You’d think from the huge amount of how-to information / books /workshops about finding your purpose, that everybody is wholeheartedly seeking it. Yet I often see people resist it or not recognize it when it appears. That has been true for many world leaders. Michelangelo originally refused to paint the Sistine Chapel: George Washington tried to avoid leading the revolutionary army: Martin Luther King, Jr. originally refused to take on any heavy community responsibilities: Queen Elizabeth II preferred not to be a ruler.
It was also true of Bob Hope, the legendary comedian who entertained US troops during three wars. Bob’s “mission” was identified as his USO tours. But he resisted performing for service members at first, and did not recognize his place as a war zone entertainer for years.
It was also true for me. My dad advised me to take education classes in college. “If all else fails, you can always teach,” he reasoned. So of course, I took ZERO education classes and had a dozen careers before landing in teaching / training / consulting / mentoring – where I have remained!
REFLECT
Why do you think we are often “blind” or resistant to our purpose?
Have you resisted your purpose?
Bob Hope’s story is a great example of growing into an unexpected and unlikely purpose. A legend in his time (1903-2003) , Bob’s early years did not portend his future impact. Born in England, the most troublesome of six boys, his father was an in-an-out of work alcoholic stonecutter. After emigrating to Cleveland, where he lived in poverty, Bob did a couple of stints in reform school.
To get attention, Bob performed. Having a photographic memory, he quickly learned and retained routines – dancing, singing, gags – that led him to Vaudeville, which led him to radio, which led him to Broadway, which led him to Hollywood, which led him to become the most recognized, best known entertainer worldwide – with 65 movies, 8 Broadway productions, 10 radio shows, and 15 TV milestones.
While getting established, Bob’s purpose was simple: Promote Bob Hope. He created an everyday American persona – wise-cracking, woman chasing, and tight fisted. He passed on living in Hollywood to reside in Toluca Lake. He
appeared at small venues like county fairs. He courted charitable events, appearing at over 500 in two years.
When he became a celebrity, Bob cultivated powerful people. He played in exhibition golf matches to meet them, and did not hesitate to ask for favors, including calling The White House for Presidential support. When asked why he wasn’t friends with Jimmy Carter, the only President who didn’t invite him to The White House, Bob quipped, “He doesn’t golf.”
At first, he declined performing for military audiences (pre-war). It took a lot of convincing before he grudgingly agreed. But after one performance, he enthusiastically reported they were his best ever audience: they whistled, stomped, yelled and applauded. He told his staff to get him every military engagement they could, and he began doing radio shows on military bases. But it wasn’t a purpose for him: it was a business opportunity – radio shows with a responsive live audience.
After the Pearl Harbor bombing, Bob didn’t consider performing in war zones. But in 1942, he learned two other comedians (his competition) had performed in the Aleutian Islands (Alaska), where troops were guarding against Japanese attack. So Bob told his staff to “Make it happen,” (most likely in a more competitive spirit than a patriotic one.)
Experiencing below-zero weather, treacherous flying conditions, and survival level accommodations on the trip, Bob was hooked. Upon returning, he stated,
I wouldn’t trade this trip for my last five years in show business. A guy gets to seeing himself in the proper focus in a setup like that. It’s touching that the visit of a mere human being can mean so much. Yes, Hollywood won’t see so much of Hope from here on. I’ve got other plans.
At 37, Bob transformed, becoming heart-and-soul committed to the troops at war. Known as rigid, shallow and self absorbed, he was an absent husband / father, a disloyal Don Juan, a hard-driving boss, and a stingy person. And while none of that changed, his passion for his new purpose was unassailable, and it won him the hearts and minds of America.
Called an “energizer” – able to subsist on catnaps – he set relentless schedules. In June of1943, he kicked off with a two month overseas tour with a hand-chosen group of stars. In five weeks in Britain, he covered 5,000 miles, giving over1000 shows in air hangers, supply depots, bomber bases, while visiting military hospitals everywhere he went. Then on to North Africa and Palermo, experiencing “horrifying raids” in both. In 1944, he continued on for 8 weeks, 30,000 miles and 150 shows. In 1945, the war ended during another tour.
Bob was known to veer off the itinerary for impromptu shows as well. One time in Germany, a group marching to the show got stopped by torrential rain and turned back. When Bob was told, he grabbed a few stars, and a couple of jeeps. Racing to catch up with the retreating bedraggled group, he did a quick show for them – in pouring rain -under a tarp – atop wooden slats thrown across muddy ruts in the road. An officer dubbed Bob Hope ”The best thing about the war!”
Years later, he made forays to Korea and spent 7 holidays in Vietnam, filming the highest rated TV Holiday specials.The 1965 show had a 56% share – the highest viewing audience of any TV show of the season.
But toward the end of the Vietnam war, Bob was baffled and disturbed by the anti-war sentiment. Insulated from public opinion by wealth, celebrity, political persuasion, and generation (he was nearing 70), he was out of touch. He never got over being booed off the stage at Long Binh.
When Bob returned to his “other life” – being a full time celebrity, he turned partisan and controversial, taking verbal swipes at hippies, feminists, etc. He was never again as engaged – as purposeful – as heart-involved – as effective — he was entertaining the troops.
APPLY:
Have you ever been heart-and-soul connected to a cause / activity?
Are you now?
If not, what would it take for you to be connected / committed?
Hope, Entertainer of the Century, Richard Zoglin, Simon & Schuster, 2024
