Okay, so Caitlin and Cory have already shared their work playlists, and now it’s finally my turn to share mine. Sometimes, workdays are all about staring at the screen until your eyes feel dry and your posture is questionable. Other days, it feels more like a dance party breaks out spontaneously. Most of the time, it’s somewhere in between. But through it all, music is my constant companion for Taking Care Of Business.
You might be surprised that Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5, despite being a personal favorite, isn’t on this list. That’s because that song, for me, represented working for someone else. When I left that life behind, 9 to 5 and I Will Survive were definitely on heavy rotation – my personal anthems of liberation! I even used to belt out a modified version of I Will Survive: “I’ve got all my life to live, I’ve got all my work to give, I will survive…” And don’t get me wrong, I adore Tennessee Ernie Ford’s 16 Tons. But the songs on this playlist are different. They are the soundtrack to Advokate, to the joyful chapter of my life, to the here and now of taking care of business on my own terms.
If you happen to pop into the office when Caitlin isn’t around, you’re highly likely to find me singing along to pretty much any 90’s pop song you can imagine. I try to keep it under wraps when she’s here, but sometimes my inner soundtrack spills out.
Beyond those celebratory job-quitting tunes and the nostalgic songs of my youth, here’s the music that fuels my workday and helps me focus on taking care of business:
MY WORK PLAYLIST FOR GETTING THINGS DONE
1. Bachman Turner Overdrive — Taking Care of Business
This song is more than just a title; it’s the embodiment of my entrepreneurial journey. When I first launched Advokate nearly a decade ago, this was my Friday billing anthem. Working weekends at my home office? You bet this would be playing, maybe with a cold drink in hand, windows open, sunshine pouring in. For me, Taking Care of Business by Bachman Turner Overdrive isn’t just a song; it’s my work mantra. It’s the sound of freedom. Self-employment, taking care of business for myself, it sounds like this. And it is, truly, glorious. The lyric, “If you ever get annoyed, look at me I’m self-employed…”, resonates deeply with the independent spirit of taking care of business.
2. Loverboy — Working For The Weekend
My father, a fellow entrepreneur, owned KACS, Inc., a construction and contracting company in Vermont. His workplace soundtrack was classic rock – the music of hard work, grit, and independence. I remember helping him on jobsites, surrounded by sawdust, tie-dye, and the energy of rock and roll. That upbringing ingrained in me a connection between rock music and the feeling of being independent, hardworking, free, and accomplished. Loverboy’s Working For The Weekend is another weekend work jam, a reminder that even when taking care of business spills into personal time, there’s always the promise of reward and relaxation. The lyrics, “Everybody’s working for the weekend, Everybody wants a little romance…” capture that drive and anticipation.
3. Ready for the World — Oh Sheila
Moving out of my home office and into my first “real” office at The Shirt Factory was a huge step in taking care of business and making Advokate feel more established. One of the first things I got for the new space was a water cooler. I named her Sheila. She became part of the team, a symbol of our growing business. “Oh, Sheila!!!” It was a fun, slightly quirky way to mark that milestone. My intern Hannah was the only one who remembered Sheila’s name when I was putting this playlist together, proving some workplace legends live on! Oh Sheila by Ready for the World is a lighthearted, slightly cheesy, but undeniably catchy tune that reminds me of those early days of taking care of business in a new space. The lyrics, “Oh, oh, Sheila, let me love you till the morning comes…” are just fun and silly, perfect for lightening the mood during a busy workday.
4. Petula Clark — Downtown
My current office on Exchange Street allows me the simple pleasure of walking to work. Petula Clark’s Downtown is the perfect soundtrack for that walk. Living in a place where a pleasant, easy walk to work is possible is a gift, and this song encapsulates that joyful urban experience. To avoid looking completely eccentric singing in public, I taught the “Downtown” echo to my three kids, making it a family singalong rather than a solo performance! I first fell in love with this song thanks to Short Circuit 2 (yes, the second one, it’s a childhood favorite!). The upbeat tempo and positive message of Downtown are great for setting a positive and energized tone for taking care of business each day. The lyrics, “Don’t hang around and let your problems surround you, there are movie shows… Downtown!” are a great reminder to step away from stress and find inspiration in your surroundings.
