In the relentless climb of Corporate America, especially within the realms of Fortune 100 and 500 companies, there comes a point where the bonuses are so ludicrously large they border on the obscene. I'm talking about the kind of bonus that could outright buy a luxury item or property, something most would consider a once-in-a-lifetime purchase.
And yes, it's utterly f*cking stupid.
This isn't to downplay the intelligence, effort, or the endless sleepless nights it took to get here. The pressure was immense, and the results I drove with my teams were undeniable. We built high-performing, highly innovative, and highly effective campaigns & strategies —because we were a team, not a hierarchy.
As a leader, I shielded my team from much of the corporate distractions, ensuring they felt the psychological safety necessary to be as creative, innovative, and impactful as they possibly could. Every single one of them took leaps, worked tirelessly, learned new things, and drove results that were not just noticeable but sometimes laughably superior to teams that didn't have access to the right ingredients.
This circus came full circle for me when I stumbled upon an old email—a flashback to when i received one of those obscene bonuses and I was struck by the stark disparity it highlighted in our system—a system where the previous generations, particularly a certain segment of boomers, who walked a much cushier path to prosperity.
So, I did something different. I shared it with my team. Sure it wasn't a windfall amount but it was a pointed f*ck-you to the generational hoarding of opportunities and resources by those who scorched the doorways they walked through and ladders they climbed behind them.
It was a nod to the hardworking souls in my team, a testament to the ethos I live by: Success is sweeter when shared - in the form of personalized DoorDash gift cards, each accompanied by a message that reflected my genuine appreciation for their unique contributions.
- "What do you mean what kind of Pepsi? Pepsi’s Pepsi. Thank you for all your contributions and for being an amazing human. Keep it up."
- "Queen clown, keep screaming and keep making your ancestors scream. Thank you for what you bring & all that you are. Appreciate you & proud of you."
- "Sending thanks for all you do. Keep on pushing. Appreciate all the sportsballs you bring to the team, and more than that, the energy & perspective."
- “Words cannot say how happy I am that you stalked me on Twitter, but maybe wine can? I am so proud (yet unsurprised) with all you have accomplished.”
- “Thank you for re-joining the circus. You have no idea how happy it makes me to have you back. You are an amazing person & I value you so much.”
- “You’re doing amazing sweetie. Thank you for coming out of retirement just for us. U ARE THE F*CKING BEST. U ARE NOT ALLOWED TO FEEL BAD 4 BEING BADASS.”
- “Thanks for bringing your good game every day - & always rolling with the punches. Appreciate you. Get you some meats/whiskey & enjoy the weekend.”
- “Thank u for taking care of business (see what I did there?). Know it wasn’t expected, but happy you joined the team - and thank you for all you bring.”
- “You have no idea how grateful I am to have you on the team, but also in my life. U have such amazing energy - & I appreciate you so much. Overdue McD$.”
- “For your tireless work and unwavering dedication, here’s a token of appreciation. Your impact doesn’t go unnoticed.”
This is about building high-performing, high-functioning, innovative, and effective teams. And I do that by being in the trenches with them, not perched in some ivory tower. Because, let's face it, they're the ones staying up late, pushing boundaries, and driving the kind of noticeable, remarkable, sometimes laughably superior outcomes.
So, here's the takeaway for my fellow leaders: Our role isn't just to direct; it's to protect, inspire, and share in the spoils of war. It's about recognizing that every member of our team takes leaps, busts their ass, and contributes to successes far beyond what's merely asked of them. And when we're lucky enough to be rewarded obscenely for our collective efforts, let's not hoard it. Let's use it as an opportunity to not only give back but to make a statement about the kind of leaders we want to be. Ones who value hard work, innovation, and, most importantly, their team.
