I have been so very wrong.
I have always believed that winning – being successful, making money, satisfying clients – was about being the best, being first, having the right degrees, knowing the most, and working very, very hard.
So wrong. Head-shaking, side-of-the-head-smacking, boing, boing, boing, wrong.
How did I find out how very wrong I was? At the 2010 World Yoyo Contest. Yep. At a freakin’ yoyo contest.
My thirteen year old son is a yoyo fanatic and I took him to watch his heroes compete for three straight days in Orlando last week. I thought “I’ll take my laptop, get a little work done, chill by the pool and he can hang out with the string dudes.”
I had no idea that I would be captivated by the competition, the creativity and the excitement of the whole event.
And then I got this huge life lesson, smack between the eyes. Happily, it didn’t involve actually getting hit with a yoyo but it wouldn’t have been any less dramatic. (My son, on the other hand, did split his chin with a yoyo while we were there but he says it was worth it to learn some new tricks.)
The epiphany happened during the freestyle finals. It’s the main event: 26 competitors from all over the world performing tricks with a single-handed long-spin yoyo, each doing three-minute routines. The music is loud, much of it like frantic electronic house music, and the dominant competitors are the Japanese. These guys have laser-like focus and dazzling speed. The yoyos are fired like lightening bolts from the hands of mythic creatures. They defy gravity and form complicated shapes like string origami. The crowd shows approval my yelling a single syllable: “HWHOA!” It starts low and get louder and higher as the routine becomes more exciting.
The big a-ha came from a Canadian named Jensen Kimmitt. From the minute he stepped out, he was different. He was relaxed and c-o-o-l. He wasn’t throwing a $200 titanium yoyo, it was a plastic Yoyo Factory Northstar that costs less than $40. His music wasn’t hopped-up techno; it was the hypnotic Gorillaz’ “Dirty Harry” with a chorus of children’s voices and it was distinctly slower than others’ music.
I have seldom been mesmerized but I was awestruck by Jensen Kimmitt. My son called Jensen’s performance “sick nasty.” That sounds about right.
He was technically brilliant. He was confident. He was Arctic cool.
Of course he won. By an unheard of margin of more than 15 points and, from what I can tell, with the highest score ever for his event at the Worlds. But he had won before he ever stepped out.
What was his secret? He made the audience feel something. He made ME feel something. He broke the mold of the same old pop-and-catch tricks and did something that was more like dance, more like art, more of a rich experience for everyone who witnessed it. It was unmistakable that the performance was full of meaning for him. No wonder his music sounded a bit like a snake charmer theme. He charmed us all. HWHOOOOOA!
That was the secret I learned last Saturday night. The secret is to make people feel something. The secret is to make the experience meaningful. With enough practice, anyone can master the fundamentals. With enough money, anyone can buy premium gear. But few are the people who show up with soul.
In business, there will always be someone who can price lower, work longer, be more technical or offer more bells and whistles. But there is seldom someone who can make you feel. There is seldom someone who can create an experience that imprints you. There is seldom someone who is plugged into the meaning and deep purpose of what they do.
What would you rather compete on? Faster tricks or a performance that lights up a crowd and can inspire a thirteen year old boy and his slightly jaded mom?
I googled Jensen right away that night and (why was I surprised?) he’s an artist. His Vimeo profile says quite simply “I’m a creative person.” He’s on a mission to promote the “wonderment” of yoyoing.
Well done, Jensen. Well done.
P.S. This video doesn’t come close to capturing the feeling in the room but at least you can get a whiff.
Related posts:
By Laurie Foley
Laurie Foley helps solo professionals discover their natural brand so that they can get clear, get noticed and get clients. Sign up to receive your free copy of The Inner Brandifesto, her popular guidebook full of brand-building exercises.
{ 1 trackback }
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
You are so right on here Laurie.
I have met musicians who are technically skilled. Who know the mechanics of their instrument inside and out and who can recite music theory for days.
But when they play? Nothing.
No zip. No zing. No mojo.
And then there are the people who rock my world when they make music. People who make me laugh or cry or break out in a case of some serious shakey butt.
There’s something behind what they do that is bigger than the gear and the technique. That’s when I feel the music in my bones. And whatever it is sticks with me long after they’re done playing.
p.s. You’re one of those people who have this special something. And it rings through every delicious word of this post. Rock on.
.-= Fabeku Fatunmise´s last blog ..Go Big Or Not =-.
@Fabeku – I dearly hope we can break out in serious shakey butt together someday!
Laurie,
An outstanding article. I agree. Sick Nasty certainly describes Jason Kimmitt’s performance in the words of a teenager. Sick Nasty also describes how I feel when I’m being hustled by some Slick-Willy business person who only cares about the bottom line and sales stats. As far as you being “wrong”, I can only say that I’ve always found you, your professionalism and your writing to be upfront and from the heart. Nothing “wrong” with that. As a matter of fact, I give you a big HWHOOOOOA!
Sheila
@Sheila – I give you a big HWHOOOOA, too!
” ”
That was the sound of my mouth hanging open while I watched the video. Sick nasty indeed.
.-= David Cohen´s last blog ..Endearing imperfections =-.
@David – Hugs to you my artist friend for helping me learn more and more.
Hey Laurie!
What a fabulous article! I’ve always enjoyed what you’ve written and love reading your posts. However, this one was a little different. I sincerely appreciate your learning and then being willing to share what you’ve learned. You are soul. Thank you!
.-= Deidre Hughey´s last blog ..Question 3 – Past Trauma =-.
OMG – How’d he do dat??? Laurie that was an absolutely awesome post. I totally FELT something. . . . excitement, amazement, thrill, desire to succeed at (anything) THAT successfully and w/that much joy. Wow, talk about focus and authenticity, eh! Thank you sooooooooo much for sharing soooooooooo well. All I wanna know now is how do I get tickets to the next yoyo tournement!!
Thanks, Laurie. I enjoyed this post and watching Jensen. Amazing!
That was a brilliant post and lesson, Laurie. I’ve sent the video to a friend who has a few sons. They’ll definitely enjoy that.
So, you say I can stop working so very hard & just get more connected?
Sounds like a much better way to spend my time!
“Even in ordinary business transactions, sympathy is an important factor, for people will always be attracted to those who are of a kindly and genial nature, preferring to deal with them rather than with those who are hard and forbidding. In all spheres where direct personal contact plays an important part, the sympathetic man with average ability will always take precedence of the man of greater ability but who is unsympathetic.” [from http://eightpillarsofprosperity.com
Cheers, Thea