5 New Media Lessons from the Hold Steady
I find a lot of inspiration in the music of the Hold Steady. The lyrics of Craig Finn focus on universal themes of redemption, forgiveness and the power of positivity.
I've been thinking about how a few of his lyrics seem particularly relevant to the current state of media. Below are my favorite examples.
"It's one thing to start it with a positive jam and it's another thing to see it all through."
Lesson: Too many focus on an idea and not the execution.
"God only knows it's not always a positive thing to see a few seconds into the future."
Lesson: The first steps of innovation are often met with resistance.
"Everyone's a critic and most people are DJs."
Lesson: Everyone has an opinion.
"There's gonna come a time when the true scene leaders forget where they differ and get big picture."
Lesson: The biggest challenge is not from competition but instead from within organizations that are tied to institutional process.
"Words alone could never save us."
Lesson: Enough talking about it already.
