How to Create Success Despite All Odds
COLUMNS
By Domanique Grant
Six years ago , I was working a parttime job as a brand ambassador , making just above minimum wage , and barely making ends meet . I was praying to get my first FACTOR grant , while living in a small room at my mom ’ s house and sleeping on the floor . The thought of moving out was a foreign concept , let alone being able to rent or own a home , and my battle with anxiety made taking action hard .
Fast-forward to today and I don ’ t always recognize my career or myself . I ’ m a full-time singer-songwriter , entrepreneur , and the founder of a music company , Grant Creativity Inc ., that invests in the next generation of emerging artists . Before I get too far into how I ’ ve made a 180-degree career change , I want to share my hope for this article .
My name is Domanique Grant and I ’ m a singer-songwriter from Toronto . I ’ m not an expert or a secret billionaire and I ’ ve never really fit into what ’ s “ in ” or popular . What I can share is how I went from dirt broke and struggling before the pandemic to having a single go viral , ending up on major media and news networks around the world with no marketing . That same year , I appeared in a commercial aired during the Grammys as an “ artist to watch ” from Canada and am preparing to tour in four countries over the next two months , while being able to afford to live in my own studio in downtown Toronto .
So , my goal for this article is to talk about creating success despite the odds . Taking leaps of faith when there is no clear path in front of you . Beating the systems , people , negative thoughts , and roadblocks that make success feel unattainable . Finding a light at the end of the tunnel to keep going , when it feels like you ’ re on a neverending hamster wheel with no guarantee that you ’ ll make it out .
Now , I don ’ t have enough space in this column to expand on everything listed here and given all of the things pulling your attention , I don ’ t think you ’ d have the time if I did . Instead , I ’ ve created a list of 11 things that I ’ ve had to learn that helped get me to where I am today . 1 . No one is coming to save you . That imaginary thing that you ’ re waiting for to validate taking action – like releasing that project , setting up that show , or emailing that contact – is holding you back , not your lack of opportunity .
2 . There is a mindset shift that you have to make before anything in your career shifts . It starts with shifting your belief system , from one of struggle and getting by to gratitude and being capable of more than you are right now . This needs to happen before the things you want show up because success is a state , not a tangible thing .
3 . You have ideas that can change your life but your fear of acting on them is keeping you broke .
4 . Be kind , say thank you , and always ask , “ How can I give ?” before asking someone else to help you .
5 . Before you get there , you need to begin thinking , behaving , and showing up as the person that is at the level of success you want to be at . You also need to accept that you already are and have everything that you need to attain the level of success that you want .
6 . You ’ re spending money on Uber Eats and Amazon packages , when you should be investing in monthly personal and professional development ( PPD ).
7 . The relationship that you have with the words “ no ,” “ fear ,” and “ failure ” is causing you to give up too soon .
8 . You ’ re taking advice from too many people that aren ’ t at the level that you want to be at . The top five people that you spend the most time with are an indication of where you ’ ll end up .
9 . You don ’ t have a visualization practice , therefor the vision that you have for yourself isn ’ t big enough and the preparation that your brain needs in order to go after bigger opportunities is causing you to act and play small .
10 . You are a business and you ’ re not yet operating as one .
11 . You have to be willing to let go of your attachment to the result for what you want to come .
The short answer to how I created success despite the odds is that I started betting on myself . Betting on myself looks like taking big actions with no certainty , and creating luck where it doesn ’ t exist . Emailing the brands that everyone said were too big and eventually getting a yes . Writing a song that I thought the world needed during the pandemic and releasing it in an unconventional way . Applying for funding and getting lots of no ’ s , which eventually turned into yeses . Visualizing myself on big stages and practicing for the opportunity so that I ’ m ready when the opportunity shows up . Investing in my own training and development . Accepting that although I ’ m terrified of failing , that I ’ m measuring success based on my ability to show up , regardless of the outcome .
PHOTO : COZY DQ
Domanique Grant is a pop-soul singer / songwriter and speaker from Toronto who was named one of Buzzfeed ’ s top 20 artists to wat ch . Having lived in Canada , Uganda , and Argentina before the age of 22 , she creates music that is healing , empowering , and genre-bending all at the same time . Domanique ’ s music has been featured in campaigns by L ’ Oréal Paris , placements with Unilever brands , and a campaign with RBCxMusic that was featured during the Grammy Awards .
www . domaniquegrant . com .
CANADIAN MUSICIAN 27