(Shot of Wonder #21): Let One Instrument Lead

Dear Change-maker,

Do you marvel at some musicians the way I do?

I’ve been listening again to Miles Davis’s Kind of Blue. I first got Miles-struck in a record store many moons ago.

“Who is this?” I asked the guy behind the desk.

“Oh, that’s Miles Davis. This piece is called ‘So What?’”

I had to buy a copy of Kind of Blue instantly and play it on repeat.

And so began my nascent education in jazz and all-things Miles.

Both the sentiment of and the brilliant collaboration of “So What” have become a regular guiding light for me over the years.

But recently I heard another part of “So What.”

This month my aim continues in these challenging times to equip you to discern among competing priorities so you can advance your best idea and most impactful work with less effort, more leverage.

So maybe what’s been on my mind heightened my ears to hear something different this time.

In this Shot of Wonder, I’ll unpack that analogy that could shed light on your work and/or creative tension.

Reintroduction to new readers: I’m author of Tracking Wonder (Sounds True), a Next Big Idea Club finalist. Fast Company, MindBody Green, Psychology Today, and other leading outlets - I’m grateful to say - have featured my insights.

My job: Help you focus your best ideas, design meaningful work, and advance what matters most for high return - emotionally and financially - with energy to spare.

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Think of it this way: Cynicism is a virus. Wonder is an antidote. This way you receive actionable tools, mindsets, and innovation tweaks for work, life, leadership, and creativity.

More good things ahead. Thanks for being here.