Sometimes people ask me for advice about different things like buying a bar, opening a restaurant, joining a band, founding a record label, becoming an artist manager or starting a clothing company.  I haven’t done all those things but for some reason my response is always the same.

“Have you been able to spend time with anyone who is successful and happy doing what you are setting out to do?”

I remember opening a bar in 1995 with so much confidence and just one year later wishing I had talked to someone who ran a bar before investing my time and money into the venture.

In 1996, I was deciding if managing Sister Hazel was going to be the right move for me and I had the foresight to engage three other managers with successful bands. I asked them for a day to shadow them so I could experience what my days would be like.  It not only gave me perspective, it allowed me to visualize the goal.

Since then, it has been second nature for me to get as close as possible to someone near the finish line to determine if that is a race I want to run.

If you do one thing before embarking on a new path, spend time with someone who is on their way or already crossed the finish line.  And once you get them to go to lunch with you, ask them “What would you do differently if you could start from the beginning?”. For some reason, when you phrase it like that, people admit making mistakes.  I am willing to bet you that the cost of the lunch will be the best money you can spend.

Good luck,

Andy

Quote of the week: “Your irresponsibility becomes someone else’s responsibility.”

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