The Song Team - Team Building Blog

Just Another Day in the Park – Setting a Team Intention for 2025

January 21, 2025 by Jeff Leave a Comment

TY Park that is. A gem in Hollywood, Florida with an amazing lake, paths and so many stunning, beautiful, huge, old Southern Live Oak trees. You can’t even attribute a value to the shade they provide here in South Florida, where during our 8-9 months a year of summer like weather, the shadows they cast are so very, very welcome.

In an effort to change the dynamic at my “day gig” we’ve released ourselves from the bondage of a weekly staff meeting, and replaced with a brief, weekly summary to the staff on Mondays, real-time, brief department meetings, AND a quarterly/seasonal ½ day staff retreat in a place of nature, beauty, awe or wonder.

We bring some tasty nibbles and usually good coffee. We start with an ice breaker for about the first hour. This most recent gathering each staffer was asked to express 3 moments of success from their past. Personal or professional, “big”, or “small” didn’t matter. Significance, impact…were key. This gave everyone a chance to reflect upon what those moments were, why they mattered, why they were successful etc. And, to allow everyone at the picnic table to see how the humanity in each of their peers, and the uniqueness of each individual. And how unexpected some of these moments to memories were. When you talk about team-building, there are a million different things that can mean. Here at THE Song Team, music, and songwriting are typically the means to an end. But there are a ton of cool things you can do. Axe throwing and a pitcher of beer? Great. Building bikes for under-served youth? Amazing. The list goes on and on. But one thing that all team-building has in common is that we are supposed to come out the other side of whatever program…with at least a small “pool of light” shining on better understanding of one another, improved communication chops..with BIG emphasis on true or active listening. This year, I am promising myself that I want to be the last in the room to speak as much as possible. Maybe that will help me learn more, and be a better leader.

Back at TY Park, I asked the team to look ahead 3 months to programs, events, initiatives, goals and ask questions, or express concerns wherever there is uncertainty about how certain things are set to unfold.

What are the logistical hurdles
Where do we stand with marketing
Who plays what role
Which opportunities for success on which to focus
When/Timelines
What is our vision looking ahead

We work intimately with one another, typically within the same four walls…and that atmosphere can get stale emotionally, mentally, physically…which can create a dynamic of inertia and acceptance. Even cynicism sometimes. Therefore, it’s incredibly important to me that we get OUT of that space together once in awhile…

One thing I’ve learned since this time last year, is that certain team members really and truly value their personal time away from work, and therefore any “team-building” programs need to be during regular business hours. So, I shut the office down for duration, or perhaps bring in a volunteer to answer phones. But I get it. While I’d love an occasional happy hour with the team after hours….that just doesn’t work for some of them. And for me, it’s got to be all or nothing. The entire team, or none of them.

I wish you a productive, happy, healthy, focused and grateful 2025.

Blessings, Jeff

Having a “Wicked” Good Time Together

December 4, 2024 by Jeff Leave a Comment

So, I’m thinking of taking my team to see the long-awaited movie release of “WICKED” as a musical team-bonding experience. While this may be a bit counterintuitive on the surface since we can’t talk during the movie, I’m hoping that the combination of strong narratives of good vs evil, marginalization of certain populations, and how people can work through their differences together, might give us conversational jumping-off points.

The major plot emphasis of how someone who is deemed “wicked” may have really began their personal journey trying to make change happen for the good, in a workplace or in their community is poignant, and very relatable for many.

Additionally, we’re talking about the first movie perhaps ever?….where management at the large theater chains have issued “warnings” that group sing-alongs during the musical portions of the story are not permitted. What is THAT about? I’ll tell you what. At THE Song Team, we’ve known for a long time (as do many of you) that music is a sublimely effective and powerful vehicle to communicate across barriers, build bridges, and learn how to find ones voice…tell a story. It unifies, inspires and reaches deep down into the soul where real and lasting change can occur. It’s why musical team building is our thing. Can you fathom why the theater chains would want to quell that type of sing along spirit? I mean, some of us used to interact with the screen at the “Rocky Horror Picture Show” screenings.. I’ve even read countless reviews of people leaving this movie having shed more than a few tears. It is a powerful, transformative experience for many. I can’t wait to see it.

To that end, I’ve added “Defying Gravity” to my list of to-be-learned songs for my positivity sets, and musical group therapy sessions.. and I don’t think it was mean to be a folk-rock type of tune! But it’s message, and it’s melody are a powerful combination. Putting songwriting and teambuilding together always seemed like a natural thing to do seeing as the process offers unlimited opportunities for introspection, sharing, collaboration. Stephen Schartz composed both the lyrics and the music to “Wicked” among his many creations. Those lyrics and notes combine to make an unparalleled impact on the listener. It’s pure genius really.

