Taking Risks To Live A Killer Life
photo by joshunter
Read below to see how you can win a copy of the Risk Takers by talking about your risks!
The last few months have been about taking risks. Taking risks in working with business partners I have never met in person. Creating products and asking people for money. Creating businesses based on passion - the thing we all preach, but few actually do. Well, I’ve been doing them. And it feels great.
Last week I held my first webinar for a music marketing related project. I was scared shitless. When I put together the materials, it looked awesome. I was really excited with what I had put together and even had a webinar pitch ready to go - totally back of the room seminar stuff.
Then I started promoting it.
My stomach turned. I had major label A&R’s, big names in the digital music space and some really cool musicians pre-register. Then more people registered.
Then some friends starting promoting it and even more people jumped on board. Mind you, we threw up a squeeze page on a Friday for the call on a Monday. Here is where we are now:
132 people registered. Not too bad, for a few tweets.
Then came Monday night. We rocked out. There was no turning back after I hit start. The confidence from all the clients, the writing, the actions, the research and the sweat had paid off.
After the dust settled, we had done just under $1,000 in sales on a $37 product. Do the math on that and you will see a nice conversion rate.
Risk Takers Get Rewarded (Sometimes)
If you want to advance and create a rock star life, or just one where you control your own actions, beliefs and emotions, you need to take risks. These can come in all shapes and sizes - from financial (think about Law School - no guarantee of a great life, but a surefire guarantee to $100G’s in debt) to emotional (just learned a good buddy of mine is getting divorced after 2 years of marriage) to going for it (Cody, Corbett, Adam, Jon, Jun and all you other crazy kids) when no one thought it was your best move.
This year I wanted to be sure I was doing the right stuff and by doing so, my comfort zone has gotten its ass kicked. My wife tells me all the time when we are out that I would never have butted into conversations, met the people I used to just talk about or take clients that were going to require work. All that has changed when my mindset changed.
And I have been rewarded. In the almost two months that have somehow come and gone in 2010, I have already had my 2 best months ever, financially. Maybe it was the fortune cookie (I hit up Chinese by my place at least twice a week and this was the first good fortune so I kept it in the wallet):
There are riches headed your way.
So then I flipped it over at the local 7-11 and played 41, 52, 19, 25, 37 and 50.
I don’t think that’s what the message meant.
I think it meant that putting in work and taking risks are worth it. They are the reason we fight everyday to do something cooler today than we did yesterday. It’s why I love the chase. I love learning and now I love trying stuff out to get myself in a position that is cooler today and will be wicked sweet tomorrow.
Free Book Giveaway For Risk Takers
Last week I was approached about a new book, The Risk Takers by Renee & Don Martin. After taking one look at the people they featured in the book I knew it was something special. They get inside stories on Kinko’s, Geek Squad, Build-A-Bear, Patron Tequila, Spanx and 11 other companies led by entrepreneurs who took risks to change their lives and the lives of others.
I loved the approach in the book. They went head on and showed the struggles in the early days, the mental and financial risks they put on not only themselves, but on their families, their friends, relationships and business partners.
The work that goes into making a difference is not easy, but who said this stuff was. Even if my sales pages do make it sound easy, it’s not. The webinar details I shared with you was not a one night home run. It was a long time of building relationships, trust, owning a niche and having materials that no one is presenting for the music industry. And then we had our technical nightmares, but hey, I’m a marketing guy, so that stuff happens.
I was lucky to receive an extra advanced copy of the book and I want to give it away to a risk taker.
All you need to do is leave a comment below about the biggest risk you have taken to advance either your business or your life. I am going to be looking and responding to everyone and will give the book away to the person I believe took the risk that had the biggest impact on their life.
I will pick a winner on Friday, February 26th at 4pm EST
And if you don’t want to leave a comment and want to pre-order the book, here is a nice affiliate link to Amazon for the Risk Takers.
To your risk taking adventures!
-Greg
Update: After reading about everyone’s risks, we decided to give the book to Al DeCosey. I’m a sucker for musicians giving everything they have to do something remarkable and having and trading in a $80-100k a year job to be an indie musicians, well that’s a hell of a risk, seeing where the industry is right now. Thanks for all the comments and we’ll have to do this again soon.
Hey Greg,
Awesome man! It’s so great to hear you talking about the fears that all of us face, whether we’re dreaming of being successful or already getting a taste. Continuing to embrace these ill-comforts seem to be what re-write the nogin to begin owning success. A great article and example for me.
My biggest risk taken would be these, quitting job in AZ and moving to NYC to pursue music and then 3 times leaving secure J-O-B’s in NYC to push myself to more music success here and diversifying my talents. Most recently being leaving my current job as of (Apr. 8th).
