Latest / Boardroom Blitz / Alex Kerr - Sports Data Done Right
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- riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: All right. Hey Garry. What's happening? BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: All right. Hey Garry. What's happening? riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Hey Jeremie, what's happening? It's Friday, my favorite day of the week. BB 20260717 mix GARY: Hey, what's happening is Friday my favorite day of the week riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: It is BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: It is riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Friday. Can I be honest? Friday is actually one of my least favorite days of the week. And I well, so I'm I'm a little bit weird, right? I mean, you know A, I'm weird, you know this, but like I love Mondays. It is my fate for me, Monday is Friday. and Friday is kind of like Monday. And it's not that I don't like want to take time off and stuff like that, but it's like, you know, you get to the end the week and you've been struggling mightily all week long to sort of knock everything off your to-do list and get all the stuff done you gotta do and fulfill every obligation so you can just relax on Friday night and all day on Saturday and Sunday if you're not working. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Friday. Can I be honest? Friday's actually one of my least favorite days of the week. And I well, so I'm I'm a little bit weird, right? I mean, you know A I'm weird, you know this, but like I love Mondays. It is my fate for me, Monday is Friday. and Friday is kind of like Monday. And it's not that I don't like want to take time off and stuff like that, but it's like, you know, you get to the end the week and you've been struggling mightily all week long to sort of knock everything off your to-do list and get all the stuff done you gotta do and fulfill every obligation so you can just relax on Friday night and all day on Saturday and Sunday if you're not working. BB 20260717 mix GARY: what the? riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: what's that? BB 20260717 mix GARY: you riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Well, that never happens, right? And so I'm getting to the end of Friday. I'm like, crap, there's the sixteen thousand things I still need to do. Of those, what are the top three I can bang out? And so I dread I dread Fridays because I know I'm gonna have I'm gonna end the day at six o'clock or something like that, with like fifteen thousand things to do before everyone else in the house wakes up. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Well, that never happens, right? And so I'm getting to the end of Friday, I'm like, crap, there's the sixteen thousand things I still need to do. Of those, what are the top three I can bang out? And so I dread I dread Fridays because I know I'm gonna have I'm gonna end the day at six o'clock or something like that, with like fifteen thousand things to do before everyone else in the house wakes up BB 20260717 mix GARY: you riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Yeah. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: tomorrow morning. So riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Connectedly, BB 20260717 mix GARY: Connectively, that's why I love Fridays because I find it's it's unkind to have long meetings on Friday I think it's like a kind of an unwritten rule in business. It's like I have no important real meetings Sorry to people I just talked to on Friday and so I can actually do things that are in my inbox on my to-do lists and I can kind of Get my head around do I need to work this weekend or do I not need to work this weekend? riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: that's why I love Fridays, because I find it's like it's unkind to have long meetings on Friday. I think it's like a kind of an unwritten rule in business. And so I find that I have no important real meetings. Sorry, the people I just talked to on Friday. And so I can actually do things that are in my inbox or on my to-do list, and I can kind of get my head around like, do I need to work this weekend or do I not need to work this weekend? BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Yeah. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Yeah. Yeah, yeah. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Yeah, yeah. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: So like my voice gets better on Fridays because I'm not talked it through. so we like it for exactly the opposite reason. Or we don't like it for exactly the opposite reason. BB 20260717 mix GARY: So like my voice gets better on Fridays because I'm not talked it through. So we like it for exactly the opposite reason. Or we don't like it for exactly the opposite reason. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Nice. That's funny. Yes. I BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: That's funny. Yes. I riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: love it. Either way, Fridays are pretty awesome, like every other day of the week. So well, good. I'm glad that you're excited about being Friday. I I'm good. I'm good. It's been a long, crazy, fun week. But you it's interesting. So earlier in this week I had a chance to speak at a conference at University of Chicago on it was really the general state of affairs and artificial intelligence in the Midwest, across the whole like Midwest ecosystem of universities. And so we had this conference or something like 35 universities. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: love it. Either way, Fridays are pretty awesome like every other day of the week. So well, good. I'm glad that you're excited about being Friday. I I'm good. I'm good. It's been a long, crazy, fun week. But you it's interesting. So earlier in this week I had a chance to speak at a conference at University of Chicago on it was really the general state of affairs and artificial intelligence in the Midwest, across the whole like Midwest ecosystem of universities. And so we had this conference, there was something like thirty-five universities. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: How are you doing? Where are you doing? BB 20260717 mix GARY: How are you doing? How are you doing? Yeah. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Yeah. Yeah. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: were there was their tech transfer offices and their their entrepreneurship program programming offices and whatnot and so we had this wonderful conversation about artificial intelligence where it's been where it is where it's going and all the kind of stuff that you know how we're thinking about it and how we should be looking at it as universities and blah blah blah. It was super fun. but after I finished that presentation and talked with folks I went home and I was like you know what I'm gonna like you know I read like a book a week and so I was like the book I'm gonna read this week I'm gonna go back in time and I'm gonna read this book that came out I think in 2015 or 16. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: were there was their tech transfer offices and their their entrepreneurship program programming offices and whatnot and so we had this wonderful conversation about artificial intelligence where it's been where it is where it's going and all the kind of stuff that you know how we're thinking about it and how we should be looking at it as universities and blah blah blah. It was super fun. but after I finished that presentation and talked with folks I went home and I was like you know what I'm gonna like you know I read like a book a week and so I was like the book I'm gonna read this week I'm gonna go back in time and I'm gonna read this book that came out I think in 2015 or 16. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Yeah. Mm-hmm. BB 20260717 mix GARY: Hmm. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: By a guy named John Markoff. It was called Machines of Love and Grace, not the Demis Hassabis book, but Machines of Love and Grace. I think it's this the the quest for common ground between humans and robots. And again, published in like 2015. So it was this, it was this sort of history of Silicon Valley and artificial intelligence and robotics in Silicon Valley and how we've sort of up to that point, what had happened and it riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: By guy named John Markoff. It was called Machines of Love and Grace, not the Demesis Hobbes book, but Machines of Love and Grace. I think it's this the the quest for common ground between humans and robots. And again, published in like 2015. So it was this, it was this sort of history of Silicon Valley and artificial intelligence and robotics in Silicon Valley, and how we've sort of up to that point, what had happened and it. BB 20260717 mix GARY: Okay. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Really? Mm-hmm. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: goes through everything from like, you know, initial robotics and SRI and Steve Jobs and Siri. And that was his last big contribution to Apple, if you remember, right? And in fact, it was released and then he died the next day. Exactly. Yeah. And and so there's this anyway, it's really interesting and really fun. And so what was crazy and cool about it was, you know, in 2015, 2016, Siri was the biggest and greatest and coolest thing in the market as it related to like personal assistants and artificial intelligence driven stuff. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: goes through everything from like, you know, initial robotics and SRI and Steve Jobs and Siri. And that was his last big contribution to Apple, if you remember, right? And in fact, it was released and then he died the next day. Exactly. Yeah. And and so there's this anyway, it's really interesting and really fun. And so what was crazy and cool about it was, you know, in 2015, 2016, Siri was the biggest and greatest and coolest thing in the market as it related to like personal assistance and artificial intelligence driven stuff. BB 20260717 mix GARY: Chicago probably a Chicago person riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Yeah. Chicago company, a Chicago person was riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: And you know, nowadays, of course, like Siri is not for lots of reasons. I mean, they chose not to make it, right? It's a strategic distance for Apple. but some of the things they were talking about in that book have happened. And some of the things, of course, they were talking about in that book haven't happened. Like, you leapfrog and holo lens didn't become the thing that we're all using today to do computing. but they were widely theorized at the time that sure by by the mid-2020s, everyone would be just wearing glasses. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: And you know, nowadays, of course, like Siri is not for lots of reasons. I they chose not to make it, right? It's a strategic distance for Apple. but some of the things they were talking about in that book have happened. And some of the things, of course, they were talking about in that book haven't happened. Like, you know, leapfrog and holo lens didn't become the thing that we're all using today to do computing. but they were widely theorized at the time. Like sure by by the mid-2020s, everyone would be just wearing glasses. BB 20260717 mix GARY: Okay. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Yeah. BB 20260717 mix GARY: Thank riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: As you know, spatial BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: As you know, special riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: computing I love and I'm still a believer that someday we're going to experience computing more through through our eyeballs than than not. But anyway, so it's super fascinating. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: computing I love and I'm still a believer that someday we're going to experience computing more through our through our eyeballs than than not. But anyway, so it's super fascinating. All right. Well we yeah, we we've bantered enough. I'm gonna I'm gonna if it's okay, let's switch gears and actually bring in our guests because we have a we have a super smart guest who actually, and you'll appreciate this great if you don't already know it, he also is a Northwestern alum. Okay, good, good, good. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: All right. Well we yeah, we we've bantered enough. I'm gonna I'm gonna if it's okay, let's switch gears and actually bring in our guests because we have a we have a super smart guest who actually, and you'll appreciate this great if you don't already know it, he also is a Northwestern alum. Okay, good, good, good. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: Donate donate here. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Donate donate here. BB 20260717 mix GARY: Thanks riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Yeah. No. I don't know. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: All right. Well, awesome. So our guest today is Alex Kerr, and he's the CEO and founder of a company called Trajektory. Now, if you haven't heard of Trajektory before, that's okay. Trajektory is a rapidly growing partnership measurement platform for professional sports organizations. And if you don't know what that means, which most of us will not, that's not a problem. Alex is going to explain it to us. But the reason we have him on Boardroom and Blitz is because his story sits at what we think of as the intersection of sports, which is everyone loves, data. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: All right. Well, awesome. So our guest today is Alex Kerr, and he is the CEO and founder of a company called Trajektory. Now, if you haven't heard of Trajektory before, that's okay. Trajektory is a rapidly growing partnership measurement platform for professional sports organizations. And if you don't know what that means, which most of us will not, that's not a problem. Alex is going to explain it to us. But the reason we have him on Border and Blitz is because his story sits at what we think of as the intersection of sports, which is everyone loves, data. Enterprise selling, like category creation, and the transition from founder-led hustle, go get it done, kind of mentality, into scaled leadership as he's continued to grow the business, raise more capital, and crush it. So we're excited to have you here today, Alex. Thanks for joining us. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Enterprise selling, like category creation, and the transition from founder-led hustle, go get it done kind of mentality into scaled leadership as he's continued to grow the business, raise more capital, and crush it. So we're excited to have you here today, Alex. Thanks for joining us. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: No, thanks for the intro. And that intro just made me realize that I need to hire a full time hype man with that exact intro every single time I I walk into a room or join a call. So no, I'm I'm super pumped. We'll do. We'll I'll I'll take the recording and and transcribe it. But no, super excited to be here. Yeah. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: No, thanks for the intro. And that intro just made me realize that I need to hire a full time hype man with that exact intro every single time I I walk into a room or join a call. So no, I'm I'm super pumped. We'll do. We'll I'll I I'll take the recording and and transcribe it. But no, super excited to be here. Yeah. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: We can discuss rates afterwards, Alex. Just give me a call. Now a purity, Alex Kerr, BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: We can discuss rates afterwards, Alex. Just give me a call. Now a period, Alex Kerr, CEO extraordinaire. Yeah. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: CEO extraordinaire. Yeah. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Right. Right. BB 20260717 mix GARY: you BB 20260717 mix ALEX: Never. It'll never happen. It's always it's riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Never. It'll never happen. It's always it's BB 20260717 mix ALEX: me making the sound effect, by the way. Every time I walk in the room. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: me making the sound effect, by the way. Every time I walk around the room. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Yeah, yeah, right, right. Well, so before BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Yeah. Yeah, right, right. Well, so before riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: we go into the business, because that's gonna be fun and stuff, like most of people I know that have built sports tech companies or that have like dedicated their careers to growing a to growing a company within the sports universe are former athletes and or you know, were connected to, grew up around athletes. And that I believe profile also fits your personal background, right? Baseball, if I'm not mistaken. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: we go into the business, because that's gonna be fun and stuff, like most of people I know that have built sports tech companies or that have like dedicated their careers to growing a to growing a company within the sports universe are former athletes and or you know, were connected to, grew up around athletes. And that I believe profile also fits your personal background, right? Baseball, if I'm not mistaken. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: Thank you for going way down the rabbit hole. yes, I was a baseball player f in for a division three school based in north central Ohio at Kenyon College, go Lords, although I think we're the owls now. but yeah, I was I was a baseball player, played a year of semi pro afterward. it was a lot of fun. But but yeah, no. I was a pitcher by the time I got to college. I was a shortstop pitcher. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Thank you for going way down the rabbit hole. yes, I was a baseball player f in for a division three school based in north central Ohio at Kenyon College, go Lords, although I think we're the owls now. but yeah, I was I was a baseball player, played a year semi pro afterward. it was a lot of fun. But but yeah, no. I was a pitcher by the time I got to college. I was a shortstop pitcher. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: What is that? BB 20260717 mix GARY: I knew it! I knew it! riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Knew it. I knew it. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: Yeah, you know, it's it's the mental mind games and psyching yourself in and out of situations which is you know, it's it's an interesting riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Yeah, you know, it's it's the mental mind games and psyching yourself in and out of situations which is you know, it's it's an interesting BB 20260717 mix GARY: Well, if I had to riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Well if I had to BB 20260717 mix GARY: think of any player on the baseball team that had the immediate pedigree to be a founder, it's probably going to be a shortstop or a pitcher. That's where my mind is. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: think of like any player on a baseball team that had like the immediate pedigree to be a founder, it's probably gonna be a shortstop or a pitcher. That's like where my mind BB 20260717 mix ALEX: Or you just riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Or you just BB 20260717 mix ALEX: took one look at me and you have to f you or you have to figure out who's the weirdest, craziest person on the team, right? In soccer, it's goalies and baseball, it's pitchers, 'cause you have to be a little bit crazy to start something from scratch. So maybe that's the other way to decode it. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: took one look at me and you have to f you or you have to figure out who's the weirdest, craziest person on the team, right? In soccer, it's goalies and baseball, it's pitchers, 'cause you have to be a little bit crazy to start something from scratch. So maybe that's the other way to decode it. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: It's right. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: It's a picture or something. