Misfit Entrepreneur February 2019 - 134: The Incredible Things That Happen When You Play the Long Game with Singer-Songwriter, Peter Katz

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Dave Lukas Chats with Peter Katz

134: The Incredible Things That Happen When You Play the Long Game with Singer-Songwriter, Peter Katz

Misfits, this episode was recorded while I was on the road with live mics, so it will sound different than normal, but I promise that you will absolutely love this episode. This week’s Misfit Entrepreneur is Peter Katz. Peter is a Canadian Screen Award-nominated singer-songwriter. He’s been rated the best Male Vocalist in NOW Magazine and is has been #1 on the Itunes Singer-song writer charts multiple times. He’s toured the world playing to sell-out crowds and has built an incredible fanbase of loyal listeners, selling over 25,000 copies of his discs mostly from stage, one show at a time.

I recently got to see Peter in a private concert and meet and spend time with him - and I have to say I came away incredibly impressed. Not only is he one of the best voices I have ever heard sing, but also one of the most down to earth people I have ever met.

And make no mistake, he understands business. Especially in today’s world, where to succeed as a singer-songwriter, is radically different than the days where you could just cut an album and get it on the shelves. Nowadays, it takes the whole package. It takes having a great product, understanding all the different channels to market it through, being truly genuine and engaging your fans in a meaningful way, and above all - staying true to yourself.

There is a lot we can learn from Peter on how to succeed in business and I’ve brought him on today, to teach it to you. We may even get to hear a song or two if we are lucky.

www.PeterKatz.com

@PeterKatzMusic

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Show Notes

Peter has been touring for the last 12 years. For the first 10 years, he was doing about 150 shows/performances a year, playing to small crowds, sleeping on floors, and figuring out how to make ends meet. He would drive 8 hours a day to do a show for sometimes just a few people. After over 10 years of doing it, his music began to take hold and he began to get a large following and got his first major hits.

“The only way I was going to get good at being a singer/songwriter was by doing it all the time.”

Peter talks about how each show he got better and he had to go all in and that everything he learned helped him to get better and better. It then lead to a bunch of unexpected outcomes which added to his success.

At the 13 min mark, Peter tells the story of a certain hotel that kept popping up through his story and what he realized about life’s journey…It’s best to just listen to the story.

You will go through your biggest fears in your life at some point and you will be able to get through them, because they are not as big as you made them out to be. You will be OK.
Learning to maintain perspective in the face of all the bad and good that happens, is very important.

How do you keep perspective and stay true to who you are?

Live your life by the “head don the pillow rule.” When you lay your head on the pillow at the end of the night, can you honestly say that you have given your best, done your best, and treated everyone with integrity? If so, you will sleep like a baby.
You have to be able to stand up and believe in what you are doing, saying, and in your actions.
If you are going to pick an entrepreneur or unconventional path, you might as well do something that you can believe in and be proud of as that may be your only reward as an entrepreneur for a while.
It’s the self-respect you must have to keep perspective and stay true.
Create standards to live into.

Tell us about how you built your business and lessons you’ve learned…

Do every job you can in your business before having someone else do it for you.
You will need to learn to let go of the reigns at some point and it will be challenging – but to grow you will have to do it.
You have to find a way, make a way, and hustle. Get out and create your opportunities.
The only way you can get better is by doing it every day in and out, not just once a week.
Your team will build over time. Be patient.
Make it a point to spend the most time and where you make the most impact on the business.
It’s a balance of hustle and continuous improvement.

Talk to us about what it means to be relentless…

First, you can push too far…you have to realize this.
You must schedule time for yourself away from it. You should be relentless in your self-care the same as you as in your work.
Re-charging yourself helps you to be more relentless.
To be relentless, you must constantly make choices toward what you believe in and not stop in your pursuit.
You have to want it so bad that you will move heaven and earth to get it. And this puts you into a whole new category of possibility.

What are some of the principles you have used to build and keep a loyal following?

From day 1, treating people with the respect and recognition they deserve.
Always honor people in your life and business. Remember their names. Be genuine.
Show appreciate to those that help you and follow up with thanks.
Show up. Show up on time and be your best. There is no other way to do it.
Be kind and remember that people will remember how you treated them- sometimes many years after.
Be and stay consistent

How do you overcome and put in yourself in a place where you are always ready to perform?

Be open, honest, and vulnerable.
Wherever you are before you walk on stage, compete, etc. – acknowledge where you are starting from and go from there.
Trust that you will get into the moment.
You must self-respect for yourself in that when you perform at whatever it is you do, enjoy it.
Nervousness is selfishness. You should be thinking about those that you are performing for and everything it took for them to be there. You are doing it for them – not for you.
People don’t want you to fail – they want you to follow through on the promise of what you can be to them or their business.

Any success hacks or habits you can’t live without?

Going to the gym or physical activity in the morning is a miracle cure.
It is focused time to take care of yourself.
You will feel better after every time.

Best Quote

Tweet This: “People don’t want you to fail – they want you to follow through on the promise of what you can be to them or their business.”

Follow the “head on the pillow” rule. Be and do your best. Hold yourself to a higher standard.

Make sure you carve out the time to work on “the thing.” You have to work on whatever it is that needs your personal focus.

Practice self-care. Everything falls apart if you don’t take the time to take care of your body, your mind, and your relationships.

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