Industrialist and rock star. Can someone be both successfully?
Many entrepreneurs have cultivated diverse interests in their lives— interests that are driven by their curiosity and openness to new opportunities. As for me, I run a chemical business and am the lead singer of a rock band. I have found it challenging to manage and integrate two careers that are polar opposites of one another and appear to be non-complementary on the surface.
The trick is to find harmony between the two. After all, how many multinational industrial manufacturers want to rely on a supplier that’s run by a rock-and-roll musician? And conversely, how many rock musicians want to be in a band fronted by the CEO of a chemical company?
Fortunately, I have been able to bridge these differences by integrating the best qualities of each world into the operations of the other, all while remaining true to myself.
For example, the chemical industry is known to be slow-moving and conservative. I have found that having a more creative and informal style has been helpful for putting customers at ease and opening up new opportunities within my customer base. Most of our clients appreciate the fact that my company is not a stiff and bureaucratic entity. This fresh, honest approach to business has been a great asset.
While I’m free to be me, I still have to be careful. (The biker boots and skull rings stay in a duffel bag during the day!) My individualistic approach must be reinforced by maintaining the utmost professionalism and paying strict attention to quality and customer satisfaction. I have learned that I can garner tremendous respect while being unconventional, as long as I am good at what I do and am careful not to push too far beyond people’s comfort zones.
In my music life, I try to bring problem-solving methodologies and thoroughness from the industrial world into my interactions with the band and other musicians. Music is, after all, still a business, and no business can reach its full potential when it’s operating on a lower level of professionalism.
I have learned that in every field, persistence is what separates the survivors from the stragglers. As with my colleagues at work, I have to constantly pay attention to my band mates’ comfort zones. Pushing things incrementally over time has yielded much more progress that trying to stuff "corporate" tools down the throats of skeptical participants.
Time management has been an equally daunting task. It has been hard to resist taking too many music-related calls during my workday and ensuring that I spend enough time with the band. This was particularly difficult during the recording of my new album, "No Eyes For The Future." With the help of Sammy Merendino, my producer and Cyndi Lauper’s drummer, we were able to assemble a band of all stars who were willing to commit their time and energy to developing and recording my songs.
With this level of available talent, it would have been inexcusable of me to commit less than 100% to the making of the record. Yet, it would have been equally negligent to ignore my business and the loyal employees and families for whose livelihood I was responsible. This was a conundrum that needed to be handled and resolved with care.
Fortunately, I had already begun to implement one of Verne Harnish’s key principles: Hire a strong management team that can run the business independently of you.
With the additional help of handheld communications devices, I was able to put in significant time for my company’s activities – albeit at odd hours – and be fully engaged in making the record. It wasn’t easy, but the discipline paid off, and I produced what I feel is my finest work thus far.
The next challenge? Running the business while trying to book short tours.
Rock on!