“Never Meet Your Heroes“

“Never meet your heroes.” The quote has been attributed to dozens of people; from Louisa May Alcott to movie director Allan Carr. As this point, the phrase is probably unattributable, like a proverb or an adage, but like any famous phrase that outlives its original author, it rings true.

I’ve idolized Van Morrison (or as he’s officially known Sir George Ivan Morrison, OBE) since childhood. His chart-topping hit Brown Eyed Girl came out in 1967, the year I was born. I bought every album. I know the words to every song. When I hear the horns kick in and the tempo accelerate at the end of Into The Mystic, I’ve been known to get a tear in my eye. #I’mNotCrying #SomethingInMyEye #MamaToldMeTheredBeDaysLikeThis

A few years back I had a chance to attend an “Intimate Evening With Van Morrison.” It was a summer concert with only 2,000 fans in a small outdoor space on an island in the middle of the Irish Sea, not far from where Sir Morrison was born. He was 45 minutes late and appeared angry at his band mates. He sang with his back to the audience and never said as much as “hello.” He played a small set, dropped his guitar and walked off. The crowd was bewildered, and more than perturbed, since each of us paid so much to see so little.

I’ve had several experiences where I’ve been disappointed meeting someone who I admired. I met Vanna White in 1998 when I made it on as a contestant on Wheel of Fortune. She sprinted by me so fast I thought she was going to knock me down. (Yet, that same day, I had lunch with Pat Sajak in the Sony Studios commissary and he was one of the funniest and most genuine guys I’ve ever met). I sat in a Hollywood bar next to John Cusack and well, let me just say, it wasn’t a moment for the Big Screen. I once tried to shake hands with legendary Atlanta Braves Coach Bobby Cox… in a hotel restroom. He looked at me like I was nuts, deservedly. Time after time, I’ve come to realize that celebrities, politicians, and other famous folk are just people. People make mistakes. People have bad days….even when they’re standing in the limelight.

As a business owner, I can tell you that I’ve had bad days too. A few years back, I had the worst day you could imagine. It was at the start of COVID, sales in March 2020 plummeted 70%, and I was worried that I didn’t have enough money to pay my people or pay my bills at the Texas Inn. The frustration got the best of me and I yelled at a long-time employee and slammed a door in front of a few customers. I regret it to this day and was reminded again this week when a customer said he hadn’t been back in three years…because of me. 

To customers and clients, you might be a hero or at least a person they look up to. But as a business owner you cannot let your customers know you’re having a bad day. Make the effort to meet them and greet them and be on your best behavior. Say “hi” to them on social media. Make videos thanking them for their business. Shake their hands and make them feel welcome in your place. And never, ever, ever show them you’re having a bad day. #sorrymrjenkins