I didn’t expect Elton John to stop me in my tracks at the Auckland War Memorial Museum last Sunday.
But there it was: his fantastic, glittering, larger-than-life 50th birthday outfit.
Sequins. Feathers. Pure audacity.
For his BIG BIRTHDAY BASH in 1997, Elton’s sparkly attire was inspired by the court fashions of King Louis XIV. Clad in a sequined ensemble from the floor up (and topped off – literally – with a mechanised galleon that shot out puffs of smoke) Sir EJ had to be transported to his party in a furniture truck!
The man is a DIVA and, at the time, was my hero.
He still is.
At the museum, in an instant, I was transported back to childhood awe. Back to sitting in front of the TV in my small conservative hometown, wide-eyed as Elton showed me (and the world) that daring to be different was more than okay… it was magnificent. Welcome. Necessary.
The moment at the museum wasn’t just nostalgia for me. It was wonder. It was an invitation. And, it was laden with gratitude.
Gratitude for people like him. People who wear and ruffle feathers. People who shine unapologetically, People who use their boldness not only to entertain, but to help shape a kinder, more loving world.
Elton’s feathers, sequins, and sheer audacity weren’t just fashion.
They were a statement: be yourself, unapologetically.
First Movers & The Power of Difference
Elton embodies what I call a First Mover.
First Movers are the ones who take a step forward—before it feels safe, before there’s a roadmap, before applause. They take the first step towards something bigger then themselves.
Being a First Mover means:
⚡️ Pushing the envelope a little further.
⚡️ Taking the first step, even when others hesitate.
⚡️ Ruffling a few feathers if it means creating space for more voices, more ideas, more progress.
First Movers don’t lead from ego. They lead because they know that courage sparks courage, and that authenticity is contagious. Each step forward creates ripples of shared success.
Elton has been doing this for decades. Not just in music, but in advocacy, in kindness, in using his voice and platform to make the world more inclusive and loving.
Wonder, Nostalgia, and Gratitude
Standing in front of that outfit, I felt like both my younger and who I am now collided.
Younger me? Awestruck.
Older me? Still awestruck. But in a deeper, more nuanced way.
It’s not lost on me that artists like Elton are just as human as you and I. They’re not just pop-stars… they’re leaders, rule-breakers, and changemakers who remind us that there’s power in kindness, strength in authenticity.
Mostly, there’s joy in refusing to dim our shine.
Finding wonder in nostalgia isn’t just about looking back—it’s about remembering who inspired us to keep going, and using that spark to fuel what we create today.
G.R.O.W.T.H. Mindset: Lessons from Elton
As I stood there, Elton’s words echoed in my mind:
“Be yourself. Push the envelope. Ruffle some feathers. Remember that what unites us is far greater than what divides us. Take care of each other—and try to be part of something bigger than yourself.”
That is a G.R.O.W.T.H. mindset in action:
- G – Give yourself permission to evolve loudly, imperfectly, and joyfully.
- R – Reframe failure as feedback. Every misstep is momentum.
- O – Open up to possibility. Stay curious, stay creative.
- W – Wonder often. Find awe in the unexpected (yes, even in sequins at the museum).
- T – Take bold steps. Even small ones create ripples.
- H – Hold space for others. Shared success is the only kind of success that lasts.
This is how First Movers grow, how they shine, and how they bring others with them.
Here’s to the Feather-Rufflers
Elton John is a diva. A game-changer. A kindness warrior. A beacon of hope and pizzazz. But above all, he’s a reminder that the world doesn’t need more copies—it needs originals.
Here’s to the feather-rufflers.
The rule-rewriters.
The First Movers who light the way.
And here’s to gratitude—for the bold souls like Elton who remind us that being ourselves is not just enough… it’s everything. 🌈