Could You Be On The Edge Of Greatness?

In his new book "Greater" author Steven Furtick opens with an honest discovery of how important Steve Jobs' role played out not only in his life but around the world. He describes the Apple creators passing as one of those "Moments." A mile marker that will be revisited over and over. Like that of President Kennedy's assassination, both NASA Space Shuttle disasters, Ronald Reagan being shot outside a simple place during a much simpler time then 9/11; you know exactly where you were the "Moment" word reached the circumference of reality. But this isn't a book about Mr. Jobs or emotions spent living in a past that can't be changed. Furtick didn't write this book by way of offering two tickets to assumed paradise. As a writer he's able to communicate directly to the path carrying the feet, holding up the body, igniting the heart, feeding the brain which sends out messages to keep pushing forward. The art of his expression doesn't fall into the category of I am "Greater" than you. The portrait painted offers the shadows of everyday life where picking up the kids from school has evolved into your current claim to fame. You know the nightly scene; from figuring out dinner plans to trying to move a mountain of laundry. Hardly if ever do you seize the opportunity to soar like an eagle. Yet the motivational posters make it look so easy. Being on a public driven stage for thirty three years I've met a lot of "Great" people. Unlike Little League Baseball with their Brother Option rules where it's an automatic induction onto the team. Being seen with "Great" people won't instantly land you a presence on a list of "Greatness." And yet we've become "Those" people that need to succeed or life isn't worth it. Show me someone that doesn't want to touch the savored edge of one day being called "Great" and I will introduce you to a liar. Furtick isn't shy to uncover the several levels of what we've been taught to believe is "Greatness." I feel no need to make a list. What we place in our imaginations requires too much room on the computer page. You already know the game. It was a plan to be seen, heard, accepted and if done right influential. "Greatness" is brilliant marketing. "Greatness" is having the courage to reach outside your body and share. "Greatness" isn't always connected to "Greater." Furtick calls "Greatness" a slippery and wild beast to ride. I vividly remember the Charlotte Observer reporter poking his head into my radio world searching for reasons why someone from the Carolina's would be considered to replace Casey Kasum on American Top 40. "I'm taken back by how you seem cautiously excited. At the age of 25 this has to be what will become one of the "Greatest" moments of your career." When Rick Jackson announced that Arroe Collins had won a second Employee of the Year Award, the first in the company's 80 years of Broadcasting I felt less than "Great." Most recently The Doves Nest one of Charlotte's biggest and "Greatest" outreach programs designed to save, protect and help guide generations of lost visions asked to display a piece of my art in a room filled with children who had become disconnected. The painting of two children walking through garden on a cloudy morning would serve as a positive message they could look up to. To see a continuation of trust, faith and support. You would think "Greatness" might be the golden key the Artist would be holding. Honored yes... "Greater" no... If I'm reading Furtick's message correctly...it resembles what we're taught in Martial Arts. Too much of our energy and little time left on earth is spent trying to be "Great" at too many things. Master one thing... Winning American Idol isn't enough. Then we want to be number one on the charts inside world that doesn't purchase full CD's any more. Success cannot be fully achieved unless there's a world tour and everybody in the crowd is sporting a T-shirt featuring a mug shot of your smug without snot. I did cry a very fast tear of excitment when the Radio Advertising Bureau unveiled my name on their Mercury Awards nomination list of 2012 commercial "Greats." Only to spend the next four weeks wondering why. I'm no different than you! Something good happens and immediately the ill feeling of, "Oh oh where there's a positive evil lurks." I put up my guard, built brick walls, took pictures of the mountains I'd have to climb and dug a hole too deep for anyone to easily reach down and pull me out. We're convinced that "Greater" means a price has to be paid. According to Furtick someone's already foot the bill. I'll be Blogging about his book "Greater" a lot. It's perfectly ok if you ignore it the moment it pops up on Face Book, Twitter or Stumble Upon. You're not going to hurt my feelings if heart wrenching words like, "This jerk is too positive for me" falls from the lips connected to your nose then up to the windows of your soul. The "Greatest" thing about daily Blogging...unlike my on-air radio breaks, it doesn't fall from the speaker onto the car floor then out the door when quickly emptying the passenger side of trash and clutter. My goal isn't to lift your day but to teach you how to talk to the eyes in the mirror that keep calling you names. This page isn't a Band-Aid but an Artist's way of saying, "I can relate... try this and let me know how you feel in ten minutes." I will always believe in you first... arroe@arroe.net