I do know, the catchy title has you rolling your eyes and saying to your self clearly there’s not just one factor that results in success, however hear me out.
After years of pursuing my profession in music, I lastly caught a break final 12 months and my single performed on over 100 radio stations worldwide, which led to tons of of interviews in 2022 and shutting out the second half of the 12 months being provided my very own tv present on a brand new community which was rapidly picked up by New Jersey Tv.
After all, this whirlwind of success led to the subsequent logical query that nobody has requested me over the past 10 years of battle; How’d you do this?
I’m reminded of the nice Chinese language proverb concerning the Chinese language bamboo tree.
The story goes that the Chinese language bamboo tree doesn’t develop in any respect for the primary 5 years after it’s planted however on the sixth 12 months the tree grows 80 ft in simply 6 six, which results in the age previous query “did the tree develop in 6 weeks or 5 years and 6 weeks”?
You’re educated and articulate sufficient that I don’t must state the apparent that it took 5 years and 6 weeks for that tree to develop, although it didn’t seem like it was rising in any respect for the primary 5 years.
So after assembly with a brand new scholar in my course for creatives and enterprise house owners and she or he requested “How’d you do this”? It led me to essentially dig in to what has now change into the entire idea for my tv present in addition to my programs I educate and it actually does come down to 1 factor.
The plain and technical reply to her query is hours of analysis, chilly calls, rejection from radio station after radio station, some interviews that had been successful and a few interviews the place I logged on and the host was smoking weed (true story lol).
However that’s the apparent reply, and it’s not what she meant, and I knew it. Yea the technical day after day transactions spark curiosity however what she and plenty of others after her actually wished to know was how’d you DO that. How’d you keep so dedicated? How’d you get by the instances if you felt misplaced? How’d you grind it out when no one believed in you. HOW did you do it?
I journeyed again by my expertise and like so many people reflecting on life, particular recollections started to face out to me.
Just like the time I went to a music convention, waited within the foyer for all 200 attendees to take an image with the well-known music composer who was the keynote speaker, after which when it obtained to my flip requested if I may purchase him a cup of espresso and if he ever had interns. Then requested for a job and ended up working for him in Hollywood for 3 years.
Or the time I obtained fired from 4 totally different jobs as a result of “I cherished music” greater than I used to be devoted to my job. Sure JCPenney, I do love constructing my very own empire moderately than buying and selling my time for $8 an hour. (Minimal wage again then lol).
Or the time I obtained pulled onto the notorious stage at SOB’s in New York Metropolis by the previous President of Haiti and after the present his supervisor pulled me apart and stated “You weren’t prepared for that”. And the previously shy, uncomfortable, awkward wallflower within me smiled and stated, “Yea, perhaps not. However I did it. Good for me”.
So what did all these items have in widespread. That was the reply.
It was the willingness.
The willingness to ask for a chance when it was introduced to me, and never let the paralyzing concern of asking overcome the paralyzing concern of questioning what if for the remainder of my life.
The willingness to do what I like and pursue a life I like, as a result of why the hell not. As a result of I understood this treasured and unpredictable factor we name life for what it’s, simply that; unpredictable. Right here at the moment and gone tomorrow. Not in a morbid manner, however in a stay in each second, absorb each sunshine type of manner.
The willingness to go for it. To take an opportunity. To not wait “till I used to be prepared” however to stay within the second, and be happy with myself for pushing previous limiting beliefs, fear and concern of what folks would possibly say and simply going for it.
All of us outline success in another way, however I’d argue that whether or not success seems to be like a dream job, a fats checking account, a gorgeous household or the entire above, the willingness to ask and stay and love and overcome and study and develop and so many different issues all stem from one factor.
You’re proper, there are MANY issues it takes to achieve success, however they’re all only a department on the bamboo tree of willingness.