THIS contribution to our year in review and 2022 outlook series comes from Stephan Ekbergh, CEO, Travelstart whose answers came to him in songs and so, here’s his playlist for your listening pleasure. Enjoy (definitely a word to embrace in 2022).
Stephan Ekbergh, CEO, Travelstart
Q: Looking back – one word to describe 2021: War
“WAR” – Edwin Starr
“War, I despise
‘Cause it means destruction of innocent lives
War means tears to thousands of mother’s eyes
When their sons go off to fight
And lose their lives”
Q: One word you wish would disappear from the vocabulary:
Vaccine mandates
“Fight the Power” – Public Enemy
“Gotta give us what we need
Our freedom of speech is freedom or death
We got to fight the powers that be
Lemme hear you say
Fight the power”
Q: One word you wish would be used more: Freedom
“Philadelphia Freedom” – Elton John
Written to celebrate the courage of the female tennis player in Billie Jean King’s Philadelphia Freedom. They eventually broke the neck of the US tennis association and paved the way to some degree for gender equality. But it also talks about the fake peace that comes from never speaking up.
Q: Looking forward – one word to describe 2022: Think
“Think” – Aretha Franklin
You need me (need me)
And I need you (don’t you know)
Without each other there ain’t nothing people can do, oh”
Q: Looking at your data, how would you describe the start of 2022? “Fixing a Hole” – The Beatles
“I’ve got to admit it’s getting better (better)
A little better all the time (it can’t get no worse)
I have to admit it’s getting better (better)”
Q: What is your gut, data and guesswork telling you about how the rest of 2022 will pan out?
“Aint no stopping us now” – McFadden & Whitehead
“Ain’t No Stoppin Us Now!
We’re on the move!
Ain’t No Stoppin Us Now!
We’ve got the groove!
There’s been so many things that’s held us down
But now it looks like things are finally comin’ around
I know we’ve got, a long long way to go
And where we’ll end up, I don’t know”
Q: What’s the one key thing you’re doing to prepare your business for whatever lies ahead?
“Work Bitch” – Britney Spears
“Work hard on all fronts.
Leave no stones unturned.
Keep it moving higher, and higher
Keep it moving higher, and higher and higher
Work, work, work, work
Work, work, work, work
Work (work), work (work), work, work”
Q: What is the biggest opportunity for your business in 2022?
“Run through the jungle” – Creedence Clearwater Revival
“To go places we haven’t been, do things we haven’t done.
Over on the mountain, thunder magic spoke
Let the people know my wisdom
Fill the land with smoke
Better run through the jungle”
Q: What part of your job would you like to do more of in 2022?
“Jet Airliner” – Steve Miller band
“Go out on the road on a 707 and basically go full throttle.
Goodbye to all my friends at home
Goodbye to people I’ve trusted
I’ve got to go out and make my way
I might get rich, you know, I might get busted
But my heart keeps calling me backwards
As I get on the 707
Riding high, I got tears in my eyes
You know you got to go through hell before you get to heaven”
Q: On a scale of 1-10, rate how optimistic (10 being most) how you feel about 2022?
10
“Don’t stop believing” – Journey
“Don’t stop believin’
Hold on to that feelin’
Streetlight, people
Don’t stop, believin’”
Q: What’s the one word you’d like to embrace for 2022?
“Soon and very Soon” – Andrae Crouch
“Should there be any rivers we must cross,
Should there be any mountains we must climb,
God will supply all the strength that we need,
Give us grace ’til we reach the other side”
Q: What’s the most interesting thing you’ve read or watched that you might not have otherwise?
I’ve read up on the world of hedge funds. Iv’e read up on the power of thinking. I’ve rewritten the story about my own future.
“A change Is Gonna Come” – Sam Cooke
It’s been a long
A long time coming
But I know a change gonna come
Here’s the playlist. Happy listening.
• Featured image credit: Getty Images
