Week 02, 2024 - Diary of a Revenue Engineer
What I Thought…
If weeks took exams and had grades, this would be a C+, not terrible, but it’s certainly not going up on the wall in a frame.
Everything was potential, nothing was realised. So many seeds sown, but no felling of oaks.
Am I too harsh to look for such impact on a weekly basis? I don’t know… I’m pretty sure I don’t care. I want to feel like I’m gaining momentum, week on week, slaying giants, not working on my sling.
There was some great moments this week, I enjoyed it thoroughly, but the overall impact I had was negligable.
I used to have this recurring theme in a dream, where I was sprinting, but felt like I was at 20%, like I was wading through treacle. Or I’d fly, but only achieve 2 feet off the ground, the open sky tantalising and distant above me.
I understand now why those dreams would stick with me so much. I hate not soaring, I hate being held back and there’s nothing that I hate more than being that very blocker.
I’ll say it again, this week was awesome in so many ways, but I’m calling Bulls**t when I need to.
No more blockers, no more treacle, no more distant skies.
It’s week three of a a year so interesting it could be science fiction.
Let’s fly.
What I learned…
I dove back into Masterclass and during my endurance workouts (shifted to a back to back Wednesday and Thursday session for reasons associated with a Met Police Officer joining my weekly workout) I managed to drink deep from the well of knowledge and inspiration that is Martha Stewart.
The people around you are the biggest influence on you, and you are the biggest influence on them. Choose that company wisely.
A small gesture upfront can earn dividends in the long term
There’s nothing that boosts productivity like having a plan and sticking to it.
What I built…
Well you’re reading one of the major outputs of this week, but beyond that…
I collaborated with a sterling VP of Customer Success as he laid out his vision for a necessary overhaul of the structure of his department. The clarity and flow of his structure and organisation there was symphonic, a real pleasure to be a part of the project.
I listened and coached to about 14 hours of sales calls and learned A LOT. I think call listening may be the most hated, and most valuable task in my tool kit - more to be done there. Salesloft is a pretty great tool, but there’s a lot to be desired from it’s call coaching and scoring system.
We saw 27 customer interviews turn into huge insights into a competitive market and showcase a pathway to two new, completely untapped revenue streams sitting there begging for our tech. Exciting times, watch this space.
I officially started working with a good friend and epic leader Chris Smith on his latest venture.
How I lived longer…
Some massive impact this week from listening to a series of podcasts from the Huberman Lab as well as benefitting from the momentum of last year. We locked down the schedule, launched the meal prep and worked hard on implementing the regime agreed with my AI Custom GPT Coach (sorry, I built it just for me right now). Here’s the big wins:
Meal prep saved MASSES of time and empowered the big workouts on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
I enforced an eight hour window on Time Restricted Eating (TRE) for those days too.
Tuesday and Thursday were my 24 hour fast days and went well (with a bit of a wobble on Tuesday).
New Trainers courtesy of the excellent Vivo Barefoot and a hybrid bike thanks to Halfords made waves in my workouts and my mobility.
Reduced coffees to three per day max… this makes me sad…
Drank more water.
How I stayed happier…
So, it’s absolutely true… meditation is awesome. I incorporated a meditation session into my ice room time on my endurance days and it’s been great.
The 30 day beginners guide to meditation by Jeff Warren on the Calm app is nothing less than transcendental. So good in fact, there’s a whole medium article about it.
I also tried to be a better partner and a better father this week, two investments with instant returns - I’m a lucky man… and also a man who spent two hours being a dragon… the two are intertwined.
To that end, I also have to evangelise the gratitude journal. Starting your day by being thankful for the little things makes everything else really special. And, we are lucky. The miracle of the universe is occurring right now so you can read this, so I can write it. That in itself is a wondrous impossibility we shouldn’t shy away from, but welcome and enjoy.
Final Thoughts…
A lot was put in motion this week, a lot of new beginnings brimming with possibility. And, whilst I welcome these with open arms, they do not yet bare fruit.
In the world we live in, the speed the world works and how quickly money changes hands on a daily basis, a day stood still is a day moving backwards.
And I’m in this race for my PB.
Let’s strap on our new Vivo Barefoot MGs and hit the trail.
Let’s fly.
