MidWeek

MidWeek hosts workshops and panel discussions for people in their 20s and 30s navigating career uncertainty. Our London events create a space for honest conversations about work, purpose, and what comes next.

Through structured workshops and panels featuring people who've successfully navigated career transitions, we help participants move from confusion to clarity. It's where ambitious people come to figure out their next move, surrounded by others who get it.

Not networking. Not generic career advice. Just real conversations about finding work that actually fits who you are.

Founder

Still Wandering

Still Wandering is a weekly newsletter documenting the reality of finding meaningful work when you don't know what that means yet.

Every week, I share honest reflections on navigating career uncertainty in your 20s and 30s. No frameworks or success theater—just raw documentation of the actual journey.

What I write about:

- Personal experiments in self-discovery and what I'm learning
- Conversations with others figuring out their professional path  
- The questions we're not supposed to ask about work and meaning
- Resources and ideas that genuinely shift perspective

This is for anyone who knows they want more from work but can't articulate what that is. For those collecting experiences and degrees but still feeling like they're living someone else's life. 

I'm not here to sell you answers. I'm here to make the wandering feel less lonely by sharing mine.

Writer

TrueNorth

TrueNorth is an AI-powered career coach designed for people who need to figure out what they want before they figure out how to get it.

Unlike traditional career tools that start with job searches and skills assessments, TrueNorth begins where real career clarity begins: with understanding yourself.

How it works:

Deep self-discovery sessions - Through thoughtful AI-guided conversations, uncover your core values, what energises you, and what kind of impact you want to make. No generic personality tests—just real exploration of what matters to you.

Pattern recognition - TrueNorth remembers every conversation, tracking how your thinking evolves over time. It spots patterns you might miss and reflects them back to help you see yourself more clearly.

Practical pathfinding - Once you understand what you're looking for, TrueNorth helps you explore aligned career paths and design small experiments to test what might actually fit. No overwhelming action plans—just the next right step.

Ongoing support - Career clarity isn't a one-time event. TrueNorth grows with you, helping navigate transitions, test new directions, and stay aligned as you evolve.

Who it's for:

- Recent graduates who feel overwhelmed by infinite options
- Professionals who've succeeded but feel unfulfilled  
- Career changers who know they want something different but can't articulate what
- Anyone tired of career advice that assumes you already know what you want

Built on the belief that you can't build a meaningful career until you understand what meaning means to you. Everything else—the applications, the networking, the skill-building—comes after that.

Start with who you are. End with work that fits.

arco.

Personal Brand Strategist

Thoughtleadr

Key Responsibilities:

• Managed content strategy and engagement for 10+ eight-figure business leaders
• Built and nurtured online communities across LinkedIn, Twitter, and email channels
• Developed personal brand strategies for C-suite executives and founders
• Created high-performing content that drove 6-figure audience growth

Notable Achievements:

• Increased client engagement rates by 300%+ through strategic content optimization
• Scaled multiple executive personal brands to industry-leading positions
• Secured podcast appearances and speaking opportunities at major industry events
• Generated millions of impressions monthly across client accounts
• Built repeatable systems for thought leadership that scaled across diverse industries

Creative Director

Opulous

Digital Marketing Intern

PUBLIC PRESSURE

ITMV

Digital Marketing Consultant

Expedition Engineering Ltd

Junior Engineer

Helping businesses deliver impact by enhancing their visibility and reputation | Founder of arco.

I spent my early twenties collecting careers like stamps. Architecture degree, music production, entrepreneurship—each pivot made perfect sense at the time, but from the outside it looked like I couldn't commit to anything.

The truth was simpler: I had no idea who I was, so how could I know what to do?

I discovered this wasn't just my problem. Almost everyone I knew—smart, capable people with good degrees—felt completely lost about their careers. We'd been taught how to get jobs, but nobody taught us how to figure out what work would actually fulfil us.

That realisation changed everything. I saw that the real problem wasn't a lack of opportunities or skills. It was that most career advice starts at step 10 when people like us were still stuck at step 1: understanding ourselves.

