You’ve possible heard Kevin Griffin’s work, both by way of his work as frontman for the ’90s alt rockers Higher Than Ezra, or by way of different artists comparable to Sugarland, Prepare, and Taylor Swift. Griffin’s résumé continues to overflow with excessive factors, however at his profession’s lowest second, if he had not accepted the necessity for change, the music might have stopped completely.

Greater than three a long time because the New Orleans-based band’s seminal album, “Deluxe,” with Kevin Griffin’s simply identifiable voice belting out notable alternatives comparable to “Good,” “Rosealia,” and the band’s greatest hit, the 1996 traditional “Desperately Wanting,” the 54-year-old has unfold his leisure experience even wider than his vocal vary. Griffin has advanced into changing into a prolific songwriter, writing hit tunes together with Sugarland’s greatest hit, “Caught Like Glue,” and Prepare’s “I Acquired You.” He has additionally co-founded an annual music competition in Tennessee, the Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Pageant, which is heading towards its ninth season in September. As well as, the band’s hits have been re-recorded by numerous artists together with the 2010 rendition of “Breathless” by famous person Taylor Swift.

He has additionally change into a extremely in-demand public speaker, sharing his tales of battle and success with Fortune 500 corporations comparable to Dwell Nation, Disney, and Nike. His message is one in all evolution as a path in direction of profession longevity, a theme he says is value sharing with comparable artists who’ve struggled to maneuver on from a momentary style of glory. The one drawback is finding them.”I don’t see them anymore as a result of they’re not doing music anymore,” Griffin says. “Most of them have give up. However I might say it’s not too late to reap the benefits of the legacy you’ve gotten. You simply must get on the market now. Take a look at my profession for instance should you’re a musician or somebody my age.”

Kevin Griffin isn’t boasting about his present success; as an alternative, he’s lucky that his profession trajectory wasn’t heading towards changing into simply one other “No matter occurred to” rock’n’roll story, particularly after the band was dropped by Elektra Information in 2001.

So, as a way to progress professionally, it meant that Griffin’s life-style needed to be modified drastically. “He gave up alcohol, began utilizing the Peloton, and surrounded himself with the folks essential to take his music profession in a brand new course.

“My whole profession has been a journey to evolve, and that each one occurred after we have been dropped,” Griffin says. “I used to be occupied with leaving music as a profession. However I spotted, no, that is what I like to do, however I’ve to do one thing completely different now. So I started learning producers and songwriters.”

Griffin’s skilled path has led him to changing into an writer. An English main at LSU prior to now, Kevin Griffin simply launched “The Biggest Music: Spark Creativity, Ignite Your Profession, and Rework Your Life,” a loosely based mostly self-help fiction that revolves round a Nashville-based singer—just like him—struggling to write down the right tune till he’s taught “the tactic.” Griffin says his type was impressed by the works of Bob Dylan and Ben Gibbard from Demise Cab for Cutie. The transition from songwriter to guide writer was an extended model of the routine he had been performing because the ’90s.

“A guide is much more work—it’s an prolonged tune that I simply needed to stand up and do on daily basis,” Griffin says of the method. “It was about getting my ass up and changing into very regimented—the objective was to write down at the least 500 phrases a day. More often than not I did it, however there can be mornings I wouldn’t contact it. However being a songwriter ready me for what the guide can be about—it’s only a longer tune.”

Higher than Ezra is now again on tour, embarking on a U.S. tour with Prepare that ought to have Kevin Griffin and firm performing all through the summer season months. He’s definitely up for it. Having been sober for greater than a decade, his routine, whether or not on the highway or in his Franklin, TN, kitchen features a every day smoothie consisting of greens, apples, avocado, banana and a scoop of Bulletproof chocolate collagen protein.

Earlier than hitting the weights and getting in some cardio work, the constant life-style sample has paid off in all areas of his life. “After I’m dwelling a sure approach, caring for myself bodily and mentally, I appeal to different folks in my life who’re additionally that approach,” Kevin Griffin explains. “After I was dwelling one other approach—staying up partying or no matter—I might appeal to these sorts of folks in my life. So, altering that a part of my life has introduced me new alternatives.”

Along with having a Profitable Technique that consists of shedding the ego and staying match, it’s also vital to proceed to be taught and evolve. One instance Kevin Griffin provides is his shut good friend, NFL Corridor of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning, who wrote the testimonial banner for Griffin’s guide. He says the previous Tremendous Bowl-winning quarterback’s transition from the sector to a number of different alternatives is the blueprint for anybody trying to achieve the following chapter of their life.

