I’ve been saying for a while now that running a DJ or entertainment business during a pandemic isn't a sprint, or even a marathon - it’s an Ironman (and I don’t mean my favorite Marvel character). After doing a bit of research, I’ve learned that many of the traits needed to complete an Ironman Triathlon are the same traits we all need to run a business.
Resilience - Ironmans aren’t for the faint of heart or body. Swimming, biking, and running for 17 straight hours takes a strong mind and even stronger will to finish. The resilience of an athlete of that caliber is incredible, just like the resilience of a DJ business owner trying to survive during a global pandemic that has limited or shut down in-person events for who knows how long. Remember that song “Tubthumping” by Chumbawama? The refrain of “I get knocked down, but I get up again” is very relevant to both business and life. There will be many things that knock you down, especially this year. The rumors are that corporate events might not fully return until 2022, and we know the wedding industry has already taken a huge hit with guests afraid to RSVP and couples afraid to book with so much still up in the air. But knowing that, and having (hopefully) survived 2020, you can begin to pick up the pieces and create a new plan of action. Music and celebrations will come back! So just remember that you might get knocked down, multiple times a day, but you’ve got to keep getting back up again and push through it.
Motivation - There is nothing fun about the devastation in our clients’ voices when they have to postpone, and it’s even worse when we are not available for their new date. For some of us, there hasn’t been any fun for about 8 months now. So, I have to ask, what is the motivation? What motivates us to continue despite knowing that this is our new “normal” in business, for the foreseeable future? Why should we continue to push onward and be resilient when our calendars are empty and we’re struggling to make ends meet? But on that same thread, why would someone willingly swim for 2.4 miles, then bike for 112 miles, then run a marathon of 26.2 miles all in a single day? In a word - motivation. Figure out what keeps you going, and keep your eye on that big-picture prize. For me, my motivation is knowing that at the end of the day, we are here as DJs to create moments through music. It’s knowing that I have a team and DJs that rely on me to provide jobs for them. It’s also knowing that there is nothing else in the world I would rather do. DJing and running a business is my passion. Whatever your passion and motivation are, find what drives you and focus on that. It will keep you motivated and will help you find the resilience to keep moving forward.
Time Management - It’s proven that success and diligence come through time management. During an Ironman race, the participants have to pace themselves, making sure they give themselves enough time to complete each segment of the triathlon, while also making sure they eat and stay hydrated and wear the proper safety gear for each leg of the race. But before they even get to the starting line, they have to take time to train. Very few athletes are professionals whose sole job is competing. Most people who race also hold down a job, own a business, have a family, have commitments - but they make the time to train for their races. As a business owner and DJ, you’ve got to re-configure your time, making sure to set enough aside for the things you need, want, and have to do, while also taking care of yourself and your personal life along the way. There will be times you will have to say no to something because you’ve got to train and practice or take care of clients. There is also a time that you will need to turn it off to take care of yourself, doing something else that brings you joy in a heavy world. And there are probably moments right now where you need to innovate in order to stay motivated and resilient during these months of inconsistency. So I encourage you to re-think how you're managing your time, and reevaluate it often. This is the only way you’ll figure out how to stay motivated and push through.
Grit - I have to admit, this one might be the attribute I love the most. All of these characteristics are important, just as much as having a board of directors and advisors for your business to guide you, but they do not measure the most important attribute needed in this “Ironman” - which is grit and mental toughness. Grit goes beyond emotions and infatuation - it’s the drive to persist in your passion and persevere when you face obstacles. One of the articles I read about training for an Ironman explained that every athlete has their own perception of what hard work looks like. To some, that’s getting home after working for 8 or more hours, lacing up their shoes, and stepping out their front door to go run 20+ miles. Every. Single. Day. In fact, if they don’t get this extra long run, they feel like they’re slacking and won’t be prepared in time for the race. Different athletes also all have different levels of tolerance. Think about the training partner who still wants to compete despite brutal winds or extreme temperatures. The one who seems to thrive as it gets harder and harder, and pushes through to the finish line because they know with each passing mile, they’re that much closer to accomplishing their dream. This type of passion and perseverance for long-term goals is grit.
Endurance - In the beginning of this pandemic, the pendulum of give and take was heavy on the vendor side - we needed flexibility for our clients and couples to make sure they were taken care of. I haven’t met a business owner yet who thought this was easy. We’ve endured postponements, cancellations, empty calendars, bills due, a team to take care of, and a live events industry that came to a screeching halt. Now that things are starting to adjust to their new normal and are beginning to reopen, that pendulum is swinging towards the couples and event hosts to be flexible and adjust their original plans. But like I mentioned at the beginning, this is an Ironman we’re running here. Even though things are starting to move in favor of the small business, it will still be some time before we recover. We have to use our strength to endure this difficult process without giving way. Your limits will be tested, but this is where every trait I’ve listed will help you survive and thrive.
So it’s with these five traits that I leave you. All are important, and each one needs the others to truly make your business thrive. Find your motivation, manage your time wisely, stay resilient, rely on your grit to make it through the tough times, and your endurance will bring you through to the other side. Things may not look the same as they used to, but use this as a learning tool to really discover who you are and the dreams and passions you want to follow.
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