Where the rubber hits the road.
Where the submit button sends your post.
Where the streets have a name and where the streets have no name.
Where the speech leaves the stage.
Where music hits the listeners ear.
Where hope is received.
Where an experienced is enjoyed and simultaneously joy is exchanged.
All…
…is…
…a by-product…
…of one’s romantic waltz in the trenches.
If you own a callus, it was not gifted to you, it was earned.
But you will call it a gift.
It’s safe to assume that the majority of the world is rolling their eyes over “another” Monday while sipping their Starbucks and logging into their inboxes…right now.
But let’s call today what it’s worthy to be called: a period filled with moments that have never been. AKA possibility.
So here we are.
Today.
Now.
This moment that has never been…is…yours.
As much as you want and as hard as you may try you cannot TiVo today or pause the sunset that is coming. This thing is happening and soon, very soon, you’ll ask where it went.
The element of surprise just may be the most rewarding and life-giving gift our days.
If today is typical, that’s your fault.
“What’s good on the menu here?” A seasoned waiter or waitress knows that this is not really the question the guest was asking. In all reality, it was a stated desire. What they really said was, ‘I’m here to dance and I need you show me where that happens on the menu.’
“Where should I put my money?” The financial planner, if he’s listening here, recognizes this is a request for long-term dance-ability. In other words, the question was ‘where can we put this so that I’m dancing at 90?’
What questions are you most often asked? Chances are these questions need to be pondered, because the answer probably isn’t as obvious as one may think.
Leadership reads between the lines. Leadership looks below radar. Leadership uncovers music in the noise of questions.
Whatever you do, you’re role is to be the dj of whatever your industry, sector, or market is.
Here’s some beauty for today: Your words, your insight, and you – the individual – are the music.
Next time you see a globe, think dance floor.
Next time you see yourself, think DJ.
Cue the music.
In your pursuit of music, if you give yourself the option to accept noise or make noise, chances are, you just may take yourself up on it.
And why not? Easy, safe, and under the radar is a lot less risky than willingly taking the stage, grabbing the mic, and doing your thing – while the world watches.
Unfortunately, the battle of self duplicity – giving yourself options for success – tends to not end with what we truly want and are after.
Here’s the catch: in your pursuit of music you just may be seen. But hey, if you’re not seen you can’t be shared.
Secondly, if you keep what’s inside of you on the inside, it will never reach the outside of someone and change them on the inside. The world doesn’t change with the songs in your head and heart. It changes with those on the tips of your fingers and tongue.
In the end, we all must adopt the single-minded purpose and hope of music. Noise can’t be in the equation of whatever success algorithm you choose. Any plan b, c, or d just distracts from plan a) music.
If you want to have options with your music, allow yourself to have two:
Yes.
&
Yes.
Ashton.Gustafson 