Songwriting

Who’s In Charge of Your Songwriting Destiny?

by Marty Dodson
Jan 1, 2022

I can’t count the times that

I’ve heard a songwriter blame their lack of success on the radio, publishers, a “closed circle in the music business”, A&R people who “can’t hear a hit”, bad co-writers, just plain bad luck and the list goes on and on and on.

While any of those factors COULD potentially happen to hold a person back, the problem with that mindset is that it puts your fate in other people’s hands. 

The truth is

that all of those factors conspiring against you and happening at one time couldn’t PREVENT you from having success. There are ways around all of those (and every other) issue one might blame for their lack of progress.

In fact, if you take that approach you are as helpless as a newborn kitten.  You’re waiting on “Momma Cat” to pick you up and drop you in the #1 slot on the Billboard chart.  And that’s not going to happen.

On the other hand

if you take the approach that YOU are in charge of your songwriting destiny, all kinds of interesting doors open.  You are able to identify obstacles, but are also able to find solutions that get you around them.  You have a sense of empowerment because you are now in control of what you do to advance your songwriting.

Taking the view that you are in charge of your songwriting destiny also keeps the door of learning open.  If you’re a victim of horrible circumstances, there is no need to learn.  The hand of fate would STILL be stacked against you.  But, if YOU are in charge, then you proactively do things to keep learning, because learning helps you advance.

It’s all in the mindset. 

Those who are victims of circumstance will never succeed because they stop trying.  Those who control their own songwriting destiny move steadily down the road to success.  So, which mindset do you choose?

Marty Dodson

Marty Dodson

Marty Dodson

Marty Dodson is a multi #1 songwriter, co-founder of SongTown, and co-author of  The Songwriter’s Guide To Mastering Cowriting and Song Building: Mastering Lyric Writing

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