What’s Your Walk-Out Jam?

Picture the scene: You’ve just had your best year ever in your business. Tonight you are being honored for your company’s success and your incredible contribution to your community. You’re all dressed up and looking great, accompanied by your team at one table and your family at another. There are a thousand people at the recognition dinner, yet you’re the one being honored.

The emcee shares some highlights about you. The big screen lights up behind him on the stage and a brief video plays— several people who were interviewed share amazing, heart-warming stories about you. Clients talk about how they have been honored to work with you.

You’re feeling all the feels.

Then the emcee makes the announcement, “Ladies and gentlemen, would you please join me in a round of applause as we welcome tonight’s Person of the Year to the stage!”

You proudly stand up. The crowd cheers and claps… and all anyone can hear above the excitement is your walk-out jam. Do you know what I’m referring to? It’s that song that pumps you up, speaks to you, was practically written about you. Your jam is blasting from all the speakers in the room, people are tapping their toes to the beat. They can feel the vibe you’ve brought to the party. This is clearly your song.

Can you hear it?

What’s that song you recognize by its first note, that you can sing every word to? It’s the one that gets you choked up on your tough days— and the same one you play when you’re celebrating something great. That’s your Walk-Out Jam.

Don’t judge, but mine is Fantasy by Earth, Wind & Fire. Fantasy has been my jam for 25 years. It was a song my Dad played when we were kids and it forever stuck with me. The lyrics, the build-up of the tempo, the high notes I could never— and still cannot— reach but I sing anyway. That’s my jam.

I played Fantasy while driving to every CLU and ChFC exam early in my career. I played it in my car during the mid-point of the CFP exam to get pumped up for the second half of the the test. I still listen to it on my drive to work and I most definitely play it before I give a presentation to a crowd of advisors. I sometimes have to pause the song so I don’t get too emotional.

“Every man has a place, in his heart there's a space
And the world can't erase his fantasies
Take a ride in the sky, on our ship, Fantasii
All your dreams will come true, right away!”

To be clear, I have no idea what the song is actually referring to. But I do know what I’ve interpreted it to mean for me. The song reminds me to dream big, to work hard, to take risks, and when I doubt myself, it tells me “a glowing light will see you through.”

Music is powerful, isn’t it? It evokes vivid memories. I sometimes hear an old love song from 1985 and I am immediately transported to the 8th Grade dance at Mt. Carmel School. I can still picture me and my then-boyfriend swaying back and forth together— with enough space between us to leave room for The Holy Ghost, per the rules.

What’s your walk-out jam? If you have one, maybe it’s time to start playing it more often. If you don’t have one yet, start looking for it. Maybe you are new in your career and you cannot imagine being honored for your success anytime soon. That’s okay. Find your jam and keep imagining your amazing future. Envision the stage you’ll someday be called up to.

And it might not even be about a stage for you. It might be more about the song you play at home when you celebrate something special with your kids. Do you have a Family Walk-Out Jam? Ask your spouse and kids— I’ll bet they can already identify a song that’s special for them and for you. Declare that’s the one. And play it when you want to recognize any family accomplishment.

This career can be very challenging and stressful, especially early on. It can take years to feel secure and happy and confident. Believe me, I sang the lyrics to Fantasy for ten years before I felt that they were becoming real for me: “It's your day, shining day, all your dreams are coming true.”

Find your jam. Encourage others to do the same.

Better yet, do this: Create a playlist at the office of the jams for everyone on your team and play these songs before your Monday morning meeting. Create the same kind of playlist at home with the walk-out jams for each person in your family, and crank these songs up as your kids are heading out the door for school.

Is this hokey? You bet. But will it make a difference? I promise you it will.