Stardom
There's a Boiler Room Kaytranada set on YouTube that I often listen to when I need to sit and focus on a computer-based task that I'm dragging my feet to finish. The set happened over 10 years ago, and if the 19,388 comments are any indicator, there's so much to see and discuss from this 42:05-minute performance.
A selection of images of my mother at work.
In my deepest moments of procrastination, I have often abandoned one computer window to click over to watch the set on the other. What stands out the most is how many people attempt to interact with Kaytranada while he's DJing. He's not doing this from a booth; he looks like he's in the middle of the party mixing music from a six-foot folding table. He is accessible and, as a result, people try to dap him up, take his mic, and talk to him. But he doesn't get caught up in the fanfare. He stays focused on masterfully mixing songs, which in turn keeps the crowd moving.
Watch the set and read the comments. You won't regret it. The whole recording is an internet artifact worth watching.
Before my ice cream life, when I was an artist, then a curator, and then a museum administrator, I used to always think about when I would be known. For me, being known was synonymous with success. If you're known, people know what you're making, and that's probably because it's good. For context, my thinking was rooted in my mother's professional experience—she was one of the first Black television anchors on the local news in New York City, so her career success and being known were synonymous, shaping my career expectations.
I can honestly say that over the last seven years we have been focused on honing our craft in making delicious ice cream and building community. Over the years, we have been acknowledged for both, but my why for the work has never been to be known.
If you're goal-oriented and have big dreams, it's easy to get focused on the moment when people will know you. But that's the wrong focus. The focus should always be on the work, the impact you want to have with it, and your desire to keep honing your craft. Your celebrity shouldn't be the goal. The work you do should be so exceptional that it stands out, making stardom the byproduct of your work.
On a recent procrastination session, I watched Kaytranada fend off his fans as he did what he does best: DJ. This is all conjecture, but his love for what he does seemed to override his desire to be lauded. Being lauded was the byproduct.
It's easy to get impatient about when our work will be acknowledged while we are on our respective roads to becoming. If we fall in love with the process of our work and refining it to be the best it can be, stardom is around the corner.
Petrushka
Your Local Ice Cream Lady & Life/Business Coach