Strengthening self-leadership for lasting high performance and a calmer life balance | Personal & professional growth | Great leadership begin from within | 25 years in Comms & Leadership

Many women in leadership come to a point where the load grows faster than their capacity to carry it. 

Patience thins, confusion grows and you end up doing more and more… while feeling less and less like yourself.

I’m a leadership coach for emotionally intelligent women in demanding roles: 
The steady one, the strong one, the calm and capable one everyone relies on.

...all while you feel exhausted and find yourself wondering:

“Why am I this tired when I’m doing everything right?”
“How do I lead in a way that doesn’t drain me?”

I help you strengthen your self-leadership from the inside out — with boundaries, courage and practical tools — so you can lead in a way that feels grounded and genuinely YOU. This means doing the right things, for the right reasons, having energy left at the end of the day. 

Here are 3 ways we can work together:

I. Individual coaching or mentoring
Tailored support based on your needs, or my 7-week program for strengthening your mental, emotional and physical capacity.

II. Group program
Ledarprogrammet Perspeqtiv: a small-group leadership program for women leaders, on site in Malmö (Swedish).

Boundary Bootcamp: a 2 week challenge to help you set (and hold!) strong, clear boundaries and start prioritising yourself again. 

III. For teams & organisations
Team and leadership development, workshops and lectures.
Best discussed in conversation 🤓

With me, you get:
🌱 Grounded, research-backed methods blending coaching, neuroscience and emotional intelligence
🌱 A structured, warm space to reflect, grow and take real action
🌱 A certified ICF coach committed to your long-term capacity, not quick performance hacks

Based in Sweden. 
Working globally.
Languages: Swedish & English.

DM me to book a call — let’s chat!

Annika Mohlin 🌱

Ikväll är det gala-dags✨

Nominerad kandidat nr 7… det är jag det!

Så fint det känns. Stolt och glad över att lyftas fram som en kvinna som lyfter andra kvinnor 💛

Och jag är i gott sällskap: 13 andra nominerade som också gör skillnad – på sitt sätt, i sina sammanhang, för sina kvinnor. En ynnest att få vara med i ett sånt gäng. Något jag vill fira!

Hela Empower Her-galan firar och boostar kvinnor i alla åldrar, och det viktiga arbetet som görs för kvinnors ledarskap, hälsa och hållbarhet. Så häftigt - tack för att ni ordnar LIW Association Alexandra – för kvinnor & hälsa och @CC.Lifeboost

Jag ser fram emot att inspireras, mingla och fylla på med go energi. Det lär vankas bubbel och glitter också... som sig bör på gala, tänker jag ✨

Ska du dit?
Kom förbi mitt kontor på ett glas bubbel innan! 🥂

Vi ses Camilla Ekholst Jenny Ahlqvist De Souza Anna-Maria Lundgren Birgitta Manders Susanne Hindsö Ljunggren Elin Perttu - och vem mer?

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Talks about #coaching, #selfcare, #leadership, #communication, and #mediarelations

LIW Association

Alexandra – för kvinnor & hälsa

CEO Ledarskapskraft

⭐️ Dedicated leader with a passion for service and sales. I strive to contribute to the success of the organization. ⭐️

Kommunikationsspecialist | Internkommunikation | Medarbetarengagemang | Företagskultur | Projektledare | Externkommunikation | Marknadsföring | Verksamhetsstöd | Kommunikatör | Problemlösare | Relationsbyggare

Project Coach | Project Coordinator | Coach in transition and migration work | Project Manager | Trainer | Communications | Business Support | Sales | Contract Management | Business Support | Problem Solver

Tryckeriet från idé till wow. Kreativa. Personliga. Pålitliga.

Empowering People Leading Change | Organizational Change Management | Leadership Development | Training & Facilitation | Keynote & Guest Speaking

I help good girls become confident leaders of themselves and their teams | Coach for people-pleasers and perfectionists done being the good girl | Nästa grupp Ledarprogrammet Perspeqtiv startar februari 2026 🔭

Kolla dessa cheferna.
Första gruppen någonsin i Ledarprogrammet Perspeqtiv.

I fredags sågs vi för sjätte och sista gången. Då hyllade vi de kliv som var och en tagit under programmets tio månader. Både de egna och varandras.

För vi snackar KLIV, inte steg.

Det blir så i en liten, tajt grupp där man vågar lyssna inåt och tänka högt.

🎉Vi hyllade mod.
🎉Vi hyllade att stå i sina värderingar.
🎉Vi hyllade att våga utmana, att experimentera utan att veta hur det ska gå.

Jag är så stolt över dessa chefer, vår allra första "kull".

Jag är också stolt över att Elin och jag vågade säga "JA, vi kör”. Ibland vet man bara att något är rätt. Och då ska man köra.

Grattis till ”examen” Anna Wickholm Anna Assarsson Renée Sibolt Camilla Brink Schütz Tove Svärd Helene Jensen Vanja Söderblom och vi ses på julmingel i eftermiddag. Tillika första träffen med Nätverket Perspeqtiv ✨

🔭 Leder du andra och vill utvecklas i ditt ledarskap tillsammans med andra kvinnliga chefer? Då kan Perspeqtiv vara rätt plats.

💌 Sugen på att vara med? Hör av dig till mig eller Elin.
♻️ Känner du någon som borde veta om det här? Dela gärna vidare. Tack!