Now I'm building tools and communities to fix this:

TrueNorth: An AI-powered career coach that starts with self-discovery, not job listings

MidWeek: London events bringing together people navigating career uncertainty

Still Wandering: A newsletter documenting the messy reality of finding meaningful work

I work with people in their 20s and 30s who know they want something more from work but can't articulate what that is. People who've tried following conventional career paths but felt like they were wearing someone else's clothes.

My approach is simple: you can't build a meaningful career until you understand what meaning means to you. Everything else—the skills, the networking, the applications—comes after that.

If you're tired of career advice that assumes you already know what you want, let's talk.

Alex McCann

The Dezine Hive

10 Hydrogen

Responsible for planning, creating, and managing content across social platforms to grow brand visibility, engage audiences, and drive conversions.

Social Media Manager

Content Designer

Freelance Graphic Designer

Techensefier Pvt Ltd.

Web Content Writer

Kid Aptivity Technologies

English Tutor

99 Styles, 1 Goal: I Help Brands Pop with Pixel-Perfect Designs!

You’re amazing at what you do!!
But your online presence doesn’t show it.

You're a coach or founder with real impact,
Yet your LinkedIn, website, and messaging feels... off.

→ It’s scattered.
→ It’s unclear.
→ It’s not doing justice to your brilliance.

And you know that in today’s world,
If your brand isn’t working for you,
You’re leaving visibility, credibility and clients on the table.

You’ve tried fixing it.
Maybe updated your profile.
Hired a freelancer.
Posted a few times.

But the results?
Inconsistent. Forgettable.
Definitely not the authority-building presence you envisioned.

You deserve more than templates and surface-level edits.
You deserve a BRAND that feels like you.
And works for you 24/7.

I’m Zeba Mirza, Founder of The Dezine Hive.
I help coaches and founders turn their story into authority online through profile positioning, LinkedIn strategy, website storytelling, and audience-aligned messaging.

⭐5/5 client feedback
⭐95% retention rate
⭐100+ personal brands built
⭐Custom-crafted strategy + standout visuals
⭐ No fluff. No copy-paste. Just clarity and impact.

Let’s make your brand the most powerful introduction you’ve ever had.

👇 Grab your Free Brand Audit from my Featured section.

Zeba Mirza

LinkedIn isn't optional anymore for founders and coaches.

It's your unfair advantage if you know how to use it.

I spent 6 months treating LinkedIn like a side project. Posted randomly. Commented when I felt like it. Wondered why nothing happened.

Then I committed. Built a system. Followed a roadmap.

Everything changed.

Here's the exact framework that took me from invisible to booked solid:

1. Make the real decision

→ Week 1-3: Post 7x per week (you're learning)
→ Week 4+: Drop to 3-4x per week (you're optimizing)
→ Content mix: 60% educational, 30% personal, 10% broad

Consistency beats perfection every single time.

2. Build your 4 target lists

→ ICPs (your ideal clients)
→ Peers (your network)
→ Big Influencers + LinkedIn Leaders (your visibility)

You can't grow without knowing exactly who you're talking to.

3. Comment like your business depends on it

→ 50 comments per day goal
→ Treat each comment like a mini-post
→ Only comment on-brand content

This is where relationships actually start.

4. Optimize your profile for conversion

→ Clear headline that speaks to your ICP
→ Banner that shows what you do
→ Featured section with your best content

Your profile is your storefront. Make it count.

5. Make offers daily via DM

→ Start conversations, not pitches
→ Share value first
→ Ask for the call when it makes sense

LinkedIn rewards action takers.

6. Master the advanced tactics

→ Stop tagging big creators (it doesn't work)
→ Focus on profile views, not impressions
→ Unfollow 5-10 people daily to stay focused

Small tweaks create massive results.

What's your biggest LinkedIn challenge right now? Share below 👇

♻️ Repost this if you're ready to take LinkedIn seriously in 2025

🔔 Follow me, Zeba Mirza, for strategies that turn LinkedIn into your #1 growth channel

Founder & CEO | LinkedIn Strategist & Brand Designer | 100+ Founders & Coaches Served | Helping You Build Authority Online | Follow for Authority-Building Tips on Personal Branding

Your brightness isn't negotiable.

