A little over 17 years ago I first met one of my heroes. A musical legend to me, the artist so many that I love look up to, want to be, and much like myself, have been inspired by.
That man is Steve Earle. We were in Galway, Ireland, in a what was then a tiny little venue, much smaller than what is it today. Still a great place if you are ever in the finest city in Ireland, do look it up.
Steve spent a good amount of time in Galway, which if you've ever been you'll understand, writing music, writing his novel, relaxing and taking in the magic that is West Ireland. On the last weekend of his stay, right before he went back to the US for Christmas he played a gig in a room that then only held maybe 50 people. The show was immense, we were sat right down the front, so close that I flinched when one of his guitar strings snapped.
At the end of the show, as is common at Roisin Dubh from all the gigs I have seen there, it is form for the band, singer etc to stick around, and have a few drinks and a chat. I obviously needed to talk to Mr Earle, so hung out and waited for a moment when he was not being chatted up by one of the women he befriended in his time in Galway.
I finally got my chance, he acknowledged me, we chatted a bit, I think he was relaxed by my relaxed demeanor, those who know me know I speak to everyone the same, and we chatted for a good while. He showed an actual interest in what I had to say, I told him I had no idea what I was doing with my life, and hadn't found anything I especially wanted to do. His words have stuck with me, and replay over and over again when I need them.
I asked how I would know when I am on the right track, and he simply replied with "because you'll do whatever it takes to keep doing it". Sounds simple right?
There are times when life has been awful frankly, times when I've been on the verge of giving up, in all of my adventures I have kept those words with me. "Whatever it takes". I am sure it's a motto of some faction of the US military, but I have applied it to my every day life, wherever I have been, Steve Earle is with me.
I am in the process of writing about my 'lessons' both professional and other. As most people know I lived abroad for a good few years, in several countries, met some outstanding people, met some absolute arseholes, learned who I am, learned a lot about people, you;ve all heard it before, but being stuck in New Orleans with less than a dollar to your name, on a holiday weekend, staying in a dingy hostel, starving and thirsty, you need words like "whatever it takes" to get you through it. A week later I was in Nashville singing live Karaoke on the same stage that the night before Miranda Lambert was singing Karaoke.
"Whatever it takes" was most needed when I opened the restaurant. There is no finer an example than working two jobs, eight hours and six hours, then opening the restaurant. Night porter at Ettington Park, then home for an hours sleep, back up to go collect parcels and deliver for Hermes. Three hours sleep in the afternoon before up again to open the restaurant. Most people don't know I lived like that, it was tough for sure, but very necessary to continue to exist. I will in the coming weeks write all about those experiences, but for now just know, that's how I lost three and a half stone! Spoiler alert!
Sacrifice is the only way to succeed. I learned that a long time ago. Working for yourself isn't for everyone, I've learned that recently again. It's often terrifying, frequently emotional, always tiring, and at times lonely. But if you keep great people nearby, are willing to sacrifice things, and are willing to do "Whatever it takes" you might just have a chance.
I'll leave you with something I read the other day "If you dare to live for a while like others wouldn't dream of living, then in time you will live as others wouldn't dare to dream about" Or something like that.
Peace and Love
That man is Steve Earle. We were in Galway, Ireland, in a what was then a tiny little venue, much smaller than what is it today. Still a great place if you are ever in the finest city in Ireland, do look it up.
Steve spent a good amount of time in Galway, which if you've ever been you'll understand, writing music, writing his novel, relaxing and taking in the magic that is West Ireland. On the last weekend of his stay, right before he went back to the US for Christmas he played a gig in a room that then only held maybe 50 people. The show was immense, we were sat right down the front, so close that I flinched when one of his guitar strings snapped.
At the end of the show, as is common at Roisin Dubh from all the gigs I have seen there, it is form for the band, singer etc to stick around, and have a few drinks and a chat. I obviously needed to talk to Mr Earle, so hung out and waited for a moment when he was not being chatted up by one of the women he befriended in his time in Galway.
I finally got my chance, he acknowledged me, we chatted a bit, I think he was relaxed by my relaxed demeanor, those who know me know I speak to everyone the same, and we chatted for a good while. He showed an actual interest in what I had to say, I told him I had no idea what I was doing with my life, and hadn't found anything I especially wanted to do. His words have stuck with me, and replay over and over again when I need them.
I asked how I would know when I am on the right track, and he simply replied with "because you'll do whatever it takes to keep doing it". Sounds simple right?
There are times when life has been awful frankly, times when I've been on the verge of giving up, in all of my adventures I have kept those words with me. "Whatever it takes". I am sure it's a motto of some faction of the US military, but I have applied it to my every day life, wherever I have been, Steve Earle is with me.
I am in the process of writing about my 'lessons' both professional and other. As most people know I lived abroad for a good few years, in several countries, met some outstanding people, met some absolute arseholes, learned who I am, learned a lot about people, you;ve all heard it before, but being stuck in New Orleans with less than a dollar to your name, on a holiday weekend, staying in a dingy hostel, starving and thirsty, you need words like "whatever it takes" to get you through it. A week later I was in Nashville singing live Karaoke on the same stage that the night before Miranda Lambert was singing Karaoke.
"Whatever it takes" was most needed when I opened the restaurant. There is no finer an example than working two jobs, eight hours and six hours, then opening the restaurant. Night porter at Ettington Park, then home for an hours sleep, back up to go collect parcels and deliver for Hermes. Three hours sleep in the afternoon before up again to open the restaurant. Most people don't know I lived like that, it was tough for sure, but very necessary to continue to exist. I will in the coming weeks write all about those experiences, but for now just know, that's how I lost three and a half stone! Spoiler alert!
Sacrifice is the only way to succeed. I learned that a long time ago. Working for yourself isn't for everyone, I've learned that recently again. It's often terrifying, frequently emotional, always tiring, and at times lonely. But if you keep great people nearby, are willing to sacrifice things, and are willing to do "Whatever it takes" you might just have a chance.
I'll leave you with something I read the other day "If you dare to live for a while like others wouldn't dream of living, then in time you will live as others wouldn't dare to dream about" Or something like that.
Peace and Love