I help female leaders lead and succeed without self-compromising • Lead with boundaries and energy ​>​> leave the good girl behind ​• Nästa grupp i Ledarprogrammet Perspeqtiv startar februari 2026 🔭

How a red shirt helps me overcome self-doubt.
(a tip for all the good girls out there)

Research repeatedly shows that women carry far more of this than men:

Nasty thoughts sneaking up on us to tell us we’re 
> not good enough
> not smart enough
> not worthy of taking up space

Call them self-doubts or limiting beliefs — 
they’re ugly and paralyzing either way.

When those thoughts visit me, I know my confidence might shiver... which will change how I show up.

Enter: 
My red training shirt.
The one I wear when I lead my workout classes.

The gym floor is an arena where I feel fully confident.

I’ve been an instructor for 25 years. I know I’m good at it — and when I’m in that role, there's a certain energy and a certain vibe. A strong one.

So I visualize putting on that red shirt... 
...and with it, I shift myself into that energy. 

👊 Boom. I can do anything again.

✍🏼Tell me: what’s your “red shirt”, if you have one?
(If you don't, look in the comments and I'll guide you)

PS. If you like my content, I also have a newsletter: 
https://lnkd.in/dExxZiqj

No alternative text description for this image

“I want to do this workshop every year.”
 
That's what a woman told me some weeks after doing my "design-the-new-year" workshop. 

It meant a lot that she said it — still makes me smile 😊
 
The good news?  
I 𝘥𝘰 run this workshop every year!  

More than 400 women have done it online already — many of them coming back again and again, to create a new, updated roadmap. 

Because what we do works. 

Every now and then women message me (or tell me, if I meet them) that they've reached a milestone or ticked something off that came to them during this workshop. 

Last week I opened registration for the 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗱 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗚𝗶𝗿𝗹'𝘀 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻.

In only 90 minutes, you’ll set your direction and craft a roadmap with the actions so that you can make 2026 a year with you firmly in the driver’s seat.

It’s free. It’s in English.  
You don’t have to speak — just show up and follow my guidance. Your roadmap is yours only. 

🗓️ Tuesday, January 6
⏰ 13.00-14.30 CET
💻 Online on Teams
🌟 Free to join

Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/dwaT_m3n

PS. I share the recording with all registered, so if you want to join but timing is bad — you can still do it on your own. 

📸 I run this workshop both online and IRL. Last Thursday I led it live at Börsdamerna. Thanks for having me!

This week it started. 

Someone mentioned Christmas gifts.
Another said her Christmas stress is ramping up. 

Soon all activities around school, sports, shows and concerts start lining up.... 

November and December are hectic. 

Sooo much that needs to be done and delivered.... 
You can feel it, right? 

But saying you don’t have time to take care of yourself,
is like saying you’re too busy driving to stop for gas.

To all busy, loyal, hardworking good girls who hold everything (and everyone) together:

If you want to feel less stressed, have more energy and actually enjoy the parts of life that matter most to you... 
...but feel you can't afford taking a break... 

...where will you end up? (hint: burnt out)

> Working more hours won’t make you less busy.
> Going nonstop won’t make you more productive.
> Saying YES to do more tasks won't create more hours in a day.

Just like stopping for gas is important,
so is stopping to recharge yourself. 

Even when life is busy.
E s p e c i a l l y when life is busy. 

If you read this and feel:
—Tired
—Tired of feeling tired
—Guilty taking time to rest 
—Constantly in production mode
—"I just have to finish this little thing too" 

>>> You need to stop for gas. NOW.

PS. I know that you know this already. And sometimes it's helpful with a little reminder 💛

PPS. If you like my content, I also have a newsletter: 
https://lnkd.in/dExxZiqj

It takes a village to raise a child, they say. 
Mine raised a very good girl. 

I learnt how to fit in long before I learnt how to be me. 

I'm done with those edits. 
The coming chapters look different.

Making a Good Girl

I thought I was being helpful.
It turned out I was standing in the way.

For a long time, I believed good leadership meant having the answers and always being available. 

That fixing things was the same as supporting. That stepping in with a solution was the best help. That getting back on track quickly was development. 

Until one day. 

A team member was stuck and came to ask about something. I immediately saw how we could solve it. It was simple – but I didn’t have the time to explain. 

So instead I asked: "What are your thoughts?"

Silence. I went back to what I was doing.

A little later, my colleague returned – with a plan. 
And it was better than mine 🌟 

I think that’s when it hit me.

Every time I stepped in to “help,” I was taking something away: 
> the belief in their own ability 
> the satisfaction of figuring it out yourself 
> the growth that comes from handling challenges

I was taking away opportunities to grow 😬

So I started doing things in a different way. Challenging and uncomfortable at first, no doubt: 

> I held back my answers
> Asked better (and more) questions
> Got more comfortable with being uncomfortable
> And resisted the urge to step in as some kind of problem-solving superhero (difficult for good girls like me) 

I learnt that I didn't have to carry everything. And I certainly didn't have to carry them. 

My version of being a helpful leader was my bad good girl stepping in. 

The real growth – for both me and the team – came when I started unlearning that.

Curious: what's a leadership lesson you've learnt from being "in it"?

“Next year will be different.”

I’ll slow down. I’ll start saying no. I’ll prioritise myself more.

Don’t know how many Decembers I’ve said that to myself.
And then… life happened:

High expectations, fully-packed calendar, delivering results, kids to activities, oh gosh any dinner ideas anyone…?

And oupppss I was back in the familiar good-girl-loop of being everything for everyone — except myself.

For me, it took a burnout to realise and change how I lead myself. 
I don’t want it to get that far for you. 
I want you to fast-track your learning and make better choices, sooner than I did. 

Let me help you a little bit: 
On January 6 I’ll run one of my favourite workshops.

