5 Things / Simplicity
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In a year where finding good vibes is harder than ever, I had an embarrassment of riches this week! So many stories to choose from. I’ll save some for next week, but I’m feeling optimistic.
This week, I was a guest on The Exceptional Sales Leader Podcast, during which I spoke about the importance of kind curiosity. The host Darren Mitchell asked what I say when a client tells me, “This is too simple. We’re a very complex business, dealing with highly complex people.”
Here’s how I see it: Humans are complex by design. Each of us is a mosaic of identities, lived experiences, and contradictions. Diversity is baked in. That’s exactly why we need something simple, something powerful enough to cut through all that complexity and help us actually connect.
That’s where my ARC Method comes in. Ask. Respect. Connect. It’s deceptively simple, yes. But it works. It gives us a way to lead with curiosity, to engage all kinds of people in all kinds of conversations, with a little more humility and a lot more humanity.
That’s it. It’s really that simple. Ask. Respect. Connect. It might just change everything.
This Week's Good Vibes:
Chicago Sky Blocks Trolls
The Chicago Sky just made sports history, partnering with Moonshot to deploy national-security-grade tech that shields their players from online hate. 92% of women in public life face online abuse, with the intersection of race, gender, and sexual orientation compounding threats, especially for Black, LGBTQIA+ athletes like the Sky’s Angel Reese. The Sky’s proactive stance tackles a systemic bias that often leaves marginalized athletes vulnerable. ♐ Audit your own org’s online risk practices: are you merely monitoring or meaningfully intervening to protect underrepresented voices?
Accessibility: Not Extra, It’s Culture
In a LinkedIn post, Ryan Wilks, a United Airlines manager living with mild cerebral palsy and a stutter, models how to reimagine workplace inclusion. By embedding a simple accessibility notice in his email signature, explaining he may pause or type if speech spasms occur, he transforms potential awkwardness into an invitation for empathy and collaboration. His post reframes accessibility: it’s not about checklists or performative gestures, but fostering a workplace where saying “this is what I need to thrive” is normalized. ♐ When leaders share their access needs first, it destigmatizes asking and sets a blueprint for a truly human-centered culture.
H-E-B Delivers More Than Groceries
When catastrophic floods struck Kerrville, Texas, H-E-B, the Texas grocer rolled out a powerful, boots-on-the-ground response. More than just writing a check, H-E-B dispatched convoys of trucks stacked with essential supplies, coordinated directly with the Red Cross and local officials, and stationed teams close to the hardest-hit neighborhoods to assess and respond in real time. They made sure food, water, and emergency essentials flowed into devastated areas without delay. H-E-B’s hyper-local, relationship-driven model led to immediate relief, reinforcing a social safety net that’s personal, not performative. ♐ Build a crisis plan that’s deeply local, community-informed, and logistically nimble, so you’re not just writing statements, you’re showing up.
Sinners Streams in BASL
Ryan Coogler’s Sinners didn't just smash box office records; it smashed accessibility ceilings. When the film dropped on Max this July 4, it did so with a groundbreaking twist: the first-ever Black American Sign Language (BASL) interpretation of a movie on a streaming platform. The BASL version recognizes that Deaf communities aren’t a monolith; BASL has its own rich grammar, rhythm, and cultural nuances rooted in Black history. This matters enormously: the Black Deaf community finally gets a blockbuster in their language, while the rest of us see intersectionality brought to vivid life. ♐ Honor intersectionality by designing solutions that reflect the full depth of lived experience.
Denmark Drafts Women
Denmark just vaulted into gender parity by drafting women alongside men for military service, citing Russia’s aggression as the catalyst. Danish women turning 18 join men in a draft lottery, shifting from a volunteer-only system for women to mandatory eligibility. Beneath this milestone lurk systemic biases: ill-fitting gear, inadequate barracks, and heightened risks of sexual harassment that disproportionately impact women. Sweden and Norway also draft women. ♐Question “equal treatment” by adapting systems to protect everyone’s dignity, not just bolster numbers.
Good Vibes to Go:
It’s Disability Pride month. For some great vibes, check out the documentary Crip Camp on Netflix. It’s about “a joyful disability revolution.” I loved it.