Wes and I walked out of the Denver airport. We were headed to visit a strategic partner in the Englewood area. Joey, our driver, introduced himself and immediately oozed charm. He was a gentleman in his 60s with a very youthful face. That and both ears pierced with gold hoop earrings. A warm and hearty greeting was followed by the usual banter as we pulled away from the airport.
At some point, Joey disclosed that he was a concert musician and had lived a pretty full life. As the stories began to pour from him I realized I had put my iPhone down and was no longer concerned about the 43 emails in my inbox.
Joey told us he was a "bari". "What did you say? A bari?" I asked. He replied, "I play the baritone sax. The big one!"
He continued, "Yeah, I've been 'round music my whole life. You know my Daddy, he played with Nat King Cole! Me? Well I've had fun. I used to perform while I was in the service. During 'Nam I went and entertained the troops with Bob Hope."
Wes and I shot each other the first of several questioning glances.
"I got my first break from my buddy Philip Bailey. You know from Earth Wind & Fire? Yeah I played horns on tour for Phil. 'Course it was Phil that hooked me up with Sly & The Family Stone. Those were wild times! I sometimes can't believe I survived those days," He said with a deep laugh and big smile.
We looked at each other again, big grins on our faces. I think we both felt like we were sitting on a park bench next to Forest Gump.
Joey, our bari-playing driver, went on to chronicle his life as a traveling band mate of Phil, Sly, Larry Graham, Tina & Ike Turner, and even Paul Simon. His love for music, and horns especially, was matched only by his inviting smile and big eyes.
We pulled up in front of our destination. We paid, exchanged pleasantries and said goodbye. Wes and I walked into the building and got on the elevator. He said, "So how much of that do you think is true?" I thought about it. "I don't know, half?" We both laughed.
As our meeting wrapped up, we called the car service to take us back to the airport. I suggested we ask for Joey again and they obliged.
Now that we were old friends, he really opened up on the way back. Some of those stories - especially being on the road with Sly - I can't write about here. There was so much detail, I don't know how somebody could make it all up. I decided it didn't really matter.
So what are you doing now we asked? Joey didn't hesitate. "Well I had some rough years and had more fun than I should have. I was real messed up for a while - even lost all my horns. But I just got married. Sixty-three and married, ha! My wife and I are forming a band."
He kept going, "Yeah, I realized how much I miss being on the road. It's going to be something that no one has really done. We're going to mix horns into a Country & Western line up! You see fellas I want to be sitting in the back of the limo like you - not driving it."
As Joey went on to enthusiastically talk about his plans for a horn playing Country & Western band, I couldn't help but admire him. Here he was at sixty-three years of age still working on a dream. Still practicing and fighting for it. He had not lost his passion or commitment.
What's The Risk?
I see a lot of leaders just going through the motions. Sure they've got a plan, but there probably isn't a lot of risk in it. It may not even be all that exciting any more. And it shows in their businesses, organizations, teams, and departments.
When did they stop dreaming? Without something to shoot for there is no passion. Sooner rather than later a subtle apathy sets in.
What's your dream? The risk is that you waste your talents on uninspired work. Even worse, if you're a leader, whether you realize it or not, you're likely having a significant impact on those around you with your "set it and forget it" approach. How much better could the people around you be if they were following inspired leadership?
Joey has a dream. He loves horns. He loves being on the road playing horns. He wants to bring the same joy he gets when he hears a horn to as many people as possible. And he's intrigued to do it in a way that really hasn't been done before - in Country & Western.
Different strokes for different folks, right? The point is, as Joey knows, it’s never too late to chase your dream!
