Jam! Amp Your Team, Rock Your Business

What do the world's best bands and businesses have in common?

More than you'd think. In fact, the winning teams that built Microsoft, Disney, and Starbucks have much in common with the Rolling Stones and U2.

Like a business, a successful rock band is made up of both visionaries and devoted followers, leaders and team players. But the band only achieves success when the entire group is pulling in the same direction. When all members understand the parts they must play within the group—contributing creatively and playing to their strengths—that's when the hits start coming.

In JAM! Jeff Carlisi, former lead guitarist and songwriter of 38 Special, tells his own unique story of rising to the top of the charts and the business world, offering one of the most fun, original approaches to team-building and acquired business savvy. Filled with stories of the rock n' roll life, like that of the architect who became a guitar superstar and the multimillion-selling track that almost never was, this is an insider's view to making it big and the pitfalls to avoid along the way. Each chapter examines a key moment in the development of a band—formation, early success, internal crises, falling out of the spotlight—and demonstrates how executives can use those lessons to crank their own businesses to eleven.

JAM! also includes insights from seasoned musicians who have played in some of the world's best-known bands, including the Rolling Stones, the Eagles, the Allman Brothers, Night Ranger, and the bands of Eric Clapton, Billy Joel, Rod Stewart, Joan Jett, and Sheryl Crow.

Introduction 1

Chapter 1 Born to Run 5

Chapter 2 Dream On 19

Chapter 3 Band on the Run 35

Chapter 4 Good Vibrations 55

Chapter 5 No Direction Home 71

Chapter 6 Satisfaction 85

Chapter 7 Welcome to the Jungle 99

Chapter 8 Just What I Needed 111

Chapter 9 A Change is Gonna Come 129

Chapter 10 So You Wanna Be a Rock ‘n’ Roll Star 145

Chapter 11 New Kid in Town 157

Chapter 12 It’s the End of the World as We Know It 173

Chapter 13 Should I Stay or Should I Go? 183

Chapter 14 No Particular Place to Go 195

Chapter 15 Second Chance 205

Encore A Camp Jam Crash Course 221

The Authors 235

Index 237

Jeff Carlisi was one of the founding members of 38 Special and wrote or cowrote many of its biggest hits, including "Second Chance," "Caught Up In You," and "Hold On Loosely." The band sold over 14 million records and enjoyed worldwide popular and critical acclaim. Jeff left the band in 1997 and is now one of the cofounders of Camp Jam Inc., where he trains young musicians and conducts team-building workshops for corporations. He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's house band.

Dan Lipson is president and cofounder of Camp Jam Inc., which includes rock and roll camps for adults and children, as well as corporate team-building exercises, and Jamling.com, a virtual band community site. Previously, he was president of Leading Edge Promotions, CEO of Causelink.com, CEO of ExL Corp, and general manager of Home Entertainment at ESPN.

Jay Busbee has published more than a thousand articles in national magazines, websites, and newspapers, including Yahoo!, USA Today, and the Washington Post.

What do the world's best bands and businesses have in common?

More than you'd think. In fact, the winning teams that built Microsoft, Disney, and Starbucks have much in common with the Rolling Stones and U2.

Like a business, a successful rock band is made up of both visionaries and devoted followers, leaders and team players. But the band only achieves success when the entire group is pulling in the same direction. When all members understand the parts they must play within the group—contributing creatively and playing to their strengths—that's when the hits start coming.

In JAM! Jeff Carlisi, former lead guitarist and songwriter of 38 Special, tells his own unique story of rising to the top of the charts and the business world, offering one of the most fun, original approaches to team-building and acquired business savvy. Filled with stories of the rock n' roll life, like that of the architect who became a guitar superstar and the multimillion-selling track that almost never was, this is an insider's view to making it big and the pitfalls to avoid along the way. Each chapter examines a key moment in the development of a band—formation, early success, internal crises, falling out of the spotlight—and demonstrates how executives can use those lessons to crank their own businesses to eleven.

JAM! also includes insights from seasoned musicians who have played in some of the world's best-known bands, including the Rolling Stones, the Eagles, the Allman Brothers, Night Ranger, and the bands of Eric Clapton, Billy Joel, Rod Stewart, Joan Jett, and Sheryl Crow.