How to make every business update feel like the fourth quarter: The NFL’s engagement secret.

🏉  𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗙𝗟 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀. 𝗜𝘁 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗱.

Every season unfolds like a drama series, complete with plots, compelling characters, and high stakes.

Your company needs to adopt the same approach to engage your team.

📗 𝟭𝘀𝘁: 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁

The NFL structures its season as a journey with clear story arcs. There are underdogs rising, dynasties challenged, and redemption stories unfolding.

If you’re a football fan, I’m guessing you have thoughts about the Chiefs, the Lions, the Rams, and the Colts. 🏈

Each game becomes a chapter in a larger narrative that fans can't stop watching. Your company should do the same.

Frame your quarterly goals as chapters in a larger story.

  • Where are you going or where did you come from?

  • What obstacles are you facing?

  • Are you the scrappy startup taking on industry giants?

Make your team feel like they're part of something building toward a climactic moment, not just another end of the fiscal year.

👥 𝟮𝗻𝗱: 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀

The league makes stars out of players by highlighting their unique backgrounds and personalities.

Patrick Mahomes is the golden boy chasing dynasty status alongside his coach Andy Reid.

Travis Kelce became a crossover celebrity who brings personality (and Taylor Swift).

Tom Brady was the ultimate protagonist as the underdog sixth-round pick who became the GOAT.

Maybe you love Ed Oliver, Emeka Egbuke, or Justin Herbert?

And yes, the NFL loves its villains too. Players who fans love to hate create natural tension that makes every game more compelling.

Maybe you hate Jalen Carter or Aaron Rodgers? Or, any of the teams or players I already named.

Take those emotional connections to your work comms.

•   What's the company’s comeback story?

•   Who's the rookie exceeding expectations?

•   Who's the veteran mentor guiding others?

•   What are your wins?

• And who are the villains? (Is it the competition?)

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People connect with people, not jargon and spreadsheets.

🥇 𝟯𝗿𝗱: 𝗥𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀

Every NFL game matters because the stakes are clear.

💔 The playoff hopes hang in the balance, legacies are made or broken, and the one-and-done playoff format means lose once and your season ends.

🏆 The Super Bowl isn't just a game. It’s where careers are defined forever.

Your team needs to understand what's at risk and what success looks like.

  • What do those numbers mean for the company and their careers?

  • What’s the “so what?”

  • What happens if you win this quarter?

  • What are you building toward?

  • What's the championship moment you're chasing together?

𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨.  𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨.

Your team deserves a story worth believing in.

And if you need help figuring out how to tell your story, I can help.