Professional coach and performance nutritionist working with execs and athletes | 1:1 or Group Coaching | Book A Free Consultation

I work with male founders who are making money but quietly losing themselves at home, 

Drinking more than they want to admit.

Health sliding.

Head constantly running worst-case scenarios about cash flow, performance, and keeping everything afloat.

One client closed a £700k deal in Q3 2025. 

He went home buzzing.

His wife looked at him and said,

“Our daughter asked me today if you even like her.”

He had spent three months chasing deals.

Late nights.

Trains to London.

Eight days at home in total.

That is not rare.

That is normal in founder life.

Here is what most men miss...

You will spend hours preparing for a meeting but you won’t spend three minutes asking your kid about their day.

You track revenue daily like a crazed addict yet you can’t remember the last time you sat down as a family to eat dinner together. 

Then you wonder why success feels flat.

He asked me,

“Is it possible to feel proud at home the way I do at work?”

Of course it is. 

You don’t lack the skills to get sh*t done. You have a plan, set goals and then execute. 

They just point them in one direction and aren’t extended to your loved ones. 

We turned that around, and family time went in the diary as a non-negotiable. 

He took a break from alcohol and introduced some healthy habits. We unpacked his fears that were holding him back from being the best version of himself. 

Three months later, his daughter ran to the door when he got home.

He felt the same buzz watching her score at football as he did closing a deal.

That is the work.

Helping founders apply world-class thinking to their body, their relationships, and the life they are actually living.

Build the business.

Keep the family.

Walk into your house calm.

Not carrying the company on your back.

That is what I do.

If you want my help, message me with the word “Ready”.

Adam Mayhew

Yesterday was incredible.

We hosted our first Boardroom event with a group of our clients and friends of the business.

For the last five years, almost all of our coaching has happened online, aside from our transformational retreats. That’s changing. There will be a lot more in-person work in 2026, but more on that later.

It was genuinely great to be in the room together. The energy was spot on. Everyone showed up for themselves, invested in their growth, and leaned into the process. 

The conversations, the connections, the honest shares and the breakthroughs reminded me why this work matters. I’m proud of every person who took time out of their life and business to be there and do the work.

These were founders and leaders who stepped away from the day-to-day noise and put themselves in a room with like-minded people. 

They gained clarity on where they are right now in life and business, and where they actually want to go next. 

We worked on changing thinking patterns, shifting state, challenging inner narratives, and setting meaningful goals that align with their values and strengths. And that was just the start.

Moments like this make me pause. A-Game  was just an idea five years ago. Progress comes from doing the work and continuing to show up, even when it’s uncomfortable or inconvenient.

P.S. We’re running an online version of this session next Tuesday 20th to help you set yourself up properly for 2026. Link in the comments.

No alternative text description for this image

We’re ending the podcast,


At least, the way we’ve been doing it.

We haven’t been unfiltered enough. So this year we’re changing it. More honesty about where we’re actually at with our personal lives and the business.

Today’s episode we opened with a quote that set the tone. Sometimes letting things go is an act of far greater power than defending or hanging on.

Most people hear “let it go” and think it means not caring. It doesn’t. 

It means stopping the habit of defending stress, old stories and coping behaviours that drain your energy but feel familiar. 

If you want an honest conversation to start 2026 then have a listen - link in comments.

I used to hate Mondays, 

Until I quit drinking.

Weekends used to destroy me. A few drinks turned into too many. Then came the poor sleep, the anxiety and the “what did I say?” spiral.

By Monday, I was behind, stressed, irritated, and full of dread.

I never realised how much alcohol was dragging me down until I removed it.

Now I start the week clear, focused, and 10 steps ahead. It wasn’t easy. But it was worth it.

Are you alcohol-free or thinking about it? Let me know 👇

P.S. Message me if you want support removing alcohol and fixing your habits in 2026.

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Life Coaching For Male Founders who want to remove alcohol, rebuild their health, and stop letting fear about money, performance, and failure follow them home every night.

Most founders are not burnt out. They are stuck in their head, 


There is too much thinking, too much noise, and very little space to breathe and just be. All those unmade decisions turn into fatigue and drain your energy and you start second guessing everything. 

I know this pattern well, because I lived it and work with founders on it every week. 

A few years ago, I was overthinking everything, second-guessing decisions, and staying “busy” on stupid stuff that doesn’t move the needle.

I told myself I could not step away. The business needed me. What I did not realise at the time was that staying constantly “on” was the very thing keeping me stuck.

It was only when I created space that things began to shift. Stepping back allowed me to see what actually mattered, make decisions I had been avoiding, and stop carrying the mental weight I had normalised.

I see the same pattern in founders every week.

Adam Smith and I have also had a big realisation over the last year. 

The one thing missing from our coaching business was more in person connection. Online work is powerful, but being in the room together changes things faster and deeper.

Yes we have our retreats but we wanted more. 

Because of that, we are building a new offering that brings everything together. 

One to one coaching, health, mindset, alignment, and more time in person with the right people. It will be unlike anything else we have seen in the UK. 

We will share more on that soon.

When was the last time you got out and gave yourself real space to think?

P.S. We are hosting a free online workshop next Tuesday 20th January at 7pm UK time. We will cover building healthy habits, overcoming limiting beliefs, and creating a clear blueprint for 2026. If you want to join us live, link in the comments.

Alcohol was costing him everything,

Our client looked “successful” from the outside… but inside it was a different story:
 
- Lost in his identity
- Hitting goals yet feeling empty
- Numbing himself with alcohol
- Absent with his family
- Drinking to fit in and please others
- Living out of alignment

Sound familiar?

Fast forward to today, and his life looks unrecognisable:

- 20lbs of fat gone
- 233 days alcohol-free
- A promotion at work
- The happiest he’s ever been
- Thriving relationships

The ripple effect is powerful. His family now gets the best version of him every day.

When you go alcohol-free, you think it’s about you but the people around you gain just as much!

All it took was one decision to back himself and ask for help.

What’s been the biggest benefit for you since removing alcohol? Comment below.

High-performance at its finest, 

This morning I was absolutely flying.

Woke up.
Meditated.
Journaled.
Breakfast sorted.

Kids up.
Kids fed.
Kids changed.
Teeth brushed.
Nursery bags packed.

Dropped them at nursery FIVE minutes early.

😎 Proper smirk on my face as I pulled out of nursery car park. Alcohol-free super powers in full flow. 

Got to the gym ready to smash a workout.
Warm-up on the treadmill…

…and something didn’t feel right.

Looked down.

Still wearing my pyjama top.

Turns out you can have your mindset dialled in and still leave the house half asleep.

Anyone else ever done something like this? 😅

Your problems aren’t just affecting you,


Our client came to use a few months ago with the following challenges:

❌ Drinking due to low self esteem and wanting to escape his emotions. 

❌ Out of shape and making poor food choices due to poor time management and not organising his meals. 

