Depending on where you live, you may or may not feel like there's been a bit of
an economic turnaround this summer.

But I'm sure many of you are ready for an artistic/ministry/life turnaround.

Things have ground to a halt creatively, quality wise, or simply just are
sitting stagnant period.

Why isn't anyone paying attention??

You've ramped up what you do as best you can, but still there seems to be no
result.

What I've seen for 30 years with all the clients and employers I've worked with
is that sometimes you need a Dramatic Transformation ("more than meets the eye"
if you will. Sorry, saw Transformers on vacation...)

This goes beyond spending more money, making more money, or even getting
accolades.

The object here is not to please people, but totally blow them away in every
respect.

We talk alot about how quality makes a difference with almost everyone, from the
casual listener, to the hardened gatekeeper. This is where things start to turn
around.

I've written before about "Jesus, CEO", by Laurie Beth Jones that I read each
morning as a devotional. One chapter is "He Was a Turnaround Specialist".

"In almost every situation in which Jesus found himself, his job was to turn
things around. In fact, that was his specialty.

"The people have forgotten who I am. Turn it around.
"There is a little girl dying. Turn it around.
"People are dishonoring the temple. Turn it around.

"We are each called to be turnaround specialists. When we are faced with
difficult situations, we should rejoice, because that's what we're here for.

"We each have within us the power to turn things around. In fact, if Jesus is
our coach and Lord, it should be our specialty."

This resonated with me quite profoundly.

I've always felt that my role with folks I work for is to not just help out,
take their money, or press the record button and say go, but to really improve
them greatly. Not just a little, but ALOT!

At GMA Week this year I was stopped by a very successful indie artist in recent
years. He said, "Hey, I just have to tell you. If there was a show called
"Extreme Artist Makeover: Indie Edition", you would OWN that show!" He was
referring to a recent "makeover" I have done with an artist named Drew Davidsen.

I met Drew a few years ago at IndieHeaven's CIA Summit here in Franklin, TN. He
was trying to make a solid move into being a smooth jazz artist, and since I do
some of that kind of music myself, we obviously got to talking.

About a year ago, I offered Drew a deal to work together, but gave him some very
strict parameters of what I would expect to be involved.

Now, this is not something I usually do, but I had comments on his sound
quality, professionalism, playing, appearance, and (gasp) even his weight.

To his credit, Drew took every comment and worked on every one to a tee.

He spent some $$ on players (mainly bass and drums), he lost somewhere around
50+ pounds, he cut and dyed his hair, and really woodshedded on his guitar
playing.

The result is a new CD we have coming out in about a month, a radio single
climbing up the contemporary jazz charts, a scheduled appearance at the
prestigious Catalina Jazz festival, a publicist and radio programmer foaming at
the mouth, and opportunities flying at him so fast he's having to duck.

As anybody who has known Drew over the past few years knows, this is quite a
turnaround. But he worked for it, and I have a feeling he will work even harder
now.

"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." Quote from Seneca,
Oprah, or Benjamin Franklin (actually I don't know if it's from Franklin, but
all quotes sound good when you say Benjamin Franklin said them.)

Bottom-line, Drew decided it was time for a turnaround. He wanted to not just do
a little better, but completely and remarkably transform his music, ministry,
and his life.

How about you? Is it time for a turnaround?

Have a great week!

EC
----
Eric Copeland is a turnaround specialist, and his goal as a company, and his
personal mission, is to remarkably transform whoever needs help. Whether it's an
artist, musician, church, or company. For the past 30 years Eric has been
helping those he works with see a dramatic turnaround in their music, ministry,
and business.

For more info check out http://www.CreativeSoulOnline.com. To see artists who
have already gone through this transformation, check out
http://www.CreativeSoulRecords.com

For more information on Drew Davidsen, check out http://www.DrewDavidsen.com or
http://www.CreativeSoulJazz.com