(Excerpted from chapter 12 of Singer’s Guide to Powerful Performances by Jeannie Deva)

Do you have what it takes? Many singers share this question. They may already be performing but still secretly wonder: “Do I really have what it takes to succeed?”

You may think the answer has to do with the quality of your voice or your image, your age, how well you can dance, how easily you can memorize lyrics or who you know. In fact, while these all contribute, they sit on top of something far more important; something so prevailingly significant that if lacking, even singers with great voices won’t necessarily make it.

I’ve met and worked with thousands of singers from around the world. I’ve observed the actions of those who have and those who are achieving success versus those who just go round in circles, soon to fall off their merry-go-round. It boils down to this: Can you dream BIG and also take care of business?

Are You a Dreamer?

It’s important to dream and have dreams. Dreams are the soul food of life. They lead us forward. That’s what keeps us going. Dreams are what we draw on to help us stretch, to develop and reinvent ourselves. It’s said that a person is dead when he or she ceases to dream.

But if you want to achieve something, it also takes work. This work needs to be consistent. It’s true that if you don’t know what steps to take it’s all fine and good to say you’re going to work at it; but you’ll fall flat on your face in the “results department” without a plan. After enough attempts and failures you might even conclude that it’s not worth it or you just don’t have what it takes. But before you start making self-demeaning conclusions, try asking yourself, “What if the methods or techniques I used are at fault?”

To stay motivated you need to be empowered with the knowledge and understanding of what to do and why. And then do it in the most powerful sequence possible. This is what it will take to gain control of your talent and career development. Then to help you move through any impasses apply the motto:
“Take consistent action no matter what …”

Here are a few distinctive qualities which, when cultivated, can become powerful tools:

~ Be willing to do the work.
~ Strive to maintain focus.
~ Dedicate yourself to the achievement of your goals.
~ Stay consistent.
~ Work through barriers and don’t let them stop you.
~ Strive to develop and use good communication skills and manners.

In the remainder of Chapter 12, Jeannie Deva covers how to develop discipline to be consistent, staying positive and how to measure your success. Post your comments below and we’ll see you next time.

Or, Read the rest of this chapter and the entire Singer’s Guide to Powerful Performances by purchasing and downloading it right now.