Aesara Partners 

At Aesara Partners, our mission is simple: enable you to be the best version of yourself. We offer a range of focused services that unlock the potential of people, teams and cultures to maximise business performance. 

Collectively our Partners and Associates have decades of experience both in executive coaching and as board level leaders themselves working in multiple sectors across global markets.

Partner & Executive Coach

Doshisha University

Professor of Strategic Management, Global MBA Program

The CFO Coach K.K.

The CFO Coach K.K. is a boutique executive coaching firm specializing in developing High-Performance​ Financial Leaders and Teams.

Founder & Executive Coach

Kansai Gaidai University

•	Awarded President's Global Education Award (Teacher of the Year).

Professor of Leadership & Management

Benesse Holdings, Inc. (USD 4.5B; Tokyo Stock Exchange Code: 9783)

•	Member of the Board of Directors for Berlitz Corporation; Benesse Corporation; and Benesse Style Care.  Chairman of Audit Committee for Berlitz Corporation. Member of Benesse Holdings Pension Committee.
•	Global CFO covering all 40+ Benesse group companies
•	Championed and supported multiple cash generation initiatives including a CFO led "Save to Grow" initiative to improve Company Financial performance and to identify significant savings for business reinvestment
•	Enhanced Finance bench strength and hired a high potential team to start financial business consulting
•	Implemented several process and capability best practices to move group companies towards global standards

Global Chief Financial Officer & Corporate Senior Vice President

McCann Worldgroup Holdings

• Overall Responsibility for Operations (Finance, IT, Legal, and Administration - 10 legal entities) 
• Successfully turned around long term loss making lead agency by delivering double digit margin improvements within two years
• Delivered double digit margin improvements for all six MWG Group companies 
• Built a new Finance team and moved from Scorekeeping to Business Partnership and improved business performance
• Major projects within last two years include: 
  - Shared Service center creation/migration
  - New Financial System Migration
  - Acquisition & Divestiture
  - Business Turnaround
  - Retirement Plan consolidation/change
  - Office relocation/rent reductions

Group Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President, and Member of The Board

Becton, Dickinson and Company

• Led Finance, Procurement, General Affairs, and Rebates teams (43 staff) to deliver multi-million dollar cash and profit performance improvement for first year and beyond. Exceeded all budget expectations.
• Engaged Japan Management Team and Global Finance Leadership Team on company objectives to deliver best outcome (Finance Transformation initiative, Sales effectiveness improvement, Key Account Management, Business Continuity plan, and strategy/selection of backup distribution center).  Led process for 2012-16 Business Plan development
• Developed and executed Finance department strategy and vision to move from scorekeeping to business partnership. Implemented job rotation program and hired several high potential employees to improve bench strength.
• Championed multiple Finance and Procurement initiatives including definition and implementation of new 401k Retirement Plan; divestiture of non-core business; change of primary banks (reduced bank fees by over 30%); vendor reduction process, and new travel expense management system 
• Taught New Manager Essentials program and selected as leadership trainer for PEPFAR program in South Africa to teach Leadership and Change Management to African Health Ministry officials

Finance and Administration Director

Avon Products Inc.

•	Implementation project leader for Avon Sales Leadership Framework (ASLF) – Highest priority project for the Company to adapt to a new Sales Model.  Completed project implementation in record timing.  Awarded regional award as part of ASLF Team. Only person in Asia recognized for both Top-line and Bottom-line contributions in the same year.
•	Defined and executed new vision and mission and led Sales Support department to complete over 40 initiatives (within a six-month period) as part of Team’s new journey towards field motivational excellence. Incorporated new processes to deliver high impact incentives, and to create Sales energy and momentum for sales turn-around.    
•	Achieved highest employee engagement scores with Sales Support Department significantly exceeding country results in over 95% of categories.  Previously had also led Finance department to highest employee engagement scores.
•	Global Project leader for a high potential, multi-functional, multi-national team to study and recommend actions to improve Global Sales Incentive management/spending process.
•	Oversaw execution of a variety of Company and Public/Media events ranging from Sales Conferences to Philanthropic events including Annual Awards to Women, and Pink Ribbon Campaign support.

