[ssba]

What else you got?

Imagine Albert Einstein pitching his theory of relativity to some puffed-up music industry mogul who makes and breaks stars with the wave of a hand. Albert devoted a lifetime to reaching his brilliant conclusion and here he is, in what Hunter S. Thompson called, “the cruel, shallow money trench, the long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free and good men die like dogs,” trying to get interest in his idea. Yes, Al is smarter than everyone else. But in this scenario, he’s just like the rest of us, trying to get his idea across to a hardened, skeptical cynic who doesn’t give two hoots about us our passion. So how does the mogul reply to Al’s summary of his lifetime of creativity and sacrifice? Through the smoke from his $200 cigar,  the mogul peers past Albert’s equations, symbols and hectic hieroglyphics and says, “What else you got?”

Many great ideas are initially ignored

You don’t have to be the smartest person in the world to have a great idea. However, no matter what your IQ is, your new idea will generally be greeted by a lack of interest or outright resistance. Why? Because people like what they know. They relate to the tried and true, the last big thing that everyone is talking about. But what about the next big thing? Now that’s a harder sell. Whatever the moguls of this world may tell you, remember the long list of talented people:  Albert Einstein, Jimi Hendrix, John Coltrane, Amadeus Mozart and many others whose ideas and expressions were not initially understood or accepted. Just because people don’t understand it, doesn’t mean it’s not a good idea.

Keep your dream – what you have may be brilliant

Stick to your guns. If you’ve done your best to write that great song, lyrical passage or chord progression, stay true to your art and your passion. If it represents what you believe right down to your core, then you can’t be wrong. The level of recognition your contribution receives or its immediate monetary value are not important. The significance lies in the fact that you have reached what you believe is a crucial conclusion and you have the courage to share it with others. Einstein may not have lived long enough to get a Nike or Suki Hair Salon endorsement, but that didn’t subtract from his genius. So keep playing, writing and refining your expressions and never forget, a dream is bigger than a dollar!

[ssba]