The Ides of Success

Helloo0O Ladies and Gentlemen!

Welcome back to Graceland Ontario, your one stop location for success advice from the greats. Since today is the legendary Ides of March, the day Julius Caesar, general and dictator, was murdered by the Roman Senate, we’re going to do a post in his favour all about having faith.

Back in 50 BC, Caesar, a Roman war hero and conqueror of Gaul, had made a couple enemies in the Senate, including his once ally and fellow general, Pompeii. Caesar was ordered to disband his legion and come back to Rome by himself to meet his fate.

But Caesar wasn’t a huge fan of people choosing his fate for him. Against the odds, he went with his Thirteenth Legion, crossed the Rubicon River and headed towards Rome, completely outnumbered.

But Pompeii and the Senate didn’t want to fight the illustrious Caesar. And, against all probabilities, Caesar went from fugitive to dictator of Rome.

Now, there were still political issues − you don’t get assassinated when there aren’t any. But, the point remains, Caesar had faith.

You see, he didn’t care that the chances were against him. He knew if he went back by himself, gave up without a fight, chances are he would’ve been killed. His actions to the contrary won him control of one of the most powerful civilization’s in our history.

More, it bought him years of life he wouldn’t have had, despite his unfortunate demise.

Be like Caesar (well, don’t get murdered). Even when the odds are cast against you, even when the situation looks bleak, if there’s a chance your pushing a little harder for a little longer will bring victory, any possibility, give it a try. Have faith, even when the situation is moving against you.

Who knows, you might win out and become next dictator of "Rome", wherever that may be for you, now and in the future.

Talk to you next week!

Alex H.

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Earned Respect

 

 

How’s it going Ladies and Gentlemen?

Thanks for coming back to Graceland Ontario, your one stop location for success advice from the greats. Today we’re going to talk about standing for your principles.

Another sad post… As you probably know if you’re Canadian (and probably don’t if you’re not ), the great Stompin’ Tom Conners, local singer and legend, passed away a couple days ago at the age of 77 (which is far too young these days). The man who was named for the way he kept time with his left foot wrote classics like “Sudbury Saturday Night” and, most popularly, “The Good Ol’ Hockey Game”, not to mention about 298 others.

But what he might be remembered most by was his pride in being Canadian. It was only a couple months ago on Canada Day that I compared the man to Elvis in the U.S. for the patriotism he was synonymous with in my country. I mean, he openly spoke out against Canadian artists who sought fame in the larger United States who with a population ten times ours have about as many extra opportunities. He fought to keep a Canadian identity in music, even as more and more American recordings crossed the border.

Now, I’m not against American music − as you probably know from this blog, I’m a HUGE Elvis fan. But someone needs to stand up for something if it’s going to live, and Stompin’ Tom was the man to do it for us Canadians and our music. Proud to the end, a true patriot.

Stompin’ Tom’s death signals an end to an age in Canadian music. But even though he only sold nearly four million records (compared to Elvis’s over One Billion), his music will live on to all those who remember him for standing what he believed in, even when it wasn’t popular.

What does this mean for you? Stand for something you believe in and don’t stop, even if it doesn’t look like it’s going your way, even if others think you’re crazy for it. They’ll respect you in the end. At the Toronto Maple Leaf’s hockey game the night Tom’s name was called, most of the fans stood up during the playing of “The Good Ol’ Hockey Game” in respect of him.

I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t mind a tribute like that when I pass on.

Stand for what you believe in and I'll talk to you next week!

Alex H.

In tribute of Stompin’ Tom, here’s a Youtube link to his hit, “The Good Ol’ Hockey Game”, his most famous song.

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