Music is art but it must also be treated like a business. Beatie Wolfe is one of the leading figures in the industry of song writing and she has set the pace for innovation and entrepreneurship and the fusion of music and technology to embody the unique album listening experience. In a recent interview with a reporter, Wolfe revealed three lessons she had to learn in the course of her own career that can be of help to fellow entrepreneurs like herself when starting their own business.
Look after your own Pigs
Wolfe’s father use to tell her when she was growing up: “The eye of the farmer fattens the pig.” What does this folksy phrase mean? Whatever you watch, or pay attention to, will grow. “The idea is that if it’s your pig and you’re the farmer, even just watching the pig will ensure its growth,” Wolfe said, “because you’ll see things no one else will see. And no one else will watch your pig like you.”
As you start to expand your business, it is vital to have it at the back of your mind that nobody will care as much as you do about your business. Neither will they be as bothered about your bottom line, your successes r your failures. If you wish to be successful you need to pay the most attention to your own pig regardless of what it looks like.
Work with people
If you want to be successful in any business, you must be able to work with the right people. Who are these people and how can you find them? These are some of the best criteria to factor in when searching:
Mutual respect and admiration
Mutual profits and gains for both parties
“Everyone I’ve worked with has been such a pleasure to work with,” Wolfe said. “And not just from a business perspective. I collaborated purely from the standpoint of I really like these guys, they inspire me and we’re on the same page.” Wolfe cited her recent partnership with Bell Labs, through their EAT Program, as an example.
It is also critical to understand that working with people in the beginning stages of your business can transcend into lifelong partnerships and relationships. So do this wisely.
3. Speak Up
When re you most required to say what’s on your mind? When are you expected to remain silent? Sometimes when you hire people or seek people with whom you can work with that are not in your industry, it can be very tempting to just go with whatever the expert is saying as you are not so conversant with that line but when you have a gut feeling about something that needs to be done, please speak out. “You’re going to add so much value to even the areas you’re not supremely qualified for, just if you have that vision,” Wolfe said. Even if what you have to say creates some tension, highlighting your own point of view and perspective will foster in discussions and debates that will hopefully drive you to the desired goal. Speak up and speak out for your business.
