By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept

Your #1 guide to start a business and grow it the right way…

BuckheadFunds

  • Home
  • Startups
  • Start A Business
    • Business Plans
    • Branding
    • Business Ideas
    • Business Models
    • Fundraising
  • Growing a Business
  • Funding
  • More
    • Tax Preparation
    • Leadership
    • Marketing
Subscribe
Aa
BuckheadFundsBuckheadFunds
  • Startups
  • Start A Business
  • Growing a Business
  • Funding
  • Leadership
  • Marketing
  • Tax Preparation
Search
  • Home
  • Startups
  • Start A Business
    • Business Plans
    • Branding
    • Business Ideas
    • Business Models
    • Fundraising
  • Growing a Business
  • Funding
  • More
    • Tax Preparation
    • Leadership
    • Marketing
Made by ThemeRuby using the Foxiz theme Powered by WordPress
BuckheadFunds > Leadership > Jimmy Buffett: Innovator Of Happiness

Jimmy Buffett: Innovator Of Happiness

News Room By News Room September 2, 2023 4 Min Read
Share

Was there ever a happier innovator than Jimmy Buffett?

Certainly not Henry Ford, nor Thomas Edison, nor even Elon Musk. Innovation was never as much fun as when Jimmy Buffett was involved. Parrot Heads, as Buffett’s followers are affectionately known, were not born, they were turned-on by Buffett’s infectious love of life.

“Happiness,” you might say, “has nothing to do with innovation.” But, in the family of Margaritaville ventures, it is always about fun, whether it is the music, or the concert, or the books, or the Broadway show, burger bars, the cruises, casinos or even the Margaritaville resorts. Despite all the fun, or maybe because of it, the results, in measurable financial outcomes, have been appreciable; lifting Jimmy Buffett’s net worth to over a billion dollars. Happiness sells!

What made Buffett’s happiness so interesting, from an innovation leadership perspective, is the way it came about and the way it grew. Buffett admitted that he was inspired by Mitch Miller, the mid-twentieth-century troubadour who spanned the entertainment industry’s transition from live shows to television, including subtitled-words, which were being sung live by the show’s cast, so that viewers at home could sing along as well. As hokey as it might seem today, we all sang along with Mitch, and it was that shared personal engagement that Buffett recognized as being so compelling. He then grew shared personal engagement in happiness into many different successful businesses. Walt Disney, did the same, after his trip to Copenhagen’s Tivoli Park opened-up his eyes to the magic of shared family entertainment engagement, and he left-behind his pursuit of the much simpler individual enjoyment of two-dimensional comic strips. Ultimately, this led to Disneyland, the Disneyworlds, and Disney cruises of today. Buffett’s motivation was similar, and he admitted to Bob Edwards, of National Public Radio, that he would watch the crowd whenever he played Margaritaville, so many thousands of times, and always saw that “it’s their song, not mine, I’m just singing [the] background music to their lives.” This is also very much in line with Pharell Williams’ observation that his hit song Happy never really took off until the audience made it their own; the power of engagement!

Buffett’s business models were also a wonder to behold. At first, they were simple and straightforward: shows and CDs; but they quickly spun off to offer value-propositions for whatever sliver of the Parrot Head community lusted after another ounce of Buffett’s carefree lifestyle. No doubt there was significant overlap of the audiences involved, but Buffett did a pretty good job of understanding the “customer-journey” of his followers, whether they were cruise-lovers, Broadway fans, or both, and then he stepped-into that space with a faithful rendition of the Margaritaville message that invited more than a modicum of shared engagement.

Buffett’s music was undeniably happy, but so was everything else he touched. He structured each offering so that the audience was more than entertained; they were a part of it; it was their’s. This is innovation at its happiest for both customer and producer, which is a winning combination. If there is a Mount Olympus of innovation heroes in the great beyond, it is, no doubt, a happier place for Buffett’s now being a part of it.

Read the full article here

News Room September 2, 2023 September 2, 2023
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Copy Link Print
Previous Article This Under 30 Lister Turned A Pile Of Vintage Coats Into Showings At New York Fashion Week And The Met
Next Article Changes In The College Admissions Landscape- Where Does It Go From Here
Leave a comment Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Wake up with our popular morning roundup of the day's top startup and business stories

Stay Updated

Get the latest headlines, discounts for the military community, and guides to maximizing your benefits
Subscribe

Top Picks

The PR Playbook Every Startup Needs — But No One Talks About
July 15, 2025
6 Ways to Start a Corporate Social Responsibility Program With Real Impact
July 15, 2025
‘People Are Going to Die’: A Malnutrition Crisis Looms in the Wake of USAID Cuts
July 15, 2025
How Young People Earn 5 Figures Without a 9-5 Job: Report
July 15, 2025
Coworking with Scott Morris
July 15, 2025

You Might Also Like

6 Ways to Start a Corporate Social Responsibility Program With Real Impact

Leadership

Why Waiting for Monthly Financial Reports Is Creating Blind Spots and Slowing Your Growth

Leadership

Only 20% of People Trust Leadership But There’s a Way to Fix That, According to Gallup’s Chief Scientist

Leadership

Comedian Mary Lynn Rajskub on Risk-Taking

Leadership

© 2024 BuckheadFunds. All Rights Reserved.

Helpful Links

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Press Release
  • Advertise
  • Contact

Resources

  • Start A Business
  • Funding
  • Growing a Business
  • Leadership
  • Marketing

Popuplar

Franchise Success Starts at The Local Level — Here’s Why
Why Waiting for Monthly Financial Reports Is Creating Blind Spots and Slowing Your Growth
Tornado Cash Made Crypto Anonymous. Now One of Its Creators Faces Trial

We provide daily business and startup news, benefits information, and how to grow your small business, follow us now to get the news that matters to you.

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?