As creative spirits, musicians are often spontaneous. Being a Business Major, Beth Matthew thinks she exhibits long-range planning in most areas of her life.

Long-range Planning is a process we use to implement a strategic plan. It is about aligning your long-term goals and developing action plans that line up with your strategic plan.
A strategic plan is a process that defines your vision for your future and it identifies your goals and objectives and includes establishing a sequence in which those goals can be realized so you can reach your stated vision. It determines the long-term organization goals after you evaluate your business or career and determine what you want it to become. It is not an action but a statement of what you want to happen. You also need to figure out your mission and vision to help serve as a guide on what you want to do.
All the functions of your music career should be determined by your mission.

Steps in Developing Long-Range Planning:

1. Mission – creates an identity in who you are; the who, what, and why of your planning
Where are you headed in your music career?
What do you want to be as a musical entrepreneur?

2. Vision – describes the long-term results of your long-range planning; can be determined 5, 10, or 15 years along the way; like a roadmap for your career
What legacy do you want to leave for your career?
What successes would you like to celebrate as your music business grows?

Cayla shares about being focused on celebrating moments in her life. Goals too can be fun. Writing down your goals has magic in doing that alone. What if we create these little milestones that we can incorporate along the way? Just like when you are playing a game, you do not need to finish the whole level before you start celebrating. Give yourself a boost whenever you hit a milestone. Read Power of Moments. You can set a milestone such as creating an email for your list and once you’ve done that, you can celebrate.

Most people get frustrated because they are focused on results. If we appreciate the process, celebrating milestones will motivate us to keep on going.

Another thing that helps with planning is conducting a SWOT. This is assessing your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. You do an analysis of your music career to provide points of focus for your planning. It shows you where you need to improve in the present to achieve future gains towards your goals.

Looking at your goals every day, especially at the start of your day, also helps keep you on track.

Some of us may be visual or auditory and you can adapt your reminders to how you are. For example, if you are visual, you can put your written goal on different parts of your room or your house as a reminder to yourself.

Links mentioned in this episode:
profitablemusician.com/homestudio

Female Musician Community