Monday Motivation 12.9.24

Duane Rollins -

Do it right now.

Last night, I witnessed a powerful lesson about seizing the moment, one that unfolded unexpectedly but left a lasting impression.

We were at the after-after party for the Kennedy Center Honors. Our friend, Michael Wayne Turner III, a deeply talented performance artist, made an off-hand comment about how incredible it would be to perform with the live band. He wasn’t fishing for an opportunity—it was just a thought spoken aloud.

But Chef Keem, ever perceptive and action-oriented, didn’t let it stop there. He knew the band leader personally and, without hesitation, walked up to him mid-performance. A brief whisper in the band leader's ear was all it took. Moments later, Michael was on stage, delivering an impromptu freestyle. The band, adapting seamlessly, followed his lead. It was a raw, unplanned, and unforgettable moment of artistic brilliance.

Oh, and Dave Chappelle took the stage afterward to give some remarks (no big deal). But back to the lesson.

This wasn’t a rehearsed performance. It was an act of readiness meeting opportunity. It wasn’t guaranteed to succeed, and it could have gone differently. But that’s not the point. The point is that Chef Keem acted. He turned a possibility into a reality and created the conditions for something extraordinary to unfold.

Too often, we linger in hesitation. We let the fear of imperfection or failure keep us from acting. We imagine what might be and carry the weight of regret for the chances we didn’t take. But the truth is this: the window of opportunity is rarely wide open, it's usually cracked up just enough for someone willing to act decisively to squeeze through.

Had Chef Keem waited, the moment would have passed. Michael wouldn’t have performed, and we wouldn’t have witnessed an incredible memory. That’s the cost of waiting—potential unrealized, brilliance unseen, and possibilities left unexplored.

Do it now. Like, right now.

Whatever it is that stirs your heart or sparks your imagination, don’t wait. The conditions won’t ever be perfect, but action creates momentum. And in that momentum, greatness can emerge.

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P.S. Chef Keem and Michael Wayne Tuner are both artists at THROUGHLINE Vol. II: An Immersive Art Experience. I'm hosting a night of the exhibit with my wife this Friday, 12/13. We'd love to have you join us. Tix here.

The exhibit is here until 12.22. If you can't make our night, come to any of the other dates.

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✌🏽. ❤️. 📈 . 🤲🏾