Month: April 2020

“Musings on Madden”-What a Legendary Game Has Taught Me About Business

As the cover athlete of Madden NFL 20, Patrick Mahomes was the first Kansas City Chiefs player to grace the cover. Image via Polygon.com

In the modern era of video games, one has stayed a fairly constant presence in my life: Madden NFL. John Madden Football as it was originally called in 1988, has been a game I have played regularly since 2005 and have almost every year since. It is a game that is truly a cruel mistress in the sense that it is unforgiving when you lose and so sweet when you win. While many video games have unforgiving curves, Madden has been the game that I have played consistently over the years that has me yearning for more. Of course, there are categorically stronger titles in the pantheon of great games (Super Mario 64, Bioshock, etc.), but Madden in my mind is the game that has taught me the hardest lessons about business and bouncing back.

In the years I have played, I have applied many of the ideals and features of the game into my life in some form or another. Since it is a competitive sports game, I thought it contained a handful of parallels to the business world. In many ways, Madden has taught me some of the hardest lessons that I would apply later on in my professional career. Things like bouncing back (losing to your girlfriend’s 15-year old brother), practice makes perfect (I cannot tell you the hours I have spent on franchise mode in Madden 2005), and having the grit to persevere (breaking a PlayStation controller of mine in 6th grade was not my best moment) all have come from playing Madden. Indeed I am fortunate to have had some of these lessons early and apply them later on.

In Madden 2004, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was a virtual cheat code and able to score all over the field. Many players were banned from using the Falcons and his video game avatar is touted as the great Madden player of all time. Image via The Undefeated.com

While Madden is by no means a perfect game (how does Titans wide receiver Corey Davis break three tackles and score a 65-yard touchdown to win a game I will never know), but it has had the staying power to stay in front of TV screens all over the world. Since its introduction back in 1988, Madden has at least had a yearly release every year and has featured a multitude of NFL stars. Also as of 2013, Electronic Arts has sold more than 100 million copies of Madden NFL, and more than five million in one year, for more than $4 billion in total sales. This has number grown quite a bit over time and has also illustrated how EA’s monopoly over 2K Sports gave it a huge financial surplus in the polygon video game realm.

As a franchise, Madden is in many ways also the standard bearer for iconic video game franchises. Aside from Mario, no other franchise has pumped out a yearly installment quite like Madden. Additionally, the franchise has spun off into a television show (Road to Madden Nation), video game winner take-all tournaments for both professional gamers and athletes, a strong streaming presence on Twitch and YouTube and has illustrated a strong staying power in the pantheon of yearly must-buys. Indeed there are detractors that say the game does not change much year over year, but the franchise still has found ways to re-invent itself with options like Madden Ultimate Team. Even as businesses now, we must find ways to become adaptable to changing with the times, just like Madden has done over the year with each new generation of video game consoles coming out.

As I think about my interactions with Madden and the nights and days I have spent playing a game I will never be at the mountaintop of, I am thankful it has brought me so much joy. While I might never catch that figurative dragon and be the best like Eric “Problem” Wright or Michael Skimbo, it has always been a treat to play year over year. Like in business, Madden does not always have a formula to win at the highest level, but it does reward those who have created opportunities for themselves by putting themselves in situations to succeed. So as always drop me your favorite Madden memory below or tweet me at @CDBoline.

“How the Turntables Have Turned” – A Look at Which “The Office” Characters Would Fare Best as CEO

Image via NBC Universal

In times like this, shows like “The Office” have become integral part of how many people live their lives when they are sheltering in their homes looking for a bright light during the day. While “The Office” has certainly earned its title in the pantheon of most binge-worthy shows, it has also shed a light on numerous corporate and business policies that are part of everyday life for some. From Michael Scott providing his own HR training (“Prison Mike”) to Jim Halpert slinging paper with the best of them, “The Office” really has a little bit of something for everyone in a corporate setting. So the impetus of this article is trying to find out who would be the best CEO of a giant company, and all bets are off the table at this point. While I can include mainstays like Dwight Schrute, Michael, and Jim, I wanted to give a spotlight to some of the lesser-known characters in this race.

Ryan Howard aka “The Temp”: Ryan actually got a shot at a higher up gig in Dundler Mifflin when he was promoted to help spearhead “Dunder Mifflin Infinity” as Jan Levinson’s replacement in season four. However, his own narcissism and hard-partying ways got the best of him and he was outed from his new illustrious position soon after. Howard has mostly displayed a cool temperament other than his egregious promotion, but has mostly sat on the sidelines during major events. His relationship to one Kelly Kapoor is also troublesome as well since Howard folds under pressure and thus would not be a good candidate to help the company through uncertain times.

