Seven Reasons Why Singing Might Improve Your Career and Professional Life

You might know that singing can have both a calming and energizing effect. However, did you know that it can also do wonders to boost how you think and feel about life and work? This week we are talking about seven (7) ways that singing can help improve your life, and possibly your career.

1.    Gives you a workout: Singing is a physical workout that exercises your lungs and other parts of your body that are required to project your voice. Singing also strengthens your diaphragm and improves circulation, resulting in a natural “high” that can positively impact your perspective and attitude about work.

2.    Improves mental alertness: Singing creates greater blood circulation and oxygen to the brain, which improves mental alertness, concentration and memory. The next time you have a big project, presentation or even interview, try belting out a favorite song right beforehand to help step up your game.

3.    Boosts your confidence: Performing a song or simply singing in front of others can actually improve your self-confidence, as well as your presentation skills. Singing also helps you develop poise and improve how you appear and relate to others.

4.    Widens your social network: Whether you are joining friends for a night of karaoke or are a member of a choir, singing expands your social life and your professional network. Bonding with others over a shared interest – music –can possibly forge a stronger professional bond.

5.    Offers a natural anti-depressant: Singing produces endorphins, which make you feel energized and happy. It also triggers a small organ in the ear that responds to the frequencies triggered by singing. Once triggered it creates a natural stream of pleasure regardless of how good (or bad) the singing sounds.

6.    Expands your communications skills: Music expands our ability to learn and express language. In fact, some educational experts believe music is a critical skill that children should master just like reading and writing. Studies have shown that even adults studying a new language can learn more and advance more quickly if they also sing and/participate in making music.

7.    Lowers stress: Singing relieves muscle tension and decreases the stress hormone, cortisol, in your blood stream. 

Whether you have a passion for singing or restrict your vocal talent to the shower, this week take a non-traditional step toward improving your outlook and approach to work and life – by singing.

Dear Patrice: Can you share a mistake that you made in your career and what you learned from it/how you got passed it?

The first year I went into business for myself I met an industry contact.  We were introduced by a mutual friend who knew we were both scheduled to the NBA Draft in NYC. I exchanged contact info with my new friend/associate and communicated for a couple of weeks after the NBA Draft. He then asked me for a favor.

My new business associate asked me if I could help connect him to Tracey Edmunds, a television producer and businesswoman, for a project he was working on. I didn’t know Tracey personally but did know a mutual business friend – Warrington Hudlin. Warrington and his brother Reggie produced the House Party movies in the late 80s/early 90s, in addition to a variety of other film and television projects.  

I met Warrington earlier that year when I was working on a television pilot called Politicking. He was the executive producer of the project and I was acting as the Executive in Charge (of Production). Warrington was very complementary of my work and even took it upon himself to recommend me to an executive producer at Valley Crest Communications to interview as a writer for Who Wants to Be A Millionaire. We had a hand full of one-on-one conversations over the course of 6-8 months.

So, in an effort to try and help my new “friend/associate,” I emailed Warrington and asked if he could give me Tracey Edmunds’ number and email.

He never responded.

I immediately realized that I had made three critical mistakes. 

1.   I made the rookie mistake of asking for a major favor via email instead of face-to-face or over the phone. Even in this digital age, you MUST ask for big favors in a direct, personal way.

2.   I was a poor gatekeeper of my contacts. Warrington was a new business associate of mine and I basically wasted that contact for someone I barely knew. I think I even made the mistake of saying that it was not for me, but rather for a friend! It was not the best way to make a request of my former boss/colleague.

3.   I was willing to put someone else before me. There is nothing wrong with helping colleagues and business associates. However, I should not have asked this key decision maker for a favor so soon after meeting him/working with him. And, when/and if I did ask for a personal or professional favor – the first one should have been for myself.

Navigating how to network and make connections is not always easy. This week re-read this post and make sure that if you find yourself in a similar situation you know what not to do!

Seven Things to Think About When It Comes to What Madonna Can Teach You About Remaining Relevant and Stay In Demand.

What do you and Madonna have in common?

Hopefully a lot.

Last Sunday I spent most of the morning catching up with a friend at her house. Before I even stepped inside, I could hear that she was playing Madonna.  And, it was loud. Not being a huge fan, I said something smart to myself like “God pray for me.”  Twenty minutes later I found myself singing songs, many I didn’t even like, with a huge smile on my face.  I don’t care who you are - Madonna is a savvy marketer and business woman who makes playful-party-pop music.

Whatever you may think of her, her music or personal politics, the material girl -- who just turned 60 last August -- is the queen of career rebranding and reinvention. In fact, Madonna should write a book or teach a course in staying relevant and evolving with the times. In the meantime, here are seven things that Madonna does that you can use to stay in demand in your field or career.  

1.    We are living in a material world and I’m a material girl. Madonna and her team understand current pop culture. Do you? She grew to stardom in the 80s a decade and generation of materialism and excessive spending. She sang about wanting, doing and having new and nice stuff. Can’t be more relatable than at. Good, bad or indifferent, she became an iconic product/brand because she sang about something we all want - aspirations to want and have better.  

2.    Communicates a simple message that everyone understands: Let’s face it, Madonna’s lyrics are not the most profound in the industry. And, that’s the point. Using simple, memorable and relatable words - allows you to connect with a wide and global audience. Remember it’s far easier to sing a song in another language if it’s short and sweet.

3.    Have multiple looks and skill sets: Madonna is known not just as a singer, but also performer, actress, style/trend setter.

4.    Gives us shock and awe: Whether you’re a person, product or brand, every now and then you should give your prospects/consumers/audience something that is different and unexpected. Sometimes that translates into making bold statements and leaving others with an unforgettable image of who you are/what you offer.

5.    Partner and network with popular people to make yourself even more relevant. Madonna socialized, married, dated and did business with many other famous people. She shows that when teaming with famous “brands” can help increase your own brand popularity and demand. Find ways to leverage who you have worked with to create and find new opportunities.

6.    Expect the unexpected: It’s one thing to shock and surprise others occasionally, it’s quite another to constantly keep people engaged in what you do and say. Find ways to communicate and promote yourself, your product or your brand in non-traditional and non-conventional ways. Send an email with advertising-type headline, reach out to someone you want to for or do business with and customized, graphic designed infographic on why you are the ideal person or product.

7.    Have a distinctive, professional and direct business style. Although Madonna was young when she started her career in 1981, she has a shrewd mind and very savvy in her approach to her business. Part of her success comes from knowing how to promote her value and ensuring on deals and terms that are favorable to her.   

Successful people like Madonna often leave a blue print/clear path to follow to help create and cultivate success.  This week pick one of these tips to jumpstart your career reinvention.  Find new ways to stay relevant and in demand.

There’s nothing to it – just strike a pose – and V-O-U-G-E