Comments on: From Paycheck to Passion – and Then Back Again? http://goldencompass.com/blog/from-paycheck-to-passion-and-then-back-again/ Hidden Internet Tips For Sales And Business Sat, 21 Aug 2010 15:55:48 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: John Hersey http://goldencompass.com/blog/from-paycheck-to-passion-and-then-back-again/comment-page-1/#comment-45469 John Hersey Wed, 07 Apr 2010 15:54:03 +0000 http://goldencompass.com/blog/from-paycheck-to-passion-and-then-back-again/#comment-45469 What a wonderful conversation. Having started my business over a dozen years ago some of these comments even ring true. As a speaker, mentor and author I can tell you with certainty that I began this journey not knowing what I didn't know and thinking what I did know was all that was needed to go to the head of the class. So, you message is a good one. It should be titled "Eyes Wide Open". That what the so called "necessity entrepreneurs" need to do. Consider before they leap and keep expectations real. The flip side is that there are many more benefits to self-employment than the 401K. Consider those as well. What a wonderful conversation. Having started my business over a dozen years ago some of these comments even ring true. As a speaker, mentor and author I can tell you with certainty that I began this journey not knowing what I didn’t know and thinking what I did know was all that was needed to go to the head of the class.

So, you message is a good one. It should be titled “Eyes Wide Open”. That what the so called “necessity entrepreneurs” need to do. Consider before they leap and keep expectations real. The flip side is that there are many more benefits to self-employment than the 401K. Consider those as well.

]]> By: Heidi Howes http://goldencompass.com/blog/from-paycheck-to-passion-and-then-back-again/comment-page-1/#comment-42156 Heidi Howes Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:50:53 +0000 http://goldencompass.com/blog/from-paycheck-to-passion-and-then-back-again/#comment-42156 Yep (chuckle) the "new media" has generated quite a few positions. Fortunately for me, I saw a niche and started learning everything I could about it. The music business is a really hard one, but the internet has completely revolutionized it. David Wilcox, for example, has reconnected with many of his fans and has a much more accessible presence now than ever. Because it has become imperative for artists to connect through social networking, it is obviously a time-consuming practice! It takes a lot of time to set up pertinent profiles, respond to inquiries, update calendars, etc, and who has more time for a completely new administrative task?! Hence, the social media manager was born. I manage twitter, facebook, youtube, myspace, reverbnation, eventful, lastfm, ilike, gmail, linkedin, and many more site profiles for David. It's hard to keep up, but each site provides new opportunities. David has seen a lot of value in diving into the new media over the past year-album and ticket sales, promotion, gig inquiries, you name it. My position allows for him to do what he does best which is write songs,perform, record . . . which is why we love him! Thanks for askin', Heidi Howes p.s. Gary, I am taking new clients ;) p.p.s. It also doesn't hurt that my little brother (www.lewishowes.com) is a "social media guru" and wrote the book on LinkedIN. Yep (chuckle) the “new media” has generated quite a few positions. Fortunately for me, I saw a niche and started learning everything I could about it. The music business is a really hard one, but the internet has completely revolutionized it. David Wilcox, for example, has reconnected with many of his fans and has a much more accessible presence now than ever.
Because it has become imperative for artists to connect through social networking, it is obviously a time-consuming practice! It takes a lot of time to set up pertinent profiles, respond to inquiries, update calendars, etc, and who has more time for a completely new administrative task?! Hence, the social media manager was born. I manage twitter, facebook, youtube, myspace, reverbnation, eventful, lastfm, ilike, gmail, linkedin, and many more site profiles for David. It’s hard to keep up, but each site provides new opportunities. David has seen a lot of value in diving into the new media over the past year-album and ticket sales, promotion, gig inquiries, you name it.
My position allows for him to do what he does best which is write songs,perform, record . . . which is why we love him!
Thanks for askin’,
Heidi Howes
p.s. Gary, I am taking new clients ;)
p.p.s. It also doesn’t hurt that my little brother (www.lewishowes.com) is a “social media guru” and wrote the book on LinkedIN.

