howard schultz

Signing-off From the Office: What the “Great Resignation” Did to Create a New Vision for Work, Career and Lifestyle

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In sports news, Tom Brady is on his way back! Retirement didn’t last long. Rumors kept swirling he’d maybe head to the 49ers since they’ve been his childhood dream team. But not this time, he’s staying put in a different ‘Bay’ area. Some weren’t surprised while others were annoyed that he just won’t step aside.

The numbers are major in his pro career. He’s been on more Superbowl winning teams than any other player in history. He has so many championship rings he could almost wear them on each finger. It seems Brady isn’t quite ready to sign-off, hang-up his cleats or “take the bridge” to an off-the-field role.

Tom Brady Rings

There’re some other stunning numbers though around news of the Great Resignation. That’s the large wave of folks who’ve been stepping out, moving up and shifting gears in their careers. The pandemic caused many to reassess what’s important in work, career and lifestyle.

What’s driving the job change numbers into the millions? Well, it’s a dream come true to be doing what they love. It’s a way of getting lost in the work and having fun. Plus, it’s about enjoying more time at the parks and 9-to-5 benefits in the perks which bring big energy, money and happiness.

Some opted to start a biz, grow a side-hustle or pause to redirect their passion. Some might have made the move from job to career, while others took the career to vocation route where “purpose in living” is priceless. A big takeaway from all this is in a new vision for work based on great résumés that:   

  • Crossover:- Some skills are tied to a job and some have crossover appeal. Life’s transferrable skills can move from job to job as easily as traveling over a bridge from end to end.
  • Connect:- Does your favorite song keep playing in your head? Is it the verse, chorus or vibe that connects with your core? Social & professional networks forge connections around a skillset core.
  • Callout Dreams:- Early education gives baseline knowledge. Then we go deeper within a subject area. The pandemic pushed folks deeper to callout goals, dreams and bucket-lists.  
  • Collaborate:- Adding two numbers gives us a sum. Multiplying two numbers gives us a product. A collab across two numbers creates greater visibility and a sum of products in the marketplace.    
Baseball Breaking News

Of-course there was more sports news with word the baseball season isn’t lost. Sports fans were full of joy knowing that the seventh-inning stretch will be in full effect. The athletes’ careers have a season’s window of games. Over time they get to showcase clutch performances, or even change teams.

Other careers have a season’s window too, maybe with promotion or crossroads decision. Those not ready to retire, whether “comeback jocks” like Brady or “bounce-back execs” like Starbucks founder Howard Schultz, are proof of times pushing us towards ‘joy & mojo’ at work or ‘gin & juice’ at Happy Hour.

Talkback: Alexa, did Tom Brady retire? Siri, is Howard Schultz back at Starbucks? Hey Google (or Cortana), is Colin Kaepernick still in shape?

Tip: On the road of career travels, pit-stops come and go but a dream is like fuel for the ride.

A WordPress Community & Lifestyle Feature in #WordPrompt

Howard Schultz & Steph Curry Enjoy the Best Work Life Ever as Masters of Their Game

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It was just over a week ago when news hit the wire that Starbucks Chairman Howard Schultz would be stepping down. He’s been the head honcho responsible for building the company to its massive presence in the marketplace. In the announcement he described his days at Starbucks as the dream of a lifetime.

While Schultz might be stepping down, Steph Curry just took his team another step up in the annals of NBA history. Having been to the finals four years in a row, they won the last two in back-to-back fashion. Schultz and Curry enjoy the best work life ever on the field of dreams as masters of their game.

For Schultz it’s been about building a world-class brand. For Curry it’s been about building a Warriors team dynasty. Their achievements are so many to mention but what they seem to have in common tells us something about what it takes to be masters of our own game and have the best work life.

Their success reminds us of what it means to act like a player and think like a brand. In our early days of primary/secondary education that’s essentially what we’re learning. In that case it’s a cross between school and sports. But in our adult years it’s a cross between how we develop socially and professionally.

What we learn from Schultz is a sense for how we brand our skills. In the case of Curry we might see how to swag our skills. Those skills have helped to build their competencies into a global franchise and all-star professional. They’ve been through the good, bad & scary and came out ahead by managing:

  1. Passion points vs selling points

Curry’s got game and as a player he thrives on his unique passion points. Schultz’s got mojo as a market leader and helped the biz thrive on its unique selling points. Whether it’s your passion points or selling points these can have different levels of impact starting from the ground-up and starring at the top.

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  1. Bad pain vs bad press

Both had some downtime (or dark time) in their careers. More recently, Curry was out with a sprained ankle. Schultz had to deal with the discrimination incident at a Philly store. Being masters of their game forced them to be ‘twice-baked.’ That’s where you have to grow both personally and professionally.

  1. Skills ballin’ vs niche rollin’

Every year the NBA draft welcomes a new class of players. Some make it through training camp and the Combines to eventual become a household name. A similar journey happens for an emerging brand or ‘on the verge’ artist. What we’ve seen Curry and Schultz do is turn skills into ballin’ and niche into rollin’.

  1. Good fit vs big hit

There’re times we see players on a team for years without making it to the championships. Then they’re traded to another team and somehow things begin to click. Curry hasn’t had a need to be traded and Schultz didn’t jump ship to another brand. They simply became a good fit on the team and a big hit for the fans.

Curry says he’s looking to win a few more rings. Schultz says he’s open to new opportunities in philanthropy and public service. There’re rumors that he might even have an eye on higher office. When their hall-of-fame story is told there’ll be moments when you realize how they enjoyed the best work life.

Tip: Whether it’s becoming a world-class brand or first-rate player, the good ones know how to turn their skills into thrills and their passion points into a big hit.

Talkback: Who should get NBA league MVP this season: Steph, Harden, or Lebron?

