I am watching with great interest this week’s video about Zappos. In part I admire the individual and corporate mindset that I am witnessing. But here is the really good part of all this. I worked for many companies such as this. In my ‘younger’ days I most contracted myself out to various companies in any number of genres. I can truthfully say that I did and do a little bit of everything throughout my life.
I’ve worked for some very tough companies. But here is the thing. I’ve worked for a whole lot more great companies than weak companies. I say weak only in the sense that the environment did not work for me. There is no subjective evaluation attached to this. It was simply not a very good fit for all concerned.
But enough of that. The bottom line is that Zappos CEO and owner is not near as unique as one might think. We simply don’t hear about some companies that share the same level of awareness as Zappos and those like them.
And now as I watch this video and find myself in the labyrinthine world of business planning, dealing with numbers, deadlines, and possible threats . . .. Well, it sort of refreshing to get reminded of what it is that started this incredible journey into the world of entertainment. I want my audience, my customers, my collaborators, my employees, and my community to benefit from my presence. When I grow in any number of ways—and not just financially—I want all to grow, to feel a bit better about themselves.
This particular has turned this into an incredible success story in more ways than mere dollar signs, hasn’t he?
In a sense it is all very simple. Create a service and/or product that identify a customer’s pain, assist in healing that pain, make them feel good about the transaction. And as important help the employees who help heal that pain feel like they’ve made a genuine contribution and again not in mere dollar signs.
Speaking for my own vision. I am not targeting my art to main stream traffic. This is not because I judge mainstream as something other than art. It is because of who I am as an artist and what brings me joy. It’s about what brings my audience joy. It’s about making someone excited about sharing his or her experience.
And when it does come time to form a team. I have made a quiet promise to myself that I will not micro-manage, that I will listen to my associates, and that we will both learn from our experiences, we celebrate what seem to be failures and transform them into opportunities. In other words? Yes, I want to make money and yes I want a loyal fan base. But as important, I want to play, write, and sing music and create art that brings me a sense that I’ve made a genuine contribution to others along the way. I believe this CEO and I have a great deal in common except maybe my credit card rating. But that will happen in good time.
And so, this sort of viewing tells me that my vision is not near as naïve and unreachable as some have said to me. Now I know it’s not about the naiveté of my vision but the myopic thinking that ties others to the ground. I’d work for this guy in a heartbeat if he was in the business of music and I wish him success.
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