Big Announcement Alert 🚨
What in the brand new addition is going on here? This better be something good...
Today I’m announcing the THOUGHT LEADER TODAY subscriber chat. (Hear the royal fanfare? 🎺 )
This is a free conversation space in the Substack app that I set up exclusively for my subscribers—kind of like a group chat or live hangout.
In it, I’ll post short prompts, thoughts, and updates that come my way, and you can jump into the discussion.
To join the conversation, you’ll need to download the Substack app, now available for both iOS and Android. Chats are sent via the app, not email, so turn on push notifications so you don’t miss out.
How to get started
Download the app by clicking this link or the button below. Substack Chat is now available on both iOS and Android.
Open the app and tap the Chat icon. It looks like two bubbles in the bottom bar, and you’ll see a row for my chat inside.
That’s it! Jump into my thread to say hi, and if you have any issues, check out Substack’s FAQ.
I really hope to see you there, but no pressure. I know you’re already getting hit up nonstop in the inbox and on social.
Before I let you go, I want to set an imaginary stage.
You’re starting off the week with a team huddle. It’s a normal Monday morning. Everyone is on Zoom. Your CMO partied a little too hard at a Taylor Swift concert, but other than that, the team is fine.
After pleasantries, the CEO runs through the agenda.
“These are the projects we’re working on, these are the people we’d like to contact, this is the event I’m going to be speaking at..”
During this leadership monologue, something starts to gnaw on you.
You ignore it.
Others chip in and give their two cents.
It grows into an itch. Your mouse moves over the 🤚 icon, but you don’t click.
The CEO tells a joke and everyone laughs hard.
More gnawing. You’ve been at the company a few months. You’re not comfortable speaking your mind.
A director reports out on progress. “We still need a few more days to see if things are going to fall into place..”
Butterflies are now squirrels in your stomach. You’ve got to raise your hand. You must click the 🤚 icon.
“..and then there’s the matter of figuring out how we’re going to..”
This is it. They’re wrapping up their thought. You’re going to have to jump in. You’ll miss it and have to wait another week.
“..I’ll let everyone know what the results are.”
You click the 🤚 icon.
The CEO calls on you.
Now is the time.
Don’t hold back.
“What are we trying to give people with this business?”
The zoom is quiet for a moment, but the CEO blurts out, “sell our software, isn’t it obvious?!”
A few members of the team chuckle. The CFO smirks.
Your courage grows instead of shrinks. “I get that. But I also see us copying others, hedging our bets, and blending in. I don’t feel the…excitement.”
The CEO sits up. “What do you mean excitement? I feel it!”
Only a few this time give a half-hearted yeeeaaahs.
“I’m not trying to stir the pot. I just want to know from everyone on the team:
What is our focus?”
..
Now it’s your turn.
How would you answer these two questions in one sentence?
How about your team? What would they say?
If you can’t do it, or the statement produces more questions, you don’t have a strategy yet. You are more than likely looking at a goal.
Remember that a strategy has an air of finality about it—it provokes no questions.
When people hear it, they respond, “let’s do it.”