Dance, Hot Dog, Dance
Posted by Beth Austin
A couple of years ago a friend and I went to a roller derby event to try something new. Our viewing experience from the competition perspective was unremarkable, but we did find a source of entertainment from the team's mascots. For reasons that are still unclear to me, the local roller derby team has a pair of hot dogs as their mascot(s). The costumes consisted of full hot dog regalia - bun included - with a face cut out. For the entire event we watched these two very enthusiastic hot dogs jump and cheer and dance. They would bust a move at even the slightest provocation - and it didn't appear that the dancing thing came all that easily decked out in the hot dog suit. My friend and I became mildly obsessed with these dancing hot dogs, and for the weeks following, any conversation could be interrupted with random non sequiturs and casual musings such as "Do you think the hot dogs practice?"
Not long after the roller derby experience I had a bad day at work. This day resulted in my sending an e-mail to my friend that read something like this:
Subject: Is it too late to be a roller derbyist?
Dear [friend],
My experiences today at work have prompted me to make a career change. Thus, I've decided to join the roller derby. I briefly considered becoming a dancing hot dog, but then realized that I already am.
Love,
Beth
Last week I had another one of those days again. We all have them and, when we do, it gives us pause and makes us question why it is we do what we do. Fast forward to the weekend when I had the pleasure of attending a Susan G. Komen breast cancer survivor luncheon. At the luncheon, I learned more about the background of the Susan G. Komen for a Cure organization. The inspiration for the Foundation was a promise - a promise made between two sisters as one of them fought breast cancer. At one point during her battle, Susan Komen told her sister, Nancy Brinker, that when she got better, she wanted to do something that would help other women who had the disease, and she asked her sister for help in doing that. Sadly, Susan Komen did not get better, but Nancy Brinker kept that promise and has created what is now an international organization that through its outreach, advocacy, and funding, has in some way touched every significant development in breast cancer education and research in the last two decades. It has created activists, removed barriers, raised awareness, and saved countless lives.
I wondered to myself, what if that were my sister? Could I have kept that promise? I briefly had visions of myself shrieking on street corner handing out poorly photocopied flyers with dried spittle on my chin. It was a formidable promise to keep, yet she succeeded. However, I suspect, if pressed, that Nancy Brinker would probably confess that she also had days when she has felt like a dancing hot dog. And I wouldn't limit this solely to Nancy Brinker - you can substitute her name for Bill Gates or Oprah Winfrey or the Wright Brothers or any other successful person. I imagine they've all had days like that, yet, somehow, they persevere and achieve seemingly unattainable milestones.
When you think about your business - or yourself - in this context, what comes to mind? Do you have the passion, commitment, and/or vision to get past the dancing hot dog days and achieve greatness?
You may have been wondering how exactly my friend responded to the e-mail I sent (I know I was wondering as soon as I hit send). There are a number of ways that it could have gone, but his response was perfect. In fact, I've saved the e-mail and I go back and look at it every once in a while when I feel like I need to. Inspiration comes from different places, but it is a necessary key to success. The thing that separates the greats from the hot dogs is perhaps only the courage to keep on dancing - and this courage can only come with a solid vision and a passion for what you are doing.