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: It's a picture or something. I love it. I I was a pitcher too, not in college, but but I pitched all my my whole youth. And I have to hear a crazy I'm gonna share a stupid pitching story, and I wanna hear your stupid pitching story. So super fun. Right. So w one of my most memorable experiences was I was pitching in a game. This we were it was the all-star team, sixth grade, we're in the playoffs and trying to go into state, and blah blah blah. And I'm on the mound and we're pitching, or I'm pitching. And this team was notorious for being great bunters. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: I love it. I I was a pitcher too, not in college, but but I pitched all my my whole youth. And I have to hear a crazy I'm gonna share a stupid pitching story, and I wanna hear your stupid pitching story. So super fun. Right. So w one of my most memorable experiences was I was pitching in a game. This we were it was the all-star team, sixth grade, we're in the playoffs and trying to go into state, blah blah blah. And I'm on the mound and we're pitching, or I'm pitching. And this team was notorious for being great bunters. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Do it. I got a baseball here, so this is this is applicable. Let's do it. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: I got a baseball here, so this is this is applicable. Let's do it. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: And I had done a very bad thing and I'd walked two guys in a row. and so I had runners on first and second base, and the guy on second base was wicked fast. In fact, he went on to play professional baseball. like excellent athlete, just crazy good athlete. Anyway, and so I'm like, this guy's gonna bunt. This dude is going to bunt the ball and I'm gonna just have to get it. But I was so pissed at myself because I had been walking guys and I was frustrated. I'm like, I'm gonna run him over. I'm like gonna do the the crazy thing to keep them from wanting to bunt again. Cause you know BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: And I had done a very bad thing and I'd walked two guys in a row. and so I had runners on first and second base, and the guy on second base was wicked fast. In fact, he went on to play professional baseball. like excellent athlete, just crazy good athlete. Anyway, and so I'm like, this guy's gonna bunt. This dude is going to bunt the ball and I'm gonna just have to get it. But I was so pissed at myself because I had been walking guys and I was frustrated. I'm like, I'm gonna run him over. I'm like gonna do the the crazy thing to keep them from wanting to bunt again. Cause you know riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: That's how it works. You you make enough contact with the with the guys sometimes playing defense or offense, like they're just you're gonna intimidate them it a bit. So anyway, so I pitched this ball. Sure enough, he bunts it, and I just I know it's coming, and so I'm I'm just running after my own pitch and he bunts it. I happen to choose right, meaning I actually went toward the I went to my left, the first baseline, and it's right there. I scoop up that ball and I just kept sprinting and I plowed him over. and just totally plowed him over. And as I did it, like my glove comes up and I hit my face and my BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: That's how it works. You you make enough contact with the with the guys sometimes playing defense or offense, like they're just you're gonna intend it a bit. So anyway, so I pitched this ball. Sure enough, he bunts it, and I just I know it's coming. And so I'm I'm just running after my own pitch and he bunts it. I happen to choose right, meaning I actually went toward the I went to my left, the first baseline, and it's right there. I scoop up that ball and I just kept sprinting and I plowed him over. and just totally plowed him over. And as I did it, like my glove comes up and I hit my face and my riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Yeah, for sure. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: Yeah, for sure. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: nose just explodes in a bloody nose. and then yeah, but then I grabbed the ball and I threw it back to second and we tagged the guy out at second because he was just sprinting for third for for third base on the bunt. So we got a double play out of it. But I was just bloody and my glove was covered in blood. And I kept that glove for the rest of my like youth time. And I didn't use it in high school, but I I still have that glove and there's still this blood streak all over it that's now like, you know, dark, dark brown and disgusting. been in there for forty years or whatever. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: nose just explodes in a bloody nose. and then yeah, but then I grabbed the ball and I threw it back to second and we tagged the guy out at second because he was just sprinting for third for for third base on the bump. So we got a double play out of it. But I was just bloody and my glove was covered in blood. And I kept that glove for the rest of my like youth time. And I didn't use it in high school, but I I still have that glove and there's still this blood streak all over it that's now like, you know, dark, dark brown and disgusting. been in there for forty years or whatever. BB 20260717 mix GARY: my god. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: my god. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: but I keep that glove because it reminds me that sometimes you gotta sometimes you gotta give a little extra. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: but I keep that glove because it reminds me that sometimes you gotta sometimes you gotta give a little extra. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: Or if we ever need to pull a DNA sample, we'll just know to go to the closet and find the blood all over it. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Or if we ever need to pull a DNA sample, we'll just know to go to the closet and find the basic with all the blood all over BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Yeah. Exactly. Just extract. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Yeah. Just extract from it. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: it. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Not that this is the point of the story, but I'm curious. Did the guy score on third? Did he BB 20260717 mix GARY: Not that this is the point of the story, but I'm curious, did the guy score on third? riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: No BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: No no no, because he was on I had a guy's on first and second and the guy that was on second was running to third because I snacked the other guy out, he actually turned back, which was odd, and then we we we got him out at second base. So this was your turn at the base, which is weird. I did get kicked out of the game though, I should say. Yeah. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: no, because he was on I had a guy's on first and second and the guy that was on second was running to third because I snacked the other guy out, he actually turned back, which was odd, and then we we we got him out of second base. So this was your turn at the base, which is weird. I did get kicked out of the game though, I should say. Yeah. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: So I'm I'm I'm waiting for the transition in terms of riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: So I'm I'm I'm waiting for the transition in terms of BB 20260717 mix ALEX: I'm waiting for the transition in terms of what this taught you about how to build a successful SaaS company. So this is some good one didn't post. yeah. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: I'm waiting for the transition in terms of what this taught you about how to build a successful SaaS company. So this this is a good LinkedIn post. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Right. Well, so what happened is I ended up getting I ended up getting kicked out of the game because it was obvious that I was being BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Right. Well, so what happened is I ended up getting I ended up getting kicked out of the game because it was obvious that I was being riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: yeah. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: a little little aggressive. and so I was I was not thrilled about getting kicked out of the game. So what I did what it did teach me is Jeremie Bacon needs to control his temper. Right. I that was that was the big lesson for me was dude chill the heck out and and and kill them with kindness. Don't don't don't have to run them over. So embarrassing. You have to have a crazy. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: a little little aggressive. and so I was I was not thrilled about getting kicked out of the game. So what I did what it did teach me is Jeremie Bacon needs to control his temper. Right. I mean that was that was the big lesson for me was dude chill the heck out and and and kill them with kindness. Don't don't not have to run them over. So embarrassing. You have to have a crazy. BB 20260717 mix GARY: Yeah, I wanna hear riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Yeah. I wanna hear riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: good. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Alex's story like this. BB 20260717 mix GARY: out the story like, let's like this. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: Right, riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: I BB 20260717 mix ALEX: actually I ironically I I I have one. so more about injury than than anything else. I thought it would be a great idea, and this was actually I think it was right before I went into college. I've separated both of my shoulders both times running over a catcher at home plate, which like in your youth you think is like, isn't that like this romantic thing about playing baseball where I'm just gonna lower a shoulder and try to win the game? Until you grow up and you start to realize I haven't slept a night through. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: actually ironically I I I have one. so more about injury than than anything else. I thought it would be a great idea, and this was actually I think it was right before I went into college. I've separated both of my shoulders both times running over a catcher at home plate, which like in your youth you think is like, isn't that like this romantic thing about playing baseball where I'm just gonna lower a shoulder and try to win the game? Until you grow up and you start to realize I haven't slept a night through. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Nice. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Nice. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: in twenty years without waking up because my shoulder hurts. As well as in retrospect, you know, we were up seven to one, eight to two. There was absolutely no reason other than Bravado to run the catcher over. and I was out both times by the way, kicked out of the game, automatic out, hurt myself. And, you know, this is when I was still quite young. So you know you you hit the catcher pretty hard if you actually hurt yourself when you're in high school. It's just the dumbest riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: in twenty years without waking up because my shoulder hurts. As well as in retrospect, you know, we were up seven to one, eight to two. There was absolutely no reason other than Bravado to run the catcher over. and I was out both times by the way, kicked out of the game, automatic out, hurt myself. And you know, this is when I was still quite young. So you know you you hit the catcher pretty hard if you actually hurt yourself when you're in high school. It's just the dumbest BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: No. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: No. Sure, sure. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Sure, sure. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: dumbest thing in retrospect. those are two of many stories. Yeah. No good. No good. Yeah, stupid. Is is ultimately what it came down to. But you know, that that could be a chapter in my in my book one day. Stupidity. It'll be a very long time. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Dumbest thing in retrospect. those are two of my stories. Yeah. No good. No good. Yeah, stupid is is ultimately what it came down to. But you know, that that could be a chapter in my in my book one day. Stupidity. It'll be a very long time. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Well on top of that, you're a pitcher. So yeah, and you're a pitcher. You gotta c you gotta protect that shoulder. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Nice work. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Well, on top of that, you're a pitcher. So Yeah, and you're a pitcher. You gotta c you gotta protect that shoulder. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Nice work. BB 20260717 mix GARY: I wish I riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: I wish I could be like have the third like story here and I'm like searching as you like I have the image, Alex, of you like diving into home plate up seven to one, separating your shoulder for the second time. And I don't think I've ever done a new thing like this. BB 20260717 mix GARY: could be like, have the third story here and I'm like searching as you, like I have an image of you like diving into home plate up seven to one, separating your shoulder for the second time. And I don't think I've ever done a new thing like this. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Well, you you have to have some sort BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Well, you you have to have some sort riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: of like golf story or something, Garry, where you like you got so ticked off you broke your club or you threw it into the No, nothing. Yours is too calm and cool. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: of like golf story or something, Garry, where you like you got so ticked off you broke your club or you threw it into the No, nothing. Yours is too calm and cool. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: I think you're the smart you're the smart common. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: I think you're the smart you're the smart common. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: boring might be the way the boring might be the way I BB 20260717 mix GARY: boring like the boring like the way I friday riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: find it. I was never the hero. I yeah what I realized is like wow maybe that's why I was never the hero. I never don't please BB 20260717 mix GARY: night I was never the hero what I realized is like wow maybe that's why I was never the hero I never dove from a play BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Ha ha BB 20260717 mix ALEX: But I wasn't riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: but I wasn't BB 20260717 mix ALEX: the hero. Th there is no reason for it is the point. So riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: the hero. Th there is no reason for it is the point. So riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Yeah. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Yeah. It mine BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Yeah. It mine riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: too. It was just dumb. We were just dumb. Yeah, just dumb. Cool. All right. So let's go, let's get down to business, shall we? So picture turned. you've done a lot of stuff. I mean, it your your background's really fast and we can talk about like the work you've done as a professor. This is really cool. But let's jump into trajectory because I'd love to hear a bit about like what you saw inside the sports industry that made you think, huh, this like this isn't just inefficient, it's broken and I can I can fix it. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: too. It was just dumb. We were just dumb. Yeah, just dumb. Cool. All right. So let's go let's get down to business, shall we? So picture turned. you've done a lot of stuff. I mean, it your your background's really fascinating. We can talk about like the work you've done as a professor. This is really cool. But let's jump into trajectory because I'd love to hear a bit about like what you saw inside the sports industry that made you think, huh, this like this isn't just inefficient. It's broken and I can I can fix it. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: That's really good. BB 20260717 mix GARY: Thank you. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: Thanks. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Thanks. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: Yeah, cool. yeah, where to start? So I by nature, I'm if you go on my LinkedIn and you see a lot of what I talk about, I'm like this self-described data nerd, and I almost wore my data nerd t shirt. Maybe I should have, but maybe for next time. I'm a self described data nerd, but what that really means is like I'm really a marketer at heart that had a really strong knack for data. And so I love that kind of work. I love this idea of like riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Yeah, cool. yeah, where to start? So I by nature, I'm if you go on my LinkedIn and you see a lot of what I talk about. I'm like this self-described data nerd, and I almost wore my data nerd t-shirt. Maybe I should have, but maybe for next time. I'm a self-described data nerd, but what that really means is like I'm really a marker at heart that had a really strong knack for data. And so I love that kind of work. I love this idea of like BB 20260717 mix ALEX: behavioral economics is kind of like what I do in my free time. Like I read a lot about that. So like the behavioral people. So when I got this really cool job post grad school to go work at this company called Monumental Sports and Entertainment out in DC, NHL Washington Capitals, that's all the hockey sticks in the corner, MBA Wizards, WMBA Mystics, AFL esports, you name it, I had the really cool opportunity to go help build the first business intelligence department there with a number of of other folks. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: behavioral economics is kind of like what I do in my free time. Like I read a lot about that. So like the behavioral people. So when I got this really cool job post grad school to go work at this company called Monumental Sports and Entertainment out in DC, NHL Washington Capitals, thus all the hockey sticks in the corner, MBA Wizards, WMBA Mystics, AFL Esports, you name it, I had the really cool opportunity to go help build the first business intelligence department there with a number of of other folks. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: A lot fell under my purview, but what I fell in love with was this irrationality of fandom, right? Like if you hear about Vegas, like, I went in Vegas, I'll spend 10 grand. The same parts of your brain light up when you're out of sports game. So I can get you, perhaps, to buy a $250 jersey in stadium that you wouldn't spend $50 on at Target. And I found that really fascinating, especially when my counterparts from from my MBA program were like sewing toothpaste and toilet paper. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: A lot fell under my purview, but what I fell in love with was this irrationality of fandom, right? Like if you hear about Vegas, like, went in Vegas, I'll spend 10 grand. The same parts of your brain light up when you're at a sports game. So I can get you, perhaps, to buy a $250 jersey in stadium that you wouldn't spend $50 on at Target. And I found that really fascinating, especially when my counterparts from from my MBA program were like sewing toothpaste and toilet paper. