The moment everything collapsed

The moment everything collapsed  

& the Leadership Tool that Changed Everything for Me 

A few years ago, I had a moment I’ll never forget.
I had just landed in London, came back to my office — and found it completely empty.
Not a soul. The entire team had left.

Later, I found out it was a complicated issue with one of the investors. But at that moment? It didn’t matter.
I was just standing there, suitcase in hand, wondering what the hell just happened.

I remember walking down Finchley Road in a three-piece British suit. I loosened the tie. Took off my shoes.
And sat down. Barefoot. On the curb.

The first guy who passed by, I asked him for a cigarette.
And just like that, I started smoking again.

But what I really inhaled that day was… the truth.
A deep realization:
There’s something I clearly didn’t understand.
Something about people. About leadership. About communication.
And I didn’t even know I didn’t know it.

We Talk a Lot — But Do We Really Communicate?

In the fast-paced world of sports business and innovation, we’re constantly moving.
Launching campaigns. Driving growth. Leading teams.
Managing pressure from above, below, and all sides.

We talk strategy. KPIs. Performance. Tech. Culture.
But sometimes — we forget the basics.

Because here’s the truth:
Real conversations don’t start with words.
They start with intention. With presence. With trust.

Every conversation has 4 participants:
Me, you — and both of our egos.

And once ego enters the room, the defense systems come online.
Now we’re no longer having a conversation between two people.
We’re just bouncing off each other’s armor.

That’s Where Things Break

One side gets defensive.
The other shuts down.
Or someone hides behind polite corporate speak like:
“Let me align internally and get back to you.”
(Translation: we both know that’s not happening.)

Bottom line?
You can’t connect with someone’s ego.
You can only connect with the human.

And that’s exactly a practical tool I call: ConnectFirst.

ConnectFirst: A simple tool to lead, communicate, and inspire.

Whether you’So what is ConnectFirst?
It’s not a theory. Not a trend. Not another leadership framework.
It’s a way of showing up — in conversations, decisions, and leadership moments.

re leading a team through change, working with partners, managing internal resistance, or rolling out innovation —
ConnectFirst is about putting connection before control.
People before process.

Here’s how it works:

1. Check your intention – what is the overall objective? Are you trying to win?
   
2. Drop the armor – Speak with your heart. Connect first.
   
3. Create safety – No judgment. No power games. Just presence.
   
4. Listen beyond words – What’s really going on beneath the surface?
   
5. Respond, don’t react – Lead from clarity, not from ego.
   

Simple? Yes.
Easy? Not always.
But the impact? Game-changing.

I’ve seen it shift rooms.
Unblock deals.
Strengthen leadership teams.
And most importantly — create real trust.

And Yes, You Can Still Be Direct

Let’s be clear — ConnectFirst doesn’t mean playing it safe or avoiding hard conversations.
Actually, it’s the opposite.

When people feel safe and respected, you can speak the hard truths.
You can give real feedback. Address real tension.
And instead of shutting down — people open up.

Management vs. Leadership: The Human Difference

There’s one quote I keep coming back to:

“Management is doing things right.
Leadership is doing the right things.”

Management keeps the system running.
Leadership keeps people moving forward.

And if you want to lead — really lead — you need to connect first.

Back to the Curb

I still think about that moment.
Sitting barefoot on a curb in Finchley Road.
Feeling like everything had collapsed.

But today, I don’t need the cigarette.

Because today I know:
Before the vision, before the KPIs, before the innovation —
there’s a person in front of you.
And that person wants to feel heard.
Wants to feel understood.
Wants to feel safe enough to do something bold.

The World Moves Fast — But People Move on Trust

In sports innovation, we used to ask:
“What’s coming in five years?”

Now we ask:
“What’s changing in the next five months?”

AI is reshaping everything: scouting, broadcasting, content, performance, business models.
The pressure to innovate is real.
But innovation without alignment? Doesn’t stick.
And alignment without trust? Doesn’t happen.

That’s what ConnectFirst creates.

So Before Your Next Big Moment — Try This

Pause.
Take a breath.
Look at the person across from you.
And ask yourself:

“Am I trying to convince — or to connect?”
“Am I speaking to the role — or to the human behind it?”

Because when you lead with ConnectFirst,
you don’t just move ideas.
You move people.

And that’s how real change begins.

Want to lead the future of sports innovation?
Start by leading human.
Start with ConnectFirst.