**Are you telling yourself you are just surviving, or are you telling yourself, 'I’m a badass'? ** This simple question sparked some great discussion, but it also highlighted a recurring theme in the music industry—one I hear about daily from musicians struggling to make money or land gigs.
I’ve seen artists go in two completely different directions: some fade away despite their talent, while others make the necessary shifts in their business mindset and see their careers take off like never before.
At the end of the day, success in music isn’t just about skill—it’s about strategy.
Hey, how’s it going?
"Well, you know, trying to survive in the industry…"
I hear this all the time, and it saddens me because it doesn’t need to be like this. Who wants to feel like they are just surviving? Are you being chased by a bear? Are you living on the street? Maybe you are just one paycheck away from that, and you’ll stay there forever unless you change your thinking. Your mindset needs to shift first, then action follows, then your reality transforms.
And then, there’s the next level—telling random people that you’re just surviving. I did this for years, but after a small shift in my mindset, I have more opportunities, more money coming in, and a much stronger sense of control over my career.
See, I’ll be damned if I’m going to say to myself that I’m just surviving. Or worse, tell someone else that I’m barely getting by. Because even if money is tight, even if you’re working your ass off without seeing immediate results, when you tell yourself and others that you’re just surviving, you’re making it your reality.
Reality is what we think it is—nothing more, nothing less. If you keep telling yourself, "I’m no good, I’m broke, no one likes my music," what do you think will happen? Yep, you’ll create exactly what you claim to be true. Knock it off! You are way better than this nonsensical self-talk, and it needs to stop.
When I changed my mindset and belief system, things evolved into a new reality—the reality I dreamed of. I went from a survival mindset to a thriving mindset.
Shifting Your Mindset from Surviving to Thriving
Today’s topic is about letting go of self-doubt and negative self-talk. This is the reason your life might feel stuck. You are constantly reinforcing limitations with your words and thoughts. There is nothing wrong with telling yourself you can do better—in fact, that’s productive. But there’s a massive difference between "I’m not good enough" and "I’m getting better every day."
So how do you shift? Start by changing your language. Here are 20 mindset shifts you can start doing today:
- "I’m broke." ➔ "I am building wealth every day."
- "No one likes my music." ➔ "I am finding my audience."
- "I’m not talented enough." ➔ "I am improving my skills every day."
- "The industry is too hard." ➔ "I am learning how to navigate the industry."
- "I’ll never make it." ➔ "I am creating my own path to success."
- "I suck at marketing." ➔ "I am learning to market myself better."
- "I don’t have enough connections." ➔ "I am building my network one step at a time."
- "I’m just not lucky." ➔ "I create my own opportunities."
- "No one is booking me." ➔ "I am finding new ways to get gigs."
- "I don’t know what I’m doing." ➔ "I am figuring it out step by step."
- "Streaming doesn’t pay enough." ➔ "I am diversifying my income streams."
- "Social media is too hard." ➔ "I am learning how to use social media effectively."
- "I don’t have the right gear." ➔ "I make the best music with what I have."
- "People don’t support me." ➔ "I am attracting the right supporters."
- "It’s too late for me." ➔ "The best time to start is now."
- "I’m not unique enough." ➔ "My voice and music are one of a kind."
- "I’m always exhausted." ➔ "I am learning to manage my energy."
- "I can’t compete with others." ➔ "I am focused on my own journey."
- "I don’t have enough fans." ➔ "I am building a loyal fan base."
- "I’ll never be successful." ➔ "I am defining success on my own terms."
Final Thoughts
Your words shape your reality. Every successful artist I know has mastered their mindset before they mastered their craft. The moment you decide to shift from surviving to thriving is the moment your entire career can change.
Start today. Catch yourself when you slip into survival mode thinking, and reframe it immediately. The music industry is tough, but so are you. The more you believe in your success, the more it will start showing up in your life.
So, are you just surviving? Or are you a badass?
The choice is yours.
I help hundreds of artists and business owners get closer to their goals and achieve the successes they dream of. Students are getting booked at festivals and tours and are building their Spotify and SoundCloud pages and driving more fans, followers, and interaction to their social media: YouTube, IG, FB, TikTok, etc.
If you’re serious about advancing your music business and entrepreneurship and want to accelerate your progress, you might be a candidate for my mentorship program.
However, my school is currently at full capacity, but a few spots may open up this week. If you’re eager to make a real impact, grab an intro session with me here - first come, first serve, they fill up fast! https://KjSawka.as.me/student-consultation