5 ways being a songwriter in #Nashville has shaped my career as a business person, specifically within sales: 

1. I learned how to listen for emotional cues. When you’re in a co-writing session collaborating with other writers and artists, you’re constantly listening for all types of cues, picking up on subtleties in emotion, delivery and pain. The best leverage these and turn them into gold.. similar to the best sales people.

2. I learned how to contribute to a creative team. Creative collaboration is an art and a science. Its listening and performing at the same time. If you can balance the two things like knowing when to pause your demo and lean in to listen to your prospect without an agenda.. you will earn trust.. and learn a few things!

3. I learned how to leverage tactical empathy to construct an idea.  When writing songs, you are immediately turning emotions (problems) into words (solutions). Formulating those words can be really hard especially if the subject matter is heavy.. but like selling, you’re on a journey to sell a transformation. Understanding how their pain turns to payoff makes for not only great sales, but great songs. 

4. Even songwriters sell all day long.  The best songwriters are truly just the best sales people: they are the best listeners, the best practitioners of the craft, and can close when selling the song to the artist. They have deep relationships and are trusted advisors to their partners. 

5. #Storyselling is eating the world. Writing hooks, narrating your prospects’ transformation, and making your customer the hero of the journey not only writes a great song or a great movie script.. it writes a great business transformation.

I could go on forever..

The similarities between selling and writing songs is endless. 

If you dont feel like you’re getting your company’s song across.. maybe its time to find a new cowriter. (Hint.. your customers are excellent sources of wisdom)

Make your customer the hero of everything you do. 

Just like if you were writing them into Jack & Diane. 

🤘🏼🤘🏼

#ai #sales #entrepreneurship