Around my house, one of those little jingles that always gets resurrected (at seemingly random moments) is from, “What’s Love Got To Do With It?”, the Tina Turner biography, starring Angela Bassett. Little Tina is singing with the church choir, and to the obvious frustration of the director, she’s inserting all kinds of spunk in between the lines of “This Little Light of Mine…”
“Jesus… (‘you know mah Lord’) Jesus… (‘he come and tell me’) I’m gonna let it shine…” (‘oh whoa whoa whoa!’)
I love thinking about little Tina, giving it all she’s got, singing for the music inside of her.
For me, that’s inspiring. When people put themselves out there, without censoring themselves because of “what will they think?” voices, or because they might appear different, I find joy in that.
When I was a kid, I used to read a lot of fantasy and science fiction books. One of my favorites was the Thomas Covenant series; in it was a giant named Saltheart Foamfollower, who used to laugh in moments when the protagonist was complaining about his misfortunes. When asked why, he’d reply, “The joy is in the ears that hear.”
That has stuck with me my entire life.
So what does Tina Turner have to do with Saltheart Foamfollower?
And what do either have to do with your business?
Both Tina and S.F. reveled in the joy of contribution. Tina loved contributing, and Saltheart loved receiving the contribution of others.
I found this quote recently of Benjamin Zander, the conductor/teacher/trainer who specializes in “living life on one buttock” (you have to watch the video, it’s really, really good), thanks to a site that has long been a favorite of mine, Presentation Zen, and for bringing my attention back to it, the Communicatrix:
This is the moment — this is the most important moment right now. Which is: We are about contribution. That’s what our job is. It’s not about impressing people. It’s not about getting the next job. It’s about contributing something. Did you do it better than the next person, or the last? Doesn’t matter. Because in contribution, there is no better.
— Benjamin Zander
Feel that for a moment (the ‘no better’ part). Can you feel the freedom that comes with that? It’s a freedom to give in the way your heart feels drawn to, without regard for consequences or outcomes. To live unabashedly. To shout your barbaric yawp over the rooftops of the world (hats off to Whitman), and live with passion.
Because you have a contribution, whether you’re aware of it in this moment or not. It may take some cajoling to bring to the surface, or you may be brimming over with it, ready to explode. Either way, your contribution is what matters, because it’s what’s going to impact others. And not just others (think: Saltheart), but yourself as well (think: Tina).
It’s your contribution that makes an impact on the world, and it’s your contribution that touches someone else’s heart and makes a difference in their lives. Living your passion is what makes life worth living, and a heck of a lot easier to get out of bed and go to work each day.
Does it have to be brilliant? Witty? Profound? Beautiful? No, not really. It doesn’t have to be any of those things, although it certainly can be. It does need to be authentic, though; authentically yours (reason #5 why people unsubscribe, according to a survey at Problogger? “Too many posts that I see elsewhere (Redundant, Repeated or Recycled News)”). What’s your spin? Your take? Your experience?
The ideas that haven’t made it past the censoring critic of your mind, and the dreams you’re too scared to give birth to, aren’t going to do anything for anyone. I can honor those, if you tell me you have them, but I can’t really benefit from them until you start sharing them with me. And I want that. Your readers/listeners/patrons want that. Heck, we need that. And so do you.
So, dear reader: What’s your contribution going to be today?
Image courtesy of Nofear089 by Creative Commons license.
And thanks to all who have commented on the previous post so far: Brian Lusk, Tony D. Clark, Dawud Miracle, Wendy Piersall, Jonathan C Phillips, Jean Browman, Jeff, Lauren, Karin H., Sunflower, Bob, Michael Setzer, Terry, Stefanie
Monk at Work is Adam Kayce's website about personal webdesign, inner peace and outer effectiveness, and helping you bringing your best work out to the world.
I just love that picture of Tina! Priceless.
Great concepts. I instantly thought of Andy Dufresne’s credo in Shawshank Redemption: “Get busy living or get busy dying.” A little harsher, perhaps, but I like ‘em terse. Oh, and I stumbled on this interesting and perceptive review of Shawshank, the film, on Capitalist Magazine! http://www.capmag.com/article.asp?ID=2367
Char, thanks. Gotta love Flickr (and Tina).
