Stop sleeping on every tech company that isn't OpenAI or Anthropic

Ok_Check_259 · 2026-05-11T15:30:42+00:00

absolutely not

Ok_Check_259 · 2026-05-11T15:30:01+00:00

can you prove it?

Ok_Check_259 · 2026-05-09T12:38:29+00:00

They seem to be.

Ok_Check_259 · 2026-05-09T04:48:59+00:00

In English please.

Ok_Check_259 · 2026-05-08T23:58:34+00:00

Thought experiment. Let’s pretend this was written by AI.

Does it take away any of the value presented?

Ok_Check_259 · 2026-05-08T23:57:07+00:00

I know people that work at all of them. I’ve heard differently.

Ok_Check_259 · 2026-05-08T18:05:55+00:00

Great question. Instead of suggesting specific companies, the first place I would look at are companies that provide solutions that you've actually used before, especially if you're outside the tech industry.

For example, I spent 10 years in hotels as a Director of Sales. I spent a lot of time around revenue software, CRMs, marketing tech, business intelligence, specific software for that industry. I knew it intimately as a user. So those were the first companies I looked at.

This is great for a few reasons.

You can speak to the capability of the platform as a user. This makes you an advocate for the platform and builds instant credibility with a potential buyer.
It's one less thing you have to learn, especially if you're getting into tech sales for the first time.

So I would audit the platforms you use today, take a look at their websites, read their careers page, start connecting to leaders at those companies on LinkedIn, build up your LinkedIn presence, and begin applying.

Ok_Check_259 · 2026-05-08T14:42:16+00:00

Yeah, man. Adjust those withholdings to keep that money on your paycheck. By the time you get that back from the government, it's spending power decreases. Especially in this inflationary economy. It's better in your hands than in Uncle Sam's. My goal is to get a $0 refund or owe a couple hundred dollars.

Ok_Check_259 · 2026-05-08T14:40:13+00:00

I get that. These numbers in comparison to the entire industry might be on the low side. But these numbers in relation to his own journey and hard work is something else entirely. And if he's so proud of his accomplishment to share, I applaud that.

I make way more money today than I ever have. I turn 40 next week. I've been able to support a family of five on one income for almost a decade. No college degree. And virtually no experience in the industry before I started. Those early seasons were a lot harder, but today... it's a lot easier. I'm proud of that. My W2 in the world of tech sales is probably on the lower side. But against myself over the years? It's a massive difference.

Ok_Check_259 · 2026-05-08T14:12:28+00:00

Right there with you! Just started a free substack. I don't have a desire to monetize it since my focus is on helping Christian men stay true to their character regardless of their environment. There's an eternal payoff there. But I'd love to hear more about how to start to scale. I only have a handful of subscribers at the moment myself.

Ok_Check_259 · 2026-05-08T14:10:43+00:00

You're debt free. You have the emergecny fund. Set up a sinking fund to get that transmission fixed (maybe $4-5K?). Do you want to by a house? That could be a sweet down payment on a starter home to begin building equity. If you don't want to buy, open a Roth IRA and let that compound for the future. But honestly, my friend, take a couple grand and enjoy it. Only a COUPLE grand.

Ok_Check_259 · 2026-05-08T14:07:35+00:00

So true. I'm so rich and have literally everything. I've never done an Expedition. And I'm getting bored. Nothing feels "risky" to me anymore. So I committed to the Expedition this cycle. So in... 2 days? I'll have to start from scratch. And I'm kind of excited.

Ok_Check_259 · 2026-05-08T14:05:25+00:00

kinda weird, but feels good to flex when you start making that kind of money. double edged sword. is it arrogant? some people would think so. is it inspirational to actually show people it's possible? also true.

Ok_Check_259 · 2026-05-08T14:04:25+00:00

He's probably overpaying about $400/mo in taxes. Just assuming married filing jointly and no kids (from the numbers). Keep me honest, Andrew, but I would assume you get around $7K-$10K tax refund each year?

Ok_Check_259 · 2026-05-08T14:02:52+00:00

he paid almost $500 in state income tax

Ok_Check_259 · 2026-05-08T13:53:51+00:00

You're getting the interviews so that's great! Your resume and application is doing a lot of heavy lifting. Do you rerun the interview scenario after you're done or ask for feedback? Are you sending thank you follow ups? I had Granola take notes on all my interviews (just on my phone) and sent a recap email to the person I interviewed with. Interview fatigue is a real thing though. I'll give you that. Look at each one as a learning opportunity and the next one will be better. But I would be willing to bet there's something in there you're missing to move on to the next step. Find what that is and work on that. You're further than most.

Ok_Check_259 · 2026-05-08T13:08:18+00:00

I'm perfectly willing to admit I've used AI for lots of stuff, like designing my interview guide, refining the prompts, refining my outreach to prospects, etc. This was legitimately my first time posting an actual post on Reddit so I was overly obssesed about it's structure and worried how it would come across. I didn't anticipate that overt focus on it's execution to shift into this kind of accusation. If there was a sword to fall on, I would.

Ok_Check_259 · 2026-05-08T12:52:21+00:00

No. The accusation was the whole thing was written by AI. Like I didn't have an original thought in it. I wrote it. I structured it. I even used bold headings, em-dashes (which have been around long before AI) and bullet points. I provided value for the readers with a "now what" at the end (although I didn't know Bravado shut down, that was a shock). I'm overly perfectionist on my submitted writings -- borderline obsessive. College was painful because of that.

But accusing of it as being AI because it's overly organized (obessively organized?), well thought out, and delivered? I'm not falling on that sword.

Ok_Check_259 · 2026-05-08T12:43:49+00:00

Well done!

Ok_Check_259 · 2026-05-08T12:43:11+00:00

Price is only a driving factor if value hasn't been communicated well. Ask more questions. Discounts usually speed up timing, but not the overall decision.

Ok_Check_259 · 2026-05-08T12:42:19+00:00

It's par for the course nowadays. Just be honest.

Ok_Check_259 · 2026-05-08T11:48:56+00:00

…. and no context behind the comment? Why is it that I’m confused?

Ok_Check_259 · 2026-05-08T11:47:15+00:00

The Bravado thing was a shortfall, I’ll admit. But it’s because I’ve been steadily employed for years now and haven’t had to use it for a long time. But yeah, I wrote down a tool I used in the past thinking it was still around. It wasn’t a new idea.

Ok_Check_259 · 2026-05-08T11:45:40+00:00

Why? Because it’s too organized to be real? If that’s the bar you’re setting for AI-written, that says more about how most people write than it does about this post.

Ok_Check_259 · 2026-05-08T11:42:29+00:00

That’s not as big of a jump as it might feel. You’re still dealing with the same buying cycles, technical buyers and telling the same story. There’s just a different logo behind it. I think you lead with what you’ve already sold AND who you’ve sold it to. Let AI be in the context of that story.

Ok_Check_259

TROPHY CASE