One of the first albums I ever bought for myself was “Slippery When Wet” by Bon Jovi. I was 13 years old, and it was the year 2005. I was a typical millennial kid raised by Gen X parents, meaning that my parents were in high school during the 1980’s. It is not really that surprising that I enjoyed some glam rock. My younger sister however, LOVED that album and at the time had the habit of obsessing over things that she loved. I am almost certain that I watched the movie version of The Phantom of The Opera starring Gerard Butler over 100 times! Thanks, sis! Over the course of a few months, I heard the same songs so many times that I was SICK of Bon Jovi. If a song from that album came on the radio, I had shut it right off! Until I heard “It’s My Life” again as an adult. Now that I think of it, the lyrics to this song are a perfect example of how I feel and why I want to be an entrepreneur in the first place. The line that hit the hardest, was “I just wanna live while I’m alive.” I just wanna live. I have no desire to pay bills and die, dreaming for vacation time. I want to be the captain of my own ship, not under the thumb of a boss. I want to retire at 40, if I choose to instead of working for someone else until I am 70. I am building my own life, because again, “I just wanna LIVE while I’m alive.” No one is going to make that happen but me.
When I started my journey as an entrepreneur, I knew nothing of the power of positive affirmations. The concept was completely foreign to me. What I did understand though, was music. I love music. Listening to the right song at the right time can have such an amazing effect on your mood, motivation, and outlook in life. Personally, I believe that affirmations and music are akin to one another. Particularly if you are a singer. Now, I was a choir kid. And let's face it, I was not good. My voice is not bad, but I cannot sing in public, unless in a group of many other singers. It turns me into a shaking mess. You will never see me at karaoke night, thank goodness! If you listen to positive music, and sing the lyrics often enough, you can apply the feeling of power in your life! I genuinely believe that! I often find myself drawing parallels between song lyrics, and my own life. One song that comes to mind is “My Own Worst Enemy” by Lit. The lyrics strike home for me “it’s no surprise to me I am my own worst enemy…” Have you ever met an entrepreneur who has not engaged in some form of self-sabotage? Probably not. Within a week of starting my finance business, I made a new playlist of empowering music. Music with a punch that gets me fired up and ready to kick ass in the morning. And songs that cover some of the low emotions that I have experienced along the way. And yes, both above songs are included.
I enjoy all sorts of music, if it sounds good, I listen to it. Period. I have no filters when it comes to genre, subject matter, or style. If you looked through all my liked songs online, you would wonder how many people were creating this list, the variety is that eclectic. I transition easily from Frank Sinatra to Marilyn Manson. From Lady Gaga to Eminem and then to Toby Keith. But the overall theme of my playlist is “get off your butt and DO IT. Yeah, sometimes it sucks, but everything is better if you do anyway.” Now that I know about them, I am still not a huge fan of affirmations. I feel silly saying to myself in the mirror, “I am a warrior,” or whatever. But I do often think to myself, “I’m stronger than this. Keep moving, Kie.” When I feel low, and unsuccessful, “American Bad Ass” By Kid Rock is my jam, because it fills me with an unshakeable courage! When I feel the high of success, “Thunder” by Imagine Dragons pushes me to keep smashing those goals. As a mother, I am VERY familiar with Disney music as well and have included some of that in my playlist also! “How Far I’ll go” from the Moana soundtrack is LEGIT as an entrepreneur! The line that gets me, is “one day I’ll know, how far I’ll go.” That is so powerful when you think about it, because we never really know what is going to happen, until we do it!
I believe that music is yet another tool that entrepreneurs can harness to support their success. Shout or SING it to the UNIVERSE, make that happen however you must! Music is a special kind of artwork, and without it I’m not sure what life would be like. As an entrepreneur or otherwise. Do you believe in the power of music? How has it helped you in life? And what are some songs that make you feel empowered? Comment your suggestions below! I would love to hear from you! If you want to connect with me, email me at reclaimingmyselfblog@gmail.com
Comments