Just because we can hear doesn’t mean we’re great at listening. And even if we’re good listeners, there’s always room for improvement. There’s a ton of info out there about why listening is so important, but let’s dive into a fun example.

Remember when AI models used to mess up simple tasks like counting the Rs in “strawberry”? They’ve come a long way, and so can we with our listening skills. Besides that, to get better, more accurate results, we need to provide additional details (parameters, prompt engineering). We need to ask ourselves, what other details we need to provide for the AI engine to better understand what we are looking for.

It got me thinking about this while listening to my music library with my various headphones. Each type—wired, wireless, in-ear—has its perks and quirks. Depending on the music genre, I pick specific headphones. Classical, jazz, live pop—you name it, I’ve got the perfect pair.

Listening to music this way has sharpened my listening skills. When I focus on different instruments like the guitar, bass, drums, and keyboards, I’m not just hearing the music; I’m dissecting it. I analyze the production, the mix, and the arrangement to understand what the artists are trying to convey. This deep dive into music helps me listen better in conversations too.

When I talk to someone, I try to break down what they’re saying, how they’re saying it, what they’re NOT saying, and the emotions behind their words. It’s like listening to a song in a different language—you need to understand the culture and background to get it.

Growing up, I learned a few languages, which helped me keep an open mind and absorb details better. Whether someone’s speaking French or Armenian, I don’t just switch on my mental translation mode. I also switch to thinking in that language, turn on my knowledge of that language/culture, and tune into their unique way of expressing themselves.

Now, about the AK47 and M16 firearm sounds—yeah, I can tell them apart. Growing up and surviving through my teenage years in a political and civil conflict in a third-world country, I had to learn these sound signatures. This is my way of trying to take something positive from the terrible years and events of my teenage years. I do NOT condone gun violence. I learned from this experience that one aspect of listening is categorizing sounds with minimal emotional biases.

The point is, we learn from our environment, experiences, and open-mindedness. When we listen, we should minimize our biases and expectations to make others feel safe and open up. It’s like listening to someone in a different language; we need to understand their words and where they’re coming from.

So, let’s keep working on our listening skills. Listen with an open mind to better understand, ask the right questions, connect, and improve our listening skills.

#AI #listening #music

The CEO of Spotify, who does not know how to play any instruments or arrange a piece of music or write a song, just posted that for Q1 of 2024 Spotify posted $1 billion in profit. Then, announced that they are raising the monthly subscription fees and none of that is going to the artists. Also, introduce a minimum threshold of 1000 streams before the artist can qualify to get paid the very low (pennies) amount per stream.

one of many examples: Peter Frampton recently posted: “For 55 million streams of, ‘Baby I Love Your Way’, I got $1,700,”

I know it’s not just up to the CEO for a publicly traded company.

Still.

Talk about greed and out of touch.

I am posting this because music has been and is one of the most important aspects of my daily life. Music has helped me through some very hard times. Too many to count.

There are so many amazing new and old artists and music out there. All it takes is just a little effort with many modern tools to discover, listen and purchase. I buy directly from artists whenever it’s available or purchase CDs, Vinyl, or digital downloads to better support the artists.

I am aware that it’s not that simple and we have to be more actively involved, but it seems that there is a lot of money left on the table from the Spotify model. The system is broken. There are many other similar business models that are in the same state of “growth” that take advantage of talents. We tend to fall into the convenience of things for the short-term benefit, but we pay for it in the long run. We should do better as human beings. We can do better.

#spotify #music #artist #streamingmusic #fairpay #wecandobetter

“You Can’t Always Get What You Want” – Rolling Stones

Oh no, not again! There goes Hrair going on about music/songs again…

Here’s why I thought of those lyrics:

A potential client called us via a recommendation from another happy client. This potential client wanted us to provide a project manager for their HCM implementation project.

I sat in on the call with our salesperson to listen in and provide support as needed.

They seemed to be in a rush and wanted the PM to start quickly. This is fairly common as most clients start a project thinking that they can take it on with their current staff. However, soon realize that they still have their daily tasks and responsibilities to perform.

After a few minutes of introductions and listening to them talking about what they wanted, I started asking questions based on the information so far. My intuition kept nudging me that there was something still that had not surfaced in our conversations. So, I kept digging further and asking questions to see things from their perspective. I always strive to put myself in the client’s seat to better understand everything. I was able to identify another gap, besides the PM they wanted.

At this point, I started to explain that they needed a Time Module resource to help them with the client-side activities which are heavy lift client-side tasks, towards the end of the project cycle.

The client was silent for a few and then said that they were so glad that I was on the call and engaged with all these details. They had no idea that was a blind spot and a huge gap.

Needless to say, the project went very well, and they could not stop talking about that first call they had with me. They said that they would come to me for anything they wanted and needed going forward.

Sometimes, you get what you want AND what you need.

Music #want #need #project #implemenation #clientadvocacy #HCM #sales #storytime

What does John Paul Jones, the bass/keyboard/musician of Led Zeppelin, have to do with the professional corporate world and project teams, or even climbing a mountain?

Hear me out.

