Who Will You Be?

"You and I travel to the beat of a different drum

Oh can't you tell by the way I run
Every time you make eyes at me
Wo-oh

You cry and moan and say it will work out
But honey child I've got my doubts
You can't see the forest for the trees"

Sock-hatted Mike Nesmith wrote and recorded "Different Drum" before he joined The Monkees. However, the song didn't become a hit until 1967 when it was covered by The Stone Poneys, a three person folk rock group consisting of group leader and founding member Bob Kimmel, founding member Ken Edwards and lead singer Linda Ronstadt. Yet, Ronstadt's soaring vocals, particularly on "Different Drum" eventually led to the band's breakup and launched her long, storied career.

Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds is a great talent who occasionally sings on a record that gets some acclaim, but is a solid hitmaker as a producer and writer for others. Yet, when he is teaming with Antonio "LA" Reid, they are one of the most successful song writing and producing teams in history.

While recently driving my 5 1/2 year old granddaughter and 2 1/2 year old twin granddaughters to swim lessons, I put on a Taylor Swift CD. When "You Belong To Me" came on, the three girls were singing out the lyrics at the top of their lungs--talk about transcending generations and mass appeal! As a country/pop crossover star, Taylor Swift writes, sings and produces her own music. She leaves nothing to chance because she has the talent to do it all, but she is also hardwired that way.

Are you the band frontman or one of the sidemen? Do you write the song, do you sing it or do you do both? Do you work best alone or as part of a team? How are you hardwired in delegating duties? What will happen if you form the band (i.e. have an idea) but get left behind? Can you handle defeat? Can you handle success? Can you crossover to another genre in life? Are you the "triple-threat" who can do it all or do you fit in a niche?

Who you are today may bear no resemblance to the person you will become. You are on a great adventure to discover that person. Some of you may know now where you are headed but, more than likely, the vast majority of you do not.

If you can sing, you can sing--so do it! If you can't sing, be the producer, be the sideman, be a roadie but be with the band because life is not for spectators! However, for those of you who really do "travel to the beat of a different drum," follow that drum to see where it leads.

Your journey will in all probability have its ups and downs, with maybe a disproportionate share of downs. There will, indeed, be times "you can't see the forest for the trees" and need someone to lean on. Choose those shoulders wisely as the doubters and naysayers will be all around, but sometimes they will be correct.

What happened to the two other founding members of The Stone Poneys? Over the years, Ken Edwards became a noted producer, reteaming in the mid-1970's with Linda Ronstadt as a sideman, arranger and touring member. Bob Kimmel faded somewhat, but in 2007 had a new band called BK Special. Ronstadt sang harmony on one of their songs, 40 years after recording "Different Drum" and the subsequent band breakup. So through your life, keep in mind one distinct lesson from the saga of The Stone Poneys--be nice to the people you meet on the way up, as they could well be the same people you meet on the way down.

Yet, for now, remember that Linda further sang:

"All I'm saying is I'm not ready

For any person, place or thing

To try and pull the reins in on me."

There may be no better motto to have as you explore your life to discover the person you will become!