✨ The Bad Good Girl’s 2026 Plan ✨

In this (free) workshop, you’ll
> Get clear on what matters to you: what you need, want and long for in 2026.
> Create a personal roadmap that puts you on the priority list (right where you belong BTW).
> Learn how to create more space for wellbeing, rest and a life you enjoy — without dropping your ambition.

Make 2026 the year you choose, not just cope.

Next year will be different 💪🏼

✍🏼 Registration is now open — comment "DIFFERENT" if you want to join.

Hope to see you there!

Sara Escobar, Johanna Birkfeldt and 126 other attendees

View event: The Bad Good Girl’s 2026 Plan

We leak a lot of energy trying to control what we can’t.

Like the November weather. 
And the 'emotional weather' of others: 

> How people react
> Whether someone’s disappointed
> Predicting needs before they’re spoken

This is classic bad good girl behaviour:

Working overtime in places where our influence is exactly.... zero.

Like unpaid ’emotional meteorologists’. 

I write about this in today's newsletter. 

Enjoy your weekends everyone!

November is… special, isn’t it? Not in the magical way — more in the damp, dark, “why is the sky made of wet wool?” kind of way. Not my favourite mont

Open article: A Bad Good Girl's Take on November by Annika Mohlin 🌱 • 2 min read

Varför vänder ni er bara till kvinnor?

Det är en av frågorna vi brukar få om Ledarprogrammet Perspeqtiv.

Svaret:
Så länge det ser ut som det gör i företagsledningar och bolagsstyrelser vill vi göra vad vi kan för att boosta och stärka kvinnliga ledare.

Perspeqtiv är förstås bara en pusselbit bland många. 

Ett mer jämställt och emotionellt intelligent samhälle kräver dialog och förändring på flera nivåer. Vi fokuserar på att stötta kvinnor i att stärka sitt ledarskap och sin kapacitet, samtidigt som vi hejar på alla – kvinnor och män – som driver utvecklingen från andra håll.

Vi brukar få fler frågor: 

— Behöver man ha direktrapporterande för att vara med?
— Gör ni Perspeqtiv på engelska?
— Hur länge ska man ha varit chef? 
— Tänker ni starta en online-grupp någon gång?
— Kan ni köra det här programmet inhouse bara för oss?

Bläddra i dokumentet om du är nyfiken på svaren 🤓

📅 Vi startar 3 nya grupper under 2026, den första i februari. Platserna har börjat gå åt. 
💌 Sugen på att vara med? Hör av dig till mig eller Elin på DM eller i mail.

Allt du skulle vilja veta om Perspeqtiv, men varit för skraj att fråga om

”Jag har varit chef i drygt två år. Det är först nu som jag känner mig som en ledare.”

Helene hade sitt team utspritt över hela Sverige och dåligt samvete för att hon inte räckte till.

”Jag vill vara en närvarande ledare. Men hur är jag det på distans?”

Det var utmaningen hon tog med sig till Perspeqtiv. Engagerad, nyfiken och trött på att försöka vara överallt samtidigt.

Ganska snart insåg Helene hur hon kan vara närvarande även på distans.

Efter några månader hade hon hittat sitt angreppssätt, sin struktur för hur hon leder sitt team; både gruppen som helhet och var och en individuellt.

Helene är en sådan som verkligen gör det hon säger att hon ska göra. Hon har reflekterat, testat, justerat och till slut hittat sitt sätt. Med ett helt annat lugn nu än för nio månader sedan.

Och något som alla i gruppen märkt:

Hennes generositet. Hon delar med sig, stöttar, speglar, bjuder på sina lärdomar och hjälper andra att växa. Är inte det ledarskap i sig? 😉

Imorgon har vi sjätte och sista träffen med den allra första gruppen i Ledarprogrammet Perspeqtiv. Tusen tack Helene för att du varit med och allt du bidragit med. Det ska bli så roligt att följa din fortsatta framfart!

🔭 Helene är en av de mer "nya" cheferna. De flesta har mellan 3-10 års erfarenhet. Medan några har över 15 år - och matar sin fortsatta nyfikenhet på att växa som ledare och människa.

Busy day today? Every day busy up until Christmas? 

Here’s how I stay calm and focused, even with a super tight schedule. 

Because it’s nothing but a myth that working nonstop will help you get more done (spoiler alert: it won’t)

The best way to keep doing high quality work is to: 
✅ Take a break

Try one of these today: 

🌱 Look out a window
Notice what you see — colors, shapes, shadows, textures... 
Using your senses helps your mind slow down and stay in the moment. 

🌱 Think of three things you’re grateful for
Say them out loud or write them down. 
Gratitude helps to boost your mood and will make you feel happier! 

🌱 Step outside
Take a 20-minute walk—or even stand outside for 5 minutes. 
Fresh air clears your mind and gives you new energy. 

Think you don’t have time? 
You DO. 

Taking short breaks will make both you and your work better. 

You'll feel better → your work will be better. 

AND: you'll have time and energy left for the things (and people ❤️) that matter most to you. 

Need support in making more space for you and what you love?

I can help. 
👇
Join my (free) workshop on Tuesday January 6, 2026. 

In just 90 minutes we’ll create your roadmap for 2026, with your goals, needs and well-being in focus.

✍️ Sign up here:
https://lnkd.in/dwaT_m3n

No matter age, industry or nationality, the women leaders I coach are talking about the same things.

Since recap and wrap season is here –
these are the patterns I'm noticing, wrapped up in a timely, seasonal outfit 😉

Curious: Does any of this feel familiar to you? 


PS. The rage-bait age thing? Yes, it's in the carousel too. 

PPS. I do my last coaching session for 2025 today. 
Thanks everyone who've trusted me to support you with your leadership, well-being, confidence... well: life 💛

What women leaders came for coaching on

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. 🚀

Your answers are already in your head.

