I gave a lot of thought as to what I wanted to call this article. The core message of it is to proactively think about what you want out of life and to write it down. So I could have called it "The Power of Goal-Setting".

While goal-setting is an important component of what I'm going to get in to, it fails to flesh out the whole picture. There is something more to the process, and I think that elusive something is imagination.

But before I get too carried away, let's start with a tweet I posted a little over two years ago.

The ultimate job: a job where I get to listen to Groove Salad all day, sit at a computer, and focus my entire energy on 2 or 3 tasks.

-- David Andrew Wiebe (@Dawmusic) March 31, 2011

A Look Back at 2011

I remember 2011 as being a particularly challenging year. For about six months, I worked five different jobs, during the days, evenings and weekends. As you can imagine, I didn't have much time for my own projects. I also ended up sharing my house and garage with some unbecoming characters.

I was under a lot of financial pressure, and I didn't have enough perspective to know that getting on the fast track wasn't going to provide any profound solutions. I escaped the cycle by refinancing my home, and that provided temporary relief.

Setting Course

I posted the above tweet while I was in the midst of this mess. I had a fairly mindless day job, so I had a lot of time to think about what I really wanted out of my work life.

Of course, you only get 140 characters to record your thoughts on Twitter, so it may look as though I was a little general in my thought process (and to a degree, that's true). Even so, there's a lot more specificity than meets the eye. Let me break it down for you:

At the time, I liked listening to Groove Salad while working because it put me in a trance-like meditative state that helped me focus on my project. I've since learned that repetitive music can make you sleepy, and Baroque and Jazz music is better for stimulating brain activity.

There are a couple of other implications here. One is that my workplace would allow me the freedom to listen to whatever I wanted while working. The other is that I would not have many interruptions while doing my job.

Obviously this would not be everyone's dream, but sitting at a computer for me meant working on things like writing (which I enjoy and do a lot of), social media, podcasting, graphic design and online marketing.

This simply meant that I would't have a multitude of interruptions or that my work would consist of too many disparate tasks. I would get to work in my strengths and direct my energies toward fulfilling objectives.

Destination

Fast forward to today and my work is practically everything I imagined it would be. It is a dream-come-true. This isn't the first time I've used the power of intention and imagination to accomplish goals and direct my thoughts to what I really want out of life. It has worked for me multiple times.

There do seem to be some stipulations, however. For example, it usually isn't enough just to think about or just to write down what you want. It's the mixing of imagination, thought and goal-setting that seem to produce magic. The above example is definitely a result of combining at least two out of three elements, if not all of them. Quite simply...

• Thought - thinking logically about the things that you do and do not want out of life.
• Imagination - vividly imaging what it would look like and feel like to attain your desires.
• Goal-Setting - writing it all down (pen and paper).

The other stipulation is that of time and belief. There are few things that seem to come instantaneously and thus take a lot of patience and time to come to fruition. If you have a strong enough belief, the "how" and "when" questions don't even matter anymore. You know that you will be living your dream in due time.

Overlooked Variables

There were a couple of things I didn't actually give enough thought to:

At the time I would have had no way of knowing that a job isn't really what I wanted. Freedom and choice is what I really desire today. If I had known, I would have also put "unlimited earning potential" as criteria for my dream job. When experts advise you to dream bigger than you're comfortable with, they really aren't kidding.

As far as compensation goes, my job does reward me fairly for what I do. I feel fortunate that it has worked out well.

Again, freedom of time and money being the ultimate objective today, I should have considered what sort of time investment I would have been willing to put towards my "dream job". At the time what I wanted was something to pay the bills and help move my music career forward, so a 9 - 5 (or less) would have been just fine. My vision has obviously changed since then, but anything worth doing takes time and effort so I am committed to excellence in my work.

Forecasting

This has worked before, so undoubtedly it will work again. I am now forecasting into the future what I want my life to look like. I am imagining the results that I want, designing my future, and working backwards to figure out what I need to do to make it happen.

I recently published an article on the TuneCity blog called 5 Ways to Optimize Your YouTube Channel. For some of you, this may have been heavy reading.

The truth of the matter is that Search Engine Optimization (also known as SEO) can be a convoluted topic. You could quite literally spend all of your time becoming an expert on the subject and keeping up-to-date with the latest changes without accomplishing anything productive. SEO best practices continue to change as Google applies new updates like Panda and Penguin.

