Tuning In These entrepreneurs do business to the beat of a different drum.
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Music is the universal language-and for many entrepreneurs,it's also integral to the success of their companies. Here arethree businesses that are hitting all the right notes.
Entrepreneurs:Ned Bennett and David Kalt
Company:OptionsXpress, an online brokerage firm inChicago
Music of choice:Jazz
How music influences thecompany: The computer servers are named after jazz greats,and large prints of musicians decorate the trading floor. Thecompany also prides itself on its innnovative management style,which reflects the way jazz musicians riff off each other.
Bennett's music philosophy: "Most brokerage customer sitesare extremely rigid, and the frustrated employee is required toplay the song exactly as it's supposed to be played. Ourculture is based on improvisation."
Entrepreneurs:Mariela Rovito and Ali Mejia
Company:EberjeyIntimates, a sleepwear and swimwear company in Miami
Music of choice:'80s pop
How music influences thecompany: Rovito and Mejia target female Gen Xers, and manycollections are inspired by music customers grew up with-such astheir lingerie line named after songs from Prince's Purple Rain album and their Billie Jeanline of denim wear.
Mejia's musicphilosophy: "If [a line] has a catchy name that peoplecan relate to, like a song, they remember it. It's an importantmarketing tool."
Entrepreneur:Michael Becce
Company:MRB PublicRelations in Red Bank, New Jersey
Music ofchoice:
A bit of everything How music influences the company: Becce has thewalls of his office decorated with 100 gold and platinum albums(never mind that his firm specializes in technology). Employees usemusic to spark brainstorming sessions; every Friday, they rotateoffice DJs so everybody has a say in what kind of music to listento.
Becce's musicphilosophy: "When you sit in silence, that prompts youto hide out in your office. Music stirs the juices, gets you movingand helps your thought process."
