Sourcebooks

Toxic Grit - How to have it all and (actually) love what you have 
COMING OCTOBER 21, 2025!

Author

Be Clear Communications

We help progressive organizations and their leaders build robust digital presences that reflect their values, elevate their message, and reach the audiences who matter most.

Advisor

Anonymous

Chief Marketing Officer

🧩 Life’s a Game, HLG Projects

Marketing Consultant, Brand Builder, Creator and Author of Life's A Game: An anti-hustle newsletter about building a life on your terms. Personal and professional growth tips and frameworks delivered every Thursday at 8am.

Founder

The Post

Brought on by board as Fractional CMO to grow and scale The Post: the leading community for Leaders: Built By Sport.

Shaklee Corporation

Consulting with the global leader in health & wellness supplements working on innovation & partnerships and go to market positioning of new products.

VP of Marketing - Consultant

House of Wise

Empowering women to take control of their SLEEP, SEX, STRESS and STRENGTH with trusted CBD products.

Founder, CEO

Nue Life Health

4 month contract as fractional CMO to help with brand and marketing strategy.

Teal

6 month contract to help with positioning, team building and go to market strategy.

The Knot Worldwide

Following the December 2018 merger of XO Group Inc. and WeddingWire: We are The Knot Worldwide. With the mission of helping all couples around the world plan every aspect of their unique weddings, The Knot Worldwide is positioned to innovate and accelerate growth in the global wedding industry through The Knot, WeddingWire, bodas.net, and its family of leading wedding and lifestyle brands across the globe. The Knot Worldwide will deliver leading wedding marketplaces, wedding websites, planning tools, registry services and more to over 20 million unique visitors each month internationally through our brands. We're excited for all that is ahead for our brands, our couples, and our partners.

VP of Marketing

Amanda Goetz is a 2x founder, 3x CMO, brand builder and content creator on personal and professional growth and brand building, inspiring over 150,000 people every week through her social insights and weekly newsletter, 🧩 Life's A Game.

Amanda Goetz, was the founder and visionary behind House of Wise, a wellness company focused on creating space for more sleep, hotter sex and less stress. She started House of Wise during the pandemic in her garage, raised two rounds of venture capital and sold it in 2022 all while homeschooling three young children as a single mom.  

Born and raised in a single traffic light Midwest farm town, Amanda is a first generation college grad. Her dad is the town plumber & electrician. A self proclaimed over-achiever, Amanda worked three jobs in college while maintaining a 3.9 GPA and graduating early. 

Fast forward to 2017. Amanda found herself in NYC with 3 children under the age of 5 and navigating a divorce at the height of her career. Living life by a societally-approved checklist of success left her nearly broken. She spent the next 6 years unlearning hustle culture and learning a new way to approach her ambitious life. 

Amanda was the former head of brand for The Knot - the global leader in weddings. Previously, Goetz served as a startup founder building availability software for the wedding industry after spending years analyzing companies for Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur Of The Year program. She also worked for celebrity wedding planner David Tutera as Head of Marketing developing the go-to market strategy for his brands, licensing deals and client partners.

She has built an audience of over 150,000 in the startup and business community learning to live a life of ambition and success without subscribing to today’s hustle culture. She launched a newsletter called 🧩 Life’s a Game with Amanda Goetz to help high performers learn actionable tips for living a life of intention.        

Amanda’s been featured on Access Hollywood, The Skinny Confidential, Forbes, Business Insider and more.

Amanda Goetz

I stopped bringing my whole self to work. 
And I stopped bringing my work self to home. Let me explain…..

The work version of me is assertive, cares about deadlines, financial security and being at the top. 

The home version of me is silly, soft and cares about being the best mom and caregiver possible. 

Those two versions of me don’t often see eye to eye and yet we are constantly being told to find “alignment”. 

My book is about how alignment isn’t always possible. 

