I was wrong about Ringo
Let’s talk about the joys (and occasional horrors) of creativity and making stuff.
Why "reliable" is a necessity
Like many Beatles fans, I used to think the band was three very talented guitarists/songwriters and one mediocre drummer. John was the cheeky one, Paul the earnest one, George the quiet one, and Ringo…was Ringo. Nice enough guy, but not nearly on the level of the others.
But I was wrong. Oh, how I was wrong. Because Ringo brought a vital skill to the group. It’s a skill that is the backbone of any success, from the arts, to sports, to business. I’ll tell you what that skill is in a sec, but first some updates.
What’s going on?
I’m going to be attending the HP Lovecraft Film Festival in early October this year, supporting my new film Your Parasite and You. If you see me at the festival, please say hi!
Something that occurred to me while making stuff
So, Ringo. What changed my mind about Ringo? Well, watch him in the Peter Jackson documentary Get Back. It’s amazing watching Paul, John, and George create some of their most famous songs, seemingly out of thin air. And they are the focus. But watch Ringo.
Ringo was reliable
He’s always there, when and where they need him, providing undistracted, solid drumming.
The minute they get into a groove, he’s drumming. When they stop, he stops. When they get into a deep discussion, he wanders off for a smoke or a snack. And when they start up again, he’s already back, ready to go.
And this was an incredibly high pressure time for the band. Much drama, much uncertainty. They’re worrying about a lot of things. But one thing they are not worrying about is the drumming. Because Ringo is there. Being reliable.
Reliable wins gold medals
I was lucky enough to be at the 1984 Olympic Football Finals, where France beat Brazil 2-0. Both teams were full of world class athletes. The Brazilians were exciting to watch, and made some amazing plays. And the French were solid and implacable. They played as a team. There was a dependable, reliable rhythm to the way they would pass to each other and get the ball into scoring position.
As the game proceeded with no goals from Brazil, the Brazilian players tried to turn the game with some spectacular and aggressive playing. But they played as individuals. They didn’t rely on each other the way the French did. And they lost.
Reliable wins the Superbowl
The American Football coach John Madden never had a losing season in his decade-long career with the Raiders—which included many division titles and a Super Bowl win. And he said a surprisingly non-intuitive thing about what he expected from his players: he never asked them for 100% effort. He asked them for 80%. Not perfection, just 80%—but every time. Every game, every play, every move. He wanted reliable performance, no matter who, where, or when in the game. That requires focus and stamina. And based on Madden’s record, it works.
Think about what your day would be like if you were at 80% performance the whole time. From breakfast to commute to work to family to friends to diet to sleep. 80% down the line. That would be a very good day.
Reliable is the backbone of Genius
I think we can all agree the iPhone changed the world. And when we think "iPhone," we of course think of Steve Jobs. There is no doubt he drove an incredible change in our day to day lives. And as genius as the ideas and management behind the iPhone were, think of all the day-to-day parts of modern life that Jobs and his team relied on:
A working international telephone network
A working internet
A consistent source of electrical power for their offices, phone networks, and internet
For that matter, clean, comfortable offices with empty wastebaskets
They relied on these things. And think of how many people they relied on to supply them. Fixing a broken transformer somewhere on the power grid meant that a UX designer in Cupertino was able to get into the zone without worrying about her monitor going dark.
Geniuses get the cover photos and biopics. But they rely on the reliable.
Fun links to know and share
Krill Waves Radio Watch shrimp, otters, sharks, or other denizens of the Monterey Bay Aquarium glide by while lofi (“low-fye”) hip hop music plays in the background. I use it as an audio/visual background while I work.
Twenty Thousand Hertz: Lofi Girl Just what is “lofi hip hop?” One of my favorite podcasts takes a close look at the genre, and at grandaddy (granddaughter?) of it all, the hugely popular YouTube channel “Lofi Girl.” And they explore why many (including me) find this genre of music a useful productivity aid.
Lofi Girl It all started as a YouTube channel run by one guy, and now it’s a multimedia empire-lette. You can find a Lofi Girl playlist on just about every major music streaming service—or you can go this main website and stare agog at the vast reach of this very modern music phenomena.
[Indistinct Chatter] Cabin Lights Off The ambient & drone genres are also gaining popularity as an aural background to one’s day. This album by Myles O'Reilly is inspired by the experience of taking a long-haul airline flight. I listened to it a lot during the lockdown.
Soma FM When I want something a little more perky, I listen to this multi-channel indie radio station from San Francisco. Especially its Secret Agent channel, with a mix of modern and retro lounge music and the occasional sound bite from a James Bond movie. (They favor the Roger Moore era for quotes, because those movies were bananas.)
Over to you
Who are the Ringos in your life? Who's a reliable part of your daily infrastructure? Sure, you can probably name a John and a Paul, even a George. But who are the the reliable people around you, keeping things running smoothly? They’re easy to overlook--until they’re not there anymore. And believe me, you’ll miss them when they’re gone. So let them know you appreciate them now. See what you can do to support and reward them.
Are you a Ringo? The best part of being reliable is anyone can do it. It’s a daily choice. It isn't always easy, and it isn't always recognized. So maybe occasionally remind your band that you're the reason there's always a drum track.
Extra credit: are you your own Ringo? Are you taking care of your health, your diet, your sleep, your outlook? Are you reliable to you? You deserve it.
Until next time, I remain,
Your pal,
Jamie