Bruce. Dolly. Garth.
There aren't many entertainers who reach the point where one name is all you need. Last week in Kansas City, I finally got to experience Garth Brooks in concert.
Garth Brooks at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City
I've always been a casual Garth fan, but I had never seen him perform. Ironically, I'd met him twice. The first time was about 25 years ago when he was participating in spring training with the New York Mets. I was covering the St. Louis Cardinals, and what I remember most had nothing to do with baseball or music. Garth looked every reporter in the eye, shook our hands, and made a point of saying our names. He was already a superstar, but he treated everyone like they mattered.
He also joined us in 2023 as a guest on the Royals pregame show at Kauffman Stadium and I noticed his interest in our television crew. I shared that first memory with him on the air. His response was something along the lines of, "That's so sweet of you to say."
Garth Brooks on Royals Live in 2023
I always remembered that word as a genuine expression of appreciation or affection from a superstar and felt the same when I heard him use "sweet" multiple times during last week's concert.
A month ago, I saw Chris Stapleton in concert. I'm not sure there's a better voice in music, and I couldn't get his singing out of my head for days. Stapleton lets his voice and guitar do most of the talking, and there's something special about that.
But Garth reminded me more of Bruce Springsteen, whom I'd seen several years ago and enjoyed so much that I went back again. Bruce was in his 60s at the time, and I remember thinking that thousands of people were having the time of their lives, but nobody seemed to be having more fun than Bruce and the E Street Band.
I had a feeling Garth might deliver that same experience, even though I wasn't as familiar with all his music and he did at levels I could never have comprehended. He ran across the stage, sang with everything he had, laughed, cried, and turned an arena full of people into one enormous singalong. At 64, he was a ball of sweaty, joyful energy. The showmanship was extraordinary, but the emotion felt genuine.
When Garth introduced his band, he didn't simply announce their names. He explained why they mattered. He also recognized the members of his crew who had connections to Kansas City or Kansas.
I know something about that from broadcasting. Royals fans recognize me when I'm out in public, but the people behind the cameras are the secret sauce of our broadcasts. They make the show possible, even if most viewers never know their names.
Garth made sure his people were seen.
My friend Fred Stipkovits said something afterward that captured the evening perfectly. We should all be so fortunate to love our jobs as much as Garth clearly loves his.
Of course, not everyone gets to sing for thousands of adoring fans or love their work as much as Garth does. But we can all find joy in making other people feel important.”
That's something every leader, teammate, coworker, and friend has the opportunity to do. It's also at the heart of the conversations I have with organizations about trust and culture. People want to know their contributions matter, especially when they're doing work that rarely gets recognized.
Days after the concert, I'm still carrying Garth's energy with me. He reminded me that even when everyone is watching you, you can make the night about everyone else.
That's Small Ball.
Who are the people around you making everything possible, and when was the last time you made sure they knew it?
EXTRA INNINGS
SOMETHING NEW IS TAKING SHAPE
I've been exploring how storytelling helps us build trust, connect with others and become better communicators. I'm building something around those ideas that I'm excited to share with you soon.
ON THAT NOTE
“Stories are equipment for living.”
Kenneth Burke, literary critic