It’s about:
- awareness of the character that’s leading
- prioritization 
- focus on their character’s goals 
- timeline for how long you wjlm focus 
- transition sequences to the next character 

Check out my latest op ed for The Wall Street Journal in the link below. 

And if you struggle to make space for all the diverse versions of yourself - grab a copy of Toxic Grit now!

USA TODAY Bestselling Author of Toxic Grit | 2x Founder (acquired) 5x CMO | Mom x3 | Keynote Speaker | Subscribe ➡️ 🧩 Life’s a Game Newsletter

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Popping on to say this: for every day I spend offline during this post book tour spin cycle….

the more ideas start flowing. 
the less anxiety I feel about the algorithm. 
the more clarity I have about 2026. 

If you never stop to pause and look up, you might miss the beauty of the changing landscapes on the climb.

I'm creatively tapped after my book tour so I'm running a spin cycle. 
If you are feeling the same.....steal this below 👇

Story time....I've spent the two years: 
- writing a best selling book 
- publishing a weekly newsletter for almost 80k people
- conducting interviews for the Girlboss podcast - Ambition 2.0

In Toxic Grit, I talk about “spin cycles” as intentional seasons where you wring out the heaviness that’s built up....... the pressure, the stimulation, the expectations, the constant output.

It's not quitting.
It's not laziness.

It is maintenance.

A spin cycle is a defined period of time where you reduce your RPM so you can keep going without burning out.

Here’s what my current spin cycle looks like:

1. Lower the creative bar
No “big” new projects. I’m focused on maintenance mode only: my FT CMO role and my weekly newsletter. Everything else is being held until next year. 

2. Shift from output to intake
I’m reading more, listening to conversations, and paying attention to what’s landing with people instead of trying to force new ideas. 

3. Tighten my containers
Shorter work blocks, hard stops in the evenings, more white space on the calendar. The constraint is what gives my brain room to reset. 

(and resisting the urge to use that white space for scrolling)

4. Name what can wait
I have a literal list called “Not right now” for every fun, shiny idea that pops into my head. It goes there, not on my actual plate.

5. Redefine “progress”
During a spin cycle, progress is: rested brain, clear thoughts, regulated nervous system. 

Save this for the next time you feel tapped out and ask yourself:
What would a 2–4 week spin cycle look like for me?

What can I pause, simplify, or say no to so I can actually keep going?

This is the path to sustainable ambition.

The number one complaint from employees I talk to? Lack of context + micromanaging. 

I've been silently working in a full time CMO position since July and I can't wait to share more about it soon. 

But I wanted to share the operating rhythm that I have used for 10+ years to increase context and agency across the functions of marketing. 

EVERY WEEK: 

Monday: Async priorities 

I send out an async email called "managing up monday"
This email does 2 things: 
- everyone replies with their 2 main areas of focus for the week so we know where everyone's brains are at
- allows everyone to update the dashboard with previous week's metrics

Tuesdays: 1:1s and team chat 

All of our weekly meetings happen on the same day to get aligned for the week. Since we already know what people are focused on we can use this time to either remove roadblocks or brainstorm ideas. 

Wednesdays: Hallway chat

Now that we are moving and groovin' for the week we use 1 hour on Wednesday for a "sync'd Slack hour". This mimics the hallway chat where you casually ask for the updates and things you need from someone. 

By doing this in Slack at the same time you ensure everyone gets a prompt answer AND everyone gets line of sight into other things moving forward. 

Thursdays & Fridays are open for deep work and closing out the week. 

Thoughts?! 
What do you find that works for your team?

So excited for this event!! If you are in NYC - please come by for this powerhouse event with Girlboss and Her Workplace 

See you December 15th!

✨ NYC, we’re ending 2025 with a moment. ✨

​Join Her Workplace and Girlboss on December 15th for an intimate fireside chat with Amanda Goetz—2x founder, 4x CMO, and author of Toxic Grit—as we explore how to balance drive with joy, ambition with alignment, and growth with grace.

