When I think back on my career, I never really considered how music and numbers can work together. Data Insights, Pricing, Finance, Operations, and Sales are all on my resume, as are numerous years in the liquor industry. Math is math, and numbers don't lie, so it sounds pretty simple. It's linear. However, if you were to look inside my brain, you would see that math and music serve as sources of inspiration for my work. After working in the liquor industry for a number of years, I quickly learned that leadership is all about music, whereas Excel provides the math. My coworkers would attest to my eclectic musical tastes, which have always inspired me. I enjoy playing it as well as listening to it! I was able to consider how the piano and guitar intertwine because of my passion for playing them. (Music) Rhythm I've learned over the years that leading a team is similar to leading an orchestra. With their unique set of tools and abilities, each person contributes to the song in their own unique way. For instance, when we implemented a brand-new pricing platform, it marked a significant transition for each department. In addition to the technical aspects of the rollout, it was my responsibility to maintain the office's "beat" even when everyone was stressed out. You need to know when to move quickly to meet a deadline and when to slow down to avoid taking shortcuts and causing major problems during and after installation. That's the musical aspect of leading and conducting—time management and ensuring that the department or company maintains its "harmony" and adheres to its budget. Tuning my Gibson guitar (Math) Pricing and revenue management in the wine and spirits industry is always a complicated game of chess because there are FOBs, DAs, taxes, tariffs, shelf prices, price mix, state mix, and three to four tiers of margins to estimate and manage. Pricing, finance, and revenue management to me are like tuning my Gibson guitar (Slash Anaconda Model—I love it) rather than a collection of Excel cells. I'm always looking for that sweet price point when you analyze multiple markets, brands, and skus, price increases or decreases, or changes driven by Brand Strategy or consumption. The rhythm of sales in the markets fails if the price is too high, and profitability suffers if the price is too low. Additionally, maintaining alignment across all departments is challenging. It is possible for finance, sales, and marketing to have distinct goals: do you want me to sell more cases, or do you want more revenue from price increases (sometimes both)? Don't believe me, but I recently read that even A. Einstein played the violin. (Believe me, I'm not Einstein). He was well-known for declaring that "he often "thought in music" and saw his life in terms of musical rhythms." Playing the violin was a quick way to unwind and assist in addressing and resolving complex issues. I do the same thing when I get home because it helps me focus and relax. (Okay, occasionally a glass of wine can also work) Conclusion

 In the end, I'm more than just a "numbers guy." I use Finance, Pricing Insights, and music to help guide the team and the company as a whole toward its goals. Finding a rhythm has taken many years, and that, in all honesty, is what makes the job enjoyable. It really comes down to ensuring that the "band = team" is playing the same song to the same beat and that we all sound amazing. As8 game