My experience with music at an early age, and ultimately playing in a band in the early 70’s, got me hooked on the passion of singing and writing songs. I proceeded through college, and with the inspiration of John Denver, Dan Fogelberg, Gordon Lightfoot and others, I fully intended to pursue a life of being a singer-songwriter. But as I moved on from the musical dreams of my youth, the influence of conventional wisdom set in . . . Make choices that provide a good and secure income, get a “real job” and have something to fall back on, pursue what makes the most money, etc. So, I got a job as an accountant. I always worked on the music, writing songs, performing, etc., but sought to make money as an accountant in business. That led to becoming a CPA, getting my MBA, and pursuing entrepreneurial ideas to make a lot of money . . . so I could get into the music business. After many years of pursuing money, I was realizing that this plan wasn’t working and I would probably never make enough money to pursue my dream of being a singer-songwriter and performing artist.
After my brother Scott died in 1995, I began thinking about how short life really is and that I had better get on with following my dream. . . life wasn’t really about the money. I was reminded again in 2000 when my dad retired from farming and he told me “farming was my dream” after I had asked him what his true dream really was. Farming isn’t necessarily easy, and to be successful, one has to have passion for it . . . and it’s not about the money. These “wake up calls” got me started writing and performing more and looking to get involved in organizations and events to further my musical career. But time had moved on, I thought I was too old to be a performing artist. My choices were getting limited weren’t they? The thought about going out and performing, and doing things that artists do, seemed to be a selfish thought, that people would perceive that I was doing this “just for me”, that I was being irresponsible by not pursuing something to make more money. It made me feel guilty for thinking about an artist career at my age.
I began pursuing other avenues in the music business, I managed a couple of artists, did some business management, thinking that I could be making money in the business and still find songwriting and performing opportunities. But it became clear that I wasn’t going to be able to live my “artist life” dream through the life of another artist. More and more, I was drawn to resuming my dream to be a recording and performing singer-songwriter and I recorded another album in 2008 called “Life Is Good”. But, the guilt and the feeling that I was being “selfish” still gnawed at me.
My dream and my desires are NOT about ME. I’m not sure when I received this revelation, but it really changed my life and my thinking. I became conscious of the idea that my gifts, talents, desires, and dreams were God given and I had been given them for a reason. It was a calling, a destiny, a way of living that was designed for me in order to make a difference in OTHER people’s lives. Sharing my gifts, stories, experiences and insights is not about me, but about an audience who may be moved, inspired, or needing the message I can convey.
Following our dreams is not about us, it’s about making a difference for the people who need the gifts that we have been given.
I could not have said it any better, nice job