Leadership lessons from pop culture
The BIG Takeaway™
newsletter
June 27, 2022

​What leaders can learn from TV, sports and movies this week

Hello current and aspiring leaders!

Another wild week in pop culture and another wild week in general. Below are some highlights.​

NOTE: I am trying something new this week by putting all links related to this section toward the end of the newsletter so people can move more quickly through the content. 

  • One: "Loot" with Maya Rudolph premiered on Apple TV.
    So many leadership lessons in this show; stay tuned. Still love Rudolph's Oprah on SNL. 

  • Two: Ohio State obtained the trademark for the word THE.
    This is probably THE most ridiculous thing to come out of Columbus, Ohio since former coach Woody Hayes lost his mind and tried to destroy sideline markers during a game versus Michigan in 1971. True story.

  • Three: "Elvis" opened in movie theaters.
    Film critic Robert Daniels wrote that the movie is "one fueled not by jealousy but the pernicious clutches of capitalism and racism, and the potent mixture they create." 

    When it comes to this movie and Daniels' review I have to admit it - I had to look up the definition of pernicious.

  • Speaking of Elvis...this week I am going to use a story about The King to share a lesson on how great ideas can come from EVERYONE and EVERYWHERE.

    Side note: Watch the SNL short film called "Elvis Presley's Coat" in the links below. So strange and yet so creative. "The King might be dead but the coat lives on!"

Let's go.

Rich Trombetta
@trombettarich
June 27, 2022
This week's BIG Takeaway:
Be a leader who has a wide lens
Image: Warner Bros.
A great idea may have just left the building
Your next big idea might come from an unexpected source

The context: "Elvis" tells the story of Elvis Presley and his rise to stardom.

  • While everyone may know about Elvis, many don't know about a pivotal moment that changed history.

  • Marion Keisker recorded TWO copies of Elvis singing when he came to Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee. This was before anyone knew who he was or what he would become.

  • Elvis left with one copy and Keisker kept the other; she gave it to the person who "discovered" Elvis.

What we can learn: Great ideas can come from EVERYWHERE and EVERYONE. 
​​
  • Keisker was working at the front desk, knew folks at Sun were looking for someone like Elvis and made a decision that changed history.

  • She went above and beyond and, despite having found gold, people initially still dismissed her input and suggestions.

  • Fortunately she got through to folks and, well...go see the movie to see the rest of the story.

My take: Too many leaders live their lives through a narrow filter that doesn't embrace ALL ideas from EVERYONE.

  • Notice how people in the meeting dismiss the junior team member but embrace the SAME idea from the boss. 

  • EVERYONE in your organization has great ideas, not just people with fancy degrees or titles. 

The BIG Takeaway:
Be a leader who has a wide lens; Great ideas can come from EVERYWHERE and EVERYONE ​​
Let's put this into action
Image: Pexels
👉​What you can do on your own: 
  • ONE: Today go ask people working frontline jobs what ideas they have to wow your clients. Don't be surprised if they hesitate and look suspicious; it might be because they have never been asked. 
    ​
  • TWO: Take an idea from item No. 1 and take action on it. Now you will have really blown people's minds.

  • THREE: Read this article about some great ideas from unexpected sources.
📢​ What you can do with others:
  • USE OUR DISCUSSON GUIDES: Work with your team or other colleagues to dig deeper into this week's topic. Instead of a book club I like to think of this as our "movie-or-TV club." 
    ​This week: Ideas are EVERYWHERE​
Did you know we can design and deliver custom classes or programs based on topics we write about?

​Click the button to learn more.

Before we end here's our weekly grab bag of quick links
😁 Smile: If we could all just enjoy the simple moments in life like this dog.

🎓 Learn: How to dance like Elvis. This is cool.
​
🌷 Relax:  Tour the world.

​📺 Watch the clips from the beginning of the newsletter:​
That's all for now

​Thanks for reading and please remember:
  • We archive our stories and put them here for the world to read so feel free to have a look.
  • If you have any ideas or feedback Contact me with your thoughts.
  • We can create custom newsletters​ and training sessions on the topics we write about.
Rich Trombetta
​@trombettarich

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