]]> By: Michael Benidt http://goldencompass.com/blog/from-paycheck-to-passion-and-then-back-again/comment-page-1/#comment-41820 Michael Benidt Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:38:04 +0000 http://goldencompass.com/blog/from-paycheck-to-passion-and-then-back-again/#comment-41820 Hi Gary, Great question. How you become a social media manager I will leave in Heidi's expert hands. However, it is clear that if you simply study Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn a little bit (or, attend almost any of the "How to Be Great at Social Media" classes given by hoards of pretenders out there) that it takes nothing at all to become a "Social Media Expert." Maybe you should settle for that, huh? Thanks for the book tip - as soon as I get done with the latest Michael Connelly mystery, maybe...... Hi Gary,

Great question. How you become a social media manager I will leave in Heidi’s expert hands.

However, it is clear that if you simply study Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn a little bit (or, attend almost any of the “How to Be Great at Social Media” classes given by hoards of pretenders out there) that it takes nothing at all to become a “Social Media Expert.” Maybe you should settle for that, huh?

Thanks for the book tip – as soon as I get done with the latest Michael Connelly mystery, maybe……

]]> By: Gary Ujifusa http://goldencompass.com/blog/from-paycheck-to-passion-and-then-back-again/comment-page-1/#comment-41805 Gary Ujifusa Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:16:51 +0000 http://goldencompass.com/blog/from-paycheck-to-passion-and-then-back-again/#comment-41805 Heidi is David Wilcox's social media manager? Wow. I had no idea such a position existed. My exit plan from corporate America is take the last of this regular paid time to organize my future sling bag tools. The good stuff I've learned over the past 25 years. One thought for those following this blog, I think any entrepreneur today needs to truly excel at business finance. Personally I fall into the special needs business finance class but I'm learning quickly. I'm in sales. I've been very successful recently understanding my client’s strategies, understanding their balance sheet and finding ways to help them achieve their strategies and then measure the direct impact on their balance sheet. What I sell can impact a company’s assets in a positive way. I just finished <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Financial-Intelligence-Managers-Knowing-Numbers/dp/1591397642/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268435304&sr=1-1" rel="nofollow">Financial Intelligence by Karen Berman and Joe Knight</a>. They do a great job of writing about business finance in a way people like me can understand. If you’re reading this, in business for yourself and rolling yours eyes at the thought of studying business finance, you should probably read the book. By the way Heidi, how does one become a social media manager. Wow. Heidi is David Wilcox’s social media manager? Wow. I had no idea such a position existed. My exit plan from corporate America is take the last of this regular paid time to organize my future sling bag tools. The good stuff I’ve learned over the past 25 years. One thought for those following this blog, I think any entrepreneur today needs to truly excel at business finance. Personally I fall into the special needs business finance class but I’m learning quickly. I’m in sales. I’ve been very successful recently understanding my client’s strategies, understanding their balance sheet and finding ways to help them achieve their strategies and then measure the direct impact on their balance sheet. What I sell can impact a company’s assets in a positive way. I just finished Financial Intelligence by Karen Berman and Joe Knight. They do a great job of writing about business finance in a way people like me can understand. If you’re reading this, in business for yourself and rolling yours eyes at the thought of studying business finance, you should probably read the book. By the way Heidi, how does one become a social media manager. Wow.

]]> By: Michael Benidt http://goldencompass.com/blog/from-paycheck-to-passion-and-then-back-again/comment-page-1/#comment-41694 Michael Benidt Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:41:48 +0000 http://goldencompass.com/blog/from-paycheck-to-passion-and-then-back-again/#comment-41694 Hello Heidi, I'm often pretty grumpy about the land of "social media" - mostly because of what I see as egregious abuses of what was supposed to be a "networking" platform. But, I have to admit, I get such a kick out of seeing someone like David Wilcox on Twitter and Facebook. I won't go into what a "groupie" I am when it comes to his music, but think about it. Could such a message as yours have ever happened before this crazy Internet was invented? Yes, I guess there were fan letters - and some artists had the time to respond. I saw David many years ago now at the Arvada Center (with Eliza Gilkyson), again at Chataqua and some other times I've forgotten. It's just cool to know that a short Twitter message was all it took to let him know the enjoyment he provides. Good luck on your music career, but don't quit your day job. Mr. Wilcox should be thanking his lucky stars it hasn't taken off quite yet. Thanks. Hello Heidi,

