Stuart R. Crawford

I was watching one of my favourite movies the other day. Maybe you have heard of it, it is called “This is Spinal Tap“.  I know it is not a real band and the movie is a comedy, however it is still one of the best rockumentaries ever done and some of the toones coming out of it are still played on Hair Nation (Sirius 23).  The cast included some of best known names in film like Billy Crystal, Howard Hesseman, Rob Reiner, Paul Shaffer (Canadian and band leader on Letterman) and many others.

There is a seen that I have watched many times and it wasn’t until this week when I sat down with my friend Paul Moffatt that I saw something in from a business value perspective.  In the movie, Nigel the guitar player from Spinal Tap is being interview in his guitar room and he is going on about some of the Axes that he plays and some that just sit there.  The lesson comes from the Marshall brain that they look at and how the numbers on the brain go to Eleven and they go on to talk about just having that little more to go over the edge and when the band needs it, they crank it up to 11.  Of course, it is purely fictitious however do you see the point in the skit.  I have attached the Youtube video from the movie.  The eleven part is near the end.  Watch it, and then read on.

Also, notice the passion in Nigel when describing the guitars and what he does, he truly does love what he does!

So, do you see the message here?

Are you giving it that little extra to truly make it?

Are you just getting by?

In the movie, Spinal Tap was once a big stadium rock band and have come back for one last kick at the cat, playing small venues.  It is not that their fans have reduced in numbers, it is because the band has been more selective in the fans they want.  According to the movie.

However, when was the last time that you played one higher than everyone else around you?  Do you come to a staff meeting 10 minutes prior to everyone else or do you show up 10 minutes after every one arrives? All through my life I have lived by the motto “The early bird gets the worm” and you know something it is so true.  Usually the earlier you show up or when you crank it up one higher than everyone else is when things start coming your way.  As they say in hockey, the puck bounces your way.  The trick is you have to want it, you have to go for it, you can lay back and expect things to just fall in your lap.  They NEVER DO!

You have to want it, you have to be hungry, you have to play at ELEVEN!

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