From "Too Ambitious" to Google's Public Stage: The Barrel Strategy That Changed Everything
"I'll meet him by the stage, on a barrel if I have to."
Six months after being told to "slow down, little lady" by my skip-level manager, I was speaking on behalf of Google at public events.
The same organization that rated me "Needs Improvement." The same leadership chain that suggested I shrink my ambitions.
Here's how I turned career sabotage into strategic elevation.
The Conference Room That Started Everything
Picture this: HR in the room. New manager across the table. "Needs Improvement" on my review.
Then the kicker: "Now tell us your strategy for closing that manufacturer deal."
They'd just torched my career trajectory. Now they wanted my intellectual property.
That's when I realized: Excellence without advocates is invisibility.
The Three Words That Lit the Fire
When I finally got that skip-level meeting, hoping for mentorship, I got this instead:
"Slow down, little lady. You're too ambitious."
Not "here's how to grow." Not "let's discuss your path." Just a pat on the head and a suggestion to know my place.
Most people would have accepted it. Shrunk back. Played smaller.
I went bigger.
The Barrel Strategy: When Doors Close, Build Windows
Traditional career advice says work through the system. But what happens when the system is designed to keep you small?
You create your own elevation strategy.
Move 1: Prove Them Wrong with Revenue
→ Closed that manufacturer deal in 90 days
→ Delivered one of the biggest wins of the quarter
→ Made my impact undeniable
Move 2: Skip the Gatekeepers
→ Cold-emailed the head of the entire organization
→ Asked for 15 minutes to discuss creating more impact
→ Positioned myself as an asset, not a problem
Move 3: Ask for Visibility, Not Favors
→ "Who's the best in the business I can learn from?"
→ "Where can you leverage my facilitation skills for maximum impact?"
→ Strategic questions that showcased strengths
From Invisible to Invaluable: The 6-Month Timeline
Month 1-3: Closed deals, shifted perceptions
Month 4: Finally secured that executive meeting
Month 5: Received analyst summit invitation
Month 6: Speaking publicly for Google
People who'd never noticed me suddenly knew my name. Leaders who'd dismissed me were asking for my insights.
The same "little lady" they told to slow down was now accelerating past them.
The Hidden Truth About Corporate Success
Here's what that conference room taught me that no MBA ever could:
Your internal brand needs more attention than your external results.
It's not enough to be excellent. You need witnesses to your excellence.
Managing up isn't politics. It's survival.
Your Activation Moment Is Coming
Every high performer faces their conference room moment. That instant when you realize playing by the rules means playing small.
Maybe it's:
The surprise bad review
The dismissive comment
The closed door
The invisible ceiling
The question isn't IF it will happen. It's WHAT you'll do when it does.
Ready for the Full Playbook?
In my latest newsletter, "The Barrel Strategy," I reveal:
The exact email template that got executive attention
How to build advocates 3 levels above you
The parallel path strategy that creates unshakeable security
Why I'm grateful for that NI rating (seriously)
The 6-year plan that turned "Needs Improvement" into "Speaking on Stage"
This isn't just my Google story. It's your activation blueprint.
Subscribe to The Activated Leader newsletter and discover how to turn career setbacks into strategic comebacks.
Because sometimes "too ambitious" is exactly ambitious enough.
What ceiling are you ready to shatter?
Issue #16: “The Barrel Strategy: "I'll Meet Him by the Stage, on a Barrel If I Have To"