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: Not there's anything wrong with that, but like what a cool opportunity as a marketer to use data to try to to to to force that, right? So I found I fell in love with that. my team grew over time and eventually this world of sponsorship fell under my my purview. And so I was literally the guy in an office with no windows, with the rest of my team, getting phone calls from the geikos the world at the end of the year saying, Hey, we spent a million bucks with you. How do we do? riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Not there's anything wrong with that, but like what a cool opportunity as a marketer to use data to try to to to to force that, right? So I found I fell in love with that. my team grew over time and eventually this world of sponsorship fell under my my purview. And so I was literally the guy in an office with no windows, with the rest of my team, getting phone calls from the geikos the world at the end of the year saying, Hey, we spent a million bucks with you. How do we do? BB 20260717 mix ALEX: And we'd all kind of look around and after a couple of weeks or a couple of months, we'd go back to Geico and we'd say, We did a great job. We got a million dollars of value on TV from this television report we have. We got you another fifty thousand dollars of value from this social report. Please spend three million dollars with us next year. And it was kind of a it's a tongue-in-cheek example, but it's really not that far off from the truth in terms of how this reporting was being done. We were only reporting on riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: And we'd all kind of look around and after a couple of weeks or a couple of months, we'd go back to Geico and we'd say, We did a great job. We got a million dollars of value on TV from this television report we have. We got you another fifty thousand dollars of value from the social report. Please spend three million dollars with us next year. And it was kind of a it's a tongue-in-cheek example, but it's really not that far off from the truth in terms of how this reporting was being done. We were only reporting on BB 20260717 mix GARY: you riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Mm-hmm. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: ten to fifteen percent of the riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: 10 to 15% of the BB 20260717 mix ALEX: overall sponsorship portfolio that was that was there. And as a data guy, it's just hitting my head against a wall and and found it really frustrating. Love the org, but this is just, you know, widespread. So long story short, I did that for, you know, better part of half a decade. I loved it. Great mentorship there. but I eventually came back to Chicago where I'm originally from. great opportunity to get home and I went to work for a big brand. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: overall sponsorship portfolio that was that was there. And as a data guy, it's just hitting my head against a wall and and found it really frustrating. Love the org, but this is just, you know, widespread. So long story short, I did that for, you know, better part of half a decade. I loved it, great mentorship there. but I eventually came back to Chicago where I'm originally from. great opportunity to get home and I went to work for a big brand. BB 20260717 mix GARY: Right? BB 20260717 mix ALEX: And all of a sudden I built, you know, 30, 40 person team, multiple divisions, and we control the purse of, you know, riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: And all of a sudden I built, you know, a 30, 40 person team, multiple divisions, and we control the purse of, you know, 15, 20 million dollars a year in sponsorship spend. And all of a sudden I was the guy getting a picture at the end of the year saying, here's a beautiful picture of your sponsorship. Please, please, please spend twice as much with us next year. So that to me, being on sort of both the buy side and the sell side of sponsorship, I was like, man, like there's got to be a better way to do this. And so eventually I just said to hell with it. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: 15, 20 million dollars a year in sponsorship spend. And all of a sudden I was the guy getting a picture at the end of the year saying, Here's a beautiful picture of your sponsorship. Please, please, please spend twice as much with us next year. So that to me, being on sort of both the buy side and the sell side of sponsorship, I was like, Man, like there's gotta be a better way to do this. And so eventually I just said to hell with it. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Yeah. BB 20260717 mix GARY: Thank riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: We BB 20260717 mix GARY: Thank you. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: broke off started trajectory and as you gave me the great hype to start the call, Jeremie. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: broke off, started trajectory, and as you gave me the great hype to start the call, Jeremie. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: you know, really what we do is we work with the world's biggest professional teams, leagues, agencies and brands, so both sides of the market to evaluate really the entire, the entire sponsorship spend comprehensively across the market. So yeah, we're a bunch of data nerds at the end of the day is really what it comes down to. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: you know, really what we do is we work with the world's biggest professional teams, leagues, agencies and brands so both sides of the market to evaluate really the entire the entire sponsorship spend comprehensively across the market. So yeah, we're a bunch of data nerds at the end of the day is really what it comes down to. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Mm. BB 20260717 mix GARY: Thank you. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Okay. BB 20260717 mix GARY: I love this. I mean, know Jeremie, you already know the company. I don't know the company as well, but I remember I have a great friend who's the head of marketing at AT &T. And I asked her this question, how do you quantify the impact of a Super Bowl commercial? Like, how does one go in and go, let's do that again? Alex's company is like helping companies to try to understand where they should put their dollars and why they should put their dollars. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: I love this. I mean, I know Jeremie, you already know the company. I don't know the company as well. But I remember I have a a great friend who's the head of marketing at at ATT. And I I asked her this question, like, how do you quantify the impact of a Super Bowl commercial? Like how how does one go in and go, let's do that again? It's Al Alex's company is like helping companies to try to understand where they should put their dollars and why they should put their dollars. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: Yeah. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Yeah. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: Yeah, no, you actually sum it up really well. What we what we try to do for brands is and this has came out of my experience on it, is if I had one more dollar to spend, like what market, what league, what team, what channel is gonna give me my best bang for my buck, right? So and that only answers part of the question and I'd love to sit here and be like, we're you know, we do absolutely everything, we slice and we dice. The reality is the answer for ATT could be a myriad of different things, right? It could be in part what we do, which is valuation and measurement. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Yeah, no, you actually sum it up really well. What we what we try to do for brands is and this has came out of my experience on it, is if I had one more dollar to spend, like what market, what league, what team, what channel is gonna give me my best bang for my buck, right? So and that only answers part of the question. And I'd love to sit here and be like, we're you know, we do absolutely everything, we slice and we dice. The reality is the answer for ATT could be a myriad of different things, right? It could be in part what we do, which is valuation and measurement. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Yeah, then again. BB 20260717 mix GARY: I believe that you BB 20260717 mix ALEX: it could be other things that we don't focus on too. It could be recall. It also could just be because and I'm not even making this up, because their competitors are spending, they need to continue to spend to block their their competitors from being able to do that. So, or the C E T just loves sports. It could be that too. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: it could be other things that we don't focus on too. It could be recall. It also could just be because and I'm not even making this up, because their competitors are spending, they need to continue to spend to block their their competitors from being able to do that. So, or the C E T just loves sports. Could be that too. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Yeah. BB 20260717 mix GARY: Bye. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Exactly right. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Well I was gonna ask Right, for sure. Well to that end, I was gonna ask you this, then maybe maybe you're kind of getting to this is, you know, what did you initially misunderstand about enterprise sales in professional sports? Did you think it was just if I give the number, they're gonna buy? Did you not understand originally that ATT's gotta keep investing because T Mobile's there too? or like I'd love to hear sort of that, because it's such an it's such a relationship driven industry and a relationship driven business. This the business of sports that is. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Right, for sure. Well, to that end, I was gonna ask you this, then maybe, maybe you're kind of getting to this is, you know, what did you initially misunderstand about enterprise sales in professional sports? Did you think it was just if I give the number, they're gonna buy? Did you not understand originally that ATT's gotta keep investing because T Mobile's there too? or like I'd love to hear sort of that, because it's such an it's such a relationship driven industry and a relationship driven business, this the business of sports that is. I'm super curious to know if there were things that were like, we had no idea this was the way it was gonna be. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: I'm super curious to know if there were things that were like, we had no idea this was the way it was gonna be. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: I I'm gonna answer the question, but I'll start by saying I I think we were fortunate in that we had eyes wide open in terms of what a lot of the challenges and roadblocks were gonna be to to sell into a lot of these groups. I think one one thing that surprised me was how long the sales cycle really can be in B2B SAS. and and how many decision makers are now part of riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: I I'm gonna answer the question, but I'll start by saying I I think we were fortunate in that we had eyes wide open in terms of what a lot of the challenges and roadwalks were gonna be to to sell into a lot of these groups. I think one one thing that surprised me was how long the sales cycle really can be in B2B SAS. and and how many decision makers are now part of riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Yeah. BB 20260717 mix GARY: you BB 20260717 mix ALEX: that world, right? And like maybe I'm preaching to the choir a little bit, but I kind of have this like glorified idea in my head like 20 or 30 years ago. It was like, let's go have a cigar and a scotch and like let's make a deal and have a handshake. And now it's everybody, their second cousin and every intern is invited to every meeting and everyone somehow has a has a fair vote. And it's like I know that's not true and I'm kind of being dicey about it, but like it really is amazing how how much riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: that world, right? And like maybe I'm preaching to the choir a little bit, but I kind of have this like glorified idea in my head like 20 or 30 years ago. It was like, let's go have a cigar and a scotch and like let's make a deal and have a handshake. And now it's everybody, their second cousin and every intern is invited to every meeting and everyone somehow has a has a fair vote. And it's like I know that's not true and I'm kind of being dicey about it, but like it really is amazing how how much riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Mm. BB 20260717 mix GARY: and keep going. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Yeah. BB 20260717 mix GARY: Yeah. You riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Really? BB 20260717 mix GARY: Thank BB 20260717 mix ALEX: culture in many organizations has become everybody has to have a voice and it has to be a full team decision and just how slow that stuff takes. As it relates to like the needs and the demands of the market itself, you know, i i I would say it's it's it's kind of a split case. You know, there were a lot of groups that I think very early on recognized a more comprehensive measurement and reporting platform is a good thing. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: culture in many organizations has become everybody has to have a voice and it has to be a full team decision and just how slow that stuff takes. As it relates to like the needs and the demands of the market itself, you know, i i I would say it's it's it's kind of a split case. You know, there were a lot of groups that I think very early on recognized a more comprehensive measurement and reporting platform is a good thing. I can report more data and I can riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Okay. BB 20260717 mix GARY: Okay. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: I can report more data and I can potentially drive more revenue for my organization through better recommendations as to where these these groups should spend or or where you should allocate your your investment. But there are also a lot of people that for whatever reason, right, either they're not comfortable with data. So data is just an intimidating thing in general, so they just they don't want anything to do with it, or alternatively. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: potentially drive more revenue for my organization through better recommendations as to where these these groups should spend or or where you should allocate your your investment. But there are also a lot of people that for whatever reason, right, either they're not comfortable with data. So data is just an intimidating thing in general. So they just they don't want anything to do with it. Or alternatively, riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Yeah. BB 20260717 mix GARY: Thank BB 20260717 mix ALEX: There's there are a lot of groups out there and, you know, teams specifically that, you know, it's riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: there's there are a lot of groups out there and you know, teams specifically that, you know, it's BB 20260717 mix ALEX: they're in a smaller market, people aren't watching because the team isn't performing well, and their sponsorship is not worth what they're selling it for. That doesn't mean they should sell it for any less, but but it does run into an issue when you're trying to be a currency grade platform like us, like we don't just change numbers for the sake of changing numbers, where a lot of these groups actually don't. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: They're in a smaller market, people aren't watching because the team isn't performing well, and their sponsorship is not worth what they're selling it for. That doesn't mean they should sell it for any less, but but it does run into an issue when you're trying to be a currency grade platform like us, like we don't just change numbers for the sake of changing numbers, where a lot of these groups actually don't BB 20260717 mix ALEX: don't want to know what the damage is and they certainly don't want to report it back to their partners because it's it's a pretty damning, damning look. So riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: don't want to know what the damage is and they certainly don't want to report it back to their partners because it's it's a pretty damning, damning look. So BB 20260717 mix GARY: Thank riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Yeah, doesn't look great. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Yeah, doesn't look great. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: I think that's a surprise too. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Think that's a surprise too. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Well, riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Well, BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: yeah, two things you mentioned I I want to hit on. Well, one I'll hit on one I want to lead to the second question. But you mentioned this notion that, you know, especially nowadays, in B2B enterprise sales, the mobilizer inside the organization, the the it's not like you have a buyer anymore. That there's a committee in almost every it's no longer transactional. Everything's the decision by committee, which is terrible. And so having your riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: yeah, two things you mentioned I I want to hit on. Well, one I'll hit on one I want to lead to a second question. But you mentioned this notion that, you know, especially nowadays, in B2B enterprise sales, the mobilizer inside the organization, that the it's not like you have a buyer anymore. That there's a committee in almost every it's no longer transactional. Everything's the decision by committee, which is terrible. And so having your BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Your mobilizer, whether it's early wins or even like as you start to scale, you still need that mobilizer internally. And you know, because you've got everyone from finance and IT and the user group and the their everyone and their their their sister, aunt, brother, and cousin comes to the table and has a has an opinion. have you found in particular one or two, I guess, things that have made it easier for you guys to break down those walls? riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: mobilizer, whether it's early wins or even like as you start to scale, you still need that mobilizer internally. And you know, because you've got everyone from finance and IT and the user group and the their everyone and their their their sister, aunt, brother, and cousin comes to the table and has a has an opinion. have you found in particular one or two I guess things that have made it easier for you guys to break down those walls? I have a couple of things I talk about a lot with with students and with founders that I work with, but I'm curious if you guys have a methodology that you've sort of developed to really break down that that wall to get through procurement to get to yes. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: I have a couple of things I talk about a lot with with students and with founders that I work with, but I'm curious if you guys have a methodology that you've sort of developed to really break down that that wall to get through procurement, to get to yes. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: man, you know, I feel like you're asking this question and like perhaps there's some like beautiful tactic that I've used. I'm actually gonna go more mushy gushy. I I really love building teams everywhere I've gone in my career. And one of the things that it's easy to say all this stuff, by the way, so anyone who's listening to this, it's like, my god, Alex is just saying all the cliche things. But like I really try to adhere to the like riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: man, you know, I feel like you're asking this question and like perhaps there's some like beautiful tactic that I've used. I'm actually gonna go more mushy gushy. I I really love building teams everywhere I've gone in my career. And one of the things that it's easy to say all this stuff, by the way, so anyone who's listening to this, it's like, my god, Alex is just saying all the cliche things. But like I really try to adhere to the like BB 20260717 mix ALEX: No asshole rule, leave your ego at the door. You're just as likely to see any of us doing the grunt work as a VP, as an intern, and and everything in between. And I think when you establish that kind of culture, especially on the sales end, you end up at times, not always, right? we have we have really created some like genuinely like really good human beings that I think have a s done a really good job at not forgetting that sales is riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: No asshole rule, leave your ego at the door. You're just as likely to see any of us doing the grunt work as a VP, as an intern, and and everything in between. And I think when you establish that kind of culture, especially on the sales end, you end up at times, not always, right? we have we have really created some like genuinely like really good human beings that I think have a s done a really good job at not forgetting that sales is. BB 20260717 mix GARY: Thank riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Okay, BB 20260717 mix ALEX: Is about building relationships. And oftentimes that's a long-term, a long-term game. and so I think the way that we have found a lot of internal champions and cut through a lot of that red tape and gotten through procurement a little bit faster is that while it certainly is a transaction, like I'm not gonna sit here and say it's not a transaction, like we're a for-profit company, we're trying to make money, but riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Is about building relationships. And oftentimes that's a long-term, a long-term game. and so I think the way that we have found a lot of internal champions and cut through a lot of that red tape and gotten through procurement a little bit faster is that while it certainly is a transaction, like I'm not gonna sit here and say it's not a transaction, like we're a for-profit company, we're trying to make money, but riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Yeah. BB 20260717 mix GARY: you BB 20260717 mix ALEX: there's also still a way to build authentic relationships. