Anatomy of an Innovator – Prince R.I.P 1958-2016

1. If you want to be adaptive, practise, practise, practise

To reach mastery in improvisation paradoxically requires intensive detailed preparation. What looks like a seamless performance is the result of many hours of preparation and Prince is meticulous in this respect. It’s what is popularly known as the ‘10,000 hours effect’, popularised by Tom Peters and, more recently, Malcolm Gladwell. The idea of prepared spontaneity contradicts what some so-called creativity and innovation gurus say on the subject, yet we constantly see parallels across many industries. Sloppy creativity produces sloppy results in many businesses as well as in the rock business.

2. Be a boundary crosser to create sustainable advantage

Prince is also a master of fusing musical genres and influences outside his core style. This enables him to still exert a major influence on artists of the 21st century, such as Lady Gaga and Beyoncé. In business, the ability to cross mental boundaries is the parallel skill set, exemplified by companies such as 3M, Virgin and Google.

Virgin, in particular, is a great example of a large enterprise that encourages experimentation and practice. In my interview with Sir Richard Branson he talks about this openly and graphically:

3. Innovation = Perspiration + Inspiration

Prince’s level of risk-taking on stage is perhaps greater than other artists such as Celine Dion, who aims for a perfect, polished performance, which can be reproduced night after night. Through conversations with a session musician who works with Dion, this becomes apparent. Dion also showcases the individual band members in what appears to be a loose jam, but the order and sequence of each individual solo is preset in advance.

In contrast, Prince will call out individual band members for a solo on the fly. This requires every band member to be watching and waiting for the instructions that Prince gives to the band members.

Both approaches rest on meticulous preparation and practice if you want to reach out for excellence. An object lesson for all: If you want to be a star, know that perspiration is much more important than inspiration.