Remember, as in the fables of Oz, don’t be afraid to look behind the curtain and ask some questions. Seek, and be open to allies “for the good” showing up in unusual places or coming to you from unexpected directions. If Glenda and Elphaba can become best friends, than even in these crazy…scary times maybe eventually we can all learn how to communicate with one another once again, and we can struggle to find some common truths in this “post-truth” age. Music is the magic and the medicine. Abracadabra…and bottom’s up.

VOYAGE Miami (Formerly Canvas Rebel) Does a Follow Up Interview with Song Team Founder, Jeff Jacob

June 19, 2024 by Jeff Leave a Comment

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Jeff Jacob.

Hi Jeff, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Wow, that’s a BIG ask. I guess there are two questions here. One, how did I get started as a creative? And two, how did I get started as a non-profit activist-leader? As to the first question, my love of music certainly started with listening to Dad and Mom’s vast record collection, coupled with listening to Dad sing and play piano in the living room as a kid.

He’d do old standards, show tunes, Everly Brothers, Sinatra, Belafonte. The Beatles. Started piano lessons early and participated in school musicals by 3rd grade. Wrote my first song in 10th grade, recorded a horrible demo for my first recording freshman year in college, and then just kept going. I wound up in Nashville many years later and stayed nearly 2 decades trying to “lose the day job, ” and be a full-time songwriter.

Released 6 albums and countless singles and began producing a bit for others. (I even wrote a few magazine pieces!) During my last few years in Nashville, I also volunteered a bit in Animal rescue and faith-based initiatives. I also started my team-building company THE Song Team, as referenced in that earlier interview we did together. This takes us to question #2. I moved to South Florida a decade ago to combine my passions of volunteering/service and team-building.

My first role in non-profit leadership (or tilting at windmills ) was as Director at Big Dog Ranch Rescue. The largest, private, no-kill dog rescue is east of the Mississippi. That was an amazing and humbling experience. Since then, I’ve launched my own non-profit, done a TEDx talk, and taken on Executive Director roles for organizations doing good community work in the fields of Faith-based, Animal Welfare, and Mental Health/Substance Use Disorder.

I still write and record fairly often, and music is every bit as essential to me these days, as when I was living in Nashville surrounded by it every moment. Perhaps more so, as it now takes more effort and focus to balance out a life that carves enough space and energy for writing, performing, recording etc.

Music is right there with air and water for me on the needs chart.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Nope, is it ever? I think everyone goes through life trying to avoid the biggest pot-holes, but you can’t steer around all of them. Bumps, twists, and turns… we all face. Some more than others, of course. I had a good, solid upbringing compared to many, many people, so that was a huge blessing. But I’ve had so many false starts and made too many poor choices to count. Then at some point, you just realize you are where you are really supposed to be.

I’ve battled mental health issues and even checked myself in for treatment at one point to stabilize my foundational self… the inner… emotional/mental core. It really helped, as did finding a good therapist and making sure to always focus on that which maximizes joy, calm, and contentedness. I’ve had plenty of disappointments in my career and in life. However, many more blessings have been brought to light as a result. The windows are always there to look through, sometimes we need to manually pull the blinds up though.

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As an Artist/Creative as you call it, I consider myself first and foremost a songwriter/activist these days I suppose. What I mean by that is unlike my days in Nashville, when my primary goal as a songwriter/musician was to write and record songs that might someday make me wealthy and known/successful… currently these days, the vast majority of the songs that I bring to fruition start to finish, writing, arranging, recording, producing, shooting video, promoting… well, these songs are typically purpose driven songs or messaging songs.

They are geared towards getting a message across, elevating a non-profit’s cause in the public eye, unifying a group of people… Maybe upon moving to Florida from Nashville, the crossroads I found myself at dictated that I shift focus on my “content creation,” meaning the actual circumstances and situations I arrived in down here drove the shift… but there was certainly a moment when the thought crystallized in my brain that this is now how I exert most of my desire and talent for writing and recording.

For a higher power… a higher purpose. The desire to put more into that end of my creative pool probably began when I was still in Nashville, where over a period of years, I was blessed to utilize my songwriting and facilitating skills to work on both a “Songwriters for Soldiers” project, which was tremendously rewarding… transformational actually. Also, during that time, I was a “Staff Songwriter” for The Songs of Love Foundation for 3 years. Both of these experiences did MORE than a little shape the direction of where my songwriting was headed.

