Virgil Ricks’ Post

Do you use gifs at work? I greatly prefer responding with a gif when appropriate (and sometimes when it's not appropriate...) I'm always looking for more high quality gifs, so please drop one of your favorites in the comments for me 🙏

Try this line next time you're working with AI: "Can you give me [number] variations of this [message, pitch, etc.]? Feel free to be flexible with creativity and tone." I recommend getting the project to a decent place first and then prompting AI with this question. I've used this several times and have been very pleased with the results when I give ChatGPT (or whichever AI) flexibility.

What did you want to be when you grew up? Where are you now? When I was in elementary school I wanted to be a scientist, specifically a geologist, because they ROCK... Then in high school I set my sights on becoming an FBI Special Agent and made intentional decisions to pursue that path. Fast forward a few decades I've: >> Been involved in scientific research >> Worked as a prison guard >> Taught high school science >> Built a popular education YouTube channel >> Led digital and product marketing efforts And I now work in a strategic role to provide effective education solutions to High School CTE classrooms The path is rarely straight but nearly every career I set my sights on and role I pursed involved critical thinking and helping others, which are two of my guiding passions. So what does your path look like?

I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Susan Wojcicki this weekend after her two-year battle with lung cancer. Susan was an exceptional business leader, first at Google and later as the CEO of YouTube. Her journey from renting out her garage to Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin to becoming a pivotal part of the company’s growth is nothing short of inspiring. I also admire her role as the first Google employee to take maternity leave, which paved the way for better parental leave policies and a more inclusive workplace environment. But what resonates with me the most is her commitment to improving YouTube, particularly her vision of the platform as a hub for education. As an "Edutuber," I've witnessed firsthand the positive changes her leadership brought in democratizing education and enhancing the quality of educational content on YouTube. My thoughts are with Susan's family and loved ones during this difficult time. Her legacy will continue to inspire and guide those of us who strive to make a positive impact in the world 💛

The end of an era. It's wild to think that Redbox accounted for 50% of all DVD rentals 10 years ago. They exploded into the market and pushed traditional video rental stores out only to be pushed out by the streaming giants a few years later ⚰️

You may have noticed that my name is just one letter away from "Virgin" You are not the only one. I've been called "Virgin" by mistake more times than I can count. Intentionally in my teens (a curious nickname), unintentionally in local newspapers, and even as my official name at a new job (a company announcement fail!). While people often apologize for the mix-up, I've always taken it in stride. There are simply bigger fish to fry (and I see the humor in it). I try to bring this perspective to work. There are plenty of things that could upset me, but most aren't worth the energy. It’s about focusing on what truly matters. I'm not saying to ignore everything, but let's save our energy for the stuff that really counts.

All leaders have power, how they use that power is what makes them a great leader or a poor leader. What would you add?

One of the best ways to engage students is by providing real-world education experiences. Nine years ago I was teaching High School science I had several students who wanted to learn physics. Neither I nor they had the math experience necessary to jump into a theoretical physics course, so I created a conceptual physics course. We spent the first half of the semester studying the concepts of force, momentum, energy, etc. Then in the second half, they built trebuchets (the preferred medieval siege machine). This was not a little project either, but they jumped in and took it on building 6ft tall trebuchets that launched pumpkins 100s of feet. Fast forward to this week where I had the opportunity to represent Stukent at the NAF Next conference and talk about engaging students with Stukent Simternships. These simternships bring marketing and business to life for students and truly prepare them for their future. What was an impactful hands-on learning experience in your education?

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AI CAN help you build a great presentation AI CAN'T make you a great presenter AI CAN create great stories AL CAN'T create your story AI CAN write an empathetic email response AI CAN'T make you empathetic AI CAN help you brainstorm and ideate AI CAN'T generate a "Purple Cow" idea, product, or service AI is a powerful tool designed to empower you (not replace you).