Opportunity knocks

In 1995, Shane Mooney played several underground songs for the CEO of Loud Records, Steve Rifkind. The artist behind those songs was an unknown Detroit lyricist named Marshall Mathers. 

This was early on in Eminem’s career. 

Pre-Infinite. 

Pre-Slim Shady EP. 

Pre-Slim Shady LP. 

When Rifkind first heard Eminem, he quickly recognized his talent. Yet, Rifkind passed on a chance to sign Em. Of course, Eminem went on to become one of the best-selling artists of all time with over 200 million records sold. 

With the benefit of hindsight, you may be wondering why a seasoned industry executive like Rifkind would pass on such great talent? It’s a fair question.

It’s because Rifkind was hungry. He had just sold Loud Records to Sony. He needed a mainstream artist capable of producing “radio hits” to stay alive in the big league. Eminem had no hits at that stage in his career. So, the shoe didn’t fit.

When a lion spots a pack of zebras at dinner time, it has to decide which prey to chase. A lion only has so much energy, and it must work to conserve energy. So, the lion decides to pick on the zebra that is most likely to turn into dinner. 

Rifkind needed a hit song. He needed dinner. He didn’t see it in Eminem. So, he moved on. To his credit, Rifkind also helped launch seminal acts like Three 6 Mafia, Mobb Deep and Wu-Tang Clan. He gets a pass.

For the rest of us, doubt is the enemy. Doubt crushes opportunities. And, some opportunities never show up a second time. They are “now or never” moments.

You can’t play it safe forever and become everything you’re meant to become. You have to make a conscious decision to walk away from the familiar and walk into the unknown.