I’m often pretty grumpy about the land of “social media” – mostly because of what I see as egregious abuses of what was supposed to be a “networking” platform. But, I have to admit, I get such a kick out of seeing someone like David Wilcox on Twitter and Facebook. I won’t go into what a “groupie” I am when it comes to his music, but think about it. Could such a message as yours have ever happened before this crazy Internet was invented? Yes, I guess there were fan letters – and some artists had the time to respond.

I saw David many years ago now at the Arvada Center (with Eliza Gilkyson), again at Chataqua and some other times I’ve forgotten. It’s just cool to know that a short Twitter message was all it took to let him know the enjoyment he provides.

Good luck on your music career, but don’t quit your day job. Mr. Wilcox should be thanking his lucky stars it hasn’t taken off quite yet.

Thanks.

]]> By: Heidi Howes http://goldencompass.com/blog/from-paycheck-to-passion-and-then-back-again/comment-page-1/#comment-41683 Heidi Howes Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:35:42 +0000 http://goldencompass.com/blog/from-paycheck-to-passion-and-then-back-again/#comment-41683 Hi Michael, Thanks so much for letting me know about your blog and, in particular, this article with the comments including David Wilcox. ( I am his social media manager and have been part of the excellent team that has brought his career to the web 2.0 place of today-just got your DM @mrdavidwilcox. ) I am currently reading "Ignore Everybody" by Hugh MacLeod, and so this blog post resonates a lot with me. Hugh definitely speaks to the argument of keeping one's day job for the sake of maintaining your passion separate from your money-making ventures. My experience has been different from the norm as I started out as a singer-songwriter and never entered the "real workforce". So now that I have a young family, and wish to be home at night to put my children to bed, I have built a social media and management business for musicians out of necessity. Is it my favorite thing to do? No. I love being with my family and writing/recording my songs. But I am passionate and smart enough about it to do a great job for my clients, and I have learned finally that what feeds my mouth may not feed my soul, and even when that was the case, I almost lost the joy of it! Ahh, the things we learn. . . I love the insight of your post! Sincerely, Heidi Howes Hi Michael,

Thanks so much for letting me know about your blog and, in particular, this article with the comments including David Wilcox. ( I am his social media manager and have been part of the excellent team that has brought his career to the web 2.0 place of today-just got your DM @mrdavidwilcox. )
I am currently reading “Ignore Everybody” by Hugh MacLeod, and so this blog post resonates a lot with me. Hugh definitely speaks to the argument of keeping one’s day job for the sake of maintaining your passion separate from your money-making ventures.
My experience has been different from the norm as I started out as a singer-songwriter and never entered the “real workforce”. So now that I have a young family, and wish to be home at night to put my children to bed, I have built a social media and management business for musicians out of necessity.
Is it my favorite thing to do? No. I love being with my family and writing/recording my songs. But I am passionate and smart enough about it to do a great job for my clients, and I have learned finally that what feeds my mouth may not feed my soul, and even when that was the case, I almost lost the joy of it!

Ahh, the things we learn. . . I love the insight of your post!

Sincerely,
Heidi Howes

]]> By: Michael Benidt http://goldencompass.com/blog/from-paycheck-to-passion-and-then-back-again/comment-page-1/#comment-41669 Michael Benidt Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:22:47 +0000 http://goldencompass.com/blog/from-paycheck-to-passion-and-then-back-again/#comment-41669 Oh my Marisol, I got chills when I read your comment. Do you mean to tell me that there is more to life than profits and paychecks? Heresy, woman!! I'm going to put your comment up on my bulletin board, just to remind me that there are still people out there who really understand what life is all about. Thanks for that - and for being you. Oh my Marisol,

I got chills when I read your comment. Do you mean to tell me that there is more to life than profits and paychecks? Heresy, woman!! I’m going to put your comment up on my bulletin board, just to remind me that there are still people out there who really understand what life is all about. Thanks for that – and for being you.

