stop being shocked when someone wants you to execute your passion

Back in the mid 1990s, one of my best friends started his own production label. During that time, he had a female artist he was developing named Crystal. At the time he was promoting her, he had this great opportunity to enter her into a talent contest. In an effort to create a ‘look’ for her, he decided she would need some back up dancers. He knew that I was a ‘stepmaster’ for my fraternity so he asked me to get 4 of my brothers in order to perform as her back up dancers.

Now, in my mind, I had stepped HUNDREDS of times in front of audiences big and small. I had led shows. I had taught shows. I had created shows. I truly felt being a ‘stepmaster’ was natural for me. However, the idea of being a choreographer for backup dancers for an artist trying to get a record deal was terrifying. I did it because I wanted to help support my ‘brother from another mother’ in his pursuit. However, I will admit that I wanted to push myself into the realm of being a choreographer.

So, I put together a routine that incorporated Crystal and got 3 additional frat brothers to join.

To my surprise, we won the first round of the talent contests. As a result of the response, Crystal was asked to open for the Late Teena Marie. Unfortunately, we lost one of our dancers but I was able to modify the routine for 3 guys and create a whole new routine based on the new song Crystal performed. So, the night we opened for Teena Marie, it turned into a magical performance.

Decades later, my best friend shared with me the reason he asked me to do it. In his words, he noticed a ‘fire and passion whenever I would create step routines for my brothers and wanted me to do the same for his artist’.

So, many times in our lives, we don’t consider the greatness of our talents. We truly believe the things we do, we believe anyone can do. The reality is that most people are passionate about something. Most people can execute something. However, very few people are passionate about what they are executing.

In my mind, whenever someone asks me to create a step routine or dance routine, the fire in my mind explodes. I am motivated to make something out of nothing. I am constantly trying to create something I have never seen. I don’t worry about whether it looks good. I don’t worry about whether the audience will like it. I don’t worry about how popular it will be. My whole focus is to create an artistic expression of what is being asked.

I am sure we ALL have something we passionately execute that we think is ‘no big deal’. News flash. It IS a big deal. Not everyone can passionately execute what you do so stop being shocked when someone wants you to execute your passion.

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