Access to Tools and the Long View
How a 1993 New Order concert and a 30-year friendship became the internal blueprint for my leadership at Northstar Digital Design.
The band New Order were officially voted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this year, class of 2026. This induction follows previous nominations, finally marking a well-deserved milestone for an incredibly influential band that had to find its northstar when Joy Division sadly ended.
Seeing this news brought a wave of incredible gratitude over me. It made me think back to July 29, 1993, when I was just a 16-year-old kid taking a chance and making the drive from South Bend, IN, to the World Music Theatre in Tinley Park, Illinois. With 808 State and The The opening the show, I was on an unforgettable adventure with three people I still care about immensely.
I reconnected deeply with two of those individuals when I made my own journey to California in 2007 to experience life in the Golden State. Back in ‘93, we were just kids loving music, but we were unknowingly planting the seeds for how I understand, empathize with, and value people today. They taught me the true value of emotional intelligence, and they helped mine grow.
Stewart Brand, the legendary California futurist behind the Whole Earth Catalog, always preached an ethos built on “access to tools” and taking the “long view” of life. He famously noted that “to change is to lose identity; yet to change is to be alive.” My circle changed, grew, and evolved, but we never lost our baseline identity. Those two beautiful humans handed me the ultimate tools for human connection. Today, I carry their energy with me every single day when I walk into the office and lead Northstar Digital Design. The ethos of how I lead wasn’t born in a corporate boardroom; it was forged on a highway three decades ago and cultivated in California.
When I listen to New Order today, I am reminded of the beautiful, messy ups and downs of life. But if you take the long view, listen to your inner voice, and surround yourself with a crew that elevates your soul, you will always find your way.
No matter where the road takes you, listen to your inner compass, use your tools, and follow your Northstar. Everything is going to be alright. 🧭✨
🎵 Setlist
July 29, 1993 - World Music Theatre, Tinley Park, IL
Ruined in a Day
Regret
Dream Attack
Round & Round
World
As It Is When It Was
Everyone Everywhere
True Faith
Bizarre Love Triangle
Temptation
The Perfect Kiss
Fine Time
Blue Monday