When I was in high school, I made a mixtape for a girl I was hopelessly infatuated with. I spent hours agonizing over what songs to include, and in which order. When I gave it to her, I attached a note which included in-depth explanations for each of the tracks I’d chosen. I was proud of myself, and I was convinced she would listen to the mixtape on repeat, falling hopelessly in love with me over and over again.
We went on two dates, and she never let me know what she thought of it. I wonder if she even listened to it. Painful, right? Let’s just say I didn’t keep up the mixtape making hobby…
Yet, here I go again: I’ve compiled another mixtape. Instead of songs of unrequited love, though, this playlist is meant to respond to the heartbreak IT people might feel as their relationship with their Managed File Transfer solution vendor fails. Now, I’m a firm believer in music as therapy, so you’ll notice that these songs have been chosen for their cathartic effect. So here it is: my hand-picked Spotify playlist to accompany your disappointment.
“Say Something (I’m Giving Up On You)” – A Great Big World feat. Christina Aguilera
Your relationship started off on such a high note. You were going to send files easily and securely to your trading partners. However, you’ve come to find out that your MFT solution is a standalone — and so difficult to use that it can only be managed by IT professionals. It’s given you constant stress from the resulting delays, bottlenecks, and extended implementation and operational cycles. As you’re nearing your breaking point, it’s okay to be honest about your feelings and ask your vendor to say something — anything — to make things better. This wrenching song is perfect for describing the agony that accompanies the realization that your relationship might be coming to an end.
“Communication Breakdown” – Led Zeppelin
A big reason relationships fail is lack of communication. The same is true here — the standalone MFT product you’ve bought just isn’t capable of “understanding” the data you’re working with. The solution was built to transfer files, but it has no way of communicating with those files or making decisions based on specific file types. This frustration will be reflected in Jimmy Page’s downstroke guitar riffs and the angst-ridden howls of this blistering proto-punk anthem.
“How To Fight Loneliness” – Wilco
When you start to feel lonely despite being in a relationship, that’s when you know something is wrong. And you will feel that way, especially when you find out that your standalone MFT product is completely unusable within a business context. As you wonder how you’re ever going to be able to make it work with others within the enterprise for effective and successful use, listen to this oddly comforting ode to alienation from a wistful and wise Jeff Tweedy.
“Afraid of Everyone” – The National
Bad relationships can make you feel insecure. So will standalone MFT products. At some point during your relationship, you’ll find that the architectural constraints in your MFT solution have introduced multiple failure points into the data transfer process. As a result, the data you’re transferring is being exposed to an unnecessarily high level of risk, and business processes have become less secure as a result. When you’re feeling this deep insecurity, let The National’s waves of melancholy wash over you and remind you that you’re not alone.
“Dazed and Confused” – Led Zeppelin
When you’ve admitted to yourself that things aren’t working and will never work in your relationship, you can feel lost and direction-less. The same will inevitably happen with your standalone MFT solution, because standalone MFT products cannot provide centralized, end-to-end visibility and control. They are just one step in a bigger business process. Your MFT solution lacks a holistic perspective, and your project can suffer terribly from this lack of comprehensive vision. When you’re lost in that haze, let Robert Plant’s psychedelic wailing echo into the depths of your soul.
“Blow Me (One Last Kiss)” – P!nk
Sometimes you get white knuckles from hanging onto a relationship too hard. Even though you might tie a knot in the rope to hold on better, it is clear there is nothing to grab onto in an emotionally unavailable partner. Similarly, it is impossible for standalone MFT products to provide true trading partner management or customer onboarding capability because MFT is incapable of integrating directly with trading partner business processes, whether they are cloud-based or on-premise. As a result, trading partners may be left hanging, or, even worse, dropped. If you’ve been left hanging by your MFT software, crank up this snarky Pink anthem that will empower you to leave behind your ineffective solution and go find a new one. As she says, “Life’s too short for this!”
I’ve heard it said that music can solve problems and even heal wounds, and I think there’s some truth to that. Whether you’re feeling wounded from a brutal adolescent rejection or a problematic standalone MFT product, this playlist will help you get through it. Let us know of any other relevant songs that come to mind in the comments below!
For Further Reading, check out:
Unexpectedly Good Integrations in Life: 11 Movie Scenes with Brilliant Song Pairings