LANE

​"Some people say I'm conscious, some say I'm a gangsta rapper —it's just me doing me. I'm stomping in my own lane. I'm doing what I do." — Nas

This past weekend my good friends Matthew and Heather got married and in the hours before the ceremony, as everyone was getting ready for the main event, our friend Austin noticed a particular kind of bus down on the street below our hotel room.

It was a sort of double-length bus that looked kind of like an accordion. I learned later that this is what's known as an articulated bus, designed with two rigid sections linked by a pivoting point and enclosed by accordion-like bellows. This setup allows for a larger vehicle capacity while also maintaining stability on city streets.

When we saw this bus below I instantly recognized that the setup allowed the bus to stay in its lane, and I knew then that I had to share this as a Magic Word, because the idea of staying one's lane is an important reminder for all of us.

Staying in your lane means staying true to yourself, rather than selling out or changing who you are just because someone wants you to be something that you're not. This is an important lesson in business, and it's just as important in your personal life too.

I thought this was an especially significant message top be found on a wedding day, where just hours later the bride and groom would exchange their vows, saying: "I vow to be honest, caring, and truthful, and to love you as you are and not as I want you to be."

I've known Matthew a long time, and we share a number of things in common, one of which being music. I'm a sax player and Matt is one of the best drummers around. Over the years we've had the opportunity to create music together in a number of bands, and one of those band had a reunion during the wedding reception. The Blue Veins started their set with a cover of "Roadhouse Blues" by The Doors.

The opening lines of this classic reminded us once again of the importance of staying focused on who we are, rather than on how the world may want to change us: "Keep your eyes on the road, your hands upon the wheel."

Whether you're getting married, working for a team, or starting your own business, the Magic Word Lane is a reminder to stay in your lane, stay true to yourself, and always remember who and why you are.