Everyone who attended would agree the inaugural session of NAMM NeXT was certainly a success. In typical NAMM fashion, the attention to detail was impeccable. Now more than ever, our industry needs to hear from our experts. As business leaders, we need to understand the latest, most successful approaches, and we must learn to let go of methods that are no longer relevant to today’s marketplace. We need points of view from other business industry specialists, and innovative thinkers. NAMM NeXT delivered on all these fronts.

Kudos to NAMM on their choice of speakers. The blend of professional expertise was refreshing and widespread. NAMM resourced a renowned educator, a television entertainer, and an author/CEO and expert on disruptive innovation. The depth of industry knowledge and knowledge from other industries evoked humility from a room full of business leaders, and that’s no easy feat.

ADVERTISEMENT

Here are some highlights and takeaways.

Keep in mind this was the first NAMM NeXT, so job one for NAMM, was to establish a quality experience. NAMM met that goal effortlessly, and to the level you have come to expect and trust from NAMM. From the second you walked in to register, after the registrants handed you a professional binder, you knew NAMM intended to be your champion and advocate. From that first moment NAMM removed any resistance, and that simple step allowed attendees to relax, to embrace the unpredictable, and to enjoy the journey.

Another winning idea from NAMM was the blend of professionals they provided. Let me take a minute to mention a few:

Whitney Johnson: Professional Growth Speaker

Whitney has an odd bragging right: she has climbed Machu Picchu with her daughter. She recalled a moment from her escapade, where to assuage the nerves of another climber, their guide shared, “It’s never a ‘problem.’ You’re always learning!” What an amazing frame of mind that is. Whitney went on to focus her discussion on the “S Curve” of personal growth and the understanding of where you and your business are in the growth process.

Mark Schaefer: Marketing Strategist and Professor

“Being competent means almost nothing right now. Competency is a commodity. You must be great, and you must be known. This means working on your personal brand. More than working on it… committing to it. It’s not a project – it’s a lifestyle.”

Once you read Mark’s quote, you quickly realize this is a business leader you want to follow. He has an email newsletter and several books and, yes, I have already subscribed. This man can help you get you out of your own way. Check him out!

Troy Tomlinson: Below is a quote from the Universal Music Group page.

“Troy’s track record in Nashville is the stuff of legend. He is simply one of the best and most successful creative executives the Nashville publishing community has ever seen. And having worked closely with him during my time at Sony, I know firsthand of his ability to take a promising songwriter with a song and turn them into a career artist.”

Troy’s session was my favorite. He is absolutely legendary in the music industry. His insights on the business of music have been time-tested, and he understands one true law of music: It all comes down to the song. He has worked with every star you can imagine – artists such as Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, and Brandi Carlile. Congratulations to NAMM for landing such a legend!

Daymond John: Entrepreneur extraordinaire

“I realized that to be effective in my business, I needed to take care of myself first.”

Daymond has had so much TV time that everyone already knows who he is. But I had not seen him speak publicly, and he did one thing that really jumped out at me. He spoke for an hour with no notes or prompter. His message was entrepreneurial as you would expect, his FUBU story (For Us By Us) is fascinating. At first, you may ask yourself, “Why is Daymond John NAMM’s choice, if he’s not in music, per say?” That’s easier to answer than you might first think. I will use my favorite Steve Gadd quote to clarify my answer: “They call it the music business for a reason”

Daymond said he starts everyday reading from the book he keeps by his bedside, Think and Grow Rich, the Napoleon Hill classic. Some folks shrug off the older business classics, but If Daymond’s success is any reflection of the practices taught in that book, I would be one to suggest his thinking is spot on.

Unequivocally, the NAMM team deserves a standing ovation for the effort that went into making the inaugural debut of NAMM NeXT such a smashing success! Kudos to John Mlynczak, Zach Phillips, and the entire NAMM team for a job uniquely done. The standard they set is high, and they even survived the pot holes of Nashville.

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?