Category Archives: Music

1-By Laksh, ET, Management, Music

Unpacking Management Lessons from “Take it Easy”

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Introduction

Today, we embark on a melodic journey to uncover profound management insights hidden within the classic rock anthem, “Take it Easy,” performed by the iconic band, Eagles. Much like a timeless film, this song resonates across time and space, offering us lessons in leadership, teamwork, and navigating the often chaotic road of life.

Setting the Stage

“Well, I’m running down the road Tryin’ to loosen my load”

These opening lines set the scene for the busy, fast-paced world we often find ourselves in, both in life and in the corporate arena. The narrator’s journey mirrors the daily grind of managers tasked with overseeing various responsibilities and projects. It’s a vivid reminder that leaders are, in essence, constantly on the move, handling their own load of tasks.

The Sound of Wisdom

“Don’t let the sound of your own wheels Drive you crazy”

In the corporate landscape, leaders can easily become ensnared by the cacophony of their own thoughts and the day-to-day noise. This line urges us to find equilibrium, to avoid overthinking, and to let go of the stress that often stems from excessive self-reflection. In management, being able to balance reflection and action is key.

Key Takeaways

Let’s delve into the practical management lessons hidden within “Take it Easy”:

1. Delegation is the Key to Success: Learn to delegate effectively to ‘loosen your load’ and ensure you’re not overwhelmed by a mountain of tasks.

2. Keep Perspective: In the corporate whirlwind, it’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. Don’t let the minutiae of the daily grind drive you ‘crazy’. Maintain perspective to make well-informed decisions.

3. Embrace Flexibility: Just as life’s road can be unpredictable, so too can business. Adaptability and flexibility are essential for success.

4. Build a Strong Team: Much like the song suggests, ‘Take it easy’ but never alone. Foster a cohesive and supportive team, as they can help shoulder the load and make the journey more enjoyable.

5. Emotional Intelligence: Understand that in the world of management, emotional intelligence is a powerful tool. Knowing how to read and respond to your team’s emotions can lead to better outcomes.

Inspirational Quotes

Let’s draw wisdom from both music and cinema:

  • “A wise man can learn more from his enemies than a fool from his friends.” – Rush (2013)
  • “The key to this job is personal relationships.” – Jerry Maguire (1996)

The Harmony of Leadership

In this fusion of music and management, we’ve learned that there’s more to the lyrics than meets the ear. “Take it Easy” not only encourages us to enjoy life’s journey but also provides valuable management lessons on how to navigate it successfully. As Tony Stark wisely said in Avengers: Endgame, “Part of the journey is the end.” Let’s ensure our journey is as harmonious as the melodies we listen to.

1-By Laksh, Books, ET, Movies, Music

Kishore Kumar The Ultimate Biography

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If Doordarshan was part of your growing years, most likely you were hooked on the weekly twice telecast program, Chitrahaar—a garland of songs–selected from old and new Hindi movies. This program introduced us to the singer-actor-performer Kishore Kumarji , and we never got bored with fun songs like ‘Eena meena Deeka’. Therefore, for a while, we associated his name with these kinds of songs only.  The repertoire of songs began to grow substantially, when a cousin of mine, who was a diehard fan of Kishoreji exposed me to a variety of songs. He was well informed and had this knack of giving a background story for most of the songs, and that made me remember these even better. Kishore Kumar the ultimate biography for most parts does something similar, tying in Kishoreji’s movies and songs with interesting anecdotes and real life incidents. It is a voluminous effort on the life of Kishore Kumarji and his journey from Khandwa to Bombay. It covers almost all the influential people in his life.

One cannot but appreciate the authors’ efforts that spread over a decade in bringing out the book. They have done a commendable job in fleshing out several unheard facts about Kishoreji.  Being very knowledgeable about classical music, they throw light on how certain songs were composed and how Kishoreji did an excellent job in delivering them. This even dispels the wrong notions about Kishore’s lack of command over classical music.

Here are a few excerpts:

Page:448
“Typical propaganda making rounds then was Kishore Kumar classical jane na (Kishore Kumar does not know classical), as if knowledge of classical music was the yardstick of a singer’s capability. People voicing this had little idea that Kishore’s fans included classical maestros such as Bhimsen Joshi, A.T. Kannan, Kumar Gandharva and Ajoy Chakrabarty”

Page: 387

“Film-makers were ready to spend rather, splurge. And it was not restricted to Bombay In 1972, composers Rajan-Nagendra travelled from Bangalore and signed Kishore for seven thousand rupees for a song, “Adonat andu from Kulla Agent 000 (1972) remains one of the costliest of its time.”

Page: 344

 “On the day of the recording, I (Manna dey) was stumped by the proceedings. I was singing from the angle of a singer while Kishore had captured the spirit of the situation. From the heart, he changed the entire complexion of the song. I have thus no hesitation in admitting his genius.”

Page: 314

“At the end of the day, one would have to keep guessing what suited Kishore more–singing or composing. It would not be an exaggeration to suggest that ‘Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein’ was Kishore’s first step towards musical greatness.”

The only thing I felt missing in the book is a separate chapter on Amitabh Bachchanji and several chartbusters Kishoreji had rendered for him. It would have been a valuable addition.

Other than this, the book is a complete package that covers every aspect of the maverick genius and serves as an excellent reference of his songs through a song-index at the end.