Throughout the past four decades, few have embodied the blue-collar plight and the American dream as much as Bruce Springsteen. With his gritty voice and down-to-earth lyrics, Springsteen has sold more than 64 million records in the U.S. alone, making him the 15th highest selling artist of all time. But his expertise doesn’t stop at simply writing great music; Springsteen is a natural born leader. In fact, he got his moniker while playing small venues with the E-Street Band. “It was Bruce’s job to collect the money and pay the rest of the band,” says Andrew Delahunty, author of several books, including the Oxford Dictionary of Nicknames. “This led them to start calling him The Boss, a nickname which has stuck.” So let’s take a musical ride and see what kind of leadership lessons The Boss has for us!
“Glory days, well they’ll pass you by.”
The catchy chorus of “Glory Days” from Born in the U.S.A. is a truth that many of us struggle to deal with. So many times we get caught up remembering how things were instead of dreaming of how things can be. It’s easy to live in the past and rest on your laurels, but to move forward and continue to be innovative, it’s imperative to strive for bigger and better things. Your past success may have been impressive, but it’s just that, past success. Live with the idea that your organization’s best days are ahead of it. Glory days will pass you by.
“You can’t start a fire without a spark.”
The timeless truth in this Springsteen ballad from his breakout record, Born to Run, resonates in all facets of life. “Dancing in the Dark” tells the story of boredom and monotony and advises to get out of the rut, “they say, you gotta stay hungry.” Sometimes, the best way to ignite change in a seemingly hopeless situation is to focus on just one spark. Regardless of your situation, one simple change can make a world of difference when you feel powerless to a problem. Put your energy to use in the areas you can control, and watch the fire ignite.
“Is a dream a lie if it don’t come true – or is it something worse?”
This existential, rhetorical question from “The River” may hit the core of every leader, because anyone who strives for success knows the importance of outlining obtainable goals to reach grandiose dreams. But if your dream doesn’t come to fruition or you fail to actualize a career goal, the journey doesn’t end. The purpose of having goals isn’t necessarily to complete them, but to go beyond them. Anytime you fall short of a dream, ask yourself why you wanted to accomplish it in the first place. Then, focus on that purpose and jump back into that river and try again.
“I hate being called The Boss.”
In an interview published in Talk About a Dream: The Essential Interviews of Bruce Springsteen, Bruce explained that he hated to be called The Boss from the beginning. “Everybody said ‘Hey Boss,’ and I’d say, ‘No. Bruce. BRUCE,’” Springsteen revealed. The lesson that can be taken from this is simple – though he doesn’t like to be separated from the pack through a title, he continues to embody the role itself. The best leaders know they are only as good as the people they surround themselves with. So in a successful team atmosphere, there isn’t room for large egos. In leadership, humbleness goes a long way and actions speak louder than titles.
Are there any favorite lyrics or sayings from The Boss that we missed? What are some of your favorites? Let us know in the comments section below!
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