10 Timeless Career Tips Every Musician Should Know

Every musician wants to know the secret to building a successful career.

The truth? There isn't one.

Success is built on simple habits practiced consistently over time. Here are ten pieces of advice we continue to come back to.

• Define success for yourself—not by someone else's standards.
• Never stop learning or staying curious.
• Learn by doing. Experience is your greatest teacher.
• Stay consistent, even when conditions aren't perfect.
• Adapt when things change without losing momentum.
• Build meaningful relationships with other musicians and creatives.
• Diversify your income through teaching, performing, creating, or consulting.
• Make rest part of your strategy, not an afterthought.
• Ask for help before you think you need it.
• Remember there is room for you in today's music world.

One Idea to Remember

You don't need a brand-new plan every week.

You need small, daily contact with the work that matters most.

The One Thing Exercise

Choose one aspect of your playing, career, or current project that's been challenging.

Instead of trying to fix everything at once, isolate that one challenge and spend just five focused minutes with it each day. Consistency almost always beats intensity.

That same philosophy is at the heart of The Forge, our Summer Practice program: patient, steady progress instead of constant hustle.

3 Ways to Join

#1 - register here for free: the class is free, no replays so you have to be there!

#2 - join the Summer Forge $39: classes are rewatchable for a period of time

#3 - become a Thrive member $49/mo: classes are always available, as well as a vault of video lessons, conversations and resources to support your career AND optional individual support, and certificate

I hope to see you this week. Always cheering for you!

- Ixi

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THE FORGE

is the summer practice for ideas you've been sitting on, and want to finally make it happen.

​The SUMMER PRACTICE, is focused on forging - forging ahead, forging your projects, forging a practice. Here's what's inside:​
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🗒️ 1. The Field Notes

✨ 2. The ideas —​
📌 A Practice with your guide (me!) with exercises and prompts you can sit with for twenty minutes or all season. This is the stuff music school never taught you, but is what your skills are built on.

🎓 3. Live Faculty Sessions — Real People, Real Expertise

Five live classes with faculty who have been exactly where you are — and built something real on the other side of it:

💫 4. A live Gathering to be in community.
​💛 5. And a closing Integration to mark the transition into autumn.

​[register for the FORGE here!]

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