You just have to slow down long enough to hear them.

Your brain holds ideas you have not discovered yet.
But it cannot reveal them when you never pause.
Creativity needs space.
Insight needs quiet.

Most people overwork their minds.
But the brain solves problems when you stop trying.
Silence activates deeper networks.
Boredom lets ideas rise to the surface.

Here are 3 ways to access the answers inside you 👇
1️⃣ Give your brain boredom time
✔️ Take short breaks without your phone
 Boredom activates the default mode network
 This is where creativity lives

2️⃣ Use quiet as a tool
✔️ Sit still for a few minutes
 Quiet reduces noise in the prefrontal cortex
 Your thoughts get clearer and sharper

3️⃣ Let your mind wander
✔️ Go for a slow walk with no agenda
 Wandering boosts pattern recognition
 Your brain connects ideas without force

You are not stuck.
Your mind just needs room to speak.
When you rest it, it reveals what you need.
The answers show up when the noise drops.

P.S. When is the last time you surprised yourself?

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
Minority Report for Sales Teams
https://salessage.co/ 

Video Credit: Unknown

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

➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for more brain based insights
♻️ Repost if your best ideas hit you in the quiet moments

I used to shrink parts of myself to fit into corporate.

It quietly drained the life out of my ideas (and me).

At the time, I thought success required self-erasure.
I hit every goal on the board.
But I felt empty.

 🧠 Promotions
 🧠 Pay raises
 🧠 Prestige

None of it mattered.
My spark was gone.
And so was my creativity.

Have you ever noticed how your brain invents ideas
When you’re not even trying?

Your imagination lights up your neural networks
Like a synchronized light show.

Brain imaging reveals that
Most of your regions activate during visualization.

Here’s what fuels your imagination 👇

1/ Your Brain’s Creative Engine
 ↳ Default Mode Network turns on as the PFC steps back
 ↳ Memory blends with emotion to create new associations
 ↳ Your brain recombines patterns without limits

2/ The Moment Insight Strikes
 ↳ Gamma bursts peak during big realizations
 ↳ Hippocampus sends raw material to the DMN
 ↳ New pathways strengthen the more you play with ideas

3/ Your Creativity Enhancement Tools
 ↳ Take short intentional pauses for DMN activation
 ↳ Change scenes to trigger fresh circuitry
 ↳ Welcome boredom because it sparks innovation

Creativity is not magic.
It is a neural process you can train.
All you need is the space and permission to
Reconnect with curiosity and let your mind roam.
Don’t lose your spark chasing goals that dim you.

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
Minority Report for Sales Teams
https://salessage.co/ 

PS: When does your imagination run wild?

Video Credit: Unknown

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

♻️ Share to help others reclaim their creativity
➕ Follow Shannon for more brain-based growth insights

The only true failure in life is quitting. 

Success is never a straight line. It certainly wasn't for me.

I've had many failures and setbacks along my path.
Layoffs.
Failed ventures.
Bad investments. 

Life is messy. 
Mess is a part of life.

Enjoy the messiness. 
And, your brain kinda likes it messy too.

Why your brain craves zigzag paths 🧠

(The science of why progress feels so messy) 👇

Your neural pathways aren't built in straight lines
And neither is your path to greatness
Here's what's really happening in your brain:

1️⃣ The Neural Reality
↳ Growth pathways form through trial and error
↳ Each "failure" strengthens neural connections
↳ Your brain requires contrast to learn

2️⃣ The Resilience Loop
↳ Setbacks activate problem-solving networks
↳ Stress actually enhances memory formation
↳ Recovery periods boost cognitive flexibility

3️⃣ The Growth Paradox
↳ Progress activates dopamine reward system
↳ Plateaus create new neural foundations
↳ Breakthroughs happen during apparent standstills

Your "messy" journey is how your brain is designed to learn and grow.

P.S. What was your latest messiness?

Learn how to build a $20k - No Chasing the Yes - Sales System
Apply here --> https://lnkd.in/eZRF_jZe

Video Credit: Unknown

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

♻️ Share if you're ready to embrace the zigzag
➕ Follow Shannon for more brain-based insights

Most people’s LinkedIn strategy: grind harder and hope

Mine: close clients while living life on my own schedule

I’ve wandered through the Greek islands
- Boat rides to hidden beaches
- Mornings working with seaside views
- A weekend in Skopelos without realizing it was a movie set

I spent a month in Athens
- Day trips to Agistri, turquoise blue waters
- Afternoons coaching clients

Why am I sharing this?
 Because your brain says “that’s not for me”
 Because it tells you to stick with the familiar
 (It’s called comfort bias and it keeps you stuck)

But here’s what no one will tell you:
If you want it, this life is closer than you think

Here’s how your brain makes it happen:

1️⃣ The Belief Reset
 ↳ Your brain avoids what feels out of reach
 ↳ Turn “impossible” into doable with simple shifts
 ↳ Stack wins until change feels normal

2️⃣ The LinkedIn Advantage
 ↳ Know what your ideal client looks for before they decide
 ↳ Post and message in ways that feel safe and personal
 ↳ Use a system that works even while you’re away

3️⃣ The Lifestyle Flywheel
 ↳ Every yes starts before the offer is made
 ↳ Match your approach to their decision process
 ↳ That’s how I work from coastlines and mountain trails

The point?

