Monthly Meetup
Seconds gathering (virtually) to:
Get tailored insights and Q&A with a topic specialist, build community, and share tactical needs.
Monthly on the 3rd Thursday, from 3-4:30pm CST
September 2024’s meeting is Thursday the 19th
If you read “How to be Second” and you’re ready for the next step, or want to find some more Seconds
If you seem to get slotted into progressively more management roles no matter where you go,
If your title has ever been “General Manager”, “COO”, “Integrator™️”, “Chief of Staff”, or “Manager” (or should have been),
If you’ve ever unironically wanted to put “everythinger” into your resume,
If you’ve ever identified more with Alfred than Robin…
Gather together as a group and meet a special guest for Q&A. Our guest will prep an idea and/or challenge tailored for Seconds, and then we’ll break into small groups.
During time with our small groups, we’ll check in, celebrate wins, share tactical needs with each other, and discuss the question or insight posed to us before we come back together.
As we wrap up, we’ll for any tactical needs, communicate announcements, and wrap for the month!
Seconds seem to be people who have almost all of the following traits:
- Team focused
- Collaborative
- Generalist in skillset
- A high willingness to serve
- Unopposed to organizational hierarchies
- Focused on moving forward with a plan
- Able to see causes and implications
- Avoidant of the spotlight unless needed
What you get (and how you know it’s working)
- Connect with other Seconds around the Identity, not just your role (You’re not alone!)
- Learn from guest specialists about uniquely Second challenges
- Build Community in small groups
- Share tactical needs and know someone will actually help you
(Need to know someone? Need to find a new job? Need to skill up? Ask!)
What it costs
Nothing. (Well, your time, and your commitment to being awkwardly honest.)
The Monthly Meetup is free and is done to meet the mission of How to be Second:
1. Help Seconds understand who they are, how that’s valuable, and how it’s THEIR responsibility to own that.
2. Point Seconds in the direction of resources and tools so they can take the next step.
Nathan Young
Hey there! I helped write How to be Second.
I’ve been a Second-in-Command for most of my life and across multiple organizations including full time roles as an Integrator™️, Co-Founder, and General Manager.
I’ve started businesses, planted a church, and kept a diary of my BSBA studies live on youtube.
Most importantly, I have a wife and two daughters who have taught me more than all the rest of that combined.
I’m passionate about helping others discover what I did – that being Second is a superpower, and something to be celebrated.
David Hartman, Ph.D. NCC
I helped write How to be Second.
I am a designer that specializes in solutions to education and social innovation challenges.
I have worked in higher education, training, and program design for over a decade. I have a Masters in Sociology from the University of Notre Dame, a Masters in Counseling Psychology from Grace College, and a PhD in Counselor Education from Seattle Pacific University. I currently serve as the Director of the counseling center at Vineyard Columbus.
A born facilitator and storyteller, I love collaborating with people from diverse backgrounds to synthesize viewpoints and to create solutions.
Where is it?
All Virtual for now.
Will it be recorded?
We expect to record specialist time for research purposes, but not to be made available publically.
(They will not be stored anywhere for future public viewing)
Is reading How to be Second a prerequisite?
Definitely not!
However, feeling confident that you are a “Second” as we describe is highly encouraged as everything we do is specifically to provide value to Seconds, and reading the book is one of the best ways to know that.
Ground rules for the meeting?
*Q&A
Something something, keep your questions short.
*Selling and recruiting
Most groups say no selling, and we get that, but we also get that sometimes your need is to do some work for dollars, or you believe you have an amazing product for Seconds.
We think that’s fine, say what you need and what you provide with awkward honesty!
…just be aware, we’re Seconds; your product will be HEAVILY vetted around here.
*Theory vs Practical stance
When someone asks for advice, try not to theorize.
Give advice from what you’ve DONE, not what you MIGHT do.
Unless the person requests ideation, of course!
What’s the confidentiality policy?
Vegas Rules: What happens in the group, stays in the group.
Is there a community Slack or a message board of any sort?
Not at this time, and we don’t currently have any plans for that.
Can I get one-on-one coaching outside the group?
Yup, just mention this whenever you could use the added support.