Life lessons learned from the master of yes

I recently lost a close friend and I share this with you not because I want you to feel sad or sorry for me; but because I genuinely want you to benefit from the lessons I was lucky enough to learn in the 15 years I knew him. 

My friend was the one and only Chris Murphy and for those of you who don’t know of him, let me attempt to squeeze into one paragraph what most people wouldn’t be able to fit into six lifetimes. 

Chris is most famous for being the long-time manager of rock legends INXS. He took them from being a little unknown pub band to international superstardom selling over 50 million records. What most people don’t know is he also created one of Australia’s first country music radio stations, pioneered digital radio, was nominated for a Grammy, started a record company, purchased a magazine, bred some of Australia’s finest polo horses, and started several agricultural businesses including a free-range egg brand called ‘Rock Chic Eggs’. He met the Queen and rubbed shoulders with music industry royalty. Before he passed away he was working on an INXS musical he was taking to Broadway, an INXS museum, and a retirement village concept called ‘Rock n Roll Heaven’.

So now let me share with you some of the lessons I learned from this incredible man who has been described as a ‘meteor of a personality’- 

1.The only question that matters is – "how can I make this work?"

I overthink everything and generally, the first thing my mind goes to after I have an idea is ‘what are all the reasons why this won’t work?’. Chris was the absolute opposite, he would focus all his creative energy on thinking of ways to make whatever he was working on work. His results speak volumes.  

2. Plant seeds of opportunity wherever you go and always have options

As soon as I have a few interesting conversations or projects afoot, I often make the mistake of taking my foot off the accelerator. This ultimately leaves me at risk of ‘putting all my eggs in one basket’ and creates a greater deal of anxiety as a result. Chris was the master of having projects on the go everywhere and all at once. He knew the reality, life happens, things change, just because you plant a seed doesn’t mean you will enjoy a harvest. He is proof that the best way forward is to plant many and trust the right ones will come to fruition. 

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3. Use every opportunity to create a buzz around what you are doing

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Chris was the master of creating buzz, whether he was speaking to the media or someone he just met on the street, he would tell the tale of his vision and all the reasons why that person HAD to get involved, not tomorrow but yesterday. I learned from him that every conversation, every meeting, every moment is an opportunity to tell a story, to create a picture in someone else’s mind, and to creatively bring into being your vision of whatever you are working on. 

Lastly, what often holds us back from doing anything is the fear of what other people will think. As I experienced, in the end, it is the people who love you for who you are, not what you do, that matter most. Others will come and go, the chances you will even remember most people in the long-term is remote. Life is not a popularity contest, it is a small window of time for you to make your mark, serve your purpose, and leave a legacy. Period. 

I really hope this helps, I feel so blessed to have had such an incredible teacher in this lifetime and to have the platform to share what I have learned from him.