]]> By: Marisol http://goldencompass.com/blog/from-paycheck-to-passion-and-then-back-again/comment-page-1/#comment-41641 Marisol Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:03:43 +0000 http://goldencompass.com/blog/from-paycheck-to-passion-and-then-back-again/#comment-41641 What happens when your passions don’t turn into profits?“--I pondered on this question for a long while and it brings sadness because sometimes we confuse passion for the excitement of the latest fad in the market. Per example a couple of years, many people moved into real estate investment and soon those dreams were shattered by the bust of the housing market. On the other hand, real passion begins with a strong desire and a clear vision as to what I want to achieve in my life. It is more the journey than the achievement of material possessions. For me living my passion has nothing to do with profits; it is more about how will I be remembered. What happens when your passions don’t turn into profits?“–I pondered on this question for a long while and it brings sadness because sometimes we confuse passion for the excitement of the latest fad in the market. Per example a couple of years, many people moved into real estate investment and soon those dreams were shattered by the bust of the housing market. On the other hand, real passion begins with a strong desire and a clear vision as to what I want to achieve in my life. It is more the journey than the achievement of material possessions. For me living my passion has nothing to do with profits; it is more about how will I be remembered.

]]> By: Michael Benidt http://goldencompass.com/blog/from-paycheck-to-passion-and-then-back-again/comment-page-1/#comment-41499 Michael Benidt Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:45:58 +0000 http://goldencompass.com/blog/from-paycheck-to-passion-and-then-back-again/#comment-41499 Ah yes Gary, But here's how much times have changed. David Wilcox now Twitters at @mrdavidwilcox - and has a Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/Davidwilcoxmusic - and who knows what else. But, you convinced me - and if you stay long enough in Colorado this summer to catch with his concerts in Lyons August 13-15, you'll be able to hear those songs you play. Why do I say any of this? Simply because I don't want you to hang it up after that corporate career. Even I think you still have another role to play. Ah yes Gary,

But here’s how much times have changed. David Wilcox now Twitters at @mrdavidwilcox – and has a Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/Davidwilcoxmusic – and who knows what else. But, you convinced me – and if you stay long enough in Colorado this summer to catch with his concerts in Lyons August 13-15, you’ll be able to hear those songs you play. Why do I say any of this? Simply because I don’t want you to hang it up after that corporate career. Even I think you still have another role to play.

]]> By: Gary Ujifusa http://goldencompass.com/blog/from-paycheck-to-passion-and-then-back-again/comment-page-1/#comment-41490 Gary Ujifusa Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:44:34 +0000 http://goldencompass.com/blog/from-paycheck-to-passion-and-then-back-again/#comment-41490 Michael, A very interesting blog. I'm the Corporate Centurion Seeking Passion Michael references in his initial post. Comments by Elli and others made me realize I may need to find more than my passion. I may need to answer a very important question. Do I really want to work hard at anything anymore? "The Firm" demanded a high price for those golden handcuffs. Countless late nights and weekends, silver elite naps, small concessions which would not have been tolerated when in my 30's, moved me slowly but inexorably to where I sit today. Looking at my guitar and thinking I'm going to play a David Wilcox song. That seems like enough for tonight. Michael, A very interesting blog. I’m the Corporate Centurion Seeking Passion Michael references in his initial post. Comments by Elli and others made me realize I may need to find more than my passion. I may need to answer a very important question. Do I really want to work hard at anything anymore? “The Firm” demanded a high price for those golden handcuffs. Countless late nights and weekends, silver elite naps, small concessions which would not have been tolerated when in my 30’s, moved me slowly but inexorably to where I sit today. Looking at my guitar and thinking I’m going to play a David Wilcox song. That seems like enough for tonight.

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