Let Me Speak To A Manager

Would you rather own a single-family rental property or a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle baseball card? Depending on where you live, the latter might be a much better investment (and definitely sounds cooler at a cocktail party). In this episode, we dive into our childhood hobby and compare the similarities of investing in trading cards, stocks, and real estate.

This is the second part of our ongoing series on interviewing. We dive into why a hiring manager should ask these questions and what they should look for in an answer. We also offer advice to candidates on how to answer these questions to get the job.

If you like this episode, check out Episode 50 for Part 1.

Frank and Ian dive into compelling stories driving the news cycle.

How much of a role does luck play in a career? When we study the uber-successful, do they leave clues or are they a product of an impossible combination of fortunate events? 

If given the choice, remote work is incredibly appealing. No commute, more flexibility to manage personal responsibilities, more snack breaks, etc. But the long-term financial ramifications of working from home have yet to be determined. Are remote workers more at-risk during a lay-off? Do office workers get preferential treatment for promotions and pay increases? And what does choosing to work remotely say about your drive and commitment? We look at the pros and cons of choosing to work from home in this episode.

Quiet Quitting is a viral TikTok concept that is working its way into the mainstream. In a nutshell, "quiet quitting" is about rejecting the notion that work has to take over one's life, and that employees should ever go above and beyond what their job descriptions entail. According to Metro, this can take many forms – including turning down projects based on interest, refusing to answer work messages outside of working hours, or simply feeling less invested in the role. In this episode, we look at this catchy term for an old problem – low employee engagement by watching several hot takes on TikTok and breaking them down from a fundamental perspective. Does this term have merit and if not, what is a disengaged employee to do instead?

The PGA golf tour is facing an existential threat from an incredibly wealthy competitor. The LIV golf tour out of Saudi Arabia is shaking up the world of golf with massive payouts, new rules, and an aggressive approach. We look at the PGA's initial response and explain how it is doomed to fail unless they innovate. We also look at other classic business wars like Pepsi vs. Coke, Apple vs. Samsung, and of course, professional wrestling as analogs for any business. When faced with a competitive threat, do you become more creative or do you whine and give up?

The world of sports recently lost one of the greatest play-by-play announcers of all time. Over a career that spanned nearly 70 years, Vin Scully built a brand as the go-to voice for must-see sporting events like the World Series, NFL playoffs, NCAA tournament, and of course, LA Dodgers baseball. In this episode, we look at what made Vin Scully so beloved by fans and the lessons anyone could apply in their own careers.

Frank and Ian compare their fantasy football league to the world of business. Fortunately for Frank, he is much better at execution with his business than he is with his fantasy roster.

In late July, Unilever broke the internet by announcing the discontinuation of one of America's most iconic treats, the Choco Taco. Frank and Ian were devastated and spent the next 48 hours scouring convenience stores to pile up stock.

Then our energy quickly turned to the miracle story of one man pitching his boss on a new product that would ultimately generate more than 1,000,000,000 units sold. That man is Alan Drazen and he joined us to share his founder's journey from concept, prototype, first sales, viral marketing, landing Taco Bell, and growing the business over four decades.

Alan Drazen is a dreamer who created something lasting value from scratch. His story will inspire you to reach higher than you thought you were capable of.