Given studies that show music can enhance mental health and improve cognitive performance, and in honor of the 13th Anniversary since I founded Intercultural Talk, Inc., here are 13 songs, an entrepreneur’s playlist, to capture the joys and challenges, stress, glee, and ultimately amazing pride and satisfaction in being an entrepreneur and owning your life.
What songs would make your playlist? Here is mine.* (Access the playlist on Spotify.)
I’m Still Standing – Elton John
Titular line… “I’m still standing!”
First of all…excited to be celebrating a 13th anniversary. I started with major event work like the Hyde Park Jazz Festival and opening events for the Spertus Institute. I took a brief (four year) reprieve to be the head of marketing and businesses development for Jewish Child & Family Services, and then came back full force to focus on digital, intercultural and real-life marketing for individuals and businesses.
Tubthumping – Chumbawamba
“I get knocked down, but I get up again. You’re never gonna keep me down!” Lyrics to be taken literally. And some days it feels good to sing it out loud at the top of your lungs!
The Coffee Song – Ralph’s World
“M-O-M-M-Y needs C-O-F-F-E-E”
Lucca was 5 when I started my business in 2006. Loved the flexibility of being an owner—that’s nine years of being room mom and two on Taft High School’s Local School Council. But flexible does not mean less. I’m thankful for a system that allows scheduling email delivery to clients. 7:30 am messages read productive, on the ball! 3 am emails signal crazy! At least to others. To me it signals having it all—family, work, everything. But it all takes time. Thank goodness C-O-F-F-E-E!
Firework – Katy Perry
“Cause baby you’re a firework; Come on show ’em what your worth; Make ’em go “Oh, oh, oh! As you shoot across the sky-y-y.”
Fun for just being a firecracker at what you do. And, also literally, with clients like First Night Evanston and the New Year’s Eve Fireworks.
I Am Woman – Helen Reddy
“I am Woman, here me roar!”
Oh yeah…that line never gets old!
Unwritten – Natasha Beddingfield
“The rest is still unwritten…no one else can speak the words on your lips…Live your life with arms wide open.”
I came to everything I do in marketing as a writer, and am very excited to see that continue. For clients it might mean blogging, digital content and articles. For me it’s regular columns in Grand Magazine and for the National Diversity Council. The newest unwritten part is deeper dives into satire and humor, to work on writing funnier.
Basket Case – Green Day
“Do you have the time, to listen to me whine?”
Accept for the few year break at JCFS, where everyone else was a social worker and would make time to listen to you whine, there’s really no time. Kind of like Tom Hanks classic line “There’s no crying in baseball” in A League of Their Own, there’s no time for whining in your own business. Because when you’re finished whining there’s still work to be done, problems to solve, and magic to deliver.
Shiny Happy People – REM
“Shiny, happy, people holding hands.”
As a business owner, you can choose to surround yourself with really wonderful team. From artists and logo designers to web developers, videographers and more, it’s really exciting to pull together teams of people to deliver strategy and vision for clients. Plus I loved seeing the singer from the B-52’s collaborating with a (at the time the song came out) newer band. Creative collaborations can yield unexpected results. Like where 1 + 1 = 10.
Happy – Pharrell Williams
“I should probably warn you I’ll be just fine…here’s why…because I’m HAPPY!”
Another fun one to shout at the top of your lungs! Plus I remember an interview where Pharrell talked about his surprise at becoming famous after he was 40. He just assumed that time was passed for him. Never too old…
Soul Meets Body – Death Cab for Cutie
“I want to live where soul meets body.”
Yeah. Me too. I read a book years ago called “Composing a Life,” about how we piece together all of the things that are meaningful to our lives, like a symphony. Being a business owner allows that. You can align the work that you do with your talents and the things that give you purpose. You can integrate personal growth and take care of your mind and your body.
Wide Awake – Parquet Courts
“I’m wide awake.”
Wide awake and 100% engaged. Love working in intercultural communications, diversity, equity and inclusion and more. And to have so much new and exciting technology continuing to evolve every day.
I’ve Seen All Good People – Yes
“I’ve seen all good people turn their heads each day so satisfied I’m on my way.”
It was at a Body Pump Training that the instructor said “never underestimate the privilege of being able to stand before a group of people and inspire them.” As we (at least for me) are younger, it’s easy to be concerned if we are good enough, did we do enough. It’s exciting as we age to feel confident in our experience and knowledge and to bring our entire selves to the table. It’s not so much about us, but how we serve and help others to be the best that they can be.
These are Days – 10,000 Maniacs
“These are the days you might fill with laughter until you break. These days you might feel a shaft of light, make its way across your face. And when you do you’ll know how it was meant to be, see the signs and know their meaning. It’s true. You’ll know how it was meant to be, hear the signs and know they’re speaking to you, to you.”
When Lucca was little he only knew this as “the loud song” because we would blare it on road trips, on perfectly sunny days, meandering country roads, windows down, hands windsurfing.
This song captures the perfect moment when you’re exactly where you are meant to be. You know your purpose and see how you fit in the world. It’s the best feeling. And one you get in business as projects launch, you get front page coverage for a client, thousands attend a festival, conferences exceed expectations, people thank you for serving them.
*Not sure how may enjoy the little known genre of “Interpretive Aerobics,” but I have playlists for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, 4th of July, New Years. Feel free to see them on Spotify. Or, if you are local, hit me up to take my Aqua Aerobics class near any holiday, for the full effect!
Published first on LinkedIn, here https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6554102596854968320
