Success Vs. Results

That time the hip shaking was just too much

I stomached my way through about 15 minutes of a “stadium tour” special by a famous recording artist on Netflix today. The blinding lights, the shimmering and revealing costume, the handsy dancers; they all competed for attention with the over-mixed vocal mic and audience of pop-star worshipers. Of course, it’s easy to feel like worshiping when the screen image of said “star” is almost as big as the room itself.

Ahh…the Wizard of Oz factor. As many times as we have seen that film in all of its emerald glory, we still haven’t learned the lesson of illusion. And sadly, many artists and real talents have settled for being hidden behind all of the modern trendy curtains and loud noises that cover up who they really are. Someone, somewhere started telling them who they were when they started wouldn’t be enough to finish strong. They had to play the wizard and not the man.

Why can’t a good song speak for itself? Why can’t people just stay true to who they are-be an original? It always baffles me when, say, a singer who can actually sing or a writer who can actually write still gets sucked into the additives.There are plenty of performers who lack talent, and so make up for the lack with sex appeal or special effects.

But when there is raw brilliance already recognized as brilliant while the lights are still off and the clothes are still on, why dilute it? If someone was discovered for their talent, they should be maintained for it. The gift is the point, not the box and ribbons and bows that surround it.

Don’t get me wrong. I love a good presentation.Good and fitting. When things are more chaotic than complimentary,we lose sight of the real treasure. False image compromises quality content.Let the stage hold the singer, not the singer hold the stage.

As I watched this performer try to keep up with every little hip convulsion choreographed for her, I thought, This stuff gets results but not success.Would this same crowd appreciate her songs if she only had a guitar and blue jeans? Do they know good music when they hear it, or did they just come to feel the fame in the air? (Gotta get those Instagram brag-shots.)

“The net you cast is the fish you’ll catch.”

If more artists, business owners, even “churches” would be true to their roots and refuse the pressure to go big or go home, (frankly, some of these people just need to go home) they would get the people who get them. They would stay the course. They would be successful.

When we do what we are called to do organically, we produce healthy fruit. Not numbers; fruit. Not results; success.

Here’s to being yourself. Even if it doesn’t get you a Netflix special.