Bring it Home, Johnny Cash Style.
I recently rewatched a scene from the movie Walk the Line, where Johnny Cash auditions for the legendary Sun Records exec Sam Phillips. It still gives me goosebumps, no matter how many times I’ve seen it (at least 100). In the clip, Cash initially performs a Gospel song. Phillips, who had obviously heard the sound a million times, interrupts him mid-note, indicating he’s not interested in recording him. Desperate, Cash replies, “Well, you didn’t let us bring it home.” Phillips laughs and challenges him to sing something real, something that truly matters to him.
“If you was hit by a truck, and you were lying out there in the gutter dying and you had time to sing one song. One song people would remember before you’re dirt. One song that would let God know what you felt about your time here on earth. One song that would sum you up. You're telling me that that's the song you'd sing...or would you sing something different? Something real, something you felt? I'm telling you right now that's the kind of song people want to hear. That's the kind of song that truly saves people. It ain't got nothing to do with believing in God, Mr. Cash. It has to do with believing in yourself.”
When I feel stuck, I cue up that clip. Because it’s such a powerful leadership lesson: authenticity is your greatest asset.
How often do you find yourself in Cash’s position, delivering what you think others want to hear rather than what is true to your core?
So what’s this got to do with you?
1. Honestly, the thought of being my true self makes me want to hide under a blanket with a pint of Ben & Jerry’s Half Baked. That’s when I channel Cash and embrace authenticity. Being real fosters trust and inspires those around you.
2. When you surround yourself with people who challenge you to be better, who push you towards your true potential, amazing things happen. That’s why fierce feedback is essential to strong leadership. Who is bold enough to tell you to skip the Gospel song and go straight to Walk the Line?
3. How do you balance the fear of communicating from your heart with speaking the corporate speak? It takes courage and a belief in your own story. Are you communicating with passion? If not, start by tapping into your core values.
4. Get this - after Phillips signed Cash with Sun Records, he signed Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins in the three years that followed. How? By creating a culture of authenticity. How do you lead with genuineness to inspire creativity, build stronger connections, and see greater overall satisfaction?
Movies are a reflection of real life. This particular one reminds me that leadership is not about fitting into a mold but about breaking it. It’s about being real. Taking risks. Inspiring others to do the same. So every day, let’s bring it home. Let’s sing that one song, the one song that belts out our greatness.
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