Executive Director and Member of the Board

•	Responsible for Financial policy making/implementation and reporting for Avon Japan as a public company (including statutory/public, and Board Meetings). All year-end financial documents audited with no comments/exceptions.
•	Defined and executed new department Vision and Mission, and recruited, trained and developed a completely new Finance team (80% new hires within a six month period) to move from scorekeeping to business partnership. Finance team formed core of country high potential list.
•	Consistently over achieved profit performance commitment under adverse conditions of sales decline by aggressively managing strategic business needs with cost cutting; Delivered zero overhead growth during all years; Japan winner of regional awards for best cost management performance, and for boldest transformation strategy.
•	Provided leadership and support for critical decisions and strategy development as Japan Leadership Team Member.  Actively led change management process within company.
•	Consistently achieved best internal control results in Asia-Pacific/Avon over a period of eight audits.  Japan one of only two countries with highest audit rating. Outstanding performance generated support to remove Japan from list of High Coverage countries.
• Co-developed strategic/financial business case, and obtained approval for number of campaign reduction in 2006 making Avon Japan only country ever in Avon to undergo campaign reduction. 
• Independently analyzed and provided strategic direction for Plant study which challenged and reversed previous recommendation by outside consultants on plant closure.
• Provided leadership in several restructuring initiatives by providing an achievable plan to achieve 12% people related cost reduction.  Played lead role in this study representing Finance, Supply Chain and HR 
• Consistently achieved highest performance rating and nominations to several high potential programs
• Elected (and re-elected) to Board of Directors

Executive Director, CFO and Member of the Board of Directors

Delphi

• Prepared Asia-Pacific regional messages / presentations for Delphi Strategy Board, and for Delphi Board of Directors.
• Supported development and implementation of critical Asia-Pacific strategies.  Performed competitive intelligence and other special studies to identify risks / competitive threats and outlined regional / corporate response.
• Provided Miller Heiman strategic selling process training to Asia-Pacific personnel to improve value propositions and increase sales effectiveness.

Director Asia-Pacific Planning

• Management responsibilities for Finance, HR, General Affairs, and Six-Sigma.
• Active member of the Japan Strategy Board and Japan management team.  
• Six-Sigma Deployment Champion for Delphi Japan.

Delphi Japan – CFO & Administration Director

Country Responsibilities:
• Managed all finance functions including accounting, budgeting / forecasting and treasury.
• Lead development of cross-functional and cross-divisional Internal Control Review Board.
• Lead and supported strategic initiatives including venture development support, site enhancement, competitive analysis, transfer pricing, and cost reduction studies.
• Represented Japan in Asia-Pacific Financial Task Team.

Regional Responsibilities:
• Coached country CFO and staff to implement common financial reporting processes.
• Supervised and provided training for engineering / commercial / plant / site analysts.  Coordinated regional financial training programs for the sector in the Asia-Pacific region.
• Coordinated the regional budget, business plan, and capital management process.
• Supported development of common financial practices among ventures including:  Loan monitoring, F/X and cash management, compliance with accounting principles, report submission, etc. Provided regional oversight of venture risk exposure.

Asia-Pacific Senior Finance Mgr.

Executive Coach | MBA Professor | Ex-Global CFO

I help senior leaders master complexity, elevate strategic impact, and lead with authentic authority.

I bring over 25 years of C-level and boardroom experience as a former Global CFO for a $5B publicly traded company, combined with a deep commitment to human-centered leadership development.

Today, I coach global executives, CEOs, and leadership teams — specializing in executive transitions, strategic leadership, high-performance teams, and Asian leadership development.

I am also an MBA Professor of Leadership and Strategic Management, blending research-driven frameworks with boardroom-tested insights to develop transformational leaders.

Based in Kyoto, fluent in English, Urdu, and Japanese.

Connect with me: arif@thecfocoach.jp

Website: www.thecfocoach.jp (please sign up on my mailing list to receive future announcements and newsletters)

Arif Iqball

Jennelle McGrath

Trusted Growth Partner to CMOs & CEOs | Driving Pipeline with GTM Strategy, Demand Generation & High-Impact Campaign Execution | CEO at Market Veep | PMA Board | Speaker | 2 x INC 5000 | HubSpot Diamond Partner

You’re a B2B company ready to grow. But not just for growth’s sake.
You want strategic, human centered marketing that drives results and reflects your values.

