So, you've got this creative thing that you do. Everyone says you're
great. Your mom thinks you are a superstar!

You've spent alot of money and alot of time dreaming, thinking, and
probably flitting around in your area trying to make your dream come
true. And you want it to be amazing. You want this talent God gave you
to improve, grow, and maybe even garner some respect and success in
the marketplace or (gasp!) the world!

But for some reason, it's just not happening.

Every door that you pry open seems to close. The people that you meet
about your talent just don't call back. The products that you make
don't seem to be racking up much sales (even on the world wide interweb!)

And above all, you're not growing. Everyone else may think it's all
great what you doing, but you know. You know you're just treading the
same water over and over.

Your problem? You're not bettering yourself with experience that will
make you better.

Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

We HAVE to work with people better than us to make us grow to a higher
level. Only people who have similar skills to us (or higher skills)
can we interact with to sharpen our creative blade against.

Our friends and family, while meaning well with heaping praise and
little criticism, aren't growing us.

Like you, I've been at this awhile. But it wasn't until I finally came
out of my hole (read: basement project studio) and started meeting
people who had worked on bigger things than me, that I started to
realize their value. People who maybe didn't have anything to offer me
(like a publishing contract!!), but did have an amazing amount of
experience, drive, and a creative soul like mine.

One such person is a guy here in Nashville. I was surfing around,
probably like you are right now, looking for someone that might be
able to help me with my specific dreams. I found his email address and
emailed, and what do you know, he emailed back (a rarity in those
Nashville lockdown days).

Well long story short, we had lunch (or breakfast) and he just had
encouraging words, and liked my spirit I guess, because we've stayed
in touch through the years. I have never paid him a dime (other than
to try and buy lunch), and really never asked him for anything. But he
has been a terrific mentor to me through the years. His patient ear,
wise words, and willing to listen to this dreamer who insisted on
doing all this the wrong way, is in my opinion one of the keys to my
success and growth today.

And he's not the only one. Many of the engineers, musicians, and label
folk I've met through this journey have been absolute key to my
development into whatever it is that I am now (for better or worse ;)

So, that's why when I first meet with folks, I want to spend time with
them. Answer questions. Give them helpful information that they can
take and grow on, not just a record they can show off to friends and
family.

Also, that's why in addition to our consulting, Creative Soul is going
to start offering mentoring and coaching on hourly rates by phone and
in person here in Nashville. As much as we love producing records and
artists, we feel it's just as important to invest in the folks who are
going to be the next generation of ministers, producers, and artists.

I talk alot about being alone in your secret laboratory, your evil
lair, working on your creative genius! But eventually, no matter how
talented you are, you are going to need to grow by getting advice and
wisdom from others who have been where you want to be.

Take that next step by meeting or reacquainting with someone who you
know really challenges you in your craft. Keep sharpening your
creative skills, and get where you want to be and where God has for
you to go!

--------------
Eric Copeland is just a glutton for creative sharpening punishment.
After years of back and forth to Nashville to meet with folks, he
finally moved his Christian music business to Nashville to work daily
with the best musicians, engineers, and wizened music veterans in the
world. As a result, he seems to think he has a preeminent and
exclusive service to Christian music artists and ministries, offering
true development, top drawer production, and now, a pipeline to the
Christian marketplace. Get sharp! For more info check out
http://www.CreativeSoulOnline.com