It’s certainly no secret that I perform for a living. Sometimes I perform keynotes, and sometimes longer seminars and workshops. Sometimes I perform as a coach, and sometimes as a consultant. Sometimes I even perform just talking on the phone. By the way, so do you. That’s why this small lounge performer made such a big impression on me. It wasn’t his voice, or his guitar, or his banter; it was his guts.
Imagine that you are performing in Key West, Florida, at a bar on Duval Street. If you haven’t been to Key West, then you probably don’t know that Duval street is the main street in that town. It is a very intense party street, lined with bars and live musicians. One musican scheduled to play on this particular Friday, on the 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm shift, was our man, Captain Josh. He had his stage at the edge of the bar, almost on the sidewalk. This was usually a great spot to be playing on a Friday afternoon Happy Hour, but little did he know he’d have a little competition this time.
Captain Josh Take The Stage
Buffett Takes The Stage
The rumors started on Friday morning, and the Parrot Heads were buzzing. (A Parrot Head is the name for a loyal fan of Jimmy Buffett.) They were in town for their 20th annual convention, and word was Jimmy Buffett might make a surprise appearance. The trucks started appearing around noon, and by 3:00 pm, major parts of Duval Street were closed off. Jimmy Buffett was going to be performing a free, outdoor concert right there on Duval Street and he was preparing to take the stage at 4:00 pm. The town was buzzing, the Parrot Heads were chirping, and a few blocks away, in direct view of the stage, Captain Josh was given his orders: “You are to play.”
3:45 pm – Sirens are blasting as Jimmy Buffett, was escorted through town in a black limo with motorcycles flanking every corner working his way through the thousands of fans and to the stage. Captain Josh was working his way to his stage as well, alone, and with little to no fanfare.
4:00 pm – Both performers take to the stage. Buffett steps out to a crowd of thousands which includes many people hanging out of windows, and off street light poles. Captain Josh steps out to face his audience of exactly one.
Captain Josh's Crowd
Buffett's Crowd
For the next 90 minutes, the two men perform. Jimmy Buffett does not disappoint, and he brings it home with a stirring rendition of, “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere.” Captain Josh does the best he can, with a stirring rendition of one obscure song after the other.
Enough. You get the point. Even I can’t draw any more relevant parallels between the two performers. As a mater of fact, I’m willing to bet you that 99.9% of those in attendance, including Captain Josh’s lone fan, who, in fairness, really just used his stool to turn and listen to Buffett, viewed this as not only a mismatch of epic porportions, but an embarrassment. Everyone except me.
Don’t get me wrong; I loved the Buffet performance… but I was inspired by the Captain Josh performance. Maybe that’s because, perhaps not quite at this level, I’ve taken the stage facing some pretty overwhelming odds. Did I ever tell you the time a speaker’s bureau subbed me in for a speaker who had to cancel at the last moment in Los Angeles without telling the audience? Did I tell you the speaker the audience was expecting was Bill Clinton? I’ve been there.
I’m not alone, because you’ve been there too. Oh, it might not have been a gig 50 yards from a Buffett gig, but you have faced impossible odds and were given no choice. I spoke to a few performers at the Captain Josh gig, and I learned he was given no choice. He was told to perform, and he did, and he did the best he could. He didn’t quit, and he didn’t make any excuses. He just did the best he could.
Think back to the last time you faced impossible odds. Maybe it was to land a big account, accomplish a nearly impossible job, or to serve on an impossible committee. Yes, there is an early step that usually provides an opportunity to run away, but we can’t all run away. Sometimes we have to stay, and fight. Sometimes we have to face overwhelming odds, and like Captain Josh, we have to keep going. In the end, we do the best we can.
I considered myself extremely lucky to be walking around Key West and walking right into an impromtu Jimmy Buffett concert. But I consider myself even more fortunate to have found myself face-to-face with the real story, and a powerful reminder. At the end of the day, there are some things we can not control. Yet, we can always make the decision to persevere, and to do the very best we can, no matter what the circumstances. We can decide not to quit. Effort and attitude are always under our control. Thanks, Captain Josh… and Mr. Buffett.
Rob, This, for some reason, reminds me of a scene in the movie, “Rushmore,” which I know I have suggested to you. The main character is thrown out of private school and his 1st day in public school he introduces himself. He’s wearing a blazer and he gets up from his desk, buttons his blazer, and goes through the motions. I can’t describe it but he does what he has to do and the main thing is that he keeps his own private dignity.
Same as Captain Josh: he could have thrown his hands up and left the stage but he kept his bearing and did what he had to do.
Rob…It is always so interesting to see how you can take an incident and turn it into such an inspiring story. Happy journey!
Rob hi,
Captain Josh had a job to do. He was paid to perform at a certain time. His employer asked…and he did, with his “paid-for-time,” what he was employed to do.
His approach to his “mission” was military-like (fitting on this day). On command, he took the hill against great odds. Not letting his emotion rule… instead Captain Josh’s personal integrity, strength of charter… and his commitment to duty ruled his actions. A great story in internal triumph.
It’s not surprising you saw in the Captain what a lot of folks missed. Nice work!
You are singing my song Rob. I’ve been there too (DuVal St)I stopped at Jimmy Buffett’s restaurant. I think it’s called cheese burger in paradise. Anyhow, as my wife and I were eating, in walked Jimmy who sat at his table and was accompanied by a few “business looking” people. A few fans approaced him for autographs and from afar, I could tell he had asked for some privacy as they returned to their seats. In just a few minutes, Jimmy was signing some papers and headed for the door, but not before returning to his fans for a brief follow up. I was impressed then at his very business like demeanor and continue to admire his business success and his music.
A very nice story, Rob! Key West is a great litle town! Lots of excitement there!
I liked the last sentence of your next-to-last paragraph.
“Do the best you can”!
That’s what Lee, your Dad – and Chris, my Dad, used to tell us all the time! Words to live by – from two great guys!
J.M.
“C.T.”
Rob,
Doesn’t it always seem to go that those toughest, lump-in-the-throat moments are the ones we remember and grow from. I’d love to hear the story about your opening line when the audience was expecting Clinton and they got Rob. Lucky them! I continue to appreciate your story telling style.
“Yet, we can always make the decision to persevere, and to do the very best we can, no matter what the circumstances.”
A quote for the ages. And one that not many follow, especially in this decade. How sad.
Perserverence comes from your core, your sense of self-worth, your moral compass; so many today have not had to perservere for anything..it’s been given freely, often without consequence. Being given a free ride without the discipline of perserverence is soul-destroying and undermines personal best. I see this so often in my business…it’s always ‘move on, find the BETTER’. There IS no better without perserverence, flat and simple.
I hope Captain Josh performs again soon
I agree with @GaryDanoff. Would love to hear more about how you won the audience over when Bill didn’t show.
Okay, then I’ll write! I’ll aim for the 25th… unless I get smacked on the head by a Captain Josh type BLArticle™. Thank you and everyone for posting. The greatest joy of writing is hearing feedback from a reader.