Musician's Brain, Writing Lyrics & Ecosystems

You listen to music. When a trained musician listens to the same music, does he or she hear more than what you and I hear? I am always impressed by guitarists who can figure out the chords of a song that they have never heard before. I am awestruck by it.

My dad taught me how to recognize ragas of Indian Classical Music. Here is how you can learn about it too: Click this <The Charm of Raga Desh>

How often have we looked at someone else’s job and declared pompously that we could do that job without any effort. I certainly have been guilty of doing that. That is the arrogance of the amateur. As amateurs whenever we have attained a little skill, we start to see ourselves as within reach of being seen as world class.

The brain changes based on the training

The hippocampus of the cabbies in London changes based on the effort they put in to clear The Knowledge. <Read more about the cabbie brain>

The musicians notice more nuances. In this video, go to 3:30 min of the video and watch what happens when a band member listens to the same clip that a regular fellow just heard. They notice the instruments and what each instrument sounded like and what the interrelationship was between the instruments.

Repetition and practice changes the brain according to the needs of the profession.

The rule of 3 in a song

If our lives had a soundtrack, the special occasions would be marked by songs. The moments of agony and ecstasy all have songs linked with the moment. Why is every song not equally memorable? In this video watch the science of writing lyrics.

There is the Rule of Three in lyric writing. What is it? And how does the tone and chord get matched to the lyric?

Ecosystems, Ecosystems, Ecosystems

Having published six books, I know that writing is not the solitary activity it is made out to be. The writer is just one part of a complex ecosystem. successful writers know that they need to manage the ecosystem to be successful. Think of the number of people who come together to bring a book to the bookstore

• Author:?The core of the ecosystem, responsible for crafting the story.
• Literary Agent:?Represents the author and helps secure a publishing deal.
• Editor:?Works with the author to refine the manuscript and ensure it's ready for publication.
• Publisher:?Invests in the book, handles production, and manages distribution.
• Marketing and Publicity Team:?Promotes the book to readers through various channels.
• Booksellers:?Sell the book to the public.
• Readers:?The ultimate audience and the driving force behind the entire ecosystem.

This is a simplified view, of course. There are many other players involved, such as designers, typesetters, printers, and reviewers.

Mapping Your Career Ecosystem

Here are steps you can follow to map your ecosystem.

1. Identify the Core Role:?Start with the specific job title you're interested in.
2. Branch Out:?Research the roles directly connected to the core role. Who do they interact with daily?
3. Expand the Network:?Explore the broader industry. What other professionals and organizations influence the field?
4. Analyze Relationships:?Understand the dynamics between different roles. Who holds power? How do decisions get made?
5. Visualize the Ecosystem:?Create a diagram or mind map to visualize the connections between different players.

Why is it important to map your professional ecosystem?

Mapping your professional ecosystem can help you:

• Identify opportunities: By understanding the different players in your ecosystem, you can identify new opportunities for collaboration and growth.
• Build stronger relationships: Getting to know the people in your ecosystem can help you build stronger relationships, which can lead to new projects, referrals, and even job offers.
• Stay ahead of the curve: By keeping track of the latest trends and developments in your industry, you can stay ahead of the curve and ensure that you're always relevant.

As a transitions coach I find it useful to get a new hire familiar with the ecosystem they are supposed to manage. It helps the new manager hit the ground running in a shorter time. In case of a senior executive getting the person to start even a month or two ahead of the normal "settling down" can pay for the cost of a transition coach.

Do you use transition coaches for new hires?

Listening now

Listen to a chat with Richard Feynman. It is so fascinating to hear the voice of the man himself.