“You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in the something in your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down and it has made all the difference in my life.” – Steve Jobs
Once you have your goal in mind and are clear where you are in relation to that goal, it’s time to act.
When Party on the Moon was starting, Ed and I wanted to create a cover band of national caliber. We asked the question, “If success were certain, what would our next step be? What would be our action steps?
Once the choice is made to create, it’s time to make secondary choices that support the primary choice. Here are the steps Ed and I took. They may give you some ideas as you begin to bring your own goals to fruition.
- Auditioned national-caliber musicians and singers.
- Rented rehearsal space and began rehearsing.
- Hired a marketing company to help with the roll out of the band. (We were the first cover band in the country to hire a marketing company.)
- Enlisted the best video director and cameramen available.
- Brought in a choreographer and costume designer to work with the band for a video shoot.
- Sent promotional materials to agents and planners across the country.
- Visited some of the top agents, planners and sales people and let them know we were available.
- Continued to rehearse the band so we would be ready when the call came.
No matter what your goal is, there is always a next step to take.
If you want to become a good golfer, you might sign up for lessons. You might ask a friend who plays to give you advice on where to get clubs. You might read a book about beginning golf.
We have more resources today to help us than ever before. Use them. When you take the next step, the following step will become more apparent. That’s how to get momentum working for you. The key is to get started.
Remember, chances are you’re not going to be very good when you first embark on your endeavor. Don’t worry about that. Keep going. I recommend choosing smaller goals first as practice and to get a feel for the creative process. Assigning a deadline for each step will help you moving forward, too.
Excerpts from Dennis’ book Rock’n’Roll, Martial Arts & God: Tips on Success From the Masters.