I started my first company at 18, and I’ve spent the last 25+ years building businesses with grit, vision, and heart. Today, I’m the CEO and founder of Market Veep, a full service digital agency I run alongside my husband and an incredible team.

We help B2B companies, especially in manufacturing, industrial, logistics, and robotics, align their marketing and sales efforts to generate qualified leads, accelerate revenue, and build long term momentum.

Here’s the reality:

📉 Only 28% of B2B marketers say their GTM strategy is effective. 
⏳ Companies with strong sales and marketing alignment achieve 208% higher marketing revenue.
⚠️ And most agencies deliver tactics, not strategy or results

✅ At Market Veep, we help you fix that:

✔ Launch high-performing GTM strategies that align teams and accelerate pipeline
✔ Bring executive-level strategy with Fractional CMO & RevOps support
✔ Clarify your buyers’ journey and build campaigns that convert at every stage
✔ Maximize your HubSpot investment with CRM automation & lifecycle workflows
✔ Fuel pipeline growth with SEO, paid ads, email, and high-converting content
✔ Empower sales teams with tools, alignment, and enablement that closes deals
✔ Turn your website into a lead engine with CRO and funnel optimization
✔ Track what matters with full-funnel analytics, attribution, and reporting

🏆 Why Work With Market Veep?

🔹 25+ years of entrepreneurial leadership
🔹 HubSpot Diamond Certified & Accredited Partner
🔹 SBA Certified Woman Owned Small Business
🔹 2 x INC 5000 Fastest Growing Company
🔹 INC Best Workplaces 
🔹 Certified Best Great Place to Work™
🔹 4 x Netty Award Winner; Boutique Agency of the Year and Most Innovative Web Design
🔹 Entrepreneur.com Contributor
🔹 Active Members of 9+ Manufacturing Associations
🔹 Host the Finding Business Happy Podcast

🌱 Our Mission Goes Beyond Business

Over the last 5 years, we’ve supported 300+ charitable organizations through our 100 x 52 Project. We give to a different nonprofit every single week, supporting causes across human services, veterans, environmental work, and animal welfare.

💡 If you're ready to scale without sacrificing your values, let's connect.

💬 DM me, let’s talk goals.
📅 15 min clarity call? No pitch. Just value.

CEO, Inbound Sales and Marketing Growth Agency Partner

Our philosophy: 
We believe in using our marketing efforts for good: Marketing Made Human. Not only do we want our clients to be successful and our team to love coming into work every day, we want our company to stand for something positive in the world.

About the CEO: 
Jennelle McGrath started her first company at the age of 18 when she was still studying business and marketing at Merrimack College. By the time she graduated, she was running an established business with a full client list and several employees. Jennelle spent the next 15 years becoming a serial entrepreneur, but her love of helping people eventually led her back to her roots. Her true love was and always has been marketing.

Jennelle started Market Veep out of a passion for helping businesses reach a broader market, get more leads, and improve their sales and marketing alignment. Since then, she’s helped tech companies, start-ups, franchises, non-profits, service companies, distributors, manufacturers, law firms, and many other types of businesses acquire new customers. Jennelle believes that people are the most important part of any business. The human factor is what influences her marketing method, her business philosophy, and her focus on company culture.

If Nike marketed like a B2B brand…
they’d be completely forgettable.

And that should scare every B2B marketer.

Because that’s exactly what most B2B brands sound like.
A sea of “extra 3cm sole”-level feature lists and “87% of users agree” slides.(See pages 2–3 of the deck… it’s painfully accurate.)

Here’s the uncomfortable truth:
The best product rarely wins.
The most memorable brand does.

Nike gets this.
They don’t talk about foam density, tread patterns, or midsole architecture.
They talk about you.
Your ambition.
Your identity.
Your story.
(Page 6 shows it perfectly: “Find Your Greatness.” Not “Now with 12% improved cushioning.”)

Meanwhile, B2B brands burn millions fighting battles that “aren’t worth fighting”, feature vs. feature, spec vs. spec, blending into a sea of sameness.(Page 7 visualizes it in one brutal image.)

So here’s the punchline:
Stop marketing like a category.
Start marketing like a conviction.

Because buyers don’t remember specs.
They remember stories.
They remember emotions.
They remember the brand that made them feel something,
even when products are nearly identical.

