You might not think that Jimi Hendrix is the perfect example of someone who knew a lot about business, but just like everyone and anything, you can learn valuable lessons from just seeing and believing what he did. Hendrix was an influential man of his time in music, and his style still persists today, even though he passed before he was 30 years old. If you want your business and ideas to persist like that, read on to see if you can harness the power that Jimi did.
Put in Your Hours
Hendrix was truly the master of his own ship, and he got there by putting in the hours and the heart into your idea or project. When Hendrix got his first guitar, years after he got out of school, he put in over 20 hours a day practicing and becoming a talented musician. He got frustrated, he made mistakes, but he kept on keeping on, even when his guitar refused to work and he had to purchase a new one. There’s no way around the mountains, but that’s only because you need to roughen up your hide for the long journey ahead.
Imitate, Then Innovate
Jimi was once told, “First you imitate, then you innovate. If I can’t hear your influences, I don’t trust you as a musician.” Hendrix used to sneak into clubs and listen to famous musicians that influenced his music, such as Albert King, Muddy waters, and Howlin’ Wolf. He soaked up all they had to offer and then transformed it into something brand new. Their sound became his sound, and he added a spoke to his wheel. We can apply this to business as well – you will obviously have influences in any niche, but that doesn’t mean you can’t carve your own valuable business tactics on top of the solid foundation that your influences gave you.
