The Jam! Blog

U.S. Automakers Need To Make Hits Again

Muscle car pioneer John Delorean was one of the visionaries who kept the US auto industry alive in the 1960s.

I recently had the privilege to write a guest post on CNBC.com’s popular “Bullish on Books” blog, and it finally went up today. Check it out here.

They gave me the green light to write about anything I wanted to, and I chose a topic that has long been near and dear to me: cars.

For as long as I can remember I’ve been a “car guy.” It’s a passion I shared with my father as we looked forward to the lineup for the new model year every September knowing that whatever Detroit introduced would at least be aesthetically different from the prior year.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the case anymore. U.S. automakers have lost their passion and no longer make hits like they once did.

As I point on in my post:

How far would a successful rock band’s career go if they made the same record again and again? There always has to be a fresh twist with some new influences to keep your audience interested. [...] Unfortunately, Detroit carmakers have stopped making hits. They no longer inject emotion into their designs.

In short, they’ve lost their soul.

Read the entire article here, and I’d love to hear what you think in the comments below. Also thanks to Gloria McDonough-Taub of Bullish On Blogs (and apparently a fan of 38 Special’s “Back Where You Belong”) for inviting me to guest blog.

Zappos Culture And Loving What You Do

Just got back from Las Vegas earlier this week where I had the opportunity to visit Zappos and receive the much talked about Zappos tour.  Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh and Business Development Manager Aaron Magness were also kind of enough to join me for dinner one evening and we had an insightful conversation, shared thoughts on many subjects all of which seemed to focus on the importance of passion in your work.  In short, if you love what you do, the result is happiness.

Many of you have read articles on the Zappos culture and why their work environment is unique and effective.  Well, I have to say that you must experience it to truly understand.  I spoke with several employees and now I “get it”.  They have groove, rhythm and soul……that’s what makes Zappos a hit!!

Below is a video of Tony’s opening remarks at SXSWi 2009 where he talked about importance of company culture.

Roger McNamee On The Art Of Balancing Decision Making And Playing In A Rock Band

In this video, Roger McNamee, Managing Director and Co-Founder of Elevation Partners talks about his dual life of being a Silicon Valley investment guru by day and a member of the rock band Moonalice by night. Roger shares that he’s not the best in the band but playing in a band gives him emotional fulfillment needed to create the balance he needs in life to make sound investment decision making.

You don’t have to actually play in a band yourself to be a Rock Star CEO but what is it in your life that brings you balance?

Five Questions to Ask Yourself Upon Joining A New Team

Whether you’re a new member of a band or a Fortune 500 company — every time you find yourself part of a new team, you should be asking yourself these five questions:

1. What’s my role in this group?
2. What do I bring to the group that no one else can?
3. How am I contributing to (or detracting from) the success of the group?
4. How much responsibility will I have in keeping the group afloat?
5. Which of my teammates can I learn from, and what can I learn?

What Do Legendary Business Teams Have In Common With U2 And The Rolling Stones?

For twenty years, I played in a band called 38 Special, where I toured the world, wrote and recorded a bunch of hits, and performed before millions of fans. Along the way, I learned that success doesn’t come from talent or drive alone; you’ve got to think like a professional from the moment you strum your first note. And so once I left 38 and entered the business world, I realized I was in familiar territory.

Although you wouldn’t expect it, the legendary business teams that created and lead Microsoft, Disney and Starbucks have much in common with the Rolling Stones and U2. Each group consists of extraordinary individuals who achieve greatness because of the players they assembled, and because of how well that team functions day after day, year after year. Together, the team exceeds the sum of its parts, going farther together than any individual could go alone.

With my book, JAM! Amp Your Team, Rock Your Business, that I wrote with my business partner Dan Lipson, and here on this blog we’ll share how to apply the lessons of the stage to the boardroom, and how you, in turn, can run your businesses like a rock star.