So if your marketing sounds like everyone else’s?
It’s not your product that’s the problem.
It’s the story you’re telling.

Curious:
Which B2B brand today actually makes you feel something?

_________
Shoutout to Martin Zarian for this awesome visual give him a follow
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What if Nike Advertised Like A B2B Brand?

Stop guessing your audience.
Start understanding why they’re on the platform in the first place.

I get asked weekly:
“Which platforms should we be on?”

But that’s the wrong question.

Because platform ≠ intent.
Audience ≠ channel.

What matters more than where they are…
 is why they’re there.

Because here’s what the data shows:

Gen Z doesn’t just live on TikTok.
 They move by intent:
→ TikTok for rabbit holes
 → YouTube for deep dives
 → Discord for belonging
 → Reddit for curiosity
 → Instagram for nostalgia

Boomers?
They might not post Reels.
But they share them, on WhatsApp or Messenger, with a quiet “This made me think of you.”

That’s not about age.
That’s emotional design behavior.

And LinkedIn?

That’s not just a “professional” space.

It’s where people scroll for clarity, credibility, and proof they’re not alone.

🎯 So if you want to build content that actually lands, here, or anywhere:

1. Understand the why, not just the where.
Platforms are just venues.
What matters is the emotional job your audience is hiring them to do.
Not “we should be on LinkedIn.”
But:
“What are they trying to feel when they open this app, and does our content help with that?”

2. Stop building for demographics. Start listening for behaviors.
Who they are matters less than how they move.
 → What do they pause on?
 → What do they share?
 → What do they skip without thinking?
Those are your signals.

3. If it feels off, it is.
Audiences don’t ghost because your value’s weak.
They ghost because the vibe shifted.
Tone mismatch = trust fracture.

Always ask:
“Does this feel like it belongs here, to them?”

💡 Channels don’t build trust.
 Coherence does.

Make it feel like:
“Of course this belongs in my feed.”

Not:
 “Oh. Another brand trying to sound like us.”

What emotional job is your audience hiring you to do?

____________
Awesome visual by Ham Maghazeh (please give them a follow!)

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Know Your Marketing Audience

“All marketing is the same,” he told us confidently.


His team nodded, it sounded logical.
But when we looked at his pipeline, it told a different story.

Velocity had slowed.
Deals were stalling mid-funnel.
Top-of-funnel leads weren’t converting down the line.

It wasn’t that their marketing was failing, it was that they were using the wrong tools for the wrong jobs.

You wouldn’t use a wrench to do a hammer’s work.
Yet that’s exactly what was happening.

Here's 10 types of lead generation strategies 👇 

1️⃣ Inbound Marketing Strategy
Attracts customers through valuable content (SEO, blogs, social media).
🆘 Use it when: you want to build long-term credibility, authority, and organic traffic that compounds over time.

2️⃣ Outbound Marketing Strategy
 Uses proactive outreach (ads, LinkedIn DMs, cold email, trade shows).
 🆘 Use it when: you need quick pipeline velocity, are targeting specific segments, or validating offers fast.

3️⃣ Content Marketing Strategy
Builds trust and authority through consistent, high-quality content.
🆘 Use it when: you want to educate, nurture, and stay top of mind throughout the buyer journey.

4️⃣ Digital Marketing Strategy
Focuses on online channels (social, PPC, email, SEO, video).
🆘 Use it when: you’re ready to scale visibility and drive measurable conversions across multiple digital touchpoints.

5️⃣ Product Marketing Strategy
Positions and launches products effectively in the market.
🆘 Use it when: you’re bringing a new product to market or need to refine messaging for better fit and conversion.

6️⃣ Account-Based Marketing (ABM)
Targets key accounts with personalized campaigns.
🆘 Use it when: you’re selling high-ticket solutions and need a laser-focused approach to win specific clients.

7️⃣ Demand Generation Strategy
Creates awareness and interest that fills the sales funnel.
🆘 Use it when: you’re entering new markets or need to warm up audiences before your sales team engages.

8️⃣ Performance Marketing Strategy
Data-driven approach where spending ties directly to measurable outcomes (leads, conversions, sales).
🆘 Use it when: you have proven offers and need to scale quickly with a clear ROI.

