Member-only story
If you haven’t heard the story, it takes place in 2007 when the Washington Post decided to do a social experiment about people’s behaviours, perceptions of beauty, and priorities. They asked Joshua Bell — a world-class violinist — to play classical music incognito in the Washington, D.C. subway station for about 45 minutes. They videotaped the event and observed people’s behaviours.
So a violinist played for 45 minutes in the New York subway. A handful of people stopped, a couple clapped, and the violinist raised about $30 in tips.
No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world. In that subway, Joshua played one of the most intricate pieces ever written with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars.
Two days before he played in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out a Boston theatre.
The experiment proved that the extraordinary in an ordinary environment does not shine and is so often overlooked and undervalued.
There are brilliantly talented people everywhere who aren’t receiving the recognition and reward they deserve. But they thrive and grow once they arm themselves with value and confidence and remove themselves from an environment that isn’t serving them.
Your gut is telling you something. Listen to it if it’s telling you where you are isn’t enough!
Go where you are appreciated and valued.
In short, the takeaway from the Joshua Bell experiment is essential but not new. “Stop and smell the roses” has been proclaimed for decades. Whatever our reasons, we really don’t take the time to see the beauty surrounding us. That’s why Ricky Fitts videotaped the plastic bag flowing in the breeze in “American Beauty.” That’s why I always stop to watch the deer in the backyard, even though I know they’ll probably be there again soon.
Know Your Worth.