Not much is know about Creed or his origins, but he has many of the intangible qualities one could want in a leader according to also unknown sources. Image via bustle.com

Creed Bratton: The dark horse in this race, not much is known about Creed or what he does at the office. Creed is a man with unknown origins whose interests include being a cult leader, both as a follower and a leader, so we know that he has been a somewhat of an authority figure in the past. Truly someone who you have to keep an eye on, Creed does also have the ability to blend in but also stand out when he needs. Indeed he might actually be our favorite at this point in the way that he attacks situations and makes a lasting impression, time will tell if this pays off in the end.

Kelly Kapoor: Now if there is someone in this race that best embodies the notion of “getting what you want” there might not be a better candidate than Kelly. Her office romance with Ryan aside, she adds in necessary input when called upon and is one of the strongest female voices in the entire show. While her and Ryan’s relationship has been cantankerous at times, it has also illustrated how powerful she can be at changing the outcomes of situations and getting what she wants. Of course this is somewhat of a stretch candidate at this juncture, but Kelly’s tenacity could make her a favorite in the overall race.

Well with a top three of candidates to narrow down to, the overall winner really has come to heated conclusion. While both Kelly and Ryan have shown leadership abilities in the past, their communication skills have not always been the most progressive and effective. Additionally, their respective track records of having abrasive arguments throws them out of the running which leaves only one viable candidate. Creed has never been the character that jumps off the page to anyone, but his ability to command a room and operate from the shadows makes him a dark horse leader that many can rally around. So with our list concluded, drop me a comment below or let me know who your favorite candidate to be CEO from “The Office” would be.

“I Love The Dough” – Hip Hop’s Top 3 Songs Relating to Business

Image courtesy of http://www.consequenceofsound.net

In the pantheon of hip-hop history, the rap game is closely intertwined to not only the economics of the streets, but also the ups and downs of the business world. An incredibly diverse and rich genre, hip-hop has the ability to touch all walks of life. Whether you appreciate it for its raucous anthems (Digital Underground, DMX, Souls of Mischief) or its down to earth flows (A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul), rap music has a little bit of something for everyone. In this case we are going over how hip-hop can tie back to business and economic themes and the top three songs (in my opinion) in the history of the genre.

For this list, we are mainly going to focus on songs from the 1990’s. While there are certainly many jams that go over the up and down times of the business world, this list is my personal top three. While there are plenty of excellent choices to choose from, especially as the 1990’s transitioned from the gangster rap earlier in the decade to the decadent high-spending times to open up the 21st century, there can only be room for a top three. So without further ado, let’s get into the list, which is in no particular order.

Jay-Z performs during the “Dead Presidents II” music video. Jay-Z released his
debut album “Reasonable Doubt” back in 1996 and it almost immediately
became a hip-hop instant classic. Image courtesy of YouTube.com

“Dead Presidents II” by Jay-Z : Released in the summer of 1996, Jay-Z’s debut album “Reasonable Doubt” is regarded by many in the entertainment industry as one of the greatest rap debut albums of all time. Spearheaded by a slew of expertly crafted hits, including “Can’t Knock the Hustle”, “Cashmere Thoughts” and “D’Evils”, the album is a masterpiece and has stood the test of time in terms of influencing the generations after him. However, the key headliner from this album has to be “Dead Presidents II” which is slang for every president that appears on U.S. dollar bills. The song is an ode to Jay-Z’s time on the streets and featured sampled backing vocals from Nas that became a key element of their famous feud later on in the decade. “Dead Presidents II” is a key song to listen to if you are ever in the mood to learn more about the origins of one of hip-hop’s greatest performers of all time.

“Juicy” by The Notorious B.I.G.: In terms of rags-to-riches stories, “Juicy” is probably is one of the most under-appreciated inspiration songs of the 20th century. In the song, Biggie details his humble and dangerous upbringings in the Bedford-Stuyvesant area of Brooklyn and how he has achieved everything he has wanted after leaving the drug trade. This includes everything from “money green leather sofas” to the illustrious duo of the “Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis”, which of course are things we all want to aspire to. While also serving as an incredible pump-up anthem, “Juicy” is an incredible tale that is really “The American Dream” for many people in a nutshell.

“C.R.E.A.M.” By Wu-Tang Clan: Wrapping up our list we have Staten Island’s own Wu-Tang Clan bringing arguably their most classic track from their debut album to the table. In a list that is really become dominated by the east coast rap scene, Wu-Tang stood out for their giant ensemble group and their varied lyrics and themes in their songs. The eighth track from “Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)”, “C.R.E.A.M.” is short for “cash rules everything around me” and with a diverse street upbringing ever present in their lyrics, Wu-Tang brings their economic street sense. While not the most feel-good song, and not that it has to be, “C.R.E.A.M.” is the Wu’s ode to cash flow and how it dominates the street culture where they are from. With their iconic Wu-Wear brand and almost each member of the group spinning off to a successful solo career, “C.R.E.A.M.” was really a sign of things to come.

Thanks as always for taking the time to read this post and please drop a comment or tweet me @CDBoline with your favorite hip-hop song from the 1990’s.

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