The moment you stop apologizing for who you are is the moment you start living.

But here's what nobody tells you:
The people who criticize your growth are often stuck in their own stagnation.

Their discomfort with your evolution reveals their relationship with their own potential.

When someone says you've changed, what they mean is they stayed still.

When they call you too much, what they're really saying is they chose to be less.

Let's decode what criticism actually means:

"You're doing too much"
Translation: I'm doing too little and your effort reminds me.

"You think you're better than us"
Translation: I'm afraid you'll outgrow me.

"You're being fake"
Translation: I'm uncomfortable with transformation.

"You're too confident"
Translation: I wish I believed in myself like that.

See the pattern?
Their words are mirrors reflecting their inner world, not windows into your truth.

So how do you move through this without losing yourself?

Stop absorbing every opinion as fact.
Not every voice deserves a vote in your life.

Ask yourself: Is this feedback or projection?
Feedback comes with specifics and solutions.
Projection comes with judgment and emotion.

Root yourself in your values.
When you're clear on who you are, external noise becomes just that—noise.

Choose your responses wisely.
Silence isn't weakness. Sometimes it's the most powerful statement you can make.

Let success be your answer.
Don't waste energy defending your vision. Build it instead.

Protect your energy ruthlessly.
Surround yourself with people who challenge you to grow, not shrink.

Keep rising.
Your expansion isn't meant to make others comfortable. It's meant to show what's possible.

The resistance you face is confirmation you're breaking new ground.

So stop dimming.
Stop shrinking.
Stop waiting for permission to be extraordinary.

Someone out there needs to see you shine so they know they can too.

What criticism have you stopped taking personally?

Follow Zeba Mirza for more on breaking free from others' expectations.

Marketing is asking someone on a date.

Branding is why they say yes.

Most companies obsess over the ask.
They perfect their pitch, polish their slides, craft the perfect cold email.

But they forget the most important part: giving people a reason to care in the first place.

Nike doesn't just sell shoes. 
They sell the feeling of being unstoppable. 
When you see that swoosh, you don't think about product features. 

You think about pushing limits and defying odds.

That's branding.

Marketing gets you noticed. Branding gets you remembered.

Here's the difference in practice:

Marketing: "Buy our project management software"
Branding: "We help teams turn chaos into clarity"

Marketing: "Sign up for our newsletter"
Branding: "Join 50,000 leaders who think differently"

Marketing: "We offer consulting services"
Branding: "We turn struggling businesses into market leaders"

One chases. The other attracts like a magnet.

Your brand is the promise you make before anyone buys. 
Your marketing is how you deliver on that promise at scale.

Build a brand people believe in, and your marketing becomes ten times easier.

Stop asking for the date. 
Start being the person everyone wants to say yes to.

♻️ REPOST to help your network build stronger brands
🔔 Follow ZEBA MIRZA for branding insights

When I started my journey in personal branding, I watched others rise while I stayed quiet.

Not because they knew more.
Not because they were better.
Not because they had more talent.

They simply understood one truth:

The world rewards the voice, not the void.

You can craft the perfect brand.
You can design the flawless system.
You can solve the hardest problems.

But if you don't speak?
Someone else will speak for you.
Someone else will claim the space.
Someone else will own the narrative.

Your silence isn't humility.
It's surrender.

The designer who shares their process beats the genius who hides.
The founder who tells their story beats the expert who stays silent.
The coach who shows up daily beats the master who waits for perfection.

This isn't about ego.
It's about existence.

If you don't build in public, you build in obscurity.
If you don't write your story, the market writes it for you.
If you don't claim your expertise, someone else claims it instead.

Share your work.
Share your lessons.
Share your journey.

Not someday.
Today.

The world doesn't owe you discovery.
You owe yourself visibility.

Follow me Zeba Mirza for more insights.

One skill every entrepreneur must master before 2025 ends.

