How to Keep Grinding Even When You’re Down

Most people never see the work an indie artist puts in just to get a little shine for their talent in the music industry. It’s hard to stay on track if you constantly feel overworked and undervalued. It’s easy to think, “Where is the pay off?” and fall into a negative trap of intentionally pushing back on your goals.

To keep your eyes on your prize and avoid pouring your dreams down the drain, there are some pivotal questions you need to ask yourself.

Do I lack self-confidence?

It’s easy to tell others that you’re confident in your project. But what you feel inside can be a whole other story. And it’s usually the small setbacks that chip away at your confidence over time.

Read: The Importance of Confidence and Self Care for Musicians

Having the mental strength to persevere despite your challenges is the most important tool in your arsenal as an artist.

Am I scared to fail?

Many people have talent but never share their gifts with the world because they’re scared they’ll reach failure before they ever taste success. If you’ve already put out your project or done a gig then, congrats! You’ve already done more than most people will ever do. You’ve started on the path to your dreams, but it’s staying the course that’s most likely challenging at this point.

Read: Facing Fears and Moving Forward

Pinpoint what you do (procrastinate, think negative thoughts, perfectionism, etc.) that causes you to fear failure and work like hell to fight it.

What’s the end game?

Although you want notoriety and have your music live on well after you’re gone, the reality is that you may not reach the level of fame that you’re expecting. So, how would you deal with that?

The main thing is that you should always carve out your niche and seek to leave a legacy for your fans—whether you have 100 or 1,000,000 of them. Don’t lose sight of quality over quantity. You’re making music to touch people—and any artist who accomplishes this is already successful.

Can I adapt?

Sometimes the path you intend to take ends up becoming a different route. The important thing to remember is that you just want to reach your destination, so be as open minded as possible.

If you still need motivation to keep going, check out these resources:

• Musicians at Heart (blog) 
•  Artists House Music (video)
• How to Never Give Up (infographic)

Do you already feel predestined for greatness?

Tell us how you stay motivated. Share your story in the comments.