Resolving Resolutions

I've been thinking lately (as many have)about New Year's resolutions and goals and plans, etc. And it occurs to me that many of the same lessons I've learned about achieving personal goals can apply to bands. So, for what it's worth, here's the top 3 things I've picked up along the way to stay focused as the year wears on:

1. Set specific and attainable goals, not resolutions
Individually, it's more effective to say I will skip dessert one night a week than it is to say "I resolve to lose weight."
Same with bands. It's much more effective to say "I will send out 10 press kits each week." than to say, "I will become famous."

2. Adjust your goals as circumstances change.
If your goal was to get one gig a week and you reach it,congratulations! Now raise that goal to two or three shows a week. Success has a way of building on its own momemtum.

3. Make sure to give thanks
When you stick with your specific goals, you will see results. They won't always be the spectacular "cover of the Rolling Stone" type results, but they will come nevertheless. Remember to give thanks for them, write them down even. Keeping a "gratitude journal" will help you see that your efforts are bearing fruit and will help you stay motivated on those days when everything seems to go wrong.

So far, in the first two weeks of 2012, Family Reunion is grateful for:
48 new fans on Jango internet radio
Being in the Top 10 new Country bands on Jango
Acceptance to the Pandora online playlist (with songs showing in March)
Our first CD review in the Dallas Morning News
A committment for an additional online review in April
Several other newspapers and blogs requesting review copies of our CD
Our first nationally issued press release
Our first restock order on CDs sold through CD Baby

And that's just the first two weeks of January!
We hope your 2012 is just as joyful.
Drop us a line if you have any other ideas for sticking with your New Year's resolutions and goals.

Cousin JD