I’ve been busy lately writing a book called MISSION:POSSIBLE. It’s something I have been meaning to do for awhile, but just haven’t had enough time, or desire, or both to get a “roundtoit.” However, recently, I have a new sense of urgency to write my book and tell my story. I recently hired a publicist to help me communicate the mission and vision of my Indieheaven organization. I have received quite an education on the importance of telling the story of your mission.

For musicians and artists, telling your story can open doors of opportunity, draw new friends and fans your way, and connect with people in a more personable manner. As we all know by now, music is everywhere. There has never been a time in history where music has been more embedded into the fabric of culture. Music is like water, if you are thirsty, you find a water fountain, press the button, and out it comes. Same goes for the internet. Everywhere you go, there is music to check out. There are more artists than ever promoting their music online. Everyone wants to be the next big thing. So, how does an artist stand out among the rest?

The answer is by telling your story. We all have a story. We are all part of His-Story. I know what you are thinking, “so what about my story, there isn’t anything about my story that people would like.” Don’t sell yourself short. Our story is our testimony. It is a documentation of how God has worked in our lives. By telling your story, you are being vulnerable, transparent, and authentic. And this is what draws people to artistic creatives these days.

I believe people are drawn to artists who are creating compelling content that breaks industry rules and serves others by enriching their lives. Songs can certainly communicate vulnerability, transparency, and authenticity to a listener. A blog, a post on a social network, or even a “tweet” on Twitter can also attract people to you, who can then turn into a fan of your music and engage you on a personal level. And engagement is the name of the game for anyone on a mission to increase the scope and breadth of their influence online.

I have seen this firsthand in my experiments on Twitter and Facebook. What I have found is that people will engage me as I share thought provoking posts, blogs, and articles. And this is what draws artists to join my Indieheaven organization, or someone to Indieheaven to see what it’s all about. Now, I am not the most language savvy writer, I joke that I took English as a foreign language in high school. And that’s OK, you don’t have to be a brainiac in order to draw people your way. Simply let what’s on your mind or in your heart to flow out. Most times, what flows out spontaneously is the sweetest nectar. It’s after nitpicking yourself that “analysis paralysis” sets in, and the sweetness of what you shared is lost.

So, let’s get back to telling our story. I have found it to be a challenging exercise to write my story in as few words as possible, yet with enough content to communicate the most important parts of my story. When sharing your story, stick to important events, and life lessons you have learned. Be careful not to go off on bunny trails and tangents that will cause people to tune out and move onto something else. Make the ordinary, extraordinary by the word choices and the cadence of your sentences. Be artistic, be creative, and be compelling! Don’t allow “you know who” to tell you your story isn’t important, and that people won’t care. You know where you know who can go! I challenge you to take time to write out your life story and share it with people. You might be surprised by the response. You just might gain some new friends, fans, and followers! Have fun and keep up the excellent faith-work!

Let’s Be Independent… together!
keith mohr