Hey Reader,

Welcome back to Inside the Studio – my weekly newsletter about finishing tracks, staying productive, and building your music career next to a 9–5.

Here’s something I’ve noticed as a producer:

At the end of a week, or even a whole quarter, I often feel like I didn’t get enough done.

The unfinished projects stick in my head. The delays, the rejections, the time I didn’t spend in the studio.

But that’s only half the truth.

Without reflection, all I see is what’s missing.
With reflection, I realize how far I’ve actually come — and what deserves my focus next.

That’s why I always do a Quarterly Review.

It’s the fastest way to build clarity and motivation for the next quarter.

​

The 6 questions I ask myself

Every quarter, for every goal, I go through the same list:

1. How do I feel about my progress?
2. Why did I set this goal, and is it still relevant and realistic?
3. What were my biggest achievements, and what worked well to make them possible?
4. What challenges did I face, and how can I better prepare for or avoid them?
5. Did I use my time and effort effectively, and what could I improve next quarter?
6. What are my next projects for this goal?

Instead of just giving you the questions, I’ll share my review with you. Use it as a mirror: compare my answers with your own situation and see where you might find clarity for Q4.

​

My example: Music Goal – 12 Tracks in 2025 (2 collabs included)

1. How do I feel about my progress?​
Three quarters are gone, and I’ve only hit 50% of my goal. But I already have 4 planned releases (including 2 collabs, so my sub-goal is done), and I rediscovered making edits for SoundCloud. Two are ready to publish. If all goes well, I’ll still reach 12 tracks this year. That makes me feel good.

2. Why did I set this goal?​
12 was the number because I wanted to prove to myself I could stay loyal to my One Thing — music production — all year long. The collabs were about connecting with other producers and growing my network. Both still feel relevant and realistic.

3. My biggest achievements​
What worked best was treating music production as my One Thing. Everything else comes second. That helped me finish at least 2 tracks per month. I refined my workflow until I actually enjoyed producing again. The biggest highlight? DJs played my promos in some of the biggest clubs in the world. That gave me huge motivation and confirmed that my skills can get me somewhere, even without a huge studio, next to a full-time job.

4. My biggest challenges​
Still the dependency on labels. Getting signed, waiting for release dates, no real control. It costs time and creates pressure. The solution is producing more intentionally, using reference tracks, aiming at specific labels before I even start. Just producing “freely” can be fun, but it doesn’t bring me closer to my release goals.

5. How I used my time​
I stayed focused most of the time, but I can still double down. Daily production is the key. Some days slipped by, but overall, my output makes me proud.

6. Next projects for Q4​
Produce 1–2 more edits, just in case a label pushes a release date. That way, I’ll still hit 12 by year’s end. The plan is simple: keep producing, track after track.

Looking back at Q3 showed me I’m not “behind.”
It proved I’m further than I thought. I just need to stay consistent.

That clarity gives me the confidence to keep moving into Q4.

And here’s my recommendation for you:
​Take one hour this week. Sit down with these 6 questions.

If you skip it, you’ll carry the same doubts and frustration into the next quarter.

But if you do it, you’ll see what worked, what didn’t, and how much progress you’ve actually made.

That’s the fuel you need to enter Q4 with focus and motivation.

Have a great week!

Stay Productive,
- LEMAN

​​​

If you're looking to go deeper, here’s how I can help you:

🎯 Track Finishing Blueprint
My complete system to finish tracks faster, from first idea to label submission.

🚀 Stay Productive Template
Organize your music business, manage tracks, and stay on top of everything.

This email is sent by Stefan Lehmann via https://musicbyleman.com. I help independent music producers stay organized, consistent, and focused – even with a full-time job. These emails share tools, workflows, and personal insights to support your music journey.
You can reply directly to this email with questions or feedback – I read every message. To manage your preferences or unsubscribe, use the link below. For legal or support inquiries: contact@musicbyleman.com

​