Magic Monday: Managing Your P&L Is Not What You Think
Words of Manic Monday by The Bangles and modified by Susan Shaner. Musician: Dan Brodax.
Where can you find the magic at work today?In order to get your profit and loss (P&L) sheet to where you want it, you need to better manage your passion and leadership (P&L).I define a leader as someone who articulates a vision and gets people engaged and aligned in achieving that vision. It’s easier when the vision is aligned with your passion – what excites you, gets your juices flowing.
When you are on fire, you create the energy and conditions to light up everyone around you. When you do this, you are also unleashing other people’s passion and their leadership. One could lead people, projects or evolution of thought. Today, technology has dissolved hierarchies and traditional barriers. Thought leaders and innovators are emerging from all corners of the globe and pockets of organizations.
My friend Dan Brodax, who is singing in the Magic Monday video above, is a great example of entrepreneurialism, passion and leadership. He has a background in marketing and business development, and a few years ago, decided to finally pursue his two passions: music and helping people. Although he is not a trained musician or music therapist, he is healing people through music. His business is HeartSounds: Find the Way Back to Your Heart Through Song.
He takes his guitar on the road and visits assisted living residences. He gathers people in wheelchairs, walking, infirmed and cogent in hospital and community rooms, and hands out musical instruments. Dan not only sings very energetically, but he leads the residents through a musical experience, where they make music themselves. Last week, a 56 year old man, who could not talk due to a neurological condition, took pen to paper. His note to Dan said it was the happiest birthday he ever had listening to Dan's music.
Dan is energized by getting folks who are sedentary involved in an activity. The residents are renewed by the music and the energy Dan exhibits. It’s a synergy that builds on itself. Dan markets himself as a Musical Engager. This is not a job title but a description he created to relay his unique service.
Today there is a lot of destructive passion exhibiting itself in unrest in the world and employee disengagement in organizations. What if the world was set on fire with aligned passion? Anything is possible.
This week’s reflection: Where can you more closely align you passion with your leadership? How can you unleash other’s passion and leadership?