I’m sitting here tonight with Janna and she’s letting me know when Kaelyn is kicking and moving.  It’s unbelievably emotional for me.

So, as most of you know by now, I’m pretty analytical.  I can’t help it.  I try to learn a lesson that maybe I can teach someone else in everything I do.

I was doing a coaching call this week with a good friend and we were talking about her next step in ministry.

“So, what are you thinking you are gonna do next?”

“Well, people are asking for a Christmas CD and a DVD” she said.

This is where the “new-daddy” analytical side kicked in.

You’re fans are a lot like babies, I said.  Now, I don’t mean that in a negative way either, just hear me out, okay?

“Okay, go on.”

Literally.. a $17,000 pacifier

“When babies cry, they just cry… they don’t really know enough about life and living to REALLY know what they want.. they just cry.  It’s up to us as parents to be conscious enough to figure it out for them.  It’s our job.”

When a fan of yours “cries” out, most of time we just shove a pacifier in their mouths. “They must want a new CD.” we assume, so we go out and spend $5,000-$25,000 to try to satisfy them.

“We’d love to see you guys on a DVD”, they say, so we go out and spend that much again (or more) on producing a DVD that usually has the same songs as the CD.  Now they have to choose.  We have created product to compete with our own product now.

My theory is this:

• If they like you, what they really want is to know more about you.  In their quest to do that, they sign up for your mailing list. (But, you don’t write too much because, understandably, you are too busy)
• If they like you, what they really want is to spend more time with you.  In their quest to do that, they hang out at the record table after the concert or offer to help you carry your equipment out. (But, understandably, you have to leave for the next date)
• If they like you, they want to support you. In their quest to do that, they buy the only 2 or 3 products you have on your record table. (But, understandably, you can’t afford to record as much as they like)

What if you could create a product that didn’t cost a fraction of what a DVD or CD did, they would get to spend more time with you AND they could support your ministry at the same time…

Here are a few suggestions:

• an e-book
• a teleseminar
• an audio book
• instructional videos (screen capture)
• these are just a few things.. the list is expanding every day!

We talk about this stuff in MUCH more detail in the EmPower Your Ministry Course as well as step-by-step ways of creating them without getting overwhelmed.

I’m excited also about an on-going program that we are putting together to not only TEACH you these things, but a system to keep you pressing toward getting something like this completed and delivered!

Sign up for the mailing list over there =====> so that we can send you info as soon as we have it ready.

Until then,

I knew I recognized him.

He was that guy from that show “The Hitmen of Music Row” that I had become a little addicted to.  The show followed four very successful Nashville songwriters through their day-to-day activities.

His name was Craig Wiseman.

We were both on the 8:20 flight from New York City.  I thought about talking to him on the plane, then, again in baggage claim but no time seemed appropriate.  My chance finally came while we were waiting for our drivers to pick us up (well, he was, anyway-I was waiting on the “Park and Fly” cheap-parking-shuttle-bus) when I said, “Hey Craig, I’m loving your show, man.. Were you filming in New York?”

“Yea, we were taping an episode in Manhattan last night.” he said with a slight “aw-shucks-you-recognized-me” grin.

Knowing that this moment wouldn’t last, I got straight to the point and asked him:

“So, when you write, do you write for a certain artist to get a cut on their record?… like, do you get together with your buddies and write a song for Faith or Tim or whoever?”

“Oh, heck no! (not the exact word he used) I write for the pure fun of it!  You haven’t heard most of the stuff I write… You’ve only heard the 5% that’s been cut… the other 95% is pure crap!” (that is the exact word he used)

We talked for another few minutes while we waited, but I left enlightened, a little shocked and encouraged.

Here’s what I learned from Craig in that 4 minute conversation:

• Writing (as with most other creative things) is a numbers game.
• Being a perfectionist is counter-productive.  Sometimes, you have to deliver an imperfect product just to keep the flow going.
• Usually, when you obsess about about that one song you wrote 10 years ago, you know, that song that’s going to put you on the map if someone could just hear it?? You are wasting your time.  Songwriters write songs. Song(s) as in plural.  Move on.
• Don’t be afraid to write crap sometimes.  Get over it.  Write the hit next time.
• Your ministry, whether it be songwriting, repairing cars, or singing should be fun.  If it’s not, re-examine what you are doing… You could be doing the wrong thing.  The more you like something, the better you are at it, the more fun it is.

I could probably come up with a few more, but I think you get the point, right?

Does “not delivering” that song, that painting, that mix, that sermon, hold you back sometimes?

I want to hear about it.

If you are smart, you have a mailing list so that it’s easy to communicate with the people who have asked you to do so.

But are you using that mailing list to “push” information that you need “pushed” to your fans- selfishly?

You know… here’s some pictures of me.  Here’s where I’m gonna be Here’s what I need for you to do for me.

Or, are you using it to find out what THEY need from YOU.  Maybe something like, “I’d love it if you had wristbands”.. or “coffee mugs” or “a club mix of your songs?  You may be surprised what you’ll find out.

The fact is, If you are selfish with the your mailing list or website content, you may NEVER know what your fans really want from you!

Keep being “pushy” and selfish and they’ll be ON to you and OFF your list.

Some other things you can “update” them may be: Funny Stories, encouragement, maybe find out if they’d like to go grab a bite after a concert.

Bottom line:

Don’t be one of those rude people who only call when they need something.  You know who you are.

What are some things that one of YOUR fans have asked for that surprised you?

thanks in advance for your comments.

I think this is the BEST lesson on leadership, forming a movement, and doing something BRILLIANT I have EVER SEEN.

First, the way the guy keeps dancing.

Second, the way the 2nd guy hangs in there when it started to get awkward (for me at least).

Third, after the third guy jumped in, it didnt take long to reach the “tipping point”.

Fourth (and certainly not the last lesson I’m sure), the brilliance of Derek Sivers (of CD Baby) for showing us all the lessons.

Here’s the lesson I can add.

DON’T GIVE UP!

If you are doing something that you believe in, do it with everything you have.  It doesn’t matter if you look silly.

When you get someone who agrees with you, treat them as your equal.  They can help.

If you see someone else doing something YOU believe in, HELP THEM!

What lessons did you get from this?

TELL ME below (thanks)