Recently, I was listening to my music in random mode and the song No Quarter by Led Zeppelin (live 1973) came on and it shows how much of a positive influence John Paul Jones has on the rest of the band.

Even if you do not like Led Zeppelin, try to listen to their music to try to understand why people talk about them as a pivotal band to introduce a blended sound, genre, and style (rock, blues, jazz etc.).

The three other band members are all very talented and shine on their own. However, notice how John Paul Jones lays a foundation of groove and melody so the other three have the blanket to deliver their best. As a band member his focus, without any ego, is to serve the song, the other band members and in turn the listeners’ experience.

Similarly, every team will shine when there is at least one team member focused on the success of the team and project without any ego and ulterior motive. This was one of the main lessons I learned early on in my career. Every project and team I work with, my focus is always to serve the end result of successful project and satisfied client. Make sure that the experience is positive, memorable, and everyone learns something and improves.

Let us help you and your team climb those mountains and help you shine.

“Help someone climb a mountain and find out that you too reached the top.”

#teamwork #support #music #climb #shine #foundation #implementation

Someone once asked me: “Why do you love music so much?”

I replied: “Music is the only thing that stays with me, heals me and helps me look at things differently.”

Art, such as paintings and sculptures decorate space, Music decorates time.

#mentalhealth #openminded #perspectivematters #music #art #heal #space #time #eksperts

It’s my annual New Year’s Day post. As usual, every year I have a hard time picking just one. This year I’m posting more than one song quote so hear me out. Pun intended

“I don’t know what to say about these days
I’m seeing people changing in the strangest ways
Even in the richer neighborhoods
People don’t know when they got it good
They got the envy and they got it bad”
– The Long Way Around by Jackson Browne

“I think I remember the dream that I had,
that love’s going to save us
from a world that’s gone mad.
I guess I just feel like: what happened to that?”
– I Guess I Just Like by John Mayer

“Oh well, happy new year’s baby!
We could probably fix it if we clean it up all day
Or we could simply pack our bags
And catch a plane to Barcelona ’cause this city’s a drag”
– Holiday in Spain by Counting Crows

(Jazz Instrumental)
– Together by Matthew Halsall

Wait! An instrumental? No lyrics to quote!

Over the many years and careers, I have had and continue to hone this art of listening.

One of the many things I learned during my film and audio career is the art of listening to music during the recording and mixing sessions. Since then I listen to music, fully engaged and present to each note, not to mention the silence between the notes.

I chose this instrumental because of the title and more importantly the performance. The musicians have so much restraint and respect to the arrangement and notes to ensure they are serving the song and each other. They give each note space to breathe and each other the space to shine. Together.

Similarly, together, we can help each other shine. We can create a beautiful world around us.

#newyear2024 #happynewyear #music #help #eksperts

This is not intended to be cheesy.  Some might think it is or some might be lactose intolerant. Sorry.
We are dealing with challenges every day.
I am sending this to all of my people who are going through their day quietly. Being their wonderful selves.
I wanted to mention each of you but there are so many of you and this site frowns upon that.
Also, some of you do not like the spotlight, which I respect and appreciate even more. It’s more of a reason to show my appreciation of all that you all do.
So, I am checking on my quiet friends and sending an appreciative and positive energy for all your consistent and steady efforts.
Yes, I am talking to you. You are all making it happen and making a difference. Keep at it. It’s in the small details. Persistence, perseverance, chipping away at things on a daily basis. I see you and appreciate you.

hashtag#appreciation hashtag#challenges hashtag#struggles hashtag#iseeyou

Some of you may be aware of my passion for music.  When I listen to music, I usually analyze it, noting which instrument is playing which chord/note progression, how they are connected, and what kind of mood or impression they are sending to the audience as a whole. the sound mixes, the tonality of each instrument, and so on.

The video performance of a jazz instrumental called: Can’t Wait for Perfect (ft. Mark Lettieri) – Bob Reynolds Guitar Band. A little background on this live performance.  The band hadn’t had time to rehearse the song beforehand. The only thing the band had when they arrived was the music sheets/transcription. They had experience playing together on other songs, so they’re familiar with each other’s abilities and skills.

After observing this live performance, I saw something that made me wonder how it might apply to other live performances that aren’t music, such as implementations where team members, similar to band members, each perform their work-streams (transcript). Mark Lettieri quickly bent down to fix one of his foot pedals after realizing it wasn’t working during one of the segments of the guitar solo transition. The other band members become aware of this during these brief seconds and continue to improvise and extend the section of notes in order to allow him time to remedy the problem before continuing with the performance. They adjusted while remaining focused. More often than anyone would want to admit, this occurs, and because the band is playing in such a rhythm, we as listeners probably don’t even notice or respond. Here’s the link of the performance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fO6BYuMIeE Minute marker 7:19-7:23

Similarly, after decades of working on projects, video/film production (I wrote about one of them a while ago – about me working on and in the background of the Whitney Houston ‘Greatest Love of All’ music video), I have learned to adapt and alter with the end goal in mind.  Software implementations are also fairly similar.  I’ve worked with a variety of software providers, solutions and implementations, including Workday, ADP, UKG, UltiPro and Kronos, as well as a significant number of collaborations with major consulting organizations, KPMG, Deloitte and SAP.  While they each have their own methodology (transcripts), there will be moments when things do not go as planned.  One of the most important things that has helped has been to not panic and to adapt. Work with other team members to recover from whatever happens (team members are on all sides of the project such as the client, vendor, and implementation team).

