This past week I've been on vacation. It has given me a chance to think, to reflect, to ponder and to appreciate many things...as well as put up a post on the ol' blog, which I have been neglecting to do for awhile.
This summer has been a unique one...one that will stick in the crevices of my memory for the rest of my days. Unseasonably cool temps and above average rainfall have made me wonder if I will ever see a sunny and hot summer in Michigan again. Of course, that logic is ludicrous. My meteorologist and global warming detractor friends will remind me that it's all cyclical. My hope it that it is. But the things that will stick out in my mind the most about this past summer are not the unusual weather we've had here in Michigan, but these two things...zebra stripes and potential wasted.
Yesterday came word of the death of Adam Goldstein, a.k.a. DJ AM in New York of an apparent drug overdose at the age of 36. This is just a continuance of talented people this year who have meet an untimely demise, as a previous blog post spoke of. As part of the brotherhood of club DJs from my days as an industrial beat mix pioneer back in the 1980s in Detroit, DJ AM’s passing has a strong resonance with me. He survived the fiery plane crash last year with Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker, narrowly escaping death, only to succumb to the overindulgence of addiction from trying to deal with the crash.
So let's get back to the two things that will stick out the most in my mind from this past summer. You all more than likely have heard the saying, "A zebra can't change its stripes." Maybe you remember it more as "A leopard can't change its spots." I have been reminded of this saying lately in dealings with some talented folks who have crossed my path in recent history. They have incredible talent, but to progress and to realize the potential they have, they need to make some changes to either their work ethic, the way they treat others, their perceptions, and/or their perceived fears and demons. However, they tend to dismiss gentle reminders that these roadblocks stand in their way between their current mediocrity and greatness, which in essence is wasting their true potential.
Over the years my paths have crossed with many talented individuals. Some have gone on to success in much bigger and better things in many fields and genres. I could "name drop" here with a list, but I won't. Others I've known have failed to realize their potential and either languished in the background of anonymity, became frustrated because they never caught the elusive “brass ring”, chased something that was not in line with their true talent, let their fears or habits hold them back from the success they deserve, fail to listen to those wishing to help them realize their true potential, or foolishly touch that “third rail” and prematurely check out off the planet.
I’ve had the privilege to listen to DJ AM’s last rough mixes. I’ve listened to them several times this morning. Being a beat mix DJ myself, I can hear the thought processes that occur in a DJ’s mix as clear as if they were speaking them in conversation to me. In DJ AM’s last mixes I hear an eclectic thought process filled with questioning and fear. It was a haunting listen for me, reminding me that life is fragile for those dealing with fears and demons. It also reminded me that I have passed through this valley myself years ago and have come through it a survivor to realize my potential in life. In the words of a musician friend of mine, “Life is precious, life is sweet.”
Awhile back I bought a book titled “The Essential Laws of Fearless Living” which opened my eyes to what holds people back from realizing their full potential…not wasting it by being held back by fears and behaviors that tend to sabotage success. I utilize what I’ve read in this book not only to help myself, but to help others I know that have true talent and potential that is being held back by subconscious sabotaging behaviors and fears.
I lent the book out a few months back to a very dear friend who I have seen tremendous talent and potential in, yet they seemed to have sabotaged it over the years and still seem to continue to do so. I hope that they read it…and hopefully I get the book back someday. If I don’t get it back though, no worries…if they keep it and use it to conquer their fears and realize success with their true potential, then it was much more than worth the price I paid for it. That is my hope.
Then I can add them to the long list of people who have crossed my path that have succeeded in realizing their true potential, passing through that valley of uncertainty victorious, and successfully “changed their stripes”.
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