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• Dr. C. Walton Lillehei
• Deng Xiao Ping
• The Beatles
• Mahatma Gandhi
• Martha Stewart

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The Beatles

Expert at "re-inventing" themselves, the Beatles knew what they were good at, and kept thinking of new ways to make it seem fresh and new.

Permission to Rock and Roll

You bet. John, Paul, George, and Ringo gave themselves permission to think about rock and roll in a whole new way! Like many great thinkers, the Beatles were undoubtedly inspired by other legends such as Elvis Presley. But they took a familiar concept, and re-thought it.

Reality leaves a lot to the imagination. pixel.gif Eventually, their music included lyrics motivated by world and political events. Later albums added traditional orchestra instruments back into popular music, such as cellos and horns. They were also famous for their trademark haircuts. The Beatles thought differently about pop music, and their tunes are still frequently heard today.

The Beatles' path to becoming Great Thinkers:

• The Beatles were students of great rock and roll teachers, like Elvis Presley, Little Richard, and Chuck Berry.
• Expert at "re-inventing" themselves. The Beatles knew what they were good at, and kept thinking of new ways to make it seem fresh and new.
• In 1970, this group of great thinkers decided they had done all they could together, and disbanded. Without a doubt, they could have done more. But they were smart enough to know that they wanted to move on.
• As a boy, Paul McCartney, perhaps the Beatles' greatest thinker, was a better English student than music student. He didn't let that stop him from writing his first song at age 14.
• Often skipped class to study independently.
• McCartney has gone on to re-invent himself over and over. Just when you think you know McCartney's music, he writes something different, like an oratorio or music for other orchestra instruments. Re-inventing yourself through study is a great way to keep yourself and your career interesting.