It’s not about more work
It’s about the right work for the brain

I am offering a once in a lifetime DONE FOR YOU SYSTEM
For One Month, I will revamp your LI system
- ICP Subtext Discovery 
- LI Optimization
- DM Framework that gets sales calls
- 1 month of content that gets inbound leads
- Engagement that builds your reach

I will only take ONE client. 
If you want me to build your system,
the way I went from 3k to 50k followers, then DM me
"DFY Butter" and we'll chat.

P.S. Where would you take your laptop first?
P.P.S. Pic from Poseidon's Temple (10/10)
-----------------------------------------------------------

♻️ Share if your goal is freedom without the hustle
➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for more brain-based sales strategies

One more trip around the sun.

It's been a doozy.

Every birthday, I pause and reflect on my last year.
This year was the year that stretched me in every direction.

I lost my favorite person (my Belley Bean)
That loss began an 8 month walkabout across the globe.

I found my spiritual side.
I found strength I didn't know I had.

I escaped 3 typhoons
I sailed the Mediterranean
I ate the most amazing food 
I chopped a bajillion bananas
I swam in the Blue Cave in Croatia
I cared for 140 elephants and 700 dogs
I got bit and headbutted by deer in Nara
I moved what felt like a million watermelons
I spoiled myself at a Japanese Onsen regularly
I calmly navigated a stalker sitch right up to my airplane 
I lost a toenail trying an advanced yoga post in Cabo San Lucas

I missed my family.
I missed my friends.

I grew.
I grew so much.
I think I grew more this year than any year before.

I admired the precision of Japanese trains.
I learned Thai people do not use chopsticks.
I went from a 3k to 50k community in 8 months.
I was stunned by the beauty of the Greek islands.
I made new friends in the most unexpected places.
I built a predictable, brain-based revenue machine.
I helped countless clients do the same for their businesses.

This year was not easy.
It was not predictable.
But it was deeply transformative.

Here is to another year of becoming.
Here is to letting go, leaning in, and staying open.

And if you are reading this…
Thank you for being part of my journey.

P.S. Today, I am Seattle celebrating!
Wanna celebrate with me?

I am offering a once in a lifetime DONE FOR YOU SYSTEM
For One Month, I will revamp your LI system
- ICP Subtext Discovery 
- LI Optimization
- DM Framework that gets sales calls
- 1 month of content that gets inbound leads
- Engagement that builds your reach

I will only take ONE client. 
If you want me to build your system,
the way I went from 3k to 50k followers, then DM me
"DFY Butter" and we'll chat.

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

♻️ Share if your goal is freedom without the hustle
➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for more brain-based sales strategies

Lighting someone else's candle doesn't dim yours.

It just makes the room brighter.

Helping others shine doesn't dim your light.
Your brain actually glows brighter when you lift people up.

Most people think helping drains energy.
Neuroscience shows it does the opposite.
Your brain rewards contribution.
It expands your capacity, not shrinks it.

Here are 3 ways helping others strengthens your brain 👇
1️⃣ Your reward system lights up
✔️ Kindness boosts dopamine
 Dopamine lifts motivation and focus
 Your flame grows, not fades

2️⃣ Your connection circuits strengthen
✔️ Support boosts oxytocin
 Oxytocin builds trust and safety
 Your brain gets more resilient

3️⃣ Your creative networks open
✔️ Giving lowers stress chemicals
 Lower stress frees the prefrontal cortex
 Ideas flow easier when your heart is open

Lifting others isn't self sacrifice.
It's self expansion.
Your brain shines brighter
every time you help someone rise.

P.S. What's the last time someone lit your flame?

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
Minority Report for Sales Teams
https://salessage.co/ 

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

➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for more brain based insights
♻️ Repost to help someone light up today

The real threat to your number isn't the market.

It's the things your reps never say.

Everyone talks about activity.
Everyone talks about coaching.
Everyone talks about pipeline discipline.

But nobody talks about the truth gap.

The space between what your reps say...
...and what is actually happening.

That gap is where bad quarters grow.

😱 The rep who says “all good” while confidence tanks.
😱 The pipeline that looks clean but is full of dead deals.
😱 The silent fear that turns into quiet quitting.

You see these problems too late.
You take the hit.
You carry the blame.

And you never get the early signal
that could have saved the quarter.

Your top threat is not performance.
It is blind spots.

Sales Sage closes them.
Ten minutes.
A simple pulse.

✅ Signals you will never see in a meeting.
✅ Patterns no CRM can surface.
✅ Emotional shifts that predict misses

BEFORE they show up in your number.

If you want to know what your team is really telling you
before it becomes a fire you have to put out

Take advantage of the 14 day free trial
https://salessage.co/
See the truth your reps won’t say out loud 
(before it blows up your number)

You will never manage your team the same way again.

P.S. The pic looks like a mix of me and Data from Star Trek, right?

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

♻️ Share if you are tired of surprise misses
 ➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for more brain based sales insights

"Get out of my head."

That is what I hear a LOT. 

It's also what my clients hear.
If you want to win in business
Learn to enter your ICP’s mind.

Not their surface answers.
Their unspoken thoughts.
The quiet stuff they never say out loud.

Your ICP is thinking about risk, safety, and reputation.
Their nervous system scans the world for certainty.
Your job is to understand the subtext they hide.

Here are 5 ways to read your ICP’s real inner world:

1️⃣ Listen for the pause
 When they hesitate, note the silence.
 Write down what fear that pause might signal.
 Ask one gentle question to explore it.

2️⃣ Name the problem better than they can
 Say the thing they hint at but avoid.
 Use words they have not said yet.
 Their brain relaxes when it feels understood.

3️⃣ Track their emotional patterns
 Notice where their tone shifts.
 Spot excitement, tension, or doubt.
 These shifts reveal what they truly value.

