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Stop Being Relevant And Be Real!
May 31, 2016
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I'm going to come clean and make a few confessions...
- I have never watched an episode of Game of Thrones.
- Nor did I ever watch an episode of Breaking Bad.
- Come to think of it, I haven't gone to see the Summer movie blockbusters like the new X-Men or Captain America films. I'm not just talking about the new ones. I've never seen any of the films in the franchise.
This isn't to say that those forms of entertainment are bad. It's just that none of those things have ever interested me. I prefer to invest my time with activities that make me a happier, healthier, more well-rounded person.
I know that's easier said than done in an industry where there is an immense pressure to be "in the know" on the latest pop culture trends, but it presents an important question that you should ask yourself as you strive to find the ever elusive "life-work balance."
Are you consuming all of this outside media because it truly makes you happy? Or is it a vehicle to "follow the trends" and prove your relevance to co-workers and listeners?
I'm not here to tell you that you shouldn't take time to do the things that help you connect to your audience. Rather, I'm urging you to invest the same level of energy in the activities that help you connect to yourself.
While we tend to associate self-care as being exclusive to physical components such as exercise and diet, we often neglect to take care of our spiritual well-being. One of the easiest and most effective ways to fix this is to spend time each week pursuing the personal passions that create a genuine excitement within us.
That isn't always about being the first to see Batman vs. Superman. It could be writing poetry, reading a book, volunteering, or learning to play a musical instrument. You see, consuming what our culture tells us to consume makes us part of the masses. But the never ending pursuit of our soul-level passions is what makes us feel fulfilled.
And here's the crazy part, after recently conducting a focus group of millennial radio listeners, it became obvious that the audience not only wants a more meaningful connection to their favorite station, they can see right through any attempt to pander to them. As one 19-year old radio listener bluntly put it...
I wish that DJs would stop trying to be so "relatable." They're more relatable by being themselves than by trying to use current slang/references that don't sound genuine coming from them. I also wish radio would relate current music to what's happening in the world right now, rather than petty stuff that people don't really care about (i.e. Hollywood gossip).
Think about it like this. Bernie Sanders is a rumpled, grumpy, 74-year-old man who has captured the hearts of millions of young voters. He never did this by saying his rallies are "lit" or drawing parallels between American Politics and Game of Thrones. He did it by simply speaking openly about what he believes in. He's built a great political brand with that approach.
When you give up the need to be relevant in favor of being real, you not only feel the joy that comes from living as your most authentic self, you inspire those around you to be real too.
And the only way to let people see the real you happens after you allow yourself to know the real you.
Make it a priority this week to step out of the radio bubble this week. Do something for you! Watch and see how much it raises your level of happiness and creativity.
It's never too late to live your best life and find your happiness. I'm offering a FREE, 25-minute Creative Breakthrough Coaching session to the first 5 All Access readers who email me at dan@creativesoulcoaching.net. Want to get exclusive, self-development emails delivered to your inbox every Sunday? Sign up for FREE now at www.creativesoulcoaching.net.
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