Once in a while, I go onto and my computer and open files from six, seven years ago and look at things I wrote; essays, articles, poems. I often cringe at the things I wrote. Once in a while when I think it could be pertinent, I'd rewrite the piece entirely. Usually I wont publish it, but I'll go on to sleep with the satisfaction that I wrote something satisfying.
I'm one of those people who is naturally gifted at writing. When people ask me what it feels like to write , I find it hard to explain to them. I always tell them that for me it is like walking. Think about it; when you walk, you don't think about the mechanisms that permit you to do the act. You just get up and walk. You know you move your feet but you cannot really explain how you do that.
I don't know if I'm making sense but that is what writing is like to me. For me, the hardest part about writing is knowing what I want to write about. Once I know, I just start writing, and it feels like I'm walking.
But even for me who is naturally gifted, I have only gotten better (especially over these last 4 years, writing for PoiseSocial) because I have been practising...a lot. Consider every single one of my articles here as practice. And I have told everyone who has ever asked, that writing is a skill that anyone can acquire. You might have to put in triple the effort compared to me, but eventually you will get to someplace where you people will gloss over your works.
Across many fields, particularly in the creative sector, you find people who are naturally gifted and who strive every day to perfect their talent and be world class at what they do.
But if one were to look at it closely, talent itself is not enough to break into a realm where one is recognized or celebrated.
If we look at the world of competitive sports for example, you will find out that for every one footballer who becomes a professional, there are likely a hundred others who ended at an amateur level or never even got there at all. Same thing goes for the NBA or the NFL.
Usually what separates the winners from the losers is discipline, commitments focus and hard work. All the kids who turn up at a training ground usually have varying level of talents. A lot of the times it is not the most talented who makes, but the person who works the hardest and who is the most committed and focused, and has the greatest drive.
I've often heard stories about Eto'o's days at the Baraseeries football school. Serge Branco said when they were there Eto'o was not the most talented player. Suffo used to be the starting attacker while Eto'o usually came on as a substitute for Suffo. And Serge Branco said Eto'o had something they all lacked ;a bigger ego that was fueled by a bigger drive. And he added that was the reason Eto'o turned out to be the most successful of their generation.
When it comes to creative arts such as music, thinking that because you can sing, you are destined for greatness, is being shortsighted. While it would seem that many gates have been broken and structures for music has been democratized, there is now even more competition in the market place and it takes more than just being pushed by a major label to have a chance of making it.
Every artist today has to learn the ropes of the music business; things beyond just the music. An artist has to learn how to brand, and market themselves. They have to learn to learn social media management, content creation, and PR. They have to learn about publishing, copyrighting and many other things that were usually handled by or largely controlled a label before. The entire music landscape has changed completely and anyone who doesn't get with the times is setting himself up for failure, because this other side is as important as knowing how to sing.
That is how Stanley Enow, who as a rapper can't carry the weight of many of his peers In the industry, still manages to get the best endorsement checks. He has created this halo of success around him, even when it is ersatz. His team understand some sectors of the business side of music the music - particularly when it comes to branding and PR - and they are milking that cow well.
That being said, it takes willingness and preparedness to get there. And part of being willing and prepared is by taking part in the #TrueMusicChallenge. It is an opportunity to to hack your way into a big platform and have the opportunity to build a fanbase from a much larger perspective. It is an opportunity to hop on, as an aspiring musician. Even if you do not get selected for the semifinals, the experience itself is something which will be beneficial to you in the long run. To top it off, if you win you will have the mentorship of Fally Ipupa and 2 million francs which you can use to invest in your career.
The challenge ends on Thursday, and so you still have two days before the campaign closes. Get on this opportunity now.
- Wandji Wilfred.