It was somewhere back in a far away time known as “1986” that I sat listening to the “Slippery When Wet” album.
I remember sitting with my guitar and imagining my band and I playing Madison Square Garden.
I could see them and hear their applause so vividly.
I practiced somewhere around 6 hours a day, visualized and obsessed over my dream and did a heck of a lot of praying!
I don’t know what happened because it seemed like I fell asleep and some cruel bastard switched me out with a 46 year old balding downgrade of the 21 year old Paul but . . .
I often think about how my prayer was never answered . . .
not through the lens of bitterness . . . through the lens of gratitude!
For starters, my wife and I have been together for 28 years (married 23 of them) There aren’t many famous marriages that make it that long. I would have lost out big time if I didn’t have Laura in my life!
I would not have the relationship I have with my 3 kids. They are the world to me and I couldn’t imagine life without them.
I would not have had the opportunity to own a business at a young age and . . .
Fail at a young age too!
Lose my cars and accumulate $60,000 in debt . . .
Then rebuild my life over the course of 16 years to the point . . .
that my prayer of being a rock star has me doing something much more meaningful . . .
Helping others become rock stars in their own right!
And that, for some crazy reason, (that I never would have understood back in 1986)
makes me feel like a tremendous rock star!
Unanswered prayers often seem like denials when in fact . . .
They are opportunities for something better . . .
Which makes the perceived denial nothing more . . . .
Than a glorified delay!
Today, I think I’ll put myself out there and thank God for that one and you . . .
For being the audience I so desperately wanted!
With respect and appreciation
Paul Castain
On Tuesday, November 8th at 1:30 pm EST I’ll be taking the stage on your computer screen for my “Personal Branding Makeover” webinar A recording will also be available for those who can’t attend. For more info, click here dude/dudette
Very very cool post Mr. Castain! Thanks for sharing. I also had rockstar aspirations, but it never did work out for me either! I never took up the guitar, nor did I dream of ousting Richie from Bon Jovi to stand by Jon every night. I was going to play keyboards for Van Halen, while Ed rocked his guitar like only Ed can do! But I digress.
At the end of the day Paul, it is cliché to say that everything happens for a reason, but it does. You need to combine passion, the willingness to help others, and the love of what you do to make it all possible. But it happened for you, and I commend you for that big time. I am making baby steps towards getting there as well, and it will for me some day, I know it in my heart.
As much as I would love to have seen you on stage doing what you dreamed of doing all years ago, I look forward to seeing you on stage one day helping everyday people find their way in sales & management. You are so correct in saying your true path is incredibly helpful and much more meaningful than if you had a brief interlude of rock and roll stardom!
Thanks…
Thank you Tim!
It sounds to me like you are finding your own version of playing keyboards for Van Halen.
The key is to never stop rocking and you’re all over that concept too!
Thanks again Tim . . . I always appreciate your contributions!
You are more than welcome Paul! And yes I am trying to live out my rock on roll fantasy in a more positive way as well.
At the end of the day, helping others will be a cool legacy for us both, and many others as well.
Thanks..
Paul-
Your prayers were answered. Just not the ones that you thought you wanted. You rock, thanks for all your blog posts and advice.
Jim
Thanks Jim 🙂
Hey Mr. Paul, I sure hope you can hear the cheers and applause from where you are – it is deafening here! Thanks for being real! Best wishes for continued success for you and your precious family!
Anita
You’re the best Anita . . . Thank you so much for your friendship!
Never look back, bud. We cannot change the past; we can influence the future! Channel your energies in a positive direction.
Thanks Paul.
Marc
AMEN Marc!
Thank you!
Very good post Paul. Many of us, including yours truly, had ambitions when young that if fulfilled, would have taken our lives in the wrong direction. The difference is that most of us don’t put in six hours of day in preparation. But regardless, the secret to happiness seems to be “wanting what you get” and not “getting what you want.” Or as John Lennon put it, “Life is what happens to you while you’re making other plans.”
I often think of that incredible phrase Lennon coined and find that the older I get the more spot on it is.
Thank you for contributing and for your kind words Christopher!
In the words of Zig Ziggler, “No regrets”. Have a great day, I appreciate your posts and will continue to reflect upon the road ahead, not the road behind…
I agree with Jim K. I believe all prayers are answered. But some are answered with a resounding, “No.” (Or at least, “not now…”)
I agree Larry!
Thanks for taking the time to stop by!
Amen!
Thanks Rebecca!
So Paul, you are saying that I should be listening to Journey and “Don’t Stop Believin’-” just had to throw that in there! That is the “theme” — oh no again, I could not stop myself. Okay, Everyday you nudge me, Thank you for all of your inspiration!
A sincere honor Jay.
I’d say that song is quite fitting my friend!
Thank you sir!
“Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers” Garth Brooks. I know, I know, wrong genre, but you catch what I’m throwing Uncle Paul. Great post!
I often think about that song Beth and caught it 🙂
Thanks for stopping by Beth . . . I really appreciate you!
The universe and God have a way of derailing our plans and then providing us with new opportunities. It is not necessarily the goal, but the journey that forges us into what we become.
Couldn’t agree more Jim!
Thank you!
Dido… well at least most of it. I’ve been “my girl” for 39 years and my year this all started was 1969. Oh and I played “keyboard”.
Thank you and that’s a great song by the way 🙂
Man plans, God laughs. I too am grateful for a few unanswered prayers.
Thanks Audrey!
“No regrets” is the perfect phrase for all of us to reflect on David.
Thank you so much!
Meh. I’m still bitter about not getting my shot to play for the Red Sox.
More seriously, both of my kids nailed big goals on Saturday, which helped remind me of what’s really important…that apparently, my wife and I have done an ok job at this parenting thing 🙂
Sounds like you and your wife did a fantastic job . . . Congratulations to you both!
Thanks for stopping by Scott!
Paul, great message! Garth Brooks knows something about unanswered prayers…
He sure does . . . Love that song Scott!
Thank you for the kind words my friend!
As the saying goes God works in mysterious ways, this seems to be validation. Good on you Paul for seeing the blessing in disguise.
Thanks for the rockin’ reminder…. the 80’s, when MTV actually played music AND the good stuff!
Gonna have to put some Bon Jovi on the MP3 player.
Adam
I get teary eyed thinking about the old MTV Adam.
Those were very cool days indeed 🙂
Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
Being an “old guy”, I sometimes think “what if?”. Then I wake up and realize what a wonderful life I have. No regrets seems to sum it up. Thanks for a great post (one of many I would add!).
That’s the spirit Tom!
Thank you so much for the kind words . . . I really do appreciate it!