Welcome to my Blog

Thanks for being here! My main inspiration lies in trying to find a way to bring the worlds of music and leadership development together in one place. I believe people could be happier and more productive if they took some of the lessons learned from music and musicians and used them in their everyday work lives. So this space will be a cross between a music blog and a leadership development blog that will hopefully turn you on to some good music, and give you a little bit to think about while you work!

The title of the Blog is a play on the phrase "Party Like a Rock Star." I am a true believer in the way you approach your job is the crucial factor for success. Like an old boss of mine used to say "if it aint brain surgery, it aint brain surgery." Skills can be learned, but the attitude and ability to "fake it 'til you make it" is key. For my money, no one epitomizes that attitude more than rock stars. What if we approached our jobs like rock stars? What if we could walk into meetings with the confident swagger of Bono, or communicate the abosolute joy of performance like Bruce Springsteen in our staff meetings? I believe by studying the key elements of thier lyrical statements and analyzing their musical live stories, we can all find our "Inner Rock Star." I am here to guide you on your journey to this special place!

My music "expertise" is born of two sources. The first and most important source is the 5 years I spent as a drummer in various bands in Denver, Colorado during the early to mid 90's. The name of the bands aren't important, as you probably haven't heard of them (but if you want to buy a disc, click [http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B0002Y15OY/ref=sr_1_olp_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1232578930&sr=1-1 here] or [http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B000L4CF1C/ref=sr_1_olp_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1232578860&sr=1-1 here] (I promise I am not getting a cut of the price of the disc, but would be happy to sign any copies of the discs for you!), but the lessons learned during those years were incredibly important. We wrote our own music, got our own gigs, and recorded our own music. Along the way, I formed life long bonds with many of the musicians I had the honor of playing with, and it taught me a lot of what I know about being a good friend and a good co-worker.

The second element of this expertise comes from my passion for discovering and analyzing great bands and their work. From the time I was 7 years old singing into my comb to Glen Campbell, I was a hopeless addict. I snapped up my older brothers album collections and digested all I could, slowly developing my own tastes and preferences. Finally, I found musicians and music I could gravitate to.

First, it was The Police. The combination between Stewart Copeland's manic drumming, Sting's introspective, provoctive lyrics (and of course the delightfully self-depricating humor of Stewart's songs).

But soon I developed a voracious appetite for articles and information detailing how bands got together, how they stayed together (or why they broke apart), and most importantly how they played together. As I got older and entered the workplace, it occurred to me that there could be a definite connection drawn between a company producing products, creating a customer base, then successfully branding their company to a group of musicians creating music, developing a fan base, then being able to transfer that energy into an enduring career.

The second crucial inspiration behind my approach comes from my academic pursuits. After a less than inspired first attempt at college, I regrouped for a second try at the ripe age of 31. Going back to Monmouth University at this advanced age helped me focus (finally) on the task at hand. My time through undergraduate and graduate school gave me the opportunity to put fancy words and intelligent theories to the basic concepts I had lived out in the "real world."

The final piece of the puzzle comes from my colorful and varied vocational adventures. I have had the unique pleasure of having a couple of different professional "lives." I worked in a South Denver liquor store for 7 years, then bounced around as a salesman (working for many different companies selling beer, computer software and telephones) when I returned home to New Jersey for another 7 years, then have been in Human Resources for about 5 years.

As inspiration for my Masters Thesis I submitted while pursuing my graduate degree, I drew a parallel between my current job, in the US Army working for an Engineering Center in the HR department, to one of my old jobs at Enterprise Rent-A-Car. I tied them together with a Fantasy Theme Approach, and was able to draw in some of my personal experiences for some extra flavor. It was accepted and lead to an opportunity to be a "published scholar." I was honored to present my thesis in England at the Corporate Communications Institute annual seminar and to have my paper accepted for publication in their annual communication theory journal.

So, now that you know me, and know what this is about- I will try to fill this space with worthwhile information-thanks for reading!!