Not hustle.
Not confidence.
Not more information.

Decision-making under uncertainty.

By 2025, you won’t lack options.
You’ll drown in them.

AI will give you answers.
But not clarity.

The entrepreneurs who win won’t be the smartest.
They’ll be the calmest.

The ones who can:

→ Decide with 60% information
→ Move without over-researching
→ Commit without needing validation
→ Correct course without ego

Waiting to feel “ready” is expensive.
Indecision costs more than bad decisions.

In unstable times,
clarity beats certainty.

If this resonates,
follow Zeba for honest insights on entrepreneurship and building with clarity.

We've all fallen for LinkedIn's biggest myth.

You've felt it: that knot in your stomach when you haven't posted yet.

The dread sets in.

Sharing your voice becomes something you avoid.

Daily posting is the enemy.
Consistency is freedom.

But first, let's destroy the daily posting myth completely:

You don't need to post every day.
You don't need to match anyone's schedule.
You don't need permission to define your own rhythm.

"Consistently" does NOT mean "daily".
(Most folks never learn the difference)

You can post 7x per week → if you do it consistently
You can post 3x per week → if you do it consistently
Heck, you can post ONCE → if you do it consistently

The pattern matters more than the pace.
The rhythm matters more than the rush.
The commitment matters more than the count.

The Four Pillars of True Consistency
Forget the daily mandate.
Build these instead:

Pillar 1: Your Posting Schedule
Pick a frequency that survives reality.
Mark the days in stone.
Honor your pattern, not someone else's.

Monday-Wednesday-Friday works.
Tuesday-Thursday works.
Every Sunday works.

Choose your rhythm.
Stick to it relentlessly.

Pillar 2: Your Posting Time
Consistency lives in the clock too.

Post at 8am every time.
Post at 2pm every time.
Post at 6pm every time.

Your audience learns when to expect you.
The algorithm learns when to boost you.
The habit forms when timing stays fixed.

Pillar 3: Your Content Look and Feel
Visual consistency creates recognition.

Same structure every post.
Same opening style every post.
Same closing pattern every post.

People scroll fast.
Familiarity stops the scroll.
Recognition builds trust.

Pillar 4: Your Presence Between Posts
Consistency isn't just posting.
It's staying.

Post, then engage.
Comment on others' content.
Build conversations, not broadcasts.

Ghosting after posting kills momentum.
Disappearing between posts breaks trust.
Presence matters as much as publishing.

Building Your Content Foundation
Once consistency pillars stand, build these:

Foundation 1: Core Message
What truth needs sharing?
What problem needs solving?
What story needs telling?

Foundation 2: Audience Clarity
Who benefits from this content?
What language resonates with them?
What format captures their attention?

Foundation 3: Content Themes
Pick 3-5 recurring topics.
Rotate through them systematically.
Let each theme breathe and develop.

The framework isn't complex.
The execution requires discipline.
The results reward patience.

Define your own consistency.
Build your own rhythm.
Trust your own pattern.

Consistency beats intensity.
Rhythm beats randomness.
Presence beats perfection.

Mid Week Motivation, over.

(Repost ♻️ the encouragement for others)

P.S. Be honest: Does your posting schedule energize you or drain you? What's your reality?

"I don't know how to design visual guides that people actually use."

I hear it constantly.

You need a framework that removes the guesswork.

Here's mine:

→ Start with structure (hierarchy, flow, organization)
→ Layer in design elements (color, typography, layout)
→ Finish with content strategy (information, key points, value delivery)

Build. Refine. Test. Share. Repeat.

Works for coaches, consultants, creators, educators, and thought leaders.

Following this does 2 things for your visual content:

1. It makes complex information instantly digestible
2. It positions you as the expert who simplifies the hard stuff

The full Master Cheatsheet Design framework breaks down every element you need.

Want the complete design copy to see how each piece connects?

📌 If you want a high-res PDF of this sheet:

1. Like the post
2. Follow Zeba Mirza
3. DM me "cheatsheet"
4. Repost to your network

Your personal brand should open doors.

Instead, it's closing them.