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: There's also still a way to build authentic relationships to garner internal support that can help move things along. And I have generally found that being more amenable and friendly and nice and kind, generally cuts through things a little bit faster than taking a hard stance, which again is easy for me to say. And I don't always practice that. Sometimes I can be a little forceful, when I'm talking to my own vendors, but BB 20260717 mix ALEX: to garner internal support that can help move things along. And I have generally found that being more amenable and friendly and nice and kind, generally cuts through things a little bit faster than taking a hard stance, which again is easy for me to say. And I don't always practice that. Sometimes I can be a little forceful, when I'm talking to my own vendors, but BB 20260717 mix GARY: you riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Yeah. BB 20260717 mix GARY: Thank Thank riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Yeah. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: but I think that has that has been a piece that I have found has helped us, especially in the face of riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: But I think that has that has been a piece that I have found has helped us, especially in the face of BB 20260717 mix ALEX: I know where a lot of other our competitors have just issues, right? It's it's I I think we have a little bit more life in in the relationships we build. But probably every CEO would say that. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: I know where a lot of other our competitors have just issues, right? It's it's I I think we have a little bit more life in in the relationships we build. But probably every CEO would say that. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: well, I love that because you know, my job before I started my company was settling and installing software but with within a big, big like kind of one of the big four consulting firms and the partner I worked under used to say people do business with people they know and they like. And so when I left to start my company, I said, You have any advice for me? He's like, Hit know and be liked. BB 20260717 mix GARY: Well, I love that because my job before I started my company was selling and installing software within a big, big, kind of one of the big four consulting firms. And the partner I worked under used to say, people do business with people they know and they like. And so when I left to start my company, I said, you're gonna be nice for me. He's like, know and be liked, right? riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Right. And so when we started our company, our first core value is that we listen to and delight our users and customers. And I always harp on this delight part because I think it's the separate. I mean, every really good company's gonna like ask really good questions in in pre sales, hopefully be good listeners. But are you really trying to bring a little bit of something to the meeting? You know, because people work with people and they and and they in BB 20260717 mix GARY: And so we started our company, our first core value is that we listen to and delight our users and customers. And I always harp on this delight part because I think it's the separate, I mean, every really good company is going to like ask really good questions and pre-sales, hopefully be good listeners. But are you really trying to bring a little bit of something to the meeting? Because people work with people and your technology could be riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Your technology could be built by many different vendors. And so I really like how you were saying, Alex, around, you know, no asshole, but also just like a little bit of something, like a little bit of zhuzh that kind of makes, you know, at least for us, makes people want to potentially do business with you if all the other stuff makes sense. specifically with you and your company. How have you thought about that? Like how have you thought about BB 20260717 mix GARY: built by many different vendors. And so I really like how you were saying, Alex, around no asshole, but also just a little bit of something, a little bit of juzh that kind of makes, at least for us, makes people want to potentially do business with you if all the other stuff makes sense, specifically with you and your company. How have you thought about that? How have you thought about your competitive edge in the cell? Is it something like... riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: your competitive edge like in the cell? Is it is it something like, you know, become a friend of the customer, you know, BB 20260717 mix GARY: you know, become a friend of the customer, you know, or have some delight or, yeah, just maybe take us through a little bit of like, if I were a new AE at your company, like what are some of the things that you'd be telling me about like how we sell our business? riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Have some delight or yeah, just maybe take us through a little bit of like if I were a new AE at your company, like what are some of the things that you'd be telling me about like how we sell our business? BB 20260717 mix ALEX: Man, and I was gonna ask you a follow-up question and turn the tables and then you got a question in at the end of your your commentary, but I'm still gonna get a question out for you in a moment. But to answer your answer your question, and again, it's like I wish I had more of like a a tried and true, like here's a cool frame. You're a consult you're a former consultant. What's the framework that we're gonna use for the, you know, for the for the structure? w we were very fortunate early in the build of our company. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Man, and I was gonna ask you a follow-up question and turn the tables and then you got a question in at the end of your your commentary, but I'm still gonna get a question out for you in a moment. But to answer your answer your question, and again, it's like I wish I had more of like a a tried and true, like here's a cool frame. You're a consult, you're a former consultant. What's the framework that we're gonna use for the, you know, for the for the structure? W we were very fortunate early in the build of our company. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: The framework. BB 20260717 mix GARY: It's over. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Cycles. Yes. BB 20260717 mix GARY: I'm can do BB 20260717 mix ALEX: where I hired a young man who is still with us. He's our vice president of sales. and the the thing I often say about Brian is that there is nobody I would rather be next to in the room. he's a genuine human being, he's authentic, he's honest, and he puts in so much work behind the scenes as it relates to developing relationships on text. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: where I hired a young man who is still with us. He's our vice president of sales. and the the thing I often say about Brian is that there is nobody I would rather be next to in the room. he's a genuine human being, he's authentic, he's honest, and he puts in so much work behind the scenes as it relates to developing relationships on text. BB 20260717 mix GARY: you riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Yeah. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: Which as a CEO can also be annoying when it's like, Hey, can you s what is actually going on with this account? And it's in a text message and it's this and over there. but but he he I thought really genuinely builds relationships, not for the sale, but but because he genuinely like cares about human beings and he's a just a really authentic good person. And that rubbed off on his team as he as he built a team over over the course of several years. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Which as a CEO can also be annoying when it's like, hey, can you s what is actually going on with this account? And it's in a text message and it's this and over there. but but he he I thought really genuinely builds relationships, not for the sale, but but because he genuinely like cares about human beings and he's a he's just a really authentic good person. And that rubbed off on his team as he as he built a team over over the course of several years BB 20260717 mix GARY: Thank you. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Yeah, well. Yes. Yeah. BB 20260717 mix GARY: Yes. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: I think that mentality of like all that grit and grind that you do behind the scenes, builds his own reputation. And by the way, it's great for our company. Brian will go on to something else at some point in his career and will also reap the benefits of of those relationships that he's made. And so look, sales are really important and we've gotta be aggressive and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. But I think if you can find people that are really taking the time to plant seeds and cultivate it, riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: I think that mentality of like all that grit and grind that you do behind the scenes, builds his own reputation. And by the way, it's great for our company. Brian will go on to something else at some point in his career and will also reap the benefits of of those relationships that he's made. And so look, sales are really important and we've gotta be aggressive and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. But I think if you can find people that are really taking the time to plant seeds and cultivate it, riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Yeah. BB 20260717 mix GARY: you Yeah. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: there's something really, really different that I think is produced on on the end. It doesn't always move as fast as somebody like me might want. but I think sort of that that that mentality and that approach, if you can cr if you can find people like that, generally work out really, really well. So we're we're lucky to have folks like Brian and there's many other people on our team that are that are similar in riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: there's something really, really different that I think is produced on on the end. It doesn't always move as fast as somebody like me might want. but I think sort of that that that mentality and that approach, if you can cr if you can find people like that, generally work out really, really well. So we're we're lucky to have folks like Brian and there's many other people on our team that are that are similar. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Mm. BB 20260717 mix GARY: You BB 20260717 mix ALEX: that. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: That's awesome. So I wanna actually, if I can, follow up with you on that point a little bit. so now today, Trajektory works with I think half or almost half of all the professional teams in North America and more than two thirds of the NHL, right? so things are going great, you got a long way to go, building fetuses, et cetera, et cetera. But but you guys have sort of reached a a point where your voice is now being heard by the industry, which is great. And certain things have probably gotten easier, certain things have gotten a lot harder. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: That's awesome. So I wanna actually, if I can, follow up with you on that point a little bit. so now today, Trajektory works with I think half or almost half of all the professional teams in North America and more than two thirds of the NHL, right? so things are going great, you got a long way to go, building fetuses, et cetera, et cetera. But but you guys have sort of reached a a point where your voice is now being heard by the industry, which is great. And certain things have probably gotten easier, certain things have gotten a lot harder. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: Yeah. Something like that. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Yeah. Something like that. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Because you're now a you're kind of the king of the category, or you're you're the heir apparent, if you will, to the king being the king of the category, which is a big deal. So I'm curious, like for you, like what as as you've been hitting that growth trajectory, like what started to break down first? And then to add to that, where did you have to hire ahead of the company's growth? And maybe where did you wait too long to hire in a couple of areas that that you're kind of like, had I done that sooner, it would have been better. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Because you're now a you're kind of the king of the category, or you're you're the heir apparent, if you will, to the king being the king of the category, which is a big deal. So I'm curious, like for you, like what as as you've been hitting that growth trajectory, like what started to break down first? And then to add to that, where did you have to hire ahead of the company's growth? And maybe where did you wait too long to hire in a couple of areas that that you're kind of like, had I done that sooner, it would have been better. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: Great question. I think yeah, and and for anybody that has built a company, right? It's there's kind of the like building the ship of Theseus, like is you're like you're you're building it as you go, sort of situation. And it's kind of this step where it's like you need to sell more to hire more, and it's a never-ending spiral, and hopefully one day you're able to pull out of the gravity of it all. you know, I would say where where we really tried to get ahead early on riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Great question. I think yeah, and and for anybody that has built a company, right? It's there's kind of the like building the ship of Theseus, like is you're like you're you're building it as you go, sort of situation, and it's kind of this step where it's like you need to sell more to hire more, and it's a never ending spiral, and hopefully one day you're able to pull out of the gravity of it all. you know, I would say where where we really tried to get ahead early on. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Mr. B. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: and riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: And BB 20260717 mix ALEX: maybe we did it well in in some quarters and maybe we didn't do it as well in other quarters, but we really did try to to take a men we did really try to take an approach of if we're going to scale, we need to have like customer success folks that are really going to to help sort of usher and steward these these folks in and intake them and and do right by them. And by the way, like when you're a starting company like riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: maybe we did it well in in some quarters and maybe we didn't do it as well in other quarters, but we really did try to to take amend we did really try to take an approach of if we're going to scale, we need to have like customer success folks that are really going to to help sort of usher and steward these these folks in and intake them and and do right by them. And by the way, like when you're a starting company, like BB 20260717 mix ALEX: It's not that you're duct taping everything together, but you're plugging holes and you're trying to figure it out as you go. And so you need people that are gonna be able to do that and and and and plug those holes, right? So, you know, there were certainly some quarters that maybe we were a little bit more lean than we wanted to, but I think we we generally did an okay job at at hiring CS people. although I'm sure anybody who's listening to this from my CS team would be like bullshit, like no way, dude. Like we understand. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: It's not that you're duct taping everything together, but you're plugging holes and you're trying to figure it out as you go. And so you need people that are gonna be able to do that and and and and plug those holes, right? So, you know, there were certainly some quarters that maybe we were a little bit more lean than we wanted to, but I think we we generally did an okay job at at hiring CS people. although I'm sure anybody who's listening to this from my CS team would be like bullshit, like no way, dude. Like we understand. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Double the team right now. Triple the team right BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Double the team right now. Triple the team right riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: now. Yeah. Yeah. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: now. Yeah, yeah. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Yeah, everyone's BB 20260717 mix ALEX: Yeah, everyone's gonna no one no one on my team's allowed watch this. but and then the other thing though is I also have always carried the mentality from one of my advisors who said this and it just it stuck with me, was when a doubt, hire a good engineer. and so I've always tried to to err on hiring hiring engineers and and people that can help us actually build the product, right? Instead of being paper SAS, we want to be real SAS and real software. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: gonna no one no one on my team's allowed watch this. but and the other thing though is I also have always carried the mentality from one of my advisors who said this and it just it stuck with me was when in doubt, hire a good engineer. and so I've always tried to to err on hiring hiring engineers and and people that can help us actually build the product, right? Instead of being paper SAS, we want to be real SaaS and real software. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: so instead of just having manual people riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: So instead of just having manual people doing this stuff behind the scenes, we've really shied away from that. So I think we've hired ahead. To come full circle, though, and to answer the back half of your question, where perhaps did we not did we not do well enough? Again, the the people that help you get from zero to one is a really, really special group. But oftentimes the people that then help companies scale from one to ten. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: doing this stuff behind the scenes, we've really shied away from that. So I think we've hired ahead. To come full circle though, and to answer the back half of your question, where perhaps did we not did we not do well enough? Again, the the people that help you get from zero to one is a really, really special group. But oftentimes the people that then help companies scale from one to 10, it's riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: It's not all the same players, right? You want those players to to make that leap and to make that jump. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: not all the same players, right? You want those players to to make that leap and to make that jump. