January is here which means it is time for my annual Elvis Presley blog post. The King of Rock and Roll would have been 87 on January 8th.
In the past, I have talked about Elvis being in your classroom and Elvis re-inventing himself for the '68 Comeback Special. The man has been dead for 45 years and people still talk about him...people around the world know who he is. Why is that? Elvis did things that no one else had done. He forged a path in areas that no one had ventured before. What he did can be applicable to us all, even though we are not music/movie/superstars.
Be yourself. Elvis was a kid from a town in Tennessee with his musical tastes landing outside of his race. He was drawn to rockabilly music. He found he loved gospel, blues, and more. He didn't look at what the establishment said he should be drawn to. Instead, he liked what he liked and created something new by being true to himself.
Have a passion (or two). Elvis was not only passionate about music, but also his friends and family. I wrote previously about the "TCB" jewelry and being part of the Memphis Mafia. His passion was bigger than his music. He had other things that he found joy in. By doing so, he perhaps shined a little brighter in all areas of his life. Being passionate about others and their well-being allows you to create a network of support. When things get tough, it is the network that you will need.
Take risks. Everything that Elvis did was new. Everything was a risk. From putting out a "new" form of music to embarking on a movie career. Even the clothing that Elvis wore was risky (Hello? Velour tops...pink jackets...jumpsuits). Don't be afraid to try it because you have never done it before. No one is an expert their first time out. Do you know that in the first musical contest Elvis entered, he placed 5th? What if he hadn't taken the risk to keep trying?
Know that you will not be everyone's cup of tea. You will find as many critics as you do supporters. Elvis did. But what you need to look at is what are those things they are critical about. Are you not following through with expectations? Well...then change. Are you trying something new and it isn't perfect yet? Explain what you are doing and back your words up with action.
Being yourself and having passion will in turn cause people to take a risk on you. When people can see you "got it", they will invest in you and support you. Can you imagine what Sam Phillips thought when Elvis walked into Sun Records? Sam knew that not everyone would welcome Elvis with open arms, but seeing this kid's passion and talent convinced him to take a risk on a Crown Electric truck driver. Look at the payout there. Don't be afraid to convince people to take a chance on you and don't be afraid to take chance on others.
Enjoy a little "Aloha from Hawaii". Talk about risk-taking, passion, and being yourself. This concert was televised to raise money for Kui Lee Cancer Fund, was the first live via satellite performance by a solo artist, and produced one of the most iconic pieces of clothing in music history. Don't be afraid to do something that hasn't been done before for the good of all you touch...all while wearing a kick-a$$ white jumpsuit.
No comments:
Post a Comment