So I’m listening to William Shatner on Howard Stern. And he says he owes his career to saying yes, if anybody asks, that’s what he says. He’s open to any idea, because you never know the end result.

That didn’t sound right to me. Because if it’s not right, I don’t want to play. It’s my name on the line. One false move…

And the very next day Howard decried choices Conan O’Brien had made. The nature of radio is I didn’t hear exactly what he was talking about, I got in the car thereafter. But when Howard was done ranting, saying Conan should have said no, Robin asked him about William Shatner…

And Howard chortled. Said that’s why people laugh at Shatner. That Bill should have said no more often.

Now if you’re an actor, you’re playing a role. It’s not you.

But if you’re a musician, and you’re doing it right, it’s solely about you. If you compromise your values, if you do what you don’t want to, you’re gonna pay the price.

I know, you want to make it so bad, you don’t want to be difficult.

But I’ll let you in on a secret, the most successful artists are impossible. Case in point, Van Morrison. And so many of the other stars with a nice image, they employ someone to say no, so they don’t look like an asshole.

But when you’re starting out, it’s hard to hire a spokesman, hard to have someone on your team. It’s just you. But you must still say no.

If the deal isn’t right, don’t think it’s gonna get better.

If someone wants you to change your image, wear outfits, sing someone else’s material, don’t think they’re going to suddenly let you be yourself.

You can’t be a tool of the man.

You’ve got the vision of success. Everybody else comes and goes, from manager to label. Too many of these people have their own agendas. They want you to say yes so they can make their percentage, so they can make their bonus. You’ve got to be your own manager. Until you train someone to think like you.

There’s no such thing as a missed opportunity if you’re truly great. Those opportunities return. Actually, that’s the best way to get more money, saying no. If they really want you, they’ll up the offer. And sometimes it’s not about money, you don’t want to do it at any price. Leave the money on the table, there’s no payment that will equal the death of your career.

You have to value yourself. You have to trust yourself.

This doesn’t mean you have to rant and rave and be a tyrant. Then again, when you decline offers, so many others rant and rave. Ignore them. You’re just a pawn in their game.

And just because everybody else does something, that does not mean you should too.

Just because everybody else ties in with corporations and makes perfume deals and has a clothing line that doesn’t mean it’s gonna work for you. You’re selling your music. The rest is penumbra, hardly vital. You can make quick cash, but at what cost? The public sees you selling out and wonders…whose side are you on? That’s the question of the Wall Street protests. Artists have a direct relationship with their fans. Abusing this is career suicide.

So stand your ground. And when it feels right, excel, don’t mess up your chance!