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Career Path Surprises: What Herb Alpert Can Teach Us
I had the joy this month of attending a concert by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass. It’s a national tour that celebrates his 90th birthday and the 60th anniversary of the 1965 #1 hit album Whipped Cream. What I thought I wanted to write about was his sharing that when his 98-year-old sister asked “why in the world are you doing this”, he answered “it gives me energy.” Does YOUR work give you energy? What can you do to give yourself energy in general? For me, a big thing is dancing, so it’s been fun to enjoy dancing to A Taste of Honey again, like I did in my childhood game room.
Then I realized that so much about what Herb Alpert shared and what I additionally learned about him had the theme of SURPRISES. As a career counselor who helps people with career “planning,” it was a nice reminder that you just never really know. We can try to plan for the future, but sometimes life just unfolds.
Here are a few surprises and reflective insights:
-Just before the concert, I read that he is Jewish! How interesting that he picked up the trumpet at 8, fell in love with the music at bullfights in Mexico, and then introduced Latin-inspired music to the American public. REFLECTION: Anything is possible!
-He helped launch grammy-winner Brazilian musician Sergio Mendez through his company A&M Records in 1966. REFLECTION: Support others and authenticity.
-As a record producer, he turned down the eventual number one hit Louie, Louie. REFLECTION: Sometimes we make mistakes.
-His big breakthrough was the song Whipped Cream that trumpeter and band leader Al Hirt turned down. By the end of 1965 it was the best-selling album in the US, surpassing the Beatles, Rolling Stones and Frank Sinatra. REFLECTION: What is a good (career) fit for one person may not be good for another. And sometimes we get lucky.
-A Taste of Honey which won four Grammys in 1965 was actually Side B of the original record. Herb Alpert convinced business partner Jerry Moss (who thought it was undanceable) to promote it based on audience reaction. REFLECTION: Listen to others, trust your instinct, and advocate for what you believe.
-I didn’t realize the beautiful abstract art slides during the concert were painted by him. He was a painter and sculptor since 1969, exhibiting in US, Europe and Asia. REFLECTION: We can move forward with talents in multiple directions. Honor where you are drawn to.
-Herb Alpert and his partner sold their A&M label to Polygram in 1990 for $500 million. He created the Herb Alpert Foundation that focuses on the Arts as well as Compassion and Well-being. REFLECTION: Main earnings may or may not come from core passion.
-While looking him up on-line, one of the suggested searches was inquiring about his “mental breakdown.” Indeed, it was the fall of 1969 when he had a dramatic moment of witnessing his unhappiness during a performance. It even affected his musicianship, and he entered many years of therapy.
In an interview with Los Angeles Magazine, Alpert said:
REFLECTION: Nothing is more important than one’s mental health and self-awareness.
As a self-described introvert, he is frequently referred to as kind and prizing unfettered imagination and heartfelt sentiment. I experienced him as unassuming and authentic. How would YOU like to be remembered?
Image through through Creative Commons through Expose
How Sue Inspires Me: Recognizing Administrative Professionals Day. What Keeps YOU Going?
Sue seems ageless to me. She’s been my administrative assistant two days a month for 15 years now. At first, I thought Sue mostly wanted my very part-time work as a retirement income supplement. Then a couple years in, I learned that she found the work meaningful, helping me help people, a part of my two-person team. Wow, she was doing the work partly for the value of meaning, just like I encourage my clients. Does your contribution to the world bring you meaning, whether work, volunteering or family?
What can you do to keep you going? To keep things fresh? To keep you fresh?
Sue does just that and is an inspiration to me. She might not think so. She’s just been doing her thing. Church work, hosting weekly sing-a-longs, working out at the local community center. A long time effort has been her leadership in the Funeral Consumers Alliance of Western Pennsylvania, an affiliate of a national educational nonprofit offering funeral consumer support. Sue was on the board for almost ten years, including as Secretary and Treasurer. A couple of years ago at the age of 76, she stepped up to be President of the group during a major transition period. About two months ago, I saw the fall newsletter she wrote announcing activities, including the annual meeting. It was so professionally done, and it struck me that she was in essence running a business, this meaningful organization.
How lucky I’ve been to have had Sue’s talents all these years. I wanted to recognize her today on Administrative Professionals Day.
Who might you want to recognize and thank for the support and inspiration they’ve given you?
What keeps YOU going? What might you do to help make your days on this earth even more meaningful? If exploring a career change or retirement path, I’m happy to help.
Creation Out of Chaos
Whether chaos of career or country, it can signify a state before creation where something entirely new and yet unknown has the potential to emerge.
I’ve seen the chaos of COVID-19 cause people to re-examine values and make big time career changes. My hope is that the chaos of the country will cause kindness, compassion and deeper spiritual growth to emerge. Meantime, I take agency and action inspired from a place of love…in my family, community and country.
Taking action for career chaos or uncertainty may include self-reflection and career research; often working with a career counselor can bring some organization to randomly spinning thoughts.
As I have been contemplating the theme of chaos lately, I came across a blog post I made on January 12, 2021 following the January 6 attack on the US Capitol. Below is a brief excerpt of the article I quoted that may be applicable during these times.
A Speed of Soul Encouragement – Acknowledging Grief, Claiming Love, Remembering Radiance – Excerpt
By Carrie Newcomer, Artist/Musician, originally posted in www.DailyGood.org, January 9, 2021
In closing from Karen: May you find some calm and creation in any chaos of career and country.
CLICK HERE for complete blog post/article.
More about Carrie Newcomer HERE
Image: Chaos by Fenyou 2012, Creative Commons License