“We’ve got each taught one another the identical factor: it’s about arduous work and evolving. Take a look at how Peyton has gone from being a soccer participant to a spokesperson to a TV host. I’ve gone from being in a rock band within the 90s to beginning a music competition, publishing folks, and being an writer. It’s about realizing that you’ve got the ability set already inside you; you simply have to make use of it.”

Kevin Griffin’s Profitable Technique

1. Kevin Griffin Dropped His Ego on the Door

Plenty of my guide has this fixed chorus: With a view to achieve success and get higher and extra artistic, you’ve bought to test your ego on the door. It’s the foundation of all of the dangerous s*** that holds us again.

There’s a line within the guide that I used to be instructed years in the past, and it’s nice: My ego shouldn’t be my amigo. Ego is the factor that claims, I’m ok, I’m higher than them—no matter they’re doing sucks. However, if you test your ego, that’s if you say, “Wait a second: That’s an superior tune, an superior concept. How can I be taught from that to assist proceed my profession.”

For me, this wasn’t an in a single day course of—I fought it. It was the early 2000s Once more, I had gotten to a sure level the place it was it was simply me, and I spotted if I wished to go any additional I needed to get some humility. I fought collaborating with different folks. I undoubtedly wasn’t an individual who mentioned, “I must do this!” and simply change. Ultimately, my first collaboration was with Meat Loaf. It was at a studio, he heard a tune as he was strolling, and his supervisor got here and requested if I wished to write down a tune. We collaborated [2003’ “Testify”], however I needed to first struggle to let go of my ego in enterprise and in life.

That’s form of why I wrote the guide. It’s like, Hey, right here’s this guide on these completely different instruments you should use to remain profitable in enterprise and in life—I feel every part’s linked. Now I’m at a degree in my life at age 54 by which I wish to mentor youthful artists. I like sharing my life story about issues that labored for me—and what hasn’t labored for me. After which once I went by way of the method of doing this, realized I actually wasn’t reinventing the wheel: The issues I’m speaking about are truths, whether or not you’re learning businesspeople, profitable songwriters, philosophies, you’re going to listen to the identical mantra again and again: Depart your ego on the door.

2. Collaborate in Order to Facilitate Success

Collaborate and work with different folks as a result of they’re gonna convey concepts and contemporary power into that session. Work with any person you dig– that’ll assist you to get out your concepts.

After I’m making an attempt to write down a tune that isn’t occurring, and I can’t write a melody to save lots of my life. I now have the presence of thoughts to say, take a break, go hearken to some music. Keep in mind what you like about music—so I’m all the time listening to new music as properly.

If I’m hitting my head towards a wall, I’ll method the tune a special approach. Usually, I’ll write a tune on guitar, however generally it’s simply not occurring. So I’ll begin with a lyric. If that’s not working I’ll do a beat or I’ll hearken to a tune I like and be like, “Effectively, what are the chords to that tune?” then I’ll reverse engineer the thought. So I actually have an arsenal of issues to assist me end the tune.

However take note: That concept you’re searching for is all the time within the room. So what are the methods you can provide your self a greater probability at having the ability to seize it? For me, it’s like operating round a room with a butterfly internet—that tune or life altering concept is there. You simply must get it.

I used to be within the songwriting session in 2012. I used to be working with Shy Carter, a songwriter who labored on plenty of Nelly songs. I began taking part in guitar. On the time, Prepare’s “Hey Soul Sister” Jason Mraz’ “I’m Yours” have been actually huge. I used to be like, properly, let’s do one thing like that. And I began taking part in a guitar half—it had form of a breezy, summer season really feel. Three hours later, we had nothing.

We took a break, and Shy mentioned, let’s put some Auto Tune on this. That was the factor that modified our angle and from we approached the tune from a special approach. By utilizing this expertise, inside half-hour, we had a success file.

I used to be like, “It is a f***ing hit tune.” I despatched it over to Jennifer Nettles from Sugarland. About 5 days later, they lower it. It’s their greatest tune—“Caught Like Glue.” And that was a tune I used to be able to give up on that day. However we simply saved at it, and we saved making an attempt completely different approaches to ending the tune.