C-trix (can I call you that?), terse is good. And Tim Robbins was amazing in that movie (assuming you’re not just talking about the book…).
Talk about an amazing level contribution, despite (or, because of) circumstances (even though it was fictional); a library, helping people get their GED’s… and inspiring hope.
C-trix is fine. When you grow up w/ as many letters in your name as I do, you give in to the terse. Besides, we’re on a nickname basis now, I think.
And yes, was talking about the movie, although the book (novella, really) is about as perfect as a book can get. Stephen King is one of the great storytellers of our time, I think. I’ve been a fan since I read my first short story of his — in some chick’s magazine, of all things!
Inspiration and doorways truly are everywhere.
Right on… although the only nickname I’ve ever had was “Shorty”, in the 6th grade (although even then I towered over everyone), one of those “reverse” nicknames from a girl who liked me. Go figure.
I agree completely on the Stephen King piece; I was introduced to his writing through the Bachman Books in 11th grade. He’s priceless.
(fun thing: I used to live in Sarasota, where he’s got a remote house on the water — talk about a place I’d be terrified to approach unannounced! The thought of him chasing me with an icepick is too much to even daydream about for too long…)
Ah, the memories of mentally slogging through the double trilogy of The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant. I read the series while in medical school and always loved the concept of hurtloam. :)
Hi Adam
Reading this I immediately thought about this morning (BNI - network - breakfast meeting, every Wednesday morning 6.30am start)
Contribution is what counts there too, the way you tell it. The number of referrals you bring to the table doesn’t count (IMHO).
It’s the contribution you can make to someone else’s business by having shown a genuine interest in their business in order to truthfully recommend them to others.
(Not sure if this makes sense, hard to put into words sometimes.)
Karin H. (Keep It Simple Sweetheart, specially in business)
Barry, wow, another Thomas Covenant reader; go figure… (and for those thinking, “huh?”, “hurtloam” was a mud that healed just about anything). Nice to see you here, Baz.
Karin, that makes perfect sense. I’ve only been to a few in-person networking meetings, but most people I’ve met there were supremely focused on what they could get, not what they could give. Those who were about contribution really stood head and shoulders above the rest.
Hi Adam
Wrote a post a while ago about this givers gain principle:
http://www.thekissbusiness.co.uk/2007/01/doing_it_by_giv.html
in which I almost state the same as you noticed!
side-note: when I read the name Thomas Covenant a very vague memory began to surface. Must have been 16 - 17 year when I ‘tried’ to read that (just googled on it). Still remember it as a very weird story
Karin H.
Absolutely, Karin; it’s funny (as in ‘strange’, not ‘humorous’) how our fear keeps us from giving freely, when it’s so clear how much better off we all are when we do.
(And yes, the Covenant stories were a bit strange, but that’s what fantasy is all about, right? A whole new world…)
Adam, I just discovered your blog through you commenting on mine, and I love this post!
When I read your post, I thought about how companies contribute (or not) to their customers. When companies engage in an authentic dialogue with their customers, the contributions and joy can flow both ways. Too many companies today are afraid to give freely via social media and they end up closing ranks. The best companies embrace their customers/readers and allow them to contribute as well.
I am going to think more about this with respect to my own blog!
Adam, I also read all the Thomas Covenant books when I was in high school. They really made me think about how I viewed other people.
Thanks again!
Hi Becky, thanks for coming over.
I think the point you make is true; it’s easy to get stuck in fear, and not open the doors as much as we could. It’s a natural reaction, but it’s not so helpful most of the time!
And gosh, isn’t it wild how many people read those TC books?
Adam, that is such a great picture of Tina Turner- I think it makes your point all by itself!
Fears and “shoulds” can be such powerful limiters- how we think we should be, what we think is acceptable and desirable. When I was very active in my construction business I used to test out customers with a little semi-outrageous humor. If they responded well I knew we would do fine together. Also, if they liked my dog. Ya gotta be yourself.
Great discussion. Thanks, Adam
Stuart Baker http://www.consciouscooperation.com
Thanks, Stuart, you bet.
Dogs and humor are great litmus tests. :-)