Are You a One-Buttock Player?

"The trouble is, you're a two-buttock player!"

Classical conductor Benjamin Zander was coaching a young pianist whose professional performance of Chopin was perfectly…precise.  

The problem? 

This pianist's playing was perfect to the point of being technically accurate… but way too… earthbound. 

Due to his fear of making mistakes, the pianist kept his body upright and rigid, both butt-cheeks firmly on the seat. 

He was so focused on playing correctly that he was forgetting to put any passion into the music.

This is where Zander's coaching shifted things,: 

Once the pianist was freed up to be a “one buttock player” and put his whole body into swaying with the emotion of the music during the next performance, the power of Chopin’s prelude washed over the audience. 

Several people gasped audibly.

Success!

During times of stress or fear (including the usual ups & downs built into being a solopreneur), it’s tempting to contract and focus on “5-step plans,” formulaic strategies, and getting everything "right.”

Have you ever been there?

I see a lot of solopreneurs scrambling for tactics when they're starting to feel stuck or fearful: 

“Just give me some formulas that’ll keep my business full!!”

Yes, strategies and steps are important. 

(Even the most passionate musician needs to spend a lot of time learning scales and technique before they let their butt-cheeks sway).

There's a caveat, though:

Even when fear or uncertainty is present, you need to remain aligned with your passion for the work, for the people you serve, and for the joy of doing the job well.

You need to be a “one-buttock marketer.”

Something happens when you're aligned with your sense of purpose, and even—gasp—enjoy the process of marketing amidst your own fear and uncertainty:

You also start to take healthy risks, let your passion and energy shine through, and inspire others in the process.

What could be better marketing than that?

What does “one-buttock marketing” look like for you?

What do you want people to know and understand is possible for them— or what they could be missing out on? 

If you care passionately about them knowing this, what is a meaningful, enjoyable way for you to get this message across 

Don’t overthink it. Just play (and sway).

No ifs, ands, or… butts.

To your success,

-Jane