Leading Through Language

CONCLUSION

In his 2009 book Free: The Future of a Radical Price, Wired magazine editor Chris Anderson explains how the rise of abundance in the world changes what we value – and what we don't. He notes that, “as commodities become cheaper, value moves elsewhere. There's still a lot of money in commodities…but the highest profit margins are usually found where gray matter has been added to things.”¹

Anderson cites the music industry as a prime example of this shift. Never before has recorded music been so abundant and so easy to consume. It is easier to acquire it through downloading, easier for musicians to provide it to us, and in all respects it is cheaper than ever before. With this rise of abundance, value has moved to the thriving concert business (I blanch at what I paid recently for tickets to hear U2 play in Toronto). Anderson points out that, “Some bands, such as the Rolling Stones, make more than 90 percent of their money from touring…. And why not? Memorable experiences are the ultimate scarcity.”²

What do the changing economics of the music industry have to do with becoming an inspiring leader? Simple: the same abundance/scarcity principle applies to both worlds.

Today's business world is awash in communication. Our email inboxes are clogged, our Twitter feeds are ever-refreshing, and our LinkedIn contacts disgorge a daily dose of content. The intensity of most workplaces means more meetings, more conversations, and more interactions than ever before, and more superficial, ...