Music can change your spirit. If you’re having a bad day and listen to your favorite song, it can change your entire mood. Music can also help you to get through difficult moments in life. One of the hardest things anyone can ever do is start and run a business. We knew that entrepreneurs have the best playlists and we decided to ask them their favourite tracks.
#1- Can't Nobody Hold Me Down by Puff Daddy
It was released in 1997 and I've been listening to it ever since. This song makes me feel like I can take over the world. Knowing that the artist behind it, Puff Daddy, is worth several hundred million dollars also makes me feel like if he can do it, I can do it too.
Thanks to James Pollard, TheAdvisorCoach.com!
#2- Can't Stop the Feeling
We love Justin Timberlake's Can't Stop the Feeling from Trolls around here. We have used it since it first became popular and continue to use it all the time. We play it as the intro and exit music for all of our company-wide meetings, events (like potlucks and birthday celebrations) and just as a pick-me-up when needed. Our team members sing along and dance with it. And they've come to call it my song, as in Ryan, your song was just on the radio I love it!
Thanks to Ryan Wright, DoHardMoney!
#3- Mama Said Knock You Out
I definitely have a motivational playlist setup! There’s one that I listen to when on my way to a pitch. It’s so important to get into the right mindset and feel confident even before you walk into the room. I’m going to go “old skool” and say my favorite song before a pitch is “Mama Said Knock You Out” by LL Cool J. Titanium by Sia and David Guetta comes a close 2nd! And it’s also important to have a “celebration” play list after you slay a pitch or land a client. In that playlist my favorite hands down is Girls (Who Run The World) by Beyonce. Our team has regular dance parties in the office, it’s important to celebrate all wins, whether big or small.
Thanks to Grace Lanuza, Grace Lanuza Brand Strategy + Consulting Group!
#4- Two songs
The Eye of the Tiger and Ain’t No Mountain High Enough! And yes, those songs get me all pumped up on the way to a speaking engagement. But those are the moments where I am often already in a somewhat motivated moment in life. Sometimes, as a business owner, I need motivation when I have lost it. Sometimes I need to keep pushing when the mountain seems bigger than I thought it was, I have lost patience, and when the voice in my head says “are you sure you can actually pull this off, Jaime?” And yes, that is when this woman blasts Miley Cyrus’s, The Climb, throwing it back to Miley’s Disney Days. Headphones on and singing like I created that song myself inspires me to keep pushing back up this entrepreneurial roller-coaster. And when that song ends, I am cleared for The Eye of The Tiger, Katy Perry’s version.
Thanks to Dr. Jaime Kulaga, Dr. Jaime, Inc.!
#5- Black Sheep by Metric
Now, it's not a traditional motivational song like Eye of the Tiger, but it does the job for me. When walking into a meeting or before sending a risky email, I'll have Black Sheep playing in the background, giving me the adrenaline I need to get the job done. The first third of the song is full of tension and when it's released, Emily's hypnotic voice rises above the heavy drums and bass. I find that this song empowers me to make more confident decisions and I'd recommend it to anyone that needs a boost to make a risky (but worthwhile) business decision.
Thanks to Ashley Rose Marino, Ashley Marino Designs LLC!
#6- Win by Brian McKnight
My favorite motivational song is Win by Brian McKnight which was featured in the movie “Men of Honor”. I am particularly attracted to the refrain: I'll never give up Never give in, Never let a ray of doubt slip in and if I fall, I'll never fail. I'll just get up and try again. When times are volatile I simply put on the song, alter my mood because God will not allow me to fail. I just need to be reminded of it.
Thanks to Drew Stevens
#7- Miley Cyrus' “The Climb”
As President and Founder of La Dorita Cooks, I turn to Miley Cyrus' The Climb when I need a pick me up. I recently found the courage to leave my fifteen-year, C-level career in healthcare in order to fully dedicate myself to my dream of making dulce de leche, something that, as the mom of five young children ages 6-14 I never felt deserving of (not to mention the absolute fear of leaving a lucrative 6-figure salary that my family depended on.). After struggling with this these thoughts for two or three years, I came to realize that the incessant, nagging thought of never trying to follow my dreams brought me more despair than the thought of failing itself.Ain't about how fast I get there. Ain't about what's waiting on the other side… It's the climb.
Thanks to Josephine Caminos Oria, La Dorita Cooks!
#8- This is Me from the movie ‘The Greatest Showman'
I first fell in love with the song from watching the powerful rehearsal video. In the video the singer, Kaela did not want to leave from where she was stating and go to the middle as she felt intimidated. As the song progress, you see her turn her self-doubt into empowerment, she starts dancing and believing in herself the fear rushes back in. It is as if I could see my whole entrepreneurial journey flash before my eyes. In one song. This is also exactly what the song is about, not listening to the haters, pushing forward and being glorious. A very motivational song for someone who is in business. Being an entrepreneur involves so many highs, lows, fears and lots of self-doubts.
Thanks to Feuza Reis, Next Level SEM!
