It’s said that Charlie Parker, often called the primary inventor of jazz’s bebop style, frequently pawned his saxophone for drug money and played any old clunker saxophone at shows. But what’s most important is this: they say that even when playing on the absolute junkiest of horns, he positively sang and soared! In other words, his artistry and musicianship shined through every time despite using a crappy horn.
Now if that’s not an argument for the idea that equipment doesn’t matter, I don’t know what is.
But seeing as most of us don’t play the saxophone (ok, me excluded) what does “equipment” generally mean for business owners, entrepreneurs, and creatives?
It could mean anything. A computer and a mouse (raises hand). Paints and a canvas. A brew kettle and a hydrometer. A kitchen and all necessary ingredients. A needle and thread. You name it.
What equipment do you need to do the things you love to do? Are you entirely happy with your equipment?
If not, I would like to convey two things to you today:
1. Nice equipment helps, but it’s NOT what’s most important
Don’t get me wrong – having nice equipment helps. In my mind, the purpose of investing in good equipment for something we’re passionate about is to make our job as creator as easy and smooth as possible so we can focus on the creating rather than the mechanics. However, dwelling on one’s equipment or lack there of is a trap (and quite frankly, an excuse). Keep your focus on the quality of what you want to create, and in time you’ll have the resources to obtain the equipment you want.
2. You will shine through, no matter your equipment
Let’s say you’re a professional speaker and you show up for an engagement and realize that the screen on which your slides will be shown is super tiny, the speaker is distorting, or your microphone doesn’t work and you have to go acoustic. If you stay focused on what you’re there to do, believe me: no one will remember the logistics of equipment gone wrong. What they’ll remember is YOU and the impact you had.
Playing the saxophone, speaking to an audience, preparing a feast – it’s all the same. Crappy equipment will make your job harder and nice equipment will make your job easier, but if you’re determined to create something spectacular with what you have, you will.
