🔑 Key Takeaways
- Success is fleeting, greatness is earned through consistent hard work and dedication, and leaves a lasting impact on the world.
- Success can lead to pressure, but it's important to take time to enjoy the journey, value relationships, and trust in your team.
- Effective communication and open expression are crucial for team growth, even during friction and resistance. Active listening, empathy, and giving others a chance to be heard are valuable skills for any team.
- The Goo Goo Dolls' success was rooted in their emotional vulnerability and commitment to therapy sessions, allowing them to connect and express themselves, challenging industry norms by starting their own management company.
- A deep mentor-mentee bond can lead to valuable business skills, crucial decisions, and career success. Prioritize relationships and family over individual ego and fame for a healthy, long-term marriage.
- Jon Bon Jovi prioritizes relationships and staying true to oneself for a fulfilling life and career, rather than material possessions or fame.
- Hard work, dedication, and commitment lead to personal growth and fulfillment, not just achievements or fame
- Success is a journey marked by determination, hard work, and the right opportunities. Believe in yourself and keep pushing through challenges.
- Enjoy life, never lose faith, believe in community, live up to personal code, leave positive impact, embrace unexpected challenges, seek answers for what's next
- Despite the challenges of reinventing oneself, a positive mindset, analysis, and optimism can help embrace the process and trust in abilities, leading to hope and motivation.
- Follow your truth without compromise, be of service, and take the time to appreciate the world around you.
- Focus on making a positive impact and living authentically, rather than chasing personal success and fame. Love yourself and remember that everyone matters.
📝 Podcast Summary
Greatness is a lifelong pursuit
Success and greatness are not the same thing. According to Jon Bon Jovi, anyone can have fleeting moments of success, but striving for greatness requires consistent hard work and dedication. Bon Jovi shared his belief that greatness is not given, but earned through persistent effort. He also emphasized the importance of having a heart and a vision to create something meaningful and impactful in one's career and life. Bon Jovi's inspiring story highlights the idea that success may come and go, but greatness is a lifelong pursuit that can leave a lasting impact on the world.
Pressure to prove success isn't a fluke
Despite achieving massive success at a young age, the mindset of constantly striving for more and not taking enough time to enjoy the journey can be a challenge. The speaker, who led a successful band, shares that even after a hugely successful album and tour, they felt the pressure to prove that their success wasn't a fluke and kept working non-stop. However, they later regretted not taking time to enjoy the moment and appreciate the relationships and brotherhood built during that time. The speaker emphasized the importance of having a vision and being the leader, but also acknowledging the need for a team and input from others. When faced with burnout, the speaker took responsibility and made decisions to prevent the band from falling apart, even if it meant going against the advice of mentors.
Leadership and therapy in music industry
Effective communication and open expression, even during times of friction and resistance, can be crucial in bringing a team back together and fostering growth. This was a groundbreaking approach 35 years ago when therapy and mediation were not commonly used in the music industry. Bon Jovi's leader, Jon Bon Jovi, had the courage to bring in an expert to help the band members express their emotions and work through their issues. This not only helped the band come back together but also taught valuable lessons about active listening, empathy, and giving others the opportunity to be heard. These skills are essential for any team looking to overcome challenges and thrive.
Going to therapy as a band
The band Goo Goo Dolls innovated emotional vulnerability and connection in music during the late eighties and early nineties when it was uncommon. They committed to therapy sessions as a group, allowing them to express their emotions and love openly, creating a deeper bond. This approach was not easy, as some members initially resisted, but it was crucial for their success. Additionally, they challenged industry norms by starting their own management company in 1990, before the era of independent artists and digital music distribution. Their biggest challenge was breaking free from traditional management structures and focusing on what was unique and beneficial for the band. Overall, their commitment to emotional authenticity and independent business practices set them apart and contributed to their lasting success.
The power of a mentor's guidance and support
Having a supportive and trustworthy mentor can lead to great success in one's career. The speaker's relationship with his late lawyer-mentor was more than just business, it was a deep bond that taught him valuable business skills and helped him make crucial decisions. Despite the lack of industry role models, he chose to manage his career independently, which led to remarkable achievements. Additionally, maintaining a healthy, long-term marriage during a successful and high-profile career requires mutual respect, admiration, and a commitment to prioritize the relationship and family dynamics over individual ego and fame.
