Shapes and Sizes
Turns out that dreams come is all different shapes and sizes. An obvious statement? Maybe – but, I needed a reminder.
A year ago, I would have bet money that my dream was clear and I was only focused on continuing to execute. I was on a path, I had a plan, and I liked it! But, what’s the saying? If you want to make God laugh, come up with a plan.
Turns out that God wanted me to Zig when I thought it was time to Zag… And, it turns out that dreams come in all different shapes and sizes.
So today I’m on a different path, working harder than ever and having a ball… Making a dream come true that I didn’t even know that I had.
I recently became the CEO of the National Museum of African American Music (“NMAAM”) that is to be built soon in Nashville, TN. The great part about it is that this is not my dream alone.
More than a decade ago, a few visionaries determined that Nashville needed a cultural asset that spoke to African American culture. Since that time, a steadfast group of volunteers, donors and employees have worked to move the effort forward. Clearly not a sprint, and not for the faint of heart, the project has endured twists and turns, doubts and defeats, haymakers and knockout blows – but no matter how faint the pulse, NMAAM has refused to die. I guess it’s true that anything that is worth doing requires a liberal measure of tenacity.
Right idea. Right place. Right time. Right plan and Right team are all required to get something like this done. And when that happens a community is formed – and it speaks. They rally, root, push and nudge. They engage, smile and work. And the vision of a few becomes the mission the many. That is what is happening now with this project, and it’s fun to see. And I now have the privilege of working on behalf of this community and being near the front of the parade.
NMAAM is a pretty big, bold and audacious dream. It’s important. It matters – to industry pioneers, to our community, to our nation and to our people. (A large statement right?)
And it came in a shape that I never expected. I never imagined myself to be a non-profit guy, a museum dude or a music industry cat. But I suppose that’s what I am – at least as far as this dream is concerned.
Oh well… You know how this works.
Turns out that dreams come in different shapes and sizes. So, when confronted with a big dream – one that’s yours or one that you share with others – there’s only one thing to be done. Execute!
So let’s get it!
#DBTE #XEQTE
Langston Hughes wrote about Dreams:
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.
——–
Hold fast.
Dreams are hope envisioned. No matter the size or shape, each step is a puzzle piece to be designed and placed, or held delicately until its placement is discerned. Each step is a ‘dream-piece’ ; some may seem broken, ill fitted for the larger vision, and others may slide in place (for a while) then blend with other dream pieces.
Hold fast.
Execute vertically for firm roots and horizontally for a matrix that networks and secures the dream’s core so it inhales the life force from the plethora of hues that still hold and nurture it. Design a matrix network that exhales a steadfast respiration into communities served.
Hold fast to that which will emerge beyond what seems like snow. Execute so the rhythm and words of our melodious poetry breathes and soars across generations.
Be inspired by the dream. Hold fast to its execution.