I’ve gone through and successfully solved so many of them that I can practically predict them. Contact me to leverage my experience to help you anticipate them, recover from them, and reduce the likelihood of them happening on your projects.

Comment below, connect, and follow #ekspertsnet #ekspertsllc #eksperts

#hcm #humancapitalmanagement #success #implementation #advisor #project #consulting #adaptability #improvisation #problem-solving

I wanted to start a new rock band called “Dead Batteries” but someone put an X to it.

It sounded funnier in my head. Well, we offer a lot of more useful services listed on our website.
Comment below and connect, follow #ekspertsnet#ekspertsllc#eksperts

#experience#success#implementation#advisor#project#help#consulting

This is not one of my favorite albums in the Pink Floyd catalog. It is in my top 5 though. I also think it is an important piece in the history of modern music. By modern I mean after the mid-1960s. It is for many, the crown jewel in Pink Floy’s catalog. This is why I wanted to write why and how it was and still is to this day relevant. I wrote multiple versions of this article over the past few months and they all wound up a bit too long. In this version, I will try not to go into the details of each song, lyrics, musical arrangements, recording, and mixing techniques that were pushing the boundaries of the early 1970s.

The band started recording it in 1972 when their most iconic lineup was at their most productive. They were pushing boundaries and experimenting; making use of cutting-edge technologies at the time. Like synthesizers, tape loops, and multi-track recording.  The engineering was eventually taken over by Alan Parson. One of the greatest to ever work a studio console. Even the artwork is near perfection, created by the legends at Hypnosis. On top of all of this, the album is a high-concept lyrical and musical masterpiece that delves into everything that makes up human life. 

Upon release, Dark Side of the Moon was immediately met with commercial and critical success.  It topped the Billboard album chart and stayed there for an incredible 741 weeks. That’s 14 years. Taking all this into account, it’s no surprise that Dark Side of the Moon is often lauded by fans and critics alike as one of the greatest albums ever recorded. 

The album starts with a short instrumental Speak to Me that kicks off the album with a heartbeat It’s a simple touch but it instantly gets you to the humanity that is at the core of Dark Side of the Moon. This album is at least in the broadest sense an album about life. It’s about the stresses and struggles that make human existence what it is. It’s about all the noise that constantly surrounds us and about trying to cut through that noise to find the truth, beauty, and meaning, and all of these things begin from the same place. From being thrust into the world and greeting it with a heartbeat and a breath. It lays the foundation and universal starting point and that heartbeat will come full circle in the finale. As I mentioned above, in this version I will not go into each of the songs to keep this article focus more on how relevant it was and still is today.

I will list the album tracks and a short description of it

1. Speak to Me (birth and preview of what is to come with snippets of music from each of the rest of the songs))
2. Breathe (adolescence and growing up)
3. On the Run (Working and them touring and traveling and the pressures to record the next album while touring)
4. Time (the challenges of day to day life and how time just flies by)
5. The Great Gig in the Sky (This is intended to be a representation of their ultimate goal to have the greatest performance/show on their tour and in relation to the rest of us, our greatest product, result, and accomplishment. They had intended to write lyrics to it but decided not to because of how well the backup singer performed when they were putting the musical parts together)
6. Money (Self-explanatory. They were being pressured by the record company to create more records regardless of what the band was going through)
7. Us and Them (How modern life has inherently created us and them, whether it’s countries, religions, working-class, education, culture, background, skin color)
8. Any Color You Like (An instrumental that the band was jamming during one of their shows that they really enjoyed playing, Also an obscure reference that one of their stagehands said that they can have any color stage background you like as long as it’s black.)
9. Brain Damage (The impact of modern life on all of us if we are not able to work through these challenges)
10. Eclipse (the end of the album and metaphorically and within the album concept. It also has references and lyrics from the previous songs culminating to a heartbeat ending.)

They recorded these songs between their touring schedules, which meant a week here and there in the studio (Abbey Road), and tweaking the songs during their live performances to save money and studio time, Realize that at the time everything was recorded to tape in a studio. They created the loops and extra sounds to make the songs on the album be seamless and connected. One of the other items as they put a microphone in one of the other rooms and asked crews and others in the studio to go in one at a time and say whatever they felt like saying and dealing with. Some are blended into the songs so you need a good pair of headphones to be able to discern. Towards the end of the last sone (Eclipse), one of them says: “There is no dark side of the moon. The moon is all dark”. For me, this is referring to modern life and its impact on Mental health. Implying that, just like the moon, life can be all dark, we just have to find a way to reflect light, just like the moon, and look for the positive in things. Similar to the album cover art, where the prism changing a thin stream of white light into a rainbow, try to take any little light and make your life more colorful.

A little trivia question. One of those people who went into the room with the microphone was one of the members of The Beatles. However, it did not make the final cut. Hmmm… Who could that be?