At Second First, we hear this all the time from seconds-in-command: “I’m running the company. I’m making the decisions. I’m keeping the team on track… but I don’t feel seen.” It’s a hard feeling to name, but it’s real. You’re essential to the business, yet your impact is often invisible.

This invisibility shows up in two ways. First, your contributions don’t always get recognized, because smooth operations and prevented crises rarely make headlines. And second, you may feel like no one at work truly knows you as a person. It’s a strange loneliness: surrounded by people all day, yet carrying the sense that the “real you” isn’t visible.

You'll hear all about:

00:28 — The paradox of being a second-in-command: running operations yet feeling unseen.

01:16 — Two dimensions of invisibility: lack of recognition for contributions and not being known personally.

01:43 — Why your best work often feels invisible: preventing crises, aligning teams, and acting as the "glue."

02:40 — How wins get attributed to others—and why that’s by design for team development.

03:15 — Why founders struggle to articulate your value (and the absence of formal reviews).

04:04 — The emotional toll: loneliness, wearing a mask, and feeling like no one knows the “real you.”

05:07 — Why this matters: the cycle of over-communicating, second-guessing, or retreating into tactical work.

06:28 — Three strategies to feel more seen:

Work Out Loud — Track and share decisions and their impact.

Think Out Loud — Make your strategic thinking audible in meetings.

Personal Value Statement — Create a one-sentence mission for your role.

10:41 — A mindset shift: some of your best work will always be invisible—and that’s part of your power.

11:19 — Combatting loneliness: finding peers who understand your role through community.

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In this short but powerful solo episode, Megan Long addresses the all-too-familiar excuse: “I’m too busy.” Whether you're putting off professional development, skipping strategic planning, or just stuck in back-to-back meetings, it’s time to ask what that busyness is really costing you. This is a pep talk for every second-in-command who’s running on fumes—and a reminder that making time for yourself is a leadership skill, not a luxury.

01:30 – The mastermind retreat in Nashville and what people are saying about why they “can’t go”

02:09 – The real cost of saying “I’m too busy”

Common trap: saying no to opportunities that would help you grow

EOS implementer insight: teams are skipping Rocks because of day-to-day chaos

03:14 – The pandemic slowdown vs. the current pace of business

Remembering daily 2pm walks—and why they feel impossible now

Just being busy doesn’t mean you’re making an impact

04:15 – 3 reflection questions to reclaim your time and direction:

When was the last time you invested in your own growth?

When was the last time you asked for something you want at work?

When was the last time you created space to think about your future?

05:00 – Selflessness is admirable—but it shouldn't mean self-neglect

Entrepreneurs don’t want their right-hand leaders burning out

Make the second half of the year count for you

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Before you chase aggressive growth targets, you have to ask yourself a hard question: Is your business actually ready to scale?

We work with leaders every day who are stuck in the messy middle: growing revenue while cash gets tighter, roles get blurrier, and the founder still has a hand in every decision. In this week’s episode of The Right-Hand Roadmap, Megan Long walks through five common problems that must be fixed before you scale. From cash flow visibility to repeatable sales processes and reducing founder dependency, this episode is your growth-prep checklist.

Growth can’t be powered by vision alone. It takes clarity, systems, and some financial truth-telling to make growth possible. If your 2025 plan is off track, or if you're leading through a pivot, this episode will help you assess what to fix now (and what you can build mid-flight).

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What’s the difference between being the “best” in your industry and being the only one of your kind? In this episode, bestselling author and street strategist Alex M H Smith joins Megan Long to break down the myths of business strategy. If you’re a COO or second-in-command trying to steer your company toward a clear, scalable, and profitable future, this conversation is your shortcut. Learn how to avoid the trap of generic positioning, unlock strategic leverage, and bring a real strategy to the table.

