What Would You Give Up For Fame And Fortune?

I was listening to an interview on Sirius Radio the other day. Being interviewed was one of the players from the victorious New Orleans Saints team. Rather predictably the player whose name escapes me, was asked how he felt. Quite honestly I’d love to be in that position just so I could answer something like,

“Not too bad, but I’ve had better weeks and my leg hurts a bit where that 320 lb lineman fell on it. On the other hand, I suppose it was better than shoveling snow….but not much”

Maybe fate conspires against people like me from ever being famous so we can only think flippant thoughts rather than expressing them to a perplexed public, but I digress.

The guy in question actually gave a much more coherent and sensible answer than I just offered. He went on to say it was the best day of his life after the days when his kids were born.

That’s a Rich and Happy mindset right there. Sure fame and glory are nice for some people, but they alone don’t make anybody Rich and Happy and more often than not they are highly transitory.

A few days later I was watching American Idol (the secret is out, this Life Coach isn't perfect) as the singing wannabes moved onto the Hollywood stage of the competition.

Mike Lynche (one of the competitors) wife was heavily pregnant and shortly before he was due to go on stage for his audition, her waters broke.

This was pure gold for the producers of the show as the guy chatted with his wife on the phone (on the external speaker of course so everybody else could listen) in the privacy of his room with only a camera and sound crew to keep him company.

In the following program it got even better for Fox and the program makers, as the women kindly went in labor live on the show just before her hubby was due to go on stage.

By now they had a camera crew with her too and there was one surreal scene as the father-to-be showed pictures of his wife in labor on his phone when it was obvious they could have simply cut live to the birth.

Let’s leave aside whether this is reality TV gone a tad too far for a moment, because that’s another post for another day. I have no doubt lots of people around the country were oohing and aahing as the shots of the 19 second old infant and proud mother were flashed on the screen.

The real point is this.

The father is without doubt a very good singer, whether he’s good enough to win Idol remains to be seen, although my highly untrained ear doubts it very much.

However, compare the footballers attitude toward the birth of his kids, with the guys on Idol. The footballer was saying winning the Superbowl which is one of the biggest occasions in sport and the pinnacle of achievement for any football player, came second to the arrival of his children.

Whereas the singer was saying with his actions, that the long-shot of winning a singing competition was more important than witnessing the birth of his first child.

It sounds harsh when you say it like that. I do understand if he wins the entire competition or maybe even gets to the last 3, he may be set for life financially, but it’s only money for goodness sake and there are things way more important than money.

I also realize that I am looking at this situation through my own lens and with my own values and that is distorting my view. And also if I’m being fair, I have no idea what his personal circumstances are or were at the time.

Having said all that I just cannot believe his decision was a Rich and Happy decision and I doubt he’ll look back on it in twenty years with pride, especially if he fails to make the last 24 on American Idol.

I’d really like to hear your take. Do you think I’m being harsh or do you agree that some things in life are way more important than chasing money and fame?