Pushing Someone to Be Great
I heard Carole King talking about her memoir, A Natural Woman, on a Fresh Air interview on NPR. King says it was James Taylor who pushed her to become a full-fledged performing artist.
“I was just with him on his little college tour the first year he went out,” she says. “And James one night just said, ‘You’re going to perform ‘Up on the Roof’ tonight.’ It was just a wonderful transition for me, from being really scared to realizing that the audience was with me, and it’s because James had set me up for that.”
I am always amazed when I hear truly brilliant artists and thought leaders talk about their fear of sharing their gifts. I am duly impressed by the generosity of the person who pushed these people onto the stage.
James was not a superstar yet. He was trying to find his way as well. Yet he had the vision, wisdom and compassion to share his stage with Carole.
I spend a lot of time asking people what holds them back and what they need to play big. This time, I’m going to ask you, “Who could use a push from you?”
I read an article recently that suggested we quit worrying about having a life purpose and instead, go find someone else to help. Who knows, you might find passion and purpose as a result.
For me, this comes at the end of a remarkable week, where the messages of ‘play big’ have come thick and fast, in different and aligned contexts. Carole King, James Taylor, Carly Simon and Leonard Cohen (just throw him in for good measure!) were all part of my formative years. Realising and appreciating that even for icons like CK there was just a moment – a second – where they realised that they were on this planet to ‘play big’ – and then they did – has been the icing on my cake. There is a lot more to lose in not stepping up, than giving it a go. Thanks Marcia!
