For Father’s Day this year, my wife and kids got me this most excellent cassette player and two mint condition Nirvana tapes. I then dug a few other tapes out of boxes in the garage, including the mixtape with “BRENT” written on it from my best friend in high school and a couple of old demo Eps from my cousin’s bands. This, coupled with my typical method of describing things through song lyrics to the team, inspired me to create this TRIAD Awesome 80’s Mix Tape!

Each song is meant to capture the essence of a part of TRIAD. Whether it be our mission, vision, values, or process… these songs get at the essence of what these things mean better than any description we could write, or ever could!

You can listen to the whole mix here or simply click the individual links below.

Enjoy!

MISSION

We Are The World – USA for Africa

Right out of the gate, we are coming at you with a song that includes more 80’s artists than you can fit in a Camelot Music! “It’s true we make a better day, just you and me.”

TRIAD’s Mission – To be the platform for employees, communities, and clients to discover, re-imagine, and build the place they want to live in and leave for future generations.

VISION

You’re The Inspiration – Chicago

This one is all in the title. “You’re the inspiration.”

TRIAD’s Vision Part 1 – We partner with employees, communities, and clients that have a vision and desire to bring people together.

Any Way You Want It – Journey

Custom solutions for custom visions!  “Any way you want it. That’s the way you need it. Any way you want it.”

TRIAD’s Vision Part 2 – We bring clarity to your vision and the tools to help make that vision a reality through the development of customized solutions.

You Make My Dreams Come True – Hall and Oates

“Yeah, yeah, what I’ve got, full stock. Of thoughts and dreams that scatter. If you pull them all together. And a-how, I can’t explain.”

TRIAD’s Vision Part 3 – Our solutions for building owners and operators improve and empower the communities they serve.

CORE VALUES

Danger Zone – Kenny Loggins

Real conversation requires vulnerability… entering into a dangerous space.  “Ride into the Danger Zone”

TRIAD Value – Authentic

• Care for one another.

• Be real.

• Aspire to be vulnerable and allow space for others to be vulnerable.

Eye Of The Tiger – Survivor

Nothing screams passion and determination in the ‘80s more than Rocky!  “Don’t lose your grip on the dreams of the past. You must fight just to keep them alive.”

TRIAD Value – Passionate

• Be energized and diligent.

• Be helpful and disciplined.

• Seek to get your work done on time and get it done right.

Never Gonna Give You Up – Rick Astley

While we were tempted to put in a different link and Rick Roll you here, we decided that goes against our values! 😉 “A full commitment’s what I’m thinking of.”

TRIAD Value – Loyal

• Be honest and courteous.

• Aim for optimal outcomes for all.

• Strive to understand what is right and to do the right thing.

Man in the Mirror – Michael Jackson

MJ nailed it with the chorus.“I’m starting with the man in the mirror. I’m asking him to change his ways. And no message could have been any clearer. If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself, and then make a change.”

TRIAD Value – Adaptable

• Be nimble and willing to grow.

• Offer unique, customized solutions.

• Endeavor to get it right. Not be right.

I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For – U2

Growth requires pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. Being inquisitive and asking probing questions. We “still haven’t found what I’m looking for” and we never will. Growth is constant.

TRIAD Value – Analytical

• Challenge your thinking and each other.

• Think critically.

• Find ways to leverage the knowledge and experience of all stakeholders.

You Talk Too Much – RUN DMC

The first step to communication is shutting up and listening. “I said your mouth’s moving fast, and your brain’s moving slow.”

TRIAD Value – Communicators

• Listen to understand.

• Be clear and direct.

• Dedicate yourself to providing accessible messaging in common language.

PROVEN PROCESS

We are Family – Sister Sledge

Technically from 1979… but close enough!“Everyone can see we’re together as we walk on by and we fly just like birds of a feather. I won’t tell no lie!”

TRIAD Proven Process Step – Verify Alignment

The Message – Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five

Buildings exist to serve people. Real solutions face the challenges head-on, with the people they affect. “Got no money to move out, I guess, I got no choice.”

TRIAD Proven Process Step – Identify Challenges and Stakeholders

People are People – Depeche Mode

Each person affected by a building’s challenge has a unique, important perspective. “So we’re different colors and we’re different creeds and different people have different needs.”

TRIAD Proven Process Step – Build Engagement Process

Enjoy the Silence – Depeche Mode

There’s really no one more 80’s than Depeche Mode (even if this song is technically 1990), so they get two songs on the mix! “Words like violence… break the silence… come crashing in… into my little world… painful to me… pierce right through me… Can’t you understand?”  Listening to understand takes reading between the lines. Seeking to hear what is said by what is unsaid. Asking probing questions to get at what is below the surface.

TRIAD Proven Process Step – Hear, Listen, and Document

Perfect World – Huey Lewis and The News

There is no perfect solution to the challenges of a building project that will satisfy every stakeholder. “Well what you gonna do, when one and one makes three and a vision of the future is impossible to see.”  We see our job as developing a balance to achieve optimal, but not perfect, outcomes for all involved.

TRIAD Proven Process Step – Analyze and Develop Solutions

Another One Bites The Dust  – Queen

Our proven process is intended to be ongoing towards continuous improvement. Every challenge that is solved presents more challenges, and we just keep going at it to make the world a better place! “Another one bites the dust… Another one bites the dust… And another one gone and another one gone… Another one bites the dust… Hey I’m gonna get you too… Another one bites the dust!”

TRIAD Proven Process Step – Communicate Solutions

PARTNERSHIP

Hold On Loosely – 38 Special

Whether it be with our clients, with our employees, or our vendors, at TRIAD we want all of our relationships not to be transactional, but partnerships. What better definition of a partnership is there than your relationship with your significant other. In a healthy relationship, power, control, and responsibility are shared. It takes work to understand the other person. It takes sacrifice to not always get your way. But it’s oh so worth it!  “Just hold on loosely, but don’t let go. If you cling too tightly, you’re gonna lose control.”

JUST BECAUSE

We Built This City – Starship

We couldn’t finish this list of 80’s songs about how we build places without this song!!! Come build the future “on rock’n’roll” with us!

Written by Brent Foley