Greetings everyone, my name is Julie Masters and welcome to another episode of Inside Influence. In which I delve into the minds of some of the world’s most fascinating influencers – or experts in influence – to get to the bottom of what it really takes to own your voice – and then amplify it to drive an industry, a conversation, a movement or a nation.
In this episode, we are going to be fusing the world of influence and rock n roll…
A few months ago – I had the huge privilege of being introduced – and being able to spend some time with the incredible Mark Schulman – who at the time of this interview was in the middle of touring as the lead drummer for multi platinum – global phenomenon – Pink.
In addition to having performed for over 1 BILLION PEOPLE during his career – alongside world class performers such as Cher, Billy Idol, Simple Minds, Beyoncé and Tina Turner. Mark is also the author of the very fitting Conquering Life’s Stage Fright. In which he interviews global powerhouses like Tony Hsieh (CEO of Zappos), Jeremy Piven (well known Actor from the Entourage) and Alan Bean (Apollo 12 Astronaut) – out of sheer determination – and a personal commitment – to decode the magic of world-class performance.
In other words what it takes to show up, reframe your fears and own what you’ve got with every cell in your body.
What I loved about listening to Mark talk about the learnings from – and the process of writing – that particular book. Is that it’s a philosophy that sums him up entirely. While others are partying hard on the tour bus – Mark is sat with his headphones on – trying to unpack what makes masterful performers great – so he can show up even harder at the next location.
I first met him on a cold winter’s morning in Sydney – I’m not sure what I was expecting – maybe someone vaguely (and understandably) tired after performing in front of an insane 21,000 people the night before. But the man that burst through the door – and quickly shot out again determined to make me a coffee – literally lit-up-the-room. As I would soon find out – this is one of the most engaged, curious and energised human beings that you could ever spend time with.
Which speaks to the heart of this concept of the rockstar mindset – that attitude and energy are the PRIMARY fuel of any kind of world class performance – and everything, down to the phone call you just took – and the Tweet you’re about to send – is a form of performance.
Like any field, mastering performance at a world-class level – isn’t about faking it. Or just putting a show. It’s about choosing your state, harnessing your energy, commiting to a lifetime of consistency, showing up and leaving everything you’ve got in the arena.
So what did we talk about. During our conversation, we went rockstar hard into so many questions I had since first starting to learn about Mark’s career – including:
- Why what we perceive as fear – can be reframed as something manageable with some simple mental tools – One of those that I really want you to listen out for is the question ‘Am I free to fail…?’ – which I have literally used a hundred time since this interview
- The habits and rituals that literally transform paralysing fear into excitement
- What it means to ‘pick the stick back up’ and carry on – after any major set back
- How to embody ‘real’ confidence – and the difference between that and rockstar certainty
- How to get out of your own way – and be of service – choosing the words ‘I get to do this’ rather than ‘I have to’ do this before any performance
- What he took from interviewing some of the most incredible performers of our time – and the moment that motivated him to seek them out
- And why to him having a rockstar mindset is less about fame – and more about understanding that there are no small moments – every moment is critical
So… get ready to flex your rock star muscles and soak up the insights of the insanely intelligent and insightful human being. Whether you’re a musician, a parent, a CEO, a doctor, a carpenter – or someone contemplating the next great leap. This episode is for the that moment – that moment when you have to choose between showing up with every shred of what you’ve got – or letting an opportunity to make real (and memorable) impact pass you by.
So please – sit back – and enjoy my once in a lifetime conversation with Mark Schulman.