9️⃣ Brand Awareness Strategy
Shapes perception and emotional connection with your brand.
🆘 Use it when: you want to increase recognition, trust, and affinity, especially before launching new campaigns or products.

🔟 Customer Referral Strategy
Uses loyalty programs, onboarding, and satisfaction initiatives.
🆘 Use it when: you have happy customers and want to turn them into advocates who organically bring in new business.

Marketing isn’t one engine, it’s an ecosystem.
And when one piece fails, the rest starves.

Do you have a favorite?

______
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Treat people well.


(Awesome image by Justin Wright please give him a follow!)

It’s not soft.
It’s not optional.
It’s not “nice to have.”

It’s strategy.

Because titles fade.
Projects end.
Skills evolve.

But the way you treat people stays with them, and it shapes the way they show up.

Teams don’t leave companies.
They leave leaders who make them feel small.

And teams don’t give their best because they’re pressured.
They give their best because they feel valued.

Respect is free.
Trust is priceless.
And kindness has the highest ROI on the planet.

Treat people well.
It compounds. Every time.

What’s something a great leader did that you still remember today?
_________
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Disney's holiday ad doesn’t sell magic.
They showed it.

In their Christmas short, “The Boy & The Octopus,” a young boy befriends a curious sea creature who dreams of seeing the world above the waves.

No product placement. No “buy now.”
Just a story about wonder, connection, and belonging.

And it works, because it reminds us what great holiday campaigns actually do:
They don’t push products.
They pull at hearts.

Here’s what Disney’s storytelling gets right, and what to consider as you plan your own end-of-year campaign:

🎬 1. Lead with emotion, not offers.
 Before anyone clicks “shop,” they need to feel.
 Ask: What emotion do I want my audience to carry into the new year?

🌍 2. Anchor your brand in a universal truth.
 For Disney, it’s curiosity and connection.
 What’s your brand’s timeless value, and how can your campaign embody it?

💡 3. Make it memorable through metaphor.
 A boy and an octopus?
 Unexpected. But unforgettable.
 Find your own creative symbol, something small that represents something big.

✨ 4. End with hope, not hype.
The best stories leave us inspired to believe, not to buy.
That belief is what brings customers back long after the holidays.

This season, don’t rush to post another “holiday sale.”
Tell a story your audience will remember in January.

Because marketing doesn’t just sell things,
it shapes how people feel about your brand when they’re not buying.

💭 What’s one emotion you want your audience to remember your brand for this holiday season?

________
#Disney #Marketing #HolidayAds
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You’re not stuck because you’re lazy.


You’re stuck because you’re scaling moves to match your ambition, instead of your capacity.

Everyone says “think big.”
But trust builds when the next move feels so small it’s safe.

That’s the physics:
Big steps = big risk = big flinch.

Tiny steps = trustable path = momentum loop.

You don’t need to “go all in.”
You need to go 6 inches forward, without triggering your nervous system.
And then again.
And then again.

Until the impossible becomes inevitable.

Smaller steps.
No resistance.
Just forward.

How do you stay focused on the next small step?

________
Visual credit: Bookthoughs
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“If speaking kindly to plants helps them grow, imagine what speaking kindly to humans can do.”

Great visual and reminder by Mike Leber! Give him a follow!

And honestly… it made me think about how many people are walking around carrying the weight of one careless comment from a boss, a client, or a coworker.

It’s wild how something as simple as the tone we use can either shut someone down...

 ...or make them feel capable again.

Most of the best people I’ve worked with weren’t motivated by pressure or fear.
They grew because someone believed in them, encouraged them, or gave them the space to figure things out.

Kindness isn’t complicated.
It’s not soft.
It’s not “extra.”
It’s just… the right thing to do.

A genuine “Hey, you did great on that,” or “I know you’re trying your best,” goes way further than we think.

If a plant can grow from kind words, imagine what the people we work with could do if we tried it more often.

What’s something someone once said to you at work that stuck?

__________
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Some people cheer for you from a distance.
Others quietly help you get there.


And honestly?
The older I get, the more I realize how lucky we are to have the second kind.

The people who:
🙌 Check in on you
🙌 Share your name when opportunities pop up
🙌 Listen when you’re unsure
🙌 Share a resource just because
🙌 Make an intro out of the blue
🙌 Remind you of your strengths on the days you forget

They don’t need the spotlight.
They don’t need credit.
They just want to see you win… and they’re willing to walk beside you while you do.

