Earlier this week I gave you a musician’s version of the 4 basics of business from Nitin Nohria’s theory called the 4+2 Formula for Success. Today I’m covering the “+2” portion by discussing 4 more practices common to successful businesses. What’s interesting here is that the research showed that a business only had to do two of these to succeed and it didn’t matter which two. I’ll discuss combinations in the next post, but for today, here are the four choices as they apply to a career in music or the entertainment industry:
Talent
This basic isn’t about having talent or not, or being good or not. Being talent and great is a given. In that respect, talent is the bedrock on which these 4+2 Career Foundations are placed.
What this is about is a focus. In other words, are you going to make your musical talent the core of who you are as an artist? Think Ella Fitzgerald vs. Madonna. I’m NOT saying Madonna’s not talented, but as you’ll see in a moment, she did not build her career on talent. Ella Fitzgerald did.
Leadership
I’ve struggled with this one the most because “leadership” can mean so much. I suggest that leadership in this area means building a career on something beyond music alone. Bono has accomplished this with his constant work with global interests and organizations.
Innovation
One word: Madonna. Nuff said.
Partnerships
Two words: Ella and Madonna. Both of these women used partnerships to build their careers. Ella performed with countless artists and bands during her career. Madonna partnered with people, projects and organizations from movies to stage to books to photography to fashion to…well, you get the point.
Plus Which?
So what are the two you’re pursuing now? Are they the right ones?