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In this episode, Megan Long sits down with Kimeran Johnson, COO of Nexus Point, to dive deep into how executives can offload the right work, reclaim their time, and scale their companies using offshore virtual assistants. Kimeran shares practical delegation frameworks, red flags to avoid when outsourcing, and best practices for building trust and engagement with remote team members. Whether you're overwhelmed or trying to unlock new growth, this conversation offers a step-by-step approach to making your first or next VA hire successful.

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In this special 50th episode, host Megan Long reflects on the hard-won wisdom gathered from years of working as (and with) Seconds-In-Command at founder-led companies. She shares 50 rapid-fire lessons she wishes she could give her younger executive self, ranging from mindset shifts and leadership tactics to strategic guidance and personal boundaries. If you’re navigating the complex and rewarding role of COO or integrator, this episode will speak directly to your experience.

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In this episode, Megan Long interviews Cindy Dodd, the powerhouse COO and cofounder of PEMA.io, an Inc. 5000 B2B appointment-setting firm. Cindy breaks down the most common lead generation mistakes, shares how to hold outsourced vendors accountable, and reveals the revenue planning process that helps her team scale with confidence. Whether you're managing a sales team, overseeing growth initiatives, or just trying to help your CEO hit ambitious targets, Cindy delivers clear, practical advice every Second-In-Command needs to hear.

You'll hear all about:

02:07 – How PEMA.io helps entrepreneurial businesses

03:08 – The biggest mistake entrepreneurial companies make with lead gen

04:52 – What to do when you’ve been placed over sales with no sales experience

05:26 – The difference between delegation and abdication

06:00 – How to get ROI from outsourced marketing and sales partners

07:20 – How to vet lead gen vendors (hint: demand proof, not promises)

08:24 – The importance of aligning expectations with partners

09:12 – Leading vs. lagging indicators in outbound sales

10:28 – Lessons learned from client delivery and expectation management

12:11 – Why having a strong internal sales process is critical for outsourced partnerships

14:04 – What COOs should focus on to scale their business in 2025

16:12 – How to set realistic revenue goals based on data (not CEO wishes)

18:33 – Why quarterly reviews with your sales team help spot and replicate what’s working

19:51 – Cindy’s backstory: from Johannesburg to asset management to entrepreneurship

21:57 – The ups and downs of cofounding a business with your spouse

23:52 – Sneak peek at Cindy’s expert session for Second First members

25:29 – Where to find Cindy online and get her free resources

26:14 – Free downloads: Outbound Sales Playbook & LinkedIn Guide

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One of the most powerful (and often invisible) things you can do in this role is proactively de-risk the business. That means thinking ahead, planning for disruptions, and removing single points of failure that could knock the business off track.

In this episode of The Right-Hand Roadmap, we unpack the real meaning of de-risking. It’s not about fear—it’s about responsibility. We talk through how to evaluate operational systems, vendor dependencies, leadership bandwidth, and revenue streams with fresh eyes. Megan also shares a true story from a tornado that tested her own continuity plans, and an ADA compliance issue that could’ve quietly cost $20,000 if not addressed.

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In episode 47 of The Right-Hand Roadmap, we sat down with Brenton Harrison, a Certified Financial Planner who specializes in helping first- and second-generation high-income earners. Brenton pulls back the curtain on the emotional baggage that often comes with financial success, and how easy it is to fall into the trap of compensation plans that sound good on paper but leave you over-leveraged, underpaid, or misinformed.

This episode is a must-listen if you’ve ever second-guessed your bonus structure, wondered whether equity is really worth it, or felt embarrassed not knowing what questions to ask about financial planning. Brenton’s insights will challenge how you think about money, and give you the tools to build a smarter, more sustainable financial future.

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In today’s episode of The Right-Hand Roadmap, we’re diving into employee-generated content (EGC) and why it’s one of the most powerful tools for attracting top talent and building a strong company presence. We’ll also explore why Seconds-in-Command should start developing their own personal brand online, separate from their company. You’ll learn how to leverage LinkedIn without feeling cringey, encourage your team to become thought leaders, and strategically position yourself as an expert in your industry.

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