The book sounds great, and kudos on that nice affiliate link
Hey Andrew,
Those are some pretty big risks. We see musicians all the time that put their life on the line, pack up and move to try and make a move.
Let me ask you this - has being in NY led to more opportunities and advancements? Was the risk worth it?
I think it was - knowing everything that you are doing. But sometimes we need a gut check. Keep up the great work buddy.
I would have to say absolutely worth it. I think this city is providing the networking opportunities that I need and propelling me to learn quickly. It’s like putting myself in the ocean with some sharks. I could swim fast in a pool, but those sharks make me swim a whole lot faster.
Hey Greg, so today on Under30CEO we have an article about a guy who made millions, while skipping class. I had a someone in the U Michigan Masters program ask me if this was advisable, and I basically told him, hey look, while you are getting a fancy degree, people are out there making money. Pretty cut and dry–I appreciated your law school remarks!
College is all about networking and what doors it opens for you…
Hey Matt,
Actually, that is pretty good advice. It’s all about perspective and what you can do with your time.
Great to hear your first Webinar was such a success! I hope this encourages you to keep doing them
actually it is. we have a bunch of both webinars and telecalls scheduled. They really get your fans/customers/etc to see your personality and decide if you are someone they want to do business with.
Highly recommended.
Hey Greg,
Inspiring message! Knowing that someone out that has gone through the risks and emotional discomfort and is doing rather well gives me something to look forward to.
My biggest risk was graduating college and instead of going to grad school, heading to Seattle to join the circus. My two big dreams have been:
#1 Create my own performance troupe
#2 Create various streams of income that bring in at least 10K/month.
As soon as I arrived in Seattle, I started training and connecting with the community here. I’m now bringing people together to start my troupe. As for the streams of income, I didn’t think a philosophy grad circus acrobat could do such a thing, but I am slowly learning the tools of internet marketing and taking steps to make my #2 dream happen. All scary but worth it as hell!
Take care,
Ben
That’s a great story Ben. You have the adventure, the passion and know are getting the knowledge to do something you want to do, defined on your own terms.
I’d love to know how everything plays out. Maybe one day we can get your troupe down here to Florida and do some great shows!
Great stuff Greg and congratulations. I think I have to send over some talented musicians I know and see how you guys can work together.
That would be wicked sweet.
I grew up in a household where my father was a crazy inventor…sometimes his inventions would fly, sometimes they wouldn’t. I knew both sides of the risk coin from an early age, but never had I lived it out so much as last year:
I was a single mom who fell in love with an old friend and decided to risk the comfort and safety of family and the Northwest and head to Kentucky where my then fiance wanted to start his own business. Being an entrepreneurial gal myself (and a born risk-taker?) I said yes to leaving the world I knew, moving across the country with my toddler, getting married, encouraging the love of my life in his new business (despite the financial uncertainty), and pursuing my own dreams as a photographer/writer. (Oh yeah, we also said yes to being first time home owners).
Every day requires a new measure of faith to keep at it-seeing each of these risky steps through to their completion. Just last weekend we made this video and I think it says a lot about the joy, fun, adventure we are finding in the midst of all this risk:
Kentucky is awesome. I have an aunt out in Paducah. Sounds like a great risk for both love and future growth for both of you! Best of luck and let us know how it comes along!
I really want this book!
The biggest risk I ever took was leaving my emotionally unstable husband when I was 6 months pregnant. Left my job, left my house, left my whole life and started over.
I took the sole responsibility of caring for my newborn seriously and became vehement about protecting her from everyone and everything. My business was born out of my desire to protect her, and now I have the opportunity to protect other babies from harmful baby products at Green Baby Green Mama (http://www.greenbabygreenmama.com).
Pick me! Pick me!
Hey Heather - That’s an outstanding risk. We all need to get out of negative situations and those that are not promoting a positive future. You taking that risk is the first step and I can guarantee that your strength will carry over into your business. Thanks for sharing.
The hardest decision came when after two years working for the leading beauty company in the world, I was offered a promotion at the office in a different province (I’m from Canada). There, I could have become the youngest person ever in the organization to become a national account Key-Account Manager. This was fast-track to “success” but that meant putting my life’s ambitions, goals, and roadmap in to the hand of a multi-national company. So what did I do, made a list (1 Pro - 25 Cons), and listened to my hearth and declined the promotion.