❌ Not exercising due to a “lack of time”’when in reality his was wasting countless hours scrolling. 

❌ No boundaries at work led to being on his laptop until 9pm most nights. 

His self esteem was on the floor and something had to change as his relationship was strained and he had never felt lower. 

In just 3 months he’s now achieved the following;

✅ Lost 8kg of fat (18lbs) and back in the gym 5 times a week 

✅ Over 90 days alcohol free and removed himself from toxic people that were trying to keep him stuck where he was. 

✅ Killing it in his business by being more intentional and actually working less.

✅ Relationship thriving with his partner and kids and being more present than ever with them. 

He’s happier, more relaxed and focussed than ever. 

So while he’s made the changes to better himself and rightfully so, everyone else is benefitting as well. 

Change is only a message away so if you’re wanting to get results like this, I’m only a message away and we can have a chat. 

What have you already changed this year that you know needed changing? Comment below.

P.S.  If you want the structure, boundaries and clarity that led to results like this, join us on 14th January 2026 for our free webinar - Link in comments.

Dads, if you don’t read this book this year, you’re doing your family a disservice.

This is my third year reading 𝑇𝘩𝑒 𝐷𝘢𝑖𝘭𝑦 𝐷𝘢𝑑. It’s easy because it’s only one page a day and takes 60-90 seconds.

I pair it with 𝑇𝘩𝑒 𝐷𝘢𝑖𝘭𝑦 𝑆𝘵𝑜𝘪𝑐, which I’ve read every day for the last six years.

It's an absolute non-negotiable. My family knows how important it is because of how it affects them, not just me.

1. Wake up.
2. Meditate.
3. Read one page of each.
4. Journal on the quote. Reflect and set intentions for the day.

This book forces me to think about the one role that actually matters above all others, beyond owning a business and being a husband…

A Dad.

I’m four years into this role, and the book makes me ask better questions every morning.

How am I showing up today?
What version of me are they watching?
What behaviour am I modelling without even realising it?

Even after years of meditating and following this morning ritual, there are still days when I lose my patience and moments when I am not proud of myself. There are times my three-year-old is pushing boundaries, and I react instead of respond.

But this book helps me sit with it and not beat myself up. It helps me to reflect on what actually happened and decide how I can handle it better next time.

Your kids don’t do what you say, they do what you do. They’re watching everything.

How you speak.
How you react.
How you handle stress.
How you regulate your emotions.

Emotional regulation is something you must make a morning non-negotiable. It’s not just for you, it’s for them.

That’s why I protect this time. And my wife knows how important it is because when I skip it, everyone feels it.

There is an absurd amount of wisdom packed into this book. If you’re a dad and you’re serious about being better, not perfect, but better…
Buy this book.
Keep your phone out of the bedroom.
Reach for this first thing every morning.

And when you finish it, read it again next year.

What are you doing daily to become a better dad? Let me know in the comments.

You could leave life right now.

Let that determine what you think, say, and do.

This one line has changed how I handle stress, decisions, business pressure and family life. 

If you’re constantly in your head, worrying about the future or carrying unnecessary weight, this is for you. 

I shared my thoughts in this Sunday’s article. 👇

You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you think, say, and do. That line has been stuck in my head for years. It comes from Marcus Au

Open article: The Mindset Shift Every Stressed Founder Needs by Adam Mayhew • 4 min read

The Mindset Shift Every Stressed Founder Needs

You can’t perform at your best if you’re still drinking alcohol,


Ok can you make a load of money and still drink? Yes 
Can you stay in shape? Probably.

Can you keep your relationship ticking along? Sure.
 But can you show up every single day as the best version of yourself? Absolutely not.

Even a couple of drinks is enough to affect your energy. You might not feel “hungover,” but you’re slower, less focused, and not operating at the standard you’re capable of.

One or two beers a week might feel harmless, but that’s 52 wasted days a year. Almost two full months where you’re not firing on all cylinders.

That’s two months of being less present with the people you love and two months of settling for average.

Look, it’s simple: alcohol holds you back. 
Remove it, and you unlock mental clarity, energy, and momentum you didn’t even realise you were missing.

If you’re tired of just coasting in business, looking to thrive in your relationships and perform at higher levels then your first move is to cut out alcohol.

Let me know if you’re alcohol-free 👇

Your friends won’t leave you if you quit drinking,

Your real friends won’t care, your insecure drinking buddies might. 

This is one of many fears that comes with taking a break from alcohol. 

“I’ll become boring” 

If you need a drug to have a personality, I would say that’s boring. Socialising without alcohol is a skill and like any skill, it can be improved. 

“I’ll have so much free time on my hands” 

People say this to me like it’s a bad thing. Time is your most valuable commodity. If you reframe that mindset to what you gain, the likelihood of achievement is much higher. 

- Better sleep and recovery
- More energy for exercise 
- More time for hobbies -
- More present with family 
- Save money and use it for other things 
- You’ll gain clarity on your goals -
- You’ll become fitter and stronger 
- Your skin will become clearer 
- Your clothes will fit better 

Taking the break from alcohol isn’t easy but it’s the single best gift you can give to yourself and your loved ones. 

What are your thoughts on this? Let me know below.

I didn’t quit drinking. I outgrew it.

When I first started this journey, all I wanted was to stop feeling like sh*t.

Then I thought my goal was simply to drink less and “be moderate.”

After that, I believed I needed to prove I could still go out and have fun without alcohol.

That was seven years ago.

Today, I remain alcohol-free because drinking just doesn’t make sense to me. I’m a business owner, a husband, and a dad. I’ve been sober for a long time, and I know one drink isn’t worth it. It would throw me out of alignment and jeopardise everything I’ve built.

When people ask why I don’t drink, my answer is simple:

“Because I don’t need to.”

Going alcohol-free won’t solve all your problems, but it certainly makes life a lot easier.

As we evolve, our priorities shift and that’s ok.

For now, my heart’s desires are:

Continue to wake up clear-headed and calm
Feel proud of the choices I make each day
Make my mind a nice place to live
Become the man and dad my family deserves

Who knows where I’ll be in a week, a month, or a year.

But living alcohol-free has kept me on the straight and narrow, and I’ve achieved things I never thought possible.

What keeps you on the straight and narrow?

P.S. If you want a clearer picture of where you’re out of alignment right now, take our A-Game Audit. It’s a simple way to see what’s helping you move forward and what’s quietly holding you back - link in comments.

You’ve outgrown the life you’re pretending to enjoy,

I remember sitting by the pool in Dubai - No debt, high-paying job, luxury hotels, nice car, sun shining.

From the outside, it looked like I had it all. The kind of life people scroll past and double-tap. 

But I felt completely numb. Waking up with a tight chest. Dragging myself to a job that once excited me. Scrolling LinkedIn during lunch breaks quietly searching for...f*ck knows what 🤷‍♂️ .

I kept thinking: Why do I feel like this? I’d ticked all the boxes. Done everything “right.” The career. The income. The Status.  But I still felt like sh*t!

