I finally watched one of the greatest movies, Whiplash. The below article will resonate more with people who watched the 2014 movie and remember it. If not, it might motivate you to watch and rewatch.
The quote, “There are no two words in the English language more harmful than ‘good job,’” struck a chord with me, evoking memories from my days as a Solutions Engineer and my first year in management. Below, I delve into the parallels and lessons drawn from moments in the movie:
- Practice, Practice, Practice: Andrew, the drummer, persisted in practicing despite his bleeding hands. When yelled at, he practiced even harder. As an SC, I’d record my demo repeatedly until I felt ready. After the first demo went terrible, I locked myself in a room practicing over and over until the next one went better. As an SC, record yourself hundreds of times and watch the recordings. Tweak aspects with each recording. View the recording from your audience’s perspective and prepare questions. This approach significantly boosted my confidence before entering the arena, and I’m confident it will help everyone. If someone laughed at you or you messed up your last demo, dedicate the entire weekend to recording the same demo. The next time, you will likely do much better.
- Channeling Perfectionism, OCD, and Anxiety: Perfectionists often struggle when demos don’t go as planned. While long-term solutions, such as controlling the demo with techniques like breathing exercises will help, in the short term, these folks can channel the perfectionism by practicing relentlessly. By focusing on giving their best and knowing they’ve done everything they can, the uncertainties in the actual demo become more manageable. In the movie, the drummer practiced with blood on the drums and even broke up with his girlfriend to avoid distractions. I’m not suggesting such extreme measures, but you get the idea.
- Music Talent: While not comparing to being a great musician, a baseline talent is necessary for a good SC. The career isn’t for everyone, as the hardwiring is distinct, making pre-sales engineering challenging for many consultants.
- Intensity in Management: In my first year as an SCA manager, I was known for being highly intense. I had the SCAs practice their demos repeatedly in front of me until they succeeded, often going after hours. Few SCs cried, they are actually the exceptional ones now. Most of those SCs told me it prepared them for demos like nothing else. At some point though, probably after the first year, I got way less intense because of the feedback from HR/Management. I sincerely regret that because it was at the expense of future SCs. I won’t make that mistake again and will keep my foot fully on the gas peddle at all times.
- Andrew and Terence’s Conversations: The dialogue between the drummer Andrew and instructor Terence in the jazz club after the fight was amazing! In startups, fostering an environment for exceptional talent, akin to finding the next Charlie Parker, can yield exponential results. Amid a culture of constant validation, focus on craftsmanship as the true validation.
- Facing Challenges in Actual Demos: From leaving the drums at the car rental to dealing with Terence sabotaging Andrew’s set, many parts of the movie resembled a demo where things constantly go wrong. Andrew persisted and never gave up. In the end, his tenacity and perseverance for the craft even led Terence, the initial naysayer, to bond with him. Terence embodies the customer trying to sabotage your demo.
The movie is undeniably intense, and as an SC, you’re not aiming to become the next Buddy Rich. Nevertheless, let’s approach our craftsmanship with that same intensity. Also, the next time you listen to a truly fantastic song, experience an amazing demo, or interact with a beautiful product, remember the blood, sweat, and tears that went into creating it. Simply put, that intensity contributes to making the world a better place.
