(Note: If you happen to see a giant strip of bacon on this post, then you likely arrived through http://ike4.me/bacon or some other Twitter/Facebook/Stumbleupon link. You can remove it by clicking the title of the post, underneath the bacon-y goodness. Or, if that doesn’t work, click here.)

The mere fact there is an internet toy that slaps a slab of bacon over a website is proof that bacon is popular. The Google search for “Bacon makes every recipe better” returns more than 2-million hits. There are Maple Bacon Cupcakes, and Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookies.

But what is it about bacon that makes everything else taste better? I asked the crowd, and got a lot of responses.

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I summarize them here, or you can just jump down to the bottom and read for yourself.

So, what can we learn from the Oracle of Bacon?

Be Fat-like

Not obese, or lazy, or unappealing. But perform the same functions for your team that fat does for the body.

Fat is necessary for the proper absorption of certain vitamins (which is why it tastes good to us – from an evolutionary standpoint, those with defective fat-hating taste buds were less-inclined to get those vitamins!)

Fat also stores energy, which can be provide a much-needed boost.

Be Salty

Not that we want you talking like a sailor, but you can be salt-like in your relationships.

Those described as “Salt of the Earth” are humble, simple and direct. They don’t pretend to be more than they are. Be common enough to blend in, but important enough that if you are absent, you are missed.

And be present in the right amounts. Too much salt can be deadly.

Be Smoky

The “smoke” we’re talking about is really just the application of heat to fat. Smoke is the release of those appetizing amino acids, which entices and creates expectations.

Being airborne, smoke precedes, and effectively sells the benefit to come. Smoke advertises the best qualities, and does so by reaching out beyond the plate to draw product to the palate.

Most importantly, smoke is a product of change. The fat, when subjected to heat, transforms into something with different properties and value. Be flexible when things get hot.

Umami

What the heck is umami? And why does it have such a strange name?

Umami is a Japanese word that describes a level of savoriness that doesn’t exist with the other identified flavors. We know salty, bitter, sweet and sour. Yet those words don’t capture the essence of foods like meats and cheeses, or mushrooms.

One aspect of umami is that the receptors are not just in the mouth. The presence of the umami-inducing chemicals can also be detected in the stomach! Additionally, umami triggers a slightly different brain response, including the release of seratonin.

So, how can you be more umamish? Be exotic, and touch people where they don’t expect.

Be Inspirational

No, bacon doesn’t necessarily inspire in an overt way. But I really liked this response from @jeffdonald:

When you bring your best every time, you inspire others to do so as well. Good teams have role players who make those around them better. Champions have players who make those around them want to be better than they’ve ever been.

So – who would you say is your bacon?

Responses:

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So who is your bacon? Answer in the comments.