We have established that we can learn a lot from studying a successful
band/man like Mark Knopfler. We also know before sketching the three core
lessons that even doing all the right things does not necessarily lead to
success – things go wrong whether you like it or not. As it says in the good
book, Time and chance happens to all men. In the case of Mark last Friday, he
revealed to us why he wasn’t standing up and playing the guitar: he had pulled
a nerve in his back and that had plagued him for five weeks. Now that’s what
you call irritating – and life!
The lesson from watching Mark is the lesson of creativity: all the songs
were his songs, and so everyone followed his tune. Being creative is an
essential component of being human: essential – of the essence. Peter Drucker
observed that only two things made money for a business, everything else was a
cost: marketing and innovation. We need to run businesses where we give full
scope to human creativity, especially our own. In the long run it helps make us
more stress resistant.
Second: be an expert at whatever you do! Watch Mark play that guitar –
in fact several guitars – and you see an expert at work. Without overdoing it
they had cameras which for short periods of time enabled us to see Mark on the
stage and behind him a close up of his fingering and fretwork. And it wasn’t
only Mark who was a superb musician – they all were. So, if you are going to be
a plumber, nurse, director, manager, shop assistant – be the best. I was amused
and impressed recently when the plumber fixing a problem round our house said,
My brother is the best plumber in Dorset. I
said, Well, get him here then – I don’t want the second best!
Finally, get a tight team round you. Towards the end Mark introduced his
team and we learnt nearly all of them went back 15 years of playing with him,
and one even to the ‘80s. He trusted them and they trusted him; the synergy and
teamwork were apparent – the great Knopfler could achieve far more leveraging
their talent alongside his own. Where are your key team players? Who’s with you
on a journey to change the world with your product or service?
Yes, you can learn a lot from watching a rock and roll band. The music’s
great as well!
The Mapping Motivation Series 