I eventually realised that success without alignment is just a more glamorous version of stuck.

I was out of sync with my values, my priorities, my purpose. Eventually, the pain outran the pleasure. 

So I made the hardest decision of my life: I walked away. 

From the alcohol, the mask, the people pleasing and the character that I thought people expected of me. 

Rebuilding from alignment is hard. You won’t get claps at first. You might get silence or raised eyebrows...well, I sure did!

But what you get back...mental clarity, energy, focus and authenticity - That’s when things finally start to feel like yours again.

You don’t need to figure it all out alone. Send me a message, I'm happy to share what helped.

P.S. If you want a clearer picture of where you’re out of alignment right now, take our A-Game Audit. It’s a simple way to see what’s helping you move forward and what’s quietly holding you back - link in comments.

Most of your stress doesn’t come from your life,

It comes from how you think about it.

I’ve written a short piece on why our relationship to thought is the most important relationship we have, and how changing it changes everything else.

If you’ve been feeling busy or constantly “in your head,” this will resonate.

If it helps, please feel free to share it with someone who might need it today.

Read it here 👇 🙏

I love quotes. Stoicism, spirituality, all of it. I journal on them in the mornings and often share them with my clients along with my own reflections

Open article: The relationship that decides every other relationship in your life by Adam Mayhew • 3 min read

The relationship that decides every other relationship in your life

Deep down you know it’s not right. You already know what must be done. 

The clarity will come when you take imperfect action.

P.S. Save your seat for our upcoming live workshop - details in comments.

You’re not afraid of their opinion.
You’re afraid of your own thoughts.

Worrying about what other people think has always fascinated me, because that used to be me years ago.

I also think it’s a complete waste of time. You’re choosing to suffer over thoughts you made up, not anything they actually thought.

You imagined their judgement, attached meaning to it, then reacted as if it was real.

That thought didn’t come from them.
It came from your own insecurity.

The moment you see that, it loses its power over you. A daily meditation practice is the best way to break this spell. 

What would you do today if you stopped believing the stories in your head?

P.S. We are hosting a free online workshop tomorrow Tuesday 20th January at 7pm UK time. We will cover building healthy habits, overcoming limiting beliefs, and creating a clear blueprint for 2026. Register your seat in the comments.

You feel stuck because you’re out of alignment, 


If you have no boundaries, if you’re saying yes to everyone but yourself, then don’t be surprised when your life feels out of alignment.

Alignment isn’t a woo woo concept. It’s simple. It means your actions match the man you say you want to be.

When you’re out of alignment, your behaviours don’t reflect who you are. You hide behind the mask of being “the outgoing one,” “the fun one,” or just the guy who can keep up with everyone else.

That mask stops you showing up as your best self and being authentic. And when you can’t be authentic, you lose touch with your identity.

It’s exhausting it isn’t it? I know this because I’ve stood in your shoes.

So the question is simple: 
Are you ready to the bullsh*t, put in boundaries, remove alcohol and start living as the man you know you’re meant to become?

If you want the breakdown of how our coaching works in 2026, DM me “A-GAME”.

P.S. How do you live in alignment each day? Comment below

Most men are emotionally stunted,

I typically coach men aged between 35-55. Their fathers were from the “when men were men” era. 

Showing emotion is weak.

Don’t cry.

Man up.

Toughen up.

Stop being soft.

This was all common language when I was growing up.

You become accustomed to staying silent and suppressing your emotions. That’s why it often comes out in anger or despondency. 

“Why won’t my husband open up?” Because he was often punished when he did. 

The issue is, most men go through the same thing as children so they learn to just provide solutions to their challenges rather than allowing themselves to experience the emotion.

Men provide solutions for each other and their partners rather than listening. This can cause a break down in marriages and also friendships.

It’s not your fault but it is your responsibility to do something about it. Speaking about it openly with a professional, reading the right books and introducing tools like meditation have been life changing for me.

Life doesn’t have to be lived in frustration and being misunderstood. The freedom lies from within and when you do the deep inner work you’ll become the man you were meant to be.

P.S: WE ARE LIVE TONIGHT! 7pm UK time. We will cover building healthy habits, overcoming limiting beliefs, and creating a clear blueprint for 2026. If you want to join us live for this workshop - save your seat in the comments.

You’re stuck in a future that doesn’t exist, and it’s stopping you from living fully now.

We love to make plans as it gives us a feeling of control and productivity. It feels good. But this is all an illusion. A plan is just a thought happening in the present about a future that may never arrive.

This week’s article explores why so many founders live in next quarter, what it’s costing them, and where their attention actually belongs. 👇

I came across a passage this week that genuinely stopped me mid-page. It articulated something I see founders and high performers struggle with every 

Open article: The Mistake Founders Make With Planning by Adam Mayhew • 3 min read

January 17th is statistically the day most people give up on their New Year’s goals. In this live, I break down why that happens and what actually keeps people consistent long after motivation fades.

Watch this if you don’t want 2026 to become another year of good intentions and zero follow-through.

P.S. Join us live for our upcoming workshop on Tuesday 20th January. We will cover building healthy habits, overcoming limiting beliefs, and creating a clear blueprint for 2026. Save your seat - https://lnkd.in/eH4R7vxM

40+ Linkedin Money-Making-Influence Resources I Toxic Boss Immunity I Frequency of INFLUENCE: ETHICAL PERSUASION I $20k Brain-Based Sales System | HarvardX Neuroscience Research I Keynote 🎤 I X-Microsoft I Captain ⛵

$20k Monthly Brain Based Sales System Without Chasing the "Yes"

You know the feeling:
😳 Your brain lights up with “What if they think I’m pushy?” the second you open a DM.
😬 You’d rather post and pray the right people find you than risk being ghosted.
😅 You tell yourself that if you were really good, clients would just show up.

You don’t want to fake connection just to pitch.
You want sales that feels human. Real conversations, not pressure tactics.

You’re not bad at sales.
Your brain is just protecting you.

The amygdala flags rejection as danger.
Your prefrontal cortex freezes.
And boom hesitation, overthinking, silence.

That’s where my work comes in.
I teach the Neuroscience of No-Pressure Sales so you can sell with calm confidence instead of fear.

No scripts. No manipulation.
Just science, psychology, and simple tools to retrain your nervous system so selling feels natural again.

When your brain is relaxed, your authenticity returns.
You stop pitching and start connecting.
Outreach stops feeling like an intrusion and starts feeling like service.

This is sales made easy for coaches who hate selling.

