No #114 | February 11, 2024

by Matthew Boyd

Good morning, welcome to the weekly Lead It Cool newsletter.

On Saturday morning I accomplished something that no dad has ever done before: I changed our internet modem without anyone noticing.

I woke up early before everyone else and like Indiana Jones in the opening scene of Raiders of the Lost Ark, I carefully followed the instructions and switched our modems.

Not surprisingly, just like Indiana Jones' attempt to thwart the trap, as soon as I made the modem switch the entire system shut down.

I panicked and troubleshooted as quickly as I could, and just as the rest of my family was waking up I was able to activate the new modem.

Nobody even noticed.

Anything is possible🤣.

In this week's Lead It Cool newsletter:

• 🎤Super Bowl Sunday (Yeah!)
• 📈😮Sales Strategy
• 🟦Blue Cards
• ✂️Giant Scissors
• 😎Cool Links

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🎤Super Bowl Sunday (Yeah!)

The Super Bowl is today!

A day where North America gathers around a glowing screen, indulging in large amounts of salt intake and momentarily distracting ourselves away from the stark realities that exist in our times (whoa Matt, relax eh?🤣).

As per tradition with the Lead It Cool newsletter, we dedicate this week's edition to the Super Bowl halftime show (brought to you by Apple).

Last year, we explored Rihanna's song Umbrellas and how it's an excellent metaphor for strategic planning (I apologize to anyone who can no longer listen to this song without thinking about a SWOT exercise).

The year before, we delved into Eminem's Lose Yourself, appreciating his tactic of disarming opponents by embracing his own vulnerabilities.

This year, Apple presents us with a halftime show featuring none other than Usher.

Admittedly, I am not super familiar with his work, but in dedication to this newsletter, I've immersed myself in his discography over the past week.

Among Usher's impressive array of songs, there is one that stands out as arguably his most recognizable song: Yeah! (featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris).

Collaboration is at the heart of Usher's greatest hits, but Yeah! exemplifies this principle like no other.

It's a track that brings together distinct talents: Usher's smooth vocals, Lil Jon's energetic calls, and Ludacris's clever wordplay. Throw in the steady inclusion of the triangle instrument ringing and we have the makings of a masterpiece🔼.

They've create a synergy that transcends their individual contributions.

Drawing a parallel to workplace culture, Yeah! serves as a potent metaphor for the extraordinary outcomes that emerge when diverse talents and perspectives unite.

Just as the song would not have reached its iconic status without each artist's unique input, the most successful projects depend on the varied contributions of the team.

And never underestimate the power of the triangle instrument.

Enjoy the game folks.

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📈😮Sales Strategy

I stumbled on this anecdote on X this week, I don't know if it's true or not, but it's one of the most creative (unethical?) sales tactics I've ever heard of (source: Chris Koerner).

Here is the full story

What's the verdict on this?

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🟦Blue Cards

I always appreciate innovation in sports and one of the latest ideas is the introduction of Blue Cards in soccer.

Blue Cards would penalize players for 10 minutes and put them in the "sin-bin" for cynical fouls or dissent. The purpose of the Blue Cards is to improve the pace of the pace and fairness of the game. It would be akin to a power play in hockey where a team would have a temporary advantage.

Thoughts?

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✂️Giant Scissors

This comic by Jon Adams is still my favorite and gets me every time I see it🤣.

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😎Cool Links

💡How Early-Adopter Companies Are Thinking About Apple Vision Pro. To understand the hype, it’s important to have context: For many, the headset is the biggest test yet of a new field of technology, called spatial computing, that proponents believe could usher in a new era of computing. Business leaders should take note of the Apple Vision Pro not for the device itself, but for the spatial computing capabilities that come with it and the possibilities that may lay ahead for their businesses and products.

🏈The Best and Worst Super Bowl Commercials.

💳Millennials, ditch your wallets: Gen Z says you're old if you still carry one. Carrying cash, identification and debit cards in a billfold has become akin to carrying around old butterscotch candies at the bottom of your purse as teens and early 20-somethings have officially declared wallets atrociously antiquated — or, more modishly put, “cheugy.”

✍️Journaling Is a Core Practice for Leadership Development. Journaling allows you to observe and analyze your thinking in a way that no other feedback tool can match. By putting your thoughts on paper, you can see how you approach a situation, frame the context, process the information, and make decisions. This perspective provides us insights and allows us to make connections that are often elusive when thoughts remain in our heads. Furthermore, journaling is something anyone can do with the simplest of tools, which means it's cheap, accessible, and easy to start.

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