👋🏻 Jacob here.
Are you tired of being a corporate puppet, dancing to someone else’s tune? Let’s talk about why growth happens when you run toward the uncomfortable.
You know that gut-punch feeling when a recruiter asks about compensation?
That throat-tightening moment before a difficult conversation with your boss?
Most executives treat these moments like they’re radioactive—something to avoid at all costs.
But here’s the uncomfortable truth: You’re leaving millions on the table by playing it safe.
I’ve had more tough conversations than I can count—with friends, parents, business partners, and yes, even my own ego. Each one feels like swallowing broken glass.
But you know what’s on the other side of that discomfort? Pure gold. Relief and solace. And broken self-imposed limitations.
The people who get most upset about you setting boundaries and pushing back? —They are the same ones who gain the most from your compliance.
Think about it.
Your boss guilt-tripping you about that raise? They’re banking on your discomfort.
That recruiter pressuring you for a salary number? They’re counting on your fear to stop you from pushing back.
Most executives are so terrified of rocking the boat that they settle into a cushy life of mediocrity. They become well-paid puppets, too afraid to cut their own strings.
But you’re different. You’re ready to break free from those corporate shackles.
I recently had a client who was offered a $300K base for a CRO role. A nice, safe number, right?
Instead of rolling over and accepting (even though we both wanted it), we embraced the discomfort.
My client pushed back, used precise and persuasive power language, and created scarcity through competing offers. We had several uncomfortable conversations but maintained a low to medium-risk tone.
Final offer? $350K base, plus milestones worth eight figures vested and guaranteed variable compensation for their first year in the role.
The difference? Pure discomfort tolerance.
So, smile the next time you feel that knot in your stomach during a career-defining moment. Be filled with gratitude that you have an opportunity to run toward the discomfort. Watch your anxiety fade.
If you don’t know how to start the conversation, here is a low-risk way to get started:
“This is a difficult conversation for me, and I’m still working through articulating my thoughts best, but I know you respect me and my perspective. Can I share what’s on my mind?”
You express that it’s tough. You give the other party a strong reputation of respecting you (even if they don’t they can’t argue), and you tread into the conversation openly.
Remember: It’s not what you say; it’s how you say it.
Your discomfort isn’t a warning sign—it’s your ticket to the next level.
The question is: Are you brave enough to run towards it?
Stay fearless, friends.
See you next week.