Those people make the journey lighter.
And a little less lonely.

Never forget that.
And never forget to appreciate them.

Here’s the marketing lesson in all of this:
Your brand grows the same way your relationships do, by genuinely supporting people, shining light on their work, and helping them move forward.

The more you help others win, the more your name naturally travels farther than any ad budget can push it.

5 quick things to do today (15 mins tops!) to help someone else win:

1. Share a resource someone in your network might find helpful 
2. Send a genuine voice note
3. Send someone a book recommendation tailored to their season
4. Give someone your template instead of your tips
5. Tell someone, “I believe in you,” and explain why

Who’s someone who’s helped you in a small but meaningful way lately?💕 

_________
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Most brands overcomplicate Christmas ads.
Mercedes-Benz didn’t.

They dropped one image…
 …and it outperformed entire holiday campaigns.

Here’s why this simple Christmas creative works, and what every marketer can learn from it:

1. It’s simplicity at its absolute best
No clutter.
No copy.
No forced holiday clichés.
Just the star.
Lit like a Christmas ornament.
Instantly recognizable, even without saying a word.
In a season where every brand is screaming, Mercedes whispers… and wins attention.

2. Branding you feel, not read
Great brand assets work even when stripped to the bone.
This ad proves it:
No slogan
No car
No offer
No headline
Yet your brain goes: Mercedes.
That’s branding maturity.

3. Emotional resonance without trying too hard
It taps into something familiar:
The glow of a Christmas light.
It’s elegant, premium, iconic, everything the brand wants you to feel about their cars.
This is emotional design done intentionally.

4. It earns attention instead of begging for it
The best ads don’t interrupt you; they make you pause.
This one triggers:
“Wait… is that a Christmas ornament or the hood emblem?”
That tiny moment of curiosity?
That’s the magic most ads never achieve.

5. It’s the perfect reminder of a truth in marketing
Simplicity is not the lack of creativity.
Simplicity is the creativity.
When your brand is clear, consistent, and confident…
you don’t need 27 layers of messaging.
Sometimes, one star is enough.

Your turn:
What’s a holiday ad you think nailed it?

_________
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“Give it all away for free.”
 It sounds risky.

But for us, it’s a core company value, "give generously" and one of the most powerful decisions we ever made.

Because here’s what we’ve learned:
When you share knowledge freely, you don’t lose expertise.
When you give generously, you don’t reduce your value.
When you help others shine, your own light doesn’t dim, it grows.

We’ve seen it firsthand.
💡 We publish what we know.
💡 We teach openly.
💡 We help without keeping score.
💡 We add value long before anyone becomes a customer.

And the results?

Trust builds faster.
Relationships grow deeper.
Opportunities come because we give, not in spite of it.

Generosity is not a cost it's a culture.
A way of operating that turns teams into communities and customers into ambassadors.

So yes, we give it all away for free.
Not because we have to.

But because the world is better when we all raise the light level together.

Have a favorite give generous moment?

_____
Shoutout to Gareth Lloyd for this awesome visual give him a follow
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Most teams spend weeks “planning.” 
Few actually plan what matters.

Over the last 25 years, being an entrepreneur I've learned:
Annual planning isn’t about more spreadsheets.
It’s about alignment, focus, and doing fewer things really well.

So before you dive into your 2026 strategy deck, try this 👇

The 9-step business planning checklist every high-performing team uses:

1️⃣ Prep Phase: 
Review last year’s results and your learnings.

2️⃣ Strategic Planning: 
Define 3–5 true priorities (not 12).

3️⃣ Financial Planning: 
Align budgets with those priorities, not habits.

4️⃣ Operational Planning: 
Assign clear owners + milestones.

5️⃣ People & Culture: 
Forecast roles, set dev goals, and fix what’s broken.

6️⃣ Marketing & Growth: 
Focus on your ICPs and campaigns that convert.

7️⃣ Risk Planning:
Ask “what if revenue drops 20%?” before it happens.

8️⃣ Communication: 
Turn the plan into a one-page strategy map your team actually understands.

9️⃣ Review & Adapt: Monthly check-ins, quarterly pivots, yearly debriefs.

