What is Success?

Photo by Sofia Báthory @ Pexels

This story most people will miss, but it is true. I’ve seen it with my own eyes.

Two street musicians were battling for their grounds at the Fremont Hub Shopping Mall — one at each end of a parking lane.

The first musician in his forties seemingly played virtuoso violin, though it was a recording. He was part of a Roma group.

The other musician was a young man, perhaps 17, playing chords on electric guitar. He would play a chord, lose focus, and stop in frustration.

It happened several times while I locked up my bicycle.

An older guy walked to the guitarist and offered him $5 if he could jam with the violinist.

"-Do you mean talk to him?"

"-No. Compete. Respond to his music, adapt."

Well, for $5, the youngster started to listen as he played; he added melody to his chords, then forgot his chords and just played nonstop. By the time I returned to my bicycle, the competition was gone.

The women begging along their children owned the territory. The violonist owned the method.

The guitarist received neither land nor system. What did he get instead?

And how does this lesson trasnfer to business?