Like A Boss
I recently had the privilege of seeing P!nk in concert at the iconic Fenway Park in Boston. Believe me, that exclamation point in the middle of her name is well-earned. Her performance was nothing short of epic. Not only does she put on a great show— packed with dancers and entertainers and back-up singers— but her final song was beyond expectation.
During the last segment of the concert, P!nk gets fastened into a harness, attached to multiple cords that stretch across the venue. While singing her song “So What!” she gets catapulted into the air and flies over a crowd of 50,000 spectators (picture how video cameras fly across stadiums during football games— but imagine this is happening with an actual person!) Spectators like me watched in awe as she flew through the air over our seats, flipping and spinning upside down, while also singing and waving to the crowd. P!nk did this impressive stunt for 4 minutes before landing squarely back on the stage, shouting her final lyrics, “So what! I’m still a rockstar!” accompanied by a full fireworks display launched out of the Green Monster.
As the fireworks ended and the stadium lights turned on, I heard a woman behind me say, “Wow! What a show! P!nk is such a boss.”
I totally agree. P!nk’s command of the stage, her love and affection for her fans, and her unprecedented acrobatics (click here to watch the 30 second video) flying above all of us— demonstrate how she executes every move like a boss.
But P!nk wasn’t the only rock star of the evening.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Pat Benatar, who opened that night for P!nk. At age 70, Benatar shredded her electric guitar, strutted around in leather pants, and sang for an hour alongside husband Neil Giraldo, whom she married in 1982. After her opening song, she addressed the crowd, “Good evening, Boston! I’m here with my husband celebrating 41 years of marriage this year, and we’re still in love and touring together. When we’re not working, we’re spending time with our kids and grandkids. And in 2022, we finally got inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame… so, what have you guys been up to?” The crowd cheered wildly!
As Benatar sang Invincible and Hell is for Children and Heartbreaker, I couldn’t help but think, she’s still performing like a boss— after almost five decades.
Alecia Beth Moore (aka P!nk) is 43 years old, a mom of two kids, and at the top of her game. She is strong, brave, powerful, and clear about what she stands for— as well as what she won’t tolerate. She gets paid $3M per show. A total boss.
Pat Benatar is a rockstar as well as a grandmother— and values both titles equally. She can still hit all the high notes. Benatar, at age 70, is a boss.
Both performers clearly love their work— despite having sung their songs thousands and thousands and thousands of times.
Do you still love the work you’re doing?
Do you approach each day like it’s a new performance, working hard to impress your clients, customers, and colleagues? Do you consistently practice your craft, rehearse regularly to get better, and approach your job with passion— even if you’ve been at it for 5, 25, or 50 years?
If yes, congratulations! Keep making the difference you do for others. It matters.
If not, maybe it’s time to reflect on what used to light you up.
When was the last time you felt a spark, had some real pep in your step, regarding your work? Is it time to switch up your approach, learn new skills, ask for coaching, or partner with someone else to help elevate your game?
Do you need a personal trainer? An Oura ring to track and improve your sleep? Project management software to get more organized? A marketing expert to help you gain a better social media presence?
Think about the infrastructure that’s necessary for rock stars like P!nk and Pat Benatar to function successfully. Imagine that they invest incessantly in being great and always getting better. They have to continue innovating and refreshing to keep fans coming back year after year. And they must invest heavily in their employees who make the whole operation come together night after night.
When was the last time you took a moment to appreciate your “band”— the people who work for you, with you, or who support you? How do you show those people how much you appreciate them?
Taylor Swift, age 33, can give you some pointers. As she wrapped up her Eras tour last month, she shared a total of $55M in bonuses with every single person working on her crew. Her truck drivers each got $100,000 as a thank-you. Obviously, Taylor Swift is wealthy and able to be wildly generous without jeopardizing her own finances. But no one mandated her to give out those bonuses. She calls the shots. And she chose to share her riches with the people who helped her earn it. Like a boss.
As I reflect on my Fenway Park concert experience, I have three wishes for you.
The first is that you find and harness the passion that P!nk has as you continue doing your own work.
The second is that no matter how old you are, you approach life like Pat Benatar, loving and enjoying whatever you’re doing, whether it’s spending time with grandkids, volunteering, or rocking your leather pants.
And last, may you continue to be generous with whatever you are able to offer. I understand that none of us can compete with $55M in bonuses. But we all have time, talent, and treasures to share. Could we each vow to give a little more?
Whether we are 33, 43 or 70 years old— and whether we are an employee, a business owner, or a retiree— we all have it in us to live life like a boss.
This Month’s Resources
Speaking of Generosity
On May 25, 2023 the University of Massachusetts Boston graduates received more than just a diploma. As a surprise from Quincy-based billionaire Rob Hale, when graduates walked across the stage they were handed two envelopes — each containing $500 — with the idea that they could keep one for themselves and give the other to charity. Read this terrific story, as well as the the students’ reactions here.
Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza
No, this is not a list of my favorite things. It’s the name of a card game that will make young kids and grandparents alike laugh out loud when playing it. It’s become a huge hit at our house. I hope your family likes it as much as we do. Pack it for your next road trip, or bust it out after your next family dinner… You can buy it here.
Consistently Smelling Great
As I got into my friend Jessica’s new Tesla, I knew I was supposed to be impressed with the car’s technology. But I was too distracted by how good her car smelled. I’ve never been a fan of traditional pine tree air fresheners. But Jessica’s car smelled so refreshing. Credit goes to the Drift Air Freshener subscription she has. Each month she gets shipped a new scent. The best news? Drift products contain no parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde, mineral oil, petroleum, propylene, or dichlorobenzene like you find in most other scent companies. Check out Drift for yourself.
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