Mike Michalowicz breaks down a Ted Lasso scene to show why curiosity beats judgment in business. He uses the show's quote "be curious, not judgemental" to argue leaders should ask questions instead of assuming answers. Being underestimated, like founder Thomas Gorny's accent, can become a competitive edge.
You know, you've seen it, you've seen that show Ted Lasso, and we're going to review it today. Here's a guy from the Southeast who goes to the Northeast, not of the United States, but of the world, the planet, and ends up in the UK and is transformative in his personality and his wholesomeness. And I don't know, it's amazing lessons. So here's the deal. Hit the notification bell, push the subscribe button, and let's dig into this episode. Don't forget, if you do those two things, the subscribe button, notification bell, you don't miss a single future episode. And that's where I review movies, TV shows, video clips, and give you the Austral insights. And Ted Lasso's packed with them.
Here we go.
He's a little bit of a hustler.
It's a Rupert.
Y'all take your darts over here pretty seriously, huh? This and, uh, what's the billiard game y'all do that sounds like a brand of cookies?
Snooker.
That's it, that's the one. Yeah, boy, I'd love to curl up on a couch under a weighted blanket, watch You've Got Mail, and devour a box of snookers. See what we got here. Hey, there it is.
Do you like darts too?
Oh, they're okay. I'm more of a, you know, a cornhole man myself. Yeah. Nope.
How about a game?
I'll show you. Right here's asking to play a game. I'll tell you something like this, that there is an observation here, is that the person who shows strength from the get-go is often bluffing, and the person who shows weakness from the get-go, if it's packed or backed with confidence or comfort, usually is strong. It's an old poker strategy. Watch the players who are kind of playing loosely or non-caringly, kind of feel obligated to stay in the game. Those are usually the best players and have strong hands.
I mean, we could maybe wager, say, £10,000.
Well, as my doctor told me when I got addicted to fettuccine Alfredo, that's a little rich for my blood. Uh, how about this? If you win, I'll let you pick the starting lineup of the last 2 games of the season. But if I win, you can't go anywhere near the owner's box, at least not while I'll be back I'm still in charge.
Ted, what the hell are you doing? Well, I believe some folks call it white knighting, but I don't know, I'm just following my gut. It's okay, it's what I normally do.
What do you think?
You're on. Okay, uh, double in, double out.
Whatever you say, Rupert Dukes. Yeah, just let me know if I'm winning or losing, all right?
Oh, I forgot I had these on me.
Oh yeah. Oh, wait a second, I forgot I'm left-handed.
So that's funny. So now we know the two champions are gonna go at it, uh, foot to foot or head to head or head, head to foot, foot to head, toe. I don't know, but they're going head to head. That's the word I was looking for. And, um, that was the warning I shared with you. When someone comes off weak, unknowing, but stays in and has a kind of underlying sense of confidence, be careful. Um, but the other guy has starts with him, so let's see what happens here.
I was gonna be a hoop.
180!
William Rupert, get in! Shut your stupid little twat mouth or I will shut it for you.
Shall I be giving you the lineup card now, Ted? I shall be putting your bosomier back on defense where he belongs.
That's exactly what I said, didn't I?
No. It's not all Ted's fault. My ex-wife's the one who brought the hillbilly to our shores. I know she's always been a bit randy, but I never thought she would fuck over an entire team.
Hey, better manners when I'm holding the dart, please.
I'll tell you, Lasso's got some good one-liners.
Mate, what do I need to win?
Two triple 20s and a bull from sunlight.
Good luck.
You know, Rupert, guys have underestimated me my entire life, and for years I never understood why. I used to really bother people.
Have underestimated his entire life. I'll tell you, that can be your biggest advantage. I remember I had a meeting with Thomas Gorny. He's the founder of Nextiva, and we were talking privately, and he goes, you know, people underestimated me. He's from Eastern Europe, moved to Germany. He has a European accent, heavy. He only learned English in his late teen years. And he goes, because I have an accent and speak slowly, people think I think slowly. And that's been my biggest advantage. I fumble intentionally, but looks like he's fumbling and slow and people disregard him. And then he comes in and dominates. He's been extremely successful. Check out Nextiva and his prior companies. You'll see what I mean. Underestimating people is very dangerous. So be careful. And if you're the one who's underestimated, oh my gosh, is that an opportunity of strength.
But then one day I was driving my little boy to school and I saw this quote by Walt Whitman. It was painted on the wall there. It said, be curious, not judgmental. I like that. So I get back in my car and I'm driving to work. Work, and all of a sudden it hits me. All them fellas that used to belittle me, not a single one of them were curious. You know, they thought they had everything all figured out, and so they judged everything and they judged everyone. And I realized that they're underestimating me. Who I was had nothing to do with it, because if they were curious, they would ask questions. You know, questions like, have you played a lot of darts, Ted?
Yeah, and that speaks to the greatest opportunity you and I have is curiosity. Believing we know the answers, believing others don't, is ultimately our trap. And can we have the courage just to be curious about everyone else and learn and find our own lessons within. There's huge strength in curiosity. Great line by Ted Lasso. Let's see if he had to get two triple 20s and a bullseye. Let's see if he does it.
Which I would have answered, yes, sir. Every Sunday afternoon at a sports bar with my father from age 10 to 16 when he passed away.
Barbecue sauce.
Good game, Ruby.
Come on, this guy.
You are a very lovely consolation prize. Rebecca, Ted, enjoy your evening. Mate, as always.
Holy shit, that felt good! That was fun.
Yeah.
Only one thing left to do now.
What's that?
Do I have to?
What a good guy. Yeah, that's fun. So I'll tell you, uh, winning comes from practice, right? And that's the thing he talks about at the very end is every Sunday from age 10 to 16. It's 300+ sessions. Is it more than that? Probably, uh, that he has practiced darts and gave him that mastery skill. I'll tell you, that's the ultimate lesson. Never see yourself as the master. Always be curious, always be learning, and always be practicing over and over and over again. It's from that you become a master, and maybe win the game. Thanks for watching this episode of The Real Entrepreneur. As a reminder, any questions or comments you have, go to mikemccallowitz.com/question, and be sure to ring the notification bell and hit that subscribe button. And I look forward to seeing you on the next episode of The Real Entrepreneur.
