Yes, that’s right. You can take your Lincolns, your Washingtons, your Jobs, your Musks, your Bartlets, and you can keep them*. My model for leadership is that carnival master, that purveyor of cheeseburgers in paradise, that summer break playlist perennial, the Parrothead in Chief, James William Buffett himself. The natural question is, of course, “why?!?” Allow me a few thoughts:
He practiced his art(s). There are few who have followed his career who wouldn’t describe Jimmy Buffett as a storyteller. Storytelling may be natural to some, but as in most other endeavors, natural talent only goes so far. Focused, intentional practice vastly improves upon natural talent, and can reveal and refine new skills where talent may yet be latent. Jimmy was constantly seeking out new stories, and new storytelling styles. Listen to his Buried Treasure, Volume 1* to learn how, and from whence, his approach to storytelling began. Then listen to the album Far Side of the World and tell me he hasn’t been constantly practicing and experimenting along the way. And tell me he hasn’t honed that skill – I double-dog dare you.
He leveraged his resources. I can’t imagine the level of effort and coordination that goes into the planning, producing, staging, performing, and logistics of Jimmy’s legendary summer tours. And he was on tour just about every summer since 1975. He inspired and led the various businesses under his moniker, from restaurants to residential communities, record labels to vacation resorts. Along the way he leveraged the talented comrades around him, and let them leverage their networks to expand that pool. His days, weeks, months and seasons were planned to ensure not only was he in the right place at the right time, but that the teams around him were where they could be best brought to bear, too.
He was unafraid of his discomfort zone. Travel, adventure, Broadway, you name it. Jimmy was unafraid to pursue his passions, certainly. And his ventures, both business and artistic, varied wildly and widely. And there were a few notable failures along the way: a failed bar in the Carribbean, a failed t-shirt shop in Gulf Shores, Alabama, and a disastrous attempt at theater production (attempting to translate Wouk’s Don’t Stop the Carnival to the stage). Every failure became a jumping off point to future success: the t-shirt shop led to the Margaritaville stores, the failed bar to the several restaurant chains, the theater failure yielded the nationally touring Escape to Margaritaville. Leaving the comfort zone is a risk and can lead to failures and mistakes. But even in the failures, the lessons learned are the foundation for a later success, success that can’t be achieved without moving into the discomfort zone.
He lifted up and supported his team. A scan of the past and present members of The Coral Reefers is a scan of artists whose careers started, blossomed, or both, through Jimmy’s influence. As artists like Nadirah Shakoor, Peter Mayer and Jerry Jeff Walker came into the Reefers, each brought with them lengthy and successful musical history. And Jimmy made sure that being a part of the Reefers in no way impeded their individual efforts outside of the Reefers. Take Mac McAnally for example. Mac not only wrote 11 Billboard Top 10s, but he also won the CMA Musician of the Year award 11 times while working with Jimmy, The Coral Reefers, and a wide variety of other artists, with the support of Jimmy in each of those efforts. Jimmy’s ability to recognize and encourage talent in others, and mentor them in those pursuits, even if it meant they would leave his band, is a sign of a true leader.
He found his One Particular Harbor and visited often. Actually, many “harbors”: family, friends, music, surfing spring immediately to mind. He took the time to spend the time. As an avid surfer, he brought his family out on the waves, teaching his kids how to ride. A sailor since a child, and later an aviator, Jimmy pursued hobbies that allowed him to expand his perspectives, and to stretch and challenge himself in way different from the daily work challenges. He took time aways from all of these to be with his wife and extended family, stories from those times becoming natural fodder for his stories and songs!
So, as a model for leadership, and what a genuine human being might look like, it’s the Pirate who’s unafraid to look at Forty and reflect on his life and values for me. RIP, Jimmy, and thanks for all the lessons. Fins up!