I believe it was the great Hannibal Smith who said “I love it when a plan comes together” but what do you do when the original plan has to be scrapped?
Its way too easy for us to respond with a confident “Well you adapt!” but that’s easy to say now . . . How about when we’re actually under fire?
Now imagine being a 16 year old or even an 18 year old rapping version of yourself and having not one . . . but two microphones cut out on you while you are performing in a duo that is trading lines back and forth . . . in front off a packed audience of your peers!
That’s exactly what happened to my sons last night at a talent show where they competed.
As you watch this video, keep your eye on my son Nick on the left side of your screen.
His microphone cuts out and the DJ trades microphones with him while he’s rapping like 90 miles an hour. Realizing that he was just handed another crappy mic, he adapts at light speed by walking towards my son Paul, shutting off his mic, gently gets rid of it and then shares a mic . . . in a song where there’s a tremendous amount of trading back and forth.
Instead of getting flustered (which I must admit I would have at that age) they stepped it up . . . and snatched second place!
I’m awfully proud of them (and not just from the old proud dad side of the fence) I’m proud of them because the competition was insane last night, lots of talent and yet they placed second while having technical difficulties!
Let’s bring this back around to business . . .
Computers will crash
Key people will get delayed in traffic
Something will go terribly wrong with a demo
You might even have a left hook hit you on the personal front that could cloud your thinking come show time but . . .
The show must go on and we must give it our all!
I can’t speak for you, but I’m way more forgiving of myself when I know I gave it my best . . . even if the results aren’t what I wanted.
Enough about me and my crazy rapping sons . . . how about you?
Have you had to shift gears, execute a “Plan B” or dodge a wonderful left hook?
