Need a defining moment in your life? Let the Music Play

Heard a song on the radio today that triggered memories from a defining moment in my life. This particular moment was not exactly a huge moment, and it certainly was not the most important one to me. Yet, it's one I often find myself recalling how it still shapes my actions today.

At the end of May 1994, I was at work in my first real career job for only a few months. The longtime head programmer of our little Mom and Pop company decided to move on to bigger and better opportunities. Now, with that subject matter expert aka my mentor gone, urgent support calls started piling up from all our clients. I was very new to professional database applications and saw no answers in sight. Worse yet, there really was nobody to turn to for help, at least not anytime soon.

One Thursday afternoon an extra urgent support call came in for one of our Revenue Billing systems. As I tried to resolve their issue, before I knew it I had poured through thousands of lines of code and database records into the late hours of the night! Sadly, I reached the point where I was about to shift focus from solving the problem to explaining to our non-profit client direly needing revenue, we needed more time. This would delay their billings for another week, and they could not take that hit. Following that, I’d also be planning how to explain to my boss I just didn’t know enough to resolve the huge pile of client issues.

Before I turned off my computer, a newly released song “Starseed” starts playing on the stereo by then little known Canadian band, Our Lady Peace. Something caught my attention about that song. I found myself hooked, listening to the slow rolling drum beats speeding up followed by intoxicating repeating guitar riffs. Very next song “Fire Woman” by The Cult plays, and totally rocked also. Unexpectedly, I found myself  inspired to continue on.

At that exact moment, I told myself “Now is the time to do. Now is the time, to roll up my sleeves, step up and just do it. If I was ever going to be expected to do this work eventually, it might as well start right now!”

Needless to say, I went right back at those challenges, suddenly watching hieroglyphics (programming code) transform magically into logically written outlines in English. Suddenly able to think differently by re-interpreting what the client was “literally” saying to imagining what they were actually doing & perceiving. Most importantly, I was suddenly able to find all the tell-tale clues in the data until everything all made sense.

That night I learned so very much about myself, and how to approach my job. I learned to never back down from a challenge, and that there is always a way to get things done. I learned sometimes to get those things done you just have to roll up your sleeves and do it. For years ever since, this has been the attitude and drive I have taken. It's how I guide others who I mentor & work with. Some people now call it my passion. Whenever one of those two songs show up on the radio, I transport back in time to where I started, then smile as I realize how far I have come.

What was a defining moment in your life? How did it change you? Let’s hear about it. When you’re at the office late, and you hear the music playing, it just might be your song.

As always, #RockOnMyFriendsV.

#BeThankful #Inspiration #Determination #DataCareer #RockOnMyFriendsV #LetTheMusicPlay