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Music is a powerful vehicle for an entrepreneur's journey to success The harmonious alliance between music and entrepreneurship unveils a transformative path. As entrepreneurs embrace this, they discover a symphony of inspiration that guides them toward innovation, resourcefulness, and unparalleled achievements.

By Bindu Subramaniam

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

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In the bustling world of entrepreneurship, where innovation and tenacity reign supreme, there exists a hidden catalyst which ismusic, an extraordinary force for unlocking untapped potential and igniting the spark of success. In fact, background music, including the widely-researched classical genre has been found to improve our performance on cognitive tasks, such as spatial or verbal ability tests, for short periods of time. This harmonious alliance between music and entrepreneurship unveils a transformative path. As entrepreneurs embrace this, they discover a symphony of inspiration that guides them toward innovation, resourcefulness, and unparalleled achievements.

Although entrepreneurship can be rewarding, it has its share of challenges too. There exists the constant need to excel and solve problems creatively, in addition to other setbacks that can be overwhelming. During such situations, music acts as a healer by alleviating these pain points and empowering business people in numerous ways. Music also instills discipline, cultivates resilience, and nurtures creativity, enabling entrepreneurs to learn to find their own symphony of success.

Music can be uplifting for entrepreneurs

Be it listening to or singing classical, rock, or any other genre, music has an enchanting ability to transcend boundaries and touch our souls. It has motivated and inspired several business owners for several decades As Friedrich Nietzsche wisely stated, "Without music, life would be a mistake".Music has the power to evoke inspiration and fuel motivation, supporting an optimal mindset for entrepreneurial endeavors.

Listening to calming melodies or engaging in music-making activities can reduce stress levels, promote relaxation, and rejuvenate the mind and regain focus.

Rock music or upbeat pop music contributes to the increase in energy levels. They can also motivate entrepreneurs to be courageous to face adversity when it arrives and never to give up during challenging times. Sometimes listeners can identify with the lyrics and their spirits get uplifted. Also, many will have their own entrepreneurial song which they listen to regularly.

Music enhances creativity and problem-solving skills

Creativity is a key cognitive skill that helps people to remain competent. A study by Ritter and Ferguson proves that listening to music while working can improve divergent thinking that is associated with creative thinking and problem-solving. Listening to music can relax the mind temporarily and is very useful when one hits a roadblock while solving a problem.

When we indulge in music, our brains are stimulated in unique ways. Different areas associated with creativity light up, triggering a surge of imaginative thinking. As a result, our minds effortlessly generate novel ideas, moving us closer to the desired solutions. This natural shift in focus from the problem at hand allows our subconscious to work its magic, bringing forth innovative insights that might have otherwise remained hidden.

As leaders, cultivating a positive and stress-free environment is essential for fostering creativity and productivity within our organizations.

By encouraging thinking outside the box, music enables entrepreneurs to innovate and differentiate themselves in a competitive landscape.

Music boosts personal productivity

Although this aspect is rarely discussed, entrepreneurs are prone to anxiety and stress which can adversely impact their productivity at work. In such situations, music can be a powerful tool to regulate emotions leading to lessening feelings of anxiety and pressure. By playing background music distractions are eliminated, and mental clutter is significantly reduced. Moreover, as music is therapeutic, it helps in relieving the tension he or she is experiencing. By delivering increased motivation, better memory, and immune function, music certainly boosts productivity. It is said playing music without lyrics can supercharge listeners to attain higher productivity levels.

Music teaches learners the importance of discipline and practice. Running a business requires dedication, perseverance as well as continuous improvement and music teaches exactly that. This discipline honed through music spills over into the business realm, driving entrepreneurs to develop a strong work ethic and strive for excellence in their workplace and the industry.

If entrepreneurs are keen on learning music, then it can help them to be more organized, disciplined, patient, and a better listener.

Supports in Building Connections:

Music transcends cultural and linguistic barriers and those business leaders who incorporate music into their lives can leverage its power to build connections, network, and foster relationships. Be it collaborating with fellow musicians, connecting with customers through shared musical interests, or using it as a networking tool, music certainly opens doors to new opportunities and strengthens professional bonds.

Music increases workplace productivity

For entrepreneurs, nothing matters more than to see their teams working together and delivering results. Business leaders should consider playing popular music that is familiar to team members in the break room and upbeat music where employees are performing repetitive tasks. In co-working spaces, classical or instrumental music is said to increase productivity. When individuals are working independently, they should listen to the music of their choice, preferably with headphones on. Furthermore, it is recommended to have different soundscapes for different areas of the workplace.

Listening to music can improve focus, ignite new ideas, and provide a fresh perspective to the teams when they have to tackle complex issues.

Promotes Work-Life Balance

Every single day we see how entrepreneurs struggle with maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Here, music can serve as a bridge between work and personal life, allowing entrepreneurs to disconnect from their business responsibilities and engage in this meaningful and enjoyable activity. Whether it's attending concerts, playing in a band, or simply finding time to listen to their favorite tunes, music provides a well-deserved break and rejuvenation.

While living super busy lives, entrepreneurs also have to grapple with uncertainty about the company's future and are constantly looking for solutions to cope with it. Music is one of the key tools that helps them achieve this. Entrepreneurs can also opt to start and end their day with their favorite music as they walk on the path to success.

Bindu Subramaniam

Co-founder and CEO of Subramaniam Academy of Performing Arts (SaPa)

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