an editorial email on its website. After taking some time to think about the publications I wanted to write for, I narrowed it down to about four or five. I got busy reaching out to the editorial departments, sending in my writing samples, following up, and crossing my fingers that someone would be interested – or at least give me a damn shot! Weeks and weeks went by… and nothing. It seemed like everyone else was landing their dream internship, and I was stuck trying to land anything I could.

I finally decided to settle, concluding that maybe my writing wasn’t good enough at the time. I recall the conversation I had with my grandmother about my failed attempt to land my dream internship, and as I starting shooting off my list of complaints and telling her how unfair it was, she said, “One person might tell you ‘no,’ but not everybody is going to. Eventually someone’s going to say ‘yes.’”

Although my life had always revolved around music, I ended up interning for a local film production studio, which turned out to be just as exciting and fulfilling. I understood that I could still write for an entertainment-based publication like I’d always wanted to do, but those internships that I’d applied for were not the right opportunity for me just then. I knew that I’d have to keep trying, because I believed that eventually someone would say yes. And, shortly after the internship episode, I ended up landing a freelance writing position with a local music magazine. I got to interview some pretty well-known local artists and the press pass allowed me to cover performances and events. Sometimes, all it takes is that one moment of “yes” to get you closer to your dream.

Losing my grandmother was a catalyst for me to move forward with the ambitious goals I’d set for myself years earlier. No matter what I was doing, whether it was working for a company or setting out to lead my own ventures, she was always 100% on board and eager to push me further. She believed in her grandkids’ and was always there to support us financially, spiritually, and emotionally.

She was the one person in the family who saw the potential in each of us, no matter how much the outside world conspired against us or tried to reinforce the notion that our goals were ridiculous or impossible to achieve. Her ability to encourage was phenomenal: after a conversation with her, you’d feel as if you were able to accomplish anything, no matter how far-fetched or unlikely. After that it was simply up to us to bring it to life.

Starting this month I’ll begin sharing the first few chapters of my book “Courage Is a Muscle: Using Heart to Power Your Entrepreneurial Dreams.”

Thankfully, with the help of my editor, we managed to wrap up the last round of edits and now it’s just a matter of releasing confirming the official release date. But, before I unveil my manuscript to the world I felt compelled to share a portion of my story in hopes of offering a glimpse of what the entrepreneurial journey is like. And while it hasn’t been perfect, it’s certainly been worth it and I encourage anyone who is reading this to not give up on their goals. Don’t be like the man who stopped digging three feet from gold who Napoleon Hill described in his book “Think and Grow Rich.” When it’s all said and done if you choose to hold on to a desire that constantly tugs at you and you do nothing to follow it through you end up doing yourself and others a great disservice.

Courage Is A Muscle highlights the constant uncertainty entrepreneurs and new business owners face while also encouraging the reader to act on inspiration, protect their dreams, and embrace change. 

It references topics like mindset & attitude, perseverance, avoiding distractions, organization, wellbeing & fitness, and self-worth. I invite the reader to come along on my personal journey as I reflect and share experiences with business success and failure, my first experiences with entrepreneurship and how the close personal relationship with my late grandmother served as a catalyst for me to pursue my goals. I look forward to sharing this project with you soon!

This week I caught up with UK-based Hot Money Studios founder Patrick Osei. An accomplished producer and sound engineer, Osei was one of the primary trailblazers responsible for cultivating what some may know as the garage & grime sound of the early 2000s. Known for his unconventional approach to music production, Patrick’s earlier works (club hits “Stomp,” “Glitch” and “Deep Down” under the moniker Big$hot) received praise from DJs and journalist alike with favorable reviews in DJ Mag and Deuce Magazine. Now, he’s contributing to the success of others through his recording studio and artist development services.

• 

• 

• 

Hey Patrick! Welcome to our interview series – We’re happy to have you!  

Q: You started your music career in the early 2000s and achieved success with your UK Garage club hits Stomp, Glitch and Deep Down under the moniker Big$hot — Did you ever think you’d transition from garage/grime music to underground, bass-driven hip hop?

Achieving success in the UK Garage and Grime scene was my first taste of success in the Music Business. I was in my early twenties making a full time income from music for a few years and assumed it would last forever like many creatives do. In the end, the music trends changed and many of us in the scene had to face the reality that the bubble had burst. Starting a recording studio came after spending 3 years at a regular job and realising that my potential could’ve been more maximised with my music skillsets. This led to me starting the recording studio business.

Q: When did you first develop an interest in music production? Who was your biggest influence?

I started playing the piano at the age of 7, I then transitioned into music production in my early teens when I discovered computers and music technology. I wanted to combine my love of playing piano and my interested in technology. Music production was the perfect outlet for me and led me to study music production legends like Quincy Jones, Rodney Jerkins and Max Martin.

Q: Let’s talk about the work you do at Hot Money Studios! What types of projects do you typically work on and what services are available for artists?

Hot Money Studios was my way of giving back to the new generation of talent. I had acquired a decent level of skill within the audio engineering area and wanted to help increase the quality output of the growing London Urban music scene.

Typically, the projects I work on tend to be music singles where the artist is focused on creating one song to a high standard. With the advent of affordable studio equipment, many up and coming artists create their demos at home to archive their ideas and later on book a professional facility to take things to another level. The services we offer include the recording and finishing of one song and helping to release it to digital music platforms like Spotify and Apple music. We also offer a boutique service where we create a custom music production tailored to the client’s style.


Q: You’ve worked with many talented and well known artists such as Stormzy, Stefflon Don, Krept and Konan, Ard Adz, and Paigey Cakey to name a few. Are you working on any new projects at the moment?

It has been a pleasure to be apart of those talented artists’ journeys. The music industry moves at a very fast pace so I’m always in search of the next big star. Currently, I am working with some amazing new acts like K’One, Keido Bond, Tevan, Yxng Prodigy, G3orge-E, UL8 and more.

Q: You’re pretty much involved in all aspects of making sure the final production is professionally presented – from producing the track to mixing and mastering. Do you have a favorite part of the production process?

My favourite part of the process is the mixing stage. This is when we gather all of the individual sounds from the kick drum, to the background vocal chant and blend them all together to form a cohesive piece of music. Seeing client reactions in the studio when you turn up the speakers to their music is the best moment.

Q: What do you enjoy most about making music and collaborating with the different types of talent?

What I most enjoy about making music and collaborating is the coming together of minds to realize a vision. The back and forth debate, experimentation, trial and error. Working with over 1000 recording artists over 10 years gives you a very deep insight into the creative mind and helps keep your own ideas fresh.

Q: Which artists are you listening to these days? What do you like most about their music?

I listen to a lot of my own client’s music during my downtime. I tend to attract a very high calibre of talent at my studio facility so in a sense, I get to enjoy their music long before the world hears about them. I always remind my clients that every superstar had a ‘first’ recording session and that working on music is a journey.

Q: What advice would you offer any independent artists looking for a great quality studio to record their project?

My advice for independent artists is to do more research into what makes their favourite artists sound the way they do. The vocal chain is the vocal recording equipment we use to capture the vocal and is undoubtedly the most expensive section of a recording studio’s arsenal. Knowing between the cheap and the expensive would give them a better understanding as to how that affects their final product.

Q: Where can artists or labels get in touch with you for information about Hot Money Studios’s production and engineering services?

We are very active on Instagram at the moment so that would be one place to get in touch. You can also contact us through our website www.hotmoneystudios.com