Where do you go to half a fast-tracked career and make some quick cash? For Stephen Hunt, the answer turned out to be Internet advertising. But it was only ever a limited-time plan to create enough space for him to explore his real passion: music.

Steve is the co-founder and COO of Music Health, a company improving mental health through music. Inspired by a 2014 film about music’s impact on people with dementia, Steve and his business partner Nick began work on an app that would do for dementia what Headspace and Calm have done for meditation.

Takeaways from Pia and Dan

• Rather than list a set of values on the wall, what are the practices that will lead to behaviours?
• When trying to work against the failure statistics of startups, it makes sense to prioritise mental and physical health.
• Those short-term health choices can lead to longer-term positive consequences.

Links

• Alive Inside (2014)
• AIM iHub – Australia’s first music incubator
• Vera – the music companion for people living with dementia
• Radical Candor, by Kim Scott
• Leave us a voice note