And by a rock star I mean Bruce. And by Bruce, I mean Springsteen. Of course. After almost an entire lifetime of watching, listening, loving and being inspired by the man, I have gleaned some life lessons.
1) Live authentically. There is a lot written about the authentic life – it is a popular topic for many coaches, lots of blogs and plenty of magazine articles. Certainly most Oprah-related shows or magazines are all about living your authentic life. But what does that really mean? The short answer is that it means living according to your values. “No, I always felt that amongst my core fans – because there was a level of popularity that I had in the mid ‘80s that was sort of a bump on the scale – they fundamentally understood the values that are at work in my work,” says Springsteen.
2) Set goals – Goals are really important in a rock star’s life. Write them down. Bruce Springsteen said “From the beginning, I imagined I would have a long work life”. Canadian comedian Jim Carrey is said to have written himself a cheque for 10 million dollars at the beginning of his career, intending to have enough money in the bank to be able to cash it 10 years later. Goals don’t have to be that lofty, but they should be SMART – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and in a Timeframe. As American philosopher Elbert Hubbard said, "Many people fail in life, not for lack of ability or brains or even courage, but simply because they have never organised their energies around a goal."
3) Work hard. Work harder than everyone else. Work harder than you thought possible. Make sacrifices. Don’t take the easy way out. Choose to do what will help you reach your goals. “I was 25 years old, with no place to go and nothing to do that helped, ...We worked, and worked, and worked. It was very frustrating. But in the end, luckily, all of everything we did ended up in there.” Yes Bruce, you certainly did.
4) Live in the moment. This can be tough for many people – including me. On October 19th 2012 my husband and I went to our sixth Springsteen concert, but our first in General Admission where we watched from the pit. Bruce and the band demonstrated complete mindfulness. They were there. They were truly present with the audience. Of course I found myself struggling to stay in the moment. I was deliriously happy and for a couple of seconds all I could think of was “what if I die tonight? What if we get into an accident on the way home tonight?” So there I was. Standing about six rows away from my absolute favourite singer/songwriter/celebrity/inspiration and I still could not be in the moment. But watching him, listening to him and yes, actually touching him as he crowd surfed overhead forced me to remain in the moment. Not dwelling on the past and not worrying about the future. Just experiencing that very special time.
6) Look after yourself – Both mind and body. According to a New Yorker article by David Remnick, "he’s followed more or less the same exercise regimen for thirty years: he runs on a treadmill and, with a trainer, works out with weights. It has paid off." Mental health is equally important – make sure you look after your mental health.
7) Surround yourself with amazing people – Stick with people who nurture your spirit and your soul. Avoid those who sap your energy. Listen to others. Be respectful, open and positive. There is a reason that the E Street Band (in whatever variations) has been around for more than 40 years.
8) Marry someone you love and love the someone you married. – Sometimes this is harder than you would think. Like many people, Bruce married someone and then divorced. Simply by watching from afar, I could see that he and Patti have loved each other deeply for more any years and their love continues to inspire.
9) Dance with your mom
9) Don’t be afraid to take risks. And if you are afraid, take them anyway. Again, when you develop a level of self-awareness you can learn to trust yourself. And to love yourself. And know that whatever happens, you will survive. Cultivate resiliency within yourself.
10) Give it your all – whatever “it” is in your life. For Springsteen, it is offering his audiences the most amazing concerts. “I'm in search of how to take the stuff I've written and make sure the audience hears it fresh again. It's been a lot of fun. I've enjoyed it.” Springsteen shows are famously long and fun. Three hours is a short concert for him. But what people love about his shows is that he empties the tank. There is physically nothing left to give to his audiences.
When I meet with my clients, I try to give them information like a rock star. It does not matter that I say the same stuff a dozen times a day. For each of these individual clients it is the first time they are hearing it. It needs to be fresh, true and real. And when I do this, I know I am giving it my all. When I leave my office I am tired. I have no energy. My energy is in my clients. It is in their tears, their stories and their lives.
It is in the excitement, passion and confidence I speak with. When I have no energy left at the end of the day, I know I left nothing on the table. I am a rock star.
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