Feedback: The Soundtrack of Success

Diana Krall, "Pick Yourself Up"

"Anyone fast is likely to fail once or twice. We all have those moments -- when a project we've been working on for months or years is suddenly cancelled, when a presentation doesn't go anywhere near as well as we planned, when we were getting our first chance to meet directly with the CEO and then he cancelled? all the times when you think you could just cry. This song is so straightforward. You just have to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again." -- Katherine Stone, Engage Inc., Atlanta

Peter Gabriel, "Big Time"

"I listen to 'Big Time' before I leave the house in the morning. It makes me feel fearless and proud that I'm out in the world pursuing my heart's desire, daring to dream big. Entrepreneurship is a challenging path to embark on, and it's critical to stay connected to the vision -- that what I'm creating is so much bigger than me. The song fuels me, drowns out the voices of small-minded naysayers and puts me in touch with my 'inner underdog!'" -- Sandy Struss, Vancouver, BC

Nikki Cleary, "Walking On Sunshine"

"'Walking on Sunshine' is a high energy, feel-good song that always puts a goofy grin on my face. I can't sing it without doing a little chair boogie or taking a spin around the floor. I use it to get my energy up and to stay positive when setbacks occur, or when I simply need a little boost in my working day. My favorite part is warbling the whoa-oh's and shouting the 'Hey!' in the chorus. The more feeling you put into it, the happier you get." -- Jennifer Tribe, Juiced Consulting, Toronto

Aretha Franklin, "Respect"

Kelly Nolan

Fountains of Wayne, "Bright Future in Sales"

"Perhaps I'm being tongue in cheek -- the chorus isn't exactly work friendly -- but it captures that time when you're fresh to an industry so well. Who amongst us has not gone through what the song's protagonist is describing in one form or another? Aside from the slick guitar riffs, which are great to work by, the lyrics remind me of where I've been, where I'm going, and what I've done to get there. Even though I'm not a sales guy, dues paying is a career universal. This is a good 'claw your way to the top' song." -- Rob Zazueta, Robert Anthony Strategic Design and Marketing, Walnut Creek, California

Pet Shop Boys, "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)"

"'Let's make lots of money,' is a chorus as '80s as thin black ties and the Dukes of Hazzard, but surely it's time for a revival. Even if it was originally intended as a satire on the excess of the decade (as the Pet Shop Boys now claim), it surely does no harm to be reminded, 'There's a lot of opportunities. If there aren't, you can make them, you know.' If you disregard the invitation to commit criminal acts in the second verse, 'Opportunities' is a hymn to entrepreneurship. It's all about finding the right partners, taking chances, putting your skills to work, and making the most of synergies." -- Simon Helm, HelmLegal, London

Neil Young, "Field Of Opportunity"

"This song is often overlooked, even by diehard Neil Young fans. I find the song not only inspirational, but also a fairly astute observation about human nature. Disappointment and setbacks often motivate us to seek new opportunities. New opportunities don't always take root immediately. Regardless, like the protagonist in the song, we stay encouraged to continue 'plowing' the field of opportunity. You can't help but me motivated after hearing the song. When it is crunch time on a big project, and you are still at the office working at 10 p.m., nothing works as a better tonic than to have good music playing." -- Mark Johnson, Spectrum Group International, Springfield, Virginia

Vangelis, "Chariots Of Fire"

"I like many instrumental songs and often play them softly in our office as an inspirational backdrop for my team. The theme from the movie 'Chariots of Fire' is inspirational without becoming a distraction -- a business-friendly tune. The theme is instrumental and can be quite dramatic, setting our office's soundtrack for productivity." -- George Tinker, Colorado Department of Transportation, Denver

Praetorius, "Dances from Terpsichore: I. Ballet des coqs"

"When working, I tend to go through Praetorius' dances. They are wonderful Renaissance dance music. It helps me collect my thoughts." -- Paul Ott

Johann Sebastian Bach, "Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major, BWV 1048, I. Allegro"