Episode 710 - Experiences Add Up

This episode of Monday Morning Mojo centers on how growth is fueled by the people we meet and the experiences we embrace. Phil shares his reflections on Linda Ronstadt's career and a story from his younger years to illustrate how learning often comes from unexpected places. The episode encourages listeners to stay open to new influences and challenges, because they are ultimately what create our life experience.

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Linda Ronstadt: American Singer

Eagles: American Band

Transcript

 Top performers in every field surround themselves with those who inspire them, who seek to build them up, and who push them to reach beyond their current limits. I am Phil Buchanan, executive chairman of Cannon Financial Institute. I designed Monday Morning Mojo to provide you with a weekly spark, a push and motivational insight to live your best life. Thanks for joining.

Good Monday morning. It is Phil here with episode 710 of Monday Morning Mojo. Linda Ronstadt is an American music legend. Her career began in the mid-1960s in California, focusing on folk rock and country rock. During her formative years, she toured with the greats like Neil Young, Jackson Brown, and The Doors.

It was this early experience that helped shape Ronstadt's music and her presence. She went on to develop her skills and acclaim in rock, pop, country, and even opera. Now, Ronstadt did not start out as the superstar she became. In her early years, she learned from others. She tested her music, and she developed. And over time, as she grew, she gave back and she helped others.

As do most musicians, Ronstadt played with numerous other skillful and sometimes emerging musicians. Now, many of the folks that she played with came and went while others, well, they developed themselves and rose to stardom. One of Ronstadt's backing bands consisted of guys by the name of Don, Glenn, and Bernie and Randy.

Together with Ronstadt, they made great music. And those guys whose last names were Henley, Fray, Leadon and Meisner, well, they went on and formed their own band and went out and made some great hits together. Today you and I know those folks as the Eagles. Now, would the Eagles have become what they became without Ronstadt?

Well, probably not because it was Ronstadt's original hiring of Henley and Fray that brought them together. And without that introduction, well, we may never have heard of the Eagles. See, it's the connections and the experiences that really matter, and over time, they can add up to very magical things.

When I was a kid, I had a job one summer that I absolutely hated. It was working concessions at a summer park. I remember complaining to my mother about that job. I wanted to quit. She listened intently and offered two thoughts. First, she told me, “Well, you're not gonna quit. You're gonna finish out your term. But it is good to figure out very early on what you don't enjoy.”

But second, she told me that every experience is a learning opportunity. Now, as a follow up to that conversation, every night, that summer when I would get home from work, she would ask me what I had observed or learned that day. Now, on many days, I struggled to come up with something plausible.

When that was the case, she would prod me even further with follow-up questions until I could pinpoint something to share. At the end of that summer, mom gave me a bound notebook of the quote unquote learnings and observations that I had shared with her each night over the course of that summer. When she handed it to me, I remember thinking, why in the world would she do this?

But then I read through the notes and I realized that I had actually learned a fair amount that summer. Maybe, maybe mom was right. Every experience can and does teach us something. Linda Ronstadt learned something from the experiences with Jackson Brown and Neil Young and the Doors and the others with whom she played, and obviously the Eagles learned a lot from their experiences with Ronstadt.

See, over time we all grow to become our own person, but it's the experiences and the influence of others that shapes who we become. Over the years, I have intentionally tried to expose myself to diverse and unique thoughts and situations and opportunities. Now, at times, I found myself wishing to be any place other than where I found myself to be at a particular moment.

Whenever that would occur, I tried to remember my mother's counsel and would try to pinpoint something that I could learn, and ironically and amazingly, I usually did. Growth doesn't come from sitting still. Growth happens when we get beyond our comfort zones, beyond our comfortable experiences.

When we get the opportunity to see new places, to hear new ideas, to pinpoint new concepts. And then over time, they do all add up to the beautiful mosaic of our lives. So, as we come to the closing of summer, I've gotta ask you to think about what are you doing and how are you adding to your own life's experiences… because they all add up.

Monday Morning Mojo is a production of Cannon Financial Institute; executive producer of Monday Morning Mojo is Sarah Jones. Editing and mixing is done by Danny Brewer. Until next time, I'm Phil Buchanan reminding you to be a force for good. Have a great week and thanks for being part of the Mojo community.