Tracks: Carrie Underwood ft Ludacris – The Champion – https://youtu.be/HgknAaKNaMM

Ne-Yo – Good Man – https://youtu.be/3xv9YIOKIZw

James Corden & Howard Schultz Found Themselves Unlikely Dream Jobs, but Nailed it! #BigTimeUniversity

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This production of “Wise-up Wednesdays” Blogcast by Douette ‘Doc’ Cunningham is a presentation in “social media entertainment from the groove-track of life!” #WUWECAST

LOL Tube – Got Funny? 

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Theme:– “The Year of ‘Flashlighting’ – Get Seen!”
A New Way to Shine with Highlights, Insights and Media-bites that’s Exciting (Old-School Flava)

Who knew that Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz grew up in the projects? Well, that’s the story he tells in an online feature. It gives us a sense for why making money and being a force for good can go hand-in-hand. Schultz and James Corden seemed to have found themselves in unlikely dream jobs, but nailed it.

As Late Night host Corden once told the Wall Street Journal “In many respects it’s the dream job for me. I don’t know if it’s playing to my strengths. It’s more like ignoring my weaknesses.” Schultz and Corden know about that moment you feel like “it’s now or never” while others tell you “it’s not gonna happen.”

Corden is one of those “Brits turned Yankee.” He had doubts about taking the Late Night gig. He wasn’t sure about being up to the challenge. But he kept his nose to the grind with other things to perform on stage. It was one such occasion where a CBS exec saw him and made the decision to offer him the spot.

After some time, he eventually came to his senses. He went with the “It’s now or never” option. He’d get a chance to participate in the late night space. His show has now created cultural hooks as a Youtube sensation with the wildly popular “Carpool Karaoke.” Corden’s busy hosting and his team’s busy posting.

Schultz told the Huffington Post how his father-in-law said to him “It’s time you give up this [coffee] hobby and get a job.” But his wife who was the bread-winner in the family told Schultz “We’re going to follow these dreams that you have. We’re going to see this through.” So he was busy going for the big payback.

Groove-Track: James Brown – The Big Payback – https://youtu.be/5cDuwibflL4

Theme:– “The Year of ‘Flashlighting’ – Get Seen!”
A New Way to Shine With Highlights, Insights and Media-bites that’s Exciting (New-School Flava)

Howard Schultz says he grew-up “projects” poor. That’s one way he gives his score. So he says in online feature story. So people can appreciate his biz glory. Making money high on his radar. A force for good both near and far. Schultz and Corden in unlikely dreams jobs. But nailed it by not being slobs.

Late night host his latest fame. With a show that bears his name. Told Wall Street Journal job’s right for him. With strengths over weaknesses on the slim. Knowing about the moment he did feel. This can’t be true or for real. Between “it’s now or never” thinking. And people’s “it’s not gonna happen” winking.

Corden moves from England to L.A. “Brit turned Yankee” is what some say. Had those doubts like normal people do. Wasn’t sure he could come through. Kept his nose to the grind. Letting things play-out and unwind. So he’d perform on stage as before. Where CBS exec offered him the spot and more.

After some time came to his senses. “It’s now or never” wasn’t just pretenses. He’d get his shot in the late night space. To participate and earn his place. A show oozing with cultural hooks. And Youtube links for later looks. Wildly popular “Carpool Karaoke” stream. Corden’s busy hosting, web postings by his team.

Schultz telling media outlet. Of father-in-law putting down the gauntlet. Saying it’s time to give-up this coffee thing. Get a job more enterprising. But his wife as bread-winner stood by her man. Focused on building this dream with a plan. To see it through the sense of lack. And reaching for the big payback.

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Tip: Getting past life’s haters and naysayers takes a strong sense of “reality check” for the big payback.

Talkback: What might we learn from Schultz and Corden about the “big paycheck” vs the “big payback?”

Groove-Tracks: Puff Daddy & the Family – Finna Get Loose – https://youtu.be/m8Z9fUXNVoI

Glass Animals – Life Itself – https://youtu.be/yd9p4n5hLEg


This production of “Wise-up Wednesdays” Blogcast by Douette ‘Doc’ Cunningham is a presentation in “social media entertainment from the groove-track of life!” #WUWECAST

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz Offered Free Coffee to Help End Shutdown

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Theme:– Operation J.U.M.P. For Jobs, Justice & Unsung Dreams

Who knew public figures in Washington had a heart? Washington D.C. is another story but that coffee company in Washington State is setting an example. With the political stalemate flirting with checkmate something’s gotta give. So Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz offered free coffee to help end the shutdown.

He made a deal with customers. If they’d buy someone else their favorite beverage they’d get a free cup of their favorite brew. This was to encourage customers to urge the political leaders in Washington to come together. Schultz isn’t shy about social issues as Starbucks recently took a stand on guns in stores.

He’s concerned about the “unending cycle of dysfunction and doubt” during these uncertain economic times. Other CEOs have chimed in expressing their frustration with how our elected officials are handling the country’s fiscal matters. Sometimes their actions feel like a made-for-tv movie with a bad plot.

The message that the CEOs are echoing regarding our economy is similar to what is being said by Operation J.U.M.P. about the job market. There’re too many people experiencing doubt and despair due to hiring uncertainty. For them, sometimes it might feel like a bad dream before the nightmare ends.

Starbucks sees giving away coffee as a ‘spark gesture.’ It’s about connecting with customers based on their normal concerns and desires. They hope to make an impact by paying-it-forward with a ‘java boost.’ So it is with Operation J.U.M.P. in connecting with the jobless, restless and those feeling related distress.

Footnote: Operation J.U.M.P. is about coming together as a community to provide a java-like boost to those seen as dispensable or overlookable.