Hi Friend,
This past week was absolutely fabulous because I got to see Jack White in concert in Tulsa. The show was amazing. He shredded through 28 songs total, offering something from all of his iterations (White Stripes, Dead Weather, & Raconteurs). Mostly though, it was songs from his last four solo albums, which are simply delightful, if you like innovative Rock-N-Roll.
I went with my good friend Phil. This was our third time seeing him together. Once was in a small venue in Dallas. The second was in the ballpark in Tulsa and this third time was in the BOK Center – which holds 19000 people. I thought it was an oversized venue for him. It wasn’t packed, but the entire place rocked like crazy!
My other good friend David was also there. We chatted about the show a few days later and both had the same impression. Jack was in full “Performance Mode”. He literally didn’t address the crowd until 35 minutes into his set! He just blazed through one amazing song after another. And finally looked up and said, “Oh Hello Tulsa. I guess I’m ready to greet you.”
It was uncharacteristic. From the shows I’ve been to and the live recordings I have, he’s usually a pretty chatty fellow with a good sense of humor. He didn’t bring any of his usual wit, charm and observations to the audience. As a matter of fact, he didn’t really make an effort to connect with the audience at all.
He and his band did, however, offer the most amazingly tight, ridiculously creative, powerfully electric musical expression. Their skill and cohesiveness are overwhelmingly mind-blowing.
Performance vs Connection
What matters more to you? If you get excellence but feel like a number as a customer, is it satisfying? Then again if you get all the warm fuzzies and feel-goods, but the end result is average or a little above is that sufficient?
I’m sure like me, you’re thinking “Can’t we have both?” I suppose the answer is “Maybe. Sometimes. Sure.” The variable is the unknown state of being the person who is offering it is in. Jack may have been having a bad day and thought “I’m still gonna give em a great show...” which he did.
In our lives, relationships and work do we sometimes offer inconsistency? When we do, do we think “I can still be a professional and get my job done, so it doesn’t affect the end result.”
When we lack connection we focus on achievement.
When we lack greatness we focus on rapport.
When we provide both we create delightful significance.
We underestimate the impact of our inconsistencies!
How many different versions of you are there? Oh, I know your answer. I’m asking about what the people in your life would say? Immediate family? Colleagues and subordinates? Vendors and clients? Friends and extended families?
Consistency is the Ultimate Trust Factor!
Consistency enables both performance and connection. Inconsistency creates a duality of reality.
Instigating Ideas…
1. Go to a live show this summer!
2. With whom are you most inconsistent?
3. Where are you most consistent?
4. Do you know why someone wouldn’t trust you?
Jack put on one heck of a show. From all the other shows I’ve been to, this was my favorite one musically. I have considered that it’s possible he made a conscious decision to change his persona on stage. It’s his show, he can do that. You and I can also decide to change. The people around us might not appreciate it initially.
That’s one of the things that makes growth hard for us. Everyone around us expects us to be exactly how we’ve been.
It could be Jack took the bold step of booking venues that are bigger than anything he’s played in on his own before and he determined to give even the nose-bleed sections a show. That’s as likely, if not more so than him having a bad day.
I would love to hear how you navigate your own consistencies and inconsistencies. Are you good at extending grace to inconsistent people in your life? Please Share!