Alan Schaefer

Collaborative strategist, songwriter, vocalist, workplace producer and entrepreneur. Founder/CEO of Banding People Together. Frontman for Five Star Iris.

[Alan Schaefer @alanschaefer]

@adamtoporek and @jeanniecw asked me to explain why most orgs approach #collaboration all wrong. Listen here ---> https://t.co/dpSIT3Zj8E @Bandingpt

[Alan Schaefer @alanschaefer]

Today I'd like to wish my big brother @garrettschaefer a very happy birthday! Our siblings influence us in a number of incredibly important ways that ultimately show up in behaviors, thinking and values down the road.

If you enjoy my musical rantings, t…https://t.co/8unVOCkol3

[Alan Schaefer @alanschaefer]

I recently watched a really great documentary on the making of Tom Petty's Wildflowers album. It got me thinking about truth, authenticity and freedom.

Petty shared, "This time in my life I feel much more comfortable with myself. It's soul music. You hav…https://t.co/QNWGGqaZey

[Alan Schaefer @alanschaefer]

Happy Sunday FUN day! Very glad and proud to report that I have kept to my promise to myself of diving into the piano post trip. Motivation is an interesting thing.

I have a very simple idea when it comes to motivation. Someone is gonna do what they u…https://t.co/51WCHlnlV8

[Alan Schaefer @alanschaefer]

One thing that is hard NOT to notice in Greece is the number of cats. They were everywhere. This got me thinking about talent.

Some of the cats were definitely more curious than others. Human beings are similar. Some people are way more curious than…https://t.co/X0Yi9E1Pk6

[Alan Schaefer @alanschaefer]

Does your Band have a "Quiet Beatle" that glues the team together? You might not even realize it? Not so sure that shows up in "the 9 box".

As part of a Rolling Stone article remembering George Harrison, Paul Simon spoke of his admiration for George as…https://t.co/1lgfSpGcC0

[Alan Schaefer @alanschaefer]

Be it ever so humble there is no place like home. Happy to sleep in my own bed after 22 hours of travel. It was an amazing once in a lifetime trip and am grateful for the experience.

It was fun for me to share my thoughts with all of you. What's really…https://t.co/dIXnxKMd9L

[Alan Schaefer @alanschaefer]

Finally heading back to the states. Great trip with many lessons.

In Athens airport cool display. People from different countries sharing what they loved about Greece.

Can you imaging every single person in your org sharing what they loved about the las…https://t.co/PwALOLhZbP

[Alan Schaefer @alanschaefer]

Wishing everyone a very happy and safe Fourth of July in the states. Hard not to think of the Star Spangled Banner.

I was asked to sing it at an Air Force retirement ceremony at Bryant Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, AL a few years back for Graeme McInnes.…https://t.co/q1SepZd1Gi

[Alan Schaefer @alanschaefer]

Two more sleeps and back home. Trip has been amazing! That said, ready to do a great many things upon my return.

Dressed up one of the nights for a themed Elton John party. Really fun stuff!

So fascinating to watch people transform into other character…https://t.co/rtqBAjgE81

[Alan Schaefer @alanschaefer]

Happy Sunday fun day! Today I visited Sarakiniko on Milos. People come from all over to jump off the rocks. This got me thinking about a few things....

Mother nature has provided an incredibly genius venue in that it is NOT one size fits all. Any one…https://t.co/4FSlypOdM8

[Alan Schaefer @alanschaefer]

Happy Saturday from Antiparos. Just finished my daily swim. Got me thinking about the power of self investment.

The past six days I have chilled hard. Wasn’t off the grid by choice and yet my output has been off the charts.

Ive worked on the outline for…https://t.co/9T1hO2nHTf

[Alan Schaefer @alanschaefer]

Last night I went to a club in Mykonos, the party capital of Greece. As a former wild child rock & roller, the experience was different than what I would have imagined.

Specifically, I was a chaperone. That was different. I was probably the oldest per…https://t.co/4o5TEiCHa5

[Alan Schaefer @alanschaefer]

Reposting this :) https://t.co/cxpDjwiHot

[Alan Schaefer @alanschaefer]

When does effective planning, communication, and execution feel like a dance, or an amazing synergistic improvised jam? When your team is in the "Groove".

Written for the soundtrack of the Film 'Desperately Seeking Susan' co-starring Madonna and Rosanna…https://t.co/QYe72mmgER

[Alan Schaefer @alanschaefer]

One of the most important ideas in creating harmony is creating and respecting the space.

We need space in relationships of any kind. When our space is compromised we often fiercely protect it.

Soccer great Lionel Messi is a master of creating space. I…https://t.co/pypactbWLN

[Alan Schaefer @alanschaefer]

We all have experiences that remind us just how small the world is.

That feeling is fueled by connection. It feels remarkable because it is. Our limbic brains light up as it is where emotion and long term memory lives.

It turns out that someone on my…https://t.co/g8pfBN9Lqb

[Alan Schaefer @alanschaefer]

My visit to the parthenon this morning was cool but there was something missing.

I did not have a tour guide. The context and story were missing. Because of that it lacked meaning.

The meaning is what lights up our brains and our souls. It is what inspi…https://t.co/kuk977AKff

[Alan Schaefer @alanschaefer]

Oftentimes we plan and more often the universe has a different plan. Today on my flight from San Diego to JFK I had an opportunity to adapt and pivot.

Turns out the Wi-fi wasn't working. Certainly not the end of the world. However, I "planned" to do c…https://t.co/jPUVBOjusy

[Alan Schaefer @alanschaefer]

Hope you had a great week. As I ready myself for an adventure to Greece I'd like to share a Coldplay song that I can't stop listening to.

Interesting that Coldplay is as polarizing as they are. Some people love them and others can't stand them. In my…https://t.co/eNp91wisr5

[Alan Schaefer @alanschaefer]

In speaking with a friend yesterday I was reminded by how powerful narrative and story is when it comes to what we believe and internalize as truth.

The topic was the weather in San Diego. It's interesting that most people believe its 72 degrees and s…https://t.co/p8pk8IiOWJ