Leading By Example

 “Puff pieces” (or, as a close friend and editor at a popular entertainment/lifestyle magazine pegs them, “works of shameless ass-kissery”) are articles wherein the subject – be it person, place, or thing – is treated to exuberant praise, un-diminished by any true, critical examination.

To be honest, virtually all publications – print, online, wherever – run such pieces, including MMR, our competing MI trade magazines, and your own favorite periodicals. This isn’t a bad thing. If I’m reviewing the newest issue of People (as it so happens, I don’t, in fact, read People, but bear with me…) and skimming over a profile on Scarlett Johansson, I don’t necessarily need or want for the journalist to have delved into Johansson’s academic records or dug deep to find out whether her former personal assistants enjoyed working for her. Tell me about her new movie, why she’s a beautiful, engaging, philanthropic, and talented actress, and that’s just fine. Mission accomplished. By the same token, I see nothing wrong with a brief profile of an MI supplier or retailer that focuses on the positive, without attempting to shine harsh light on potentially unpleasant elements.

Paige Tutt’s excellent cover feature on Steve West on page 52 of this issue – this year’s highly deserving recipient of the Don Johnson Industry Service Award – is not a puff piece. It bears many of the key elements of such articles as outlined above, true, but Tutt is not to be faulted if the man she profiled is simply that good.

Immersed in music – education, performance, retail – since day-one, West formally joined West Music after college in 1969 and in short order was helping to lead the company as sales manager. His passion for music education advocacy began to take tangible form with the inaugural publication and mailing of the innovative and impactful “West Music Education Catalog.” West upped his game one further when West Music Therapy Services was launched in 1994. Since passing the family business’ torch to Robin Walenta (CEO) and his son Ryan (senior vice president), he’s only increased his efforts, starting the New Horizons Band, establishing the Iowa Alliance for Arts Education, co-founding the Music Achievement council, helping to launch SupportMusic…

Retirement? Hardly.

What Steve has achieved and what he continues to do is inspiring – and more than a little intimidating. When considering his accomplishments and ongoing activities, I know I find my own modest achievements to be sorely lacking and I’m motivated to get off my… well, for the sake of decorum, lets’ go with “chair,” and do more.

Folks often talk of “leading by example.” You’d by hard-pressed to find a leader who fits that bill more so than Steve West.

Just two days ago, in early January, I was at the Jazz Education Network conference in Louisville. The keynote speaker, bassist Victor Wooten, closed with the following observation: “There are plenty of good musicians out there. What we need are more good people.”

To borrow (fine – steal) from Mr. Wooten’s speech, I’ll observe that there are plenty of good businessmen and women in MI and plenty of good people – but it couldn’t hurt to have more of each. Thank you Steve, for the example you set, and many congratulations on being named this year’s Don Johnson Industry Service Award winner.

On a (mostly) unrelated final note: to those of you out there who will be joining your colleagues in Anaheim this year, please drop by MMR’s booth (#XXX) and say hello – we’d love to see you!