The Way of the Wolf | Sean Barnes

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately.⁣
⁣
𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘵?⁣
⁣
Standing at the range last weekend, it hit me.⁣
Most people are aiming at targets that feel way 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐟𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲.⁣
⁣
An IT Manager thinks, “𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘊𝘐𝘖.”⁣
A VP of Operations thinks, “𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘵.”⁣
A CHRO thinks, “I want to build my own 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 company.”⁣
⁣
Can they do it?⁣
⁣
𝘈𝘣𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺.⁣
⁣
But what most people do not account for is how many misses it takes to get there.⁣
⁣
It is much easier to hit a target 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭 of you than one that is years away.⁣
⁣
That does not mean you stop aiming up.⁣
It means you 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘪𝘮.⁣
⁣
You need a big target. A bold one. Something 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠.⁣
⁣
Then you need smaller targets that are closer.⁣
Targets you can actually 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐧.⁣
Targets that let you take shots, miss, adjust, and get better.⁣
⁣
Progress does not come from waiting until you feel ready.⁣
It comes from 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐬 𝐢𝐧.⁣
⁣
Build a plan.⁣
Set targets that are closer.⁣
Take your shots.⁣
Learn from the misses.⁣
⁣
If you keep doing that, you will look up one day and realize you are a lot closer to that big goal than you ever expected.⁣
⁣
Start moving toward it.⁣
⁣
What’s the next closer target you could start practicing on 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫?

1 month ago | [YT] | 8

The Way of the Wolf | Sean Barnes

Are you grinding your life away, or actually enjoying it?



When you set out to build something of significance, it will completely consume you.


There is a very real risk of the thing you love actually burning you out...


For all of you that are on your mission, be sure to take some time for yourself and smell the roses (or race fuel) 😎

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1 month ago | [YT] | 3

The Way of the Wolf | Sean Barnes

“𝘎𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘫𝘰𝘣 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵.”⁣⁣
⁣⁣
I hear this a lot. And I understand the 𝐟𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 behind it.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
But I would argue that getting a job has 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
What has changed is how the 𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘥.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
In 2026, the traditional approach 𝐧𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Submitting applications.⁣⁣
Waiting for callbacks.⁣⁣
Relying on recruiters to do the heavy lifting.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
That model is 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Today, if you want optionality and leverage, you have to approach your career like a business.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
That means:⁣⁣
- Being clear on the 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐬 you solve.⁣⁣
- Communicating your 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘦 in outcomes, not titles.⁣⁣
- Building 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 before you need it.⁣⁣
- Creating 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱𝘴 long before there is an open role.⁣⁣
- Accepting that differentiation matters more than credentials.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
This is not about being aggressive.⁣⁣
It is about being intentional.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
The market rewards people who treat themselves as a business of one, not passive participants waiting to be chosen.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
The job search is 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳.⁣⁣
It is just 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Those who adapt will find opportunities.⁣⁣
Those who do not will keep asking why it feels so difficult.

1 month ago | [YT] | 3

The Way of the Wolf | Sean Barnes

I didn’t plan on making a decision about my business at 10 pm last night, but the 𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐧 had 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘴.⁣
⁣
When I let Brinkley out before bed, the moon was unusually bright, so I looked it up to see if there was anything special about it.⁣
⁣
Turns out, it was the first full moon of 2026. A 𝐖𝐨𝐥𝐟 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐧.⁣
⁣
Named for howling wolves, and classified as a 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘰𝘰𝘯 because it appears larger and brighter than normal.⁣
⁣
After staring at it for a few minutes, I decided to see if I could capture it.⁣
⁣
That turned into a whole ordeal. 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐞𝐚𝐫 is not designed for moon photography. After changing settings, swapping lenses, and sending a few messages to Brent Railey, I 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 got something worth sharing.⁣
⁣
Here’s why this matters...⁣
⁣
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been reflecting on how to approach building 𝐖𝐨𝐥𝐟 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 in 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔.⁣
⁣
Like most early stage companies, money is tight. We’ve created a lot of content, but I’ve also been holding back. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘈𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘺𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠...⁣
⁣
Not because I don’t know what needs to be done, but because fully committing 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 and 𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘬.⁣
⁣
So I’m calling it.⁣
⁣
2026 is my 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫.⁣
⁣
More 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵. More 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. More belief in what we’re building and who we’re building it for.⁣
⁣
If you’re still reading and realize you want this to be your full send year too, let me know.⁣
⁣
Let’s 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭 together.

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1 month ago | [YT] | 2

The Way of the Wolf | Sean Barnes

LinkedIn is being flooded with AI generated content now. Most of it is obvious and borderline frustrating.


Polished language.
Perfectly structured posts.

Headshots that we know aren't you...
Zero lived experience behind the words.


You can scroll for five minutes and see the same ideas repeated with slightly different phrasing. It all sounds impressive, but very little of it feels real... and people are getting tired of it.


What I am seeing behind the scenes is not more engagement.

- More content.
- More noise.
- Less connection.


Here’s the part most people are missing.


AI does not replace real leaders. It exposes who actually has something to say and who is pressing the easy button.


The people who stand out right now are not the ones producing the most content.

They are the ones sharing real lessons, hard-earned perspective, and imperfect stories from the field.


The bar is not higher. It is clearer.


If you can think for yourself, speak from experience, and put your name behind your words, this is your moment.


People do not crave perfect.
They crave real.


The leaders who understand that are going to win.

