The BIG Takeaway™ newsletter By Rich Trombetta Feb. 6, 2023
Using examples from TV, movies and sports to launch a journey toward peace and happiness at work, at home...in life. Grab the remote and change your life.™
Living on purpose Moving through life to the beat of his own drum
The context Cleveland Guardians super fan John Adams died last week at the age of 71.
In 1973 Adams bought a drum for $25 at a yard sale and brought it to a Guardians (then known as the Indians) game.
His goal was to add the sound of "seat banging" that fans produced during tense moments in the game.
Over the next 48 years he quietly took his seat in the last row of the bleachers, bring joy, smiles and energy to the Cleveland faithful; he only missed 45 games out of almost 3700 during that span.
Adams was named the team's No. 1 Super Fan; through the years he had a bobble head night (the arms moved), tossed the first pitch and even traveled with the team to a few big games.
Go deeper In addition to the joy Adams brought himself and the millions of fans who heard his steady, forceful drum beating during games, he also had an impact on so many others.
He gave free swimming classes to students with disabilities at Cleveland State University for over four decades.
He was a member of his community response team, making himself available to assist others in need.
He always made time for fans, kids and visitors from other parts of the country and the world, posing for pictures and chatting with everyone who wanted to talk about the drum.
He was, according to tweets, posts and articles on the internet, known as a gentleman and a nice, caring person who always lived life with a glass-half-full attitude, even with a wide range of debilitating health issues later in life.
Consider this Adams was never paid (after a number of years he did get free tickets) and, by all accounts, he was fine with that; he did this because he loved doing it and it brought him joy.
In fact, by purchasing a ticket, getting to the game and most likely buying a concession or two he was actually paying and financially supporting the team while asking for nothing in return.
"Major League," a movie that centers around the Cleveland Indians, did not even include him in the film; it could have been a financial windfall.
Banging that drum made him so happy, gave him a sense of belonging and provided Adams an opportunity to be involved with the sport he loved - baseball.
“There’s nothing like being down at the ballpark,” Adams once said. “Because it’s more than just the game; it’s all the people around you and all the people you see.” (source: MLB.com)
Connect the dots Adams, with that drum, found purpose and, simultaneously, lived out his values by being humble, grateful and giving toward others.
His joy wasn't reliant on his job or his livelihood (he worked for AT&T as a computer analyst) - it was all from within.
With every Cleveland home game for almost 50 years Adams had a reason to be somewhere at a certain time to do a certain thing. He had a purpose.
Banging that drum made Adams whole; I would argue that trying to monetize it, working to promote himself or seeking fame and notoriety would have ruined the whole experience.
You can almost hear the voices like devils over his shoulders whispering to Adams over the years saying, "John, you could be rich and famous." "You should make them pay you for this." "You deserve more, John."
There's just one problem - that wasn't who is was and those aren't things he wanted.
My BIG Takeaway
I realize that when I focus on purpose and meaning I am much happier at work and in life overall regardless of what I am doing and the material benefits I might be receiving.
Parting thoughts There is a lot of talk these days about "find your why." It seems daunting to me. What if the idea was to focus simply on your why for today, right now, in this moment? That I can do.
Wow. My head hurts after this newsletter. Quite the heavy topic.
Quote for the week "As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being." - Carl Jung
That's all for now Thanks for reading and please remember:
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Rich Trombetta @trombettarich
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