**Guest post from David Franz, a California-based music business entrepreneur, producer, engineer, multi-instrumentalist, performer, educator, and author of Producing in the Home Studio with Pro Tools.

"1. Fear stops progress.

It is crippling. It is a disability. You must push through into uncomfortable places if you want to grow. Getting in front of the camera has brought all of my fears out to the surface and recorded them for me to watch. It has forced me to push through the discomfort and grow.

2. Time is your most valuable asset.

Choose wisely what you say yes to. What projects are worth your time? Why would you give someone else your time instead of working on something for yourself? Are you working on something you believe in? Take time to work on your own projects or others that you truly believe in.

+Shows: Which Ones to Play, When to Play Them, and Why

3. Connection is the best way to get people onboard with your mission.

People take action based on emotion, and if they have an emotional connection with you, they will help support you. When you are a positive light for others, that light will reflect back onto you.

+It's All About Your Fans and Not You

4. Marketing is way more important than I ever wanted it to be.

As a kid, I loved making sand castles. I’d make incredibly elaborate designs, but as soon as I was done building, I didn’t want to play with it anymore. I didn’t run my matchbox cars through the tunnels. I didn’t try to show off my work. I just wanted to build another sand castle. If I had been in the business of making sand castles for a living, I would have failed because no one knew that I was even making them. Artists, fortunately or unfortunately, have to make marketing themselves a full-time job these days in order to get enough fans to support their art. Or, better yet, they need a team that believes in them and will help them market themselves. The most successful artists are the super talented AND the best marketed.

+How a Course in Marketing Can Help You Build Your Music Business

5. Imposter syndrome

I never really knew what the term was even though I always felt it. I’m convinced that an artist, or really just any skilled person, may find out that I really don’t know what I’m talking about. I’m always concerned someone will catch on. But I think absolutely everybody feels that way. So I want to call it out and say that everybody has this feeling. We should normalize this feeling and not let it hold you back."

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Bio:

David Franz is a California-based music business entrepreneur, producer, engineer, multi-instrumentalist, performer, educator, and author of Producing in the Home Studio with Pro Tools. He is the founder of the record label Underground Sun and co-founder of Underground Sol record label. David writes, produces and engineers music for a wide range of artists in the Soul, Rock, Electronic, Pop, R&B, Hip-Hop, and Americana genres. He also hosts “Underground Sun Live with David Franz,” a music-based live stream variety show on YouTube, and “The Mixdown,” a web series about music production and business. David’s passion for music and education has led him to become the Content Manager for Audio+Music for Lynda.com and LinkedIn, where he worked with musicians and audio professionals to create world-class online training courses.