🎤 Redefine ambition without the burnout
📚 First guests receive a signed copy of Toxic Grit
🤝 Connect with women rewriting the rules of success
🍷 Sip Juliet Wine & enjoy an evening powered by Blu Dot

Close the year in a room that fills your cup and your ambition. 💛

Register here—https://lnkd.in/eYU9Xs6V

Toxic Grit isn’t a success just because I worked hard. (I mean, I did work hard but that wouldn't have gotten it to best seller status alone....)

It’s a success because people showed up for me.

Friends who posted the book without me asking.
Podcast hosts who invited me on before they read a single word.
Former coworkers who introduced me to the right editors or hosted events at their companies.
And yes....I had to actually put myself out there and ask for help.


Me asking for help on LinkedIn.
But here's the thing...

Most of the help didn't come from cold networking connections.

These were people I've kept in touch with for years.

People who I have checked in with when I didn’t need anything. I sent voice memos when I saw they were going through something. I celebrated their wins like they were mine.

So when it was finally my turn to ask?

The trust was already there.

A lot of people get networking wrong.

Even the word itself feels transactional. “Be in my network” is just code for: “I’ll contact you when I need something.”

But community?
That’s different.

Community is built when you show up before it’s convenient. It's when you give without tracking what you’re getting back. It's when we remember that humans aren’t LinkedIn headshots...…they’re living, breathing, emotional beings (likely going through their own shit).

I believe it’s more important than ever to have a community of people supporting you through the ups and downs and life yet it’s harder than ever in this current social media landscape.

And to all of those who have been that to me along the way....as I found myself a single mom of 3 kids under the age of 4....as I found myself moving to a new city with no friends or family....or as I shifted careers....

....I'm so thankful for you.

Today's newsletter goes into how I think about networking and doing it differently. 

Read it here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/ebw89dUw

graphical user interface, text, application, email

Being a CMO of a new brand launching in Q1 while planning a wedding on a book tour. 

AMA. 

🫣

I took a week off from posting after the first leg of my book tour wrapped and I have to be honest.....I am creatively zapped. 

Every time I go to post something, my brain just......fizzles. 

Is anyone else feeling this way?

My portfolio career Black Friday wish list.....

1. Wish = Less time on social media 
Must have ➡️ Taplio 
30% off today!! 

I barely log into LinkedIn these days because I schedule all my content on 
Taplio. Use code BF30 at checkout! 

2. Wish = Less time in email & scheduling 
Must have ➡️ An EA 

I use Athena EA for my services. Get $2000 off your EA using my link below. 

3. Wish = More time back for other parts of your life 
Must have = USA Today Bestseller ➡️ Toxic Grit: How to have it all and (actually) love what you have

I wrote this book to share all the systems I use to juggle work, life and everything in between. On sale today!!

This week on Ambition 2.0: we sit down with Erika Ayers Badan, former CEO of Barstool Sports, current CEO of Food52, bestselling author of Nobody Cares About Your Career, and all-around master of building a career entirely on her own terms. 

Erika shares candid stories from her time leading one of the most controversial (and successful) media companies in the world, what she’s learned about managing men and underdogs, how to stay emotionally regulated at work, and why she advocates for not bringing your whole self to work (compartmentalization can actually enhance your authenticity). 

🎙️ Listen to Ambition 2.0 here: https://lnkd.in/gsrfr7cC 
💻 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gGTD-pT4 

Don't forget to like, subscribe, and let us know your biggest takeaway (there's lots!) ✍️🙂‍↕️ 

Amanda Goetz

Launch It

Startup Mentor

I have a passion for brand building, a deep understanding of marketing strategy, and firsthand experience as a founder who’s been in the trenches. As a fractional CMO, I bring clarity and actionable go‑to‑market plans to my clients amid market chaos and the overwhelm of launching a new business or product.