5. Iron and Wine — Cinder and Smoke
Iron and Wine is my go-to for calm focus. I discovered them during a massage and was instantly captivated by their soothing sound. Their music helps me transition from feeling scattered and overwhelmed to centered and focused. When I need to buckle down and really concentrate on taking care of business, especially for detail-oriented tasks like design work, Iron and Wine Pandora is my secret weapon. It’s not about the lyrics in Cinder and Smoke; it’s the atmosphere the music creates – calm, peaceful, and conducive to focused work. Cinder and smoke, Some whispers around the trees… – these lyrics evoke a sense of tranquility that helps quiet the mental noise and allows for deeper concentration on taking care of business.
6. Jolie Holland — Damn Shame
Jolie Holland is another artist who brings a sense of calm and focus to my workday. I was introduced to her music by Jason Tavares at a small concert in the Galleria Transylvania studio at The Shirt Factory. Her incredible talent and the peaceful atmosphere of that concert created a lasting association in my mind. Like Iron and Wine, Jolie Holland’s music, particularly Damn Shame, helps me access that calm, peaceful zone ideal for focused work. Again, the lyrics aren’t directly related to taking care of business, but the overall feeling of the music is what matters. When evening comes around, All my senses fly away… – this song is perfect for those moments when you need to tune out distractions and get into a flow state for taking care of business.
7. Pac-Man Theme Remix
My kids are currently obsessed with Pac-Man, and this remix of the theme song is constantly playing in our house. It’s incredibly catchy, gets stuck in your head instantly, and yet… it’s kind of great for multitasking. The beat is perfect for those days when you’re juggling multiple tasks and need a little rhythmic energy to keep you going while taking care of business. It’s definitely less grating than Baby Shark (anything is less grating than Baby Shark!). While Baby Shark just shuts down my brain completely, the Pac-Man theme somehow enhances focus, making even complex tasks feel more manageable and even… awesome. It’s unexpected, but effective for taking care of business with a playful edge.
8. Gloria Estefan — Conga
Remember the Pomodoro Method? Work in focused sprints, take short breaks to recharge. For a glorious period when I was diligently using a standing desk, posture brace, vitamins, jogging, and even eating kale (a truly dedicated phase!), I used tomato-timer.com and incorporated Conga by Gloria Estefan into my breaks. Every 25 minutes, when the timer went off, we’d unpause Conga, stand up, shimmy, and stretch. It was surprisingly effective for relieving back pain and boosting energy. It’s a reminder that taking care of business also means taking care of your physical well-being. We should definitely bring back the Conga breaks! Come on, shake your body baby, do the conga, I know you can’t control yourself any longer… – this song is pure energy and a fun way to inject movement and joy into the workday while taking care of business.
9. John Denver — Leaving on a Jet Plane
This one’s for Ann at Milk & Honey, the fantastic shop downstairs from our office. They have a set playlist that we hear daily, which in a way, makes those songs part of our office soundtrack too. Instrumental versions of Leaving on a Jet Plane, Take Me Home Country Roads, When a Man Loves a Woman, and Celine Dion hits are in constant rotation. We’ve grown to like them, and sometimes, we even sing along. These familiar tunes create a comforting and consistent background ambiance, contributing to a positive and relaxed work environment conducive to taking care of business. Hold me like you’ll never let me go… – even instrumental, this song evokes a sense of gentle familiarity that’s nice to have in the background while taking care of business.
10. Night Ranger — Sister Christian
For weeks, Night Ranger’s Sister Christian has been inexplicably stuck in my head. Lately, it’s the first song that comes to mind when I turn on music at the office. I don’t know most of the lyrics, except for the iconic “MOTORING!!!” part. That’s the bit that loops in my brain. I think it’s because “MOTORING!!!” perfectly captures the feeling of being productive, of really clicking through tasks and taking care of business at full speed. It’s like a mental switch flips on, like a song clip at a hockey game after a goal! MOTORING! What’s your price for flight, You’ve got him in your sight, And driving through the night – this song, especially that powerful “MOTORING!!!” refrain, is pure driving energy, perfect for powering through tasks and taking care of business with momentum.
These are just a few of the songs that make up my workday soundtrack, the tunes that keep me energized, focused, and happy while taking care of business the Advokate way.
Now, like you, I’ve got to get back to work. And you know what? I think I’ll put Sister Christian on repeat for the rest of the day. Enjoy your own workday soundtrack!
