~210 words | under 60 second read
First manager meeting I was ever invited to
The secret room
I'd been waiting for this. The virtual version of a long wooden conference table. The people who actually know what's going on
Each manager goes through their business. Forecast, pipeline, what you're doing about it
My turn comes and I share how I'm flying low. Joining calls. Shadowing 1:1s. Staying close to the deals
I thought it was a breakthrough
I’'m the man, totally killing it
It wasn't
Every manager in that room had been doing that for three weeks
"Okay great thanks Brandon"
Next
That's the moment I learned the difference between speaking and contributing
Your reps, your peers, your boss are not waiting for you to confirm what they already know
They're waiting to hear something they haven't heard yet
Before you open your mouth in your next cross-functional meeting or skip-level, ask yourself
Am I talking to contribute or to be seen
Two ears, one mouth
Never mattered more than it does as a first time sales manager
DO THIS WEDNESDAY Write down the one thing you're planning to say in your next big meeting. Then ask yourself if it's actually new. If it isn't, zip it
Think this was good? Think I'm full of shit? Hit reply. I read every one.
— Brandon