Yes! Another "Pop Up Idea Swap" session - early next week, perfect for EU, UK, US.
More notice this time + Uk, US and Europe friendly time
I had a brilliant time yesterday in my first “Pop Up Idea Swap” session, so I’m going to run more. Maybe a lot more …
The next one is next week - see below for the link and UK, EU and US-friendly times.
We talked about a lot of stuff, and a bit about my new book, The Motorcade Method, and Graham shared a little motorcade story that I’ve used for the book’s introduction.
Here’s the current draft:
Introduction
The City That Shut Down for a Deadline
In November 2024, Taylor Swift rolled into Toronto for six sold-out stadium shows. Within minutes of her arrival, traffic on one of Canada’s busiest highways ground to a halt. Not from fan hysteria, but because the city had cleared a lane to get her motorcade through.
Police escorts. Partial highway shutdown. A convoy of black SUVs.
Why?
Because when something important is on the line - whether it’s a VIP, a visiting head of state, or $280 million in economic activity - you don’t leave its arrival up to chance. You clear the way. You protect the timeline. You treat it like it matters.
Toronto spent nearly $2 million on crowd control and police planning for those six shows. Not because they like pop stars. Because it made financial sense. Taylor brought in over $150 million in visitor spending and nearly doubled that in economic ripple effects. The return wasn’t just good. It was astonishing.
Now imagine this:What if your most important project got treated like that?
What if, instead of hoping your team made it through traffic, you gave them a police escort?
What if you didn’t just start the project and hope for the best — you stacked the odds so high in your favour that “on time” became the default?
That’s what this book is about.
It’s not about being Taylor Swift. It’s about thinking like Toronto.
(Besides, if they hadn’t done this they would have had to rename her Taylor Slow.)
Sorry about that last line … 🙄.
There’s a lot more going on in the real story - it’s all about projects, deadlines, and dollars, and … music. And win-win negotiation. I hope to weave those lessons into the book, with a lot of blood, sweat, and swearing, on my part.
I don’t want to over-promise though, because writing is hard work 🤯.
Next Session - Monday next week (UK, US, EU timezones)
If you live in the UK, US, or EU … this timezone should work for you, if you’re keen. It’s a little earlier than I’d prefer … but, COFFEE!
NOTE: it’s your Monday afternoon & evening, but it’s my Tuesday morning.
New Zealand - Tuesday, 5 Aug, 7:00 AM (NZST)
Edinburgh, United Kingdom - Monday, 4 Aug, 8:00 PM
San Francisco, United States - Monday, 4 Aug, 12:00 PM
New York City, United States - Monday, 4 Aug, 3:00 PM
Paris, France - Monday, 4 Aug, 9:00 PM
Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/wCgpXxgWQSq9G9SoixhWkw
This is sort of an AMA, but more of a big friendly chat.
Also, I might record the meeting, but I won’t share it anywhere.