I am a musician - a folk musician, singer/songwriter, and I play lead guitar. To be able to focus on my art and have the freedom and time to do it, I focus on passive income so that my energy isn’t drained by a day job.

EDUCATION | Life - lol.

HOW TO GET STARTED | First of all, in terms of the financially free aspect, know that the best passive income streams are ones YOU actually use. Then you're just referring services you already use to people you know. I have created a "Laid Off Artists Survival Guide" (despite the order of words in the link) with a lot of great resources and information for becoming financially free. {http://financiallyfreemusician.blogspot.com/2009/01/artists-survival-guide-to-getting-laid.html} My advice for musicians and artists in general is to think big in anything you do. Don't think either/or, for instance - "I can be an artist or I can make money". Ask yourself, how can I be an artist and make a lot of money? Think big. Never count yourself out of anything. Everyone is an artist in the sense that they have a story to tell, so don't focus on just having raw talent. Get coached on your craft from the best and get better. Don't sit waiting for the answers to pop into your head - get in the game. A coach holds you accountable and makes you do it. A coach is a good investment. Use inspiration to your advantage, not as an excuse to wait around for something that's already within you to happen. Don't use it as a crutch. Allow yourself access to yourself at all times. Don't use a block as an excuse. Get clear on your goals and your missions. If the goal isn't there you won't hit it. If you don't have a mission your main goal in the mission is to find what that mission is.

MUST HAVE TRAITS | Anti-thinker, bold, relentless, open, humble, very driven, optimistic - the kind of person who sees the opportunity in obstacles

how I got started | I've always been writing music since I was about 12. We always had family fights and my way of blocking them out was to write songs in my head. When I was 20 I picked up a guitar and things were never the same again. At the age of 24, I got fired from Urban Outfitters. I was broke and living in one of the most expensive cities, San Francisco. My mom handed me the book "Secrets of the millionaire mind" and the rest is history. I haven't worked for anybody else since. What I do day to day now I hardly consider to be work. It's a blessing. I work during concentrated periods of time to set up vehicles that work for me. At 25 I became very interested in passive income, investing and money altogether. For a long time I thought you were either left brained or right brained. I'm living proof that you can be both. I write in my blog to share this information with everyone (http://financiallyfreemusician.com). Also It's not how much you're making, it's about how much time and freedom you have. It's about not answering to someone.

why this job?| I don't think I chose music as much as it really chose me. It wasn't really a choice. It just came so naturally for so long I figured hey, I might as well make some money off it.

why I love this job!| (1) I like the storytelling aspect of music. I like sharing stories with people because I think when people relate, it's beautiful. (2) I like combining the music side of things and the money making aspect of things because as a black Puerto Rican female musician, it's nice to see that all kinds of people can be making money, not just one kind. (3) I like the focus. I like art because it forces you to be present. You can't be in your head. You have to be present while you're sharing your art with somebody else.

my typical day| I wake up whenever I want - late usually. I do yoga in the morning. I have a workbook with a few exercises in it that help me stay focused on my goals. I light incense. Monday and Tuesday are blog days. Wednesday is for certain passive income vehicles (ex. affiliates for my blog). Thursday and Sunday are for investing and trading options (where my money is going to go, investing style), On Friday and Saturday I let music shape the entire day. I have an amazing music coach, Paul Hoffman (successsongs.com). During our sessions we definitely focus on the marketing and business aspect of music. And I have an amazing vocal coach her name is Kris Feldman.

what they are | I have found that the only challenge in my career - the only thing getting in the way of me getting what I want - is me.

all about growth | It depends on what kind of musician you want to be. It depends on what you're looking for. Do you want to be a recording artist, someone who goes on tour, or both? My advice would be that the last thing on your mind should be setting a timeline for success. Avoid that and focus on getting it done. Time is one of those things that we don't understand. Let it happen when it happens.

my website| http://www.chantelletibbs.com