Rub Elbows with Greatness

Rub Elbows with Greatness

I believe one of the most essential elements in helping a person define and develop their craft is this … we must rub elbows with greatness.  We have to brush up against the greats and hope some of their largeness splashes over onto us.

I had that privilege with a man named Ronn Huff.  Ronn was one of the most creatively musical personalities I've ever known.  Ronn passed away about a year ago, yet his impact on me continues.  I would occasionally call him just to chat, and once, on a business trip to Nashville, two other music directors and I paid Ronn a visit in his home. 

I consider some authors to have the same influence.  Seth Godin, Og Mandino, Brennan Manning, Max Lucado and others seem to ignite the writing fire within me every time I read their words.  I love brushing up against their lives and letting them influence me in fresh and new ways as I re-read their words and highlight new passages that I’ve never highlighted before.

I think this is the reason many people find it beneficial to have a mentor in their lives.  They have found some person large in their abilities with whom they identify and have joined together in a mentoring relationship.

One of the great concepts in becoming a productive and progressing person is simply this …

Rub Elbows with Greatness.

This is what is

on my mind today.

It's All About People Blogsite

P Michael Biggs

Hope~Encouragement~Inspiration

People Matter More Than Skill

People Matter More Than Skill

I want to tell you a true story and a confession.

During my freshman year in college, every Sunday I would make the drive of 53 miles to my hometown where my Dad pastored a church.  I was the music director and Dad loved it when I would bring someone down who could play the piano on Sundays.

My date for this particular fall Sunday was a classmate named Mary Francis.  She was a piano player and I happened to need a piano player and so we set the time and took another couple with us.

As Mary Francis was getting into my 1957 Chevy, I got distracted by something and closed her car door on her hand that was still in the door track.  Needless to say, she was in a lot of pain.  I was concerned for her hand, no doubt, but now saw my hopes dashing to the ground of not having a piano player on this particular Sunday.

Somehow, Mary Francis agreed to continue the trip, and we all hoped her hand would get better with the hour and fifteen-minute drive we had yet to make.

We arrived, she sat at the piano and tried to practice a bit, but was in obvious pain.  However, she went head and played for that morning service.

And we never dated again. 

In retrospect, I was more concerned at the possibility of not having a piano player than I was at the pain I had caused her hand.   I should have manned up and insisted that she sit this one out.

I let my need for a skill get in the way of recognizing her as a human being and honoring what might have been best for her under these circumstances.

Before now, I’ve not reflected too much on this incident to this degree since it happened 52 years ago.  What an unfortunate fumble I caused. 

What is my takeaway now?

People are always more important than their contribution or skill that they bring to the table. 

During my years as a full-time music minister, I do remember telling my choir members that sometimes you may need to sit out on occasion, or you may need to take a break entirely from choir for a while.  And I actually had some to take me up on that.  That flies in the face of my successful counterparts who boasted of consistently large choirs and steady attendance, but I did a good thing by offering that. 

If I had it to do all over again, I’d still give them a chance at a break, and I would especially have let Mary Francis off the hook on that Sunday. 

Skills come and go.

Sunday church services come and go.

And people are more important than any performance, any award, any race, any piano playing or anything else we may demand of them.  When we honor people, no matter the situation, we always win.  Even if they can’t perform at that particular moment in time, or never perform again to our satisfaction.

People matter more than any skill they offer.

This is what is

on my mind today.

It's All About People Blogsite

P Michael Biggs

Hope~Encouragement~Inspiration

When Your Name Gets in the Lights

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When Your Name Gets in the Lights

We’re watching the Golden Globe Awards on TV at the moment.  I just watched Sandra Oh accept her award.  As many others before her tonight, she has honored her fellow actors, crew, tech, producers, et al.  What struck me the most just now is how she honored her parents. 

They got their name in the lights for a brief few seconds.  What an honoring act. 

When Carolyn reads my blogs to me, out loud, I am honored. 

I’ve managed people, and the best part of managing is when we get to honor our teammates.  No one gets on top as a solo act.  No not one.

Share the glory.  Your team mates deserve their share of credit.

This is what is

on my mind today.

It's All About People Blogsite

P Michael Biggs

Offering Hope

Encouragement

Inspiration