The $55 sticker that saved a dying car (and what it teaches us about getting to 'yes')
Why your best ideas deserve a second chance
I’ve known my husband for 17 years.
And for 16 years and 364 days, I’ve known he’s wanted a Trans Am.
A 1979 black Pontiac, the kind Burt Reynolds would’ve proudly hooned around in. It’s been the dream car, the screensaver, the “one day.”
We finally bought one a couple of months ago (which, yes, was a huge moment for him that deserves its own story but another time) and he's been deep in restoration mode, focusing on all the stuff under the hood. Suspension. Engine. Fuel filters. Stuff I can appreciate… but do not pretend to understand.
Meanwhile, I’ve had one thing on my mind:
The look (of course).
More specifically, the Screaming Chicken.
That outrageous flaming bird decal on the hood is what makes the car the car. And today, it arrived at our home in Brisbane.
Next month, it goes on the car.
And standing there, holding this completely over-the-top, slightly ridiculous sticker, I thought- this thing shouldn't even exist.
When executives kill good ideas
Back in 1970, Pontiac designer Bill Porter sketched the decal on a napkin. He thought it would wrap perfectly around the hood scoop of the Trans Am. It was loud, flashy and aggressively obnoxious.
Then GM’s head of design walked past the paint shop, took one look, and said,
“It looks like something on a Macy’s truck.”
And just like that, the Screaming Chicken got stuffed back in the box.
Fast forward a couple of years and designer John Schinella finds it and believes in it. Rather than fighting the boardroom battle again, he chose a different approach.
John decided to slap the bird decal on a Trans Am and took it out for a spin around Detroit.
People swarmed the car.
"Where did you get that?"
"Is this the new model?"
"I want one."
Armed with that street-level enthusiasm, Schinella returned to headquarters. He lined up three Trans Ams with Screaming Chickens and re-pitched the idea. This time, Pontiac GM Jim McDonald gave it the green light.
That casual "yes" turned a rejected napkin sketch into automotive history.
The $55 decal option became standard on special editions by 1976. After Burt Reynolds drove one in "Smokey and the Bandit," Trans Am sales exploded - 116,000 sold units in 1979, the model's best year ever.
The Screaming Chicken was so successful, that other manufacturers began to steal the concept. Soon you'd see bold graphics splashed across hoods from Camaros to 'Cuda Barracudas - everyone wanted their own version of that attention-grabbing hood statement.
The sticker had sparked an entire industry trend that would define muscle car aesthetics for decades.
Most of us stop at the first “no”
We assume someone else's opinion is the final word, whether that's a boss, a client, or a prospect. We think the rules are set.
But if you have faith in your idea (or what it can do), don’t stop.
Just don’t keep pushing in the same direction either. Try a smarter tack.
Btw, you can use this approach even if you haven’t been rejected yet but want to improve your chances of winning/acceptance.
Example:
In 2007, my best mate and I both applied for the same job.
Out of 500 people, we were both shortlisted for an interview. How good!
But also, how awkward, right?
So instead of competing for the job, we collaborated.
We both filmed videos about the company - she showed Part I of the video in her job interview, I showed Part II. What happened? The founder hired both of us.
The secret is in doing things that are unconventional/ no one else is trying, and in doing so, you stand out… Stop playing the same game.
Here’s how to side-step the system
If the front door is locked, try the side window.
Here are some tips on how to do that:
Hit the streets. Start with the people who'd actually use your idea - they're your early hype squad, and their genuine reactions carry more weight. Remember - you are not your own market! I once worked with a team that couldn't get approval for a new customer service process. Behind the scenes, they quietly tested it with actual customers and collected glowing testimonials (so rebellious!).
When they returned to management with real customer voices saying "This is amazing," the "no" became an immediate "yes."
Show, don't sell. People get behind what they can see and touch. Make your idea tangible. Build a scrappy prototype. The Screaming Chicken worked because someone slapped it on a hood and parked it where people could experience it firsthand. When people can interact with your idea rather than just imagine it, resistance often dissolves.
Make "hell yes" the easiest answer in the room. If your pitch sounds like more work, you've already lost. Strip away every friction point (if you can). Offer a test run with clear boundaries or a no-strings trial period. GM didn't approve a full Screaming Chicken revolution, they said yes to a $55 option they could pull if it flopped.
Rename it. Sometimes resistance isn't to your idea, it's to how you've packaged it. For consultants, this is especially critical - the same solution can be positioned as "digital transformation" (scary and expensive) or "A 90-day freedom sprint" (practical and valuable). Frame your idea in terms of what results your audience cares more about.
Give away the credit (strategically). If you care more about your idea living than your name being attached to it, hand it to someone with more clout. Yes, watching someone else get recognition for your brainchild stings but what’s more important here? For consultants, your goal should always be about positioning your client as the hero of the story, if you’re an employee, make your boss the hero.
Ask better questions. Instead of asking closed questions like "Can I do this?"which invites a yes/no response, try questions that open dialogue:
"What would it take to test this?" "
What concerns would you need addressed?"
"What would make this a yes in your eyes?"
These questions transform you from someone seeking permission into co-creation mode.
Next month, we’re finally putting the Screaming Chicken on the hood of our Trans Am.
It should look like this:
Can’t wait to drive it around, though I’m trying to sell the idea to my husband that the car needs a reverse camera (unsuccessful so far… seems my influencing skills have a limit, haha).
What awesome idea have you shelved too soon? What could you test, tweak, or take out for a spin?
If you enjoyed this read, you might also like:
🌴
Get your Leanne voice note every day
Join me daily as I podcast daily on Leanne on Demand.
This week, I recorded an episode about my $500 status run and my obnoxious business model pyramid, and threw back to a conversation I had with Stephen Shapiro on innovation.
🌴
Leanne “screaming like a chicken” Hughes
p.s. The rockstar of consulting, Alan Weiss and I are exploring how to build a high-leverage business without hiring more people, or even a virtual assistant. Use this link to join us live (Thursday 29 May, 7am AEST), or watch the replay.
I send this email weekly. If you would also like to receive it, join the 3,000+ other smart people who absolutely love it today.
👉 If you enjoy reading this post, feel free to share it with friends! Or feel free to click the heart ❤️ button on this post so more people can discover it 🙏
Fantastic! Thanks for sharing this story/teaching. I can use this immediately. 👍