4️⃣ Map their failed attempts
 Ask what they have already tried.
 Look for frustration in their answers.
 This reveals hidden pain they rarely voice.

5️⃣ Reflect their vision back to them
 Repeat their goals in simple language.
 Show them the future they want.
 The brain trusts what it can picture clearly.

When you understand the thoughts they never say,
your ICP feels seen at a deeper level.
They think you can read their mind.
And trust becomes the easiest part of the sale.

P.S. When is the last time you thought someone was in your head?

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
Minority Report for Sales Teams
https://salessage.co/ 

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

♻️ Share to help others build resilient minds
➕ Follow Shannon for more brain-based growth insights

Persuasion isn’t pressure.

Persuasion is helping someone feel safe.

Here are 8 ethical persuasion swaps that actually work 👇

Most people try to persuade with logic or force.
But the brain listens to safety signals first.
When you protect autonomy and reduce threat,
People open up, not shut down.

Here are the 8 upgrades:

1️⃣ Regulate before you relate
❌ Don’t say: 
“Let me just explain why this makes sense.”

✅ Say this:
“Before we dive in, take a breath. I want this to feel clear.”

🔬Science:
 A calm nervous system sends safety cues.
 Their mirror neurons match your steadiness, lowering resistance.

2️⃣ Lead with curiosity
❌ Don’t say:
 “Here’s what you need to do.”

✅ Say this:
 “What feels hardest about this right now?”

🔬 Science:
 Curiosity keeps the amygdala quiet.
 Questions activate the prefrontal cortex, the part that evaluates options calmly.

3️⃣ Validate before redirecting
❌ Don’t say:
 “I understand, but…”

✅ Say this:
 “It makes sense you’d feel that way.”

🔬 Science:
 Validation reduces cortisol.
 It signals “You’re safe to express hesitations,” which reopens trust pathways.

4️⃣ Protect autonomy
❌ Don’t say:
 “You should really move forward.”

✅ Say this:
 “Want to explore this together?”

🔬 Science:
Autonomy is a core human need.
When someone feels in control, dopamine rises and decision-making improves.

5️⃣ Reframe with clarity
❌ Don’t say:
 “You’re overthinking this.”

✅ Say this:
 “What might shift if this were already solved?”

🔬 Science:
Reframing widens cognitive perspective.
It moves the brain out of threat mode and into problem-solving mode.

6️⃣ Align intentions
❌ Don’t say:
 “I just want you to see my point.”

✅ Say this:
 “We both want a solution that actually works for you.”

🔬 Science:
Shared goals increase oxytocin.
Oxytocin boosts collaboration and reduces defensiveness.

7️⃣ Match energy before guiding
❌ Don’t say:
 “Relax, it’s not a big deal.”

✅ Say this:
 “I hear how this feels for you. Let’s slow it down together.”

🔬Science:
Attunement regulates the nervous system.
The brain trusts what feels familiar before it trusts new direction.

8️⃣ Close with clarity, not pressure
❌ Don’t say:
 “So… are you ready or not?”

✅ Say this:
 “Here’s what the next step looks like. Does this feel right to you?”

🔬 Science:
Clear choices reduce cognitive load.
When the brain knows the path, uncertainty drops—and commitment rises.

Ethical persuasion is simple:
 🧠 Lower threat
 🧠 Raise clarity
 🧠 Protect autonomy

That’s how influence becomes trust.

P.S. Ever notice how pressure makes you want to run?

My workshops are open again.
Learn how to build a $20k No Chasing the Yes Sales System
Apply here → https://lnkd.in/eZRF_jZe

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

➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for more brain-based sales tools
♻️ Repost to help more people influence with integrity

Selling gets easier the moment you stop trying to sell.

Pressure never closes the deal. Safety does.

People think the only way to sell on LinkedIn is to push harder.

👀 More messages.
👀 More follow ups.
👀 More asking for the call.

But pressure is the fastest way to shut a buyer down.
When someone feels pushed, their brain shifts into protection mode.

✅ Amygdala fires.
✅ Trust drops.
✅ They stop listening.

You’re not getting ignored because your offer’s weak.
You’re getting ignored because the pressure makes people pull back.

Here’s what actually works:
The best sellers stay calm.
They make buyers feel understood early.
They create safety before they ever talk about the offer.

A regulated seller creates a regulated buyer.
It’s how the brain works.
Most people spiral here:
I don’t want to bug them.
But I need clients.
Maybe I should push a little.

And that energy leaks into your content and your DMs.
People can feel it instantly.

You’ll sell more when you stop trying to convince.
Curiosity beats pressure.
Clarity beats force.
Safety beats scripts.

When buyers feel safe, they move on their own.
If you want to close more without pushing,
Drop BUTTER and we’ll have a chat

P.S. When’s the last time selling felt easy for you?

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

♻️ Share if you’re done chasing
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Most deals don’t die from budget.

They die from your buyer’s FOMU.

Fear of Messing Up kills more deals than price ever will.

If a prospect stalls, it’s not about money.
It’s not about timing.
It’s about fear.

FOMU freezes the nervous system.
The buyer pulls back to stay safe.
Not to avoid you.

The Silent Freeze

Buyers don’t vanish because they’re not interested.
They vanish because the choice feels dangerous.

Do this:
Check in with safety, not pressure.

Say this:
“Feeling unsure is normal.
Want to walk through what feels unclear?”

Why FOMU Helps You
Hesitation shows you where clarity is missing.
It’s not rejection.
It’s guidance.

Do this:
Treat hesitation as data.

Say this:
“Where does this feel unclear or risky right now?”

What The Brain Does
The amygdala fires at the risk of regret.
The prefrontal cortex fogs.
The insula recalls failure.
The ACC flags uncertainty.

