Now, I'm not saying that conflict is always good or
desirable. I'm not saying that conflict should be encouraged or provoked
unnecessarily. I'm not saying that conflict should be ignored or tolerated
indefinitely. I'm saying that sometimes conflict can be a source of creativity
and inspiration if it is handled properly and constructively.
Conflict can be a catalyst for innovation and originality,
especially in the field of music. Music is a form of expression that transcends
language and culture, and it can also reflect the tensions and struggles of the
artists who create it.
Some of the most iconic bands in music history were not exactly
harmonious behind the scenes. In fact, some of them were downright
dysfunctional and full of conflicts. But that did not stop them from creating
masterpieces of music that transcended their personal differences and resonated
with millions of fans. In this article, we will explore examples of big music
formations that did not work great as a team but produced amazing songs and
albums.
The Beatles are arguably the most influential band of
all time, but they were also plagued by internal tensions and disputes. The
four members had different artistic visions, personalities, and ambitions, and
often clashed over creative decisions, management issues, and personal
relationships. The Beatles broke up in 1970, after a decade of unparalleled
success and innovation. But despite their conflicts, they produced some of the
most groundbreaking and timeless music ever recorded, such as Sgt. Pepper's
Lonely Hearts Club Band, Abbey Road, and Let It Be.
Fleetwood Mac is another example of a band that
thrived on turmoil and drama. The group went through several lineup changes and
romantic entanglements among its members, which fueled their emotional and
expressive songs. Their 1977 album Rumours is one of the best-selling albums of
all time, and it was largely inspired by the breakups of John and Christine
McVie, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, and Mick Fleetwood and his wife.
The album captures the raw feelings of love, betrayal, anger, and sadness that
the band members were going through at the time.
Queen is a band that defied genres and conventions
with its eclectic and flamboyant style. Led by the charismatic and talented
Freddie Mercury, Queen experimented with various musical influences, from rock
to opera to disco. They also faced challenges such as Mercury's sexuality, his
AIDS diagnosis, and his death in 1991. But despite these difficulties, Queen
delivered some of the most memorable and powerful songs in music history, such
as Bohemian Rhapsody, We Will Rock You, We Are the Champions, and Under
Pressure.
Metallica is a band that revolutionized heavy metal
with their aggressive and complex sound. They also endured hardships such as
the death of their bassist Cliff Burton in 1986, the departure of their
guitarist Dave Mustaine in 1983, and the alcoholism and addiction of some of
their members. Metallica also faced criticism from some fans for changing their
style and experimenting with different genres in their later albums. But
despite these controversies, Metallica remained one of the most successful and
influential bands in metal history, with albums such as Master of Puppets, The
Black Album, and St. Anger.
Pink Floyd is a band that created some of the most
progressive and psychedelic music ever made. They also had a turbulent history
marked by creative differences, power struggles, legal battles, and mental
breakdowns. The band's original leader Syd Barrett left the group in 1968 due
to his deteriorating mental health and drug abuse. The band then rose to fame
under the leadership of Roger Waters, who wrote most of their concept albums
such as The Dark Side of the Moon, The Wall, and The Final Cut. However, Waters
left the band in 1985 after a bitter dispute with his bandmates David Gilmour
and Nick Mason. The band continued without Waters until 1994, when they
released their last studio album The Division Bell.
These are just some examples of big music formations that
did not work great as a team, with mavericks that apparently were egocentric
and out of pattern but, with great management, the wild creatures worked
together to create timeless pieces of art. What can we learn from them? We can
learn that sometimes conflict can be a source of creativity and inspiration. We
can learn that sometimes passion and common goals can overcome personal
differences and challenges. We can learn that sometimes political rightness and
team harmony are not enough to make great music. We can learn that sometimes
music is more than just a product of teamwork; it is also a product of
individual genius.
Back on Earth. Moving to technology
Have you ever heard of the story behind the creation of one
of the most iconic products in history, the iPhone? You might think that it was
a smooth and harmonious process, where everyone at Apple worked together as a
team to make something amazing. But that's not exactly how it happened.
According to various sources, the iPhone was actually born
out of a fierce rivalry between two teams within Apple: the iPod team and the
Mac team. The iPod team was led by Tony Fadell, who was in charge of developing
portable devices for Apple. The Mac team was led by Scott Forstall, who was to
develop software for Apple. Both teams had different visions for what the
iPhone should be and how it should work.
The iPod team wanted to make a phone that was basically an
iPod with a dialer. They wanted to use a click-wheel interface, like the iPod,
to navigate through the phone's functions. They wanted to keep the phone simple
and elegant, focusing on music and calls.
The Mac team wanted to make a phone that was basically a
mini-computer. They wanted to use a touchscreen interface, like the Mac, to
access various applications and features. They wanted to make the phone smart
and versatile, offering web browsing, email, maps, and more.
Both teams competed fiercely for Steve Jobs' approval and
resources. They often clashed and argued over design decisions and technical
details. They tried to sabotage each other's work and undermine each other's
credibility. They even had separate buildings and security codes to keep their
secrets from each other.
You might think this kind of conflict would result
in a mediocre product that would fail in the market.
But you would be wrong.
Because out of this conflict came one of the most innovative
and successful products ever made. Out of this conflict came a product that
combined the best of both worlds: a phone that was both simple and elegant, and
smart and versatile. Out of this conflict came a product that revolutionized
the mobile industry and changed the world.
How did this happen? How did conflict lead to creativity and
inspiration?
Well, there are several reasons for that.
First, conflict
forced both teams to challenge themselves and push their limits. They had to
work harder and smarter than ever before because they knew they had a
formidable opponent. They had to come up with new ideas and solutions that
would impress Steve Jobs and beat their rivals. They had to constantly improve
their work and refine their vision.
Second, conflict forced both teams to learn from each other
and adapt their approaches. They had to acknowledge their strengths and
weaknesses and recognize their competitors' advantages and disadvantages. They
had to incorporate some of their rivals' ideas into their own work, while also
maintaining their own identity and style. They had to balance their own
preferences with Steve Jobs' demands and customer expectations.
Third, conflict forced both teams to share a common goal and
passion: making the best product possible for Apple. They had to put aside
their personal differences and ego clashes, and focus on what really mattered:
creating something amazing for Steve Jobs and for the world. They had to
respect each other's talents and contributions, even if they didn't like each
other personally. They had to collaborate with each other when necessary, even
if they didn't trust each other completely.
Conflict made both teams better at what they did because it
made them more creative, more adaptable, more motivated, more passionate, more
focused, more respectful, and more collaborative.
Forget about normalizing teams, about political rightness, about harmony, and all this nonsense. Learn how to manage talent, it is hard, it is costly but will deliver products for the angels.
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