Down with Maduro, Cubs Pitcher Adbert Azolay with the Save

"Dictator Nicolas Maduro is Threatening the people in Venezuela with banging all social media including Whatsaap witch is the app must Venezuelans uses to talk to our family’s .. he just want the world to not know what is going on .. dictatorship . People of Venezuela needs help"

-- Venezuelan native and Chicago Cubs Pitcher Adbert Azolay

I really respect this Tweet on X earlier this week by Mr. Azolay so much. For several different reasons. For starters, it was also just announced the pitcher would undergo the dreaded Tommy John elbow surgery - which means he likely won't play again for up to 14 months.

But here is a professional athlete, who is not a superstar, taking time out of his day to issue a heartfelt statement on the tragic recent events of election rigging in his homeland and its capital, Caracas. The grammar is off a bit suggesting no one edited this for him. This is his own personal unedited view. And his English is 100x better than my Spanish, I might add.

This is the thing that's been on my mind more broadly. Companies and individuals continue to vastly underestimate the power of social media. LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok - they all provide this incredible platform to speak freely. In a different time, Adbert might be told by his employer to "refrain from political statements". Today - are you kidding me - social media allows anyone to air their views in a civil manner, like he has done, on virtually any topic at any time within appropriate reason.

Society needs more voices like Adbert Azolay.

I know from time to time some people get carried away with their vitriol messaging and spew venom and I wish that weren't the case. But for every loudmouth post or Tweet there are literally dozens of more productive ones like this one that build trust; convey a narrative; open our eyes to the world around us. Teach us something. Inspire.

My former Bloomberg colleague Ted Merz, CFA has written very eloquently on this subject. Corporate leaders and companies need to embrace social media - don't shy away from it. And you can do this without ever touching on any political subjects ever - all you gotta do is sit down and start typing. Be yourself.

As philosopher Studs Terkel once said: "If you want other people to show you their vulnerabilities, you have to open up a bit and show them theirs." It's amazing what the simple act of starting a dialogue can do in business or in life.

In recent months, several companies have approached me about helping them with their online presence and, of course, I'm happy to share my perspective. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.

As for Mr. Azolay - bravo.

Y felicitaciones a Venezuela y tu.