These days, when I’m not wearing my hat as a Non-Profit Executive Director (I love my day job at Temple Beth El of Hollywood), I’m writing or recording, gigging sometimes solo, and sometimes with our Temple Worship band, JewGrass Revival. Or, I’m on the road with my little side hustle, THE Song Team, these programs where my hit songwriter buddies use our songwriting and facilitation chops to create meaningful experiences in Corporate meetings and conferences.

These experiences entail working through collaborative songwriting on teamwork, organizational storytelling, creative problem-solving, innovation… and, frankly, leadership. What am I most proud of… that’s a tough one, but I’d say the songs I wrote with and for Soldiers battling PTSD, or the songs I created for children battling terminal illnesses and their families…. the feedback I sometimes got communicating back to me what a difference those experiences made to these folks… I guess I’m pretty proud of that impact.

Aside from leading Temple Beth El of Hollywood with the help of an amazing team that I absolutely love, I get up to Nashville frequently for teambuilding and other musical gigs, work still with Face the Music Foundation as a Musical Group Facilitator at the local Boys & Girls Clubs, sit on the board of The South Florida Folk & Acoustic Music Festival… you know, stay engaged. (not busy… engaged in life, right!).

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check?
I use a mindfulness app called Insight Timer most days which I find really helpful during those times when I seem to have forgotten how to just breathe and walk in gratitude. Recently, I’ve read a few books by Rabbi Moshe Gersht, which have been nothing short of mind-shifting.

One is called “It’s All the Same to Me,” and the one I’m reading still is called “The 3 Intentions.” I can’t refer back to them enough. Also, I recently re-read “Desiderata” by Max Ehrmann… so beautiful, and I just received a gift of the book, “The Greatest Salesman in the World,” by Og Mandino, which I can’t wait to dig into.

Pricing:

South Florida Customized interactive/Musical keynotes $2500
South Florida House Concerts Solo – $500
National Customized Musical Team-building programs – pricing upon discussion

Please find the original article/citing here.

The Dr. Davis Show with Guest Jeff Jacob

October 18, 2023 by Jeff Leave a Comment

Songwriting and Team Building at Home 615 Recording Studios in Nashville

May 5, 2023 by Jeff Leave a Comment

Here is a testimonial from our most recent client. We had a successful teambuilding program held in Nashville, Tennessee.

Team Building

November 26, 2022 by Jeff Leave a Comment

When I first settled in South Florida after a long stint in Nashville, I struggled to find my creative tribe. I had left the songwriting capital of the world, a musical ecosystem built around daily collaboration, to run a large, non-profit dog rescue in Wellington. The opportunity to build a new team, create a revitalized culture and save the lives of man’s best friend was too tempting for me not to give it a whirl. I realized quickly that my experience as the Founder and Lead Facilitator of THE Song Team would not only still be relevant in this new venture, but rather would remain front and center in every professional setting I encountered moving forward.

Corporate team building in Florida, whether at the music-themed hotels Margaritaville, or The Hard Rock Guitar Hotel is more important than ever. Leaders who don’t have blinders on, recognize the value and set aside a budget to intentionally create programs and space for free-form collaborations. It’s the same stuff that created Apple or Google, that created hit songs of a lifetime such as any Lennon & McCartney tune, or the latest #1 hit for today’s country stars.

While I am always happy to get back to Nashville for our self-titled “Nashville style team-building, what I have found is that Musical Team Building in Florida can be every bit as relevant as it was in Music City USA. When we go through the process of ideating a song-concept that molds to the current narrative of an organization or company going through the continual process of evolving in this “Post-Covid” landscape, the excitement and revelatory expressions we see in participants faces for our songwriting/team building programs in Miami, Fort Lauderdale or Orlando are every bit as poignant as they are when we do these programs in Nashville.

Corporate team building workshops or our larger, experiential keynotes where we put notes to the page to form chords, and then combine those chords into an instantly hummable melody for the client are so effective in communicating new initiatives and products, combining corporate cultures after a merger, or launching a new service. Remember, we’re also organically teaching organizational story-telling. It’s this storytelling that connects with all of us out there searching for connection to the products and services we most frequently think we want or need.

So clear a wall in the common space of your workplace, paint it in chalkboard paint to create a collaboration wall, OR keep large, blank POST-IT pads in supply on that wall, or a large, dry erase board. Either way, encourage those ideas, and those re-vamped ideas, and those revisions of the revamped ideas… to keep coming. Encourage and reward the idea process. It’s what’s going to engage your employees and it’s what’s likely to give birth to the most unique new products and services that differentiate your organization from that of your competitors. Now and always. And remember, this is a fluid and ongoing process. Whether it’s Florida Team-building, Nashville team-building, or Denver team-building…it’s all the same. Notes in a chord, and chords and lyrics together…make up the song. Your song. Your Sound. Your story.