Here are 10 signs it's working against you (and how to fix it):

1. Your profile views disappeared overnight

People used to check you out. Now silence.

↳ Your positioning went stale and nobody told you.
↳ Fix: Refresh your headline and About section every quarter.
↳ Ask: Does this still reflect where I'm going, not just where I've been?

2. Your peers get speaking invites. You don't.

They're building authority. You're watching from the sidelines.

↳ The market decided who's worth listening to.
↳ Fix: Post insights consistently. Comment on industry trends.
↳ Visibility builds credibility. Credibility earns invitations.

3. You drop knowledge in comments. Nobody responds.

Your insights aren't landing.

↳ The knowledge is there but the delivery isn't cutting through.
↳ Fix: Make your comments conversational, not lecturing.
↳ Ask questions. Add value. Start conversations, don't end them.

4. Your headline confuses people

Three seconds. That's all you get.

↳ If they can't tell what you do, they're gone.
↳ Fix: Be specific. "Business coach" is vague.
↳ "I help burned-out founders build 7-figure businesses without sacrificing weekends" is clear.

5. You offer no transformation

"I help people grow" means nothing.

↳ "I turn scattered coaches into booked-out authorities" means everything.
↳ Fix: Name the before state. Name the after state.
↳ Specificity sells. Vagueness repels.

6. Your visuals look rushed

Mismatched colors. Pixelated photos. Generic templates.

↳ It shows more than you think.
↳ Fix: Invest in a clean headshot. Use consistent colors.
↳ Your visuals are your first impression. Make them count.

7. Your messaging sounds like everyone else's

"Empowering entrepreneurs to unlock potential" could be anyone.

↳ Your story is yours alone. Your words should prove it.
↳ Fix: Write like you talk. Use your unique experiences.
↳ Generic language makes you forgettable. Unique voice makes you memorable.

8. Competitors with less experience stand out more

They're not better. They're clearer.

↳ Bolder. More consistent. That's the difference.
↳ Fix: Study what they do well. Adapt, don't copy.
↳ Consistency beats talent when talent isn't consistent.

9. You post when you remember

Inconsistency kills momentum.

↳ Your audience forgets you because you keep disappearing.
↳ Fix: Set a posting schedule. Two times a week minimum.
↳ Show up regularly. Stay top of mind.

10. Creating content exhausts you

No strategy means every post starts from scratch.

↳ That's not sustainable.
↳ Fix: Build a content bank. Batch your ideas.
↳ Template your formats. Systems beat motivation every time.

Your brand should work while you sleep.

If it's working against you instead, time to rebuild.

✓ Show up consistently
✓ Audit your profile today
✓ Refresh your positioning
✓ Let your brand open doors again

♻️ REPOST to help someone fix their personal brand
🔔 Follow Zeba Mirza for more branding info.

Today 94% of businesses are stuck at breaking point.

I've watched dozens of brilliant founders hurt their own success.

Not from lack of talent.
From refusing to unlearn what got them there.

They stayed married to patterns that should've been buried months ago.

You know that feeling when you're working 70-hour weeks but revenue won't budge?

That was me two years ago.

I thought I was the only one who could "do it right." 
Every client call, every strategy decision, every hire had to go through me first.

My need for control became my limit.

A mentor finally called me out. I spent the next six months learning to let go.

Delegated the work I dreaded.
Brought in people who were better than me at things I sucked at.

Revenue doubled within a year.

Your business is a mirror.
It reflects your mindset, your habits, your blind spots back at you every single day.

The patterns that got you here? They're probably the same ones keeping you stuck.

Founders who actually break through do something different:

→ Adapt or Die
→ Master yourself first
→ Ruthless Focus Wins
→ Speed Beats Certainty
→ Use Leverage Relentlessly
→ Stay Patient Stay Dangerous
→ Build Systems Not Just Hustle
→ Choose Hard Things on Purpose

Perseverance without evolution is just expensive ego.

But grinding without self-awareness? That's just burnout dressed up as hustle.

Right now, 73% of founders scaling past 7-figures prune what's working to build what scales. Not next quarter.

