What's Your Anthem for Greatness?

Friday night, I took my family to see MJ The Musical, and I was reminded of the power of music—not just as entertainment, but as a driver of emotion, focus, and performance. Growing up in the Thriller and Bad eras, I was once Michael Jackson for Halloween, perfected the moonwalk somewhere around age 9, and even made him the focus of my art project (photo below). Watching the musical brought back memories of his relentless pursuit of perfection—a hallmark of high performance.

As performers, leaders, or even just humans navigating life, we all have "soundtracks" that shape us. In yesterday's Admired Leadership article, Top Performers Curate Their Own Inspirational Playlist, they explain how Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian in history, used carefully curated playlists to get “amped up and in the zone” before his races. After victories, he’d listen to a specific song to burnish the confidence and emotions of the moment. Music became a tool—a nutrient for his mind and spirit.

At Exemplary Performance, we study what separates top performers, and the role of routines—like music—can’t be understated. I use music intentionally in my life, too:

?? As hype music: Songs that energize me for speaking engagements, big meetings, or races. Rocky, anyone? :)

?? As focus music: Thanks to Brain.fm, I have tracks that help me zone in when I need to be at my sharpest, crafting customer proposals and preparing presentations.

And one new one I'll try is ?? My triumph music: Tunes that I turn to when I’ve hit a goal or want to relive success.

Music isn't just for artists or athletes—it's for anyone striving to elevate their game.

What’s your hype music? Your triumph song? Your focus anthem? Share them below! And if you’ve never considered creating a playlist with intentionality, today’s a great day to start.

?? The soundtrack of your life is playing—choose the beats that fuel your greatness.