The Evolved Performer Magazine - Issue 1

FROM THE S%*#HOUSE
TO THE
MAIN
STAGE
I had heard him vomit in the stall and crossed my fingers
to wish that he had not missed the bowl. Upon leaving
the bathroom, he spat in a paper towel and missed
the trash bin landing it on the floor. He shrugged and
continued toward the door taking the mint I offered and
dropping a quarter on the tray. He didn’t pick it up. Why
didn’t he? Because he figured it was part of my job. And
it was. I was the bathroom attendant who would wipe
the toilet seats and attempt to spray away the odors. My
costume was a pair of black pants and a shirt too large
for this small brown frame. Then, I was the one who
shrugged when they told me it was the smallest they
had. In the bathroom only about three out of every ten
guys would even acknowledge me. I was a part of the
fixtures.
You’d be surprised to know that I was not miserable.
Each time the door cracked as someone came in or
left, I could better hear the music and see the DJ. My
reticular activating system, known as the (RAS) was
on high alert. The RAS is a part of the brain; it is the
brain’s sifter. It filters out what has been programmed to
be unimportant and looks out for what is. My RAS was
primed for opportunity. I could tell you every song the
DJ had played, how the crowd had reacted, and how
I would filter drops so that the crowd would go crazy,
I’d already played it in my mind a hundred times.
As the night progressed, the laughter of the girls got
louder, the bathroom seemed to get smellier, and the
DJ got worse. Why was I not miserable? Because
I knew that bathroom attendant was not my final
destination, and I was thankful, full of gratitude for
the opportunity to work and make some money, and
be around the music. I’d studied the brain and what
successful people do and I was doing those things.
Looking for where preparation meets opportunity is a
never ending goal of mine.
And it happened. The trainwreck. He had even done
the worst thing a DJ can do in my opinion, which
was disrespect his craft, and start killing the dance
floor. He was drunk. When he stumbled and fell, I
bolted for the turntable. To hell with the mints and
the bathroom, I was on the DJ’s stage! I had never
felt as if I fit in until I took that stage. Instinct basically
took over and the late night practicing while the club
was closed, took over. And you know what? I had
studied and I was ready. And even more, nobody
stopped me! In two minutes, I’d changed from being
the lowest person in the club to the most important.
I ramped up the music and rocked that room like I
knew I always could.
Some years later, it happened again. I was at a
wedding party and the DJ blew it. The DJ was
messy from partying too much himself and was
hammered. Let me tell you that this was not the
crowd you wanted to disappoint. It was a wedding
involving a Hollywood power couple. A member of
the couple searched the crowd, caught my eye and
invited me up. I looked at the eyeballs looking back
at me. There were so many faces. My hands were
sweaty. Taking a deep breath, I went to what fires
me up and would fire up the crowd. I went to the
playlist I had on my USB around my neck and sent
it.. and the rest is history.
Know this about me:
My RAS is attached to my mission. I am
professional. At the turntable, when I am
working it, I am working!
youtu.be/7Ys8lCoEfd8
VISHEN LAKHIANI
Founder - Mindvalley • mindvalley.com
4
I always have a usb in my pocket and I am always
ready to take over the turntable.
SAMUEL TAGGETT
Shoebox Moses • The Evolved Performer