Key Projects

PureOne Services (Restoration & Cleaning)
→ Led a full website rebuild in under 4 weeks, resolving longstanding technical issues and improving user experience.
→ Added conversion-optimized contact forms, driving a 10% lead generation rate from service pages.
→ Oversaw Google Ads strategy and KPI reporting to ensure monthly lead targets were met.

Springrose (Adaptive Apparel, VC-Backed)
→ Served as first hire and strategic right hand to the founder across marketing and operations.
→ Built the company’s tech stack and SOPs for manufacturing, fulfillment, and QA.
→ Designed and optimized a product fit quiz that converted 20% of users to purchase.

MANJULA Essentials (Luxury Ayurvedic Beauty)
→ Developed marketing strategy aligned with founder vision and brand ethos.
→ Transitioned eCommerce from WordPress to Shopify, improving UX and operational efficiency.
→ Delivered monthly KPI dashboards and marketing insights to guide founder decision-making.

Adrian Black (Luxury Men’s Fashion)
→ Provided market research, brand strategy, and operational advisory to the founder.
→ Acted as bridge between creative teams and founder to align brand vision and execution.
→ Developed the go-to-market strategy for launch phase.

Fractional CMO & Marketing Strategist

Founder Institute

Mentor

Spicey

Spicey is a consumer brand offering modern pain solutions.

As CMO, I owned the go-to-market from strategy to execution — translating the founder’s vision into a bold new brand that sold 10,000+ units in 8 weeks.

- Managed a rebrand to capture a new target market.
- Developed an affiliate marketing program with 30 highly engaged influencer partners in less than 12 weeks.
- Advised the founder on key decisions from pricing to distribution, QA and packaging design.
- Spearheaded key initiatives including HSA/FSA approval.

AOS Services UK

AOS is a digital marketing agency for leading UK food and beverage brands.
- Hired to support the agency’s expansion beyond Amazon.
- Increased website conversion rate to 5.5% for a top client.
- Led a team to scale a new Shopify business to £30,000 per month in revenue.

DTC Marketing Lead

Lara Intimates

Lara Intimates was a visionary company that redefined the lingerie industry through local production, sustainability, and size inclusivity. We served our customers with 120 (!) bra sizes by using an eco-friendly and innovative just-in-time manufacturing model to reduce stock waste and offer a high number of SKUs.

- Featured in Refinery29, The Guardian, Marie Claire, Who What Wear, The Telegraph, The Sunday Times, Drapers.
- Scaled to seven figure revenue.
- Produced up to 900 units per week with a team of 12 in a London-based production unit.
- Diverted 8,000m of fabric from landfill.
- Carbon neutral.
- Creative activations like the “Busty Bus” pop-up tour.

Qardio, Inc.

Qardio is a venture backed health tech company.
- Managed blog content creation, including overseeing intern writers.
- Designed dozens of Google ads weekly.
- Supported the marketing team by analyzing data from Google Analytics, HotJar.
- Assisted during a Shopify transition and the development of the e-commerce tech stack.

Marketing Associate

Hype Experiences

Hype is a tech startup based in Google Campus Incubator reviewing "London’s Best Everything."
- Produced top-performing content.
- Planned events and executed digital marketing.
- Connected local businesses with the business development team to drive app revenue.

Digital Content Curator

Fashion Accessory Startup

Supported digital marketing and event planning for a growing fashion company.
- Developed digital marketing strategies.
- Planned community events and executed press outreach.

Egomark London

Supported sales operations for wholesale buyers in the fashion industry.
- Assisted sales lead during meetings with wholesale buyers.
- Supported sales in London, Milan, and Paris.
- Performed clerical and organizational tasks to ensure smooth operations.

Wholesale Assistant 

Hi there 👋

I'm Cindy — a marketing strategist and fractional CMO with 10 years experience owning go-to-market for values-driven brands. My superpower is storytelling: I translate complex and technical products into compelling narratives that resonate with today's cultural trends and market needs. Then I lead cross-functional teams to execute GTM plans that bring those stories to life and deliver standout launches.

