Listener Submitted Q&A: Compliance Risk, Finding Employment, and Feeling Held Back. In this episode, Megan Long, your host and owner of Second First, dives into the second quarterly Q&A of 2024. Each quarter, we address pressing questions submitted by our listeners. From navigating regulatory challenges to strategizing career moves, we

Understanding the Impact of Going Dark on Your CEO. In this episode, we're pulling back the curtain on a common but often unspoken habit: the tendency for COOs and executives to disconnect from (or “ghost”) our CEOs. We know firsthand the challenges of navigating the fast-paced, world of reporting to

Financial Strategies to Impress Your CEO and Contribute to Your Company's Bottom Line. In this episode we dive into some profit-adding financial moves that a Second-In-Command can make, even if they're not a CFO. Together we cover identifying and eliminating waste, renegotiating vendor contracts, and addressing revenue leakage. These strategies

Navigating Burnout: Strategies for COOs and Second-in-Commands. In this insightful episode, we delve into the critical topic of avoiding burnout in the demanding role of a Second-In-Command. As COOs, our responsibilities often overwhelm us, leading to physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion. Host Megan Long shares her personal experiences with burnout

The Power of Proximity in Habits & Success. Inspired by a favorite read, “Atomic Habits” by James Clear, we discuss the impact of our social environment on our habits and success: the close, the many, and the powerful. Clear discusses how we tend to mirror the habits of those around

Executive Assistant vs. Chief Operating Officer: When to Make the Leap. In today's episode, we delve into a critical topic that often arises when scaling a small business: the distinction between hiring an Executive Assistant (EA) or a Chief Operating Officer (COO). This is a common conversation we have with