✨ Ways to get started with me:

✅ If you're a coach DM me "Butter"
✅ If you're a business owner DM me "Butter"
✅ If you're a sales leader DM me "Butter"
✅ Attend my next workshop for FREE BRAIN BASED SALES SECRETS. https://forms.gle/HvTRDEZEuu7bgQEF8
✅ Subscribe to the Be Like Butter Bugle: Weekly brain hacks for resilience and influence. https://synaptic-solutions.kit.com/newsletter

Personal interests: 
- Captain ⛵️ 
- Recovering Sugar Addict 🍭 
- Trash TV consumer 🗑️

Sales Coach | Toxic Boss Coach | Neuroscience Coach | Executive Coach | Master Behavioral Strategist | Speaker | Advisor | Expert | 7 figures | Virtual Speaking | Sales Performance Brain Hacker | Mindset Coach I Corporate Trainer I Influence I Key Note Speaker

🧠 Shannon Smith, J.D., M.S. 🚀

Stop chasing success alone.

Every innovator who built something great had 1 thing in common

Connection
It’s not that creativity happens alone…
It’s that the brain creates better in connection.

The brain evolved to think with other brains.
When connection is present, threat detection quiets.

The amygdala relaxes.
The prefrontal cortex stays online.
That’s where creativity lives.

Connection increases neural synchrony.
Brains begin to align.
Ideas move faster.
Patterns emerge you can’t see solo.

Isolation does the opposite.
Thinking loops.
Risk tolerance drops.
Novelty dries up.

Creativity isn’t just about safety.
It’s about belonging.
Here’s how :

1️⃣ Think out loud with others
 Speaking activates more neural networks than silent thought.
 Shared dialogue creates neural synchrony,
 helping the brain integrate patterns it can’t access alone.
 Half-formed ideas are fuel, not flaws.

2️⃣ Build before you judge
 Evaluation triggers the amygdala.
 Threat shuts down the prefrontal cortex.
 Sequence matters: expand first, critique later.
 Flow requires a brain that isn’t defending itself.

3️⃣ Create spaces to explore, not perform
 Performance activates social threat circuitry.
 Play lowers cortisol and increases cognitive flexibility.
 A relaxed nervous system makes wider, more novel connections.

Innovation doesn’t come from brilliance.
It comes from brains that feel safe thinking together.

PS: Who do you think best with?

Want to get an article published in a big time magazine?
I'll give you the contact info for 150+ reporters for major publications +
A Custom Message so you can break the ice & establish a relationship. 
How to get it? Join --> https://lnkd.in/gbfNasyU

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

👉 Follow 🧠 Shannon for neuroscience-backed insights
♻️ Share this if you want to help others grow

This feels illegal.

I built a mobile app while sailing.

Out there, things get quiet.
No notifications fighting for attention.
No noise telling you who to be.

Just wind, water, and time to notice what’s inside.

That’s where the idea came from.

Not everyone can disappear onto a boat.
But everyone needs a way to reconnect with themselves
In a loud world that never shuts up.

So I opened Replit
and described an app idea I’d already been researching. 

How to connect with yourself in a tech heavy world using…
Guess what…yes, neuroscience. 
You guessed it. 

Replit turned that idea into a real mobile app.

A live phone preview appeared.
I played with it and iterated between tacks. 
A few messages later, the app matched the intention.

Calm.
Minimal.
Human.

No mobile frameworks.
No complicated setup.
No build headaches.

Replit handled the mobile stack…
the preview
and the path to publishing.

I focused on the part that mattered:
creating space for real connection.

That’s the point.

You don’t need to escape your life to feel grounded.
You can build tools that bring you back to yourself.
Right where you are.
Even in a noisy world.

If you’ve ever wanted to create an app without needing a team
(or a computer) 
NOW you can. 

Get the Replit app and build from anywhere.
YOUR $10 REPLIT CREDIT
https://lnkd.in/gSCu_9Tj

P.S. If I vanish for a few hours I’m probably publishing a new app between tacks. 

-------------------------------------------------------------

➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for brain based peace and app building
♻️ Share to inspire someone who needs dev help without headache

It's not that you aren't creative...

It's that your brain doesn't get enough breathing room

When outcomes matter too much,
the nervous system shifts into protection.

Certainty over curiosity.
Efficiency over exploration.

The amygdala scans for mistakes.
The prefrontal cortex goes quiet.
Thinking narrows to what’s already proven.

That feels like a creativity problem.
It’s actually a safety problem.

Innovation doesn’t come from pushing harder.
It comes from widening the mental field.

Creative insight requires a brain
that isn’t bracing for consequences.

One that feels free to test, miss, and iterate
without immediate judgment.

That’s why pressure-heavy environments
produce more output…
and fewer breakthroughs.

Creativity is a state, not a talent.
Change the state and ideas follow.

Here’s how to heighten creativity on demand:

1/ Slow the body before you think
Creativity follows regulation.
Lengthen your exhale for 60 seconds before ideating.
A calmer nervous system reopens cognitive range.

2/ Create “low-stakes” thinking space
Tell your brain nothing here has to be right.
Set a 10-minute window for bad ideas only.
Permission removes the fear that blocks novelty.

3/ Shift environments, not effort
New inputs disrupt rigid patterns.
Walk. Change rooms. Look farther into the distance.
Movement and visual expansion spark new connections.

When the brain feels safe enough to explore,
it starts to play.
And play is where innovation lives.

PS: Which of these would change how you think the fastest?

Introducing Butterhood Connect:
Find your people - other entrepreneurs like yourself. 
PLUS...FREE content on:
- Craft content that converts
- Understand your ICP deeply
- Increase your cognitive flexibility
- DM to get in front of your prospect
 You don't have to do this alone. Join us FREE
https://lnkd.in/gqMj4Vfz

Video Credit: Unknown
---------------------------------------------------------------

👉 Follow Shannon for neuroscience-backed insights
♻️ Share this if you want to help others grow

Clarity doesn’t come from thinking harder

It comes from feeling safer.

When the brain senses pressure, it prepares to defend.
 
Attention narrows.
Options collapse.
The mind looks for certainty.

That state is efficient.
It’s not creative.

Innovation requires uncertainty tolerance.
That tolerance lives in the nervous system,
not the intellect.

When the parasympathetic nervous system activates,

✅ The body slows.
✅ The threat response stands down.
✅ The brain regains flexibility.

This is when perception widens.
Old assumptions loosen.

Problems reorganize themselves.
New pathways become visible.
Psychological safety is what allows this shift.

It tells the brain nothing bad will happen
if you explore a different angle.

Without safety, the brain repeats.
With safety, the brain imagines.

No regulation, no reframing.
No reframing, no innovation.

Here’s how to design for it:
1️⃣ Regulate before you reason
 Slowing the breath reduces neural noise.
 Clear thinking follows bodily calm.

2️⃣ Delay decisions during ideation
 Premature judgment triggers threat circuits.
 Time preserves creative flexibility.

3️⃣ Create private space to think freely
 Privacy lowers social evaluation.
 Safety expands possibility.

Breakthroughs come from a nervous system 
that feels safe enough
to see the problem differently.

PS: What helps your body settle fastest?

Join us for innovation --> https://lnkd.in/gbfNasyU

Video Credit: Unknown

-------------------------------------------------------
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You’re not broken.

You're just not connected...

...in a way no one taught you to recognize.

