Plus, minus, equal; the optimal learning environment

"It's simple mathematics" - Mos Def

Good advice for evaluating new opportunities is that you should either learn or earn in every job. Great performers rotate between these as your earn becomes capped without more learn. Whether or not you learn what you need in a role is hard to assess, especially up front.

During my Jiu-Jitsu days, we had an educational concept called "plus, minus, equal."

More tactically, to learn, you needed three things:

One "➕" or one very experienced and invested mentor. Here is where you learn through academics and lessons.

Multiple "=" or several highly accomplished peers who are also learning from the "➕." Here is where you learn from others' successes and failures.

Many "➖" or highly qualified and motivated students to whom you can reteach everything. Here is where you learn through reinforcement.

Want to be a seven-figure enterprise rep? Great. Go find a company where your manager w2'd a boatload of money multiple times, with a peer group of other reps looking to accomplish the same, and an SDR team you can help coach.

Want to be a VP of Sales? Great. Go find a VP of Sales who has done it successfully, with a group of other equally motivated directors and a set of managers who want to run their own shops one day.

Evaluating the up, side-by-side, and below of the team is crucial in understanding how steep of a learning curve you are stepping into.