Striving Towards Excellence

-Karthik Gurumurthy

“Most people go to their grave with their music still inside them.” – George Bernard Shaw

The Boy Who Couldn’t Sing

There was once an Italian boy named Antonio who loved music more than anything. But whenever he tried to sing, it came out so badly that everyone laughed at him.

Despite this, Antonio still loved music—especially the violin. He always carried a pocketknife and would whittle all sorts of things with it to pass the time.

One day, Antonio discovered that the greatest violin maker in all of Italy—the legendary Nicolo Amati—lived right in his village. An idea sparked.

Antonio spent countless hours carving a small violin with his pocketknife. When he finished, he walked to Amati’s house, knocked on the door, and handed the master his miniature creation.

“Sir,” the boy said nervously, “I love music, but I cannot sing. More than anything, I wish I could learn to make violins.”

The great Amati smiled, examined the small violin carefully, and said, “Beautifully done. You want to make violins? Then so you shall. In time, your violins will make the most beautiful music ever heard.”

And that’s exactly what happened. Antonio Stradivari became Amati’s apprentice and eventually created violins that equaled—and some say surpassed—his master’s. Today, Stradivarius violins are considered the finest ever made.

When Plan A Fails

Think about the success stories we all know: Henry Ford, R.H. Macy, Soichiro Honda, Bill Gates, Walt Disney, The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison.

What do they all have in common? They failed. A lot. Early and often. Their eventual success only came after embracing plans they never originally intended to follow.

Great leaders aren’t people who never face disappointment—they’re people who don’t let disappointment stop them. Success often comes when Plan A falls apart and you’re forced to embrace Plan B. And sometimes? Plan B turns out even better.

In business and in life, things don’t always go as we hope. When those testing moments come, you have a choice. Here are three truths to remember when Plan A crumbles and you’re tempted to give up:

1) Plan B Creates Opportunity

Stradivari’s contribution to music wasn’t going to come through his voice—it came through his hands. He combined the passion in his heart with the skill in his hands and left an eternal mark on the music world.

The challenge in leadership isn’t to give up what’s in your hand when things don’t go as planned—it’s to figure out how to use it differently. It may not be Plan A, but Plan B worked out incredibly well for Stradivari. It can for you too, if you choose the right attitude and give it everything you’ve got.

2) Plan B Redirects Your Skills

After Fred Astaire’s first Hollywood screen test, the MGM director wrote: “Can’t act. Can’t sing. Can dance a little.”

Ouch.

But Astaire kept that note and hung it in his Beverly Hills home as a reminder of where he came from. He went on to become one of the most successful actors, singers, and dancers in Hollywood history.

As a leader, you’ll face countless challenges. You’ll hear voices telling you it can’t be done. You’ll get feedback that stings. But in the end, all that matters is what you believe in your heart and having the courage to pursue it—even if it means taking Plan B.

3) Plan B Prepares You for a Rewarding Life

Plan B isn’t just about finding new opportunities—it’s about overcoming adversity and discovering strengths you didn’t know you had.

Steven Spielberg’s name is synonymous with some of the biggest films in modern cinema. But he was rejected three times from USC’s School of Theater, Film and Television. Three times.

He eventually returned to school years later and completed his degree—after winning multiple Oscars and revolutionizing filmmaking.

The blessing of Plan B isn’t always obvious at first. Sometimes it feels like defeat. But the real blessing reveals itself when you embrace it and commit to the journey it takes you on.

Wise leaders are flexible enough to know that when one door closes, it’s not the end—it’s just the beginning of living out your dream in a way you didn’t expect.

So Here’s the Question

What’s your Plan B?

What’s that thing you’ve been holding back on because it wasn’t part of your original plan? What skill or passion have you dismissed because it doesn’t fit the vision you started with?

Maybe Plan A didn’t work out for a reason. Maybe your real contribution to the world—your music—is waiting for you in Plan B.

Don’t take your music to the grave. Find a way to let it out, even if it’s not the way you originally imagined.

Because sometimes the detour is actually the destination.

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