No One Can Whistle a Symphony
Halford Luccock, a minister and professor of divinity at Yale, once wrote, “No one can whistle a symphony. It takes a whole orchestra to play it.”
And so it is with your Entrepreneurial Evolution™. It doesn’t happen in isolation. Your calling becomes one to “gain (your) ultimate glory in the accomplishments of those who follow (you)” as described by Dr. Leon Danco.
You’ve probably spent a lifetime thinking of yourself as the Conductor of that orchestra, but you're wrong. You are, in fact, the Composer, creating your own version of a musical score from nothing but inspiration and imagination. “Making it Up” quips Dan Sullivan.
Your Ops Leader exists as the Conductor. Tirelessly striving and perfecting in order to bring your vision into reality. They collaborate and coordinate with and through the individuals in your orchestral business, focusing on the genius of each individual (we don’t, after all, ask the flutist to excel as a percussionist). This is the “Making it Real” that Dan Sullivan describes.
But who, then, are the musicians in this grand orchestration of your business? They are your team members, each with their unique talents and roles, coming together to create something far greater than the sum of its parts.
As the Composer, your role is to envision the grand symphony of your business. You create the overarching themes, the key changes, the crescendos and diminuendos of your company's journey. Your job is to innovate, to dream big, and to chart the course for your organization's future.
Your Ops Leader, as the Conductor, takes your composition and brings it to life. They interpret your vision, coordinate the efforts of your team, and ensure that each section of your business orchestra is playing in harmony. They're the ones who turn your grand ideas into actionable plans and measurable results.
But here's the crucial part: for this symphony to truly resonate, you must learn to step back and trust. Trust in the conductor you've chosen. Trust in the musicians you've assembled. Trust in the composition you've created.
This trust doesn't mean becoming passive. Instead, it means focusing your energy where it's most valuable - on composing the next movement of your business symphony. It means being open to feedback, willing to revise and improve your composition based on how it sounds in practice.
Remember, even the greatest composers didn't work in isolation. They collaborated with conductors and musicians, refined their work based on performances, and constantly evolved their craft. Your Entrepreneurial Evolution™ demands the same approach.
So, how do you make this shift from Conductor to Composer?
1. Clearly articulate your vision: Ensure your Ops Leader and team understand the full score, not just their individual parts.
2. Develop your listening skills: Pay attention to how your composition sounds in reality, not just in your head.
3. Foster creativity in others: Encourage your team to bring their own interpretations and ideas to the performance.
4. Embrace iteration: Be willing to revise and improve your composition based on real-world feedback.
5. Celebrate the ensemble: Recognize that the beauty of the symphony comes from the collective effort, not just your composition.
As you evolve in your entrepreneurial journey, remember that your ultimate achievement isn't just the symphony you compose, but the orchestra you build that can play it beautifully - even when you're not on the podium.
Your Entrepreneurial Evolution™ is a journey from soloist to composer, from doing it all to empowering others. It's about creating a legacy that continues to resonate long after you've written your last note.
Embrace this evolution, trust in your team, and watch as your business creates music that moves the world.