They turn down good opportunities so they can grab great ones.

Look in the mirror. 

What you see in your business is what you bring to it. 
The chaos, the bottlenecks, the stuck revenue.

It's all there because you put it there.

Fix the reflection by fixing yourself. Everything else follows.

Which part of this hits closest to where you are right now?

♻️ Repost this if it hit home.
→ Follow Zeba Mirza for more authority-building tips.

The loudest voices rarely win.

The most valuable ones do.

I spent years thinking visibility meant volume. Post more, comment everywhere, chase every trend.

Then I realized something:

People don't follow noise.
They follow signal.

Your personal brand isn't built on how often you show up.

It's built on what you leave behind when you do.

Four principles that changed everything for me:

#1 Create content worth remembering
Give people something they can use.
Information that shifts perspective.
Stories that stick around after the scroll.

#2 Show up like clockwork
Three to five posts weekly.
Not because algorithms demand it.
Because trust requires repetition.

#3 Engage like you mean it
Leave comments that add depth.
Not "great post" reactions.
Real thoughts that spark real conversations.

#4 Give freely
No strings attached.
No hidden agenda.
Just genuine help that people remember long after.

The paradox of personal branding:

Stop trying to reach everyone.
Start serving someone deeply.

The right people find you when you stop performing and start providing.

What's one way you're building your brand differently this year?

Your post structure decides everything before word one.

Perfect words mean nothing without proper presentation.

Structure is everything in 2025's attention economy.

Here's the blueprint you need right now:

1. Kill the fluff today
2. Order lists by length
3. Test this format today
4. Think mobile-first right now
5. Build in rhythm immediately
6. AI assists, doesn't replace you
7. Skip the emojis (seriously, stop)
8. Consistency matters more than ever
9. 45 characters max per line (mobile is king)
10. Ditch the buzzwords immediately
11. Space generously starting now
12. Flow logically or lose readers
13. Number your lists this week
14. CTA goes last always
15. Simplicity wins today
16. One-line hooks only
17. Bulletize now

Let me break down the system behind these principles:

The Hierarchy Framework

Your post needs three layers:

Hook.
Close.
Body.

Each layer serves one job.

Hook grabs attention in 1-2 lines.
Close drives action without selling.
Body delivers value through structure.

The Rhythm Framework

Notice how your eye moves?

That's intentional.

Numbers create natural checkpoints.
White space creates breathing room.
Short lines create pause points.

When you build in rhythm, readers lean in.

The Mobile-First Framework

Most people read on phones.

That changes everything.

45 characters per line fits mobile screens.
One-line hooks work in small spaces.
Generous spacing prevents scroll fatigue.

Desktop is a bonus.
Mobile is the target.

The Clarity Framework

Structure beats decoration every time.

Remove buzzwords. They confuse.
Remove emojis. They clutter.
Remove fluff. It dilutes.

What's left?
Pure signal.

The Flow Framework
Your post is a conversation.
It moves from simple to complex.

From universal truth to specific action.
From problem to solution.

Each section builds on the last.
Each line earns its place.

These frameworks don't work alone.
They work together.

Like a well-designed building, every element supports the others.

Your content deserves structure.
Your message deserves to land.
Your readers deserve clarity.

Design isn't decoration.

It's delivery.

P.S. Stop treating posts like essays. Start treating them like experiences

You could spend months researching the "perfect" personal branding strategy.

Or you could learn from someone who's actually built their brand in public and knows what works.

I've tested both paths. One keeps you stuck in analysis. The other gets you results.

I've been doing this for years. Not pretending. Actually building.

This week? Let's talk about the voices that'll try to stop you before you even start.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁:

Every successful personal brand started with someone saying "this won't work."

The difference between people who build influence and people who don't isn't talent.

