Disclaimer: Melissa edited this video herself. She trained as a life coach, not a film editor, give her a break. When the film comes out, it’ll be edited by someone who is not only passionate but persistent in their capacity to edit.
I’ve known Kevin Lyman since my pre coaching days, when I was a bus driver on the Warped Tour. (That’s right, I was a roadie!) We go back some, however, I had no idea that he "owned" the Warped Tour for at least a year, and just now am starting to realize that he does a bunch of other music related stuff as well, I never thought to ask, and he’s just not one to brag. He’s pretty easy going – just check out how he let me usurp his tour bus! Believe it or not, this was one of the first times I really talked to him about what he did and why, before this interview most of our conversations consisted of "off the road" topics, like our kids, or how to help the environment, or fishing… In fact, every time I ask Kevin what he’d be doing if Warped Tour wasn’t around, he says he’d be a fishing guide! Which, I guess, according to Kevin is all he could be, he says he’s been an entrepreneur for so long that he’s terminally unemployable, and he seems ok with that.
Now me, I had to let that sink in a little. It’s a lot to wrap my head around. Thinking like that is scary – There is no plan B. Tatiana DeMaria said the same thing. Now, I’m a fairly successful coach, and I still think, "well, if this coaching thing doesn’t pan out, I can always go work for XYZ company." But what Kevin is saying… working for himself is so ingrained, not only would he not go back, but no-one in their right mind would take him.
Is that what happens when you take that leap from doing to survive to doing what you love? Is that a good thing? I’m leaning more towards yes, but truly can’t make up my mind. And I guess that’s what the whole crux of the film is about. "Is the planned life worth living?" Is being 100% invested in what you are passionate about worth the risk? Maybe Kevin will agree to be on my panel about it at SXSW and we’ll find out. (there is still time to vote for it, I’d be ever so grateful if you did)
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This post is tagged "do what you love", "Kevin Lyman", "Tatiana DeMaria", "Warped Tour", 4fini, authenticity, life in perpetual beta, melissa pierce, unemployment
6 Comments
This is so amazing.
working for himself is so ingrained, not only would he not go back, but no-one in their right mind would take him.
That’s me. That’s so many of us. So awesome.
Kevin’s nailed it. I had 30 jobs before I figured out being an employee was not only wrong for me but it was killing me. So many of us work or worked, to survive. No passion. In many cases, it’s all pain. I was miserable at so many jobs and I knew a lot of miserable people.
I tried my hand at one successful venture and about 4 dozen smaller ones in attempts to be my own boss before I found the right way to go. And I knew a lot of miserable company owners during my employee years, and that’s the other side of the coin. Many of them are in the same fix. They are the boss or owner and can do what they want, but they preside over a group of people who are unhappy or at the very least, not a fraction as dedicated to the company goals as they are.
What must it be like to build your dream with a team that only gives as little as they can get away with and if they can take more than they should and not get punished, they’ll do that too and say, “The company owes me at least that much.”
Yeah, both being and employee and being the head of a dream your heart’s not part of, sucks too much to be viable.
You can’t just DO something for the sake of DOING something and you can’t build something just because it seems sensible. On both sides of the coin, you have to care about your day and feel fulfilled that you chose your life path well.
I would looove to be on your panel at SXSW! I’m finally goin’ to Texas! woohooo! do I get a free $500 ticket too? I heard panelists get in free.
I’ll be there regardless… but I did vote for you, just so you know. 5 stars and a mushy comment.
so, about Kevin… I was glad to hear that he sees the same problem with people that I do, there’s just not many who want to do GREAT work. so it’s not just me struggling. Sounds like it’s taken years for him to evolve to this success he has today.
is there a shortcut to all this?
if so, i’d pay $99 for the info product, put me on the list.
Hi Melissa, Thank you for the great interviews and content. I voted yes on this topic for SXSW. It would be great to approach the topic of planning from a fresh perspective and rethink the way it affects our business.
Kevin, this is your spiritual advisor. call me 323.343.9345…love, peace, respect…as always, sarah
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