February 25, 2010 in Articles by Joshua Matthews

Turn It Up. I Love This Song!

We hear a song on the radio – it’s catchy, we like it and buy the record.  Listening to the entire album we usually experience a little disappointment when we realize not all the the songs are so catchy.  Maybe we feel tricked, like going to see a comedy whose only funny scenes are the ones from the trailer.

Now, think of your favorite albums.  For many of us, these records took time to grow on us.  Often, it’s the songs we have an initial aversion to that become our favorites.  There’s a complexity to the sound, an edginess or structural difference we’re not used to or possibly the lyrics don’t quite make sense on a first listen through.  Over time, we LEARN to love the music.  There’s a reason Dark Side of the Moon consistently ranks as a top album of all time.  There’s a reason only one song from it ever get’s air time too.

Lasting careers, lasting relationships, enduring customers and loyal clients are often like good albums.  We’re initially attracted followed by an experience of disappointment.  Only when we commit to a second, third, fourth or fifth listen through do we often fully understand and appreciate the beauty, complexity and significance of the other person.

What spouse, partner, child, friend, client, career, hobby, sport or project do you know that deserves a few more spins on the record player?  When anyone or anything has lost it’s luster, ask yourself if you’re just playing the same track over and over.  Pick a song they play you don’t like so well – you may find, over time, it’s the best track of all.