Every leader has their own soundtrack. Here’s mine—and the stories behind the music.
It was 2 AM. The office was empty, except for the faint hum of the air conditioning and the glow of my laptop screen. The results from a critical project had just come in—and they weren’t good.
I leaned back in my chair, rubbed my temples, and hit play on a song I’ve turned to countless times during moments like this:
🎵 “Eye of the Tiger” – Survivor
The opening guitar riff filled the silence, and somehow, the weight on my shoulders felt lighter.
That’s the thing about music—it has an uncanny way of finding you in your most vulnerable moments and whispering, “Keep going.”
Running a company isn’t a sprint; it’s a marathon. And along the way, there’s always a soundtrack playing in the background—songs that become reminders, lifelines, or anthems.
So, let me take you through my playlist—the tracks that have carried me through sleepless nights, boardroom wins, and everything in between.
The Early Days Anthem
When we started Ergode, there was no grand office, no multi-million-dollar deals—just belief. Belief that we could build something meaningful.
There were days when belief was all we had. Times when the math didn’t add up, when the path forward was a foggy blur.
But belief isn’t passive—it’s stubborn, relentless, and loud. It’s the voice in your head that says, “One more day. One more try.”
If you’re building something—whether it’s a startup, a team, or a dream—this song isn’t just background music. It’s a mission statement.
The Leadership Lesson in Empathy
As a leader, you’ll have moments when someone on your team feels broken—overwhelmed by failure, burnout, or life itself.
And while you can’t always fix what’s broken, you can be there. Sometimes, leadership isn’t about solutions; it’s about presence.
This song reminds me to slow down, to listen more, and to understand that being a good leader isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about showing up when it matters most.
The Wisdom of Surrender
Not every battle is worth fighting. Not every idea will work.
There’s a kind of wisdom in knowing when to let go—of an unworkable plan, an unhealthy partnership, or even your own ego.
This song played softly in my car the day we decided to shut down one of our projects. It was painful, but it was also necessary.
Sometimes, letting go isn’t defeat—it’s clarity.
The Victory Lap
There’s a moment after every big win when time seems to pause. The team is cheering, the emails are pouring in, and you realize—we did it.
At Ergode, we’ve had our share of these moments—hitting revenue milestones, launching new brands, or simply surviving a crisis stronger than before.
This song is for those moments—the sound of shared triumph, of collective effort paying off.
And if you’re reading this after a personal or professional win, do me a favor: hit play on this track, turn the volume up, and celebrate. You’ve earned it.
The Reflection Track
Not every leadership moment is loud. Some of the most defining ones happen in silence—when you’re staring at a spreadsheet at midnight, walking alone after a tough decision, or sitting quietly after a failure.
This song isn’t just a track—it’s a space. A reminder that clarity often arrives in stillness, not chaos.
Every leader needs those moments of quiet to make sense of the noise.
If you think about it, leadership isn’t linear. It’s not a perfect chorus—it’s messy, raw, and filled with both crescendos and quiet pauses.
But if you listen closely, you’ll realize there’s a soundtrack playing in the background of your journey too.
Maybe it’s your go-to ‘hype track’ before a big presentation. Or a quiet melody you turn to after a tough day.
So here’s my question: What’s on your playlist?
Because sometimes, the right song doesn’t just set the mood—it sets the mindset.
Hit play. And keep going.
Regards,
Rupesh
