Five Lessons CEOs and Executives Can Learn from Michael Jackson

I was a huge Michael Jackson fan. The one month anniversary of his death passed over the weekend and it prompted this post. It is easy to only see Michael’s many mistakes. More difficult is finding value in what he did right. Here, we offer five lessons from his life than can improve the way you approach business.

1. Make Your Brand Unique and Compelling

It’s not necessary to over-design the face of your brand, but having a signature move or two could be helpful. Michael had signature dance moves, including the moonwalk, which will forever be associated with him. The Thriller video changed the way the world looked at music videos. Add to all of that the sequence jackets and the Neverland theme park and it’s a compelling story we all wanted to see. What does your brand have that sets it apart?

2. Don’t Be Selfish … Be a Giver

It’s estimated that Michael Jackson gave over $300 million in philanthropic donations over the course of his lifetime. He used his talents and abilities to make the world better for those most in need. In his professional life, there are many stories of how his influence, attention to detail and professionalism helped others become stronger artists. Michael’s giving helped him acquire goodwill that sustained him through trying times. What’s your company doing to build goodwill from which you can draw when necessary?

3. Don’t Rush It

Michael Jackson was a notorious perfectionist. For a given CD with 12-15 tracks, it is reported he recorded 30-40 tracks from which to choose the songs that ended up on a record. It wasn’t about just getting any album out the door. It was about demanding the very best from himself and those around him. Doing that required time but proved worth it. Is your company making the effort and taking the time to produce the best possible products for your customers?

4. Seize Opportunities and Make Sound Investments with Positive ROI

The King of Pop’s success made him a wealthy man. However, it was his investments that protected that wealth as he became more of a spendthrift. Perhaps his most prescient investment was the $47.5 million purchase of the Beatles’ catalog of songs in 1985 – prior to the modern day importance of catalogs. Today, the catalog, half-owned by Sony, is estimated to be worth between $600 million and $1 billion. What type of investments is your company making?

5. Don’t Be Afraid to Refresh

Michael’s career was undoubtedly aided by his ability to change – to refresh, if you will. The songs he sang as a child, though full of adult emotion, were different from those he sang during his solo career. Songs from his Off the Wall album were very different from those on Thriller and each successive album had a different feel. Through it all the public paid attention. Have you thought about how to refresh to keep your customers and clients interested in what you do?