Welcome to the HBO Ideacast from Harvard Business Review. I'm Allison Beard.

Most of the guests that we interview on this show come from the world of business and management.

But from time to time, we also like to bring in people from different fields for their perspectives and lessons on professional growth, resilience, and success.

Today we turn to a famous musician who's topped the chart in not just one but two genres.

Depending on your age or location, you might know Darius Rucker as lead singer of the massively

popular 1990s band Hootie and the Blowfish. Or you'll recognize him as the solo artist who defied stereotypes and expectations

to become one of country music's most prominent black voices for many years.

His new memoirs called Life's Too Short and I spoke to him about how he turned a college hobby

into a career and then transitioned

into a successful second act

by following his passions, ignoring haters,

and staying humble.

Your relationship with music of all kinds seems rapturous, almost spiritual.

How did you turn that passion, which you had at a very young age into a profession?

Oh, I mean, that a lot of luck.

Music's been so much a major part of my life since I was a young kid and knowing that at four or five

and six years old that all you want to do is sing for me the passion just turned into

work yeah which turned into success.

And, you know, because you have that old saying where if you do something you love,

you don't work a day in your life.

That's really how I felt.

I just wanted it.

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