Woodstock

I was at Camp Greylock 40 years ago when a half million of “you kids” (Max Yasgur‘s term) got together and showed the world that things were changing yet again. Those of you old enough will remember how turbulent and divisive a time it was. Dr. King and Bobby and been killed, Vietnam was raging, there were frequent violent demonstrations in the streets of our country. But for three days, were saw what was possible with an open mind.
I remember reading the Times’ stories about the festival as it unfolded (talk about media changing – kids at summer camp reading the newspaper!).  The traffic jam, the mud, the fantastic performances are all there and over this weekend there will be lots of TV shows about it.  There have been countless lessons taken from Woodstock. The one about which I’d like to write today is about listening. Obviously, people were at the festival to listen to music but given the horrible conditions, bad LSD, and lack of food, water, and toilets, they had to listen to one another as well. They did, they survived, they had a blast.

Fast forward forty years. There are some serious problems out there. What surprises and disappoints me is the level of shouting and the paucity of listening. The focus on both sides of any issue seems to be on the politics and not on a solution. At Woodstock, the focus was on keeping people fed and safe and not on profit. Yes there were vendors selling things throughout but at some point it became about “we” not “me.”   The whole festival was a capitalist venture designed to make money but the reason it’s become a cultural icon is, in part, because everyone abandoned their selfish perspective and focused on the whole.

So the business lesson of Woodstock isn’t focused on the discussion of free as a business model.  To me the lesson is one great companies show they’ve learned every day:  how to listen and focus on the greater good.  As you hear about what went on there and listen to the music, think also about listening to business partners, customers, and one another in general.  I think we’ll all be surprised how far a little peace, love, and music can take us whether it’s business, politics, or maybe even real life!

Got any Woodstock stories or memories you want to share?  Feel free!