Mamma Mia! The Power of Purpose

CIO Unplugged. A blog at the traffic circle of professional, personal, 
digital and healthcare. Opinions my own.

“Eddie”, asked sister Trish, “would you do a fun ABBA lip-sync and dance for a small fundraiser?” “It will be easy like we did at nephew James & Kellie’s wedding on New Year’s?” Voulez-Vous to do Dancing Queen?

So it began. Manipulated with adjectives such as “small” and “easy”, I acquiesced to please both Trish and my other co-conspirator sister, Sandie. The event was 6 months away so that dampened the reality of what I just committed to.

In June everything changed. I received emails from our choreographer. Wait. What? A choreographer! I thought this was small and simple and silly? Oh yes it gets better. Stick with me. She was sending videos of complex choreography that made my head spin. Well it is all for a good cause I reasoned to myself. Plus I still had a few weeks to prepare

I flew out to Vail Father’s Day weekend prior to the fundraising gala to meet my sisters and the choreographer. We had 3, two-hour sessions slated in 24 hours. There I was at the Vail Valley Academy of Dance with the choreographer. This was my first session so I was playing catch-up to Trish who watched. Sandie was still making her way into town for the second session. There I was alone, trying to make my body move in ways in which, well, I am not sure have moved that way before. Super intimidated I tried some hip-hop, some disco, some ballet. I can dance Bachata and Tango okay but this….this was different. An eclectic mix of complex moves all timed imperfectly to 5 ABBA songs.

Prior to the second session, my sister Trish left for a tennis tourney and sister Sandie twisted her ankle in a freak hiking accident and headed to urgent care. So there I was again, one-on-one with the choreographer. I was trying to mimic my professionally trained choreographer and it was not pretty. I kept reasoning that once I returned home, I would have two weeks to practice and surely my 18-year old daughter could help me with these moves. Did I mention we had to lip-sync half the ABBA songbook and hold a microphone to our mouths while doing this dance???

I returned home with plenty of videos of my choreographer and I rehearsing. After a half hour my daughter gave up teaching me saying the moves were too complex for even her to stay with. With no hope and panic levels starting to rise, I enrolled at the prestigious Dana’s Studio of Dance. This is where Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders goo when they struggle! After they reviewed the choreography, they sent me direct to the lead performance squad instructor. We spent three Money Money Money sessions to get me to at least a C- level of dance. And C- is being kind!

I made my way back to Vail July 10 for the big event. We had 6 more hours of formalized instruction and at least 20 with just my sisters and me. While there I learned that the “small” venue was the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater. It holds 2600 people and is host to international acts you would recognize. Oh there would be technical dress rehearsals and run of shows the day prior and make-up sessions the day of. This was not an informal wedding gig, this was professional all the way. Except for me! What did I get myself into? SOS!

Now we were rehearsing in two-inch platform shoes and multi-color matching polyester ABBA outfits! The stage was enormous with giant LED screens on either side so everyone could see the pores on your skin…or every minor mistake. We had to modify our routine to maximize the stage in relation to the audience.

During this entire process my sisters and I fought like well, brothers and sisters. Teenagers all over again! We were all stressed with the dance on top of all the other pressures we all deal with in life and work and family. The hours of practice in the month leading to the gala absorbed any time for rest and relaxation. All other projects or interests were set aside. We could not make fools out of ourselves. Plus, hundreds of people were paying upwards of $100 per ticket for good entertainment, not to mention the $5000 per table corporate sponsors. After all we are Marxists (our family name is Marx) and we must make our lineage and heritage proud.

The big night was upon us. Make-up finished. Final rehearsals complete. In the Green Room our costumes and final touches. I think I saw some Fireball but I can’t be sure. Somehow we were selected as the opening act which intensified the pressure. The event began and the MC introduced us.

        .The Three Marxkateers. Forged by Blood. Bonded by Cancer.

..Performance video below accessible by hitting the "Watch on YouTube" link..

We are each cancer survivors. Breast. Skin. Prostate. From the Green Room we sent a short video message to a friend who was having a 17-hour cancer surgery the next morning. We dedicated our dance to him and his healing. As we crossed the threshold onto the visible stage, we crossed hands in prayer and also claimed this dance for all who are fighting cancer. We gave a nod to our Dad, still alive and to our mom Ida, who died of cancer a dozen years prior.

I suspect it was a nerves and adrenaline combo that made us commit a few more mistakes than we practiced, but we had an abundance of fun. So did the crowd! The energy was over the top. While we only represent 3 of the 7 Marx sibling, we are perhaps the tightest trio from the others. That night that connection was sealed at a deeper level. Knowing Me, Knowing you. Forged by Blood. Bonded by Cancer. Three Marxkateers.

Power of Purpose. To get way out of your comfort zone like this requires purpose. Or Fireball. Or both. Purpose can be a powerful motivator to move people and organizations to stretch themselves and do good in this world despite insecurities. Certainly the time & energy investment was tremendous and the vulnerability even more so. It would have been easier to write a check. Purpose drives action. Action drives results. The Winner Takes it All.

·    The Vail Valley Foundation gala raised over $1M for underprivileged kids of Vail Valley!

·    Our friend had successful surgery and is cancer free!

·    My sisters and I bonds became inseparable.

·    We honored Mom and Dad with "talents" they granted us.

·    We danced to stamp out cancer. I Have a Dream.

Next time you are asked to do something crazy and there is purpose behind it... Be a Super Trouper and do it. You only live once.