Brain cells are lit, ideas start to hit, next the formation of words that fit,
Big Daddy Kane
at the table I sit, making it legit, and when my pen hits the paper … aww sh!t!”
Everything in the universe has a theme song
Regardless of what it is; where it is; or why it is. Something catches your eye, and it speaks to you (often subconsciously). Never noticed? It happens everyday. An essential element of the B-Boy Guide is not only the recognition of this fact–but the extreme ownership of it. Every member of the Massive & Crew needs to articulate his or her own style, flavor, vibe, or whatever you personally call it.
What I’m getting at is your theme song.
Your look says something. Your style says something. Your skill-set says a lot about who you are. It’s not just what you do—but how you do it. So let’s set it to music. When you walk into a room, you emit vibrations (musical vibrations). But not everyone can hear it or feel it. Well now they’re going to hear it and feel it. The result: Get into alignment quicker. Make a bold statement faster. Allow game to recognize game. Sounds cool—but how does it work? Good question. Your theme song should capture a few of key elements about you. Remember, it just signals who you are. Setting the stage like a proper introduction.
Let’s use the B-Boy Guide as an example
One of the key attributes of the BBG Nation is being able to bring unorthodox and/or original thinking to bear to solve any problem. We love being the creative spark that sets it all off. So what does that mean? And more importantly, what does it sound like? It sounds like our music mantra from Big Daddy Kane’s “Ain’t No Half Steppin’.”
“Brain cells are lit, ideas start to hit, next the formation of words that fit, at the table I sit, making it legit, and when my pen hits the paper … aww sh!t!”
This verse lyrically captures the energy and creative spark of the BBG Nation. But it’s not just the music mantra alone that makes it our theme song. To further understand why the B-Board of Directors chose this song, let’s dig a little deeper to understand how a theme song works at work.
The beat sets the tempo (which drives your day). Kane’s voice is supreme confidence (reassuring your team and clients). The lyrical flourishes command your attention (translating to full engagement of what the speaker is saying). But most importantly, the title and theme, “Ain’t No Half Steppin’”, describes the B-Boy Guide state of mind. (Ain’t No Half Steppin’ is hip hop slang meaning “you don’t take any short cuts; you are fully prepared for the task at hand; you mean business!”). How does this translate into action in the office?
Think of it as a mantra:
☑️ When you prepare work product, there Ain’t No Half Steppin’.
☑️ When you pitch new business, there Ain’t No Half Steppin’.
☑️ In execution, there Ain’t No Half Steppin’.
☑️ You work hard and play hard, so there Ain’t No Half Steppin’.
☑️ In whatever you do, there Ain’t No Half Steppin’.
Your teammates and peers know; your competitors in the business know; your satisfied clients know: there Ain’t No Half Steppin’. This is just one manifestation of identifying your theme song. There is no right or wrong way to choose your theme song. There are many ways … as many as there are people on the planet. The key is that it resonates with you! Whether it’s the lyrics, the beat, the energy, or the feeling you get from a song, you know your theme song when you hear it.
The great thing about choosing a theme song is …
It forces you to think about your personal brand and what you choose to make public. You can’t reveal it all. Whether you should or shouldn’t is your call, but I’m not doing that. These are not necessarily bad things or flaws. But there are some things that just should remain private. Revealing more of yourself creates a tighter bond between you and the person you choose to share with. Well, I’ve just revealed something about myself, so we’ll break here … before I let something slip.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Your theme song is not static. It evolves with you depending on where you are in life’s journey. That said, it doesn’t change moment by moment. That would be your Anthem (an erratic Anthem mind you) —which we’ll explore in a separate post.