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Funny BB 20260717 mix ALEX: And at least in in our experience, the way that I would sort of thematically talk about it was like it was zero to one was like shoot by your hip and like who's the next person up and I can do that and I'll raise my hand and I'll be the the guy that solves it and it was this just really kind of cool like who can do it, let's do it, let's throw our best person up there. But as you get bigger, you need to start to operationalize and riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: And at least in in our experience, the way that I would sort of thematically talk about it was like it was zero to one, was like shoot by your hip and like who's the next person up? And I can do that, and I'll raise my hand and I'll be the the guy that solves it. And it was this just really kind of cool, like who can do it? Let's do it, let's throw our best person up there. But as you get bigger, you need to start to operationalize and riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Well, it's BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Well, it's like a professional sports team or not. Like you need utility players to get on the field and then you need specialty players to win, right? That's just how it works. Yeah. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: like a professional sports team or not. Like you need utility players to get on the field and then you need specialty players to win, right? That's just how it works. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Okay. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: Wow, great, great circle back to the whole thing. That's gonna be the teaser to the whole thing. It's just my mind blown of the sports analogy. but no, but you are you are dead on. And so what we really spent the last, you know, twelve or so months, give or take a few months is riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Wow, great, great circle back to the whole thing. That's gonna be the teaser to the whole thing. It's just my mind blown to the sports analogy. but no, but you are you are dead on. And so what we really spent the last, you know, twelve or so months, give or take a few months is riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Well. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Sports, baby, sports. I know. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Sports, baby, sports I know. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: really trying to operationalize through a new level of of leaders and managers and and specialists really across the board from top to bottom. So everything from the top echelons of leadership on on the executive team all the way down to our entry level hires, right? We're we're finding that like we need to be more operationalized to to be more effective and efficient. And so I've been really, really excited about the people that we've been able to retain. we've lost really riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: really trying to operationalize through a new level of of leaders and managers and and specialists really across the board from top to bottom. So everything from the top echelons of leadership on on the executive team all the way down to our entry level hires, right? We're we're finding that like we need to be more operationalized to to be more effective and efficient. And so I've been really, really excited about the people that we've been able to retain. we've lost really BB 20260717 mix ALEX: Right, smart people who just, you know, we don't have we're not a Microsoft or an Apple. We don't have billions of dollars to to spend. And so, you know, we will lose good people who are worth a lot more on the open market. And so we've had to say goodbye to to some really great talents. But that's also I think one of the things that is really, really natural. And actually, I know you didn't ask this question, but now I now that I have the microphone, the big challenge that we're sort of faced with right now is like I think a lot of people are feeling uneasy. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: right, smart people who just, you know, we don't have we're not a Microsoft or an Apple. We don't have billions of dollars to to spend. And so, you know, we will lose good people who are worth a lot more on the open market. And so we've had to say goodbye to to some really great talents. But that's also I think one of the things that is really, really natural. And actually I know you didn't ask this question, but now I now that I have the microphone, the big challenge that we're sort of faced with right now is like I think a lot of people are feeling uneasy. like, man, like one of our managers left or one of our directors left. and it's like guys, like this is this is super natural. And yeah, like we've we've got some great people, but like guess what? Now we get to go hire someone who has the experience and who has actually been through this as opposed to a lot of those early day folks were like, hey, you know what, we're just gonna figure this out as we go. So I actually am am more excited about where the business is than I ever really genuinely have been. I also I think have BB 20260717 mix ALEX: like, man, like one of our managers left, or one of our directors left. and it's like, guys, like this is this is super natural. And yeah, like we've we've got some great people, but like guess what? Now we get to go hire someone who has the experience and who has actually been through this as opposed to a lot of those early day folks were like, hey, you what, we're just gonna figure this out as we go. So I actually am am more excited about where the business is than I ever really genuinely have been. I also I think have BB 20260717 mix GARY: You riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Yeah. BB 20260717 mix GARY: you riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Yeah. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: to say that, but I actually mean it in this case. But I know that some people are looking around and they're like, man, this team looks different than it did two years ago. And it's like, yeah, for sure it does. So anyway, sorry, off my soapbox. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: to say that, but I actually mean it in this case. But I know that some people are looking around and they're like, man, this team looks different than it did two years ago. And it's like, yeah, for sure it does. So anyway, sorry, off my soapbox. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Yeah. BB 20260717 mix GARY: and I'll see forward. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Four. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: And it'll look different two years. Yeah. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: And it'll look different to your yeah. No, it's great. So well to that end then too, right? Where so given that change is normal, yeah. In fact, part of your job, and you've already started to experience this, you'll experience it even more as you continue to grow. Your job is to always be hiring and helping everyone in the organization to succeed inside or outside of the organization. And that's totally fine, right? it's great. so riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: No, it's great. So well, to that end then too, right? Where so given that change is normal, yeah. In fact, part of your job, and you've already started to experience this, you'll experience it even more as you continue to grow. Your job is to always be hiring and helping everyone in the organization to succeed inside or outside of the organization. And that's totally fine, right? it's great. so I'm always curious, especially in growth stage companies, where you as the founder sort of still see yourself as the best person in the company to make a certain decision. And then where would be a warning sign if the team still needed you to make the decision in some capacity? Does that make sense? BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: I'm always curious, especially in gross stage companies, where you as the founder sort of still see yourself as the best person in the company to make a certain decision. And then where would be a warning sign if the team still needed you to make the decision in some capacity? Does that make sense? BB 20260717 mix ALEX: It does, and it's a big can of worms. and I don't know and I don't I don't know This whole part is just gonna have music playing over it as my mouth is opening and I don't hear it. so I don't know if I'm gonna answer your question dead on, but keep me honest and and come back to it if if if I if I don't give you what what what you're looking for. The decisions that now come to me, and I'm actually gonna I'm gonna tell a little bit of a story. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: It does, and it's a big can of worms. and I don't know and I don't I don't know. This whole part is just gonna have music playing over it as my mouth is opening, no one can hear it. so I don't know if I'm gonna answer your question dead on, but keep me honest and and come back to it if if if I if I don't give you what what what you're looking for. The decisions that now come to me, and I'm actually gonna I'm gonna tell a little bit of a story. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Mm-hmm. Hopefully hopefully they're hopefully they're gummy worms. BB 20260717 mix GARY: Pfft. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: So you you can play the pet, it's fine. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: So you you can play the pet, that's fine. BB 20260717 mix GARY: with their gummy worms. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Ha ha ha. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Ha ha ha. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: to to to bring this up. And so my one of my colleagues pointed this out to me. So I was I was having a a real tough week, about a year and a half ago. And like just problem after problem, the sales team this and we lost a deal and the C S team, we didn't retain someone. The engineering team came in and this is a problem. And it's like that has always been my job. But like this this just week in particular was just kicking my ass and my my my my riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: to to to bring this up. And so my one of my colleagues pointed this out to me. So I was I was having a a real tough week about a year and a half ago. And like just problem after problem, a sales team this and we lost a deal and the C S team, we didn't retain someone. The engineering team came in and this is a problem. And it's like that has always been my job. But like this this just week in particular was just kicking my ass and my my my my BB 20260717 mix ALEX: partner in the business at the time came in and he was like, Hey, like, we got this other problem here. And I'm I'm close with him, right? And so I can be a little bit more vulnerable. And I just put my head in my hands and I was like, God damn it. Like, like, this is like this is just this is just unbelievably just tough right now. Like, what the hell is going on? And blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And he just sit there and he just kinda gave and he was an engineer. So he just kinda gave me this like kind of turned his head, gave me a quizzical look, like, riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: partner in the business at the time came in and he was like, Hey, like we got this other problem here. And I'm I'm close with him, right? And so I can be a little bit more vulnerable. And I just put my head in my hands and I was like, God damn it. Like, like this is like this is just this is just unbelievably just tough right now. Like what the hell is going on? And blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And he just sit there and it just kinda gave he was an engineer. So he just kinda gave me this like kind of turned his head, gave me a quizzical look like BB 20260717 mix ALEX: Like, what are you talking about? Like your job and he said this, something akin to this, was like, Yeah, your job is to deal with the the worst of the worst of the worst situations that are going on. You don't hear about the other ninety nine percent of things 'cause like we're just solving that. So he's Yeah, by the time it gets to your desk, it's just th these are the hardest decisions of the business. And yeah, duh. But it was really helpful to have someone say that to me, where it's like, Okay, my my job at this point now is really to have to problem solve and figure out the worst of the worst of the worst. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Like, what are you talking about? Like your job, and he said this, something akin to this, was like, Yeah, your job is to deal with the the worst of the worst of the worst situations that are going on. You don't hear about the other ninety-nine percent of things because like we're just solving that. So he's like, Yeah, by the time it gets to your desk, it's just these these are the hardest decisions of the business. And yeah, duh, but it was really helpful to have someone say that to me, where it's like, Okay, my my job at this point now is really to have to problem solve and figure out the worst of the worst of the worst. BB 20260717 mix GARY: Thank riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Okay. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: decisions and the hardest and toughest decisions that are there. And so I, you know, I would say that typically, you know, there's a lot of great things that happen. Like I don't want to downplay that, but a lot of my job is is really diffic is really dealing with the most difficult, messy, hairiest things of the business, which could be a myriad of things. It could be a data, it could you know, contract, it could be a customer, it could be a prospect, it could be you know, somebody's leaving who's great that we wish we were retaining. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: decisions and the hardest and toughest decisions that are there. And so I, you know, I would say that typically, you know, there's a lot of great things that happen. Like I don't want to downplay that, but a lot of my job is is really difficult is really dealing with the most difficult, messy, hairiest things of the business, which could be a myriad of things. It could be a data, it could be contract, it could be a customer, it could be a prospect, it could be you know, somebody's leaving who's great that we wish we were retaining. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: But yeah, it's and and that actually leads into my other piece of this, which is like sitting in this seat, unless you've done it before, most people don't understand how lonely the chair the chair can really be at times. And by the way, I'm fine, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. but but it is. It's it's it's really hard to to understand just how difficult it can be at times. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: but yeah, it's and and that actually leads into my other piece of this, which is like sitting in this seat, unless you've done it before, most people don't understand how lonely the chair the chair can really be at times. And by the way, I'm fine, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. but but it is. It's it's it's really hard to to understand just how difficult it can be at times. BB 20260717 mix GARY: No. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Yeah. BB 20260717 mix GARY: you Yeah. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: plus, I completely I mean everything you just said I I mean like hit me in my soul. plus and I wonder if you feel Yeah, we'll probably hit her over some other work. but I wonder if you feel this as well, which is the sense that I sit in a very privileged chair too. Right? Like it's very hard to fire the CEO founder. Almost almost never really happens if things are going decently well. when you do layoffs, when BB 20260717 mix GARY: Plus, completely, mean everything you just said, I mean that hit me in my soul. Plus, and I wonder if you feel, yeah we'll probably hit her over something like your art. But I wonder if you feel this as well, which is the sense that I sit in a very privileged chair too, right? Like it's very hard to fire the CEO founder, almost never really happens, that things are going decently well. When you do layoffs, when, BB 20260717 mix ALEX: We'll try later. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: We'll try later. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Well we're off camera. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Well we're off camera. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: my god, for sure. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: my god, for sure. BB 20260717 mix GARY: the business is growing or when the business is not, you're gonna probably have a job. And really everyone's focused on your growth because the growth of the CEO professionally has to be ahead of or equivalent to the business growth where the growth of that first marketing hire, no one's potentially managing their career to make sure they have. So it's this like weird, for at least for me, I want it for you Alex, of like, boy, it's so lonely, but I understand the privilege. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: The business is growing, or when the business is not, you're gonna probably have a job. And really everyone's focused on your growth because the growth of the CEO professionally has to be ahead of or equivalent to the business growth. Where the growth of that first marketing hire, no one's been potentially managing their career to make sure they have so it's like this like weird for at least for me, I wonder for you, Alex, of like, boy, it's so lonely, but I understand the privilege. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: For sure. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: For sure. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: That I have as well. BB 20260717 mix GARY: that I have as well. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: absolutely. you know, I I all the time talk to people and and genuinely remind myself, like, this is the coolest thing I will ever do. And I and I actively know that. and here's something else that's also very real and I I say this all the time, like I know that this is some of the most important work that I'll do in my life because it's my baby and I built this thing. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: absolutely. you know, I I all the time talk to people and and genuinely remind myself, like, this is the coolest thing I will ever do. And I and I actively know that. and here's something else that's also very real and I I say this all the time, like I know that this is some of the most important work that I'll do in my life because it's my baby and I built this thing. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Yeah. BB 20260717 mix GARY: you BB 20260717 mix ALEX: I still have days every week almost. I'd trade all this for a box of Twix bars. I mean it's tough, right? But but they are left Twix or right Twix. I'm not sure which, but shameless, brought to you by click here now. but but but yeah, I do have a lot of gratitude in life. And and and the the thing is is that riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: I still have days every week almost. I'd trade all this for a box of Twix bars. I mean, it's tough, right? But but they are left Twix or right Twix. I'm not sure which. But shameless, brought to you by. click here now. but but but yeah, I do have a lot of gratitude in life. And and and the the thing is is that riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Ficks are delicious too. So let's be honest. Like that's a that's a pretty good right. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: are delicious too. So let's be honest. Like that's that's a pretty good right. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Are we are we advertising I had some shameless before the BB 20260717 mix GARY: Are we advertising? had some shameless before the perfect BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Yeah. Yeah. