I went to a Coldplay concert a year ago and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about a lesson I learned while I was there.
After the first couple songs and a whole lot of build up, Chris Martin introduced himself and the band to get things started. He said something that many self-important rock stars before him have said.
“This is going to be our best show ever!”
My wife immediately turned to me and said, “he says that to everyone.” I laughed, at first, thinking that maybe she was right. I thought for another second about it and then turned back to her and said, “let’s talk about that later.”
Coldplay went on to give me one of the greatest memories of my life. If it weren’t for the experience that followed, I’d be embarrassed to say that we shelled out $400 for the tickets. They had provided light-up wrist bands to everyone in attendance and the lights were part of a very meticulously designed experience, pulsing in rhythm with the music. They had amazing videos, confetti, lights, lasers, and everything felt like it was perfectly orchestrated to provide an incredible experience for everyone in attendance.
None of this should have come as a surprise to me. Coldplay has long been heralded as one of the best live acts of all time. I knew this before I spent the money on tickets. Millions of people have seen them live and there are an incredible few who have come away with regret or disappointment.
What does surprise me is the fact that I actually think Chris Martin believes it when he says, “this is going to be our best show ever!”. He played Glastonbury on a Saturday in 2011 — U2 played Friday night, Beyonce played Sunday night. Their performance of “Fix You” on that night is one of the most impressive things that I’ve ever seen:
He’s played sold out stadiums all over the world. He’s played before and after some of the most impressive live acts of all time. There are clearly, even objectively, better shows than the one he put on for me, my wife, and 15,000 other people in Salt Lake City that night. That doesn’t mean that every time he steps up on stage, every time he tells the audience he’s going to give them the best show he’s ever given anyone, that he doesn’t believe it.
That’s what makes Chris Martin, Chris Martin. That is what makes Coldplay, Coldplay.
Night in and night out, they give everything that they have to make that show the best experience for everyone in attendance — the best show of their lives.
As cheesy as it sounds, that show inspired me. That show was worth the $400 simply because I enjoyed it that much — it was worth much more than that because of the impact it has had on me since. I’ve thought about it at least once a week for the past year, wondering what I might be able to pour my heart and soul into. I’ve thought about how I can make each day of my working life about doing my best work.
When I ask my father-in-law how he’s doing, he always says, “best day of my life.” That has always annoyed me. Maybe it shouldn’t. Maybe there is something to be learned from that. While today might not have the incredible emotions that I felt when I married my wife, had my first kid, rushed the field after that football game, or went to that amazing Coldplay concert, today was built on all of those days.
Coldplay Salt Lake City — 2016 was built from pieces of Glastonbury 2011. Each day spent working, building, and creating can be the best day of your career. Today can be the best day of your life.
