Curiosity #54 - The Power of a Well-Placed Profanity

🎤 Quotable quotes: “Cursing is rarely a symbol of low class. It’s often a mark of high authenticity."

— Dr. Adam Grant

Leave it to Dr. Adam Grant to back up what Roy Kent has been telling us for three seasons straight: sometimes a little colorful language just means you care.

Recent research shows that people who swear more often score higher in honesty and integrity. It is not about shock value. It is about sincerity. Swearing can be a verbal exhale, a raw, unfiltered signal that says, I mean this.

And really, who embodies that better than Roy Kent?

🏟 Why This Matters for You

In Lead It Like Lasso, we talk about authenticity as one of the pillars of great leadership. True leaders do not put on a mask; they bring their whole selves into the room. Roy Kent’s language may make HR twitch, but his team never questions where he stands. His honesty builds trust because people can feel when you are being real.

Here are a few lessons Roy and Dr. Grant might agree on:

1. Authenticity beats polish. People follow leaders who are genuine, not those who sound rehearsed.

2. Passion has a volume. When you care deeply, it leaks out. Sometimes it is enthusiasm, sometimes it is an expletive, but it always means you are invested.

3. Honesty creates safety. Roy’s teammates may flinch at his words, but they know exactly where they stand. Consistent candor builds psychological safety.

4. Control the delivery, not the emotion. Swearing for emphasis is not the same as swearing at someone. Channel your emotion into purpose, not punishment.

Leadership is not about being buttoned up. It is about being buttoned in, fully present, fully engaged, fully you.

So, if an occasional “bloody hell” escapes when you are passionate about your work, maybe that is just your authenticity showing up to practice.

🫶 Stay curious,
— Nick & Marnie
Your tea sipping, truth telling, occasionally cussing (well, Nick anyway) friends

P.S. We get so many compliments on our Roy Kent foreword of Lead it Like Lasso, BUT we have colleges and school systems who have asked for a PG version so we created one! The only difference is the foreword (still in Roy Kent feels without the f-bombs ;) ). These can only be ordered through us so if you have a leadership program that needs to Lead it Like Lasso, just let us know!

More leadership musings

🍪 Biscuits with the Boss: 

What is a moment when your honesty or passion slipped out a little louder than you meant it to?

Did it help people see how much you cared?

📚Beard’s collection: This week, we’re embracing the fine art of caring a little less—but in a way that makes life a lot more. 

📖 Mark Manson. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fck. Harper, 2016.
Mark Manson’s anti-self-help manifesto reminds us that life’s richness comes not from boundless positivity, but from choosing our struggles wisely. His thesis: we all give too many f*cks about the wrong things. True happiness is found when we stop trying to be extraordinary and start focusing on what genuinely matters. Think of it as Beard’s version of meditation—less “manifest your destiny,” more “get real and move on.”

📖 Gary John Bishop. Unfck Yourself. HarperOne, 2017.
If Manson’s book gives you the philosophy, Bishop gives you the kick in the pants. His Scottish no-nonsense tone turns personal growth into an act of defiance: stop waiting for motivation and start acting like the person you say you want to be. It’s the literary equivalent of Beard growling “get out of your own head” before silently returning to his crossword.

📖 Sarah Knight. The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a Fck. Little, Brown and Company, 2015.
Knight’s take brings Marie Kondo energy to your emotional clutter. Her “NotSorry Method” is a practical system for deciding what to care about—based on joy, utility, and sanity. It’s permission to quit things politely but firmly, and to free your calendar and conscience alike. Beard would approve: efficient, effective, and not one ounce of performative nonsense.

🌎 This week in Here - There - Every F’ing where 

Hollywood actress turn presenter (the very cool and clever Presilah Davis) joined the Lead it Like Lasso leadership program at Choptank Cooperative to discuss modern etiquette. Be sure to check her out on Instagram.

We had a great conversation with our friend Chelsea Kiehler this week about raising kids who invest wisely in themselves. She has so many great ideais! If you missed it, you can check out the recording here. And here is the link to one of the money games.

Believe! 

Nick & Marnie