In this episode of Sold 4 a Song, Terry goes straight at a mindset that quietly kills more music careers than bad deals or bad luck ever will: entitlement.
He contrasts entitlement with accountability, and breaks down why so many artists feel “slept on” when, in reality, they haven’t yet done the hard work of mastery, clarity, and connection. Terry uses Russell Brunson’s Hook / Story / Offer framework to help artists see their careers through a marketing lens:
Hook – Are you capturing attention?
Story – Are you telling your story in a way that lets fans see themselves in it?
Offer – Does your music, performance, and world actually deliver an emotional payoff?
Terry argues that most artists are chasing validation, not improvement—trying to “make it” instead of trying to “make it better.” If people aren’t connecting, it’s not the algorithm’s fault, your city’s fault, or your mom’s fault. It’s feedback.
He then gets personal, dismantling the “you’re just lucky” narrative by sharing the real cost of his Nashville journey: cashing in his RRSP (like a 401k), coming down with almost no safety net, paying thousands for visas and a green card, and moving with what he now calls a terrible game plan—but relentless commitment.
From there, Terry explores:
Why confidence is the byproduct of courage (via Dan Sullivan)
How victimhood, comparison, and blame steal your time, energy, and creativity
The brutal truth that your bank account is telling you a story—and you need to listen
Why lifelong “lifers” in music keep going regardless of external validation
He closes by challenging artists to audit their careers with radical honesty—no self-shaming, just data—and to recognize that the universe will always mirror what they’re actually putting out into the world.
Key Takeaways
No one is coming to save you. Industry people amplify momentum; they don’t create it for you.
Exposure doesn’t fix weak foundations; it only magnifies what already exists.
If fans can’t see themselves in your story, that’s your communication problem, not their failure.
Hook / Story / Offer applies to artists as much as entrepreneurs.
Entitlement says “I deserve success because I’m talented.” Accountability asks “Where am I missing something?”
Your bank account is one of the clearest metrics of whether your art is converting into value.
Victim mentality and comparison will quietly ruin your career faster than a bad contract.
Confidence doesn’t come first—courage does. Confidence shows up on the other side of action.
The artists we celebrate are almost never the ones with entitlement in their internal dialogue.
The universe (and your audience) will mirror exactly what you are putting out—energetically and creatively.
Suggested Episode Titles
Entitlement vs Accountability: Why No One Is Coming to Save Your Career
You’re Not “Unlucky” — You’re Unaccountable
Sound Bites
“You’re focused on trying to make it instead of trying to make it better.”
“If people aren’t connecting, maybe you’re not giving them a place to find themselves in your music.”
“Being an artist isn’t a title you give yourself. It’s earned by how deeply your work moves people.”
“Yeah, I’m lucky. I cashed in my retirement, had no money, and paid nineteen grand for visas and a green card.”
“Confidence is the byproduct of courage. The confidence is waiting for you on the other side of effort.”
“The universe will come back and mirror what you’re putting out into the world.”
Chapters
00:00 – “Yeah, I’m lucky…” – Terry’s real Nashville origin story
01:18 – Show intro: Sold 4 a Song mission & lens of self-worth
02:10 – Entitlement vs accountability: why this conversation matters
03:40 – Hook / Story / Offer – applying Russell Brunson to artists
04:40 – Exposure doesn’t fix weak songs, weak shows, or weak stories
05:30 – Fans need to find themselves in your music
06:15 – When your hook, story, or offer is broken
07:00 – Entitlement says “I deserve”; accountability says “I’m missing something”
07:56 – Artist vs entertainer: history decides, not you
08:50 – Your bank account is telling you a story—are you listening?
09:40 – Not a beat-yourself-up session: how to analyze like a pro
10:39 – “I’m not lucky like you” – Terry dismantles the myth with real numbers
11:45 – 18 years in Toronto, blind move to the U.S., terrible plan, relentless commitment
12:40 – Steven Tyler, victim mentality, and the line that hit Terry like a truck
13:50 – Dan Sullivan: confidence as the byproduct of courage
14:40 – How to catch yourself in entitlement: complaints, blame, comparison
15:09 – Final reminder: the universe mirrors what you put out
Episode Keywords
music career, entitlement, accountability, artist mindset, Nashville, hook story offer, Russell Brunson, Dan Sullivan, victim mentality, self-worth, creative courage, artist development, songwriter life, DIY artists, music industry reality
Sold 4 a Song™ Podcast hosted by Terrance Sawchuk, Billboard #1 multi-platinum songwriter, producer, artist, mixer, & entrepreneur.
Sold 4 a Song™ is a living exploration of creative worth, ownership, and the true value of music — inside the systems that monetize it.
If this episode resonates, you can follow the work at sold4asong.com.
