Erika Jones, CFO, CCTAProfit First Professionals · Certified Fractional CFO and Profit First Professional

Pranking Bob Burg: The Secret Word Challenge!

19 Aug 2026 · 1 min

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In this informal YouTube anecdote, Erika Jones, CFO of CCTA, recounts a playful on‑stage prank she orchestrated with fellow speaker Bob Burg, author of The Go‑Giver. As Burg is introduced, Jones whispers a “secret word” that he must insert into his speech. She tells him the word is “skid mark.” Burg, known for his polished gentlemanly demeanor—three‑piece suits, courteous gestures—delivers his talk and seamlessly drops the unexpected phrase, then glances back at Jones with a triumphant look. The story highlights the contrast between Burg’s refined public image and the mischievous, behind‑the‑scenes camaraderie among speakers, ending with Jones humorously acknowledging Burg’s successful retaliation.

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One of my favorite speakers, Bob Burg. Bob Burg wrote the book called The Go-Giver. Bob Burg is the consummate gentleman. He wears the 3-piece suit, is perfectly primed. If he's sitting and a woman comes in the room, he instantly stands, he opens the door for everybody. But you can play with him. Bob and I are speaking at an event together and he's gonna go on right prior to me. And then there's some other speakers going after. I grab Bob, he's like, they're announcing him on stage. So that means he's got about 5 seconds before he has to walk out. I said, Bob, Bob, real quick. He goes, yeah, what was it? He goes, the secret word. I'm like, you have to say the secret word on stage. All of us have a secret word. And he goes, what's my secret word? I said, skid mark. You have to say skid mark. And he goes, he fixed it. Okay. He delivers a speech and he throws in skid marks so well, so perfect. And you see him kind of look offstage back at me. He's like, take that, you mofo. I was like, damn, Bob Burke. Bob Burke just schooled me.