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The Cyber PR Music Podcast Episode Four: Lessons from Marie Kondo What Marie Kondo Can Teach You about Your Music Career… I recently completed the KonMari Method™ and it was as she promised, life-changing. In this episode, I share the lessons Marie can teach us all in the music industry. It starts with clearing out space so that your creativity juices have a place to flow, and while you are at it, you can clear out some space for the dreaded business side of the music business. Here’s what I was reminded of and learned, and how it relates to any of us trying to succeed in this new music business. Lesson 1: It’s Self-Help Help Not Shelf-Help OK, so Marie didn’t teach me this directly, but my experience with the book is a great reminder: I bought the book years ago it languished (sadly) in the downloads on my Kindle - out of sight, out of mind. It wasn’t until I went to an actual bookstore and bought the book - the physical book (and put it on my nightstand) - that I really got around to doing the work. AKA It’s hard to commit to doing serious work when so many meaningless things pull us in the wrong directions. I have a lot of clients who signed up for a LAB and never watched a single video or put a technique into place because they feel too busy and overwhelmed. I get it. But, once you commit to making shelf-help your self-help, this will shift. Lesson 2: Branding With Authenticity is Key. Is decluttering new? No. There have been countless books and systems created in the past on how to do it. Professional organizers have been gainfully employed for years. But Marie created a sensation, and a craze. She’s a total rockstar in her lane. Why is this? People resonate with real. What Marie does comes honestly. She used to organize her room and her family’s house when she was a child and has dedicated her whole life to her art. In other words, it’s 100% authentic and fans resonate with her realness and that is POWERFUL! KonMari Method™ - Her System Has a Name - This Is Brilliant Branding! Marie Kondo took parts of her name for the brand of her method. It stuck and it caught fire. Lady Gaga has little monsters, Clay Aiken has Claymates, the Grateful Dead have Deadheads - you get it, you know all about brilliant tribe branding and strong marketing. Lesson 3: Dress The Part - AKA Show Up For Your Stuff Marie advises to dress up while you're doing her method - this means looking your best like you would for a big meeting at work or a gig, or in my case a speaking engagement. Don’t do this in your sweatpants - come prepared. Show up for your stuff. When you do something dressed for the part, a deep shift will occur. Do you try to advance your music career in stained sweatpants on the couch? Try getting up, getting dressed, and getting out to a coffee shop or a co-working space - just to see if that shifts your productivity or your mood. Lesson 4: Go Through It ALL In her system, you have to take all your clothes out of all your closets and drawers and cupboards and the garage and the back of the car and the laundry room, and put them in a huge pile so that you can start by seeing everything you have. This is confronting and it's a bit embarrassing to see that giant mountain of stuff. After that, you move onto the rest of the items in your house, your papers, and finally your most sentimental effects. What you're supposed to do is pick up each item at a time - I started with a new shirt that I love. Next, you ask yourself: Does this spark joy? If not, you get rid of it; if so, you keep it and you will organize it (that comes later though). The person who just clears out one drawer and expects massive change never gets it. We all know that just doing one thing never yields the results you want. You need to do something radical here…. Get...