Building a Disruptor’s Mindset By Writing Songs
Breaking free of the status quo goes against almost every natural human instinct that we possess. Yet, if we want to grow and thrive as individuals, we have to be willing to disrupt our regular patterns in the interest of exploring new and rewarding horizons. The skills and approaches that define the songwriting process are a perfect way to develop the above-mentioned disruptor’s mindset. Below are a few of the ways learning to write songs can get us into the right frame of mind to think differently.
Embrace Diverse Perspectives
Collaboration and cross-disciplinary thinking are a crucial part of the innovative process and it’s no different in songwriting. When co-writers bring their own experiences to a songwriting session, they’re often blending different ideas and experiences both lyrically and musically. This willingness to blend different genres and perspectives is a great way to think about the world so that we don’t fall back on tired approaches that may no longer serve us as they once did.
Find Novel Solutions
Songs are all about taking a fresh angle on familiar topics. The key is to generate original perspectives on ideas that have been written about thousands of times before. This kind of divergent thinking is an effective way to look for novelty in our problem-solving as well. In other words, while the subject matter of songs may rely on existing ideas, it’s how we approach those ideas that sets a new song apart. For example, while they are both love songs, there’s a world of difference between “My Girl” by the Temptations and “Every Breath You Take” by Sting.
Balance Creativity and Structure
A disruptor’s mindset requires a combination of imaginative freedom and the ironclad discipline to see new ideas through to the finish line. This is the very definition of a career in songwriting. It’s one thing to write a song only when you’re moved to do it and entirely another to get up every day and harness inspiration in order to build a catalog of songs that, in time, will generate a living through royalties. If the goal is to disrupt the status quo, it’s not enough to only try new things when all of the conditions suit us; instead, it’s using our time and energy consistently in pursuit of new ideas and approaches. We’re all creative but creativity requires practice and intention.
Conclusion
In my work bringing cultures of innovation to organizations, I’ve found there’s an unwritten assumption that the status quo is safe. Well, it is until it isn’t. We never know what changes are waiting for us around the next corner so hoping things will stay the same doesn’t strike me as a winning strategy for living a good life or running a successful organization. Instead, being proactive in our desire to look for new ways of thinking - just like we do when we write new songs - will put us out in front of the unpredictability that is inherent in our world. To paraphrase a quote from David Owens, the head of Vanderbilt’s Wond’ry Innovation Center, “change is what happens to us, but disruption is what we do to them.”
Bio
Cliff Goldmacher is a GRAMMY-recognized, #1 hit songwriter, music producer and author with recording studios in Nashville, TN and Middle River, MD. Through his studios, Cliff provides songwriters outside of Nashville with virtual, live access to Nashville’s best session musicians and studio vocalists for their songwriting demos. Find out more. You can also download Cliff’s FREE tip sheet “A Dozen Quick Fixes To Instantly Improve Your Songs.”
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