Leaving the 9-5 for Music: What It Really Takes

10 years ago, I walked away from my corporate job to go all-in on electronic music production.

Not saying you should do the same right now. Maybe one day. Maybe never—if you love your job and just make music for fun.

No judgment either way.

But for those who do want to make this their full-time thing… here’s what it actually looks like.

The Hardest (and Best) Decision I Ever Made

Quitting was terrifying. The first year? Brutal. I didn’t make a dime.

Then, little by little, I started making some money. Just enough to get by.

By year 5-6, I was making a passable living.

Now? I’m in a great place. It took me about 9-10 years to get here.

I have multiple revenue streams in music. I’ve built high-level production skills and learned the business side of the industry inside and out.

Why Most Producers Get Stuck

I see a lot of producers hit a few years in and start getting frustrated.

• They don’t have fans.

• Labels aren’t paying attention.

• They realize how little a Spotify stream actually pays.
  

And I get it. But those are distractions.

Right now, those things don’t even matter.

What Actually Moves the Needle?

If you want to live off music, you need to stop thinking like just an artist…And start thinking like an entrepreneur.

Because building a fanbase? It’s the same as building a brand.

If you want to make a real impact in the industry, you need two things:

         1️.  Get REALLY Good at Your Craft

This means production, mixing, arrangement, sound selection—everything. If your music isn’t great, all the marketing in the world won’t help.

         2. Get REALLY Good at the Business Side

Networking. Branding. Marketing. These are the skills that make the difference between a broke producer and a successful one.

The Key: Stay in the Game

Most people quit too soon because they think success should happen in a few years. If you really want this, you have to extend your timeline.

Give it time. Stay consistent. Keep building bit by bit.

That’s how you win. 🎶🔥

Why You’re Probably Undervaluing Expert Guidance in Music Production

I love boxing.

A few months ago, I decided to hit the gym more seriously to build up strength and endurance for boxing. As part of my membership, they offered me a personal trainer to help create a plan and track my progress.

Right away, my first thought was, "I’ve been going to the gym for years—what is a personal trainer going to tell me that I don’t already know?"

Then I sat down with him… and damn.

The Power of Expert Guidance

The amount of new information I learned about my body, strength training, and endurance building was next level.

A couple of months in, I started noticing massive improvements in my sparring.

I went from flinching and backing up when a punch came my way…To charging forward with confidence, holding my ground, and controlling the fight.

And it wasn’t just because I was training harder. It was because I had a coach giving me direct, expert guidance and a structured plan to follow.

The Misconception That Holds People Back

For the longest time, I was surrounded by people who believed, "What am I really going to learn from a personal trainer?"

And I can’t blame them. I thought the same way.

But as the saying goes, "Be careful of the environment you choose, for it will shape you.”

I see this exact mindset holding people back in music production all the time.

“I Can Learn Everything on My Own” vs. “I Need a Coach”

Producers say,"All the info I need is out there for free—why would I pay for mentorship?"

And sure, the internet is full of tutorials. You can spend hours, weeks, even years piecing together knowledge.

But there’s a difference between having access to information and having the right guidance.

A coach cuts through the noise. They tell you exactly what you need to work on to get to your goals faster and more efficiently.

Clarity Over Guesswork

I’m grateful I chose to learn from experts because I thought I knew what I needed…But the truth is, I had no idea what was actually holding me back.

Now? I have clarity. I have a plan. And I know my time isn’t being wasted.

If you’re grinding your way through production, trying to figure it all out on your own, I hope this resonates with you.

At some point, you have to ask yourself—Do you want to take the long, uncertain road?Or get direct, expert guidance and hit your goals faster?

Your call. 💪🎶

The Power of High-Level Thinking in Music Production

One of the fastest ways to level up as a producer is to start thinking at a higher level.

Most producers don’t even realize there’s a whole different way to approach production—one that could completely change the game for them. If they did, they’d already be there.

So what does high-level thinking actually look like?

Where Most Producers Get Stuck

You’re messing around in the DAW, jamming on a new idea, and suddenly—you hit gold. The track has potential. You dive in, develop it, and things are feeling good.

Then… the wheels fall off.

You get sick of the track, stuck in endless tweaks, and no matter what you do, it’s just not coming together the way you imagined.

If this sounds familiar, know this: it’s not because you’re missing some secret production technique.

It’s because of how you think.

The Difference Between Low-Level and High-Level Thinking

I’ve spent a ridiculous amount of time refining my approach to teaching, and it all comes down to one thing—helping producers think at a higher level inside the DAW.

Low-Level Thinking:

"Why doesn’t this sound better?"

This is where most producers get stuck. They don’t know what to do next, so they hit YouTube, fall down a rabbit hole, and learn a bunch of random techniques that don’t actually solve their problem.

High-Level Thinking:

"Based on high-level fundamentals, what’s the next immediate focus in the track?"

This mindset is what allows you to move through the production process smoothly, step by step, until the track is done.

And yeah, I’m making it sound simple—because it is.

The Questions You Ask Yourself Define Your Growth

At the core of all this is one simple truth: the quality of your production is shaped by the questions you ask yourself while making music.

When I work with producers, I’m constantly asking, "What made you do this or that?”

That one question tells me everything about their thought process—their patterns, their instincts, and where they need to upgrade.

And here’s the thing… learning a new mixing trick or compressor setting is meaningless compared to this level of upgrade.

This Is What Sets Elite Producers Apart

Not a lot of people can teach this way. It’s something I’ve spent years refining. And honestly? It’s what makes our students level up faster than they ever thought possible.

But hey, you don’t have to take my word for it—just ask them. 😉