What do you think?
How to be Second: Being Second is a Destination, not a Stepping Stone
Chief Operating Officer. Chief of Staff. General Manager. Second in Command. The job title can vary. But there is something that unifies these roles when you see them performed well. It's a particular kind of person with a particular kind of wiring, and a particular kind of person whose strengths are amplified when working in a leadership duo.
Who is this person, you might ask? They're called Seconds. And this book is dedicated to them.
In How to be Second, Nathan Young and David Hartman explore all sorts of questions about
Who is a Second?
How do you know if you're a Second?
What are some strengths and challenges of Seconds?
Why does my organization need a Second (or multiple Seconds)?
How do I best work with or for a Second?
How do I hire a great Second?
Seconds, at their core, are valuable leaders. But their leadership shows up best and is activated by working for another leader.
If you are a Second, a person who might need a Second, or if you're neither... leadership won't look the same to you after reading this book.
Who is this person, you might ask? They're called Seconds. And this book is dedicated to them.
In How to be Second, Nathan Young and David Hartman explore all sorts of questions about
Who is a Second?
How do you know if you're a Second?
What are some strengths and challenges of Seconds?
Why does my organization need a Second (or multiple Seconds)?
How do I best work with or for a Second?
How do I hire a great Second?
Seconds, at their core, are valuable leaders. But their leadership shows up best and is activated by working for another leader.
If you are a Second, a person who might need a Second, or if you're neither... leadership won't look the same to you after reading this book.
- GenresBusiness
192 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 16, 2023
About the author
Nathan Young
23 books2 followersNathan Young is a writer from Havant in the United Kingdom.
His first novel - Fire and Ice: The Fall Begins, is the culmination of five years’ hard work and is set to be the first in a series of three books following the character of Danny Patterson, a twenty year old man from Leigh Park who is drawn into a fierce battle for survival as he seeks revenge for the murder of his best friend.
Nathan currently works as a marshal for Delta Force Paintball in Romsey.
His first novel - Fire and Ice: The Fall Begins, is the culmination of five years’ hard work and is set to be the first in a series of three books following the character of Danny Patterson, a twenty year old man from Leigh Park who is drawn into a fierce battle for survival as he seeks revenge for the murder of his best friend.
Nathan currently works as a marshal for Delta Force Paintball in Romsey.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 29, 2023
I really appreciate the thesis of this book. Most business, leadership, success books are written knowingly or unknowingly towards the 1st Chair person (CEO, President, Entrepreneur, etc.). There is also a sense for many that are in a second chair position that the next step is the first chair role. While many do indeed move from 2nd to 1st, the journey isn't as fulfilling or desirous as they hoped. In fact, as Hartman and Young note, they stepped into a role they were capable of, but not necessarily wired for.
Some people are wired best and are most successful in the 2nd chair role, and that is fine. In fact, it is best. In many ways Hartman and Young deconstruct a pyramid scorecard of success and help to see how everyone is needed, and we are all wired best for certain roles.
Seconds thrive on helping someone (or an organization) succeed. Seconds are needed, valuable, worth their weight in gold!
Some people are wired best and are most successful in the 2nd chair role, and that is fine. In fact, it is best. In many ways Hartman and Young deconstruct a pyramid scorecard of success and help to see how everyone is needed, and we are all wired best for certain roles.
Seconds thrive on helping someone (or an organization) succeed. Seconds are needed, valuable, worth their weight in gold!
October 22, 2023
I've had the chance to get close with and learn from some of the highest performing people in many different fields, from Fortune 500 CEOs to bestselling authors to Olympic athletes. And all of them have a world class support team. All of them have at least one high capacity "Second" making their lives better.
Because of this, I've spent years working on finding and cultivating the seconds in my life. And I can now say that the key to my own success is having really smart, skilled and mature Seconds. So, I've spent a lot of time talking to my team about the life calling that is helping a crazy visionary like me actually get the dream built.
But this is the first time I've read a good resource on what that person looks like and how to engage well with them.
I'm going to be giving this to the key Seconds in my life and can't wait to talk through it with them.
Because of this, I've spent years working on finding and cultivating the seconds in my life. And I can now say that the key to my own success is having really smart, skilled and mature Seconds. So, I've spent a lot of time talking to my team about the life calling that is helping a crazy visionary like me actually get the dream built.
But this is the first time I've read a good resource on what that person looks like and how to engage well with them.
I'm going to be giving this to the key Seconds in my life and can't wait to talk through it with them.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews