PROFITABLE MUSICIAN: FEM FRIDAY EDITION

April 3, 2026

Happy FEM Music Friday!

We spend a lot of time focused on what to do to grow a music career.

Post more. Email your fans. Book shows. Finish your songs.

But that only solves half the problem.

A to do list tells you where to aim your energy. It doesn’t protect you from where you’re leaking it.

And that’s usually the bigger issue...

You can be taking all the right actions and still feel stuck because your time is getting eaten up by things that don’t move you forward.

That’s where this comes in.

Create a Stop Doing List.

I've been talking about this for years in my trainings on time management and habits, and believe it or not, it has become one of my clients' favorite tools.

This is a short list of habits, patterns, and default behaviors that quietly pull you off track.

Not dramatic things. Just the small, repeated choices that dilute your focus and slow your progress.

Think of it as looking up while you walk instead of just staring at your feet.

Here are some examples to get you thinking:

🛑 endlessly scrolling instead of creating
🛑 posting without a plan
🛑only the “safe” tasks and avoiding the visible ones
🛑 taking unpaid or unclear opportunities that drain your energy
🛑doing everything yourself instead of getting support
🛑 choosing perfection over publishing

A few guidelines to make this actually work:

Keep it to 3 to 5 items. More than that and you’ll ignore it.

Write each one as “Stop doing x” so it’s clear and direct.

Keep it visible so it interrupts your default patterns during the day.

Update it over time. When something becomes natural, replace it with the next friction point.

The goal is to graduate out of the items on the list. But some are harder to crack than others so don't worry if things stay on the list for a while.

And here’s mine right now for more inspo (some are new and some have been on there for quite a while because I need constant reminders):

⏹️ listening to podcasts unless I’m doing something productive with my body like exercise or dishes
⏹️ jumping at shiny objects
⏹️ immediately saying yes to something just because I’m flattered I was asked
⏹️ checking the easy things off the list first

The goal is simple.

You’re becoming the artist you want to be by removing the behaviors that belong to the version of you that stays stuck.

If you have a Stop Doing List or this email has inspired you to start one, I'd love to hear about it. Just hit reply. I read every response.

Always in your corner,
​<3 Bree

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You're reading the Profitable Musician Newsletter, FEM Friday Edition. This Friday newsletter is created for Female Artists & Advocates, and focuses on our mission to amplify quality music by Female Artists & Female-Fronted Bands in all genres and help them build a thriving music career and solid business. If you'd like to unsubscribe from FEM Fridays but still receive our regular Wednesday Profitable Musician Newsletter, click here and we'll note your preference.

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Carlene Thissen - Wash Away Carlene Thissen is an American singer-songwriter, and author, born on June 28, 1950, in northwest New Jersey. She is now in Naples, Florida, where Carlene Thissen dedicates herself to performing, speaking, songwriting, singing and playing piano and guitar at house concerts, clubs, restaurants, festivals and charity events. Carlene Thissen also serves the community as Coordinator of a Farm Labor Supervisor Training program at the University of Florida’s Research & Education Center in Immokalee. Immokalee, a SW Florida agriculture town, has been the inspiration for two of Carlene's books and several songs. Wash Away Carlene Thissen PREVIEW   ​ Meagan Tubb & Shady People - Tell Me At The Well Gospel, rock, and roll, with soul. Meagan is the sole songwriter. Their band features dual lead guitars and 3 part harmonies. Tell Me at the Well Meagan Tubb & Shady People PREVIEW   ​ Lisa Temple - Harvest Lisa Temple is a Christian musician, singer/songwriter from Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada. Lisa is a wife to one and a mother to three at her home in Alberta, Canada. As she homeschools her children, there is always a song or an instrument to be heard in her home. She’s passionate about the outdoors, gardening and striving to be love while bringing out the best in those around her. Coming from a musical background, Lisa grew up in a home where music was part of the family. As a teen, Lisa taught herself to play the acoustic guitar and it’s still one of her loves. Her heart for worship shines through as she leads church congregations in worship services and writes songs from her heart. Lisa has collaborated with others and recorded a handful of songs. With a journal full of original songs that she’s written, you’ll be hearing more from Lisa in the future. Harvest Lisa Temple PREVIEW   ​ LISTEN TO THE WOMEN OF SUBSTANCE MUSIC PODCAST

Bree Noble

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