Like Eric’s use of an overdrive pedal …
When constructing the stories each week, I try to keep the music in order, making it easier to understand. The additional constraint adds to the 7 empower elements, the theme for the week, the musical selections, and my occasional story make it a fun challenge. It makes it a Rubik’s cube that I choose to do every day… to see if I can twist yet another wrinkle into the words, construct it just so, and satisfy my desire to have this be really well done. And many times I succeed, and I get lovely comments back from you about how it worked for you, etc… … and yet, with all those typos and other things I see later… I never quite achieve what I am seeking…
…Hyper-Achiever makes the sound harsh… and long lasting..
…The next Saboteur to “out” is the Hyper-Achiever. It is the inner voice that, while helping drive you forward, ensures you never actually ACHIEVE. It looks for constant high performance for self-respect and self-validation. And no matter how close you come, the goalposts keep moving, ensuring you keep burning yourself (and others) out. It has a smile on its face, and publicly invites competition and comparison, and often is self-promoting. It loves appearing to impress you and others while hiding the deep emptiness that is being constantly built up within. It eschews emotions and introspection where it could be found out, preferring to look for external measurements and competition, while always coming up short internally. And at the top, if it gets there, it confirms the loneliness and separation it breeds on the path to the top. Anyone who gets close might actually see the imperfections.
I don’t know if Eric has this one, but I would bet he does. Yesterday he was with Mayall for a record, after the Yardbirds… and today he is with Cream… literally the name for “what rises to the top”. Based on his reviews and his Achievement focus, he wanted to form a supergroup. Jack Bruce was in Mayall with him, and they recruited Ginger Baker – one of the best Jazz drummers in the UK, and set out as one of the first Trio’s in rock – and what a standard they set. It was only 2 years before that would also blow up, but the classics they produced are still making the rounds as some of the greatest ever.
…ensuring the NEXT thing will be what you are looking for…
The funny thing is today there are 2 songs that I would love to use – just to make it even more complicated… and yet, few of you actually click through. No matter – I have to pick one – and I can tell the story of both. 😉 As Cream was “cresting”, Eric and George Harrison became very close friends, and Eric had to write a song for the GoodBye album. Yes – Cream was ending after only 2 albums and 2 years… and yet, he was still driving for Achievement. Not satisfied with being in the first Super Group, he was now sitting across the table from George Harrison. The Hyper-Achieving Beatle was helping… and wrote the word “Bridge” for the part of the song that was still to be written… and Eric read it as Badge… and the name stuck. Ringo came by, drunk, and added the “swan’s in the park line”… and you have the testimonial to what Hyper Achievers are after…
What “effect pedal” are you using for your own music?
… and the shoe was on the other foot with George. Having watched song after song of his rejected by John and Paul, he was not taking no for an answer… and brought in Eric to play the lead break on While My Guitar Gently Weeps. Having literally been labeled “God” by the music public, the Beatles couldn’t reject him, and this track was put on the White Album. This joyous offering comes from The Concert for George that Eric organized… and shows him at his best honoring his friend. For the record, I have this Saboteur as one of my top 3, which I am still working through what that really means. But it is likely found in my own collection of guitars – 37 of them… all Gently Weeping -waiting for just the right one to come along to Achieve my best Eric Clapton licks. For you today, I would offer to look carefully at what you are working towards… and as every toddler knows, ask, “are you there yet?” while you work towards your own Achievement Badge?
