If Not You Then Who?

Comedian Jim Florentine was the guest way back on Episode 200 of my weekly “Now Hear This Entertainment” podcast.  On his show, “Everybody is Awful (Except You),” he regularly cracks against inspirational quotes – and the people that live by them.

The fact is, there are some themes, common messaging, that you’ll hear that I suggest you put some stock in.

Heck, I have been heard on the podcast saying, “Be yourself because everyone else is taken” from time to time.  And on the latest episode (NHTE 646) South Africa-based platinum-selling singer/songwriter and producer Matthew Mole actually says, “It sounds so cheesy and cliché” before then continuing with his advice, “but try and be as much of yourself as possible.”

There is one floating around that I’ve either seen more and more of lately, or has at least caught my attention recently, which is something along the lines of where you are currently is what you once used to pray for.

There’s also a “dream big” moment that I’m trying to put my finger on.  Maybe it’s said by the guest on the next podcast episode, which will be out on Wednesday (July 8).  I remember the statement having elements of only you are stopping yourself from whatever you envision doing – no matter how big or how crazy the idea might seem.

Considering all the above, what exactly are you waiting for?

One line that I use in a lot of my presentations when I go out as a speaker is, “If not you then who?”  Whatever your business, product, or service is, if you’re not the one promoting it, tell me the people that you think will do it for you instead?  And yes, even though I’m a publicist, I don’t mean, “I’m going to hire a publicist.”  (Even if you do, that doesn’t dismiss you from being an active participant in promoting something that your name is on.)

When I do that presentation, I show a photo (see above) of a huge sign on the lawn outside a law firm located at a busy intersection in the greater Tampa Bay area.  The sign has become “must see” reading when you’re sitting in traffic at the signal light there.  They generally will do messages ranging from a community event to advertising their own services to happy birthday wishes or a dad joke, as they’re called.

I’ve never done business with them, and I don’t know anyone who works there.  When I sauntered in one day many years ago, they obviously had never met me before.  But I asked if it was possible to get my podcast milestone shouted out via that coveted sign out front.

The receptionist felt that if it were up to her, it would be on there, but someone else made that call.  The next thing you know I received an email with a photo attached showing the sign with a message congratulating the podcast on hitting (you can tell this was a while ago) two hundred episodes and they even included the website address!

During my presentation I will challenge the audience, “Do you know how I got that done?”  I ask them, point to the picture, and wait through the uncomfortable silence.  “I asked!”  But no sooner do I tell them that than do I say, “If not you then who?  If I hadn’t gone in there to ask them about possibly getting on the sign, who else would’ve made them aware of my podcast milestone and brought up the idea of putting something on the sign?  No one.”

So, I ask you again – what exactly are you waiting for?

Since this week’s blog is citing overused expressions, it’s appropriate that I point to, “Excuses are like,” well, okay, I’ll stop there.  You know the rest.

But that project that you think you’re not ready to tackle or release yet, just do it.  When I tell you that tomorrow is not guaranteed it’s because I had a front row seat to that four times in less than seven months starting late August last year and going to three months ago (mid-March).

You did a soft launch of something?  How long are you going to let it sit in that status until you tell the world about it?  Don’t give me this, “It’s going to happen organically” stuff.  Yeah, and the TikTok video I’m going to post is going to go viral and then everyone will know me or my PR agency or my podcast.

C’mon, man (another expression – birthed by ESPN).  Take control.  Put yourself and your work, your art, your creation out there.  Be proud.  Show people what you’re doing with your gifts and talents.  After all, if you don’t, then who will?

A Member of the Recording Academy, I have been helping indie music artists, authors, actors, entrepreneurs, podcasters, filmmakers, small business owners, and more for over twenty years.  What challenges are you having in your creator career that I can lend some insight to?  Connect with me so you can take advantage of all my experience, and I can help and keep you moving forward.