Sshh! It's a surprise

As the popular Bob Dylan song goes; The times they are a-changin'...

As the year draws to a close, it seems we all feel compelled at this time to feel some nostalgia and think back on the ups and downs of the year. 

I usually prefer looking forward and thinking about what the future holds. But it would be a missed chance not to think of all that 2014 has brought.

Even in our small little town of East London there have been some small,  yet significant changes that have taken place. 

For example, I recently heard the news of Numbers closing its doors - Numbers has been a popular night club that has been serving the city for decades. Growing up as a kid it was often where the "Cool kids" would go and hang out. Even to its very end, it was still able to attract some of the most popular local Dj's and artists in South Africa.

Sadly, it will be an end of an era. 

Another era that draws to a close in 2014 is that of VideoLand. The 'For Sale' sign outside its doors sealed its fate. A once popular video store that you could get nearly any DVD you were looking for, even the very niche movies and series has ended up closing its doors in 2014. VideoLand shutting down is really a sign of the times with Internet downloads and alternative forms of entertainment a common place. 

To add to this interesting conundrum of a lack of good quality entertainment in our city, Ster-Kinekor cinema was also shut down at Vincent park shopping center. Leaving Hemingways as the only place to catch the latest movies on the big screen. 

This really got me thinking: 

What is there for people to do in this town?

What can young people do for fun?

With these questions in mind, 5 months ago my team and I began working on a project to help bring some fun and excitement back into our little city. 

Our planning and preparations have paid off!

And 2015 looks set to start with a bang! And I would really like to share those moments of fun and excitement with you. 

So in just a few hours I will be happy to make the announcement about this project on my next blog post.  

We've kept this a fairly guarded secret project but now it's time to let the cat out the bag:)

Going for the BIG bang

We often have this big bang approach to things. It's ALL or NOTHING.

I am either a full time musician or I'm not.

I either have 10 million to start my new business venture or I won't. 

I either have six months of free time to write my book or I won't.

But what about the small spaces in-between? 

The little changes that add up and multiple into big things over time. The small wins. The small sales. The things that may excite you to see working even if nobody else understands it. 

Add those together, string those wins in a line and then you'll get your big bang. The overnight success that took 10 years to make. 

You have the final say! Which Band logo do you prefer?

As a popular saying goes: "Some friends of mine went to business school, I started a rock band (Guess who had more fun?)." 

It has been quite a whirl wind learning experience putting a band together. 

The things you learn about business, people and your craft is totally heightened. One thing I'm certain of is that working with a team takes you to a level that you could never reach on your own.  

There are enormous highs and ridiculous lows when dealing with people in any setting. And when you link that to the passion and drive of musicians, you get some pretty interesting results. And I can't wait to share those with you. 

But before we get there, we need your help. Yes! YOU. 

We recently had our band logo designed by the exceptionally talented lead lady of SmallTalk Graphic Design, Celize Kriel. I was thrilled with the results and even though I had my favourite logo that I could easily see printed on T-shirts and banners, the reality is I don't intend to be the only person wearing the clothes. So I thought it would be best to ask what you thought would make a cool design? 

The Story behind the name. 

Soldier.Lover.Poet

I first heard the phrase being used when GodFirst Church ran a sermon series on the story of King David, the biblical hero who had an amazing journey with God from a Shepard boy to young soldier and then eventually becoming King of Israel. The thing that stuck with me so prominently was the title. Soldier.Lover.Poet. Three strong characteristics that resonate with most men. I wanted to call my next EP that but the band members thought it would be a cool band name.  

After trying it on, I must admit it kinda sticks (Like super glue). So we have narrowed our logo designs down to these four designs. I know which one is my favourite but ultimately you can help us decide on our  final band logo. Help us decide and stand a chance to WIN a T-Shirt with our newly minted logo. 

A)

B) 

C)

D)

Which band logo do you prefer A-B-C-D? Leave a comment by clicking on the comment button below or click the survey button.

The power of a good question

People say there is no such thing as a stupid question.

But if God in all His infinite wisdom, majestic power and might was to grant you the answer to one question. 

And you look up and ask: "Hey God, What's the time?" That would be a stupid question...

We often underestimate the power of asking good questions. When the truth is, Good leaders ask Great questions. 

Questions have the ability to steer us in the right direction, if we are brave enough to seek the answer. 

Question:

What questions have you asked yourself recently that have helped changed the direction of your life? 

80/20 Principle might be the answer you've been looking for

I must admit, I've been intrigued with this concept of the 80/20 Principle for a long time. 

If you haven't heard of it perhaps you should read up about this Pareto Principle in more detail. It could just be the answer to the question you never knew you have been asking.

“Conventional wisdom is not to put all of your eggs in one basket. 80/20 wisdom is to choose a basket carefully, load all your eggs into it, and then watch it like a hawk.”

- Richard Koch 

Life before the Internet

A dark time indeed...

But it existed. And we survived. I recently had the unfortunate event of being disconnected from the the Internet and cell phone network towers for about two weeks. 

Having no network connectivity felt like I was thrust back into the dark ages... Knowing smoke signals would have come in handy. 

This got me thinking of how dangerously vital the Internet and Network connectivity is to my business and my way of life. 

I also noticed how people really get upset when you don't respond to their messages and calls. 

So where am I going with all this? Honestly, I am not quite sure because it's not like we can ever go back. It would be like going back to using candles and fire instead of electricity. In a country where power cuts are a reality we don't need to imagine life without electricity and how awkward things can be without it.  

One of my favourite authors John C. Maxwell, doesn't use a computer. But he has written and continues to write more books than most tech-savvy aspiring authors could dream to write in a lifetime. Click here to checkout his latest book.

The technology on this computer that I am writing on, my HP, Intel Core i7, along with Cubase 5 and Reason 5 software is more technology power than the Beatles had when they recorded at Abbey Road. 

It's not the tools. It's the mind state that matters most. 

I will never forget coming home one day after failing a class test. I tore up that exam paper vigorously and threw it in the bin in front of my Dad. To which my Dad gently responded: "The rubbish wasn't on the paper, it was in your head."

Don't blame your tools. If you can't drive then make a plan or make enough money to hire a chauffeur. 

Electricity, Cars, the Internet, Social Media, they are all here to stay. 

So we need to embrace the changing landscape or find ways around it to use it to our advantage. 

NO MORE EXCUSES!

Go and create something worthwhile. Regardless of the tools you have at your disposal. 

You already have more than you realize.

Go! Create!

Creating ART isn't easy!

Creating your Art isn't easy! 

Marketing your Art can be even harder than creating it.

So when I stumble across insights and techniques that make the job of Marketing music, books and film a little more understandable. It is a must that I share some of those insights.

Guy Kawasaki has a knack for knowing how to break things down simply. And give you a kick in the pants (with encouraging words) when you are just not moving in the right direction. He often gives me answers to questions I never knew I was even asking. The most resent one was from the interview with one of my favourite bloggers right now Jeff Goins.

In the interview Jeff asks Guy: When should a writer start to market their book?

Guy's Answer: "The moment you start writing your book, that's the moment you start building your marketing platform. You don't wait for your book to be done. You are going to need six to nine months to market it and that same amount of time it takes to create it. This is not a serial process, it's a parallel  process."

*NB: This is also true with music and most other creative projects.

Creating Art isn't easy, but nothing worth while ever is.

Marketing your Art isn't easy, but if you don't do it, who will?

This interview with Guy is totally worth checking out.