Last year I got an email from a band I follow closely (let’s just say I have *multiple* T-shirts and a few signed posters) that made me say “Whaaaaaat?!”
This band I love, Darlingside, was originally comprised of four friends: Dave, Harris, Don, and Auyon. Every time I’d seen them live (and there have been many) four they were and four I assumed they’d always be.
Until I read this email and learned otherwise. As it turned out, Dave, one of the primary lead vocalists as well as the bass player in the band, had always found touring hard on the soul and deeply needed to spend some time at home with his wife and two (very) little ones.
The other three band members came up with a solution for how they could still tour globally and perform for their many fans. They called it “expand-o-band” and it involved inviting some of their closest/oldest musical comrades to join them on stage. And while at home, Dave could still be just as involved in songwriting and recording albums with the band moving forward.
But how would the fans react? While I’ll admit that when I attended my first “Darlingside Sans Dave” show I was a bit skeptical, I found they were just as wonderful as ever. They were still great musicians playing songs dear to my heart and that’s all that mattered. Looking around at the show, I found that other fans agreed wholeheartedly.
In short, when encountering a scenario that traditionally may have meant “band is breaking up” – these open-minded people decided to support their friend with love AND come up with a creative solution for how everyone could still do what they needed to do for the band to continue on. They found a way for everyone to win: Dave, the rest of the bandmates, and most of all, the fans.
What’s the lesson here? I think it’s that when you encounter a challenge, if you want there to be a solution there will be. And if it means bending or breaking unspoken “rules” that exist either in your mind or in our society at large, so be it.
So in your life – whether it be within your business, your creative projects, or even your relationships – don’t be afraid to come up with creative solutions when you encounter challenges such as the one described above.
And it doesn’t matter how atypical it might look – if it supports all involved with love and gives everyone what they need, chances are it’s a pretty darn good solution.
<3
