There was a time where I was part of an album recording. I played guitar, and so I did some guitar tracks for the album. At the time, I thought I was a pretty decent singer, and that I’d be good enough to do the back-up parts. So we then had around 3 months of continued practice, then proceeded to book schedules in a recording studio.
Anyone who has ever sang in from of a microphone in a recording studio setting will tell you how nerve-wracking and unforgiving that experience can be. The equipment is sensitive enough to catch the singer’s most sensitive emotions and expressions.
It’s also sensitive enough to catch every mistake, loud breath, and out of tune note that will come out of your voice. That became a lesson in accepting reality very fast.
But on that day, we were actually short of singers to do the back-up parts, and what our producer did that day still surprises me when I remember it.
“Get in there.”
And so I did. I was on all the back-up tracks for that song, except for one. I just had to make do with what I remembered, and picked up cues from the guys who had learned their specific parts. That was nerve wracking, and I still don’t know how exactly I was able to do it all, but I did.
Then there was a time when I had to play football for class. I didn’t know how to play football, all I knew was you were not supposed to use your hands. I tried to play as best that I could and help my team win that game.
And you could probably guess who was called two times for using the hands (or arms actually). That lead to the opposing team scoring first, which lead to us receiving an embarrassing penalty set by our teacher: To play shirtless for the rest of the game. And Calvin Klein models we weren’t.
I tried, I tried.
Then there was the time where I liked a girl so much, that I second guessed myself on what I can do, or what I thought I should be doing. For the time that I liked that girl and went after her, I did what my young self thought needed to be done to woo her. I had no idea what I was doing though, but what the heck. Love is love!
I chased, and I ended up chasing her away. No surprise there, looking back. But then, all I could think about was: “where did I go wrong?” Sheesh.
Then there was the time when me and my mentor developed a brand new training module, using her extensive experience, and we were delivering it to a first-time client, for the first time ever. If I recall correctly, it was about delivering superior customer service. Something I had yet to get down pat since that was my first client as well.
Then in the middle of the training, my mentor whispers to me that I’ll be doing the next part. Sent shivers down my spine, and when the time came, she calls out my name to deliver the next part. Whoops there.
So I went up to the front, and just winged it. Did the best that I could with what I had. My mentor was also there to support me when I wasn’t able to explain some concepts sufficiently, or wasn’t able to give a deep enough situation to illustrate what I was teaching.
After the day, I asked her if she planned the whole thing to train me. “Planned it to train you? Maybe, but you could do it. You just went out there and did it with not a lot of preparation! I just though that was a good time to call you up.”
Thanks for believing in me.
We don’t know what life has in store for us, we really don’t. We can never fully anticipate all the curveballs and opportunities thrown our way. All that we can do is to prepare and be ready the best we can to take advantage of what comes.
Take note, there are no rules, no guidelines, no policies. There is no one path to life.
Do you work more effectively with structure, stability, and need to be provided with direction? No shame in that. And there is immense value in being a valued member of an organization. But if you’re the type to value your freedom, and has more tolerance for ambiguity and what next steps to take, then maybe another path is for you. But both are entirely valid.
You may have a clear idea of what you want, and that’s already a large part of the battle there. You may eventually find out what you thought you wanted wasn’t what you really wanted.
Ultimately, we must walk our own paths, and blaze our own trails.
Truth be told, we’re all winging it, at times we haven’t the foggiest notion where we are, what’s happening, or what’s going to happen.
There are some people who know what they want, and look so sure of the steps they are going to take and what they are going to do to get there. They have a clear vision of where they want to end up, but they’re just better at winging it than others.
There is no step by step instruction guide. Every moment, every instance, is played by ear.
I guess that’s what experience really means. To have gone through something and tried something out that worked, and to be confident to try the same thing again to get the same result. Or to just don’t do it ever again. That’s experience too.
There’s uncertainty and ambiguity, and that’s fine. Just keep going through the fog, and trusting in one’s self. Things will clear up. Fake it ’til you make it.
Be kind, for everyone’s fighting a hard battle. Be generous and patient.
We’re all winging it. Everybody is.
A very profound and personal essay from which I’ve learned plenty. Thanks for winging it.
Thank you very much ST! Thanks for showing how to wing it better than others.