So here's a much simpler breakdown of things you can do to make your videos more discoverable on YouTube.

1. Optimize Your Title

I have seen several instances where artists are failing to utilize their title to attract search traffic. What you have to keep in mind here is that although your fans and subscribers to your channel will likely find out about your latest uploads, you won't attract any search traffic without putting relevant keywords in your title.

The worst offenders are those who don't bother making any changes to their title after uploading their video. Their video appears on YouTube as I'm_Playing_Guitar.wmv or something equivalent. The only relevant keyword in that title is 'Guitar', and imagine how heavy the competition is likely to be for that keyword. You don't stand a chance.

Another thing not to do, although it isn't as painful as the former example, is to generate a vague title with few or no keywords. I have seen many videos that don't even include the artist or song name. How exactly do you expect to be found? Google displays relevant YouTube videos in search results so you should definitely be taking advantage of that by placing pertinent keywords in your title.

Furthermore, avoid using keywords that are likely to be competitive. To a degree, this is unavoidable. However, simply doing a quick YouTube search with the title you're planning on using will give you an idea of what's already out there. Then you can make adjustments as necessary.

Here are a few quick examples of a good title. Let's say that I was doing an acoustic cover of Marianas Trench's "Celebrity Status". My title would look something like this:

• David Andrew Wiebe covers Marianas Trench's Celebrity Status (acoustic)
• Marianas Trench - Celebrity Status (acoustic cover by David Andrew Wiebe)
• David Andrew Wiebe - Celebrity Status (Marianas Trench) Acoustic Cover

I'm covering all the bases here by including my name, the artist name and song title, as well as making use of 'acoustic' and 'cover' as keywords.

2. Optimize Your Description

Now that I've set the tone for this post, we're going to go more rapid-fire with optimization tips. Here's a quick list of do's and don'ts for your description:

• Leave your description blank
• Spam keywords or calls to action in your description
• Bunch text together

• Include a link to your website in the first line with the http:// extension (i.e. http://mywebsite.com/)
• Include links to your music, relevant blog posts and articles, podcast episodes etc. if applicable
• Link to others if they helped with your video or contributed in some way
• Include one call to action (optional), such as 'subscribe to our newsletter', and include a link
• Make your text readable by breaking it up
• Create a summary for your video (but put it after relevant links and calls to action)
• Include relevant keywords and key phrases in your summary

3. Optimize Your Tags

I'll be the first to admit that 'tags' can sometimes be a confusing concept. The purpose of tags for blogs is to bunch pieces of content together that address similar topics. YouTube tags are kind of similar, but it's okay to think of them as keywords.

But, just in case, I did some research to find out what the best practices are. Here are expert tips in summary.

• Use too many tags
• Use irrelevant keywords that have nothing to do with your video; it will hurt your ranking
• Be too sparse with tag use

• Prioritize your main keywords and enter them first
• Use relevant keywords
• Use only relevant keywords
• Use common misspellings of your keywords
• Use the same keywords in the title, description and tags

I have a confession to make. I'm a bit of a perfectionist.

That shouldn't come as any major surprise coming from an artist. Most people with artistic tendencies have inclinations towards perfectionism.

One of the most significant pitfalls of perfectionism is typically oversight. While it may be possible to get the desired result out of one area of pursuit, perfectionism can blind us to other equally important areas.

But sooner than later, it's important to realize that something is better than nothing.

My Artist Website

I've been giving some thought to redesigning my artist website. I reworked the design only 5 or 6 months ago, and already I have a new picture forming in my mind.

The current design was intended to be simple enough that even the technologically impaired could figure it out. It's rather interesting how that came about.

For a short while, I was unable to log in to the back end of my website so I used my FTP client to paste over a temporary version to keep my audience updated. I only included about 3 pages, and the result was that I saw an increase in music sales.

I was a little surprised by this result, but evidently having fewer choices (fewer things to click on) meant my visitors could only do so many things on my website and apparently many of them went straight for the digital downloads.

So, the new design - or the current design - was developed to utilize this concept. With so much content on my website, I couldn't just throw it all away, but I did give more thought to the structure and took more time organizing the content in a meaningful way.

