Like most of us on the planet, the sudden and untimely death of Michael Jackson has both of us trying to grasp the truth in it, all while recalling the joyful memory of the first concert we ever went to. Yes, The Victory Tour in the Astrodome. We wore a sparkly glove, we are pretty sure. The media tributes and montages today are sprinkled with a little of what we don’t want to remember about him, too. So, it brings us abruptly to a topic that we teach and speak about often… so listen up, or we may be using you as an example one day. We hope not, but we’re just sayin’ in our Rock Star U terms, there are awards, and then there’s the Hall of Fame:

Admit it. You’ve watched the Grammy Awards on TV and wondered in some blurry-dreamy-state what it would be like to win such a public award. What would it be like for someone to give you a standing ovation, a trophy, in front of a worldwide audience based on the fact that you did a great job at “what you do?” It’s quite a concept. Can you imagine the pomp and circumstance that would be around the Stay-at-Home-Mom Awards? What about the Military Family Awards, or the Single Mom or Single Dad Awards show? Yayehuh!! What about the Janitor Awards, or the Teacher Awards, or the School Bus Driver Awards?

With that being said, we still think the Grammys are cool. Awards are always cool. But Awards are voted on. They are “basically” based on a popular opinion about “What is good.” It’s based on the perception that others have about us, or our work. That’s probably what makes receiving an award feel so stinkin’ good. It feels good to be recognized, validated. Affirmation that we are (err, finally) doing something right is never a bad thing. But it can be a dangerous thing.

See, a real rock star loves awards, and they can be a great motivator. The next record deal brings more cash after the Grammy, and rightfully so. So there is nothing wrong with being motivated by dinero awards. But if awards drive us more than our passion steers us, we will never make it to the Hall of Fame. Awards are accomplishments in our lives. They are the goals we have set and reached. They are the promotions, the college degree, the financial successes, the dream car achieved, and any thing that we tend to celebrate either inside our own minds or very publicly.

The Hall of Fame, however, is our legacy. It has nothing to do with our awards other than to say it may (or may not) have something to do with the character that lead to those awards. But awards themselves, do not contribute to a real rock stars (yes, your) Hall of Fame star power. The Hall of Fame is based on what others will say at our funeral and for every year after that.

So our challenge to Rock Star You is very clear here. Create your Hall of Fame now. Yes, you. Before you start your business, before you go on to the next day, before you have a sudden heart attack at age 50, or before your loved one does. Know what you want to stand for with every breath of every day and go live that. Write it down. Run your business like that, run your relationships like that. Exactly like that.

Here’s the Action Step: Make your Hall of Fame List now. There is no minimum or maximum, no format and no right or wrong. The only requirement is that you focus only on the items that you alone control. This list should be active choice items that Rock Star You want to be remembered for, or wants to pass on. If you fell in love with you, what would you say about Rock Star You? Thoughtfully make that list, then fall in love with you simply so the rest of the world can also fall in love with Rock Star You!

Then you can go to work.

We begin featuring your Rock Star stories of being awesome women in business very soon! We’ve had some great interviews and look forward to sharing them and shining the spotlight on each of you! Know anyone who deserves to be featured? Pop us an email: info@rockstarsrock.com

Until next time, Rock On! Aly & Andrea