There seem to be many parallels between programmers, architects, sales professionals and musicians. Over the years I have run into many people in Tech and HR-Tech who are also very talented musicians. A famous one in New England is Tom Scholz, the American rock musician, songwriter, inventor, engineer, and philanthropist best known as a founding member of the rock band Boston, who came to be a rock star after graduating from Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a degree in engineering. He always had an interest in music and signed his first recording contract while working as an engineer.
Both roles enable individuals to harness creativity and collaborate with other talented people. The end results are ultimately a product (an album), a new code release (single), a piece of work (code or product) for others to use while combining problem solving with emotion.
Not known to many, but the VP/Chief Architect of Engineering here at HireAbility is an accomplished classical pianist who has toured the globe. To put it in plain language she has serious chops. You can check out some performances here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFYrk-OYVf8
I am sure there is some part of the brain that can solve very difficult mathematical equations and at the same time can control perfect pitch and timing. Some companies in the HR-Tech space even have put together bands, like Bullhorn, for example, has formed Stampede, a classic rock cover band. Here are some samples of live tunes: https://bandstampede.com/music
At the same time, I have encountered many sales professionals that are also musicians, myself included. Many of us are weekend warriors still today. My band is here: https://www.facebook.com/Sheepdip-113779261972552/
The sales pitch is often referred to as a performance in being able to read the crowd or prospect, deliver to them what they are looking for and exceed their expectations as any great performance should. I have coached others in the art of the sales demo and would put it this way: “They are here to hear you play Sweet Home Alabama. You may have played this 1000 times and really don’t feel like playing it again 5 times today, however this is a great song, so put your all into it. It works, and translates into great sales calls and building the business”.
So while many of us in HR-Tech have left our rock star status or classical prodigy personas behind, rest assured that we are putting our talents to great use individually and collectively as teams with our audience being the HR-Software industry and users.