It's the ability to keep posting while everyone else is telling them to quit.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹-𝗨𝗽 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗵:

The framework is simple. Four elements at the center, everything else is just noise:

• Consistency
(post regularly, even when engagement is low)

• Authenticity
(your voice, not what you think LinkedIn wants)

• Value
(solve problems your audience actually has)

• Personal Branding
(own your niche, own your perspective)

𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗧𝗢 𝗨𝗦𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗦𝗘:

𝟭. 𝗣𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰 and commit to it for 90 days minimum
𝟮. 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝟯𝘅-7𝘅 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 no matter what the doubters say
𝟯. 𝗜𝗴𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 "𝗻𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘀" crowd (they're projecting their own fears)
𝟰. 𝗗𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 when you get crickets (that's when most people quit, which is exactly when you shouldn't)

Real examples:
• That career pivot post you're scared to write?
Someone needs to read it.

• That contrarian take on your industry?
That's your differentiation.

• That personal story you think is "too much"?
That's your authenticity.

Remember last week's scenarios about starting from zero followers?

This is what happens after you start.

The haters show up.
The doubters get loud. Your engagement drops.

And that's exactly when you keep going.

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗲:

The people telling you to quit aren't building anything themselves.

Don't take advice from people not in the arena.

Repost if you've ever been told your content "won't work" (and posted anyway).

Follow Zeba for frameworks on building your personal brand without asking permission.

Most people don’t lose because they lack talent.
They lose because they keep waiting.

Waiting for clarity.
Waiting for confidence.
Waiting for the “perfect version” of the thing they want to create.

And while they wait…

Someone less experienced, less polished, less “ready”
launches something small.

And wins.

Because execution > perfection.
Always.

I’ve seen people sit on million-dollar potential for years.

Planning.
Tweaking.
Thinking.
Talking.

But never shipping.

Meanwhile someone with 40% of the idea
puts out a simple version
learns through real feedback
and builds momentum.

The market doesn’t reward the best idea.
It rewards the idea that goes live.

I didn’t have the perfect offer when I started.
Not the perfect branding.
Not the perfect strategy.

But I showed up anyway.

And those imperfect steps built everything I have today at 'The Dezine Hive'

If you’ve been sitting on your expertise,
your skill,
your story…

Please hear this:

You don’t need “perfect.”
You need motion.

Start small.
Start messy.
Start unsure.

But start.

Stop dreaming.
Start shipping.

Fear isn't a stop sign.

It's a compass pointing you toward growth.

That flowchart nails what most of us overcomplicate:

You want to do something → Do it.
You're scared → Do it scared.

The path forward is the same either way.

Here's what I've learned about fear and action:

Fear doesn't disappear when you're ready. 
You get ready by moving forward anyway.

The people you admire? 

They started just as scared as you are right now. 
They simply chose progress over comfort.

Here's the truth: confidence doesn't come first. 
You build it by doing the thing that terrifies you.

Your brain will manufacture endless excuses: 
wrong timing, need more skills, market isn't ready. 
All lies designed to keep you exactly where you are.

None of that matters.

What matters is the decision to move.

Not perfectly. Not fearlessly. Just forward.

The gap between wanting and doing isn't filled with courage. 

It's filled with one small step, then another, then another.

Every person who's built something meaningful has felt exactly what you're feeling right now.

Here's the twist: 

Fear never asked for permission to show up. 
Why are you asking it for permission to move forward?

Toxic managers rise like smoke.

Silent. Invisible. Deadly.

They climb while good people quit.
They advance while culture crumbles.
They get promoted while teams burn out.

The pattern repeats:

Numbers look good.
Behavior stays hidden.
Leadership looks away.

Until the damage spreads too deep to ignore.

Here's what happens when toxicity gets rewarded:

→ Top performers leave quietly
→ Innovation dies in fear's shadow
→ Trust evaporates like morning dew
→ Teams become survival zones, not growth spaces

The cost isn't immediate.

It compounds.

One toxic promotion poisons the well.

It signals what matters.
It teaches what wins.

And suddenly, the best people start planning exits.

The fix isn't complex:

Address the behavior, not just the results.
Protect the culture, not just the quarterly numbers.
Value the team, not just the individual star.

Short-term gains blind.
Long-term culture sustains.

Choose wisely.

The company's future lives in that choice.