💡 This isn’t theory.
 Teams that follow a structure like this don’t just “plan”, they grow with intent.

What's your biggest 2026 annual goal?

______________
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Systems beat willpower every time.


Thanks to Justin Mecham for crushing this graphic. Give him a follow!

Here are 15 simple methods to help you stay focused and get more done.
Because when you rely on repeatable systems, you remove the daily guesswork.

No more “Where do I start?”
Just clear steps that keep you moving forward, day after day.

1. Pomodoro Technique
Set a timer for focused work (25 minutes), take short breaks, and reset after 4 cycles.

2. Eisenhower Matrix
Organize tasks by urgent/important to decide: Do, Delegate, Decide, or Delete.

3. ABCDE Method
Rate every task by importance: A (must do) → E (eliminate).

4. 3-3-3 Method
3 hours deep work, 3 shorter tasks, 3 maintenance tasks.

5. 2-Minute Rule
If a task takes less than 2 minutes, do it now.

6. 80/20 Method (Pareto Principle)
Identify the 20% of tasks that generate 80% of results.

7. Eat the Frog
Do your hardest, most important task first each day.

8. Getting Things Done (GTD)
Capture → Clarify → Organize → Reflect → Engage.

9. Kanban Board
Visual workflow: To Do → Working On → Completed.

10. Task Batching
Group similar tasks together and complete them in dedicated blocks.

11. Warren Buffett 5/25 Rule
List your top 25 goals, pick the top 5, avoid the other 20 at all costs.

12. MSCW Method
Must-Have → Should-Have → Could-Have → Won’t-Have.

13. Time Blocking
Block your calendar in advance for deep work, admin, breaks, and meetings.

14. 1-3-5 Method
Prioritize 1 big task, 3 medium tasks, and 5 small tasks daily.

15. Pickle Jar Method
Tackle big tasks first, “fill in” leftover time with small tasks, and continuously reassess.

Which of these systems are you using already, and which one will you try next?

___________
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AI heard what your customers said. Did you?


And with the right AI setup, those calls can become your #1 marketing weapon.
Here’s what most teams don’t realize 👇

Your calls already contain:
 • Buyer intent
 • Wasted ad spend
 • Content ideas
 • Sales coaching moments
 • Pipeline clarity

But almost no one mines it.

So here’s how to turn CallRail into an AI marketing powerhouse (yes, it’s possible, and wildly underused):

1. Let AI listen to every call for you
CallRail’s Conversation Intelligence transcribes, summarizes, and tags every call automatically. This means you instantly know what buyers actually ask for.

Example from the file: “Do you service legacy CNCs from 2005?” → Tag created: Legacy Upgrade Lead.

Marketing now knows exactly what content to create.

2. Capture leads even while you sleep
Voice Assist acts like a 24/7 AI receptionist.
Someone calls at 10 PM?
AI qualifies the lead, urgency, machine type, location, and books the next step.

You wake up to booked pipeline, not missed calls.

3. Stop guessing which campaigns work
AI Lead Scoring & Attribution shows which calls turn into qualified leads, not just noise.

 In the file example:
 • Google Ads: 50 calls → 25 qualified
 • Trade show follow-ups: 12 calls → 8 ready to buy
 
Now budget decisions become obvious.

4. Sync every call to HubSpot
Every PPC call can automatically create a contact + deal in HubSpot.
 Finally, marketing and sales see the same truth.

 No more “Which ad did this come from?” guesswork.

5. Automate follow-ups instantly
Caller asks for pricing → AI tags “Quote Request” → HubSpot sends an automated thank-you and assigns sales.

Your team focuses on strategy, not admin.

6. Use AI to coach your reps
Conversation Coaching analyzes top-performing calls and shows exactly what to repeat.

Example from the file: Top reps ask for install-date early → conversion rate improves 20%.

That’s real revenue.

Here’s the new reality:
Every call is a data point.
Every conversation is an insight.
Every missed call is a missed opportunity.

If you’re not using AI to mine your calls… you’re leaving money on the table.

How do you use call data?

Test out a free trial here: https://lnkd.in/esAsAGBC

___________
#partner #CallRail
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How to Turn CallRail Into an AI Marketing Powerhouse

8 quick win hidden revenue opportunities.


