As a solo entrepreneur, I'm often faced with the challenge of building a team for one project or another. I simply couldn't accomplish much if forced to rely upon my own set of skills and limited perspective of this big world. While I'm well practiced in the creations of innovative concepts, they remain ideas in my head or scribbles in my notebook until I reach beyond myself. So, I seek out a designer or a developer or a filmmaker or a printer for the practical matters. And, I reach out to the well-read misanthrope at the bakery, my middle school teaching wife, or my electrician dad for a reflection from the world. And then, we create.
I choose to build my teams like I imagine Mr. Ellis Marsalis builds his jazz ensembles. The night I sat for hours in his dimly lit club in New Orleans he led a ragtag trio that included a noteworthy bass player and a very young drummer. I couldn't help but notice the glee Ellis had as he kidded and played and toyed with the drummer and the fiery intensity he displayed while improvising around the bass player. Ellis Marsalis, 80-something and prolific, built a collaborative team that would both amplify the joy of his youth and inspire the fighter inside.
So, if a jazz quartet is my preference, what's the other option? A drum corp.
Perfection, precision, attention to detail, narrow focus, and unity. Only the best of the best. Very impressive. But is it creative? And does a standard of perfection encourage or inhibit possibility?
Because this seems to be the focus of modern creativity and innovation. How can we limit the mess of the creatives? How can we operate in lockstep? How can we remove feedback and dissonance? How can we build efficiencies and metrics and ROI? And how can we move forward as quickly as possible?
There's nothing inherent wrong with this and I'm certain it leads to results, but in creative endeavors, innovative design, and dynamic teams, I can't believe that quick and clean ultimately leads to deep and long relationships, lasting experiences, and ultimate transformation.
Oh, I'll take notice of the drum corp. I'll be impressed by their skills. But I'll never dream about them. I'll never close my eyes on the hard days and find myself back in their presence awed by their art.