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: Am I allowed to swear on this broadcast? This has been really, really bleeping hard to do this. This is really, really fucking hard to do this. Really, it has been. But you know what? I had the DAC, the deck stacked for me from the beginning. I have two super supportive parents and family members. I have two in-laws that are extremely supportive and brother in law and sister in law. My wife is my riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Am I allowed to swear on this broadcast? This has been really, really bleeping hard to do this. This is really, really fucking hard to do this. Really, it has been. But you know what? I had the DAC, the deck stacked for me from the beginning. I have two super supportive parents and family members. I have two in-laws that are extremely supportive and brother in law and sister in law. My wife is my riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Course you are. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Course you are. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Yeah. BB 20260717 mix GARY: you BB 20260717 mix ALEX: biggest champion and someone who now works for us and so I get to spend time with her every day. I had I had like the deck in like a pair of aces is what I was dealt with. And this was still the mo just it's incredibly hard. And anyone who's ever raised money and who's never done that before, my God, like forget about it. That's the hardest thing I've ever done multiple times. and so like by the way, most founders don't have that. They have other obligations. Like riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: biggest champion and someone who now works for us and so I get to spend time with her every day. I had I had like the deck in like a pair of aces is what I was dealt with. And this was still the mo just this incredibly hard. And anyone who's ever raised money and who's never done that before, my God, like forget about it. That's the hardest thing I've ever done multiple times. and so like by the way, most founders don't have that. They have other obligations. Like BB 20260717 mix GARY: Yeah. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Mm-hmm. BB 20260717 mix GARY: It's Garry Vee. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: It wasn't. Yeah. Right. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: they have families, they they have all these things. So it's like thing that I think like, yeah, man, I got a lot of gratitude because I realized that like this was really hard as it was, and like I was super lucky to to have all of the the support systems and mechanisms and advisors to to help me along the way. I can't imagine how much harder that is for someone that doesn't even have one of those many, many weapons that I had in my arsenal. So God, sorry, I went off on a huge tangent, but yes, I have a lot of gratitude. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: they have families, they they have all these things. So it's like thing that I think like, yeah, man, I got a lot of gratitude because I realized that like this was really hard as it was, and like I was super lucky to to have all of the the support systems and mechanisms and advisors to to help me along the way. I can't imagine how much harder that is for someone that doesn't even have one of those many, many weapons that I had in my arsenal. So God, sorry, I went off on a huge tangent, but yes, I had a lot of gratitude. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: for the people that have been in my life to to help me and support me through this and I there's no way I wouldn't have been able to do it and especially with with my wife, like I dude, like without her I'd never would have been able to do any of this. So anyway. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: for the people that have been in my life to to help me and support me through this and I there's no way I wouldn't have been able to do it and especially with with my wife, like I dude, like without her I never would have been able to do any of this. So anyway. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: That's great. Well, BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: That's great. Well, riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: it's awesome to hear that you also have maintained the sort of humility that's required to win, right? Like having the right knowledge of the industry and of the space and having the right network to sort of get into the business, two obviously incredibly important things for any founder, but then having that support network around you that can help you to maintain sanity and and to maintain some sort of semblance of normalcy in your life while you're building and doing the hard thing. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: it's awesome to hear that you also have maintained the sort of humility that's required to win, right? Like having the right knowledge of the industry and of the space and having the right network to sort of get into the business, two obviously incredibly important things for any founder, but then having that support network around you that can help you to maintain sanity and and to maintain some sort of semblance of normalcy in your life while you're building and doing the hard thing. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: It's the best thing ever. I share your share your your sentiments there. I've been the luckiest guy ever. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: It's the best thing ever. I share your share your your sentiments there. I've been the luckiest guy ever. My wife is the best and my kids are the best. And it's it's great having that in in in your life. So I've I have a dumb question. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: My wife is the best and my kids are the best. And it's it's great having that in in in your life. So I I have a dumb question. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: Next time we're in a next time riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Next time we're next time we're in a fight, I get to show her that clip though and be like, Hey, this isn't pretty hard. Yeah. Perfect. Thank you. Yeah. Yeah, exactly. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: we're in a fight, I get to show her that clip though and be like, Hey, this isn't pretty cut, you know, pretty good. Yeah, perfect. Thank you. Yeah. Yeah, exactly. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: yeah, for sure. Yeah, we'll send you just that little piece. You can give that to your wife on her anniversary or whatever. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: yeah, for sure. Yeah, we'll send you just that little piece. Give that to your wife on her anniversary or whatever. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: so I've I have a dumb question. Then maybe then maybe Garry can transition us into the into the boardroom blitz. But I'm I'm I'm always curious. Every time I look at the business, I'm like, okay, so what is the and maybe there is nothing. So I apologize. This is a stupid question, but like, what's the most absurd sponsorship asset that anyone's ever attempted to value? And and BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: so I've I have a dumb question. Then maybe then maybe Garry can transition us into the into the boardroom blitz. But I'm I'm I'm always curious. Every time I look at the business, I'm like, okay, so what is the and maybe there is nothing, so I apologize this is a stupid question, but like what's the most absurd sponsorship asset that anyone's ever attempted to value? And and riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Mm. BB 20260717 mix GARY: no. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: It BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: It riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: like do you sometimes you're just like what? How are we supposed to do this? I I'm always curious. I understand enough about the industry to know like most things are probably relatively cut and dry, but there's gotta be some weird stuff that you're asked to sort of try to put a value to. How how what? BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: like do you sometimes you're just like what? How are we supposed to do this? I I'm always curious. I understand enough about the industry to know like most things are probably relatively cut and dry, but there's gotta be some weird stuff that you're asked to sort of try to put a value to. How how what? BB 20260717 mix ALEX: One of the coolest riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: One of the coolest BB 20260717 mix ALEX: things ever. I'm gonna give you two quick ones. So, back when I was at Monumental Sports, this world of esports was just starting to get really popular. And Monumental, always forward thinking, had the great idea that we're gonna buy a stake in this this massive company called Team Liquid, right? One of the the biggest e game or esports teams that's out there, right? and so this was all going on, they're going deeper down the rabbit hole, and MBA two K, that game. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: things ever. I'm gonna give you two quick ones. So, back when I was at Monumental Sports, this world of esports was just starting to get really popular. And Monumental, always forward thinking, had the great idea that we're gonna buy a stake in this this massive company called Team Liquid, right? One of the the biggest e game or esports teams that's out there, right? and so this was all going on, they're going deeper down the rabbit hole, and MBA two K, that game. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Biggie game show. Yeah, yeah. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Biggie game show. Yeah, yeah. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: Right is now starting to come out. And Monumental and the Wizards were one of the first teams that was going to be featured in that game. And so they came to me as the data and the sponsorship analytics guy and they said, Hey, we need you to put a rate card and evaluation together on what we're gonna sell all of our sponsorship for in the video game. I was like, Wait, what? And they were like, Yeah, you know, like the LEDs and like the chairs and like the signs you see around the stadium. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Right is now starting to come out. And Monumental and the Wizards were one of the first teams that was going to be featured in that game. And so they came to me as the data and the sponsorship analytics guy and they said, Hey, we need you to put a rate card and evaluation together on what we're gonna sell all of our sponsorship for in the video game. I was like, Wait, what? And they were like, Yeah, you know, like the LEDs and like the chairs and like the signs you see around the stadium. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Well riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: It's gonna be a perfect 3D mock-up. I need you to figure out what you're gonna sell that sponsorship inventory for in the video game. And that was like one of those moments I was like, this is crazy, but this is so cool. And I know this is like super normal now and people are gonna be watching this and being like, Yeah, Alex, it's not that big of a deal. but it was really neat at the time to be one of the first people to sit there and say, Okay, well, how do we figure this out? What's what's the math that we wanna put behind it? What's so how do we how do we do it? And that was a really, really cool moment for me. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: gonna be a a perfect 3D mock-up. I need you to figure out what you're gonna sell that sponsorship inventory for in the video game. And that was like one of those moments I was like, this is crazy, but this is so cool. And I know this is like super normal now and people are gonna be watching this and being like, yeah, Alex is not that big of a deal. But it was really neat at the time to be one of the first people to sit there and say, okay, well, how do we figure this out? What's what's the math that we want to put behind it? What's so how do we how do we do it? And that was a really, really cool moment for me. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Well of course. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Well of course. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: That was just like, wait, how do I do this? And then you you think through it like you do with most things and you have good people around you and you figure it out. The other one that we've come across sitting in the chair of trajectory, which has been fun, is like we were in our in our early days, right? You don't want to say no to anything, and now we say no to a lot of things, which is good, saves your time, more streamlined. But in our early days, we had a a race car group that we were working with, and they were like, so we need you to value I don't remember what they said. They were like, they said something that was that meant the truck. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: That was just like, wait, how do I do this? And then you you think through it like you do with most things and you have good people around you and you figure it out. The other one that we've come across sitting in the chair of trajectory, which has been fun, is like we were in our in our early days, right? You don't want to say no to anything, and now we say no to a lot of things, which is good, saves your time, more streamlined. But in our early days, we had a a race car group that we were working with, and they were like, So we need you to value I don't remember what they said, but they were like, they said something that was that meant the truck. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: And I was like, I don't know what this means, but they're like, it's the truck. And I was like, Yeah, but wait, what do you mean truck? Like, you ra you have a race car. Yeah, but the race car travels in a truck and there's sponsorship on the side of the truck. Can you figure out how many people are gonna see our truck when we go from, you know, Arizona in Scottsdale all the way to Miami? And it was a cool I was like, Wow, I didn't ever think of that before. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: And I was like, I don't know what this means, but they're like, There's the truck and I was like, Yeah, but wait, what do you mean truck? It's like you ra you have a race car. Yeah, but the race car travels in a truck and there's sponsorship on the side of the truck. Can you figure out how many people are gonna see our truck when we go from, you know, Arizona in Scottsdale all the way to Miami? And it was a cool I was like, Wow, I didn't ever think of that before. BB 20260717 mix GARY: you riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Mm-hmm. BB 20260717 mix GARY: Bye. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: But then riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: But then what you do is you start to pull up like what information do you have on Waze or Google and BB 20260717 mix ALEX: what you do is you start to pull up like what information do you have on Waze or Google and ha riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: how what's the traffic? And like you can start to triangulate a lot of like how many people are on the highway, how many people are driving past it, what's the general valuation? Does it change depending on who it is? So that was the other one for me where I was like, you know what? And by the way, I think that's most problems. It's just like take a step back, take a beat, take a breath. And the big thing is like to start, BB 20260717 mix ALEX: what's the traffic? And like you can start to triangulate a lot of like how many people are on the highway, how many people are driving past it, what's the general valuation, does it change depending on who it is? So that was the other one for me where I was like, you know what? And by the way, I think that's most problems. It's just like take a step back, take a beat, take a breath. And the big thing is like to start. BB 20260717 mix GARY: Okay. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: Don't let perfection get in the way of good enough. Like start with something and then iterate and and improve it. So that's riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: don't let perfection get in the way of good enough. Like start with something and then iterate and and improve it. So That's usually how we try to approach data problems at large, but I remember that was a that was an interesting one for us to try to to undertake. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: usually how we try to approach data problems at large. But I remember that was a that was an interesting one for us to try to to undertake. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Super fun one. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Super fun one. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Mm-hmm. BB 20260717 mix GARY: Amazing. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Amazing. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Cool. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: can I just tell a small story that came up when I was imagining the truck situation. BB 20260717 mix GARY: Can I just tell a small story that came up when I was imagining a truck situation? BB 20260717 mix ALEX: Garry, we're here riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Garry, we're here for you, man. So whatever you want to talk about. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: for you, man. So whatever you want to talk about. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: One of my advisors was the VP of R and D at a food company. I won't say the name of the food company. And and they and then they and one of the and you'll be able to get it really easily. One one of their big products is turkeys. And apparently he's telling me this story where he's at home cooking, preparing Thanksgiving meal, he gets a call. BB 20260717 mix GARY: One of my advisors was the VP of R &D at a food company. I won't say the name of the food company. they... BB 20260717 mix ALEX: Airmark. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Airmark. No, if that's true by the way, I'm just being I'm just being silly. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: That's true by the way. I'm just being I'm just being silly. BB 20260717 mix GARY: And you'll be able to get it really easily. One of their big products is turkeys. And apparently, he's telling me this story where he's at home cooking, preparing Thanksgiving meal and gets a call that millions of skews of turkeys were bad. so this emergency meeting happens and they go and get like, riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: The millions of skews of turkeys were bad. And they so this emergency meeting happens and they go and get like 10 semis to take these bad turkeys. They had gotten some plot of land in Georgia where they were dig dug a big hole and they were gonna go deposit these these turkeys into this hole. BB 20260717 mix GARY: 10 semis to take these bad turkeys. had gotten some plot of land in Georgia where they were digging and dug a big hole and they were going to go deposit these turkeys into this hole. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: And so when you were telling your story, I was just imagining this. But it gets better. Apparently, what happened? So they thought they had solved the problem. Turkey's gonna go into Georgia. Go to Georgia in the hole. And apparently BB 20260717 mix GARY: And so when you were telling your story, I was just imagining this, but it gets better. Apparently what happened, so they thought they had solved the problem, the turkey's going to go to Georgia, go to Georgia in the hole. And apparently, riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: one of the truckers decided to stop off and because the truckers didn't know what was in there, stopped off at the truck stop and said, What you got? And they go, We got a lot of turkeys. And she was like, Well, I'm gonna let a turkey. BB 20260717 mix GARY: one of the truckers decided to stop off and because the truckers didn't know what was in there so over the truck stop and said what you got to go we're gonna like turkeys and what i want a turkey riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: She BB 20260717 mix GARY: and was selling these bad turkeys headed for the dirt at a truck stop and so there was a small contagion of people and i was just imagining like you drawing an animal so anyway that was riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: And was selling these bad turkeys headed for the dirt at a truck stop. And so there was a small contagion of of people. And I was just imagining like you drawing an adult. So anyway, that was riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Nice. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: Yeah, for sure. