Leadership in unexpected places - Dave Grohl's memoirs.

As I walk into my local bookstore looking for some light holiday reading, I am immediately drawn towards a table featuring Dave Grohl's memoirs. I wouldn't consider myself a "die-hard" Grohl fan but as a 'metal-head lite' I had always been intrigued by his journey from Nirvana to Foo Fighters.

I'll be honest, I struggled to get into this book. I was looking for that holiday read that would sweep you up and make you forget about your current reality and I was reading about a nine-year olds frequent trips to the hospital. I put it down and decided to people-watch instead.

Later that evening we are walking through the 3000-year old streets of this Spanish port town when my husband stops and points at a shop window. It wasn’t a book store but it was featuring - dead center on top of a Greek colosseum-style podium - Dave’s book. I took it as a sign to keep going.?

The next day, I settle into my beach chair, I pick up the book, leaf through a few pages, and put it down. YAWN. This isn’t captivating. It’s not written for me, why am I pushing through this? I ignore the sign from the night before and put it down and get back to more people watching.?

Later that day, we’re walking through the market at lunch, it’s rammed full of people milling about. Through the crowd, a man walks toward me in a Foo Fighters t-shirt. What?! Weird.

We have a leisurely lunch, and by the time we finish the market has closed and the crowds have dispersed. There are a few street performers taking solace in the shade, and as we walk out, one of them starts thumbing through the opening chords of “smells like teen spirit”.?

Okay, I get the message.

The next day on the beach, I keep going, trying to figure out why 'someone' really wants me to read this book. Then it happens. I stop seeing Dave as a musician I can’t seem to relate to but an artist committed to their craft.?

Dave didn’t have traditional formal training and for the most part, was self-taught. For a long while saw that as a disadvantage leading to thoughts of not “belonging”. But what he did have was a relentless obsession to his craft. From an early age, he dedicated himself to drums, singing, and learning guitar. He was hungry to learn, and not having formal training made him a student of life, something that shines through the stories in the book.?

"Having no true music training, I didn't refer to the sound as notes on paper; it became shapes that I could see in my head as I listened intently to the multiple layers of instruments. My inability to read music sharpened my musical memory because the only way I could retain information was to take a mental snapshot of it in my head, which honed my ability to focus. It was the handicap of not having lessons or even an actual drum set to learn on that challenged me and made me work even harder to get better, to find a way to succeed.

I know that now."

?"I know that now..."

As soon as I read these four words they spun through my head on repeat.

I thought to myself; what perceived 'handicaps' am I holding onto that are actually sharpening my innate superpowers?

Having written a book on business leadership before I had turned 30, I've had a number of folks along the way ask me what 'right' or 'qualifications' I had to write it. Being young and impressionable I started seeing this as a weakness. This knocked me and it subconsciously held me back for years to come. My imposter took the wheel. But this passage made me reflect; "What if my "lack" of formal experience is what qualified me to write a book intended to challenge the status quo of traditional leadership?"

Questions for you...

• How might you be relying on formal degrees, certifications, badges that mask true feelings of self-doubt?
• What perceived disadvantage is actually your super power in disguise?

I know that now...

On overcoming his imposter.

Without giving anything away, towards the end of the memoirs he shares a critical moment where he decides to enjoy the journey instead of feeling like he doesn't belong. Accepting his success. That it was no accident, and owning the fact that he is in these places, with these people, because he worked, showed up, committed, performed, etc.

Replacing anxiety with acceptance.

“Courage is a defining factor in the life of any artist. The courage to bare your innermost feelings, to reveal your true voice, or to stand in front of an audience and lay it out there for the world to see. The emotional vulnerability that is often necessary to summon a great song can also work against you when sharing your song for the world to hear. This is the paralyzing conflict of any sensitive artist. A feeling I've experienced with every lyric I've sung to someone other than myself. Will they like it? Am I good enough? It is the courage to be yourself that bridges those opposing emotions, and when it does, magic can happen.”

Questions for you...

• What are you afraid of sharing that the world needs to hear right now?
• What would it look like for you to be more yourself?

Whatever you decide to read on holiday, take this half-year moment to reflect on who you are, and which version of you is ready to come forward to lead with.

You got this.

There goes my hero

Watch him as he goes

There goes my hero

He's ordinary