Check out this video of a Sierra Mist commercial featuring soccer legend Pele, and up-and-comer, Freddy Adu.

Cheng is the expected. Ch’i is the unexpected.

What Pele has here is a robust strategy, see…

• If Pele wins*, he gets the soda without any resistance

• If Pele loses*, but performs well, Pele gets the soda anyway because Freddy will value the win more than the soda.

The Cheng: a well fought battle
The Ch’i: taking the beverage ANYWAY

What are some other insights can you get from this example of an effective strategy? (Besides the fact that Pele broke an unspoken contract, get past that, it’s a Youtube example)

Here are two things to get your brain pumping…

Knowing your opponent

• Pele knew Freddy would be in awe of him, but relish the chance to compete and win.

• Pele knew Freddy was still a youngster and the enormity of the event would emotionally overwhelm the youngblood.

Have a different value

• Pele’s value was acquiring the soda. Freddy’s value became beating his idol.

• If Pele had value similar to Freddy’s he would not have seen the opportunity.

• If Freddy had a similar value to Pele’s, he would not have allowed the opportunity.

Focus. Cheng then ch’i.

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