Mike Richards
London
Two Great Gifts from Necker Island
Finding the work of my life did not come easy to me. I had my lost years, 16-21, too much misbehaving. And then I had my seeking years. I did a solo trip around South America seeking fun and adventure, and something that might end all my lost years. And 23-27, I had my “job” years, bouncing around being a tennis coach, which I was very good at, but which was something I did not love doing.
But then “destiny called” as they say. My friend calls me up and says, “Mike, how would you like to be a tennis coach on Richard Branson’s Necker Island?”
It was an offer I couldn’t refuse. Little did I know Necker Island was going to give me two unexpected gifts that would lead me to my work in the world.
The first gift happened my first week on Necker. Richard’s son, Sam, had his birthday was that week. To celebrate they had a party going off on the beach, and celebrity English rapper, Dizzee Rascal, was spinning music for the crowd. Well, I’d been DJ’ing as a hobby and as a side hustle since I was 13. I’d performed 100 house parties and shows here and there, even done a few radio spots, - so I couldn’t resist asking if I could step up and DJ a bit with Dizzee.
Next thing I know, I’m on stage with Dizzee, we’re trading back and forth, the crowd’s loving it, - and from that night on, I’m also Necker Island’s resident DJ!
The second gift happened more slowly. I began to run the A.V. for key meetings that were happening on the island, at say a Virgin Unite meeting, a meeting of E.O. members, or Yanik Silver’s Maverick group of entrepreneurs. It exposes me to these incredible speakers talking about doing greater things with your life. It really fed my soul and began answering some of my own deepest questions.
And then the unexpected happened. In Yanik’s group, someone handed me the microphone and said, “Let’s hear from Mike.” In that moment, I went from being outside of the personal development experience, to very much in it. And I loved it.
When I was 13, I put two turntables together and started to mash up music. About 20 years later, my time on Necker put my love of DJ’ing together with my passion for personal development, and the mash-up of the two was blissful to me.
That’s how my time on Necker led me to understanding myself and what I loved doing. Today, the heart of my bliss is creating things that prompt joy and growth; music that puts people in flow, mash-ups that allow people to take home the inspiration they felt, experiences that are good for the soul. Creating these kinds of things is the great work of my life.
DJ Mehow’s tracks
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