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Yeah, for certain. BB 20260717 mix GARY: That was what was going on in my mind. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: that was what was going on in my mind. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: The fact that they were able to figure that out though and that was actually what happened is is pretty impressive because you would think that that would not happen. And given the fact that there is a parasite going on right now like in lettuce or whatever it is, that's pretty time that's a pretty timely story. Could you imagine that's how like patient zero starts, where it's just like a turkey contagion, and that's how the movie Parasite starts? riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: The fact that they were able to figure that out though and that was actually what happened is is pretty impressive because you would think that that would not happen. And given the fact that there is a parasite going on right now like in lettuce or whatever it is, that's pretty time that's a pretty timely story. Could you imagine that's how like patient zero starts, where it's just like a turkey contagion, and that's how the movie Parasite starts? riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Yeah. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: It is pretty cool. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: It is pretty cool. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Yes, yes. Yes, yes, yes. BB 20260717 mix GARY: Yes, yes, yes, yes. I think riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: I think riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Right I BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: I bought a turkey on the side of a highway in like middle of nowhere, Alabama or something like that. It's like waiting. Yeah. As one does. Yeah. Well yeah, like the the peach the peach and vegetable stands on the side of the road from time to time. Yeah. I just it was a warm turkey that had maggots on it because it was so gross, but I thought, What the hell? It's gonna be tasty. I'll take it home and cook it. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: bought a turkey on the side of a highway in like middle of nowhere, Alabama or something like that. It's like wait Yeah. As one does. Yeah. Well yeah, like the the peach the peach and vegetable stands on the side of the road from time to time. Yeah. I just it was a warm turkey that had maggots on it because it was so gross, but I thought, What the hell? It's gonna be tasty. I'll take it home and cook it. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: As as one does, as one does. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: As as one does, as one does. BB 20260717 mix GARY: Good luck. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: Ha ha. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Ha ha riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: my god. sorry the burglars on them. What initiate the blitz? BB 20260717 mix GARY: Sorry I diverted BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Love it. All right. Well with that let's let's let's ask you a couple of Yeah, riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Love it. All right. Well with that let's let's let's ask you a couple of Yeah, BB 20260717 mix ALEX: Well Yeah. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Well yeah. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: initiate the Blitz. Let's do it. What do got there, Garry? You got your your Blitz machine? riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: initiate the Blitz. Let's do it. What do you got there, Garry? You got your your Blitz machine? riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: All right. BB 20260717 mix GARY: Alright, out. What's the most corporate BS phrase you've ever used in a meeting and do you regret it? riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: What's the most corporate BS phrase you've ever used in a meeting in a meeting and do you regret it? BB 20260717 mix ALEX: I literally used this a week ago. but it's the phrase of like, you know, whatever the context is, but guys, I really think we're in a situation here where one plus one could equal four. Like this is this is this is really this is we can get this figured out. Like this is really gonna amplify and go. And I mean, like I catch myself like saying jargon all the time and I try to strip it out, but like literally last week I like as I was saying it, I was like, Man, I sound like such a shill right now. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: I literally used this a week ago. but it's the phrase of like, you know, whatever the context is, but guys, I really think we're in a situation here where one plus one could equal four. Like this is this is this is really this is we can get this figured out. Like this is really gonna amplify and go. And I mean, like I catch myself like saying jargon all the time and I try to strip it out, but like literally last week I like as I was saying, I was like, man, I sound like such a shill right now. BB 20260717 mix GARY: Thank riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: jeez. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: jeez. BB 20260717 mix GARY: Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Well BB 20260717 mix GARY: you riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Mm-hmm. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: but yeah, that's riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: but yeah, that's riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Well and BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Well and then you're also waiting for the for the guy or gal on your team who just loves like needling you to be like, you know that's actually impossible. One plus one cannot equal four. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: then you're also waiting for the for the guy or gal on your team who just loves like needling you to be like, you know that's actually impossible. One plus one cannot equal four. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: No, no, always. But then but but then the other riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: No, always. But then but but then the other but then the other side of the room are like mm, yes, mm one plus one. There's nothing there's not but fortunately for me, I lost the room a long time ago, with my staff. So, you know, they just know to to laugh at the jokes and move on and they'll be left alone, left to their own devices. So yeah, exactly. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: but then the other side of the room are like Hm, yes, mm one plus one. I mean There's nothing there's not but fortunately for me, I lost the room a long time ago, with my staff, so you know, they just know to to laugh at the jokes and move on and they'll be left alone, left to their own devices. So yeah, exactly. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Hmm. Excellent. write that down. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Hmm. Right, right, right yeah. Excellent. write that down. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Move on. Yeah, humor you. Nice. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Move on. Yeah, humor you nice. All right, next question for you, okay? my little blitz machine says or is asking, what's the dumbest thing you believed about the C suite before you got there? riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: All right. Next question for you. Okay. my little blitz machine says, or is asking, what's the dumbest thing you believed about the C suite before you got there? BB 20260717 mix ALEX: so okay, let me get can I give two things? Am I allowed to give two things on the blitz? I'll give one that I that I believe and then one that I've seen. conspiracies do not exist in the in the Sweet Suite level. And I say that being in the C suite level. And what I mean by that is I've been around not just here, but at other places where it's like, they just broke from a meeting. You know what? Here's what I really think. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: so okay, let me get can I give two things? Am I allowed to give two things on the blitz? I'll give one that I that I believe and then one that I've seen. conspiracies do not exist in the in the sweet suite level. And I say that being in the C suite level. And what I mean by that is I've been around not just here, but at other places where it's like, they just broke from a meeting. You know what? Here's what I really think. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Course, meaning his major one. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Course, he was major one. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: that the the the C suite is directly thinking about with the company and what did they actually mean when he said, I am telling you for anybody who's listening who's not in the C suite, and if you are in the C suite, I want to note and and a message from you and tell me if I'm right or wrong. There is no all we want genuinely is for everybody to be successful and for the company to work. And coming back to what I said before, my biggest stress, honest to God, riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: That the the the C suite is directly thinking about with the company and what did they actually mean when he said, I am telling you for anybody who's listening who's not in the C suite, and if you are in the C suite, I want to know and a message from you and tell me if I'm right or wrong. There is no all we want genuinely is for everybody to be successful and for the company to work. And coming back to what I said before, my biggest stress, honest to God. BB 20260717 mix GARY: Yeah. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Yeah. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Plotting P. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Plotting P. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: is I want to keep people employed. And I and I mean that so much. I care so much about our team. And even if you don't think your C-suite does, I'm telling you they do. Nobody wants to screw with people's lives. Ever. People want to to do good by people generally speaking. And so there is no conspiracies going on of like, what are they going to do with that? Yes, we have to make changes at times and we talk about hiring things, but there are there are no conspiracies. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: is I want to keep people employed. And I and I mean that so much. I care so much about our team. And even if you don't think your C-suite does, I'm telling you they do. Nobody wants to screw with people's lives. Ever. People want to to do good by people, generally speaking. And so there is no conspiracy going on of like, what are they going to do with that? Yes, we have to make changes at times. And we talk about hiring things, but there are there are no conspiracies. BB 20260717 mix GARY: Thank you. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: and I would say the rite of passage that I went through that I was wrong. I was a bright eyed, bushy-tailed, cocky MBA student and I, you know, thought I was smarter than all my bosses. And I see that a lot with our mid and late twenty year olds at our company, where it's like, yeah, this guy Guys, I'm telling ya, all we want to do is succeed. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: and I would say the right of passage that I went through that I was wrong. I was a bright eyed, bushy-tailed, cocky MBA student and I, you know, thought I was smarter than all my bosses. And I see that a lot with our mid and late twenty year olds at our company, where it's like, yeah, this guy guys, I'm telling you, all we want to do is succeed. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Mm-hmm. BB 20260717 mix GARY: Bye! BB 20260717 mix ALEX: But you will understand when you get to your thirties and your forties and beyond that experience gives you a different perspective on things. So I promise you, and I learned this, your bosses are actually quite smart. the way that they go about working might be a little different, but it's based probably on some pretty good experience. So that's that's my answer. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: But you will understand when you get to your thirties and your forties and beyond that experience gives you a different perspective on things. So I promise you, and I learned this, your bosses are actually quite smart. the way that they go about working might be a little different, but it's based probably on some pretty good experience. So that's that's my answer. BB 20260717 mix GARY: I'm riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Mm. BB 20260717 mix GARY: Okay. Thank you. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Mm-hmm. BB 20260717 mix GARY: Good. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Probably on a couple of decades BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Probably on a couple of decades riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: of couple of decades of doing it. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: of couple of decades of doing it. BB 20260717 mix GARY: I've said a man like 1,000 times in my head as you went through that. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: I've said a man like one thousand times in my head as she went through that. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Yeah, BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Yeah, riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: yeah, that that's great stuff. I don't have a sorry, go ahead, Garry. I BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: yeah, that that's great stuff. I don't have a sorry, go ahead, Garry. I riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Alexander. BB 20260717 mix GARY: How's your... It's my turn, right? BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Ye yes, it is. I was just gonna say something dumb, so it's fine, go. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Ye yes, it is. I was just gonna say something dumb, so it's fine. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: Yeah. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Yeah, yeah riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: W BB 20260717 mix GARY: What's the worst advice an older or younger colleague ever gave you and did you take it anyway? riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: what's what's the worst advice an older or younger colleague ever gave you and did you take it anyway? BB 20260717 mix ALEX: Hm. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Hmm. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: I've I've genuinely been very lucky. And even though I just said I think all my bosses are idiots, like I that just simply means that I have a different opinion on things, but I've actually had very, very good mentors. But I do remember one one of my bosses saying, you know, the way that I have always found to get ahead is you have to say yes to everything. say yes to everything that someone asks of you, no matter whether or not it's something that you have time for or you don't have time for. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: I've I've genuinely been very lucky. And even though I just said I think all my bosses are idiots, like I that just simply means that I have a different opinion on things, but I've actually had very, very good mentors. But I do remember one one of my bosses saying, you know, the way that I have always found to get ahead is you have to say yes to everything. say yes to everything that someone asks of you, no matter whether or not it's something that you have time for or you don't have time for. BB 20260717 mix GARY: Thank you. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: I think. Yeah. BB 20260717 mix GARY: EW BB 20260717 mix ALEX: And I think what they were trying to say was generally right, which is like early in your career you should say yes to everything because people will be impressed and you get in front of people and blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah. But I have learned in the seat that I sit in now, I have to say no to a lot of things. and I I genuinely love man, I'm gonna get myself in so much trouble. I love genuinely meeting and talking to people and investors and things like that, but I can't meet with riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: And I think what they were trying to say was generally right, which is like early in your career you should say yes to everything because people will be impressed and you get in front of people and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. But I have learned in the seat that I sit in now, I have to say no to a lot of things. and I I genuinely love man, I'm gonna get myself in so much trouble. I love genuinely meeting and talking to people and investors and things like that, but I can't meet with BB 20260717 mix GARY: you BB 20260717 mix ALEX: all thirty two PE companies that email me every single day saying, I just want a half hour of your time, let's get lunch. I just I can't do it. I don't have the bandwidth. So I would say saying yes to everything depending on your role is a bad piece of advice. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: all thirty two P E companies that email me every single day saying, I just want a half hour of your time. Let's get lunch. I just I can't do it. I don't have the bandwidth. So I would say saying yes to everything depending on your role is a bad piece of advice. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Mm-hmm. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: 100%. And you got to manage it more and more and more as you move further and further and further down the path for darn sure. All right. I don't have a Boardroom and blitz question for you. I think that's a fabulous Boardroom and blitz segment, but I do have a question that I want, and I I want to return to a conversation we had before we started recording. So I want to make fun of Garry more. So I know. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Hundred percent. And you gotta manage it more and more and more as you move further and further and further down the path for darn sure. All right, I don't have a boardroom blitz question for you. I think that's a fabulous boardroom blitz segment, but I do have a question that I want and I I want to return to a conversation we had before we start a recording. So I want to make fun of Garry more. So I know. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: So but there were so many subtopics, so which one are we doing next? riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: So but there were so many subtopics, so which one are we BB 20260717 mix GARY: Wait, riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Wait, so you riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: going to pick? BB 20260717 mix GARY: you show me, Alex, you show me your riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: show me Alex, you show me your baseball and your what before you guys go make fun of me and show you think I'm my I have this Nerf gun. It's my thinking gun and I've had this since undergrad. So go ahead and make fun of me. Go ahead. BB 20260717 mix GARY: baseball and your, before you guys go make fun of me, I'm gonna show you a thing on my, I have this Nerf gun. It's my thinking gun and I've had this since undergrad. So go ahead and make fun of me, go ahead. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Mm-hmm. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Mm-hmm. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Yeah. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Yeah. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Yeah. It comes out a lot. I I I BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Yeah. It comes out a lot. I I I riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: I'm sure I'm gonna get shot in the forehead for this one. But no, so we were talking about science fiction because science fiction is awesome. And Garry, I love you, but you don't necessarily have a a well sort of established background in science fiction, i.e. you don't really like it. yeah. But so dear audience BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: I'm sure I'm gonna get shot in the forehead for this one. But no, so we were talking about science fiction because science fiction is awesome. And Garry, I love you, but you don't necessarily have a a well sort of established background in science fiction. I e you don't really like it. so dear audience riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Well yes. BB 20260717 mix GARY: Well, yes. You can say it in plain English. You can say it in plain English. You know nothing. