The Importance of the Band

My husband has a “second” career as a musician. It started out with him backing up a friend on bass. This friend, a talented musician and songwriter, was entering a contest and felt that the depth of sound would be heightened with a second person in the mix. Thus, my husband started his role as the bass player.

It was successful. They won the contest, and another opportunity to play soon followed. In the meantime, they were also lucky enough to recruit a third person to add more diversity and rhythm — a talented drummer. Now the sound is even better, the songs are richer, and the rhythms are stronger. And as I began to strategize the week for my young business while listening to the band’s recent track, I was reminded about the strength of a band — of the power and the importance of a number greater than one.

While greatfullgrowth is still in its earliest stages, I decided it would be valuable to create an Advisory Board. I wasn’t sure if I could recruit members — the only payment I could offer was a homecooked dinner- and that only worked for those who were local. I wanted a broader board comprised of individuals with various backgrounds, experts in their own fields and who lived around the country. I wanted a coming together of ideas, innovation and the brainpower of the collective.

Building the Board

I sat down a few months ago and thought back to the number of people I’ve been fortunate enough to know and work with over the years. Each had brought something new to each project or business. And together, what a rich mix of experiences, skills and talents. Feeling fortunate, I wrote up a list of everyone I wanted to ask, and soon, I had assembled an amazing group of people who are willing to share their time, input, feedback and ideas with me as I work to launch my dream.

This past Tuesday night we had our first official Advisory Board meeting. Six of us were in person with another eight joining via video conference. Much of the time the work of the company is happening in single threads — one person focusing on a task independently. But Tuesday night I was reminded of the genius that emerges when we work together and share ideas and feedback with one another. Once again, the power of numbers came right mind. I looked around the table, and at those names listed on my laptop screen, and I thought to myself, “This is how great ideas are born and launched. This is how dreams become reality. Not alone, but together.”

In my career I have been fortunate to work as part of incredible teams built upon diverse talents, personalities and complementary strengths. Anytime I think back to a success, the power of the team is always the defining factor. I have always loved that chance to gather with one or two others and begin drawing on the white board to find an answer or solve the problem, and this process is even more productive when expanded to a broader group. I pride myself on being fairly creative, hardworking and a good problem solver but I am only one — with only one mind. Good ideas, good solutions but limited by the power of one viewpoint.

Grateful for Others’ Advice

This week ends with my heart and soul full of gratitude to the members of the greatfullgrowth Advisory Board. They encouraged. They questioned. They created. And they generated far more ideas in one two-hour meeting than I alone could have in a week.

We talked about some basic product development underway today, and their input and the discussion helped me to see it in greater clarity, gaining key insights paramount to broader business application and offering higher value.

They expanded the thinking behind our avenues of communication and outreach, offering fresh perspectives and ideas around using other channels and avenues to reach young professionals to help deliver value to them in developing their personal self and their career.

The enthusiasm of the group elevated my motivation, and the next morning I was ready to start with an even stronger commitment to get things done.

This Advisory Board — it worked much like my husband’s band did for the music — the ideas (sounds) are richer with more people (instruments) and more innovation (talent). Now, it’s time to act on these ideas and then continue to have on-going discussions geared towards development and optimization.

Much thanks to the greatfullgrowth Advisory Board.

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