Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dale Cooper. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Dale, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I lost my first wife to breast cancer in 2007. She fought her personal battle for almost seven years. She passed at the age of 42… just a couple of months short of our 20th wedding anniversary. Over the seven years of her fight, she taught me more about humility than I had learned my entire life. She embraced her family, friends and faith as the most precious things in life. To her, nothing else mattered. She taught me the most important lesson in life. Everyone brings something different to the table. Though people may have different political, spiritual and cultural beliefs, everyone is part of this thing called life, and everyone has something of value that makes others better. There is no “may” in that statement. Allow people to be who they are. Learn from them. Accept them for who they are. Create a world where all people are valued and you will find your peace.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Five years ago, I thought retirement was all about sitting in a rocking chair and sipping lemonade on my porch with my wife! Ha! It has become the most enriching part of my life. I am more busy now then when I was working. I am now a professional musician and social media promoter of live music in my town. In 2022, I launched a Facebook group that was intended to bring all of the local musicians together for communication, collaboration and information exchange. Since then, the group has exploded to over 4500 members. I singlehandedly administer the group and I write weekly articles (what I call “Tuesday’s Musings”) pertaining to live music locally and over the course of modern history (1930s-current). I also post pictures and video of recent gigs with the intent of providing free promotion and publicity to my music cohorts. My mantra is “The best publicity is free publicity.” I charge nothing for what I do. I do it for the love of live music. Per the life lesson I learned from my late wife, “Everyone brings something different to the table.” I have strict rules for membership. No trash talk, no politics, no religion, no hate.” Everyone and anyone has a voice. Competition is not allowed. It is rare that I can walk the streets of my town without being recognized and verbally appreciated for the work that I have done to promote the live music scene and to create a community of friendship. I hear it all of the time. “This is the best live music community I have ever been part of. Thank you.”
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Number one. Communication. Whether that is writing or speaking with people directly, communication is THE most important skill that any person can have to be successful. Secondly, humility. As I have seen in many music venues “Check your ego at the door.” No one likes jerks. No matter who you play with or who you meet, someone will always be better than you. Do not be spiteful. Listen and learn. Work to be closer to them. Third, Listen. Everyone has a story. Listen to whomever is speaking and try to put yourself into their shoes. It may be impossible to fully comprehend what they have experienced, but listening to a story is like listening to a song. The songs that touch you just may change you in ways that you never imagined.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
Slow down. Take a breath. When we’re going at breakneck speed, we lose focus on the important things. Trying to manage it all at once is a recipe for disaster (burnout). I’ve seen too many people who try to do it all and over that time, they lose focus, the quality of their work drops and in some cases, they walk away from the thing that brings them the most joy. Neil Young once sang “It’s better to burn out than to fade away.” I don’t necessarily agree with that. I want to keep doing what I do until I fade away. Lots of people now depend on me.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Michael Ritter (all images except one with dog)
