As summer 2024 wraps up, I’ve been reminiscing about an experience from 30 years ago that unexpectedly taught me a lot. I attended Woodstock ’94, the 25th anniversary of the original Woodstock. This event, while primarily about music, offered its own set of unique lessons and memories.
As I was knee-deep in mud, surrounded by music lovers, it hit me. This wasn’t just a festival. It was a crash course in civil engineering and, believe it or not, leadership.
First lesson? Location, location, location. Set up your tent on higher ground! True to its original, Woodstock ’94 was also hit with rains and floods. And waking up in a pool of water and mud is just not pleasant. Lesson learned: in business, like camping, you have to think strategically about where you position yourself and your team.
But wait, there’s more! Ever tried finding a porta-potty in a sea of 550,000 people? Not fun. And the mud prevented the large waste trucks access to the toilets to clean them. Adequate waste management is the first rule of any city, any civilization, any place where large groups of people gather. Turns out, even rock-and-roll needs good infrastructure. It’s the same in any organization – you need solid systems in place.
Now, let’s shift gears. Literally.
Ever watched a Formula 1 pit stop? It’s like magic. Blink and you’ll miss it. These crews change tires, adjust wings, and refuel in seconds. It’s a lesson in efficiency! When hospitals were looking to make their transitions more seamless in emergency rooms, they decided to study the place where transitions happen more quickly than anywhere else; they looked at pit crews for inspiration which I think is brilliant:
Clear communication protocols. In F1, there’s no room for misunderstandings. Same goes for the ER.
Specialized roles. Everyone has a specialty, knows their job, and does it perfectly.
Checklists: Time sensitive and highly critical tasks — even when mundane — benefit from checklists to ensure no step is overlooked.
Constant practice. These teams drill their routines until they’re flawless.
Smooth handoffs. In racing and medicine, seamless transitions can make all the difference.
Real-time monitoring: From engine temperature to patient vital signs, immediate attention is ideal. When’s the last time you looked at your KPIs? Do you even have any metrics?
Great ideas can come from anywhere. Music festivals, race tracks, you name it. The trick is to keep your eyes open and your mind ready to make those crazy connections. And when you need to improve something, ask yourself: who does this better than anyone else, regardless of the industry?
There are learnings everywhere. You might just find your next breakthrough in the most unexpected place.
Do you have any wild sources of inspiration? Hit reply and let me know. I’m always up for a good story!
