Better Business Coaching

Sex, Leadership and Rock 'n' Roll

Peter Cook author of the book ‘Sex, Leadership and Rock n Roll. Leadership Lessons from The Academy of Rock asks business’ ” Who’s playing the drums and bass in your business while all your stars are busy playing solos and smashing up their guitars’? ‘Who is sustaining innovation while your key players are crashing into new markets and crucifying your budget’?

Peter Cook is a dynamic and energetic Business Guru, who integrates the necessary creativity of music into business, identifying that the world of business would thrive if they were to develop a business model based on that of a balanced, creative, free thinking composer.

Peter’s philosophy is that business’ need ‘to tune into innovation, rather than focus in on rigid, autocratic structure, which puts a lid on fluid and authentic creativity‘!  Peter recognises how ‘Too much structure produces a dull, rigid performance and too much improvisation and the band never get to play’.

So, how do business’ gain the ideal balance of creativity against the need for some form of structure? Academy of Rock Guru, Frank Zappa summed this conundrum up perfectly: ‘without deviation, progress is not possible’.

Peter often refers to song titles, as if thinking in music and a powerful quote in his book provides a perfect example of how Peter processes and shares information ‘

‘If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music…I get most joy in life out of music’ Albert Einstein.

Peter Cook is not only an Author and Business Guru but also a Scientist, therefore genius is definitely behind the thinking of his dynamic approach to developing relationships and business. I have no doubt Albert Einstein would applaud Peter’s approach to developing and sustaining business.

The Kings of Leon proved that Sex sells; Leadership is a skill you either have or will never have and Rock n Roll was once deemed the work of the devil when Elvis Presley changed the world of music! We all know resistance is futile and as Sam Cooke informed us so eloquently ‘A Change Gunna Come‘! Peter encourages corporations to ‘cut the crap, start the rap and reach for something that engages both hearts and minds’. Music is indeed a powerful media and Peter reminds the reader about the global success and power of music in reference to Band Aid focusing the world on famine in Africa.

Having watched the news (which I try to avoid) I was horrified to hear recently that this country is currently handing out food parcels to disabled and low income families in the UK! So put your hands in your pockets, because UK and global business needs your money NOW!

Peter Cook recognises how business’ have become more corporate and have lost their ‘Soul’. I agree wholeheartedly, having resigned from a Welfare To Work organisation last year purely because they did just that. The UK is predominantly a ’service provider’, thanks to politicians of the past! I have been alarmed at how corporations think less of the customer and more of the bottom line! Well as Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes once sang and was covered by the great John Legend, it is seriously time to ‘Wake Up Everybody‘!

Musicians are excellent at articulating the ‘word on the street’  in the form of lyrics, beats, melodies and rhythm.  Dance Music is a huge seller, therefore, CEO’s need to realise it’s time to get down from their ivory towers and get on the dance floor with the people, to discover what’s really ‘going down’!  Peter also runs seminars for schools, which would no doubt please Whitney Housten who sang ‘The Greatest Love of All‘ and believed ‘the children are our future’!

Sex, Leadership and Rock n Roll is a breath of fresh air to read as it covers every aspect of business relations, including the most fundamental aspect of all, relationships. It encourages people to think creatively and in rhythm of the beat of the customer for sustainability purposes. Your business could either end up a ‘one hit wonder’ or maintain success, as have some of the greatest musicians of all time, including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Madonna and David Bowie. They are all perfect business role models and prime examples of the genius of Charles Darwin’s theory of the ‘survival of the fittest’ and how success is an evolutionary process, where we all need to adapt to global change!

Peter Cook is currently writing another book called ‘Punk Rock HR‘ A No Bullshit Guide to Hiring, Inspiring and Firing Staff!  This man certainly knows how to tell it like it is ‘Rock n Rolly’ style and is in constant demand for his Academy of Rock seminars, having been invited to do a 30 minute keynote at The Customer Service Training Awards at Heathrow on 8th July,  Athens in October, UAE in November and South Africa in February.

You can contact Peter Cook at The Academy of Rock.

Joy Andrews Business/Artist Development