Legendary rocker Robert Plant teaches us an important success principle. Whether you like his music or not, he makes a profound point.
I recently read a very good article on him by Thomas Conner, pop music critic of the Chicago Sun-Times (Friday, April 8, 2011, Weekend section). Check it out if interested. http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/conner/4693892-452/robert-plant-refuses-to-be-weighed-down-by-led-zeppelin.html. I’ll be quoting from Mr. Conner’s article.
So here are my questions for you today: when is it time to let go and move on? When is it time to re-invent yourself? When is it time to be true to who you are and stay authentic?
One of the bands in the pantheon of rock and roll, Led Zeppelin, came very close to a reunion tour (late John Bonham’s son, Jason, would be sitting in for his father, by the way). There may have been more than one reason the tour never materialized, but the main reason seems to be that Mr. Plant was way past finished with that part of his storied career. They almost went forward with a replacement for Plant, but come one, a replacement for Plant (but that’s another story)?
Let me quote from Thomas Conner’s article:
“Plant seemed annoyed at the prospect of lumbering around shouldering that legacy again. ‘I’ve gone so far somewhere else that I almost can’t relate to it’, he told Rolling Stone in January. ‘It’s a bit of a pain in the pisser, to be honest. Who cares? I know people care, but think about it from my angle. Soon, I’m going to need help crossing the street . . . There’s nothing worse than a bunch of jaded old farts, and that’s a fact. People who have written their story—they’ve gotten to the point where nothing moves. I don’t deal in that.’ “
And again, Conner quoting Plant: “You can’t tell the same story for 40 years and think it’s going to be convincing,” he told the Associated Press in September, “because when I was 19 I met Jimmy Page, and soon I’ll be 62. So really, I’ve got to be able to move that story round a little bit, change its colors and also believe in it. It’s not a production line. So these [new] adventures are more challenging.”
What can we learn from Mr. Plant? I’ll highlight two things that struck me.
First, there comes a time for all of us when we need to end one life chapter and begin a new life chapter. Notice I said “need”.
I’m not talking about the times we need to hang in there and reform the chapter—sometimes that’s the smartest thing to do. I’m talking about those times when it’s necessary to END the chapter, to cross the chasm and burn the bridge.
There comes a point where going back is not an option. It’s no longer who we are. We’ve grown, progressed, changed. We’re not that person anymore. We can’t squeeze ourselves into those “old clothes” anymore, and the style is so “last century”.
To go back again, at that point, makes us feel like an impostor, like we’re betraying who we really are. No way could Plant go back to Led Zeppelin. Those years were like the flickering memory of some faint dream. He’s so over all of that. Picturing himself once again having to sing “Stairway to Heaven” probably made him grimace. I picture him saying, “Ughhh, please NO. Anything but all of THAT again.”
Second, It’s not enough just to end one chapter. We must also begin another chapter. Plant is definitely not standing still, resting on his fame and glory. He’s moved into new, different musical territories. His current music isn’t like Led Zeppelin. It’s different because he’s different.
You gotta respect Plant (again, whether you like his music or not is irrelevant) for having the guts to stay authentic and play the music that comes from deep within his soul, rather than selling out and just coasting on the coat tails of past success.
Sure, it may be cool to hear him with LZ once again, but it’s way cooler to hear him playing HIS music. And guess what? LZ isn’t his music anymore!
So kudos to Robert Plant. I want to learn from him.
By the way, he and Country singer extraordinaire Alison Krauss teamed up as an unlikely duo and put out an outstanding, Grammy-winning album in 2007 called “Raising Sand”. They are both so great on this album, and their voices are perfect together. A far, far cry from Led Zeppelin, indeed.
We would never have the pleasure of hearing this new music if Robert Plant hadn’t continued to live in alignment with who he truly was, letting go of what needed to end, and transitioning into new adventures. A good example for all of us who want to succeed in life.
Application: Is there a necessary ending that has to happen for you? And if you’ve already pulled the trigger on that necessary ending, have you entered your new chapter yet? If not, what’s stopping you?
Keep on working, great job!
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Hello Etha! I’m glad you like reading the articles. And keep striving after your goals–way to go!
Hey Farnoosh–great to see you here! You’re a great example to me of someone who, like Robert Plant, has let go of one life chapter that was no longer working in order to move into a much more fulfilling chapter. Thanks for your leading by example!
Thank you SO MUCH for sharing this wonderful post and your beautiful analysis…. the articulation of chapters, the need to close one and the bigger need yet to create a new one. Sean, you have said it so much more eloquently than I ever could and I am delighted that my decision was finally the one that met with fulfillment and happiness in my life. Thank you for sharing this post.
I recently quit my job and left my “life” that was behind me and am now travelling in south america. i can totally relate to what mr. plant had to deal with when ending one chapter and starting another. its a fresh start that many people never get to have, however i am finding out that as easy as it was (not truly that easy) to leave on chapter the begininng again is the harder part. what i want to do is still a mystery to me and where i want to go from here remains up in the air. i have some idea but the next few months are going to really show me what i want and where i want to go. kudos to mr plant and kudos to you sean for letting us all knwo about it. thanks for reading my blog, i really enjoy yours and i hope to have some news of personal growth for you in the coming weeks and months.
Hey Tom,
It took a lot of courage for you to end your previous life chapter. And now traveling in a foreign land–what an adventure! Few can say they really have walked in your shoes by “chucking” it all and traveling. I really admire you.
You are in the part of the journey I call “The Fog”–that area between the end of one life chapter and the beginning of the next one. The Fog is usually inevitable. In this stage, we’re confused about our future, our identity, our purpose. All I can say is keep moving! The fog will become thinner as you keep walking. Be patient. Lean into the fog. Do a lot of thinking and reflecting. And most of all, enjoy the journey–it will all mean something for your next chapter!
hey bro, I love the site and in particular the message…..I can totally relate to it. Really like the Plant and LZ connection, as I believe most people will be able to relate to that as well. As long as you are able to attract people to the site, this will work…..keep it going bro!!
2nd paragraph down, change one to on….didn’t look too hard, but I did see that. Good Luck!!!! Keep me posted.
Glad you liked the post. It’s inspiring for me to see someone who reached the top dig deep, reshape and reinvent things, figure out who he is and who he is not, and to be willing to move away from what’s comfortable and enter into the great unknown . . . but making it happen! Maybe some gaffs along the way (I don’t really know), but eventually getting his footing and kicking butt! Or . . . Robert Plant could have just kept singing the same old songs that I’m sure he’s sick of performing. Someone please send the message to Mick and Keith, Roger and Pete (or are they finally done now? I’ve lost track).