Come in and get me
If you know me, most likely you already know that I am a huge Carpenters fan and aficionado. And I realize that if you are of a certain (younger) age, you might not even know who the Carpenters are (a very successful brother and sister singing duo in the ‘70s).
Believe it or not, the Carpenters have informed me of some key concepts that I love to share in my coaching, keynotes and workshops. That may sound crazy, and yet when we become obsessed with something (i.e. Rick loves the Carpenters!) we learn loads and it becomes a big influencer in our lives.
Case in point:
While creating the Bigger Game with Laura Whitworth, she created the term “Come In and Get Me Ally” which describes a person (or team of people) who will “come in and get me” when I am going in a direction that will not serve. They are the type of ally that will intervene and ward off bad decisions, or have the courage to say to me that enough is enough and point me in a different direction.
Karen Carpenter died of heart failure after many years of battling anorexia nervosa. It was truly a tragic ending to a remarkably successful singing career. Being her number one fan, I remember that my Dad phoned me the day of her passing to make sure that I was okay.
While I don’t know the exact details of her tragic ending, I wonder if she had a “Come In and Get Me Ally” in her life. I really don’t know if she did or not; to be clear, the point I’m trying to make is that we should all have at least one consciously designed “Come In and Get Me” ally.
What about you? Can you identify your “Come In and Get Me Ally?” Someone who can see past your blind spots and help keep you on track.
Personally, I have 6 people on my “Come In and Get Me” team, and I pay a few of them really good money to do so (I consider this a worthwhile investment; it has paid back in both psychic and dollar income big time).
I will always miss the amazing talent of Karen Carpenter and her voice that created such a deep sense of the pathos of life, and I can only imagine where her career may have gone.
More to come-
Rick
3 Comments
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Yvonne Heath
Thanks for sharing this, Rick. Such a poignant and important message. As I share the I Just Showed Up Movement, a very critical piece is doing or saying something when someone is not Just Showing Up for Themselves. Sometimes that requires brave and uncomfortable conversations. Just Show Up anyway. And I LOVE the song Close to You. Thanks for sharing it. I played it loud and sang even louder! 🙂
Rick Tamlyn
Hi Yvonne. Thx for your words above– love the the whole brave conversations topic– so so needed sometimes. And I love that you know Close to You….I still know every word by heart even after 50 yrs (that song came out in 1970….can you believe that. Thank you for doing the good work you area doing in our world. Best and grateful, Rick T.
Dean Regan
Thank you, Rick for illuminating the “Come In and Get Me Ally”. It occurs to me that the belief that everyone is “naturally creative, resourceful and whole” can guide us to the idea that we (or our clients) truly know their own “right” answers.
But, I find it so helpful to have someone (or group of someone’s) who can lovingly “knock us ‘upside’ the head” and say, “Snap out of it!” (For more on this watch the end of the film “Moonstruck.”)
Recently a dear friend sat across from me at breakfast and, in referring to a 2-year long project I had been working on, said “I support your right to keep focused on trying to make this project work. I would, however, like to know when my friend (meaning me) is going to be back. You have not been the same since you started working on this project.”
This was enough to help take all the input I had received from not only my own intuition, but that of my family and other close friends to put an end to the project I had been loyally devoted to for 2 years, but one that did not suit my values, skills or talents. It was a “bad fit” and no matter what I did, I was unsuccessful to make it a “good fit.”
I kept pushing myself.
Finally I was able to listen to my “Come In and Get Me Ally” and put an end to the “bad fit.” It was not easy, but it was “right.” It was not a welcome choice, but my whole being reverberated in joy when I made the choice to “pick up my toys and find a different playground.”
I am grateful for my “Come In and Get Me Ally.”