How I Started

I started my career in B2B technology companies where I supported demand generation, performance marketing, and content strategy within growth-hacking teams. At the same time, I earned a BA in apparel design from the London College of Fashion, launching my career with a unique skillset mix of creative disciplines, startup acumen and marketing experience.

My Founder & CEO Journey

In 2016, I launched a disruptive women's apparel startup dedicated to eco-friendly and size-inclusive products. Over four years, the business scaled to seven-figure revenue and 20,000 active customers, delivering viral product launches that generated £100K in a single day with a 13x ROAS and a loyal community of super fans.

Fractional CMO & Strategist

Since 2022, I've worked as a fractional CMO and marketing strategist, stepping into part-time leadership roles for early-stage brands to define their positioning and lead go-to-market strategy. For example, I led a nine-month rebrand and GTM launch for a pain relief CPG business that sold 10,000 units in just eight weeks by leveraging micro-influencers and a community-centric strategy. I specialize in translating founder vision and cultural trends into actionable GTM plans and leading cross-functional teams to execute them, often through hands-on strategic planning sessions and agile execution.

Leadership and Mentorship

As a leader, my role is to identify and unlock the potential in both people and processes. My approach is pragmatic problem-solving, curiosity, and seeking out expertise. I proactively work to find solutions, hire A-players, and encourage communication to achieve ambitious results. I am passionate about developing talent, and outside of work, I mentor for Launch It, Founders Institute, and previously London College of Fashion. My experience teaching and guiding others (and launching my own company at a young age) has taught me success in business is 80% mindset -- achieved through leadership collaboration and vision.

Get In Touch

If you’re interested in working together, please drop me a DM! I’d love to hear about what you’re building.

Cindy Liberman 👩🏻‍🦰

Gen Z Is Nostalgic for a Time Before Instagram


“1995-2000 — those years were a party” my friend said over dinner in Soho last week.

“Anemoia” I replied. “It means nostalgia for an era you never experienced.”

Up to 50% of Gen-Z and 47% of millennials feel nostalgia for media of the past 
— 1990s sitcoms, Y2K, retro graphics — 
times when life wasn’t lived online.

There is a yearning for the fun, care-free lifestyle of the past, 
before social media.

For brands, the answer isn’t to jump on visual trends. 
It’s about asking whether your next piece of content makes your audience feel relaxed and supported, or does it add to their anxiety?



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

Hey 👋 I'm Cindy — marketing leader and strategist for consumer brands.
Drop me a DM. I would love to hear about what you're building.

Marketing Strategist | Go-to-Market Leader | Storytelling-Driven Fractional CMO | Community & Brand Builder | Startup Mentor & Growth Advisor

Struggling to feed the content beast? 




Here’s my go-to framework for crushing social-first content.

Run a 14 day content creation cycle:
Day 1-3: Confirm concepts
Day 4-8: Film + Edit
Day 9-10: Review collaboratively
Day 11: Contingency/reshoots
Day 12-14: Approve, schedule
Day 14: Review last cycle’s wins + opportunities

Practice for 3 months consistently.
Show up with an experimental mindset.
Test and learn.

This consistent rhythm will deliver results and lighten the mental load for you + your team.

Tell me how it goes :) 

----------------------------------------
Hey 👋 I'm Cindy — marketing strategist and fractional leader. 
Building something? DM me!

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The Battle

Amanda Goetz

Cindy Liberman 👩🏻‍🦰

Followers

Posts

Engagements

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Performance ScoreAmanda Goetz's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreCindy Liberman 👩🏻‍🦰's LinkedIn Performance

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taplio

The Battle

Amanda Goetz

Cindy Liberman 👩🏻‍🦰

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Amanda Goetz's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreCindy Liberman 👩🏻‍🦰's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreAmanda Goetz's LinkedIn Performance