What Outcomes manage you?
Coming of age in Tyler – deep East Texas – many things managed my trajectory through this season… and into the better part of my life. My parents didn’t let me “work” so I could focus on my “job” … to get good grades, the doorway to what would be coming. Work hard, study hard, and that will pay off with Outcomes… which, to be honest, were pretty unspecific. I had great teachers, challenged myself, and enjoyed school. And I always had a bit of luck that continues to this day… and I know all that was a gift many do not get…
… Cat similarly by now had a band, producer, and studios that he leveraged to put out music that is still timeless and speaks to much that is common in the human experience. Similarly, he applied himself to use his opportunities, and the Outcomes produced a series of top 10 hits, and albums that are always in heavy rotation. I had forgotten how excellent the recordings are – listening on headphones you can hear so many sonic secrets he planted there for us to uncover.
What obstacles help …
Our High School was open for lunch so we could get off campus and avoid the terrible cafeteria food and atmosphere. There was a McDonald’s within walking distance, and you can imagine that when 2000 students descend… even on shifted lunch periods, it was rare to make it there and back and not be tardy. I had a teacher with the same lunch period, and we had a decent friendship even with him being a teacher. He offered to take a group of us to a local sandwich shop, riding in the back of his 72 Chevy Pickup (this shows how this time was..).
He was a great teacher, if not a little bit of a prima donna. I was, of course, an angel 😉 One day, at lunch, after he said something, I said he was stupid. Probably not my finest hour (…and I would love to say that Outcome would not recur…) but in any case, it meant that he gave me an Unsatisfactory in conduct for his class for that semester. My Dad had to plead my case with the Vice Principal, who supported the teacher. Not surprisingly, our relationship cooled dramatically, and my parents wisely did not allow me to take his Senior AP Government class…
… how they change you…
… little things in how you manage yourself can dramatically affect Outcomes. This smart remark is reasonable for a 14-year-old … and in our current season, the teacher would likely be bludgeoned by helicopter parents. I am glad that didn’t happen. I did it, I did regret it, and the Outcome was I was unable to be Valedictorian by not taking that class. Or be in the Lee Cannoneers… the premier group of young Men at my school. This teacher led it, and I knew better than even to try to be in that 8. And to be entirely honest, managing to be in that would have been being an imposter as they were the ultimate “in” crowd…
What Decisions did you make that managed to create the Outcomes you are living with? And are there new Outcomes that you want to focus on now? Recently back in Texas, I was reminded of so many of these little things that have caused me to be where I am now. And most of all, this week, think about your own Outcome from some insights that Cat and I found helpful. One thing I have tried hard to manage through all of my trajectories is never to be, what this great song highlights with great sonic imagery… Bitter Blue.