1 month ago | [YT] | 6

The Way of the Wolf | Sean Barnes

I get asked this question a lot.⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
“𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘰 𝘐 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘴, 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘐 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘰𝘯?”⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
Here’s a simple 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 you can do to help.⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
Start by listing your top development goals. Keep it to 𝘧𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵.⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
For each one, answer three questions quickly.⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
- How will improving this directly impact a real business outcome? Think revenue, retention, speed, cost reduction, or execution.⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
- On a scale of one to ten, how important is this skill based on the company’s current priorities?⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
- On a scale of one to ten, how leveraged is it? In other words, will improving here unlock progress in multiple other areas?⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
Add the two scores together and 𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭.⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
Now the 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵.⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
Circle the top three or four and ask yourself this question.⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
“𝘐𝘧 𝘐 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦, 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘐 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘺 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴?”⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
If the answer is yes, deprioritize the rest.⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
This exercise catches a common trap. Development plans that feel inspiring but do not actually move the needle.⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
Hard choices create focus and focus creates results.⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
If you are refining your 2026 plan right now, try this and see what surfaces.⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
Curious to hear. What is one development area you are prioritizing, and what business outcome does it directly support?

1 month ago | [YT] | 6

The Way of the Wolf | Sean Barnes

I was recently introduced at a 𝐂𝐈𝐎 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 as:⁣⁣
"𝘚𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘉𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘴, 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦."⁣⁣
⁣⁣
I laughed it off in the moment with a quick "Thanks, Sean McCall. No pressure at all! 😂"⁣⁣
⁣⁣
But honestly? Those words have stayed with me.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
"𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵?"⁣⁣
"𝘋𝘰 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘺?"⁣⁣
"𝘐𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦'𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨?"⁣⁣
⁣⁣
The 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐬, I still sometimes feel like that shy, introverted kid who was terrified to speak up in a room full of people.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
That inner voice 𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺. It pushes me, challenges me, and keeps me moving forward.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
If you're an introvert reading this and wondering whether you're making an impact, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐛𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩. Keep connecting in your own way. Keep doing the work.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
The results compound... Trust me⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Introverts in leadership or tech: what's one thing that's helped you step outside your comfort zone? ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
I'd love to hear your story.

1 month ago | [YT] | 8

The Way of the Wolf | Sean Barnes

For the love of god...

This is NOT how people talk.

Stop pressing the easy button on trying to build a personal brand by outsourcing your voice to AI or a content creator.

This is doing far more damage to your brand than you realize.

2 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 3

The Way of the Wolf | Sean Barnes

One of the biggest turning points in my career came down to something simple.⁣
⁣
Not strategy. Not execution. Not technical skill.⁣
⁣
𝐄𝐲𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭.⁣
⁣
When I first started leading teams, I struggled with presence. I could explain complex ideas, solve problems, and run operations, but I could not command a room. I could not make people feel connected.⁣
⁣
The day I decided to take this seriously was the day my leadership trajectory changed.⁣
⁣
Eye contact is one of the fastest ways to build trust, signal confidence, and show your team that you are 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭. It is also one of the quickest ways people decide whether they believe you are a leader worth following.⁣
⁣
Here are 6 Eye Contact Techniques You Should Master.⁣
⁣
𝟏. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞⁣
Focus on the triangle between the eyes and the bridge of the nose to create strong connection without the discomfort of staring.⁣
⁣
𝟐. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐦𝐢𝐳𝐞⁣
Use your eyes to project warmth by slightly crinkling the corners. This helps you appear genuine, approachable, and confident.⁣
⁣
𝟑. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝟓𝟎 𝐨𝐫 𝟕𝟎 𝐑𝐮𝐥𝐞⁣
Aim for fifty percent eye contact while speaking and seventy percent while listening. This balance builds engagement and trust.⁣
⁣
𝟒. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐁𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤⁣
Use a gentle double blink to release tension and reset the conversation during intense discussions.⁣
⁣
𝟓. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐟𝐭 𝐆𝐚𝐳𝐞⁣
Relax your eyes slightly to create a calm and approachable presence.⁣
⁣
𝟔. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐚𝐳𝐞⁣
Pair eye contact with small nods to show understanding and reinforce connection.⁣
⁣
Learning these techniques changed the way people responded to me.⁣
⁣
Meetings felt 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭.⁣
Presentations 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 differently.⁣
My team 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 me more because they felt seen and heard.⁣
⁣
If you want to 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 in 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔, focus on this skill. 𝘌𝘺𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘵 is one of the most underrated communication tools you will ever use, and once you master it, everything else becomes easier.

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2 months ago | [YT] | 1

The Way of the Wolf | Sean Barnes

Thirteen years ago, I was working in a role where I felt 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘥 and severely 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
In a moment of frustration, I found a job posted online and sent my resume straight to the careers inbox.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
I understood the technology.⁣⁣
I was good at what I did.⁣⁣
I lived in The Woodlands.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
In my mind, I was the 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐭.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
And yet, I never heard back.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
No phone call.⁣⁣
No email.⁣⁣
𝐍𝐨 𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
I was frustrated.⁣⁣
Then angry.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
"How dare they not respond?"⁣⁣
"They have no idea what they are missing!!"⁣⁣
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That reaction didn’t age well...⁣⁣
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Learning that you are not as good as you think you are is a tough pill to swallow, but it's also one of the most important lessons you can learn.⁣⁣
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If you do not have the job you want.⁣⁣
If you do not have the salary you want.⁣⁣
If you are not living the life you believe you deserve.⁣⁣
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𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮.⁣⁣
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Hard work alone 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘵 get you there.⁣⁣
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You have to understand what skills are required at the next level.⁣⁣
Then you have to be willing to invest time and effort into actually developing them.⁣⁣
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That lesson changed everything for me.⁣⁣
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For those who truly want to grow and make 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫, what are you going to do differently?

2 months ago | [YT] | 3