No #147 | September 29, 2024

by Matthew Boyd

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

One thing you learn as a parent is that there is an incredible amount of volunteer parents working tirelessly behind the scenes, giving their time and energy to create opportunities for kids to play, learn and participate. To those parents who volunteer their time, I tip my cap to you😊.

In this week's Lead It Cool newsletter:

• 🏆The Best Story Wins
• 🕶Glasses Tech
• 💡A Good List
• 🕸Eat Like Kings
• 😎Cool Links

🏆Best Story Wins

A show my family occasionally indulges in together is America’s Got Talent.

The season finale happened to be this past week, and we found ourselves unexpectedly emotionally invested.

The finale featured ten finalists showcasing a wide array of talents: singers, comedians, acrobats, dog trainers, dancers, and even drone operators.

Each was undeniably worthy of the $1 million prize.

But with competitions like these, it’s often not just about who has the best talent, it’s about who has the best story.

This season, that story belonged to Richard Goodall, a 55-year-old school janitor who turned to music to heal from the loss of his wife in 2021. His Journey-esque voice and his resilience made him easy to root for, embodying the classic underdog story that audiences love.

So when Terry Crews announced Richard as the winner, it wasn’t surprising at all.

It was a testament to the power of storytelling, where the narrative can sometimes be as compelling as the performance itself.

This concept, that the best story wins, extends beyond entertainment.

As journalist Derek Thompson highlights in his recent podcast on the psychology of conspiracy theories, “the best story usually wins, regardless of provable content.”

Whether in politics, business, or everyday life, the most compelling narrative often triumphs over everything, including sometimes over the facts.

In the end, it’s a reminder for all of us: when you want to inspire, persuade, or connect, you need to tell a story that resonates. Because in a world brimming with information, the best story always has a way of capturing the heart.

*And here is who my family thought should have won AGT this year. 🐶

🕶Glasses Tech

This week, Mark Zuckerberg and Meta unveiled their latest innovation: the Orion glasses.

As wearable technology continues to evolve at a super fast pace, the competition in this space is heating up, with Apple's Vision Pro already creating a buzz. In my opinion, the key competitive advantage for these devices will be how comfortable people feel while wearing them.

In a world where style and functionality often collide, tech companies face a unique challenge. They must not only deliver groundbreaking technology but also create products that people feel comfortable and confident wearing in their everyday lives.

If these glasses feel clunky or look awkward, many consumers will hesitate to embrace them, regardless of their capabilities.

The Orion glasses still look a bit comically large, but they're definitely an upgrade from the ski goggle Apple version.

It will be fascinating to see how companies like Meta and Apple continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible (and what's fashionable).

💡A Good List

I'm always a sucker for a good "how to" list. This one by Ben Meer is one that I showed my teenage son.

🕸Eat Like Kings

Swing for the fences...🤣 (Gary Larson)

😎Cool Links

💪Six exercises to do every morning if you sit at a desk all day.

🎯What is the Best Leadership Style? "We found that consistently connecting people to the 'why' of their actions, providing choices in how tasks get done, and giving meaningful feedback results in people being more likely to share ideas and to be more collegiate," explained senior author James Donald of the University of Sydney Business School.

👀10 Minute Challenge. Can you stare at this single piece of art for 10 minutes straight, uninterrupted? (Spoiler: I tried it, it was very difficult).

💭50 Ways to Fuel a Conversation. A very thorough list.

✍The Crazier the Better. When it comes to writing, he sane and the ordinary are the enemies of all artists, but especially of those just stretching their wings.

💌Share it on LinkedIn​

Thank you!

Let’s connect! 💬 You can find me on LinkedIn and Twitter