I Know My Funeral Song

The Funeral Playlist: A Lesson in Business Strategy

I have imagined my funeral many times.

Not in a morbid way, no, no. This is an event. A grand, theatrical affair that would make even the most extravagant wedding look like a casual brunch.

I want a dramatic casket entrance, choreographed to perfection, unlike my life.

I want a pre-recorded video to play, where I roast family members from the grave. I'd probably start with:

"Hey, this is Omar, reporting live from hell."

Just to keep things interesting.

But in all my grand plans, one detail matters most, the song that will play as my casket makes its legendary entrance into the church.

And that song is: "In the Sweet By and By." A Christian hymn that has traveled through generations, cultures, and musical genres.

And here's where the real challenge begins. Because this one song exists in many different forms. And which version gets played? That's a battle I won't be around to win.

The Power of the Right Version

The Johnny Cash version is the one I want.

Why? Because it makes me look like I had a diverse musical palette in my lifetime, like I wasn't just some guy listening to just Afrobeats hits, but a man with depth, a soulful appreciation of the classics. It's gritty, deep, and cinematic, the kind of song that makes an entrance feel like an era-ending moment.

But, I already know my mother will fight me on this (and she will probably win because, well, I'll be dead). She will 100% opt for the SDA choir version, and here's the problem with that: that version sounds like a funeral. And my funeral? Is not a funeral. It's an experience.

Then, of course, there's the African choir version, the one that brings you closer to the Lord just by hearing the first note. I might actually switch to this one.

Then there's the sad, deeply emotional version that I know my mother likes. The type that makes you think of your sons and how unfair life is. That version will have grown men holding onto benches, questioning every life decision they've ever made.

And then, there's the happy, upbeat country version. This one makes you feel like you're on a sunny farm in Monze, standing on a porch with a glass of sweet tea, watching your herd of cattle, knowing that life is good, death isn't the end, and heaven has endless barbecue. (Is the Tonga in me showing over there?)

Same song. Completely different emotions.

And that, my friends, is where the business lesson lies.

Defining Your Version in Business

The same song, but five different experiences.

And it got me thinking, how often do we worry about being in the same industry, the same business, the same market as someone else?

How often do we say, "There are already too many branding consultants, designers, coaches, marketers, agencies..."

But here's the truth: it's not about the industry you're in. It's about the version of the industry that you create.

Johnny Cash owned his version. The SDA Choir owned theirs. The African choir owned theirs. The heart-wrenching version? It has its audience too. The upbeat country version? Someone, somewhere, needs that energy.

What's Your Business Sound Like?

In business, you have two choices: blend in with every other version that exists, or define your own sound.

Because the reality is, you can be in the same industry as someone else and still be wildly different. Your perspective changes the game. Your delivery changes the experience. Your style, approach, and personal touch create something unique.

The biggest mistake you can make? Thinking that because someone else is already doing it, there's no room for you. Because your version of the song? Might be the one someone has been waiting to hear.

Final Thoughts

I may not be around to direct my funeral, but while I'm alive, I get to own my version of everything I create. And so do you.

So don't waste time comparing your business to others. Instead, ask yourself: What makes your version different? What makes you memorable? What makes people choose YOU over everyone else?

Once you define your own sound, you'll realize, it's not about whether someone else is doing it. It's about whether you're doing it in a way that only YOU can.

And that? That's how legends are made.

Now, if someone could just slip a note to my mother about the Johnny Cash version, that would be great. But I won't hold my breath. Because, well, you know.

End of Transmission.