Practice standards so you can break the rules
- January 17th, 2008What moves people?
I think it’s when people think they’re going to get one thing and get an extraordinarily better thing instead. Take Paul Potts for example. His story moved me because my expectations got blown out of the water. When I watch it play out, it’s hard for me to believe it’s true. Normal guy turns into extraordinary guy in an instant.
But, what’s often missed in a story like Paul Potts are the standards he worked on to set up this moment … when no one was looking. All of the hours of singing in the shower, of learning opera on his own without formal training, of surely being made fun and discriminated against (notice the judges looks when he declares what he intends to do), of not having confidence but practicing anyway, of discovering an inner passion that demanded to have a voice … these were all just preparatory fires he needed to go through to set up a single moment that changed everything. Paul Potts was was given an opportunity to break the rules everyone else had put on him … and he was prepared.
What standards are you practicing? What skills are you refining when no one’s around to give you credit? Might a rule breaking moment be just around the corner? Let’s go get ready.
Keep it strong.
-Dane
January 17th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
AMAZING! Great point.
January 17th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Thanks for the inspiration, Dane.
January 17th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
WOW!!! This is a perfect example of perseverance and being honest with yourself. This reminds me of a stage I’m going through- having the determination to break through the emotional and mental barriers that seperate the successful from the ordinary, and that can only happen with an honest assessment of one’s strengths and weaknesses- you can’t cheat or lie your way to success. Thanks for posting this, Dane!
January 17th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
It took me 18 years to shake off all of the “you can’t be a pro photographer without x, y and z” rules and just dive in and do it. My only regret? Waiting so long. But I know that all the life lessons I learned over all those years probably would have been lost if I had done it any earlier.
Thank you for the reminder, Dane — I was just singing in the shower, getting myself ready, until the timing was perfect for the amazing opportunity that now lies before me!
January 17th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Fantastic post! Thanks for the inspiration and for posting this…:)
Erin
January 17th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
[...] just posted this on his blog…I loved his commentary, the video and the inspiration behind it. CLICK HERE to check it [...]
January 17th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Wow…
very moving…
thanks so much for sharing! i think this is the moment that opera became beautiful to me.
January 17th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Strong post. Thank you so much.
January 17th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
I have seen that video so many times, and every time it moves me. Thanks for the challenge and for the chat today. Let’s start a movement y’all!
January 18th, 2008 at 1:29 am
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and this video. Very, very inspiring.
January 18th, 2008 at 3:28 am
Wow. Not much of an Opera guy, but I literally have goosebumps and a lump in my throat. Awesome. Awesome. Thanks Dane.
January 18th, 2008 at 7:14 am
That moment was the Divine speaking…and it was pure love and light.
January 18th, 2008 at 9:25 am
Thanks Dane, very inspiring.
January 18th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Thats the kind of goods to keep life moving forward with inspiration!:) Thanks for posting.
January 18th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Wow….simply inspiring!
January 24th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
yes, good comment - “that inner passion that demanded to have a voice.” Paul kept squeaking open a few doors of opportunity, and behind one of those doors was Simon Cowell. Need I say more?
January 27th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
Incredible…and I SO needed to hear something like this today….thanks for posting!!
January 28th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Soooo inspiring. Thanks for posting that Dane.
Dang…my eyes watered up too!! :-)