I typed up this little phrase that claims “The tune is all the time there.” It’s the concept that in that room, the tune is all the time there. You simply must you persist at it and use completely different instruments to get that inspiration.

3. Kevin Griffin Knew When to Say When

I don’t drink anymore. I by no means was a heavy drinker, however now I don’t drink in any respect. Now it’s nearly treating my physique higher.

I’ve all the time stayed in form. However now, I’m an on a regular basis man. At 54 I’m not having the illnesses plenty of my friends are having. So I feel form of my mantra has form of all the time been consistency, not period.

I’m 6’4’’ and my metabolism has all the time been if I’m not figuring out, I’m losing a few pounds. After I drank I might shed weight—most individuals I feel achieve weight. So I’ve to eat and work out rather a lot, in any other case I form of waste away.
After I was youthful I used to be extra resilient, however as I bought older the alcohol stopped working. I used to be in my early 40s, and I’d be hung over and having to do a present that night time. Lastly I bought to the purpose by which this was now not attractive or cool. This has change into lame. So I simply stopped.

Now, what I like most is that on daily basis I’m at 100%. I by no means have days by which I’m hung over. I by no means have days the place I could also be there bodily, however some place else mentally or spiritually. Then I feel, take a look at the entire days I get again. So relating to alcohol and partying, I’ve checked these packing containers. I’ve realized there have been too many cautionary tales in music, and no person is immune. And I used to be no exception.

4. Kevin Griffin Stays Match to Be a Rockstar

I feel consistency is the primary factor. I work out on a regular basis. My exercises aren’t all that lengthy, however I do them on daily basis. This can be proper or incorrect, but it surely’s what works for me.

My routine is that I’ll run two miles or go for half-hour on the Peloton— I’ll do Peloton for my legs or I’ll do the arms intervals with Tunde [Oyeneyin]—she’s a beast.. Then I’ll go to my health club, the place I’ll do a pair rounds of incline bench presses, some Arnold presses, pullups, and a few battle ropes.

Pullups for me has been the important thing as a result of I feel most tall guys most individuals generally are actually, actually weak backs. Most adults can’t do pullups for that matter. I’ve all the time performed pullups and I work on them. I’ll do three or 4 rounds of that circuit. And that’s it.

Then I simply hydrate. I’ll additionally make an awesome smoothie on daily basis, and that’s my consistency.

What I discovered is that once I wasn’t in keeping with train, it was as a result of I dreaded it. There was a time once I was doing Iron Tribe or CrossFit, I’d be like, it’s gonna kick my ass, after which I might cease doing it. But when I do know it’s not that a lot, however as a result of I’m doing it on daily basis, all of it simply advertisements up

The last word approach to keep in form for musicians is relaxation, hydrate persistently, and do one thing on daily basis. I realized from scripting this guide on daily basis, that should you simply do al ittle bit on daily basis, per week later, a month later, six months, a yr, abruptly you’ve performed a s*** ton of labor, you realize? So whether or not it’s your physique or a guide you’re writing, I’m all about just a bit bit on daily basis.

5. Maintain Studying and Will By no means Give Up

Educate your self concerning the music enterprise. There are such a lot of books, like Donald Passman’s “It’s the enterprise of music.” Hearken to podcasts, and know the enterprise of your small business. Realize it.

So many musicians go into the enterprise, and so they marvel why they’re not having success. It’s as a result of they don’t know what’s occurring of their enterprise. They don’t know who to get the tune to.

Do, nonetheless, write on a regular basis and do file your self.

Lately, your laptop computer pc is a million-dollar recording studio. Utilizing Professional Instruments or Professional Logic or Ableton, you’ll be able to have a tune that sounds each bit pretty much as good as Billy Eilish and Finneas. Don’t wait for somebody to do it for you. And don’t simply sit round.

Do, exit and don’t give up. Simply don’t give up.

On the finish of the day, the individuals who have success within the music business are the individuals who didn’t give up. They’re not all the time probably the most gifted. They’re not all the time the neatest. They’re those who had slightly little bit of each, and the didn’t give up. They realized concerning the enterprise, they hustled on daily basis and so they stayed savvy. They usually have been in a position to know music and likewise the enterprise. They realized these will not be mutually unique. If you’d like one, the opposite comes with it. it’s the music enterprise.

Profitable Technique: Gunnar Peterson’s Path To Success Stays A Day by day Grind