Parliament | Pocket Presence and a $300K Bet on the Future
Brené Brown defines "pocket presence" (the football term) when applied to leadership as "the ability to read a situation without seeing the full picture and trusting your team to make a move."
I've been thinking about this a lot lately as people ask—with genuine curiosity and probably some concern—about our decision to invest $300K+ in The Bird House.
It's launching by end of year. A 1300-square-foot space designed specifically for Brand Being Workshops.
Three bedrooms for overnight teams. A space purpose-built for the kind of deep, transformational work that simply can't happen in a conference room.
"But why now?" they ask. "Shouldn't you be conserving cash in this economy? With AI uncertainty? With everything so unpredictable?"
Fair questions. Strategic questions, even.
Here's my answer: We're betting on what becomes more valuable, not less valuable, in an AI-saturated world.
What The Bird House Represents
> First, in-real-life human connection will become paramount. Not just nice-to-have—essential. As AI handles more transactional work, the ability to read a room, feel the energy shift when you've touched something true, sense when someone's offering a surface answer instead of digging deeper—these human capabilities become irreplaceable competitive advantages.
> Second, bringing teams together across silos in one dedicated space will be critical. Not Zoom rooms with half-attention. Not conference spaces borrowed between "real" meetings. A sanctuary designed specifically for the kind of concentrated, collaborative thinking that produces breakthrough brand clarity.
> Third, taste and strategy will separate thriving organizations from surviving ones. Everyone has access to the same AI tools now. The differentiator isn't technology—it's discernment. The judgment to know what's true versus what's simply efficient. The wisdom to build brands that matter, not just brands that exist.
> Fourth, and maybe most important: I trust our seasoned and synergistic team to land on its feet in any circumstance. We've adapted through economic shifts, technology disruptions, and industry transformations. That adaptability isn't about having perfect information—it's about building the muscle to move with confidence even when we can't see the complete picture.
The Moves You Can't Make From Your Desk
Here's what I know after fifteen years and hundreds of brand transformations: The most powerful discoveries happen when humans connect, fully present, in environments designed to support deep work.
You can't manufacture that in a conference room with fluorescent lights and people checking their phones.
You can't replicate it on Zoom with notifications pinging and pets demanding attention.
The Bird House isn't a luxury. It's infrastructure for the kind of human-centered, strategically rigorous work that matters more every day.
Is it a risk? Absolutely.
But "pocket presence" isn't about having certainty. It's about reading the situation—seeing where the world is moving, understanding what your team is capable of—and trusting yourself to make the move.
We're making the move.
We’re loving the prompts from this content creator on Instagram. When you leverage powerful prompts with a Brand Being Manual, you get AI content gold 🥇
