Tuesday, December 10, 2024
It is the opinion of many that football has overtaken baseball as America’s favorite pastime. Though I have been a lifelong baseball fan, I tend to agree with the conclusion. It makes no difference whether it is high school, college, or pro, football has a huge following, and its audience only seems to grow.
People also seem to like the raw emotion of football. The touchdown celebration is certainly a fan favorite with explosive cheering from the audience coupled with the exuberance of the player spiking the ball in the end zone upon scoring. It denotes an accomplishment: a “score” which can lead to “winning.”
This past weekend I had an interesting discussion with a young musician friend of mine named Joseph Neville. I met him several years ago during the production of a show which had a theme like some of the national talent shows you have watched on TV, like “The Voice” or “America’s Got Talent.” There were 10 shows over a span of months, and each show had a winner selected by a panel of judges. At the end of 10 shows, those 10 winners competed in a championship show.
We were lucky to have some extraordinary talent compete in those productions. Andrew Sevener, who won the competition, later went on to finish third on “The Voice.” Joseph was one of the finalists, and though he did not win I have always had a warm spot in my heart for him. He is a wonderfully kind and sweet man that I think almost anyone would like to call “friend,” but primarily he is a talented musician with his own style and a unique voice. His looks remind me of Lyle Lovett, but his skills and demeanor have a contemporary James Taylor sort of vibe.
Since our first encounter, I have kept track of Joseph’s progress. He had taught school, but he gave up his job to work at music full time. He gave up his apartment for the road and spent the night on the sofa at friends’ houses or slept in his car. He suffered through the shutdowns of Covid. He played wherever he could, for whatever they would pay him, but he invested in himself and learned his trade. He grew and developed, matured, and became musically “seasoned.” He learned the subtleties of performing live, of how to connect to an audience, and the importance of making an audience not only hear his sound, but to also “feel it.” His progress has been steady and his growth inspirational.
This past weekend, Joseph was the entertainment at a VIP event of a prominent art show. It was great to hear him perform and spend some time with him. I commented on how much he had grown and evolved and how proud I was to see his growth. At one-point, Joeseph turned to me and said, “I have learned that it is important to keep working and to not get caught up in little ‘wins’ and milestones I may accomplish. I have seen my friends in the business have a big moment, and then they want to rest on their laurels only to find they have lost their momentum and learn they may never get the momentum back. I have come to realize that, to be successful, it takes work and commitment, dedication, and never being satisfied with what you have accomplished but always asking for more from myself.”
I responded by affirming his thoughts. In the game of life, there is never a time where we get to spike the football, and the game is won. Each day is a new challenge, and we must prove ourselves to the world around us. It is important to show that we belong and deserve what we seek. We are entitled to sit on the lofty porch of success, but that entitlement only comes by paying the price to get there. The coin of the realm is dedication and hard work.
All too often people say they “deserve” success, or they should be able to have what they want merely because they desire it, not because they have earned it. I am proud of my young friend Joseph and relish the joy I receive seeing him grow, learn, and earn his place in life.
Joseph may have yet to “spike the football,” but I sure would not bet against him. If you get the chance to hear him and appreciate his talents, you will not bet against him either. He has what it takes, on stage and in life.
Thought for the day: Some people dream of success while others wake up and work hard at it; those folks succeed on purpose.
Until next time … I will keep ridin’ the storm out!
