Sitting on the Porch

Some tough questions to answer truthfully before you invest in that new sound system, or that new CD you want to make.  Or you may re-evaluate what it is you’re supposed to be doing.

What’s your passion? Is it really your passion, or just what you’re interested in now?

What would you talk about if you could not sing songs or play an instrument?

Is there a need for what you have to say, and who needs it?  How do you know?

What’s your geography? Individual? Small group?  Large group? Conventions?  Travel or close to home? This one is critical for a lot of reasons.

How much are you willing to give for the ministry? Success (see below for definition) requires passion, hard work, sacrifice of time, money and prayer, opportunity, good connections, good decisions, talent (more on that below), honesty, integrity, humility, vision, resourcefulness, proper timing, and above all, a legitimate calling (see below).

Are you talented in this area? You can have drive, vision, and integrity, but sooner or later you have to deliver the goods.  People will only come to see you if there is a direct benefit to them, and it has to be good.  Your audience is investing their time and money in you, and if they don’t think they’re getting a bargain, word gets around.

Granted, even Moses spoke with a lisp and had terrible social anxiety (he made Aaron do the public stuff), but Moses had the direct backing of the Almighty, who wasn’t afraid of crowds at all.

Are you called to do this particular thing? Being called to do something doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy, popular, lucrative, or even noticed by anyone but you and God.  It doesn’t mean that you will be happy, self-fulfilled, artistically satisfied, or even feel closer to God.  So how do you know you’re called to this thing?

How do you measure your success? Is the goal financial, personal or something else?

I’ll post more as I dig further in to my own journey as a Catholic, a musician, and a bidness person.

JC