Grit
Let’s talk for a second. The music industry is tough. Cuts you thought were gonna come out fell through last second. Some manager has gotten in the way of your tight-knit relationship with an artist. You’re going through a period of writers drought that you’re having trouble getting out of. The pay that you’re getting from royalties is simply not enough. Indeed, the path you’ve chosen is one that is difficult.
And, I hate to say it because I wish it wasn’t true but the only way out it through. You need to keep pushing. You need to write through your writer’s block. You need to leave certain collaborators behind in search of new ones. You need to keep that side hustle for another period of your life so that you can stay afloat and write the songs you need to write.
In Angela Duckworth’s book Grit: the Power of Passion and Perseverance, the psychologist turned authors shows that the secret to high achievement is not talent but a focused persistence. There are those who - at times that are difficult like this - pivot away from their dreams. Sure, it is possible that some of them outgrow the wishes of their younger selves or discover some new calling in life. But, others have simply thrown in the towel too early. Don’t let that person be you. When the going gets tough, double down on the path you’ve chosen.
You will write more songs. You will find new collaborators who bring you even more joy than those you’ve lost along the way. You will have songs get released and listened to by folks far and wide. The key is to persist through the trying times. Choose your goal. Lock in. And be the grittiest writer you know.
If you want this for yourself, then persist.