In the Zone

Today's post is a weird topic, but since it's my blog, I suppose I get to do that. I've recently been thinking about the idea of being "in the zone." It's a common concept in sports. It makes me think back to Michael Jordan and some of his dominating performances over his illustrious career. Though mine weren't as infamous as his, I vividly remember being in the zone a time or two in my basketball career. Notably, a 47-point game in a JV tournament when I was a freshman in high school. It was like a switch inside me flipped, and everything around me was in slow motion. It was still me, but it was a different version. Nearly 30 years later, I still remember those feelings like it was yesterday.

Last week, I was in a meeting with a friend. This guy is a very mild-mannered man. Soft-spoken, humble, and methodical with his approach. But something happened to him during this meeting. A switch flipped, and he became a similar but different person. He was in the zone. My jaw dropped. It was stunning to watch. In those moments, he was his very best self.

As 90s kid, I still love music videos. I often watch music videos at night before bed, especially from my favorite group, Twenty One Pilots. Recently, one particular live performance video has resonated with me. For context, these two guys are very soft-spoken. They interact with a playfulness and innocence. But something happens when they get on that stage. A switch flips, and they become a different version of themselves. I don't think it's an act, but rather something deep within them that gets turned on when the time is right. They are overcome with the moment and their work. I recommend you check out the video. It perfectly represents what I’m talking about!

My speaking career has been influenced by a lot of people, but none more than Twenty One Pilots's lead singer, Tyler Joseph. Watching him turn it on when he hits the stage has given me a blueprint of how I, too, can flip that switch when it's go-time. I think about this often, including the moments immediately before I step onto the stage. It's a way to get in the zone when the moment calls for it. There's no better feeling for me. It's raging nerves for 30-60 minutes, then a still peace in the minutes leading up to it, then it explodes into what is hopefully a powerful and impactful talk.

Are there moments in your life where you get into the zone? I'd love to hear about them. Mine are the absolute best, most impactful bursts of work for me, so I'm dying to hear what this concept looks like for you. Though much of our work can be mundane and uneventful, I hope you have these profound moments throughout your journey that remind you of what your best self looks like.

Weird post, but I dig it!

Ode To Sleep and the Power of Patience

As a child of the 90s, I grew up on music videos. Even today, though I don’t listen to a lot of music, I love watching music videos. For the last few years, my absolute favorite music video has been “Ode To Sleep” by Twenty One Pilots. If you don’t know the song, and you probably don’t, you can check out the video HERE.

Aside from it being an amazing song, the concept of the video is what draws me in. It opens with Tyler and Josh performing a live show in front of just 12 people. It’s a grainy video shot in what appears to be a mix between a middle school cafeteria and a set piece from the movie Saw. This is two years into the band, and after all that grinding, they are giving 110% energy to just 12 people. The video immediately jumps forward 19 months, where they are performing the same song in front of 300 people. Again, 110% energy! Then, it jumps again. This time, 20 months into the future. This time, however, they are playing in front of 20,000 people…..with the same 110% energy. I get emotional every time I watch it.

They played for 2 years for the privilege of performing in front of 12 people…..but they kept going. They believed in themselves and the mission, and they did the hard work. Fast forward another 2.5 years and they were one of the biggest performers in the world. It was nothing…..until it was everything. If they were gauging success based on worldly numbers, they would have quit long before they had the opportunity to impact millions of people. I’ve seen them perform in person three times now, and can confidently say they are one of the best live performers in the entire world. It’s an experience unlike anything.

Though most of us won’t one day become international music sensations, we too have something in common with Twenty One Pilots. Success isn’t a predictable straight line. It oftentimes sometimes seems like nothing…..until it’s everything. You may be getting frustrated with something in your world. A project you’re working on. The promotion that should have come a few years ago. The business you started. The child you and your spouse so desperately desire to conceive. It’s so hard! Sometimes we just want to quit……quitting would be easier.

I’ve been thinking about that as it relates to our podcast. We’re 200+ episodes and 60+ hours of content in. We’ve been grinding for two years. And for whatever reason, our audience has exploded in the last few weeks. Hundreds of downloads per day. New episodes and old episodes alike. We’re getting DMs from people all over the world. We hit the top charts in other countries. It’s quite weird, to be honest. Like Twenty One Pilots and so many other things in life, it’s nothing…..until it’s everything. We don’t measure success in the numbers, and I’m glad we don’t. If we had, we would have given up a long time ago. We’re chasing something more important than numbers: impact.

Whatever you’re working on, please don’t stop. The world deserves to experience it, and you deserve to share it with the world. Sometimes it’s nothing…..until it’s everything.