We Are Conductors (of Music)

For the past year I have been learning the challenges of building a team of solid players. Players who could be strong pillars with a deep impact, players who could hit high notes, and players who could get my blood racing at the sight of a well oiled machine.

I love music. And no not the music that most people my generation love. I’m old school. I enjoy classic rock. I enjoy the brass and woodwinds of Chicago. I like the trumpet of Chris Botti occasionally mixed in with a violin or the workings of Sting. It’s summertime. How can you not love the sounds of summer and The Beach Boys?

I can’t name most artists like many of my friends can. I grew up listening to 101.9 in New Orleans and know most words to most songs. I’ll never go on the show Beat Shazam or Name that Tune. I don’t pride myself on that.

I pride myself on immersing myself in the music. In the sounds echoing in the room or orchestra hall. In the vibrations from the strings. They move a certain way. From the way the horse tail string moves along the strings. How one's breath across the reed of a woodwind instrument makes a certain sound. From the way the air passes through the curves of a trumpet. Immersing myself in the muffling of the pure heaven that brass instruments make.

Back to why I’m posting this. I have found some great talent to walk through the front doors of my hotels-- I've also found some that are less than desired. As a team, we have made do and we have had moments of triumph and great success. I’m here to make a team of successful individuals. Men and women who play their own tune but one that is constant to the product we offer. Who play a tune so melodic and pleasing to the customers ears. I have to be the conductor. I have to teach them how to pluck the strings, press the keys, and beat the drums. I have to groom "first chairs" for each type of instrument or supervisors of the orchestra. Leaders can't be everywhere at once and I have to trust that my "first chairs" will keep the music on  rhythm. I am working on my Opus. It’s not done. I may only have the first page. But it’s a work in progress. We will get there. And when we do it’ll be a harmonic tune.