So, why am I considering another redesign?

Well, I've been thinking about consolidating a little. This certainly isn't the first time my projects (particularly my web projects) have blown up in to more pieces than I could possibly manage on my own, but once again I find myself in a position where streamlining seems like the best thing I could do for my health and my work life.

I manage more Facebook pages than one person should ever manage, I have a couple of blogs, websites and businesses that I no longer have time for, I have four or five Twitter accounts, and I even have three YouTube channels that I attempt to keep updated.

So, it seems to me that consolidation is as good a time as any to refocus my branding.

My Newsletter

After letting it slide for well over a year (possibly even two years), I recently resurrected my newsletter. At one point it was a monthly endeavor in my life, but it ended up feeling like a hassle every time I had to do it.

Now I'm actually publishing it on a weekly basis. My rationale was that, as long as I'm paying for the service (I use iContact), I might as well be using it. Moreover, I've been making an effort to blog and podcast on a weekly basis, and I want to get the content out there.

I had heard that if your users don't hear from you for over 30 days and then you send them a newsletter, you will inevitably have a guaranteed number of unsubscribes. Apparently I'm not immune to those statistics; I have had anywhere from 30 to 40 unsubscribes. My open rate has also dropped from about 30% to 15%.

The Best Possible

I have always wanted to offer the best I could possibly deliver, whether a single blog post, newsletter or podcast episode. But, I have had to admit to myself that, perhaps this is the best I can offer under current circumstances.

My attention is pulled in half a dozen - if not more - directions. Though it will take time, I know that I can renew my focus by streamlining. I can continue to eliminate physical, mental and emotional clutter in my life.

Better Than Nothing

After all is said and done, I have to admit that doing something is better than doing nothing. Even though I have the desire to improve the quality (and maybe even the quantity) of my output, there is a big difference between taking action and just talking about taking action.

Taking action has meant that I have had to relinquish a degree of perfectionism. You can attempt to achieve perfection, or you can be more prolific. Not that either is better or worse, but we do tend to sacrifice one or the other. If it's going to be one way or the other, make sure that it is a conscious choice.

More importantly, the reward often goes to the bold, not the thinker who is paralyzed by analysis. Be prepared to step out, even knowing that all the puzzle pieces haven't landed in place.

Go with the Flow

As you know, I grew up in a conservative Christian environment. While I would certainly still consider myself a Christian today, I no longer subscribe to my former limitations because I believe that Jesus was radical.

I often heard people say that you should move in the direction of grace. If that doesn't make sense to you, it's a bit like saying "go with the flow." The idea is that there is favor in a particular area of your life. Paying attention to it and moving in that direction would prove beneficial.

Not that hard work isn't a part of attaining anything worthwhile, but rather finding that flow and being in the midst of it is both ultimately fulfilling and rewarding.

The problem is that I couldn't ever seem to find that flow!

Today, I feel like I know where that flow is, and I want to move in that direction.

I didn't always think this way.

There was a time when I thought life is what happened to you. I didn't believe that I could exert control over my life to any great extent.

Had I stayed there, I'm not sure I would have ever embraced my dream or what that would entail. Going after a dream not only requires determination and perseverance, but a willingness to go out of one's comfort zone; repeatedly, and for as long as necessary.

Even that's maybe putting it too kindly. Moving toward your dream is a lifestyle; it doesn't end, because your dream will keep expanding as long as you're willing to grow.

The Offer is on the Table

I was once waiting for the opportunities to come to me. I was waiting by the phone, sitting by my computer or wishing that someone would just notice me.

Now I'm in the opposite position. I throw lifelines to people that want more out of life.

What most people don't know is that opportunities rarely come in neatly wrapped packages. Sometimes they don't look like you think they are supposed to look.

I think the human tendency to wait for something that looks so ridiculously easy, so pretty and so promising that we end up missing the real opportunities. We forget that everything worthwhile takes time and effort.

I put offers on the table, even if the people I extend a hand to don't always say "yes".

Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity

But you can only throw pearls to swine so many times. You can't convince anyone of what their priorities should be; if they really wanted it, their actions would show it.

