I grew up a long time ago, or it seems that way to me. My dad was the generation that found their rewards in job security and bringing home the bacon. Creativity, while not quite a dirty word, was okay as a part of childhood. Something you could express with finger paints or piano lessons, but that you were expected to jettison as you matured and moved into the adult world, the corporate world, The Real World. Creative Catalyst in the Corporate World My family at first assumed, and then hoped I’d grow out of my musician stage to enter the corporate world. Well after all these years I finally have…but not really. I’m only in the corporate world as… Continue Reading
Solo Entrepreneur Survival Tips Part II
Now that I have metrics for my website I noticed that my previous blog post about Solo Entrepreneur Survival has been very popular. So it’s reminded me that sometimes I need to stop being strategic, or thinking too much about team building posts, and just write what I’m living at the moment. So here it is: AARRGGHHHH!!! Yeah – really; that’s been the past month and here’s why: I’ve succeed past my first three years of Team Building Through Song. I now have a track record with proven success…and it’s killing me! I can’t claim the newbie-underdog mantle anymore. I’m sort of established and now I have to grow another 65% this year to meet the goals my advisers and… Continue Reading
The Why and The Meaning
I’ve been in a slump, dang it! No, don’t worry – the team building business is still thriving, but I’ve been uninspired. I know you can relate to those times when you’re going through the motions, working hard, but without passion. I’ve been focused on detail and operations and I’ve lost site of the big picture – the underlying motivation that fuels my love for musical team building. So I approached yesterday’s task of creating my February newsletter with a bit of dread. Then, while looking for quotes for the newsletter, I came across the lyric that our client, Hobsons, created at a recent event. Over 100 people came together and created an impactful song that represented the best of… Continue Reading
Team Building and Keeping It Real
So you may notice this is my first blog post in a couple of weeks. My goal is to post something interesting about team building ideas twice a week. But lately, every time I start to write I’ve been stymied and uninspired. I recently realized the reason has been that I’m thinking too hard. I’m now using ScribeSeo by copyblogger to help me optimize my posts for keywords around team building, creative team building ideas, etc. But now that I’m becoming aware of what I should be doing to gain strategic advantage, it’s overtaken my usual ability to just express what I’m feeling about the work I do. Late last night I realized I had to return to the essence… Continue Reading
Team Building Events and Fear
We’re never at our best when we’re fearful. Fear can be an upfront, overwhelming feeling or a subtle part of our everyday workplace environment. Creative people know that being afraid to fail is a stumbling block to trying new things and thus, to problem solving and innovation. Team Building Events help groups confront their hesitation to act, moving teams outside of their normal comfort zone. That zone isn’t always a good one. It’s just where we’re accustomed to being. Really? You’re Scared of This? I recently lost a big team building event because a corporate VP didn’t think he was a good singer. He believed our program would enable his group to come together, to have fun, to learn more… Continue Reading
Corporate Team Building and Team Tuning
I’ve often shied away from using the term corporate team building. Strategically, I didn’t want to have less appeal to associations and non-profits that don’t fit the typical corporate team building mold. But honestly, corporate culture is where people work together closely, often in teams, with goals and project deadlines. The working relationships require team building so workers stay happy and engaged – engaged not only as individuals but as team members. The Art of Work When I’m at the piano writing a song, or immersed in a good book time zooms by. I’m in a state of contentment and animation, focused, and in the zone. When we’re creating we’re naturally engaged. The two go together. Creative team building will… Continue Reading
Nashville Corporate Team Building
This is where it all started for me, and for a lot of us. I know I’m biased but Nashville corporate team building is sort of synonymous with music team building. I ran into a client recently and he introduced me by saying I had invented the idea of team building through song. Well that’s not true, not at all. What’s Unique About Nashville Team Building? I decided to try and find the originator of music based team building programs but I couldn’t find one source. It’s unique to Nashville in that it’s woven into the fabric of our city. The Nashville Songwriters Association International, The Country Music Hall of Fame and the CVB have all offered musical solutions for… Continue Reading
I Hate Team Building
I’m a creative type and as such I’ve always been a little different. As a kid, if you told me to go right, I’d go left. If everyone was doing one thing, I always wanted to do another…off by myself like a typical creative. So I really relate to potential clients who tell me they hate their team building days. I’m not one to embrace a group activity or relish the thought of being put in forced situations. So Why Does This Work? Our team of hit songwriter facilitators are all performers. We like to have fun in an unassuming non-forced way. Music is a common language that enables people to relax, to let go of inhibitions and to become… Continue Reading
Get Right Brained
What does it mean to get right brained? Does it require a BFA in fine art, a film degree or a passion for guitars and bar bands? I don’t believe so. Our clients discover their right brained-ness by diving off the creative cliff with us during our musical team building programs. They discover they are right brain all stars themselves, as they reconnect with their inherent abilities to create and innovate. Ninety-eight percent of young children are highly creative. Come play with us and we’ll help you rediscover your inner four year old, it’s easy. Why do I need right brain all stars? Every organization has problems; but that’s not a bad thing. Problem = Existence | Problem solving =… Continue Reading
Corporate Social Responsibility & Fun Team Building
“We’re looking for fun team building activities, one’s that don’t suck!” I can’t tell you how many times that’s the first thing I hear when I answer my phone. I commiserate – I get it. How many times have you been dragged into an uncomfortable group activity that doesn’t deliver what it promises? Dare I say it; I don’t like team building activities…or at least I never used to like them. But now I’m passionate about them, and not just because I facilitate team building programs. Adding a corporate social responsibility component to team building is great because it heightens the feeling of shared accomplishment. At our first CSR team building event last April and I discovered something exciting. After… Continue Reading