The Experiences That Define Us

As the elevator door closed behind him and the ride into the sky began, Bruce Springsteen considered whether he was actually good enough for his audition with John Hammond, the CBS head of talent acquisition.

Hammond was a legend in the industry, and Springsteen's provincial musical background meant he was fully aware of the power that Hammond had over his future.

As the floors passed, Springsteen thought, "I have nothing to lose."

He tried to convince himself if this failed, he could go back to Asbury Park and continue to make a living playing the club circuits all over Jersey.

Springsteen also knew he had a ton of experience playing, from club bars, firemen balls, legion halls, private parties, prison gigs and others. He was an experienced guitarist, and before that elevator door opened, he understood this would be something he could grow from either way.

He didn't allow the moment to affect the moment.

When Hammond sat back in his chair with his feet on the desk in his office, he told Springsteen to play him something. And by the middle of performing "Saint in the City," Springsteen had a record deal with Columbia.

The rest is history.

We often call moments like Springsteen's that day pressure situations. We frequently allow the magnitude of the event to affect how we comport ourselves, instead of letting our past experiences take over.

Every day, we work toward our own Springsteen-like moment, never sure when it might come. But with that work comes necessary experience.

Springsteen had heard the applause from his audiences before this meeting, which gave him the confidence to even be in it.

Despite the fact we may already have our 10,000 hours of practice, we still tend to worry about the moment — asking ourselves if we're ready for the next step or challenge.

Springsteen knew he was — he just wasn't sure about Hammond.

But there are three reasons why practical experience will always be relevant:

1. Concept vs. Application. We develop our systems and applications when we learn how to apply what we learned from our experiences. Albert Einstein once said: "The only source of knowledge is experience."

2. Self Awareness. Our past experiences make us self-aware and give us the insight needed for continual improvement.

3. Uniqueness. With experience, we become unique people; we craft our story, find the right fit for our message, and learn what works for us.

Often, people will ask, "How can I gain the experience needed to grow?"

In truth, we gain it through watching others, our own practices and habits. Springsteen didn't start playing at Giants Stadium; he started playing at the Fireman's Hall in front of 15 people who could care less.

He wanted to experience his craft — and this mindset is what ultimately made his eventual meeting a success.

Our experiences are what make the experience.