When, at the Queen's Jubilee concert, presenter Lee Mack joked: "ten years ago the only thing Gary Barlow thought he’d be running was a Little Chef," I felt a strange sense of reassurance wash over me.
Gary is evidence that we can all go through the wilderness years (or months if you’re lucky) and come out of it better, stronger and more successful, albeit with a few scratches and bruises.
That’s good to know if you’re doubting why you ever started something, wondering when what you started might finish or wondering how what you started might finish.
I’m delighted for the man who has just pulled the biggest, most sparkly rabbit out of the hat for our Queen and Country and bagged himself an OBE.
Remember how we mocked? The man who only a few years ago was described as the "least fanciable" member of Take That. The man who blew his career in the States by stealing a music mogul’s breakfast. The man who ballooned by five stone and spent days lying under his lucky white piano wondering if his ivory tinklin’ fingers would ever write a hit again.
As Gary’s career took a nose dive, we watched Robbie Williams rise to meteoric fame with his cocky showmanship and wave your arms in the air anthems. What would the future hold for Gary Barlow?
Fast forward ten years and boom – the man has just pulled off the gig of the century, (so far...although I believe Elton John at Falkirk Stadium was quite the ticket in town...) and become the nation’s favourite son.
So, a fairytale ending, complete with fireworks, slum drummers, hula hooping grannies (is there a cooler Granny than Grace Jones?) and slightly off-key former girl band pop stars. Maybe not an ending. Maybe a new beginning.
However you look at it, it’s the stereotypical triumph overcomes adversity story and one that I’m holding as a beacon of hope for the future.
In the business world it’s no different. Every business will have its wilderness years. The feeling of struggle and anxiety, fear of making any decision - never mind the wrong one. Regrets, loss of confidence and financial worries.
So how do we take ourselves out of the wilderness years and in to the glory days?
How do we avoid the lying under the piano moments?
We can’t predict the future. What we can do is steel ourselves, work hard, and be brave in our decision making.
I’m not sure that my business, The Clothes Tree, is quite in its wilderness years, but I do feel mostly that I’m waiting for my ship to sail, and that’s OK.
I’m doing a lot of behind the scenes stuff and maybe most importantly, reminding myself to always “have a little patience”.
Thanks Gary Barlow. I’m not a Take That fan, but I think you’re an exceptionally talented and extremely likeable bloke. I love that you’re successful now and not lying under your piano and I love that like us, you had to go through the wilderness years to get there.
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