As a part of deciding what I want to get from life, I’m taking some time to look at individuals that inspire me. By establishing what it is that other people do that I admire, I can hopefully gain insight and direction to where I want to go.
Today’s feature is none other than the barefoot acoustic music man himself, Jack Johnson, recently nominated for Billboard’s 2010 Humanitarian Award.
As an avid fan for years, I have always admired his relaxed tunes and simple lyrics, interested in the latest acoustic version of a song, or listening to someone else brought on to his record label. As this past weekend marked the fourth time I’ve seen him in concert, I noted how hard he has worked to benefit others and the environment through his tours over the years.
His last two tours donated 100% of their profits to charity, and the tour space itself held green initiatives like free water for your reusable water bottle or local charity booths as you walked in. His main initiatives include the Surfrider Foundation, protecting the waters, the Johnson Ohana Foundation, and All At Once, a community group, named after an album of his, that let’s communities share events occurring in towns around the States.
I admire Jack’s ability to combine his passion of singing and performing with his passion for the environment. Although many have said that professional work and volunteer work are two different important facets of a person’s life- Jack seems to use both for the same cause. There is no Jack that sings, and then Jack that helps to save the environment and help others, but they are one in the same. As Billboard duly noted, Jack Johnson is not listed only as recording artist, but recording artist/environmental activist.
Is it possible to be both in the business world?