Giving up a fast track to success (and eventually had to give up the job I had as well because of it) was a hard decision, but I feel so great about it!!! You know why, because I truly believe we can choose a path more meaningful for us. I would have had to change my life, move to Toronto, and work 60 hours per week for worse conditions! Finally, it was not that hard of a decision after all. So what is Plan B now? Same day I got the job offer, it was a wake-up call. I decided to incorporate a business (www.aliam.ca) to do some consulting work, I went on a trade mission to Ecuador and Panama (and now helping organize a youth delegation for the G8-G20 in Canada this summer), then I spent 5 weeks living like a rockstar in Argentina (spending 2 weeks with a rock group from Panama launching a CD there actually), and one week in Mexico City not too long ago. I also met incredible person and many ideas for business ventures in the future.
Although this was the hardest decision I had to make, I think in the long-run it will pay off! Great blog by the way and I enjoy reading it!
Wow Alex - that was a great assessment. Leaving the stability of the corporate world is tough, especially when you are “good at it!”
Looks like you followed your heart and are starting to fulfill a deeper life purpose. I’d love to hear more about your story releasing the album in Argentina. Would you be interested in guest posting about the experience?
Awesome article, I actually wrote an article awhile back called Become a Risk Taker for greater success: http://www.mikekey.com/become-a-risk-taker-for-greater-success/
I pretty much compare my business success and risk taking to my adventures mountain climbing and other risks, like the risk of rejection when you go to talk to the girl across the bar. Some risks are just worth it.
Hey Mike,
Thanks for sharing the post. It’s a great compliment. Adventurous risks are just as important to our brain and our confidence as career and personal risks. Mountain climbing is def on my list too - just having too much fun in the flat Florida to get out of here!
I think this forum is great! It’s great to share stories of how people are going against the grain and status quo and for one reason or another, are daring to be DIFFERENT.
Like others on this board, I’m a singer-songwriter/musician who took the leap into music full-time. I started with a company, in a totally different industry than music and entertainment, really young as a clerk with no college degree fresh out of high school. I worked my way up to management within 5 years and executive level management within 10 years. When I left, my base was $80K plus bonus and incentives that pushed me close to the six figure mark. Shortly before leaving my job, I bought my first house which I actually purchased for my parents and I left my job in the middle of the recession a year ago, Jan 2009.
My risk lied in the fact that I gave up being at a company for 10 years where I worked REALLY hard to reach the top and where I had tenure, job security, and upward mobility. I was making excellent money with the possibility of making more. Financially, I had a lot of responsibility that has only become harder to maintain since taking the leap. I’ve had to dip into my retirement savings to take care of some things as well.
As everyone may or may not know, the business of music is very difficult right now. The business model has changed, no one has figured out what’s next, and there’s an enormous amount of uncertainty……….how’s that for buzz kill? lol But since leaving, I’ve produced and released my first album, I’ve been performing live, and just had one of my songs placed in an indie film so I have accomplished some things but got ALOT more to do! I wouldn’t trade where I am and what I’ve done for nothing in the world! I truly love what I do and despite all of the challenges, risks, and fear, I still think it’s worth it and HAS paid off…….I’m living my dream! I’ve got a LONG road to haul, everyday there are new challenges and risks, and the job is never done. Almost every minute of my life is spent in thought of how to spin things, develop new approaches and opportunities, and figure this ish out! As a musician/artist now, you truly have to love it cause it takes time, effort, wisdom, skill, the right team, and ALOT of elbow grease to build a career in music nowadays. I soon realized that leaving my job was only the beginning of many risks that I’ll have to take in my lifetime but here’s to living on the edge!
Hey Al - Awesome stuff here. Being someone in the music business I totally have a place for stories like yours. I hear them all the time - but they are usually from kids who quit their job waiting tables or selling insurance door-to-door. It’s not everyday that you see someone turn down 6 figures to work for pennies in our industry.
I think you have a great attitude and the same work ethic that got you up the corporate ladder can still be used to take your music to the next level. You need to treat it like a job and a business and work your ass off till they can’t say no.
Great story and please let me know if you would ever like to guest post about your journey.
Unfortunately I missed your contest deadline but wanted to congratulate you on your good fortune. I believe in the old adage - no risk no reward, and this is obviously holding true for you. The entrepreneurial path is that least traveled - if it was easy everyone would do it. Good luck!
Thanks for droppin by John. Great old adage there. With the speed of technology and connectivity, I think the mindset is that the speed with which we acquire success should be in the same proportion. Unfortunately we do need to put in the risk and the time to get that reward!
I missed the contest deadline but still this is a killer post. Keep fighting Greg, I’m going to check out that book.
Thanks Tony - let me know what you think of the book if you decide to pick it up.
Will do Greg!!