1. Decide to be 'toppermost of the poppermost'. Have a clear engaging goal.
2. Put the work in. Hamburg or similar will get the skills truly 'wired-in'.
3. Lead don't follow. Sh*t, you've done enough Love songs now.
4. Develop your brand: wit, suits, hair-cuts. Whatever it takes.
5. Be different. Not just singers. Not just songwriters. But both.
6. Let necessity stretch you. Not enough songs?: write our own.
7. Stop at the top and re-invent.
Check out here for How to Think Like Richard Branson and Steve Jobs.