the Onda

I love TED talks. If TED wanted to package them up and sell them as a premium cable channel, I would gladly pay for it (and watch more television as a result). One of the best talks I've seen there in recent time is Ben Zander's, "Classical music with shining eyes." Zander, for those that don't know is the conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, and a part-time motivational speaker. In this 20 minute presentation, he mainly talks about the power of classical music; however, at some point around the 15 minute mark (don't skip ahead, it is worth it, especially if you like Chopin), he begins talking leadership in a very frank and novel way.

I am not one for "leadership kumbayas—" frankly I find most of that stuff to be a crutch that people use ploddingly and to their organization's great detriment. But to see Zander talk about his key realization as a conductor, to experience him in full story-telling glory, is an experience that stands far above any MBA course I've ever been in. Go invest the 20 minutes!

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