Good day readers.
The above subject line is a nod to the album Birth of the Cool by Miles Davis. For those that don’t know, I love most jazz and in particular, Miles Davis.
Birth of the Cool was the most important stylistic step to follow after bebop—generating an entirely new wave of playing that influenced a new generation in the early 1950s.
Birth of the Cool took place in a basement on 55th Street in NYC. And over here on the NW side of Indianapolis, I am hatching my own (re)Birth of the Cool as I determine what’s next for me professionally. And it occasionally happens in the basement.
Birth of the Cool is not the only thing I am channeling.
I’ve gone through boxes of personal items and a digital inventory of photographs, including a 2014 solo trip to India. Get to the point, you’re thinking. Who else are you channeling?
Shiva, the Hindu deity? Yes. Imagery sparks something and I’ve always loved what Shiva embodies. It makes sense for this moment in life.
Shiva is the Supreme Lord who creates, protects and transforms the universe.
I am ready for transformation. My last issue about unemployment, focused on positivity and gratitude. This one? It’s the rebirth-reinvention-reincarnation-reset-rebrand issue, with help from Miles, Shiva and even André Breton. Like the Surrealist Manifesto he wrote, I am authoring my own revolution.
“There are fairy stories to be written for adults. Stories that are still in a green state.” André Breton
If we are the authors of our life, then we get to decide the story. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes. Or in my case, a panda straining to rise from bamboo leaves. My manifesto is this: be categorically and emphatically my authentic self. I am tired of playing a part and wearing a mask professionally. Let’s cut to the chase, pull back the curtain, stop with the small talk and get real. Say 👋 to Daniel Incandela.
This new me requires a bit of a refresh, and I know a thing or two about branding. And although I don’t know what my next job will be - a CMO? A consultant? A hair stylist? Skateboarder? I do know that I am using this time to invest in myself. After a 20+ year career, all of life’s moments and everything in between, it’s time to dust off the old personal brand. 💨
What does this entail?
Defining my values. 📜
Updating my career history, experience, accolades, etc. 🖊️
Are resumes still a thing? If so, updating the one I found from 2014. 🗎
Rewriting my bio(s) and any other personal descriptions. 👨
New headshots. 🤳
A redesign of my personal site. 🚧
Developing templates and assets to support any advising or consulting opportunities that arise. 📁
Developing a real content strategy to use my voice more authentically. For example, I am open and passionate about sobriety, mentoring, branding, and South Korean film and TV 🇰🇷, among other things.
Despite being an aspiring hermit, introvert and enneagram 4, I do have things to say, and the above strategy will give me the tools to communicate more frequently. 📣
Time with people. I am gaining inspiration from all sources and every conversation provides something new. If you have chatted with me, thank you. 💬
Thinking about my strengths. I reached out to family, friends and former colleagues and asked them what they thought were my strengths. It has been incredibly valuable and helpful as a I look ahead (once I got past the uncomfortable nature of this request). 🏋️♂️
Asking for help. Help comes in many ways, but I am asking for introductions, feedback, work, you name it. Additionally, I’m collaborating with some of my favorite people on all of the above - transformation takes a village and this is my chance to work with some great minds. 💁🏼
This is my blueprint.
If you have any thoughts, I’d love to hear from you. And finally, if I can help you with anything, hmu. 🫶
Podium Life
While I’m off having some sort of professional Eat, Pray, Love experience, our company Podium Life needs to keep growing! August was our best traffic month to date, which continues an upward trend. We also entered a partnership with FanAmp, an app that provides a F1 fans a true global community. They’ve been wonderful partners and friends already, where we get to swap and feature each others content. Everyone wins, unlike most of the current drivers/teams in F1.
This is a meaningful relationship for Podium Life, which marks our 2nd partnership of the year. Who would have thought? Onward and upward.
Consumption
All things going into this brain of mine.
Movies and TV:
The Continental: There was no reason to cast Mel Gibson in this, but as a John Wick stan boy, I am watching it.
Rugal: A police detective who loses everything to a criminal organization seeks payback when he gains special abilities through biotechnology. It’s also part soap opera with dramatic pauses and longing stares.
Black Knight. Dystopian, South Korean TV drama. This was written for me. Also based on Delivery Knight, a webtoon by Lee Yoon-gyun.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. I wanted this to be as good as the Spiderverse movies, but it’s not. However, it’s a good movie and the animation style is brilliant.
Alive, Season 5. All about Mongolia! Leeches anyone?
Hacksaw Ridge. I didn’t realize Mel Gibson directed until after. It was good but also kinda not. Weird.
Borat 2. Ollie hadn’t seen it.
Blinkist:
The Kybalion: A Study of Hermetic Philosophy of Ancient Egypt and Greece.
You Lead: How Being Yourself Makes You a Better Leader.
Links:
DALL-E 3: AI Image Generation Comes to ChatGPT
Who Was the Doctor Behind Dr Pepper?
An homage to my father, Serge Gainsbourg
A history of Apple making us buy new cables
Automobolist: The Japanese Collection
Lewis Hamilton and Hajime Sorayama Share a Racing Helmet Collaboration
Coca-Cola's New AI-Generated Soda Flavor Falls Flat
As always, thank you for reading this newsletter. Sending you all positivity.
Much love, Daniel