Comments on: Behind Every Success Is Failure

By: Brad Shorr

Brad Shorr — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 19:09:10 +0000

Hi Gary – Thank you. I’d love to hear your music war stories some day.

By: Gary Belniak

Gary Belniak — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 13:57:20 +0000

This is a great post…I can appreciate from both my background as a musician/producer and also as a business owner.

And…congratulations to you on your recent fortunes…you deserve it!

By: 3 Keys to Powerful Writing: Guest Post By Robert Hruzek | Confident Writing

3 Keys to Powerful Writing: Guest Post By Robert Hruzek | Confident Writing — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:31:18 +0000

[...] Why, just the other day, someone exceedingly famous, amazingly good-looking, and incredibly generous wrote this statement (aw, shucks; I know you were probably thinking of me – but it ain’t), and I believe there’s a great deal of truth to it: Success isn’t something you can copy. It is a process you have to understand. [...]

By: Andrew

Andrew — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 21:32:06 +0000

I also agree with Zach’s comments – to a point.

It is certainly true that as a listener, you want to enjoy quality music. Arguably, all publicly released music should be of a fully professional standard.

However, I don’t see any problem in releasing old music. Those who are not interested do not have to listen. Also, I think that many die-hard fans may be interested in hearing some of that old stuff. Maybe, the answer is to mix in one or two of those old songs at concerts, giving die-hard fans a small taste of where you’ve come from.

Karen, I think your approach to writing is a sound one. I don’t think any writer can reach their full potential unless they allow themselves to fail and grow from their failures.

Cheers

Andrew

By: Karen Swim

Karen Swim — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:51:01 +0000

Brad, I also think Zach’s points are valid. I would say that your audience is not part of an experiment but part of your journey. They watch you grow over time and hopefully they gain from that too. I mean let’s face it we don’t set out to fail on purpose. I don’t write sucky stuff because that is my goal. I always try to do my best but sometimes when I look back I think “Geez, what was I thinking?!” LOL! I also appreciate the encouragement. I really am trying not to suck but if I do I’m willing to accept that there’s a lesson in that too.

By: Brad Shorr

Brad Shorr — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:26:15 +0000

And BTW, Karen, I read your blog every day and haven’t seen any post failures yet!

By: Brad Shorr

Brad Shorr — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:25:33 +0000

I agree with the spirit and courage of your comment, Karen, yet Zach makes a valid point about the audience not wanting to be part of an experiment, about the audience having certain expectations that deserve to be fulfilled. But Karen, if you are trying to as hard as you can and still fall short, I don’t think your readers can fault you too much.

By: Karen Swim

Karen Swim — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 03:04:33 +0000

Ha, speaking of failure, yep typo in my comment. “lesson as those that are well received.” Ah, the humility of humanity.

By: Karen Swim

Karen Swim — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 03:03:35 +0000

Brad, I remember reading that comment and it stuck with me too. This year I’ve given myself permission to fail in my writing. In doing so I am gaining the discipline of writing even when it stinks and growing from it. I fail privately and publicly. My sucky blog posts teach me as many lessons as though that are well received. I think that while we learn from failure we’re often reluctant to share it with others because we are ashamed. I am wearing my failure as a badge, without the stumbles I will not get to the success I desire. I’m happy to share the good and bad with others so that they can learn from my mistakes without repeating them.

By: Zach Katkin

Zach Katkin — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 02:46:46 +0000

I think the idea of releasing old or bad music is a bad idea. I’m not listening to learn. I’m listening to enjoy. I suppose it all depends on the context. If I were a musician studying how to better myself or my music it would be of tremendous value. With that said – publishing failures is a great idea (when done appropriately).