In every workplace, workout gym, operating room, promotional board meeting and or single person corporate gray cubical we always bump into that someone that doesn’t mind sharing a good old fashioned newly redesigned, “I’m in the moment.”
Not movement but moment.
Depending on your studies and shape of motivational engine, it easy to connect The Moment with The Zone or an act of being held within the incredible warmth of Zen; yet none of them say movement.
Former Vice President Al Gore was in The Moment when he masterminded a universal map for tree huggers, plant lovers, earth savers and the uneducated to follow a simple idea on how to better understand what Global abuse is and can do. Unlike most blessed with that heavenly feeling of Holy Cow Something Bigger Than Life is happening Batman! Mr. Gore put effort into the presentation of the message by creating a tribe of believers that spread out and moved a middle of the night thought into the realm of realism.
Mr. Gore being a political figure nabbed something from his father that's most often set aside; he learned the art of knowing the difference between telling people what to do and inciting a movement.
While growing up in teen tennis shoes I vowed to never listen to my stepfather. He wouldn’t change his way of leading, “Do it because I said so…” You can’t talk to an artist or a ship builder like that…I’m going to locate the opposite side of his reasoning and use it as a tool to better understand the reasons and purpose behind why he had to command rather than openly share.
Author Seth Godin writes, “Great leaders empower people to communicate. They establish the foundation for people to make connections, as opposed to commanding people to follow.”
One of the golden rules of radio first taught to wanna-be jocks and two speaker talkers is physically taking the time to understand the difference between "talking to" and "taking at" a potential listener. Rush Limbaugh doesn’t talk to you. He throws so much information at the image in the rearview mirror you’re forced to believe in his agenda.
I call it billboarding; how many signs along a lonely highway does it require for you to finally stop and participate? If one person tells you that Z-coil shoes comfortably erase the pain from your legs you might show some interest. If the ugly shoes with a metal coil exposed in the tail start appearing in Zumba class…now you want to own it.
But how do you learn the cultured art of talking to and not at while still holding onto the vision of creating a movement rather than an overused motion? Limbaugh’s approach has earned him enough brownie points to survive a one legged race. Through the platform of radio communications a tribe has been created therefore there is movement. As much as one assumes he's talking at you...the core source of his delivery is to you by way of constantly informing.
But how many times has a boss, parental figure or teacher set free a plan with high demands and expectations and left it sitting on your desk without participation? It’s your job or current act of survival to manipulate the forces of evil and penetrate the process only to learn it was fun the first time but every week?
Malcolm Gladwell was deeply moved by the destruction of the Berlin Wall. While the world welcomed the freedom of millions trapped behind political points and views, Malcolm found inspiration and influence in the gradual growth of a tribe that loosened the stones gaining decades of support that one day becoming unstoppable.
In 1976, my 8th grade teacher Mr. Fox once said to me, “This nation has been weakened by long lines at gas stations and the threat of a lengthy recession. There can’t be change until we decide as a people that the suffering has to stop.”
Nearly 3 ½ decades before Seth’s Gobin’s book Tribes hit shelves the mouthy war torn beyond middle aged man teaching current events to wandering teenaged minds laid out the ground work for what being part of a movement requires. What is served as a moment might feel like a gift or blessing but remains worthless until there’s movement.
Personally, I’ve found great interest in studying the makers of Monster and Red Bull power drinks. Both companies make products that alter the human mind. So do beer companies but it requires a proof of being 21 to purchase it. It’s cheaper to buy a Bud or Heineken. It’s illegal to drive while drinking alcohol but there’s no written law nor is it suggested that after having one or more power drinks you shouldn’t be driving or operating mechanical devices. The deflation of energy is like stepping into a coma which is why 5 Hour shots promote, “There’s no sudden drop.”
Power drinks are the legal cheap rush that MD 20/20 and Boones Farm wine offered at Ted Nugent concerts in the 1970’s. I can talk and talk about it all day but until there’s a movement giant signs will always influence you to buy three for $5. Steroids are illegal in professional sports and frowned upon in common man gyms and basketball games yet everyday I see average Joe’s guzzling power drinks before a workout to get their heart rate up. Take it a step further…how much caffeine do you consume a day?
Why should there be a movement if we’re all feeling pretty damn good?
The boss is coming! BRB!
arroecollins@clearchannel.com
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