One Great Reason to Quit at the Top of Your Game

To be quite honest, I was unaware The Dave Clark Five was a British band. (Somehow, their music seems to feel quintessentially American.) As a major player in the historic "British Invasion," the group was a formidable entry, knocking The Beatles off their #1 perch in the charts in 1964 with "Glad All Over". With 15 consecutive singles on the US Billboard chart during an intense 3-year span, their ascent was remarkable. However, to the surprise of many, their path was shorter than expected. Still considered to be at the top of their game in 1970, they disbanded and walked away.

Interviewed for the PBS Great Performances documentary, The Dave Clark Five and Beyond — Glad All Over, their founder described root experiences playing in the ballroom circuit in Britain. Packing in thousands of energetic listeners week after week, the group played all of the chart-topping classics (many from US artists) that they loved. Clark recounts never repeating a song in their 3-1/2 hour performances — an aspect of this period that he fully enjoyed. With growing popularity, both in the UK and abroad, he made an early pact with his group; if the time came when they no longer enjoyed the experience, they would stop.

Clark fiercely negotiated for the band and remained their producer/manager (shrewdly leasing their master recordings for only five years, unheard of at the time), even after they signed with major labels in both the UK and US. They released album after album, showcasing their rich, unique sound; Dave Clark - Drum/Vocals, Mike Smith - Organ/Vocals, Rick Huxley - Bass Guitar, Lenny Davidson - Lead Guitar, Denny Payton - Saxophone. In clouded hindsight, the "staying power" of the group has been questioned (their 2008 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was considered tardy by some) but that is a misnomer. There was undoubtedly plenty of talent to go around. But, it was the joy in the work, as it was presented, that waned.

Mastery, of course, is one cornerstone of career success, and this band certainly paid their dues. Yet, as we reach our most coveted goals, it can signal the end of a career "season". Our view of the experiences begins to shift, and in fact, it may be time for a very different path or pivot. In a sense, any of us can become trapped by our past achievements if not allowed to pursue other routes that may energize us. (You can recycle that "hit", over and over again. However, that may simply not suffice.) Clark seems to epitomize this realization and accepted that the group was growing weary of the tasks that accompanied fame. He recognized that for the group, it was time to move on.

The path to relative obscurity (as compared to The Beatles or The Rolling Stones) was unfortunately enhanced by factors unrelated to their decision to walk away. This was partially due to the fact their music was not shared freely in the years to come. (Their catalog of music was unavailable from 1978-1993. So, any resurgence in interest was hampered.) As discussed by Harold Bronson, co-founder of Rhino Records, at The Huffington Post, Clark may have made a poor decision to not re-issue the group's music during the 80's. However, he may have had his reasons.

Clark went on to explore different paths, including studying drama at the prestigious Royal Central School of Speech & Drama, and producing/directing "Time" on the London stage (notably one of Sir Laurence Olivier's last roles). The other band members went on to various projects and career paths. They never reunited, even when approached some years later. During a Sirius radio interview, Clark again relayed that he never regretted his choices concerning the band — he enjoyed every minute, yet did not want to live in the past. Most notably, he wanted to ensure that the band's true history was not re-written with the passage of time.

What we might learn:

• Stay focused. If success finds you, try to remain on a course that reflects your personal goals as a contributor. Watch for those decisions that may impact your future — and carefully consider any consequences.
• Enjoy the experience. If you've found that "best fit" and are doing what you love — be mindful and enjoy the moment. The myriad of factors that contribute to a great "career moment" are often fleeting. Relish your success. Live in that moment.
• Listen. If you begin to feel restless, listen to your inner voice. Mastery of one task/domain does not preclude exploring other paths. Start with small changes and note if you still feel limited. Be flexible.
• Watch the horizon. Life has a way of changing us and entirely new goals are often a part of that plan. Do your best not to fear what might be next.

Have you ever felt the need to move on, even while you were considered successful? Share your story.

Dr. Marla Gottschalk is an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist. She is the Director of Thought Leadership at Kilberry Leadership Advisors, Toronto. She is also writes The Office Blend.

Photo: creative commons licensed (BY-NC) flickr photo by Bradford Timeline