Appreciating genuine connections
Despite achieving great success and fame as the lead singer of Bon Jovi, Jon Bon Jovi values mutual admiration, growing together, and being a good partner above material possessions and the trappings of fame. He learned early on that focusing on his relationship and staying true to himself and his roots was essential for a fulfilling life and career. Money and fame do not equate to happiness or intelligence, and trying to keep up with shallow pursuits can be detrimental. Instead, he encourages cherishing genuine connections and accomplishments earned through hard work.
Success is a journey, not a destination
Achievements, such as championship rings or fame, do not define a person's identity or worth. Instead, it's the hard work, dedication, and commitment put into the process that truly matters. Bon Jovi, for instance, became successful through relentless practice and a strong work ethic, even when faced with obstacles like a young age allowing access to bars. Creativity, too, can be fostered through hard work and determination, even during moments of feeling blocked or burnt out. Ultimately, it's the journey and personal growth that come from putting in the effort that leads to success and fulfillment.
Perseverance and hard work lead to success
Determination and hard work, even without initial success or privilege, can lead to significant accomplishments in life. The speaker's experience in a struggling band echoes Tom Brady's journey in football, where they both persevered despite challenges and lack of recognition. The speaker emphasizes the importance of being in the right place at the right time, having supportive parents, and maintaining a strong work ethic. Looking back, the speaker recognizes that success and the definition of it changes throughout life, from focusing on fun and personal achievement in the twenties to considering a legacy in old age. If the speaker could go back in time, they would advise their younger self to stay focused, believe in oneself, and continue to work hard, despite any setbacks or obstacles.
Reflecting on life's lessons
Looking back on his experiences, John would advise his younger self to enjoy life more, never lose faith in oneself, and believe in the power of community. From his future perspective, he would remind himself to live up to the personal code he set for himself and leave a positive impact on the next generation. Being a father taught John that life is full of unexpected challenges and changes, and that every stage brings new learning experiences. A song from his new album, "Hollow Man," resonates with him as he reflects on his emptiness and seeks answers for what's next in life. Overall, John's reflections emphasize the importance of living a meaningful life, staying true to oneself, and leaving a positive impact on those around us.
Navigating the journey of identity shifts
Identity shifts and changes, whether it's in music, sports, or any other field, can be overwhelming and require a period of mourning and self-discovery. Artists and athletes, in particular, face the challenge of reinventing themselves while staying true to their roots. The journey towards acceptance and moving forward can be uncertain and filled with questions about one's worth and value. However, with a positive mindset, analysis, and optimism, one can embrace the process and trust in their abilities, knowing that they have given their all and will not settle for less than their best. The uncertainty is better than it was before, and the progress, no matter how slow, is a reason for hope and motivation.
Jon Bon Jovi's commitment to his craft and serving others
Learning from this conversation with Jon Bon Jovi is his unwavering commitment to his craft and his desire to serve others. Even if he's unable to perform live, he's confident in his ability to write and record music. He emphasized the importance of following one's vision and being of service to others. In a hypothetical scenario where he could only leave behind three truths on his last day on earth, he chose "Live your truth without compromise," "Be of service," and "Take the time to see the world around you." These truths reflect his belief in living authentically, giving back to the community, and appreciating the beauty of the world. Overall, Jon Bon Jovi's words offer inspiration and encouragement to pursue one's passions and make a positive impact on the world.
Emphasizing service and selflessness in the pursuit of greatness
Greatness lies in being comfortable in one's own skin and leaving a positive impact behind, rather than focusing solely on personal success and fame. John, a talented artist, emphasized the importance of service and selflessness in his definition of greatness. He encouraged listeners to live authentically and not waste their time trying to meet others' expectations. The conversation also touched upon the importance of self-love and the reminder that everyone is loved, worthy, and matters. The episode concluded with a call to action for listeners to subscribe to the exclusive bonus content, share the episode, and leave a review, while also spreading positivity and doing something great in their own lives.