Friends of Dave #168: March Madness
Who needs a basketball tournament with what we've seen the last 2 weeks?
"It seemed more like out of a movie than reality." -- Mark Cuban, 3/11/2020
Friends, I've started, stopped, and had to re-write this intro three times this week.
That is how crazy fast things have transpired since Cuban provided that quote following the suspension of the NBA season on Wednesday as a result of a player having tested positive for COVID-19.
It feels like we are caught in this weird amalgam of feelings resembling the aftermath of 9/11 and the early days of the Great Recession in 2008 -- shock, fear, uncertainty and sadness are all making it trying (and distracting) times for everyone.
But as I posted on social media earlier this week -- like in both of those instances, we can get through this with vigilance, unity and leadership (which should, now more than ever, also include a healthy dose of humility) . Hopefully we can all start to embrace these virtues as it certainly seems like things will continue to be murky for a while....
Speaking of vigilance.....I have been doing some of my own learning this past week as events have unfolded and I have definitely changed some of my thoughts since I wrote last week's intro.
While I still think the global hysteria that is driving mass consumption of paper goods is bonkers, here's what I now understand better about the pre-emptive cancellations (and you may too): containing the spread of the virus is NOT to ensure everyone doesn't get sick. It's about ensuring we have enough hospital beds and medical staff to assist the most severe cases not if, but when people do get sick.
As we have learned from our counterparts in Italy, our system in the US is currently unable to handle that. This is the idea behind the term "flattening the curve" that you may have seen.
If you have some time over the next few days (now that you will likely be WFH), and you are really interested in data, you should spend time digging into the very detailed and comprehensive article I am sharing in the Last Word. Impressive analysis.
Moving on.....
HEADS UP: with everyone's schedules opening up due to cancellations of meetings, conferences, commuting, etc., I've been thinking this may be a good time to bring back the FoD podcast. I am still kicking around some ideas on format, but I am looking for Friends who would might be interested in being guests.
The first call is for volunteers -- then I will start proactively reaching out to some of you individually. If you think you may be interested in being a guest, please reach out to me at dave@slingstonegroup.com ASAP. I'd like to get started on something this week if possible. It should be fun.
Finally, as most people hunker down a bit over the coming weeks, here's another reminder to take some time to check in with those long lost friends and colleagues.
It can be a big transition from working in an office to working from home for an extended time. There is a lot of anxiety floating around these days as well as isolation -- good to stay connected with folks, especially the ones you don't see or talk to often. I continue to get positive feedback on this, so I will keep mentioning it.
Be well, stay safe and read the articles I selected for you below (especially seeing that there are few activities going on and NO SPORTS to watch on TV). And then GO WASH YOUR HANDS!
XOXO
Dave
Think on This...
How do business executives make crucial decisions? Often by relying on their keen intuitive skills, otherwise known as their “gut.” But what exactly is gut instinct and how does it work? Good look at some provocative clues that may change the way you work.
For Your Day Job...
Stopping the Sales & Marketing Double Drowning
Weak CEOs get frustrated and complain about their executive team. Strong ones take definitive action to define what is and what isn’t acceptable behavior in the organization and put clear actions behind their words.
If you are among the many in an organization where sales and marketing are constantly butting heads, you will appreciate this one.
We Explored 3 Product Positioning and Branding Failures. Here’s What NOT to Do.
B2B brand and product positioning will only continue to become more important with the rise of CX. Synergies between those will be critical. Always good stuff from Open View.
Your Weekly Dose of Randomness...
At least 29 people have died in electric scooter crashes since 2018
This is the under reported stat the world needs to hear right now...
The Middle Finger: A Brief History
The middle finger has a surprisingly complex history.
And, interestingly, it is both effective and "social distancing" friendly....
Wine: How and When to Pay Attention to Vintages
Sadly, this does not cover sell by dates on bottles of Mad Dog 20/20....
And The Last Word....
Coronavirus: Why You Must Act Now — medium.com
There is not a lot of concrete facts out right now about COVID-19. How do you know what is hysteria and what is just prudent caution? Should you wait for more information? Do something today? I found this article to be comprehensive and fact based (with cited data) in effectively providing details about why extreme prevention is necessary now, before things get bad. It is long and involved (and by the time you read it, may actually seem like "old news"), but very much worth the time.
NOTE: I shared this on social media this week and had a friend rightfully question its validity -- especially seeing that the author is not a clinician or doctor. I have seen multiple instances of it being shared by people who ARE qualified doctors/scientists which makes me personally comfortable with what I have read. That said, important that you come to your own conclusions with ANYTHING where you cannot verify the source yourself.