This particular photo might not be visually stunning, but it was an invaluable aid in writing the Rock Star MBA book. To begin the project, I used a storyboard—a fantastic technique for visualizing the completed work. Storyboarding is a great way to launch any new creative venture.

I approached this specific task differently, however, viewing it as a journey rather than focusing solely on the end result—a mindset inspired by the many artists featured in the book.

Why Storyboarding Helps

Storyboarding is an incredibly valuable pre-production technique that provides several key advantages for a project like a book:

Visualizing the Structure: It allows you to see the entire project flow in a visual, chronological sequence, making it easier to identify logical gaps or pacing issues before you start the main writing.

Facilitating Collaboration: It serves as a single, clear blueprint that can be shared with a team, ensuring everyone understands the overall vision and desired result.

Saving Time and Resources: By working out complex chapters or sequences on a storyboard first, you can catch major structural problems early, preventing costly and time-consuming changes later in the production process.

Enhancing Creative Clarity: The act of mapping out your project forces you to define your characters (or concepts), setting, and key turning points, bringing greater clarity to your creative vision.

Decades ago, I held a secret in my hands. This picture, gifted to me by a former girlfriend, captures a young kid in a brown jacket and a modest cap—a kid who was about to ignite a global phenomenon. Little did we know that the face in this snapshot would become the architect of a legendary sound, selling well over 100 million albums. He wasn't just a singer; he evolved into an astounding songwriter and one of the most dynamic frontmen rock has ever known. We practically wore out the grooves on his first two albums. I often look at this photo, kept private for all these years, and wonder: what would he have said if I'd whispered to him then that he was standing on the cusp of founding one of the biggest bands on the planet? Can you guess the artist?

Hint: Think 'Runaway' and '7800 Degrees Fahrenheit'

This photo was taken at Montclair High School in NJ. Stryper was supporting their "Soldiers Under Command" album.  I wrote about Stryper a bit throughout the book, Rock Star MBA.  Their live performance sounded as great as the album. 

 You can learn from everybody what to do and what not to do…

mostly what not to do.” Jan Van Halen -Father to Eddie Van 

Halen. My first official announcement on LinkedIn to look out 

for Rock Star MBA in 2024. The book was released one year later.

I realized I would have to follow through if I posted this content on LinkedIn. I also announced I started writing the book on Nancy Friedman's podcast. I learned about this notion through Robert Cialdin's book called "Influence." Dr. Robert Cialdini's psychology of persuasion, commitment is the foundational trigger for the principle of Consistency. It refers to the deep psychological drive humans have to act in alignment with their previous words, choices, and actions. Once we commit to an idea, we subconsciously pressure ourselves to behave consistently with it to maintain a stable self-image. It worked!

The third photo was given to me by a previous girlfriend. We worked together in a supermarket, and both loved Bon Jovi. We played the first two albums daily. I held on to the photo for a long time. John Bongiovi (Jon Bon Jovi) is to the right, and Steven is the young fellow playing bass to the left. 

I still have all my records. Albums/records have always been  my favorite format for listening to music. Every other weekend, I would spend my little savings purchasing a new album at a record store. It was an experience that is hard to explain to my son or the younger generation. I wouldn’t just listen to music; I would absorb every intricate detail of the album cover, the lyrics, and the liner notes. I wanted to know everything I could about the album, like who wrote the songs, who produced the album, where the album was recorded, and who managed the band. I imagine this information was trivial to most people, but it seemed important to me.