We have more connection technology than ever.
Group chats. Slack threads. Social feeds.
Standing meetings. Faces everywhere.

You can be busy, productive, and surrounded by people
And still feel unseen, unfelt, and unsupported.

Modern life keeps the nervous system overstimulated.
Your brain is flooded with input, decisions,
and performance cues.

When that happens, the social brain goes offline.
You don’t lose the desire for connection.
You lose access to it.

So you adapt.

You stay functional instead of present.
You keep conversations light instead of real.
You handle things alone because it feels safer.
You tell yourself you’re “fine”
while feeling disconnected from yourself.

Over time, that state becomes your baseline.
And the most painful part?

You start to believe this is just how life is.
It’s not.

Disconnection isn’t a personality trait.
It’s a nervous system state.
And nervous system states can change.

Here’s what neuroscience shows actually helps.

1/ regulation comes before connection.
 When your system is overloaded,
 bonding chemistry can’t do its job.
 You don’t need better words.
 You need your body to feel safe enough
 to be real.

2/ small moments matter more
 than deep conversations.
 Eye contact that lasts a beat longer.
 A pause instead of rushing away.
 Naming what you notice
 instead of what sounds impressive.

3/ connection accelerates in the right environment.
Trying to heal disconnection alone
 keeps the brain in protection mode.
 Being around others doing hard inner work
 creates co-regulation.

Your nervous system learns:
“I don’t have to carry this by myself.”
That’s why community matters.

Not noisy.
Not performative.
Not networking.

But a grounded space of people 
reconnecting with themselves
and with others.

This is what I’m building.
A community for capable, thoughtful people
doing hard things
who don’t want to do them alone.

A place to regulate, reflect, and be real
without fixing yourself
or pretending you’re fine.

If you’ve felt alone in a world full of people,
it’s not because something is wrong with you.
It’s because your nervous system
hasn’t had the right conditions yet.

And you don’t have to create those alone.
If this resonated, the community is open
for people ready to reconnect with themselves and with others.

P.S. Where do you feel most disconnected right now?

Introducing Butterhood Connect:
Find your people - other entrepreneurs like yourself. 
PLUS...FREE content on:
- Craft content that converts
- Understand your ICP deeply
- Increase your cognitive flexibility
- DM to get in front of your prospect
 You don't have to do this alone. Join us FREE
https://lnkd.in/gqMj4Vfz

------------------------------------------------------------
➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for brain-based connection
♻️ Share this with someone who might feel alone but never say it

It’s not that your team doesn't have new ideas…

It’s that they don’t feel safe enough to share them with you.

When people sense evaluation,
their nervous systems switch to self-protection.

😶‍🌫️ They edit.
😶‍🌫️ They hedge.
😶‍🌫️ They stick to what’s already approved.

That looks like alignment.
It’s actually inhibition.

Innovation requires exposure.
New ideas are, by definition, unproven.
And the brain treats being wrong like a social threat.

So the amygdala gets loud.
Risk tolerance drops.
Thinking narrows to what won’t get you in trouble.

That’s why teams with “high standards”
but low psychological safety
produce execution…
not breakthroughs.

Psychological safety isn’t about being nice.
It’s about creating conditions
where the prefrontal cortex stays online.

When people believe they won’t be punished
for experimenting,
their brains stay open.

They challenge assumptions.
They connect unlikely dots.
They surface problems early.

No safety, no innovation.
No innovation, no future edge.

If you want better ideas, don’t ask for more creativity.
Design environments where
people don’t have to protect themselves first.

PS: Where do you notice people holding back on your team?

Join the Butterhood Connect
- Get free resources and training on DMs
- Figure out your sales style
- Jumpstart your sales!
Build relationships with other entrepreneurs
You don't have to do this ALONE
https://lnkd.in/gbpNMdU6

Video Credit: Unknown

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Your CRM shows ACTIVITY.

It doesn't show REALITY.

Most managers think they understand their pipeline.
But they’re only seeing the version their reps feel comfortable sharing.

The CRM shows progress.
The reps show confidence.
The pipeline shows movement.

But underneath all of that
there’s hesitation, uncertainty, and doubt
that never makes it into the forecast.

And that’s the part that costs you.

Reps aren’t trying to mislead you.
They’re trying to look competent.
So they hold back the early warning signs.
They soften how shaky a deal feels.
They overstate buyer momentum.

They wait until a problem becomes undeniable
and by then
your quarter is already in danger.

That’s why so many leaders get blindsided.
Not because the deals are bad
but because the real signals were never visible.

A CRM tracks activity.
It doesn’t track conviction.
It doesn’t track buyer emotions.
It doesn’t track rep confidence.
It doesn’t track the energy of the deal
which is the part that collapses first.

SalesSage exposes that hidden layer.
It reveals where reps feel unsure.
It highlights deals that look fine on paper
but feel unstable underneath.
It identifies slipping belief before it becomes slipping revenue.
It gives you truth early
so you can fix the problem while there’s still time.

Leaders don’t need more data.
They need the truth behind the data.
That’s the gap SalesSage closes.

If you want to see what’s really happening
beneath the surface of your pipeline sign up
14 day free trial
https://salessage.co/

P.S. How was your Q4?

-----------------------------------------------------------------
➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for brain based sales leadership
♻️ Share if you’ve ever been blindsided by a “healthy” deal that fell apart

You can’t fix a quarter your team’s afraid to talk about.

Your biggest revenue leak isn’t pipeline. It’s silence.

The worst part of running a sales team
is thinking you’re safe right before the quarter blows up.

Your CRM says you’re good.
Your reps say deals are “strong”.
Forecast looks clean.
You breathe for two seconds.

Then the quarter flips
and you’re standing there like
what the hell just happened?

Here’s the truth nobody wants to say:
Reps aren’t lying.
Their brains are.

People say things are fine when they’re overwhelmed.
They overestimate deals when they’re stressed.
They downplay risk when they don’t want to look behind.

So you get the truth only after it hits your number.
Sales Sage catches it earlier.

It spots confidence dips.
Avoidance patterns.
Dead deals dressed up as healthy ones.
Execution cracks that never show in a CRM.

Stuff reps don’t say out loud but absolutely tank a quarter.
If you’re tired of getting blindsided
by “everything looks good” data

P.S. What's your best closing line?

See the truth your reps won’t say out loud 
(before it blows up your number)
Taking 100 beta testers - 14 day free trial
https://salessage.co/

---------------------------------------------------------------

♻️ Share if you’ve lived a surprise miss
➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for brain based sales insights

Your pipeline isn’t lying. 

Your reps just don’t feel safe telling you the truth.

Managers think they know what’s in their pipeline.
But they only know what the CRM tells them.
And the CRM only tells them what reps feel safe enough to share.

You’re managing numbers you can’t trust.
Your pipeline looks clean.
Your reps sound confident.
Your CRM says things are “on track.”
But something feels off.