#9- Just Do You
Indie Arie is a Grammy award singer known for being positive and staying true to herself. My favorite motivational song comes from her. The title is “Just Do You”. Some of the lyrics read “I heard a voice that told me I’m essential. How all my fears are limiting my potential. Said it’s time to step into the light and use every bit of power I have inside.” It encourages listeners to be authentic. It also pushes them to follow their purpose for the sake of others. Powerful lyrics and messages such as these narrated over upbeat tunes definitely leads to an emotion of conquerableness. Just Do You!
Thanks to Phyllis G. Williams, Phyllis G. Williams, LLC!
#10- Shape of You by Ed Sheeran
Music has an incredible way of changing your emotional state and using it to enhance whatever you are already doing, to put yourself out of a place that you don’t want to be, particularly, to increase your level of happiness or to excite you before a big event. One song that is popular right now, Shape of You by Ed Sheeran, puts me in a great state of mind.
Thanks to Andy Petranek, The Whole Life Challenge!
#11- The Imperial March from Star Wars
The Imperial March from Star Wars. There's just something powerful about John Williams' signature sound. While leading like Darth Vader might not be the best idea, the music still makes you feel like you can do anything in the galaxy.
Thanks to Shawn Moore, Solodev!
#12- Life Is A Highway by Tom Cochrane
This was out WAY before Rascal Flats did their version. How does this song keep me motivated? It is the fusion of Tom Cochrane's voice that initially grasps my attention, with words that resonate with my work and the beats per minute that become my magic sauce to motivation. Life's like a road that you travel on … sometimes you bend sometimes you stand sometimes you turn your back to the wind. For me, being an entrepreneur is a road trip that I choose to drive on …. depending on the projects.. sometimes I ride that highway all night long. When stress attempts to slow me down, this song speaks to me during there ain't no load that I can't hold a road so rough this I know, I'll be there when the light comes in just tell 'em we're survivors … triggers my mindset to shift a gear and focus on accomplishing the goal. It delivers the ability to fuel my think tank when at times it feels like I'm running on empty. This song has emotional anchors of empowerment that directly influence my behavior for positive results. To me, that is how you measure the effectiveness of your favorite motivational song!
Thanks to Anastasia Turchetta
#13- I am Willing by Holly Near
I find music to be super motivating, and depending on what I’m working on I am drawn to different songs. One of my all-time favorites that brings me back to center is “I am Willing” by Holly Near. At first glance, it may be passed over as it is a mellower song, but the lyrics are super powerful. When I’m feeling the need, I turn up the volume, sing along and tap into the power that is within me and within the human collective. This is definitely a top choice for me!
Thanks to Rebecca Brown, Rebecca Brown Coaching!
#14- Eye of the Tiger
Yes, it’s total cheese but Eye of the Tiger gets me going every time! Sometimes a brutal email will come in and as I push my chair back to think about how I’m going to deal with this situation I throw on EOTT throw my fists up into the air in a champion pose and remember that I GOT THIS. It’s also my power track at the gym which helps me push through that last set.
Thanks to James Anderson, Forged Axe Throwing!
#15- Crawling the Walls by Dave Gross
Blending my love of jazz and blues with a dash of 40s swing tossed in, Crawling the Walls by Dave Gross keeps me going when I’m wearing down. Besides the soulful stream of brass and raspy blues, the words often reflect my mood. What entrepreneur can’t relate to “From the absence of sleep I try to lay down…”? While Crawling the Walls is a atypical motivational song, it’s a good one for late night work to a smooth beat. It’s right up there with Amy Whinehouse’s Round Midnight, which clearly presents a theme to my work-style – late night.
Thanks to Sarah j. Whittington, The Smoothe Store!
#16- Hit Me Back
On occasion, when things become stressful and I find myself deep in thought, my mind begins to desire music — A song to sooth my mind or calm my ora if you will. It’s at this time where I often turn to the unconventional. “Hit Me Back”, a song by rising pop legend Jacob Sartorius, has become that song, that vice that keeps me grounded in times of need. At it’s core, the song is entirely meaningless, but something about hearing a teen like Jacob, with so much confidence and passion, opens my eyes and brings me right back to where I am. Maybe it's the emotional pressure clearly audible in the underlying beat, maybe it’s the subtle lyrics that draw parallels to my past. Either way, that song is, as the kids would say, “Fire” and I’ll listen to for the rest of my life.
Thanks to Chris White, Shinesty!
#17- Start Me Up by Rolling Stones
It energizes me, I have seen them in concert and they always put on a great show. They are still going strong decades later. They are timeless, classic, inspiring, so talented, and always seem to be having fun together. It is a great reminder of what I aspire to do. I am a huge fan and find that song motivating. It gives me a shot of adrenaline every time!
Thanks to Paige Arnof-Fenn, Mavens & Moguls!
#18- Peace About It
As an entrepreneur, I have found that one of my favorite songs is by Claude Deuce. His song, Peace About It, reminds me that no matter what obstacles I face, God is with me and all will be well. In business and other areas of life, that song has been just what I needed to hear to remind me not to give up. I believe that every entrepreneur needs to have Peace About It on their playlist.
Thanks to Stacy Roberts, SMR Leadership Solutions, LLC!