Barb Rock
INTRO LETTER SPEAKING WITH BAND
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After celebrating my 53rd Birthday…. I thought…..If someone had told me I would be playing drums in a Classic Rock cover Band, I would have laughed hysterically. But my story has inspired many around me already. I am now a Professional Drummer playing in a Classic Rock Cover Band called “North of 50”. We are all over 50 so the name is appropriate since we all grew up with Classic Rock.
Married very young , at 22 yrs old…..28 yrs of marriage to the same man so far. Aerobic Dance was really popular in the “80′s” so I created my own choreography and taped all my own music off LP’s (remember those?). Taught 11 classes a week and over 90 women attended in a typical week after just a few years. I later added Child Care services for the early morning and Evening classes so mom’s could bring their kids.
I created a class out of the book with visuals and went down to the Vocational College and made a proposal to the President of the college for an afternoon or evening course to be implemented based on MY course outline. He loved it and I taught an organization course using a card file system for Clover Park Vocational College and off site locations approximately 2 yrs. Many frustrated women were finally able to gain control of their time and ultimately their lives using these organization ideas taking my 6 week course.
After 10 years of teaching Aerobics and teaching the “Turning clutter and chaos to order” class I changed directions….it was the “90′s” Opening a Nail Salon seemed like a great idea. I researched it! Not too many were JUST NAIL salons. I went to Nail school while I was teaching Aerobic Classes. Having to change clothes in the bathroom AFTER CLASS and rush to teach the Aerobic Class.
After completing the course with my Nail license in hand, I then found a building on a main road for rent and soon had 5 nail techs working in my salon (one is a close friend of mine, now my “Roady” for me with the band. I later added massage, Tanning and waxing. Before I knew it …. 10 yrs had gone by. I’d had enough “NAIL EMERGENCIES” and about that time…….Real Estate took off.
…changed hats again and in 2000 became a realtor…..yes those were the days. I shocked everybody and pulling all my knowledge of the previous businesses into the Real Estate world, I soon had Billboards all over Tacoma, Radio ads thru KZOK 102.5 (Bob, Spike and Joe in the Morning) , a Seattle Radio show for over 4 yrs. I had Telephone book Full page colored ads, I even had ads on the Theater screens in all the local theaters for 15 seconds before the movies. My advertising budget was over $20,000 dollars every year. I Received an honor and was a keynote speaker at a Windermere Symposium after just 2 yrs. in the business. I Bought a Yellow Chevy SSR convertible that came out in 2003. I decided to use it for marketing purposes and put my name and number on the side of the car. Marketed myself in brochures and billboards sitting in the bright yellow car gave me the edge I needed.
No surprise when the banks stopped playing fair I took my productivity and ambition elsewhere. Luckily my Husband surprised me in 2008 on Valentines day with a full set of drums. I had told him many years ago I always wanted to play the drums. He actually listened! I always admired Karen Carpenter. With Retirement in Real Estate looming for me, it was a great stress release to bang the heck out of the drums. The final 10 transactions were transactions from Hell!!! Taking Drum lessons faithfully every Friday for an entire Year by scheduling my real estate appointments around it …AND PRACTICING AT LEAST AN HOUR PER NIGHT. Got myself on a few band sites on the internet .Soon I received a call from a band looking for a drummer. They took a huge chance on me ,as all the other members had 30 yrs+ playing guitar and bass. I am mastering the drums and have been playing professionally with the band “North of 50″ for 2 years now. I now practice 2 hours a night plus rehearsals weekly along with a full schedule of performances. I am now retired from Real Estate, but keeping my license with the State as my rental properties I acquired during my years in real estate will need to be sold in the next 5 years.
I am having the time of my life, even though I have been fighting Skin Cancer the past 4 yrs. Using an experimental cream with great success and staying out of the sun.
I believe now is the time to teach an “enthusiasts” class not motivational class. If you are enthusiastic you will automatically be motivated.
I always have said “there are 3 types of people….people who make it happen…people who watch it happen…and people that ….don’t know what happened!
It is time to change HOW WE:
Look at things
Calculate risk , then Jump in!
Pay attention to the Pennies
Fulfill our Passions
Treat others
Handle daily stress
Organize our lives
If you would like to discuss having my band “North of 50” play as well as invite me to speak at an upcoming conference empowering both men & women , please contact me via email at barbrockrocks@yahoo.com Life is so much more stressful now and it is imperative that people in the workplace are encouraged to keep on. To show them ways to accomplish it and allow them to discover a strength that they need to succeed and feel productive.
It’s not about the money, I’ve been dirt poor and I have been honored as Realtor of the Year for 3 years in a row, making 6 figures and buying 35 inch Plasma TV’s for anyone who purchased a home thru me….The sky is the limit if you have AMBITION and are GRATEFUL. It’s all in your perspective.