Deals stall quietly.
Momentum fades.
Forecasts slip.
And you don’t see it until it's too late.

Reps aren’t dishonest.
They’re human.
They soften risk.
They hide uncertainty.
They overstate momentum
because nobody wants to look unsure.

So you get blindsided.
Not by deals.
But by the emotional truth your CRM can’t capture.

This creates a silent threat inside every sales org.
You miss red flags early.
You lose weeks of runway.
You carry the blame for information
you never got soon enough.

The cost isn’t just deals.
It’s trust.
It’s team performance.
It’s the reputational hit when your forecast misses again.

SalesSage uncovers what’s really going on
Underneath the numbers.

It reads emotional signals your CRM can’t track.
It surfaces hesitation before it becomes a stall.
It identifies low conviction before it becomes a lost deal.
It reveals drift before it becomes a blown quarter.

No pressure on reps.
No interrogation.
Just a 10 minute pulse
that shows you the truth behind the pipeline.

If you want your pipeline to tell you what’s real
not what’s hopeful

Taking 100 beta testers - 14 day free trial
https://salessage.co/

--------------------------------------------------------------------

➕ Follow Shannon for brain based sales leadership
♻️ Share if you’ve ever been blindsided by a “healthy” pipeline

Stop telling yourself that you're too busy to DM.

Stop telling yourself DMs are too pushy. 

DMs close sales. Period. 

Most people think outreach stalls
because they don’t know what to say.
That’s rarely true.

What’s actually happening is identity protection.
Your brain isn’t avoiding DMs to save time.
It’s protecting how you see yourself.

So you stay visible.
You post.
You wait.

And the conversations that move revenue never start.

When the nervous system flags selling as risk,
avoidance looks like strategy.

Weeks pass.
Opportunities decay.
Revenue becomes unpredictable.
That delay has a real cost.

Avoiding just 3–5 high-value messages a week
can quietly leave $15K–$100K per quarter on the table.

Not because you lack ability.
Because “selling” feels unsafe.

This is why scripts don’t stick.
Knowledge ≠ movement.

Insight shows up first.
Behavior only follows when the underlying pattern shifts.

That’s what Butterhood is for.
Not more information.
Not performance.
Not pressure.

It’s a place to notice friction in real time
and make small, deliberate moves
that change momentum.

Inside, we work on:
Why certain conversations stall even when you say the right thing
What makes outreach feel heavy and how to remove that friction
How to move conversations forward without forcing or performing
Installing a sales rhythm that feels stable instead of stressful

They’re ordered intentionally.
Each layer stabilizes the nervous system for the next.

If you’ve ever thought, “This makes sense…
so why am I not doing it yet?”

That’s the signal.
GET IN THE DMS.
Still resisting?
GET INTO THE BUTTERHOOD.

If you want influence that moves like butter 🧈
Join Butterhood → https://lnkd.in/gbfNasyU

BONUS: Want to get an article published in a big time magazine?
I'll give you the contact info for 150+ reporters for major publications +
A Custom Message so you can break the ice & establish a relationship. 
How to get it? Join --> https://lnkd.in/gbfNasyU

PS: Where do your conversations stall right now?

---------------------------------------------------------------------

👉 Follow 🧠 Shannon for brain-based sales insights
♻️ Share this if you want to help someone move again

Why do you have that stupid look on your face?

A C-level executive asked me on my first day

I was sitting across his desk of my first big girl job
(Talk about an executive onboarding)
I was just 20 years old.

I remember freezing.
Not answering.
Just blinking.

I laughed it off and swallowed my pride. 

Meeting over.
But my body stayed locked.

Jaw tight.
Chest and body buzzing.
Mind replaying every word.

Later that day a coworker asked if I was okay.

I said yes.
I wasn’t lying on purpose.
I just didn’t know what “okay” even meant anymore.

That’s the problem with stress.
It normalizes.
Your nervous system adapts.
Your baseline quietly shifts.

You think its no big deal. 
I’m fine. 

Your body knows that you’re not.
For years, I relied on vibes.
Am I handling it or barely holding it together?

No data.
No baseline.
Just guessing.

That’s why I built a these resources
✅ An entire toxic boss armor system
✅ 25-question nervous system audit
✅ An app that helps you each step of the way

Not a personality quiz.
Not mindset fluff.

Actual signals of load, recovery,
and how close you are to the edge.

The site and app give you a real baseline.
Clear data.
Practical next steps.

You don’t need thicker skin.
You need awareness and a hand up. 

PS What's your worst toxic boss story?

https://lnkd.in/guRmdNEu

--------------------------------------------------------

➕ Follow Shannon for brain-based tools 
♻️ Repost if someone you know is guessing too.

Why do you have that stupid look on your face

Everyone wants AI magic.

Few want to invest in the foundation.

People light up when they talk about AI lead gen.

AI outreach.
AI follow up.
AI prospecting.
The promise of more output with less effort...
It's intoxicating.

But effectiveness still comes from the human brain.
The seller’s state.
The buyer’s state.
The interaction between the two.

If your nervous system is overloaded, 
your messages won’t land.

If your prospect’s nervous system is tense,
your tools won’t move them.

If your clarity wobbles,
your AI will wobble with it.

Tools can accelerate your behavior.
They can’t upgrade your regulation.
They can’t deepen your presence.
They can’t create safety for a buyer who isn’t sure yet.

So you can very quickly send a bad message to 
a lot of people (and I see this a lot).
Super efficient. 
Effective?
Not so much. 

You would have been better off 
not to send anything at all. 

You create
👀 noise.
👀 hesitation.
👀 stall points.

Before you automate anything,
your nervous system has to support the interaction.
Your messaging has to speak to the real pressure points.
Your awareness has to read what the buyer is actually signaling.

Here are the pieces that shift everything:
1️⃣ A regulated internal state
A steady system writes messages people lean into.

2️⃣ Understanding buyer pressure
Not their demographics.
Their actual cognitive load.

3️⃣ Signal-based communication
Warmth, recency, micro-openings, lowered stakes.

Without this foundation in place, AI becomes clutter.
😶‍🌫️ Damages your brand.
😶‍🌫️ Irritates your people. 
😶‍🌫️ Loses your clients.

Inside Butterhood, this is the core work.
The human layer that makes every tool
more powerful, more accurate, and more profitable.
EFFECTIVE.

Join us → https://lnkd.in/gbfNasyU

PS: What AI promise are people chasing the hardest right now?

---------------------------------------------------------------
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♻️ Share this to help someone build the foundation that sells

7 signs you're tough enough for your toxic boss...

without quitting your job.

Your nervous system has a baseline.
That baseline shapes how pressure lands.

Here are 7 signs you're tough enough:

1/ Your baseline state
 A system that rarely rests stays closer to threat.
 From that state, stress hits faster and harder.
 Do this: notice how you feel when you first wake up.
 Do this: schedule one daily pause with no objective.