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: You can say it plainer. You know nothing. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: So we were talking about the fact that science fiction is awesome. And Gary's like, yeah, I don't really like science fiction, but I do like Star Wars. To which, you know, being the punk that I am, I said, that's not science fiction, that's fantasy. So Alex Kerr, question for you in lieu of my last Boardroom Blitz question. Is science fiction? Well, let me rephrase that. Can a legitimate lover of science fiction consider Star Wars to be a science fiction show? BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: So we were talking about the fact that science fiction's awesome and Gary's like, yeah, I don't really like science fiction, but I do like Star Wars. To which, you know, being the punk that I might say, that's not science fiction, that's fantasy. So Alex Kerr, question for you, in lieu of my last Border Blitz question. Is science fiction, well, let me rephrase that. Can a legitimate lover of science fiction consider Star Wars to be a science fiction show? riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: story, etc., or is it just fantasy? I'm happy to be wrong. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: story, etc., or is it just fantasy? I'm happy to be wrong. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Alex, there's something there's something right on this the answer here. BB 20260717 mix GARY: There's something right on this dance here. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Yeah. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Yeah. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: Don't do it, Garry. God, you know, and you've made me so nervous for this question because I we did talk about this beforehand, and if I had to stop, I'm I'm gonna get myself into a lot of trouble here with people because I was originally being like, there's a difference between the two. so I was like, no. How do I define the two of them? I've just been racking my brain this whole time. No, I think riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Don't do it, Garry. God, you know, you've made me so nervous for this question because I we did talk about this beforehand, and if I had to stop, I'm I'm gonna get myself into a lot of trouble here with people because I was originally being like, there's a difference between the two. so I was like, no. How do I define the two of them? I've just been racking my brain this whole time. No, I think BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Well, riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Yeah. BB 20260717 mix GARY: Thank you. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: But riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Yeah. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Yeah. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: I'm a fan of both, to be clear. I go way down the rabbit hole. I'm a big geek. My company has a rocket ship logo for Christ's sake. And the reason is is I literally the what is the reason? I think space is cool and I wanted a rocket ship. It was about as simple as that. But yes, I do think, I do think the two can meld into each other. You can certainly be a fan of both. I'm giving you a cop-out answer. but my opinion is whatever makes you happy. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: I'm a fan of both, to be clear. I go way down the rabbit hole. I'm a big geek. My company has a rocket ship logo for Christ's sake. And the reason is is I literally the what is the reason? I think space is cool and I wanted a rocket ship. It was about as simple as that. But yes, I do think, I do think the two can meld into each other. You can certainly be a fan of both. I'm giving you a cop-out answer. but my opinion is whatever makes you happy. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: I love it. BB 20260717 mix GARY: I love it. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: Okay, and I'll I will share something fun true. I well, I will also share something true, fun, and embarrassing about myself to get everybody off the hook here and then we can end on this. one of my favorite things in the world is Renaissance festivals. And the reason I think Renaissance festivals are amazing is and by the way, I don't dress up. Nothing wrong with dressing up, by the way, right? I think that's cool. But riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Okay, and I'll I will share something fun, true. I well, I will also share something true, fun, and embarrassing about myself to get everybody off the hook here and then we can end on this. one of my favorite things in the world is Renaissance festivals. And the reason I think Renaissance festivals are amazing is and by the way, I don't dress up. Nothing wrong with dressing up, by the way, right? I think that's cool, but riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Yeah, you're a CEO answer. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: I can BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: I can BB 20260717 mix GARY: Hehehehehe BB 20260717 mix ALEX: It is some of the greatest people watching that riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: it is some of the greatest people watching. that you can find. And and and I don't mean that in like a bad way. I genuinely mean that as I what I love so much about the communities and the people that go there, it's people are all a little bit weird in their own right, in my opinion. And it's it's an it's a time where people can dress up, have fun, let loose, and be comfortable in their own skin. and I think there's something beautiful and wonderful about that. So I'll I'll end with that. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: you can find. And and and I don't mean that in like a a bad way. I genuinely mean that as I what I love so much about the communities and the people that go there, it's people are all a little bit weird in their own right, in my opinion. And it's it's an it's a time where people can dress up, have fun, let loose, and be comfortable in their own skin. and I think there's something beautiful and wonderful about that. So I'll I'll end with that. BB 20260717 mix GARY: Okay. Thank you. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Yeah, Yeah. BB 20260717 mix GARY: you Hey riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Hey Amen we need more weird. We need more weird in the world, I think. BB 20260717 mix GARY: Amen we need more weird. We need more weird in the world. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: I think it's great. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Think it's great. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Yeah, a hundred BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Yeah, a hundred BB 20260717 mix ALEX: I agree. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: I agree. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: percent. A hundred percent. Yeah. I mean, LARPing is super cool. I I I also I don't I don't dress up and in in and I don't do cosplay and things like that too, but I do love going to like places where that is what it's I love it. It's super, super fun. I I've I've been in I've been like a stage actor my whole life. And so like I love taking on a role and doing a thing and being s and that to me it's wonderful. And so I love it when people can like express themselves and go do that. It's great. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: percent. A hundred percent. Yeah. I mean LARPing is super cool. I I I also I don't I don't dress up and in in and I don't do cosplay and things like that too, but I do love going to like places where that is what it's I love it. It's super, super fun. I I've I've been in I've been like a stage actor my whole life. And so like I love taking on a role and doing a thing and being s and that to me it's wonderful. And so I love it when people can like express themselves and go do that. It's great. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: I agree. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: I agree. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: I agree. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: I agree. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: I do think that by the way, I don't know that there's a right answer to whether or not Star Wars can be considered science fiction and or just fantasy. It's I do probably think that it that most people would argue it's a nice blend versus like a sci a Star Trek where probably most people would say, no, that's like that's nice. Well, that's the thing. I don't I don't know that you can truly define the difference in sort of in in in fantasy versus science fiction when it is sort of based on particularly when it's based on space and stuff, BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: I do think that by the way, I don't know that there's a right answer to whether or not Star Wars can be considered science fiction and or just fantasy. It's I do probably think that it that most people would argue it's a nice blend versus like a s a Star Trek where probably most people would say, no, that's like that's not well that's the thing. I don't I don't know that you can truly define the difference in sort of in in in fantasy versus science fiction when it is sort of based on particularly when it's based on space and stuff. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: How do you define the difference though, Jeremie? How do you define the difference between riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: How do you define the difference though, Jeremie? How do you define the difference between riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: right? BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Right. Now like fantasy being like magic and like dragons, well, it's obviously not science fiction. That's that's fantasy. But when it comes to it comes to anything with a with space in it, yeah, I don't know. If you're dealing with like interstellar flight and like faster than light travel and then I don't know, is it is it not? Doesn't really matter. The question is is it fun? Is it cool? riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Now like fantasy being like magic and like dragons, well it's obviously not science fiction. That's that's fantasy. But when it comes to it comes to anything with a with space in it, yeah, I don't know. If you're dealing with like interstellar flight and like faster than light travel and then I don't know, is it is it not? Doesn't really matter. The question is is it fun? Is it cool? BB 20260717 mix GARY: Jerry gets once. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Jerry gets worse. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: Can I give a can I give riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Can I give a can I give a pro tip though? I'm gonna give a true story pro tip as to how you can use fantasy and science fiction in a positive way when you're at a family outing and you just need some space. So, if there is a bigger nerd in this world, it is my brother-in-law, who is a big Lord of the Rings fan, big Star Wars guy. He's actually he's also a data nerd, but I think he's super cool. And I actually, really, actually mean that. And as I describe it, I'm like, no, we're both really big nerds. However, BB 20260717 mix ALEX: a pro tip though? I'm gonna give a true story pro tip as to how you can use fantasy and science fiction in a positive way when you're at a family outing and you just need some space. So, if there is a bigger nerd in this world, it is my brother in law, who is a big Lord of the Rings fan, big Star Wars guy. He's actually he's also a data nerd, but I think he's super cool. And I actually, really, actually mean that. And as I describe it, I'm like, no, we're both really big nerds. However, riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Yeah, yeah, yeah. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Yeah, yeah, yeah. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: We have a secret code where if we're at a family outing and we just need a minute or you know, all the family's over at Thanksgiving or Christmas or whatever that is, I will go, Dave, I have a question about Star Wars. And he'll be like, let me come over. And immediately we'll just be left alone. And I don't actually have a question about Star Wars, but that is just our thing. I'll be like, Dave, I have a question about Star Wars. And he'd be like, yeah, okay, yeah, yeah. And then everyone just clears out and then we just have like five minutes just to like relax and like decompress. So riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: We have a secret code where if we're at a family outing and we just need a minute or you know, all the family's over at Thanksgiving or Christmas or whatever that is, I will go, Dave, I have a question about Star Wars. And he'll be like, let me come over. And immediately we'll just be left alone. And I don't actually have a question about Star Wars, but that is just our thing. I'm like, Dave, I have a question about Star Wars. And he'd be like, yeah, okay, yeah, yeah. And then everyone just clears out and then we just have like five minutes just to like relax and like decompress. So BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Right. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Right. Right, you're asking about BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Right, you're asking about riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Hang BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Hang riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: out, talk about the Blackhawks. Yeah. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: out, talk about the Black Ox. Yeah. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: Yeah, so we riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Yeah, so we BB 20260717 mix ALEX: have the secret code and I I encourage people find your find your fantasy sci fi weird thing and that's a really quick escape for most people to leave you alone. So it's a it's a that's a positive. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: have the secret code and I I encourage people find your find your fantasy sci fi weird thing and that's a really quick escape for most people to leave you alone. So it's a it's a that's a positive. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: I love the actual BB 20260717 mix GARY: I love that actually. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: I got yeah, I BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: I got yeah, I I got pushed really hard on this once. I probably had a neighbor's part, I can't remember where was. There was definitely long conversations and probably beverages involved in this, but like I got pushed so hard on this question once. And I was like, well, fine, like if let's then define it, and then I promise I'll shut up and we can cut this from the show too, if it's too stupid. But like, you know, science fiction, right? You're exploring the possibilities, like speculative science with technology, right? riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: got pushed really hard on this once. I probably at a neighbor's part, I can't remember where was. There was definitely long conversations and probably beverages involved in this. But like I got pushed so hard on this question once. And I was like, well, fine, like if let's then define it. And then I promise I'll shut up. And we can cut this from the show too, if it's too stupid. But like, you know, science fiction, right? You're exploring the possibilities, like speculative science with technology, right? But fantasy, you're dealing with what's generally like BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: But fantasy, you're dealing with what's generally like impossible. So like science and supernatural stuff, right? And so that that's why I would say that Star Wars is fantasy because the force does not exist as a thing. There is no Metaclorans in your blood, right? And it's just not something that nature produces as far as we know it. Therefore, it's probably more fantasy. But what's funny is the first aliens that like come and meet us on Earth are probably gonna come like riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: impossible. So like science and supernatural stuff, right? And so that that's why I would say that Star Wars is fantasy because the force does not exist as a thing. There is no midaclorians in your blood, right? And it's just not something that nature produces as far as we know it. Therefore it's probably more fantasy. But what's funny is the first aliens that like come and meet us on Earth are probably going to come like BB 20260717 mix ALEX: Got it. Okay, that's helpful. I probably should have known that. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Got it. Okay, that's helpful. I probably should have known that. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Yeah. BB 20260717 mix GARY: Bye! You riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: wielding force powers, right? So who the hell knows? BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: wielding force powers, right? So who the hell knows? riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Well what BB 20260717 mix GARY: But riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: I will tell you, though you're right there, I have met Luke Skywalker in my dreams as a kid as a kid. I did have a s lightsaber also as a kid that my mom bought me. So some parts of this is, you know, not so fantasy. It's it's come to it's come to be. but I also will also admit and this is like even deeper embarrassment, that I slightly confused BB 20260717 mix GARY: I will tell you, though you're right there, I have met Luke Skywalker in my dreams as a kid. I did have a lightsaber also as a kid that my mom bought me. So some parts of this is, you know, not so fantasy. It's come to be. But I also also admit this is like even deeper embarrassment that I slightly confused. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Nice. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Nice. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: Right. riverside garry cooper raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0035: Star Wars is Star Trek when I said Star Wars I I I realized, no, I meant well, it's the you know, the trains left the station at this point. BB 20260717 mix GARY: Star Wars and Star Trek when I said Star Wars. I realized, no, meant, well, the trains left the station at this point. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: That just means you haven't watched them enough, Garry. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: That just means you haven't watched him enough, Garry. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: Don't ever tell anyone that ever again. Keep that to your riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Don't ever tell anyone that ever again. Keep that to your space. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: All right. Well, we probably sh we should probably s quit while we're ahead. Alex, it was super fun having you on today. Thanks for hanging out with us for a while and chit chatting about all things business and sci fi fantasy weird stuff and baseball stories and everything else. It's lots of fun. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: All right. Well, we probably sh we should probably s quit while we're ahead. Alex, it was super fun having you on today. Thanks for hanging out with us for a while and chit chatting about all things business and sci fi fantasy weird stuff and baseball stories and everything else. It's lots of fun. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: You very much. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Very much. I agree. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: Thank you. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Thank you. BB 20260717 mix ALEX: I I had a great time. Thank you for for the invite. Anytime. riverside alex raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: I I had a great time. Thank you for for the invite. Anytime. riverside jeremie bacon raw video cfr boardroom blitz 0037: Absolutely. Awesome. BB 20260717 mix JEREMIE: Absolutely. Awesome.