I think most people would regret passing up an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. How many people go through life saying "no regrets" have the biggest regrets at the end of their lives? You have to risk a little if you want to live with a sense of purpose and finish with a sense of fulfillment.

Once-in-a-Year Opportunity

An once-in-a-lifetime opportunity might be too hard to grasp in real-time, so let's hit a little closer to home: what about a once-in-a-year opportunity?

This week I've been making calls, extending a hand to people I know (an offer worth thousands of dollars, I might add; could add up to millions in the long-term). The answers I've gotten so far have been sad - at least from my perspective.

A housewarming party. Mother's Day. Out of town. Busy this weekend. Got plans this weekend. We're doing great.

You know what? You're right. You are doing great. I was wrong in assuming you might want more out of life.

There were only one or two excuses that I might have considered worthy of consideration. Everything else could have been delayed, rescheduled or planned around.

What's another 12 months, right? There will always be another time. But another 12 months without any changes in your life could be very painful.

I can't tell anyone what to do, and I will never judge anyone. They know what their dream is, and I definitely can't tell them that. They have to live with their choices and I have to live with mine.

But no matter. I will keep extending my hand as long as I am able. My goal isn't to push people down. I believe I was born to lift people up.

Would you take the offer? Most people won't.

In Summary

1. There will always be things out of your control, but you can definitely set goals and move in the direction of your dreams.
2. You have to take action. Opportunities must be created and seized.
3. You can't convince someone to appreciate something they probably should.
4. Problem-solving is just a part of life. If you want to value and honor the opportunities offered you, you might have to re-prioritize.

I hear many musicians say the same thing. "I just want to make a living doing music" or "I just want to make a living doing what I love to do."

I don't think there's anything wrong with those goals. It was my goal as well.

I think the reason I kept saying I wanted to make a living in music had a lot to do with the people that I hung around with. They either had dreams of building a career in music of their own or had always assumed that's what I wanted.

Then I had a rather painful but sobering realization: I didn't know anybody who was living that dream; especially those who kept saying they wanted to make a living in music! So it was mostly pointless taking advice from people who were in the same position I was.

If you often find yourself saying the types of phrases already mentioned, here are some questions you should be asking yourself to clarify your intentions:

Is my dream big enough?

I understand why someone would want to make a living in music. They would be able to break free from a day job and finally focus on what they would rather spend their life doing.

However, setting too small of a goal might actually be delaying the realization of your current goal. Perhaps you've heard the saying, "shoot for the moon and land among the stars". That's how goal-setting really works!

Not that you can't accomplish your biggest goals, but rather if your initial goal is too small, you don't see yourself ever achieving anything bigger! In other words, you're setting yourself up to reach your goal in the indefinite future.

For some people, their vision expands as they start moving in the direction of their dreams. They come to realize that the more they win, the more they can help others win too. Unfortunately, those who only want to make enough for just themselves wind up not helping the people they could be along the way and end up delaying their fulfillment.

Is my dream specific enough?

What exactly does making a living in music look like to you?

I could suggest several ways of "making a living" in the music industry that just about anyone could pursue. However, those career paths may not lead to your personal fulfillment. That's where you may be lacking some much needed specificity.

Take the time to define the following items:

• How much money do you need to make to replace your current income? Calculate that amount and find out how much of a raise you would need if you kept working exactly the same number of hours you are right now.
• How do you want to make the money? In other words, do you want to make a living from performing, recording, teaching, or a combination of different sources?
• What do you plan to do with the money once you have it? Again, be specific. Every penny that's not planned for is prone to unnecessary spending.
• Do you know why you're doing it? Simon Sinek goes so far as to say that if you know your 'why', the 'what' pretty much takes care of itself. Know your motivation and keep that at the forefront.
• When do you plan to reach your goal? What is realistic based on your current work ethic? This isn't so much about perfection, but rather setting a positive expectation for success.

Does my dream include enough people?

This goes hand in hand with the question, "is my dream big enough?"

"Making a living", while not a bad dream, is a dream for self. If you want to accomplish greater things, help more people, give back, contribute or make a mark on this world, you have to help others realize their dreams as well.

"Making a living is the dream", you may say.

The reason why those who have helped others and continue to help others make tens of thousands of dollars a month is because they have bigger dreams. They don't buy in to arrival fallacy. They give their best today and they keep giving their best.