Before I played the Tomasi Concerto with the IU Orchestra, Keith Brown, the conductor, gave me some advice. He said words to this effect: “Keep in mind, a large orchestra can’t turn on a dime like a pianist can. Think of the orchestra like a tractor trailer, and a pianist like sports car.” Good advice. If a soloist can play consistently, speed up and slow down clearly, and give the orchestra time to react, the performance can be a success. We can’t expect a Mack Truck to be as agile as a Ferrari.
It seems to me everyone could learn a lot from music and musicians. Tech entrepreneurs like to say, “Move fast and break things.” This axiom works fine in a startup with relatively few employees. New enterprises need to be agile, ready to change directions like a sports car. Yet, as organizations grow, change can become more difficult. More investment is involved. More time is needed. Because more lives are at stake. If a large business is like a Mack Truck, the federal government is more like a super tanker full of human beings and expensive cargo, tethered to a flotilla of smaller boats, and requiring miles to slow down or turn. While a startup can maneuver with ease, the outcome of turning a super tanker on a dime would be a million times worse than a tractor trailer rolling over on a country road.
However, sometimes change is necessary. GM had to reorganize to survive. Microsoft has had to make hard decisions to close divisions and lay off employees. And the federal government has over $36 trillion in debt. It costs about a trillion dollars per year to service that debt. At very least, the ship of state needs to stop creating new debt. If the government could spend a trillion dollars less (or take in a trillion dollars more) each year and divert that towards the debt, it would still take decades to turn the super tanker around.
It’s not my place to debate tax cuts vs. tax increases or even spending cuts vs. useful programs. All I can say is that if we “move fast and break things” a lot of people are likely to be hurt. The government is the way it is because we are a large pluralistic society of 330+ million people with the largest economy in the world. We are not a sports car. Not even close. Therefore, we need to evaluate our needs and wants. We need to plan ahead and be clear about when, where, and in which direction we are going to turn. We can’t expect to act on the impulses of the moment (or a few know-it-alls) and keep the country from capsizing or running aground.
Maybe we should put musicians in charge of the country for a change. Here are five reasons why:
They understand the importance of HARMONY. Musicians agree to abide by musical rules that apply to everyone. As leaders, they would support the rule of law, because like the agreement to play or sing in the same key, the law is often all that stands between a nation and chaos.
They understand the importance of TIMING. Music is no good if sounds happen at the wrong time, or all at once, or never happen. Everyone must play or sing their part at the right time. As leaders, musicians would seek appropriate times to act. And they would take responsibility for their actions.
They understand the importance of BALANCE. They know it is important to “take turns” – no one person or section should be the center of attention all the time. No player or group of players should drown out all the others. Each player has a right to be heard. As leaders, musicians would support fairness, human rights, and equal opportunity.
They understand the importance of COLLABORATION. It takes many players to make a band or orchestra – working together, playing in time and in tune – not just one person acting on his own. As leaders, musicians would promote democracy over dictatorship, and unity over division.
They understand each person has a UNIQUE PART to play. A band or orchestra requires many instruments, each with a different sound. Music wouldn’t be the same if only one kind of instrument could play, or only one kind of voice could sing. Musicians understand the importance of diversity and the unique roles played by people who are “different.” No matter what letter of the alphabet describes you, a musician-leader would encourage your contribution to society.
MurrayWorks 