More Business Lessons Learned From The Rolling Stones

If there was ever a band with staying power, it would be the Rolling Stones. The band formed in London in 1962 and is still going strong.

Lucky for me (and not so fortunate for my friends), two tickets to the Rolling Stones concert at Gillette Stadium became available at the last minute when my friends came down with COVID-19. Without a second thought, my husband and I agreed to relieve them of “the burden” of having tickets to a show they could not attend, which brings me to my first business lesson.

Say yes to opportunities that come your way. My spouse and I could have thought of a dozen reasons to pass on the opportunity, including the crazy traffic getting to and from the stadium, cold weather (we were wearing puffer coats at the end of May), and seats at the very top of the stadium. But instead, we said yes and were so glad we did.

How often have you over-analyzed opportunities, which you eventually passed on, and then regretted this move? Probably more times than you’d care to admit. The next time an opportunity comes your way, take a chance and say yes. In most situations, you can always course correct.

There’s no expiration date on talent. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards are both 80 years old, and Ronnie Woods, the baby of the bunch, is 77. But you wouldn’t know this if you saw them recently perform on stage. These guys have more energy than some people I know who are half their age, and their voices are in pitch-perfect condition.

And to think Mick famously declared in a 1975 People Magazine interview that “I’d rather be dead than sing ‘Satisfaction’ when I’m 45.” Who’s laughing now?

So why are companies so quick to toss people aside the minute they hit age 50? These workers are in their prime. I always advise my client to look for talent where no one is looking. So, if you’re having a challenging time filling a position, seek to hire mature individuals who will happily accept more responsibility.

Keep doing what you love. Clearly, being with the band and performing still brings Jagger joy. The added part of the equation is that touring forces him to stay in good shape.

Jagger’s bandmate Keith Richards once said, “We age not by holding on to youth, but by letting ourselves grow and embracing whatever youthful parts remain.” If you want to remain vital, challenge yourself by doing what you love.

A lot of people these days are dialing it in at work. They’re stuck in a rut doing a job they hate, surrounded by people telling them they’re lucky to have a job.

Life is too short to be in a job you hate. If you’re unhappy in your current role, see if you can find another position in your company. If you’ve hit a wall and there’s nowhere to go, prepare yourself for your next move. Then take action!

There’s no such thing as an overnight success. You look at bands like the Rolling Stones, and you forget that at one point, their band members were like you and me—people with some big dreams. However, they didn’t just talk about their dreams. They took lots of steps to turn their dreams into reality.

Many of us have friends who are more successful than we are. We can’t help thinking how lucky they are to be in such a fortunate position. However, in most cases, luck isn’t what got them where they are. They put in the work and made sacrifices along the way.

For those of you who dream of getting to the top of your field, understand the effort (and sacrifice) it will take to get there. And remember, “You can’t always get what you want. But if you try sometimes, you’ll find you get what you need (Rolling Stones).”