Turning song lyrics into life lessons – and sharing them out loud.

The more I explore Role Model & Inspiration, the more it keeps finding me.

In recent weeks I’ve received emails talking about it, resources around it, leadership themes, webinars all around the importance of role model and inspiring leadership.

Well, this is what I’ve been doing for years… is everyone else only just catching on or is it suddenly now cool – a bit like country music?!

Similarly to my shift, my clients are also finding this pivotal in their growth. So, I’d like to share what happened for me to discover this useful anchor and see the great benefit of it.

Personal growth often happens following a challenge of some kind.

I’d heard the term ‘no rain, no flowers’. However, I didn’t really see this until around three years ago. Prior to this I seemed to get stuck in any kind of setback, clinging onto the negative of something not working out or going the way I hoped. I let things become my identity and took pity on myself, instead of seeing it as just a part of my journey and something to grow from.

I’ve written before about my excitement when a quote or song lyric appeals to me, but it really all came together for me in a personal development workshop in 2022.

Our exercise was to describe our experiences and journey using something creative. I had no idea where to start until I looked at my reflective journal notebook where I constantly write quotes and song lyrics in when they appeal to me. I took some time to think about the highs I’d had in the past, and how the lows that followed affected me. So how did that compare to where I am now?

Only then could I see that it was because of those highs and lows and the in between parts of ups and downs, trying to find my way back that made me who I am now.

• Every mistake gave me learning
• Every challenge and tough time gave me resilience
• Every step forward gave me strength
• Every new day gave me hope

I’m now so proud of myself for being honest when I was struggling and getting the help I needed to give me the power to find me and my passion.

So I gave myself a song, which, I believe is me speaking to me.

It’s by Kip Moore, my favourite artist and it’s called ‘Comeback Kid’… one line is ‘I’ll get where I’m going, because I know where I’ve been’.

I’m also very proud of being brave enough to tell this story to strangers in a workshop and now to all of you! But the reaction I got back made me so overwhelmed and elated.

Now, I’ve spoken before about Kip Moore, this lyric is now on my website along with some other inspiring quotes. I love him and his music but the reason he’s a role model for me is the excellence in what he creates and his dedication to it, his humility and his authenticity. He’s led by the passion for grit and determination with a depth of self-belief I was once envious of but I’ve now developed for myself. He quotes ‘don’t look at the pack, do what you really feel’. This gave me the confidence to do what I believed in, and what was in my gut.

So, in that workshop a confidence in honest vulnerability came to me…

My core passion is through music and lyric and how it speaks to me. When I found an inspiration and a confidence to use that, things really started to shift.

My work almost 20 years ago was in ‘Role Model Leadership’. I trained, led and developed people using the ‘Inspiring Others’ approach. I always wanted to be a role model to others, but I never considered back then, the importance of having one of my own and also being one for myself. And it’s had a profound impact on my self-confidence and personal brand.

A more recent group coaching session explored ‘Role Model’ and I built on what I did in that first workshop, only this time I reflected on it by creating tools and resources to discuss and use with my clients, it really works! This isn’t copying, it’s using your inspiration to create your own style and become a role model in your own right – to both yourself and others.

Since then, I’ve sought out inspirations and built on my growth by using them, but that first one, is a real special one.

The stars aligned last month when I ran into Kip unexpectedly. I was over the moon to have a chance to chat with him and be brave enough to tell him about the inspiration he and the ‘Comeback Kid’ lyric have been. His reaction was so humbling to see – I guess no matter how well known someone is, hearing that your work meant something so real to someone else, that’s the magic we’re all looking for, right?

You don’t need to be a leader of people to influence others positively, leading yourself authentically will result in you leading yourself to success.

So be proud of yourself

Don’t give up on yourself and don’t be afraid to share your journey, you’ll be amazed at the feeling it gives you when you hear how it’s influenced or helped other people. The sharing in itself will also help you too!