Photo credits: Reuters

Today is the birthday of Jean-Luc Ponty, born this day in 1942. Google Jean-Luc Ponty and you will find photos of him with his violin. What can we learn from him about small business? Few people look at a violin and think differently. Some think only of Mozart. Fortunately, Jean-Luc looked at what he had in his hands, and thought differently. Jean-Luc is one of the premier Jazz violinists of our time.

 Jean-Luc Ponty, he  was born into a family of classical musicians. He excelled, and after graduating with the highest honors, he was immediately hired by a major symphony orchestra, the Concerts Lamoureux, at the age 18. But his heart was elsewhere. He had a growing interest in Jazz, including the likes of Miles Davis and John Coltrane. He picked up the clarinet and the tenor sax, and starting playing at local parties in college. One evening after phentermine a classical concert, and still wearing his formal tuxedo, Ponty found himself at a local club with only his violin.  A handicap? Not for Jean-Luc Ponty. It was a turning point in his musical career. It was not long before he was widely accepted as a jazz fiddle player–so accepted he was played with the likes of Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Elton John, and Frank Zappa. And he produced 12 consecutive albums that hit the top 5 in the Billboard Jazz Charts.

What we learn from Jean-Luc Ponty is to look critically at what you have in your hands, and use it differently. Look at your skill set, and see if there are any other markets you can serve. Few people look at their skill set and ask enough questions. Where do you excel more than other people around you? What resources do you have at your disposal? What else can be done with them? Can you use your resources and gifts in a different way? Is there a way that is perceived as the “wrong way” to use it, that might actually be the perfect way for you to use it? Perhaps you can open up a whole new way to share your gifts with the world.

Check out his unique voice here: Jean-Luc Ponty, Aurora, Part II, from 1976 

That’s this week’s Imagination Hat.