♻ Repost if this resonates.

P.S. Seen a toxic performer get promoted because they "delivered results"? The pattern is everywhere.

I've tried 47 different ways to research carousel content.

Only 1 consistently delivers data-backed posts that get saved and shared.

Here's the exact framework I use (steal it):

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵-𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱

Most creators start writing before they research.
That's backwards.

Here's what actually works:

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟭: 𝗣𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲
• Industry reports (Statista, McKinsey)
• Academic studies (Google Scholar)
• Platform insights (LinkedIn, HubSpot)
• Survey data (Pew Research)

Example: "73% of B2B buyers prefer educational content" (Source: Demand Gen Report)

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟮: 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘀
• Cross-check with 2+ sources
• Verify publication date (last 2 years)
• Check sample size
• Note methodology

Red flag: Can't find the original source? Don't use it.

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟯: 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀
Slide 1: Hook with surprising stat
Slides 2-8: Break down the data
Slide 9: Key takeaway
Slide 10: CTA

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟰: 𝗔𝗱𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘅𝘁
Raw numbers mean nothing without:
• Industry comparison
• Year-over-year change
• Real-world application
• Your expert take

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟱: 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴
• Add sources in small text
• Link full report in comments
• Build credibility

This method takes 2 hours per carousel.

But it positions you as the go-to expert in your niche.

Want the high-res cheatsheet?
DM me "RESEARCH" and I'll send it over.

Found this helpful? Repost to help your network create better content ♻️

Most founders waste 20+ hours weekly on LinkedIn content.

Here's the system that cuts it down to 3.

I went deep into AI tools until I found what actually works.
Six systems that work like a content engine.

System 1: Know who you're talking to

Pull your best client reviews. Feed them to AI.

Extract pain points, transformation stories, and language patterns.
Study 5 competitors. Identify positioning gaps.

Formula: specific audience + clear transformation + unique delivery.

System 2: Never run out of ideas

Use Saywhat to research your niche. Export 20 questions your audience asks.

Turn those into 15 post angles.
Interview 5 ideal clients. Record conversations.

Extract pain points. Each becomes 3 post angles.

System 3: Build your content machine

Create a custom GPT trained on your voice. Feed it 5-10 posts, frameworks, and process docs.

Develop ideas with this structure: 
"Write a LinkedIn post in the style of [your tone] about [topic]. Keep it [length], structured like [type]."

AI gets you 90% there. You add the final 10% with examples and voice tweaks.

System 4: Turn your process into IP

Record yourself explaining your method. Transcribe it.

Feed it to AI: "Turn this into a framework with: memorable name, 3-5 pillars, visual structure, one-line explanation per pillar."

Create CustomGPTs for different roles: Content Strategy, Client Onboarding, Engagement.

Upload case studies and frameworks. Your IP becomes your content engine.

System 5: Optimize your profile

Run an AI audit. Feed your profile to ChatGPT.

Ask it to audit best practices, analyze value proposition, check audience specificity, identify trust factors.

Winning structure: Headline (transformation), About (client story), Featured (proof), Popular posts, Lead magnet, Testimonials.

System 6: Stay consistent without burning out

3 strategic posts per week beats 7 mediocre ones.

Monday: Brainstorm 10 ideas using Saywhat data.
Tuesday: Write 3 posts with your custom GPT.
Wednesday: Edit for voice. Add examples. Remove AI patterns.
Thursday-Saturday: Schedule and engage 20 minutes daily.

AI do's: Train it with your voice. Give clear context. Edit output. Feed it real pain points.
AI don'ts: Publish raw output. Copy prompts blindly. Use vague instructions.

This works because it combines AI efficiency with human authenticity.

Tools handle research, ideation, and first drafts.
You handle strategy, editing, and genuine connection.

Most people either avoid AI completely or let it do everything.

Both approaches fail.

Treat AI like a research assistant and first-draft writer, not a replacement for your voice.

DM me "System" and I'll send you the high-res cheat sheet.

Repost this if you're serious about building authority on LinkedIn

Follow Zeba for content systems that turn chaos into consistency

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