They’re not blocking you.
They’re blocking pain.

Do this:
Name the feeling to lower threat.

Say this:
“It sounds like this feels heavy.
That’s completely normal.”

Safety Sells
Buyers calm when they feel attuned to.
Not pushed.
Not rushed.

Do this:
Slow down.
Mirror their tone.
Give space.
Stay curious.

Say this:
“I’m here to make this easy.
Take your time.”

FOMU On LinkedIn
Fear starts before the call.

They lurk on your posts.
They reread your content.
They check your profile often.
They click but don’t submit.

Not apathy.
Fear of choosing wrong.

Do this:
Use repeatable clarity cues.

Say this:
“Here’s the path from first call to final result.”

What FOMU Sounds Like
"It’s not the right time.”
“I need to think.”
“We’re reviewing budgets.”

These phrases mean one thing:
“I’m scared to mess this up.”

Do this:
Speak to the fear, not the words.

Say this:
“Want to walk through what feels risky here?”

Bottom Line
FOMU is not a block.
It’s an invitation.

When safety rises, clarity rises.
When clarity rises, trust rises.
When trust rises, decisions get easy.

Safety is the real close.

P.S. What’s the biggest deal you’ve seen stall to FOMU?

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/

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

♻️ Repost if you want more buyers to feel safe saying yes
➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for brain-based sales mastery

Overcome Your Buyer's FOMU

You can’t fix your team

If they're too scared to tell you the truth

WHY REPS HIDE THE TRUTH
(And what their brain is trying to protect)

1️⃣ Amygdala fear
 It’s not laziness.
 It’s survival.
 Reps fear rejection, criticism,
 and the fallout of a wrong call.
 When the stakes feel high,
 the amygdala takes the wheel.

Solution:
 Psychological safety first.
 Normalize mistakes as data,
 not character flaws.

2️⃣ Identity protection
 Reps hide what threatens
 their self-image.
 Vulnerability feels risky.
 Competence feels fragile.
 So they mask.
 They perform.
 They protect themselves.

Solution:
 Separate worth from outcomes.
 Create space for real talk,
 not performance talk.

3️⃣ Overload blind spots
 Cognitive overload
 creates tunnel vision.
 Urgent tasks crowd out
 critical details.
 Reps don’t see the full picture
 not because they won’t,
 but because they can’t.

Solution:
 Clarify focus regularly.
 Streamline workflows.
 Help the brain breathe.

4️⃣ Buyer signal fog
 Ambiguous cues
 turn into risky assumptions.
 Reps misread signals,
 fill gaps with fear,
 and avoid telling the truth
 because the truth feels unclear.

Solution:
 Train structured questions.
 Build clear confirmation steps
 into every stage.

People don’t hide information to be difficult.
They hide it to stay safe.

Fix safety.
Fix identity.
Fix overload.
Fix clarity.

And honesty becomes effortless.

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/

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

♻️ Share if you’re building teams that can finally tell the truth
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People who seem fearless aren’t certain.

They just learned to move while afraid.

Technology is moving fast than imagined.
New tools appear every week.
New systems shift every month.
New AI applications we never thought of.

If your brain isn't bendy, you fall behind quick.
Not because you lack talent.

But because your neural pathways favor comfort.
Most people resist change.
But your brain can be trained to welcome it.
Despite any fear you feel.

Neuroplasticity is the answer (for all of us). 
Here's how you can keep your brain bendy

1️⃣ Practice daily discomfort
✅ Try one thing that feels unfamiliar
 A new skill.
 A new feature.
 A new creative method.
 Novelty boosts dopamine and strengthens learning loops.

2️⃣ Reframe overwhelm into opportunity
✅ Ask what if this makes my work easier
 This simple shift reduces threat.
 A calm brain learns faster and adapts faster.

3️⃣ Use ten minute micro learning
✅ Study one small skill for ten minutes
 Explore a tool.
 Test a workflow.
 Short bursts build stronger neural pathways.

Thriving today isn't about knowing everything.
It's about staying flexible.
A bendy brain wins in a fast world.

P.S. What's the last thing you learned?

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
Minority Report for Sales Teams
https://salessage.co/ 

Video Credit: Unknown

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

➕ Follow Shannon for more brain based sales tools
 ♻️ Repost to help more people train their brain to adapt

The pipelines that look strongest

are usually the ones seconds from breaking

The scariest risk in sales
isn’t the problem you see.
It’s the one hiding behind silence.

When a pipeline looks perfect,
 it’s rarely healthy.
 It’s rehearsed.
 It’s polished.
 It’s curated for your comfort.

Because deals don’t fall apart in the spotlight.
They fall apart in the shadows.

Reps soften the tension.
 They overstate buyer interest.
 They understate their own doubt.
 They hide the emotional signals
 that reveal what’s really happening.

So you get a pipeline that “looks fine”
 right up to the moment it implodes.

Here’s what’s actually happening:
• Concerns get disguised as “momentum”
 • Weak deals get propped up as “active”
 • Buyer anxiety gets labeled “timing issues”
 • Risk gets buried until it detonates

And none of it shows in your CRM.

Bad quarters aren’t created by bad reps.
They’re created by invisible friction your systems can’t catch
And your team doesn’t know how to voice.

That’s the truth gap.
SalesSage closes it in one pulse.

Ten minutes.
 One check-in.
 Full emotional visibility.

You get:
• early fear signals CRM fields can’t detect
• deal drift patterns long before they surface
• rep uncertainty before it becomes sandbagging
• clean visibility without awkward grilling
• honest data without forcing honesty

If you want fewer surprises and more control over your number,
Start your free 14-day trial:

👉 https://salessage.co/

See the truth hiding behind the updates before it kills your quarter.

