Elton John and Bernie Taupin wrote some bitchin’ songs.
“Take Me to the Pilot”, “Tiny Dancer”, “Candle in the Wind”, “I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues”, “Sad Songs (Say So Much)”
All awesome, but I’m partial to Border Song.
It’s moody.
It’s dark.
It’s soulful.
It’s a great song.
Except for that third verse.
Which might be one of the worst things. Ever.
And I don’t just mean in music.
If you’ve never heard Border Song, or haven’t heard it since it was new, I’ve included the video for your viewing pleasure.
(And because Elton John’s hair makes my Salvidor Dali photos look fucking fashionable.)
Give it a listen and then come back. I’ll wait.
Bad Lyrics = a Prime Business Lesson
The last verse is vague, trite and unimaginative, but what can it teach you about running your business?
A lot.
See, when Bernie and Elton wrote together, they did it separately.
Bernie worked in one room. Elton in another.
Bernie wrote lyrics. Elton wrote music.
When they eventually put them together, something amazing (usually) came out.
When they wrote Border Song it was originally only two verses (the good ones). It was Elton that wanted the 3rd(shitty) verse and wrote the lyrics himself.
The result?
A good song that could have been great but, much like a bad blowjob, chokes right at the end.
And all because Elton wanted to play on Bernie’s side of the creative fence.
Your Business and Your Business
Elton didn’t see that the lyrics were none of his business. If he could write great lyrics, he wouldn’t have needed a Bernie.
So how often are you making this same mistake with your business?
Ever started a site and tried to learn all of the coding and web design, when you should have just hired someone?
Are you a great writer, but get bogged down in graphic design?
A copywriter trying to decipher your accounting every month?
The problem is that, unless web design, graphic design or accounting are your business, they aren’t your business.
It’s what economists call “opportunity costs.”
Time and effort spent on one thing, means that those resources can’t be spent on something else.
Playing in the neighbor’s yard just brings all your work down in quality because it takes focus away from what will actually make you money.
Don’t get distracted and don’t play cheap.
Remember to find your one thing and stick to it.
Find what you’re great at and do it over and over again. Anything else is just a waste of your time.