Blog: The Soundtrack of Your Career…
Kathy Rapp9.02.2009
It's a phenomenon not uncommon to most - how music ties into certain points in your life. I hear a song and can tell you with decent accuracy the year it came out and what I was doing at the time. On a long plane ride recently, I started thinking about the music on my iPod. Hearing the first few notes of each new song, I was transported to a point in time or had a memory come rushing back.
I had nothing better to do (I'd already finished my "business book"), so I thought I'd catalog the music along side my career choices. I wanted to see if there were any parallels to the type of music I was drawn to and the stage I was at in my career. Turn up your speakers as here is a peek into my soundtrack and my non-psychological interpretation of each stage:
High School (ok, I had my 1st job in high school - not necessarily the start of my career but interesting just the same): Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, Van Halen, AC/DC, Guns & Roses, New Order, Yaz, The Psychedelic Furs, LL Cool J.
Interpretation: Messed up rebellion. In high school I wasn't a rocker - not considered an artist - and we all know what I think about LL! Come on, how can you rebel while listening to the Psyc Furs!!?
College: Black Crowes, Aerosmith, Motley Crue, Garth Brooks, Randy Travis, Indigo Girls, James Taylor, Don Henley.
Interpretation: Introspective diversity. Still rockin', but also into lyrics and strong song-writing. The country? Well, I did go to school at Texas A&M after all!
1st 3rd of my "real jobs": Arc Angels, The Cranberries, Gin Blossoms, Seal, Frank Sinatra.
Interpretation: New experiences. I tried to like the music in the '90's...really. It was tough though, hence a fair amount of air time for Ol' Blue Eyes!
2nd 3rd: Green Day, The Smithereens, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Puddle of Mudd, David Gray, John Mayer, Matchbox Twenty, Gavin DeGraw, Maroon 5, Velvet Revolver
Interpretation: Exploring leadership. Just an observation, but do you see all MEN above? Hmmm - not many female influences in this part of my career, so it makes sense.
3rd 3rd: Hoobastank, Led Zeppelin, Nickelback, 3 Doors Down, Daughtry, Kelly Clarkson, Papa Roach, Seether, Sugarland, Theory of a Deadman.
Interpretation: Overcoming significant challenges. This was a tough 3rd, so there was more hard stuff, and I obviously watched too much American Idol.
Music not only represents a certain time and place, but an attitude, openness and vulnerability. Whether it was classic rock, alternative, country or hard rock - each option represented a desire to learn. I may not have known it at the time, but my music choices directly correlated to how I was feeling about my work. For example, the more outrageous music mirrored my more creative and adventurous career decisions.
Think about what you're listening to and how it impacts decisions, moods, feelings...and perhaps that awareness can guide you in a new or different direction.
So - what's in heavy rotation on your iPod right now?
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