You can also watch TEM321 on YouTube.

In this episode, Andrew Hitz shares insights inspired by two quotes from the legendary musician Prince. He examines Prince's perspective on perseverance, the creative process, and the importance of receiving constructive criticism from the right sources.

• Prince's first quote addresses perseverance: "The grind is real. There are no shortcuts. But what's the alternative? Don't quit one meter before you strike gold. Keep moving forward and creating the life of your dreams."
• Hitz distinguishes between Prince's authentic creative work ethic and today's toxic "grind culture" on social media
• Many social media personalities who promote "hustling" are often just promoting themselves without creating real value
• Prince's work ethic was genuine - having late-night recording sessions when inspiration struck, without broadcasting it
• The importance of quitting at the right time, not too early before seeing results (referencing Seth Godin's book "The Dip")
• Hitz uses the example of abandoning a YouTube channel after only 10 videos as quitting too soon
• Being thoughtful about what you start and having the discipline to continue is crucial

"I like constructive criticism from smart people."

• Even as a superstar, Prince remained teachable and open to new information
• The importance of only accepting criticism from people with relevant expertise
• Ignoring both mean-spirited criticism and well-intentioned but uninformed advice

• The TEM Coaching Newsletter from Hitz Academy available at tem.fm/newsletter
• Features links and resources that have helped Hitz on his entrepreneurial musical journey

Parker Mouthpieces - offering customizable component mouthpieces for horn, trombone, euphonium and tuba, including the Andrew Hitz Artist Model tuba mouthpiece. Visit parkermouthpieces.com or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

You can also watch TEM320 on YouTube.

On Today's Episode of The Entrepreneurial Musician:

In this episode, Andrew Hitz discusses the challenge of receiving well-intentioned but potentially misguided advice when starting new projects. He explores how people often present their personal preferences as universal truths and explains why standing out by going against conventional wisdom can be crucial for success.

• People frequently offer advice based on their personal preferences rather than objective insights

• Even when conventional wisdom is correct, following it exactly makes it difficult to stand out

• Using podcasting as an example, Hitz illustrates how different listener preferences (short vs. long intros) appeal to different audience segments

• The most loyal fans often appreciate unique elements that others might criticize

• Finding your own style and "leaning in" to it is more important than trying to please everyone

Hitz shares an anecdote about his previous podcast "The Brass Junkies" with co-host Lance LaDuke:

• A few listeners complained about long intros before guest interviews

• Other listeners specifically enjoyed the banter between the hosts and said so

• The listeners who enjoyed the hosts' personalities became loyal subscribers, not those who only came for specific guests

From Anthony Bourdain: "I'm very proud of the Rome episode of 'No Reservations' because it violated all the conventional wisdom about making television. You're never, ever supposed to do a food or travel show in black and white."

Don't be afraid to break conventions to make your work remarkable. As Hitz concludes: "So shoot in black and white. Or have a long intro. Or start your interview with the hardest question without even saying the title. Just make it remarkable - which of course means worth remarking about."

Why you need to stop thinking about it and you need to start doing it.

Watch 319 on YouTube and head over to tem.fm for the TEM319 Show Notes including a list of topics covered in this episode as well as links to all references mentioned.

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Do you ever jump from project to project and rarely seem to finish anything?

Let TEM Coaching design you a personalized plan to help give you clarity on which things to work on and which to put on hold. I promise you will leave our session knowing exactly what your next move should be. Visit temcoaching.com to take control of your career today.

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