💡✍️ADN #172: Problems, we've all got em
Mar 01, 2026Problems, we’ve all got em’.
You get em’ at the top and you’ve got em’ at the bottom.
It’s what you do with them that matters.
A problem is just an early stage opportunity.
There isn’t a good thing that has ever been created that didn’t start or go through some challenges to get there.
Writing an album?
It might flow out of you like a conversation with an old friend, but if it does, it’s because you’ve done the hard work to process every emotion that lead to it.
Planning your first show or a big tour?
There will be times when you don’t know what you’re doing.
It could be as simple as “How do I write a setlist?”
Or as complex as “How do I budget for 6 semi’s with 70+ crew members for my first arena tour?”
Have you ever stared at a blank content calendar and asked yourself, “hmmm what does the world want to hear from me next?”
That’s the problem part of the equation right there.
Then, you have to look at it and say, “what is the opportunity here?”
The opportunity is the knowledge and the story that comes from finding your way to the other side.
It’s walking through the fire instead of away from it.
If you are truly all in on being an artist, then there will never be a day without some problem to solve.
Rather than thinking, “well that sucks,” try to think of a problem like an equation.
There are elements out there, that when put together, lead to the answers you are after.
Most of your hard earned answers come from instinct and from iteration.
We learn what works by finding out what doesn’t.
The songs that you’d never show anyone lead to the ones people sing back at you.
The shows people didn’t show up to get you to the ones fans wish they could get into.
The path won’t be perfect, unless you see it that way.
And knowing that it won’t be easy makes it easier.
15 years ago I used to go watch Chris Stapleton play for 50 people in Nashville.
Chris freaking Stapleton.
The guy has billions of streams, has sold millions of records, sang the national anthem at the Super Bowl, and has sold out stadiums all around the world.
If Chris Stapleton had problems finding an audience, it’s proof that one foot in front of the other is the only way.
So, what is my point?
My point is, first you’ve got to identify the next best problem to solve.
In a world full of them, today, all you need to do is work towards getting a little bit closer to where you want to be tomorrow.
When you prove to yourself that you can get from point a to point b, you’ll have more confidence to solve whatever comes next.
The opportunity to accomplish what feels unattainable is a gift.
Being an artist can feel daunting and lonely.
The beauty of freedom is the ability to do anything.
The challenge with freedom is the ability to do anything.
With that I want to give you some options to help with your Artist Development.
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Recently I’ve teased some tools we’ve been building to help artists.
Of course there is this newsletter (172 of them you can read for free here).
Last week I mentioned Artist Books, which we will be releasing in the coming weeks to help independent artists and teams manage their finances.
(It is cool! Check it out!)
Today we’ve launched Done With You MGMT.
It is our management service offer that lives in the space between DIY and full traditional DFY (done-for-you) management.
We want to give artists that are on their way toward their forever team a place to grow and problem solve with guidance.
We have free tools on the site for you -
We’d love for you to join our free community where we are dropping new artist/management tips and tools daily + you get to connect with other independent artists.
https://chat.donewithyoumgmt.com
And if you have interest in joining DWYM you can sign-up here or book a call with me.
The Artist Dashboard within DWYM is something we are really excited about.
It is available now and includes a TON of awesome features!
Click around on all of these links and let me know if you have any questions.
See you next Sunday -
Neil
