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🎉 Yo! We are back at the weekly office party, where everyday feels like #casualFridays. Dropping mics and sounding off.

Remember how I said that we could make People work more creative? This episode is THE ONE. 🤪

It’s Black History Month EVERYDAY and I’m not only introducing you to some amazing friends in my network, I’m also finding creative ways to approach business. Where have I been finding inspiration to be a better leader? From my favorite films of course.

Here’s a hint: “You ain’t got to lie Craiggggggg. You ain’t got to lie!”  

Get your 🍿🍿 ready and kick up your feet as we dive into an HR/POPs cinema study hall.

⛽️ Fueling creativity + community + connections ⛽️

🗣 Special Sound Off: Big shoutout to the homie, Jacob Espinoza, for inviting me onto the Leader Lens podcast and supporting this crazy idea! We are breaking down our favorite films under the lens and extracting all the biz lessons in-depth. Spin the block and take a listen here after you’re done reading.

If this email was forwarded to you, tap in and join the cool collective.

The year was 1995…

I was in middle school, but my mom let me watch ALL the movies. We are a family that appreciates a great movie, and because of that, I didn’t have many restrictions when it came down to what I could (or couldn’t) watch.

The first time I watched Friday, I laughed my ass off. The movie had so many unforgettable lines and the cast was top tier talent. The characters were people that I could envision within my own South side Houston neighborhood. Because of that connection, the storytelling made it easy for me to fall in love with the film.

For context, the movie was about two friends (played by Ice Cube and Chris Tucker) hanging out on a Friday in a South Central LA neighborhood. Things quickly go left when they get mixed up with issues involving characters Big Worm (local dealer) and Deebo (the bully).

Not only did I enjoy the story line, characters, and endless jokes - I held the film close to my heart as a representation of Black culture. I can’t count how many times I’ve watched ‘Friday’ over the decades. Re-watching it as an adult gave me the opportunity to sit back and understand some of the actual business lessons that were being taught on the low-low.

💡When connection comes from storytelling, it helps to sustain a newfound focus + willingness to learn.

In this HR/POPs cinema study, we take notice of six (6) business lessons that we learn throughout the movie ‘Friday’. Now, I know this movie is wildly entertaining in its own way, but I want you to understand some creative ways you can analyze the plot while enjoying a business mini masterclass.

To be honest, there are quite a bit of change management gems to extract from the f*ckery. Let’s dive in.

🗣 Leadership + Sponsorship

Set the scene: When Craig assumes a leadership role in handling the beef with Deebo (the neighborhood menace), it reflects the need for strong leaders during change. 

What companies need: effective leaders to guide teams through challenges, providing support and direction during the transitional period.

🗣 Effective Communication

Set the scene: When Craig spills his concerns to Smokey about what was going on that day, it mirrors the importance of open and honest communication.

What companies need: to encourage conversation between employees and leaders to address concerns and provide clarity during times of change.

🗣 Employee Involvement

Set the scene: The various interactions with everyone from the neighborhood revolve around Craig and Smokey’s world while holding a level of impact. It goes a step farther by showcasing the importance of involving people (read: key stakeholders) in the change process. It wasn't always pretty. (LOL)

What companies need: they can benefit from actively engaging employees, seeking their input, and involving them in decision-making to build a sense of ownership. Nurture that sh*t.

🗣 Training and Development

Set the scene: Smokey faces challenges with Big Worm related to his involvement in “street consumer goods”, highlighting the need for on-the-job training and development. 😂

What companies need: employees require training to adapt to new processes and technologies during change initiatives.

🗣 Flexibility

Set the scene: Throughout the day, Craig and Smokey encounter a ton of unexpected challenges, requiring them to be resilient and flexible. 

What companies need: they must be adaptable in the face of unforeseen obstacles during change + adjusting strategies while keeping the end goal in mind. They have to remember and repeat the WHYs.

🗣 Celebrating Success

Set the scene: [spoiler alert] All ends well for Craig and Smokey as they rally together, mirroring the importance of celebrating successes in change management.  Not to mention, the neighborhood is now safe from Deebo. WHEW. 😅

What companies need: they should acknowledge and reward milestones + motivate employees to embrace the change. How do you understand motivations? BUILD CONNECTIONS WITH YOUR PEOPLE. 🎤 ⬇️

Take as many affirmations as needed today, and [share] with someone who has helped your creative journey or just been an awesome f*cking human.

1️⃣ I embrace creativity as a valuable asset in my career, allowing it to guide my innovative thinking.

2️⃣ Creative solutions flow effortlessly from me.

3️⃣ My creativity sets me apart, opening doors to new opportunities and pathways.

4️⃣ I cultivate a mindset of curiosity and exploration.

5️⃣ My creativity builds a bridge to my authentic voice.

🎙 time to sound off in HR/People Operations.

I haven’t always been in my creative bag as it relates to HR/POPs. I have worked on numerous sneaker (read: Nike + Jordan etc) campaigns to enhance storytelling. It hasn’t clicked until just recently that your creative lane can be a beautiful scenic route in which you elevate your People (or any function) work.

Disclaimer: I do understand I have some privilege working in a Black-owned startup that sees my authenticity as a strength.

With that said, I want to inspire other leaders to use their creativity to open the door to their authenticity, even if its incrementally. Let’s find some ways to be creative. Maybe you can grab some ideas from my Marketing + HR rants on Linkedin? Maybe I’ll evolve my experience into a Creative Career Coach one day. 👀👀

⚡️QUICKSTRIKE HR SOUND BITES

The HR/People Operations landscape is evolving. As the HR World Turns 🌎 could be its own show. Check out some of the happenings below.

• The book has ARRIVED. The Revolution of Work is HERE!!!!!

• Brianna Doe served up some great tips that spoke to how she manages a booming business and several side hustles. Tap in and check it out.

• John Graham Jr. posted a powerful message about Black History Month.

👟 SNEAKER INDUSTRY SOUND BITES

Some HR people may like pilates and shopping trips to Ulta. You could say my thing is sneakers + streetwear. If you enjoy sneaker culture - this section is for you.

• Hot Girl Systems is here courtesy of Nike x Meg Thee Stallion. Tap in!

• I love the official images for this WMNS Air Jordan 1 High OG, captured by a Pakistan-born NYC raised photographer, Ramshah Kanwal.

🗣 COMMUNITY SOUND BITES

Supporting the small biz/brand owner is important to me. Each newsletter, I’ll introduce you to some talented people in my network and beyond.

• Forward this to your investor homies. The first ever Black-owned women’s-focused sneaker boutique is landing in Texas. Let’s get the doors open!

🎧 A SONG I DIDN’T SKIP ON MY PLAYLIST TODAY

“Thank God it’s Friday…”. If you weren’t bobbin’ your head to this song back in the day, what were you doing?! Enjoy.

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I hope you enjoyed this [special edition] of Yo. You’re on Mute. I aim to prove (read: keep preachin’) that we don’t have to ONLY learn leadership lessons the traditional way. We can sound off and make it fun. Right?!?!

REPLY if you enjoyed - you’ll get me not the automation bots. Plus, let me know what one of your favorite movies is and maybe we can break it down in the next episode. 😉