The Odyssey Continues

Here's a quick update. Met with  a potential board member, along with the previous partner I mentioned in my earlier post. She was very interested in what we were doing. You could tell immediately she wanted to be a part of it. It took very little convincing. She is well traveled and ventured to Trinidad to play steel drums with bands there. She is familiar with Panorama and had some interesting insights for us doing an event in Denver. After the meeting, I walked home where I had time to process it all.

It finally dawned on me that this (the non-profit and the steel band jamboree) might actually happen. I shot off another email to another potential party to gauge his interest this morning. I'm waiting to hear back. I must admit that taking a different tact and sharing my passion with others have made things easier. I no longer feel like I have to do everything. The main reason I'm sharing my ideas instead of processing them myself. I am starting to attract people who want the same thing I do. That is why I feel so confident that the Steel Pan Collective (SPC) will happen.

Ran across a film on steel pan. It is called Pan! A Modern Odyssey. The trailer looks very professional and hopefully the film maintains the same creative standards. It would be a great film to show at a steel pan festival or one of those artsy theaters.

Here's another thought. I would love it if one of our SPC members or the group was able to funded by the non-profit to participate in Panorama in Trinidad one year. That would be the ultimate.

In the film, I saw people from France, Japan, U.S., and India. I figure they might fly here as well for an event. Not as prestigious as T&T Panorama, but definitely something worth shooting for.

Anyway, I feel like I'm rambling at this point. So many great thoughts, ideas, and insights. Now, I turn my attention to the more traditional side of business --- budgeting for the organization and the festival. Oh joy!

Sure there's an "I" in Team, there's also a U (You)

It's been a good week and it's only Monday! Today's theme is teamwork. Launching a project, business, or endeavor most times takes more effort than any one person can do alone. I'm finding that out more and more each day. My previous two companies were relatively small shops. It was me doing the work - sales, production, and accounting. Now as I embark on helping to launch a new non-profit - you realize just how much you can and can't do. That's why you need a solid team to help. One that capitalizes on each individual's strengths.

I had a great meeting with a partner last week. I was trying to gauge where her strengths were in pulling off an annual steel pan festival. The best thing I did was to just come out and ask her. She told me point blank what they were. Now, my job is to find her opportunities to utilize those skills. I have a team player who brings different strengths to the organization than I would bring. Can you imagine what a full blow team looks like.

I guess that's why I love playing a steel pan orchestra. Everyone has their tasks and strengths. Everyone capitalizes on what they do well. Some are great a creating improv melodies/solos, others are super at rolling their notes, others keep our rhythm together. Everyone brings their strengths - and minimizes their weaknesses. Teamwork is so important.