Keep Up the Good Work

(2 minute read)

I genuinely believe some people are afraid of success. We talk a lot about fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of pain—emotional, spiritual, physical, or otherwise—but we often overlook a very natural fear of success.

What happens when you become successful?

At its root, success means you previously identified something you wanted to attain or accomplish, and now BAM! You got it. You’re there. Once you reach that plateau, where do you go from there? What’s next? More challenges, right? Who wants to work their ass off to achieve something only to have to do it all over again at the same level or higher?

I see this one all the time in my work with singers. Someone will come to me with the goal of being able to sing the high note in a particular song, and once they get it, they’re sort of lost, so I push for more. I don’t do it to be mean, but I know there’s more there—a sort of unlimited potential while maintaining what you already have.

When you do something awesome, everything after has to be just as good or better.

Being recognized for your talent, skill, intellect, or athleticism is awesome. I think all of those things are fairly universal goals at different points in life for all of us. The problem is that once you get that recognition, you have to maintain it and continue to grow, or you fade into the background again. You become a one hit wonder.

Some of you might say, “I don’t have a problem with that” which may very well be true. The truth of the matter is that there’s a little voice inside you saying, “people are watching me now, I don’t deserve this success, I was and never will be worthy of it, and now I have to do it all over again.”

The pressure’s on! It’s not a dream anymore. It’s not a poster on your wall. It’s not shower singing. It’s not a book of half-finished sketches or a couple chapters of a novel. It’s real life!

When no one expects anything of you, there’s no reason to try. Once they do, you have to continue to deliver.

That’s one of the reasons mediocrity exists: some people underachieve because it’s easier to dream. Some people keep pushing forward because they know there’s more, and they go after it. Everyone else is content being somewhere in the middle.

There are tons of singers and coaches in the world who are better, more knowledgeable, and experienced than I am who just didn’t bother building a career. The opposite is also true. There’re a lot of horrible coaches and singers in the market who make 10x what I make. I’m sure you can all relate to that sentiment in one way or another.

So let me circle back to what I said in the beginning. Fear of rejection and failure are easily identifiable obstacles to success. We’re past that now. Maintaining and growing beyond that success is at the top of the list.

There’s no more time for “I’ll do it later” because people want it now. They’re asking, “I wonder what his next book’s about!” They’re thinking “that gallery exhibit was awesome. When’s the next one?” They’re telling people about your work. Once the world sees your potential, the masses expect the same quality and creativity every time.

SO!

Take the leap, and build your wings on the way down so you can fly again.

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