We were lucky to catch up with Gary Beckman recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Gary, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I feel that one’s “purpose” isn’t necessarily singular. In many respects, we balance a myriad of ecosystems—social, cultural, educational, financial, career, family, etc—in which we find purposes. To find a singular purpose in the midst of this balancing act doesn’t seem possible. I look at it differently: one’s ethics, morals and belief systems pervade and encircle these ecosystems—and as a result—influence how we think about and operate within them, thus ,it feels like a “purpose.” Yet more to the point, “purpose” may be far more about how we negotiate, weigh and respond to a multi-variable equation. If the variables in that equation are these ecosystems I mentioned above, our ethics, morals and belief systems weigh these variables as we interact within them. To find “purpose” in the broader sense requires this, yet self in the context of these systems plays a significant role as well. Perhaps this answers why the “purpose” of 31 year old changes and is modified over time. Systems change, view points change, one’s context changes and of course, a dynamic world environment can change or influence one’s “purpose” over time and through circumstance.
I’m not sure if “purpose” in the truest sense can be singular. It seems to me that our “purpose” is closer to that negotiation of ecological systems I mentioned, where we have a “purpose” in these systems and are likewise “purposed” by them, which evolves our “purpose.” However, if we are speaking about “Purpose,” this where one’s ethics, morals and belief systems come into play—if we are true to them.
I’m a big believer in all things seeking balance within the uncountable systems. Balance doesn’t mean stasis, but rather the ability to recognize, interrogate, work for, work within and transcend boundaries if desired—our species has done this for a very long time. So, to answer the question, I find “Purpose” in trusting the universe’s desire for balance within systems and my role in that desire.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I founded and direct the Arts Entrepreneurship program at North Carolina State University. As I say to many, the students are simply the best around; it’s a real privilege to teach. While my 21 year-old self would have laughed a the thought of being in this situation, I’ve been lucky since I’ve had wonderful mentors throughout much of my journey thus far. They were certainly there at the right time, I’m thankful and have tried to pay that back to my students and colleagues. I’ve learned that when you recognize an opportunity, it should be taken seriously. Whether or not it is the right opportunity at the right time may take time to learn, however. Be prepared to embrace mistakes and recognize opportunities regardless of the situation.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Well, everyone’s road is unique. But as a life-long musician, the first skill was taught to me by one of my first guitar teachers, Peter Davis. He not only taught me the instrument and through it, my identity, but that art has many purposes. One of these is that art demands you create the intangible through the tangible, because art’s essence always will—and should be—infinite. Embracing mystery should be the best part of our lives. Second would be graduate school. To have the time to think and learn about music was wonderful but admittedly, the old adage of “a doctorate teaches you what you don’t know” was true in my case. It was literally an aesthetic experience waking up everyday knowing I had seminar or a history class that day, yet depressing in that I knew I couldn’t learn everything I wanted. Embrace and celebrate the knowledge you’ve gained, yet do it with humility because you’ll never know everything…and make sure to pass it on—it’s a privilege and a responsibility.
Lastly, struggle—fair or unfair—is important. Without it, we become complacent and in the worst cases, entitled. Struggle teaches many, many things, but perspective is one of the most important. While struggle is frustrating and sometimes debilitating, how we approach, interrogate and respond to it is crucial. Interestingly, struggle teaches us choice—it’s how we make heroes, after all. Do we react the same to similar challenges or do we follow our intuition, guided by our ethics and beliefs? Embrace challenge because many of them (or reactions to them) are rooted in our pasts. Of course, we should embrace the choice to recognize the past, yet make the more courageous choice to change our response if the past doesn’t move one forward.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
For me, the most important book is the Tao Te Ching. I’m partial to the Stephen Addiss translation. (It seems to have a more gentle touch, rather than others focusing more on binaries. However, some of the more important points in the Addiss translation are softened beyond recognition). My favorite is #27, which I think is suitable for this platform. It speaks about learning and its responsibilities. It goes further in suggesting that learning is an art in and of itself, requiring inclusivity, humility and perspective. If you don’t mind, here’s a brief quote from Wing-tsit Chan’s translation of #27:
Therefore, the good man is the teacher of bad,
And the bad is the material from which the good may learn.
He who does not value the teacher,
Or greatly care for the material,
Is greatly deluded although he may be learned.
Such is the essential mystery.
Certainly one way to live a life, yes?
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