Business Lessons from Van Halen and M&Ms

There is a brilliant reason why Valen Halen asked for a bowl of M&Ms with all brown M&Ms removed

Take away points:

• Details matter.
• Read contracts (or work assignments) carefully.
• Understand the requirements of the work before beginning.
• Create a checklist of the critical, required details.
• Make sure you check all of your boxes.?

Some of you may know Valen Halen and the band’s lead singer David Lee Roth.?If not, you can learn more here. ?

I am often surprised at how much I do not know about some things particularly after tripping over tidbits of information that I feel I should have known by now – things like the fact that Brazil’s primary language is Portuguese and not Spanish or that Earth has five oceans rather than just four.??

Another example is learning the real rationale behind David Lee Roth, the lead singer for mega-rock-bank Van Halen, requesting in all contracts for live performances that a bowl of M&Ms be placed in the dressing room before all shows and that all brown M&Ms be removed.?I remember vaguely hearing this story many years ago, but the message was lost by attributing this request to the band being very demanding and a bit ludicrous in their requirements for each production.?

Fast forward almost three decades to an obscure podcast listened to this morning, I was finally enlightened by the true rationale.?After following the podcast with some Google research, I was able to confirm the claim made by the podcast.?

Van Halen at the time was a pioneer in live stage performances.?Their shows were some of the most complex and daring of the time and included lights and pyrotechnics that required great care when setting up.?Failing to pay attention to details could have been disastrous to the band members, stage crew and to the audience.?To ensure that the promoters and engineering crews paid ultimate attention to all details when preparing for every show, Van Halen included in every performance contract an obscure clause requesting “Munchies… M&M’s (WARNING: ABSOLUTELY NO BROWN ONES)” before each show.?Upon arrival to each performance, Roth would first check the bowl of M&Ms.?If he found one brown M&M, he would have the entire stage, the lighting, lines and everything else inspected from top to bottom to make sure the promoters and engineers followed every single contractual requirement – primarily for safety and effect reasons.?Frequently, when brown M&Ms were found, the band and crew would uncover other areas where contractual standards were not met.?

When you find yourself overwhelmed by the work at hand, take a deep breath and two or three steps away from the work.?Give yourself time and space to breath and re-center allowing yourself to get a fresh look at the details behind your work.?Sometimes you must stop, look and listen before continuing on.?This can be counterintuitive many times, particularly when we feel rushed or that time is not on our side.?But when we force ourselves to better understand the details behind what we are doing, we sometimes get a better perspective, can work more efficiently and, more importantly, can make sure that the outcomes of our work meet expectations – whether our own or someone else’s.?

Take a moment today and every day to get a clear view of the landscape.?Identify the details that matter.?Chart a clear course to getting to the right destination.?Then get moving!?

Enjoy the rest of your week!

I am an internationally savvy business executive and advisor who specializes in the healthcare and life sciences, music and entertainment, hospitality and real estate and education industries. With over 25 years' experience as a c-suite leader and licensed advisor and consultant, I have unique qualifications that make me a highly qualified professional in business and finance. You can learn more about me at https://michaelfuselier.com or reach me for comment at [email protected].