Rebels and Joni Mitchell

[Note: A version of this article was first published in my Friday5 tip sheet. Subscribe here.]

I'm inspired by people who break the rules.

Disruption makes the world go round, people. Coloring outside the lines is almost always okay. As long as what you're doing isn't illegal, immoral or unethical, have at it.

Oh, there may be consequences for being rebellious. But you just may be rewarded. Sometimes, you'll be punished and rewarded at the same time.

Two new books about rebellion have captured my attention this month. Both extol the virtues of disruption.

Rebel, rebel

"And the sun poured in like butterscotch and stuck to all my senses." - Joni Mitchell in? Chelsea Morning??

Singer and songwriter, Joni Mitchell is one of the most unique talents of her generation.?

A polio survivor, Joni started out in folk music and then crossed over into jazz and more eclectic forms of music.?

Mitchell composed her various songs in over 40 "open" guitar tunings and in the early days, quickly tuned by ear while on stage.?Fiercely independent, Joni seldom even used a producer on her records.?

I really enjoyed the audio version of David Jaffee's book,?Reckless Daughter.?The number of famous people in Joni's life is stunning and had me reminiscing about my time in the music business with the?Caruso brothers band.

I often read two books during the same time period. While I was enjoying the Mitchell biography in the car, I coincidentally started a print version of?Rebel Talent: Why It Pays to Break the Rules at Work and in Life?by Francesca Gino. The author is a gifted storyteller and a professor at the Harvard Business School.?

Gino makes the case that some rules are made to be broken and that maybe some rules shouldn't even be rules.??

I dunno, maybe I'm thinking about rebelling a bit this summer.?You, too??