P.S. When’s the last time a “bulletproof” pipeline shattered on you?
______________________________________________________

♻️ Share if you’re done getting blindsided
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The number one predictor of founder success?

Tenacity.

Most people think grit is personality.
It’s not.
It’s brain training.

The mACC is the part of your brain
that keeps you moving in hard moments.

It tracks effort.
It monitors progress.
It pushes you forward
when the path isn’t clear.

This region lights up
when you hit setbacks, surprises,
and unforeseen problems.

It decides if you push through or shut down.
That’s why tenacity is built, not born.

When life hits you sideways, 
the mACC scans the situation fast.

If it senses threat, you freeze.
If it senses capability, you act.
The difference is training.

Do this:
✅ Choose discomfort daily.
✅ Take a harder route once a day.
✅ Delay an easy reward.
✅ Finish one small task you avoided.

Each rep teaches your mACC: “I can handle this.”

Say this to yourself:
“I’ve done hard things before. I can do this too.”

This line calms the amygdala and boosts the mACC.

It shifts your brain from fear to capability.

Life never goes to plan.
 😶‍🌫️ Sales calls derail.
 😶‍🌫️ Projects hit walls.
 😶‍🌫️ Opportunities collapse fast.

The people who rise aren’t smarter.
They’re trained.

Their mACC fires strong.
Their brain holds steady.
They push when others pause.

Tenacity is a muscle.
The mACC is the gym.
Your daily reps decide
how far you can go.

Build it now so you don’t break later.
Just like Winkie the Pigeon:)

P.S. What’s one moment where tenacity saved you when everything went sideways?

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/

Video Credit: Unknown

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

♻️ Repost if you want more people to build a stronger brain
➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for neuroscience that upgrades your life

A like is not a buying signal. 

99% of you get that wrong. 

Buying signals are precise.
Buyers drop clues long before they commit.
Most sellers chase the wrong ones.

A like isn’t intent.
A compliment isn’t commitment.
And “great post” doesn’t mean “I want to buy.”

Here are the 8 way to tell the difference:

1️⃣ Passive Likes vs Patterned Attention
❌ Random likes on your content.
✅ Repeated and thoughtful comments and DMs
🔬 Science:  Patterned consumption = dopamine-driven curiosity.
 That’s early-stage intent.

2️⃣ “Sounds Interesting” vs Ownership Language
❌ “That’s cool” or “I’ll think about it.”
✅ “How would this work for my team?”
🔬 Science: Ownership language activates planning circuits.
 The brain is rehearsing the decision.

3️⃣ Talking in Circles vs Clarity Moments
❌ Telling long stories about their company with no point.
✅ They articulate the problem clearly and connect it to outcomes.
🔬 Science: Clarity = PFC engagement.
 That’s when decisions begin.

4️⃣ Information Hoarding vs Micro-Commitments
❌ “Send me more info.”
✅ They attend your event, answer questions, or complete a short action.
🔬 Science: Micro-commitments create consistency bias.
 Once the brain starts saying yes, it prefers to continue.

5️⃣ Surface Engagement vs Depth Engagement
❌ A quick DM reply or emoji reaction.
✅ They ask specific questions that reveal internal problem-solving.
🔬 Science: Specificity = cognitive effort.
 The brain only invests when it cares.

6️⃣ Random Compliments vs Risk Reduction Questions
❌ “Love your work.”
✅ “How do you handle onboarding?”
🔬 Science: Risk questions mean their amygdala is evaluating safety.
 They’re preparing to commit.

7️⃣ Friendly Vibes vs Monitoring Behavior
❌ They seem nice, polite, or responsive.
✅ They quietly check your LinkedIn daily, revisit your DMs, or watch old content.
🔬 Science: Monitoring = pre-decision due diligence.
 The brain is gathering safety data.

8️⃣ “Just Exploring” vs Timeline Talk
❌ “I just wanted to learn more.”
✅ “We’re planning for Q1.”
🔬 Science: Timeline activation reduces uncertainty and accelerates commitment.

Buying signals are simple:
 🧠 Depth over noise
 🧠 Patterns over one-offs
 🧠 Specificity over compliments

Once you know the difference,
You stop chasing and start closing.

P.S. Ever notice how the real buyers talk very differently?
My workshops are open again.

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
Minority Report for Sales Teams
https://salessage.co/ 

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

➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for more brain-based sales tools
 ♻️ Repost to help more people read buyers clearly

Your biggest risk is the rep who says they're "fine."

Your rep's "fine," is eerily similar to your spouse's "fine."

TL:DR It's definitely not "fine."

You don't lose a quarter in one moment.
You lose it in tiny blind spots.

A rep who says they're fine.
A pipeline that looks clean.
A deal that feels safe until it slips.

Then your forecast cracks.
Your VP starts asking questions.
And you wonder what you missed.

What every manager thinks but never says out loud:

You're managing stories, not data.
Your team tells you what feels safe to say.
Not what protects your number.

Sales Sage shows you the parts they leave out.
A simple 10 minute pulse surfaces early risk.

😶‍🌫️ Stress signals. 
😶‍🌫️ Confidence drops.
😶‍🌫️ Hidden struggles that turn into missed targets...
If you catch them too late.

We give you visibility your dashboards say they give you
But can't

The minority report for sales teams. 
14-day free beta: https://salessage.co for early adopters

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Annika Mohlin 🌱

🧠 Shannon Smith, J.D., M.S. 🚀

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🧠 Shannon Smith, J.D., M.S. 🚀

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