Noodling for Professionals: Lessons from 'Kind of Blue'

The iconic jazz album, 'Kind of Blue,' was a product of four days of intense recording in the studio. But, it was the months of exploration, practice, and risk-taking that truly shaped the album's brilliance.

Miles Davis and his sextet spent months noodling in clubs and live venues, honing their skills and improvising freely.

The studio, while crucial, was a place to capture the essence of what they'd developed through their extensive noodling.

The Value of De-Risking Studio Time

'Kind of Blue' exemplifies the importance of de-risking studio time. It was the culmination of their exploration, not the start of their creative journey.

Studio time should be seen as a final step, not the initial brainstorming phase.

Invest time and energy into the preparatory work of noodling, allowing for experimentation and failure in a low-stakes environment.

Finding Your Noodling Space

Whether you're a musician, a marketer, or a professional in any field, it's essential to find a space where you can noodle.

A space where you can experiment with ideas, take risks, and fail without fear of significant repercussions.

This space could be a practice room, a brainstorming session, or a dedicated time for personal exploration.

Noodling in Music and Beyond

Miles Davis's approach to 'Kind of Blue' is a metaphor for professional success in various fields.

In music, noodling is essential for developing improvisational skills and exploring new sounds.

In marketing, noodling can involve testing different marketing strategies, experimenting with new content formats, and trying out different approaches to reach your target audience.

Even for professionals in other industries, finding time to noodle, to explore new ideas and approaches, can lead to significant breakthroughs.

Seth Godin's Insights on Noodling and Risk-Taking

Seth Godin, a renowned marketing guru, echoes the importance of noodling and risk-taking.

He emphasizes that creating something remarkable often involves taking risks and being comfortable with the possibility of failure.

Godin encourages professionals to embrace the noodling process as a crucial step toward innovative results.

Studio Time as a Culmination

Just as Miles Davis and his band used the studio to capture the essence of their months of noodling, professionals in any field should approach their "studio time" (be it a presentation, a deadline, or a launch) as a culmination.

The work that goes into noodling, exploring, and experimenting sets the stage for a successful outcome.