Life Lessons from LL Cool J (Seriously.)
Is LL Cool J a stealth life coach?
If the kids aren’t in the car, odds are good that I’m listening to Rock the Bells radio, LL Cool J’s classic hip-hop station on SiriusXM.
The other day, I started laughing because I kept finding lessons in my hours of listening. Here are three I want to share with you.
Toot your own horn – it’s a gift.
One of my favorite segments is Furious Five, where guests play their top five songs on a given theme. Without fail, they will include one of their own songs. In fact, part of the reason I listen to hear which of their songs they picked.
If you’re ever wary of sounding “too self promotional,” let this be a reminder: We want to hear from you! We want to know where you thrive, where you deliver, what excites you.
When the guests do this, it’s not annoying, it’s not “too self promotional.” It’s a gift.
Inspiration is everywhere
In Salute the Sample, they feature a sample from a song and dig into its backstory. Can you imagine hearing a PSA from the 70s and finding a way to make that audio sample the backbone of a track?
There can be so much pressure to be original, but I want to take a moment to celebrate the artistry in finding inspiration in unlikely places.
What can you look at with new eyes? What will you let that spark in you?
Make it a party
Know why else Channel 43 is a go-to? Yes, I love the music, but I also love the energy of the DJs. They sound like they are having fun. They bring on friends, celebrate successes, and crack each other up.
Who doesn’t want to be invited to that party?
This is your official invitation to look for opportunities to bring some levity, joy, and fun to whatever you’re doing today and in the week ahead.
Know what’s been the biggest party for me this week? Coaching some amazing folks. I still can’t believe I do work that consistently puts me in a better mood after a meeting.
Some of the things we’ve talked about include:
How to cultivate a spiritual practice that feels genuine and nurturing
How to make life more conducive to working on their manuscript
How to make a tough choice between a family commitment and a gathering of friends (spoiler: they found a third option that felt like a gift to their soul)
How to work with others in their household to make the back-to-school transition as smooth as possible
How to talk about an employment gap in job interviews
I light a favorite candle, pour a favorite drink (if we meet in person, I just might make you a latte), and let everything else fall away.
If you could use some of that right now, let’s talk. It’s such a joy.