2/ Continuous motion
 Moving task to task keeps activation high.
 The body never completes a stress cycle.
 Do this: insert a 2-minute pause between blocks.
 Do this: stand still and breathe before switching tasks.

3/ Mental load during “rest”
 A busy mind keeps the system activated.
 Physical stillness alone doesn’t equal recovery.
 Do this: notice if your mind stays busy at rest.
 Do this: gently bring attention to body sensations.

4/ Guilt around slowing down
 Guilt keeps the nervous system alert.
 Safety requires permission to stop.
 Do this: notice the urge to justify rest.
 Do this: remind yourself recovery supports performance.

5/ Morning and evening carryover
 Tension on waking signals unresolved load.
 Evening stress blocks downshifting.
 Do this: check your body before checking your phone.
 Do this: create a short shutdown ritual at night.

6/ Recovery timing
 Waiting for exhaustion delays regulation.
 Late recovery takes longer to work.
 Do this: rest before you feel depleted.
 Do this: add small resets throughout the day.

7/ Social threat sensitivity
 Overloaded systems struggle with power dynamics.
 Emotional range narrows under pressure.
 Do this: regulate before interactions, not after.
 Do this: widen awareness when tension rises.

This comes before any boss strategy.
Awareness of starting state is the first layer of immunity.

PS Which point showed you something you hadn’t noticed before?

Toxic Boss Immunity - 
Building a self-serve platform
To create a path to freedom where you call the shots, you're unshakable, you're influential, and free from anyone else’s control.
Get on the waitlist for FREE
https://lnkd.in/gGJYwXPa
OR
DM Me "Toxic Audit" for your own quick check

----------------------------------------------------------------

➕ Follow Shannon for brain-based tools to stay regulated in toxic places
♻️ Repost if someone you know is always “on.”

 7 signs you're tough enough for a toxic boss

Don't just pray for a job.

Pray for a leader, not a toxic boss. 

They say you leave your manager, not your job.
So. True. 

Culture lives in nervous systems.
Leaders set the baseline every day.
Teams regulate around that signal automatically.

Here are 5 signs of a great leader:

1/ Self-regulation
 A great leader notices their own stress.
 They slow down before they speak.
 The room settles when they enter.

A toxic leader brings unprocessed stress.
The room tightens immediately.

2/ Clarity under pressure
 A great leader keeps priorities stable.
 Expectations stay clear during chaos.
 Brains relax when rules do not shift.

A toxic leader changes direction emotionally.
The team scans moods instead of work.

3/ Pressure flows upward
 A great leader absorbs pressure from above.
 They filter noise before it hits the team.
 Focus stays intact.

A toxic leader pushes pressure downward.
Urgency spreads through the group.

4/ Recovery is allowed
 A great leader respects human limits.
 Pauses are normal and safe.
 Energy and thinking stay strong.

A toxic leader rewards constant output.
Rest feels risky or earned.

5/ Response over reaction
 A great leader pauses in conflict.
 Their nervous system stays online.
 Hard talks feel contained.

A toxic leader reacts emotionally.
Others mirror the instability.
Trust erodes quietly.

Leadership is not control.
It is regulation.

PS Which one of these have you felt?

Toxic Boss Immunity 
Building a self-serve platform
To create a path to freedom where you call the shots, you're unshakable, you're influential, and free from anyone else’s control.
Get on the waitlist for FREE
https://lnkd.in/gGJYwXPa

-----------------------------------------------------------

➕ Follow Shannon for brain-based leadership tools.
♻️ Repost if a leader you know needs this lens.

Behind every “I’m not qualified”

Is a future you haven’t met yet. 

I’m not technical.
I’ve never wanted to be “the code person.”
And honestly, that used to stop me.

Because most AI coding hype assumes
you already know what you’re doing.
Repos.
Installs.
Setup before you even start.

That’s where Replit felt different.
I stayed in the browser.
I described what I wanted in plain words.
And I watched a real app come to life.
Live.

I wasn’t struggling to learn syntax.
I was refining an idea using my own language. 

You grow by doing things you aren’t qualified to do yet.
Most people don’t fail because they can’t.

They stop because they tell themselves
“I’m not technical enough.”

I didn’t suddenly become technical.
The barrier just disappeared.

Replit handled the setup, hosting, and deployment.
I focused on what the app should feel like.
That’s the unlock.

If you already code,
pairing Replit with Claude Code accelerates shipping.
If you don’t,
Replit still lets you build something real.

No identity change required.

You don’t need permission.
You don’t need a team.
You don’t need to be “qualified” yet.
You just need to start.

P.S. What have you been waiting to build?

💡 $10 credit for Replit Core users —>
https://lnkd.in/gSCu_9Tj

P.P.S. If you’ve been telling yourself “I’m not ready for that yet,”
THIS IS YOUR SIGN

------------------------------------------------------------------

➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for brain based performance
♻️ Share to inspire someone who’s doubting their fire

The way to get clients on Linkedin is this...

Understand the inner thoughts of your ICP

Most people study their ICP on the surface.
Top sellers study how their ICP thinks.

If you want to sell on LinkedIn,
you have to know what your ICP is actually worried about,
not what they pretend to care about.

Here are 8 steps to uncover the real subtext 
of your ICP on LinkedIn:

1. Audit Their LinkedIn Profiles
Look at what they emphasize.
Tension shows up in their headcount, KPIs, and team priorities.
Their top headaches are usually hiding in plain sight.

2. Study Their Event Activity
Search for events they attend.
Then check the attendee list.
The themes they show up for
tell you what’s keeping them up at night.

3. Watch Them in Comment Sections
Look at your ICP commenting on competitors’ posts.
Their questions reveal fears.
Their reactions reveal pressure points.

4. Analyze Comments Under Hand-Raising Posts
Creators often say “comment for more info.”
Those comments are gold.
They show exactly what your ICP thinks they need
and what they wish someone would help them solve.

5. Read Your Own Comments Differently
Your commenters are micro-versions of your ICP.
Study their language, frustrations, and patterns.
Your future offer refinement is already hiding there.

6. Track What They Subscribe To
Newsletters, creators, and series they follow
tell you what they’re actively trying to improve.
Subscription signals = priority signals.

7. Act Like Your ICP For a Day
Ask yourself:
If I were them, what problems would I think about at 10 a.m.?
Budget. Productivity. Risk. Politics. Efficiency.
Not “culture” or “soft skills.”
Speak to the internal pressure they feel,
not the topic you want to teach.

8. Go One Layer Deeper Than Logic
Once you find the logical problem,
double punch it.
What’s the emotional layer?
Fear of missing targets?
Fear of looking incompetent?
Fear of wasting budget?
Fear of taking a risk and being wrong?
This is the real subtext.

If you understand your ICP’s subtext,
you won’t sound like their 10th vendor.
You’ll sound like the only person
who actually gets how they think.

BIG NEWS! SALES SAGE IS LIVE!
See the truth your reps won’t say out loud 
(before it blows up your number)
Taking 100 beta testers - 14 day free trial
https://salessage.co/

P.S. What is the number 1 problem your ICP cares about?

