Phil Lesh, the incomparably iconic and beloved bassist of the Grateful Dead, died last week at the age of 84. He was a beautiful musician, a wonderful man and a sweet soul. He also exemplified much more than music, with his unique approach to his instrument and how it became an integral part of the band’s creative development.

The lessons we learned from him and the children are more applicable to business than ever before. The most recent of these comes from Phil, it is expressed in the book, Searching for the Voice (2005).

“Infinite variability…”

He explained that the essence of the Grateful Dead is “the infinite variability of our music.”

If there’s one thing that represents the dead and explains their longevity until and since Jerry Garcia’s untimely and shocking death in 1995, it’s this: endless mutability. I have in my personal library about 40 volumes of, about, or by the Dead, but I can neither point to anything more important nor express it more convincingly: infinite mutability. And if anything points to a business’s imperative to survive in today’s dizzyingly changing world, it’s this: Infinite variability.

A CEO’s biggest responsibility: Change.

Call it what Phil did or adaptability or holistically changing or innovative or flexible, Phil did it. Successful CEOs will be the first to admit this.

From when I attended my first Grateful Dead show at New York’s legendary Fillmore East, sometime in late 1968 or early 1969 (I don’t remember exactly, but that’s typical of old Deadheads like me, heh-heh, like 120 those who went to something) about their concerts – also a close enough approximation), I noticed this about them. Every time they stepped onstage, they were a living, breathing experiment in creativity, fearless in treading new ground, easily drifting into their 20-minute (or more) songs on shows like “Dark Star” or “Goin’ Down the Road” or “”. Anything was possible for the Morning Dew or anything that passed through it. So for the 30 years from their creation until Jerry’s death, and the 29 years since, they remained fresh, new, fearless and constantly innovative.

So who directed us to this lesson? Phil is the quiet, unassuming bassist who can often be seen onstage away from the glare of the spotlight, while Jerry and Bobby take vocal and instrumental lead, Mickey and Billy weave an integral drum partnership you won’t find anywhere else. Meanwhile. Phil – the most innovative bassist I’ve ever seen – was laying a foundation to support the Dead’s infinite variability; sometimes brash and powerful, sometimes as lyrical as Jerry Garcia’s leading role. For mere mortal bassists, this wasn’t even a remote possibility, let alone a practical consideration.

For Phil, it was a way of being.

Make no mistake about it, each of the children – and later Donna Jean – played an important role in creating the most unique group in history. So it’s easy to understand: Without Phil, the talented Grateful Dead wouldn’t be the band we know.

In this light, I can see Phil approaching the Pearly Gates, St. Peter noticing his special new arrival and turning to the others already there and saying, “Okay, guys.” You can set it now. Phil is here.”

Infinitely variable, as always. Forever.