Today we’re sharing insight from guest blogger Scott Abbott, Founder and Managing Partner of Straticos. We hope you enjoy Scott's wisdom and perspective.
As we all know - there are many awesome benefits with today's technology (the list is long, right). On the other hand, there are also unfortunate downsides with today's technology (the list is pretty long there, as well).
In other words, today's mixed bag of pros & cons, yin & yang, salt & sweet smorgasbord of technological breakthroughs, has us drinking from a glass simultaneously half full, and half empty. (Deep, huh!?)
One of the most evident examples of this technological “split personality syndrome” - is digital music. Moreover, the ability to download any song. At any time. Anywhere. As fantastically terrific as this is … especially when we want that one super-duper song that's gonna get us movin', groovin', or chillin' … it also has its downsides in that most songs, are part of an album; an album with other songs.
In other words, they're a team. A unit. A family (faults, and all).
Think about it: if we only listen to that one, stand-alone song - and think that one song is the artists' overall and all-encompassing sound/vibe/genre - well then, we miss out on the accompaniment of its fellow songs. Put another way, can you imagine your favorite movie soundtrack, with just one song (blah, right?)? Even if the other songs aren't as good as that one song we want more than the others, they are still part of a package; a package that might be incredibly important and representative to the person who made that song, and moreover, the entire album. It's about art and artistry, after all.
While not a musician myself, I do know that most (good) musicians want us to listen to the whole album. Repeat: the whole album. Because more-often-than-not, each-and-every song is part of the album's overall "tapestry" of music; an interconnected weaving of different songs, with a common purpose/theme/goal. And if we only listen to that one particular song, and ignore their other songs, then we are selling that musician and ourselves short. Indeed, we both deserve more consideration.
The same logic can be said for us, as people.
You see, if we only hear someone's "individual song" - and don't listen to their "complete album" - than we are missing out on the art of being human. And art, after all, is subject to interpretation. That said, none of us are one hit wonders, and God only knows our "songs" are not always at their best, or in tune. In music (as in life) - we all have good songs, and we have not so good songs: it's a both/and, not an either/or deal. That's why we need to embrace our whole album, as our true representation.
What’s The Risk?
The risk of not appreciating the wonderful reality about ourselves and each other - in that we are all albums, not just songs - is that life's soundtrack is going to be played incomplete. And who wants that?
This content was written and shared by guest blogger, Scott Abbott.
Scott Abbott is the Founder and Managing Partner of Straticos, an Indianapolis-based investment and advisory company, helping businesses run on the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS)®. He is also the author of three books, including the best-selling and award-winning Level-UP to Professional.
Connect with Scott on social media @scottabbottabc.