----------------------------------------------------------

➕ Follow Shannon for brain based sales and insight
♻️ Share to help someone see what their buyers really mean

If you can’t regulate...

You can’t close.

Sales exposes you.
You meet yourself in every conversation.

Your patterns.
Your pressure points.
Your nervous system.
And there are truths you can’t bypass.

You can only face them and train your brain to handle them.
Here are the fifteen brutal truths that shape every 
👀 coach
👀 solopreneur
👀 salesperson

Skinny to long.
Short to heavy.

Exactly how they hit in real life.

1. Pain shows.
2. Hope lies.
3. Buyers drift.
4. Silence grows teeth.
5. Confidence is unstable.
6. Urgency fades overnight.
7. Your tone leaks your pressure.
8. Your pipeline mirrors your mind.
9. Hard calls get pushed tomorrow.
10. Deals die from emotional overload.
11. You cling to maybes to avoid rejection.
12. You chase when your nervous system spikes.
13. You fill your calendar instead of your forecast.
14. You talk more when your brain feels threatened.
15. You lose more deals from dysregulation than bad skills.

The people who win aren’t the hardest closers.
They’re the ones who can think when the noise hits.

They regulate faster.
They recover quicker.
They protect their cognitive bandwidth.

If you want a system that reduces noise, 
increases yeses..
and keeps you out of chasing mode
Let's Talk here --> https://lnkd.in/gbfNasyU

PS. Which truth hit the hardest today?

---------------------------------------------------------------

♻️ Share if you’ve lived a brutal truth
➕ Follow Shannon for brain based sales insights

Don’t be afraid to start all over again.

You might like your new story better.

Most people don’t stay with toxic bosses
because they love the job.

They stay because starting over feels risky.

You already invested time.
You already proved yourself.
You already survived this much.

So you tell yourself to push through.
But toxic environments don’t just drain energy.
They slowly rewrite who you think you are.

Confidence narrows.
Vision shrinks.
Your nervous system learns to expect threat.

Starting over isn’t failure.
It’s interruption.
And sometimes, leaving isn’t possible yet.
That’s where people get stuck.

Here’s how to regain agency
even if you can’t leave right now.

Three pillars.
Practical. Grounded. Usable.

1/ Establish your baseline
You need to know your starting state.
Stress feels normal when it’s chronic.
Without data, you guess how you’re doing.
Do this: assess how activated you feel most days.
Do this: track sleep, tension, and recovery honestly.
Baseline awareness tells you whether you’re already 
overloaded before the boss even enters the picture.

2/ Predict instead of brace
Toxic bosses are patterned.
The same situations trigger the same behavior.
Surprise is what spikes threat.
Do this: list the moments they escalate.
Do this: plan your response before it happens.
Prediction gives your nervous system what it desperately wants.
Certainty.

3/Plan recovery like it’s required
Stress doesn’t end when the meeting ends.
Unreleased activation carries forward.
That’s how burnout accumulates.
Do this: schedule recovery after interactions.
Do this: close the stress cycle deliberately.
Recovery restores clarity, confidence, and choice.

This is how you protect yourself
while you decide what comes next.

And if there truly is no exit right now,
you still don’t have to white-knuckle it.

That’s why I built
Toxic Boss Armor.

It gives you a baseline.
Helps you predict patterns.
Builds plans that keep your nervous system intact.

Starting over doesn’t always mean leaving tomorrow.
Sometimes it means reclaiming yourself first.

PS If you could rewrite your work story, 
what would you want to feel differently?

Free resources
https://lnkd.in/guRmdNEu

-----------------------------------------------------------

➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for brain-based tools to stay clear at work.
♻️ Repost if someone you know is afraid to start again.

Micromanagement breeds compliance.

Not commitment.

When every move is monitored,
every decision is corrected,
and every mistake is highlighted,
the brain stops optimizing for growth.

It starts optimizing for safety.
Micromanagement increases uncertainty.
Uncertainty activates the amygdala.
Threat signaling rises.
The prefrontal cortex goes partially offline.

That’s the biology of it.
The prefrontal cortex is where initiative lives,
creativity lives, and ownership lives.

When threat is present, those functions are deprioritized.
So the nervous system adapts.
People do what’s asked.

They stop offering ideas.
They wait for instructions.
They avoid visibility.

From the outside, it looks like control is working.
From the inside, commitment is already gone.

Chronic micromanagement also keeps the stress axis activated.
Cortisol stays elevated.
Recovery shortens.
Motivation drops.
Burnout becomes inevitable.

This is nervous system load.
Leaders often assume disengagement = people don’t care.

More often, it means their nervous system 
doesn’t feel safe enough to invest.

And if you’re on the receiving end of this,
you don’t need thicker skin.

You need regulation, data, and strategy.

That’s why I built
Toxic Boss Armor.

It helps you understand your nervous system baseline,
predict toxic patterns,
and protect your clarity and confidence
even when leadership doesn’t change.

Compliance is a warning sign.
Commitment only emerges when the brain feels safe.

PS Are you barely hanging on by a thread? 
Get some relief --> https://lnkd.in/guRmdNEu

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➕ Follow Shannon for brain-based tools for surviving a toxic boss.
♻️ Repost if someone you know is stuck under a micromanager.

The answer doesn’t show up when you chase it

It shows up when you stop gripping.

Most people try to solve problems by applying more force.

❌ More analysis.
❌ More urgency.
❌ More mental effort.

The brain hears that as threat.
So it tightens.

When pressure rises,
the nervous system shifts into control mode.

Attention narrows.
Thinking becomes repetitive.

The brain looks for the least risky answer,
not the most interesting one.

That’s why clarity feels elusive when you need it most.
Insight lives in a quieter state.

When the parasympathetic nervous system activates,
the body settles.

Heart rate slows.
Breath deepens.
Internal noise drops.

In that state, the brain starts integrating 
instead of defending.

Patterns rearrange.
Meaning surfaces.
You don’t force the answer.
You notice it.

Psychological safety is what gives the nervous system
permission to loosen its grip.

It tells the brain:
🧠 You’re allowed to pause.
🧠 You’re allowed to wonder.
🧠 You’re allowed to see this differently.

Without safety, the brain loops.
With safety, the brain listens.

No calm, no coherence.
No coherence, no insight.

Here’s how to invite clarity back in:
1️⃣ Soften the body first
Longer exhales reduce neural noise.
The mind follows the body into calm.

2️⃣ Remove time pressure from thinking
Urgency activates threat circuits.
Space restores perspective.

3️⃣ Be alone long enough to hear yourself
Solitude lowers social evaluation.
The quiet reveals what you already know.

The answer isn’t missing.
It’s waiting for peace to rise high enough
for you to hear it.

PS: Where do your clearest insights tend to appear?

Join us for psych safety --> https://lnkd.in/gbfNasyU

Video Credit: Unknown

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