Here Come The Zombies!
From Mowing Lawns to Introducing Rock Legends: When Passion Meets Purpose
September 2015. I'm standing on stage at the historic Majestic Theater in Dallas, about to introduce The Zombies—yes, "Time of the Season," "She's Not There," Rock and Roll Hall of Fame THOSE Zombies—on the opening night of their US tour.
How does a kid who once mowed lawns to buy British Invasion records in the 1960s end up here?
🎸 It wasn't luck. It wasn't a random fluke.
It was decades of staying engaged with my passion, building relationships in the music community, and never letting go of that initial spark that ignited when I was seven years old.
This moment perfectly captures what happens when personal passion and professional paths converge.
Here's the thing most entrepreneurs get wrong:
We completely separate our "business life" from what we truly care about. We think we have to choose—either be serious about business OR pursue our passions.
But the magic happens in the overlap.
I built technology businesses while staying actively involved in music. Those worlds didn't compete—they complemented each other. The creativity, relationship-building, and community focus from music enhanced my business approach. The discipline and strategic thinking from business strengthened my music connections.
The lesson that changed everything:
Don't compartmentalize your passions away from your business. Find ways to keep them alive alongside your entrepreneurship.
✓ They provide creative fuel when business gets routine ✓ They expand your network in unexpected ways
✓ They keep you authentic and energized ✓ They create unique opportunities others miss
You never know when decades of dedication might lead to that surreal moment where childhood dreams and adult reality finally meet.
What passion have you pushed aside for "serious business"?
Maybe it's time to bring it back into the mix. The intersection might surprise you.
Drop a comment—what's one passion you've been keeping separate from your professional life?
