- Staub Friends
- Posts
- February 2025
Howdy,
In this issue: How to stay in your boss (or client’s) good graces, a new fan-favorite section (hint: it involves Grandma), what’s grabbing my attention this month and some friend hype
No Surprises
They say you remember the first and last things in a sequence. For me, I clearly recall telling my boss at Truist that I was quitting—and also the very first “lesson” she taught me in corporate training:
“No Surprises.”
Translation? Tell me before someone higher up does, so I can defend you.
This simple rule is a great reminder to communicate proactively:
- Pushed buggy code? Flag it ASAP.
- Need to reschedule? Let them know early.
- Broke something at home? Own up—or fix it before they notice :)
The first person to share the news (good or bad) controls the story.
What’s Taking Up My Attention
One of my favorite bands growing up (yes, they did Stacy’s Mom). Their 2012 Tiny Desk performance has been on repeat lately. If you haven’t watched Tiny Desk Concerts, search “(your favorite artist) Tiny Desk” on YouTube—you might find a gem.
Raw convos with top CEOs, sales, and VC leaders. Some standouts:
Monday.com CEO Eran Zinman – ROI today is better than Lifetime Value tomorrow
Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff – People still underutilize AI use for complex projects
Rippling CRO Matt Plank – Start outbound sales sooner than you think
Hot take: The VC convos all start sounding the same after a while.
I found an author-signed edition of this book on the side of the road a few years ago (random, right?).
Despite being 28 years old, its takes on immigration, schools, and the economy feel eerily relevant.
Not a political newsletter, just an interesting read!
Hyping Up Friends
Dustin Belliston (CEO, CurrentClient) kicked off “Launch Week”, debuting new teammates & features. Smart way to batch content & keep an audience engaged.
Nick Kowalski joined the leadership team at Hylaine
Henry Johnson survived being held hostage by a customer threatening a 1-star review.
Derek Nowatzki (my accounting guy) has been a huge help this season. Need a solid accountant? Let me know.
Got something cool to share? Reply to this email—I’d love to feature you next month!
Grandma’s Corner
After multiple requests, Grandma’s Corner is now a permanent feature. Checkout her reply from last month’s newsletter.
The End
Know someone who’d enjoy this? Send me their email!
And hey—remember the rule: No Surprises. Stay ahead, own your wins (and mistakes), and keep making moves. See you next month!