Last quarter, I audited 27 marketing teams.

All of them were chasing new leads.

Almost none were activating the goldmine already in front of them. 👇

Most businesses are chasing new leads…
But the fastest growth often comes from the audience you already have.

Here are 8 campaigns straight from the playbooks of high-performing teams, designed for quick activation and real ROI 👇

1️⃣ Lost Deal Reactivation
🎯 Audience: Prospects who didn’t close in the last 12 months
💡 Tactic: Send a personalized “We’ve improved” message, highlight new pricing, features, or results that remove old objections.

2️⃣ Referral Boost from Promoters
🎯 Audience: Clients with high satisfaction (NPS 8–10)
💡 Tactic: Launch a referral program with recognition or rewards. Encourage word-of-mouth by making sharing easy and rewarding.

3️⃣ Lead Intelligence Activation
🎯 Audience: High-scoring or recently engaged leads in your CRM
💡 Tactic: Use engagement scoring to trigger follow-ups, demo invites, or outreach within 48 hours. Strike while interest is hot.

4️⃣ Cross-Sell & Upsell Acceleration
🎯 Audience: Current customers not using all your offerings
💡 Tactic: Highlight complementary solutions that deepen value. Show how others are achieving more by expanding their usage.

5️⃣ Limited-Time Offer / Monthly Deal
🎯 Audience: All prospects & warm leads
💡 Tactic: Create urgency with time-bound offers, “VIP access,” “pilot program,” or “founder’s discount.” Short-term urgency drives action.

6️⃣ Dormant Lead Re-Engagement
🎯 Audience: Leads inactive for 6–18 months
💡 Tactic: Reignite with humor or humility, “We miss you!” or “Still relevant?” Share what’s new or how your solution has evolved.

7️⃣ Client Win Showcase
🎯 Audience: Partners, clients, and prospects
💡 Tactic: Share recent client success stories visually. Celebrate wins publicly to build credibility, referrals, and trust.

8️⃣ Industry Insights Reconnect
🎯 Audience: Past or cold leads in your database
💡 Tactic: Send a “Here’s what’s changed in your industry” note. Spark re-engagement through value, not sales.

I’d start with #1 (Lost Deal Reactivation), it consistently delivers instant ROI with minimal effort.

💬 Which of these would you implement first if you needed quick results this quarter?

_________
#Marketing #B2B #Growth #DemandGeneration #LeadGen

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More leads won’t fix a leaky funnel. 


Fix the leaks, fix the volume.

The client was spending thousands every week.
CTR looked good.
Lead volume was low.
And revenue?
Stuck.

It wasn’t the ads that were weak.
It was the legacy landing page.

We dug into the data…
Heatmaps, recordings, scroll depth, everything.

Data doesn't lie.

Turns out, most visitors never made it past the first fold.
They landed, scrolled once, and left.

Why?

Because the page was all features, no feeling.

It talked about what the product did, 
not why it mattered.

We rebuilt the story from the top down:

 ✅ Opened with the pain their audience actually felt.
 ✅ Added proof before pitching.
 ✅ Moved the CTA below the first emotional “yes.”

Within two weeks, conversions doubled.
Same traffic.
Same ad spend.
New message.
Because people don’t click to buy, 
they click to believe.

That was one fix.

Here are 8 more fast ones that can turn a leaky funnel into a lead magnet 👇

1️⃣ People don’t know you exist.
💡 Fix: Build awareness across multiple channels, social, SEO, PR, partnerships, and share educational content, not just promos.

2️⃣ Traffic isn’t converting into leads.
💡 Fix: Strengthen your lead magnet. Make it specific, quick to consume, and focused on solving one pain point.

3️⃣ Visitors bounce or don’t act.
💡 Fix: Simplify your landing page. One CTA. Clear headline. No distractions. A/B test everything.

4️⃣ Leads aren’t converting into sales.
💡 Fix: Tighten targeting. Align your offer to the right buyer stage, not every lead deserves a sales call.

5️⃣ Leads go cold after signup.
 💡 Fix: Nurture with storytelling, drip emails, and soft CTAs before the hard sell.

6️⃣ Weak sales enablement.
💡 Fix: Give your team case studies, battlecards, and scripts, not just quotas.

7️⃣ Demos or proposals don’t close.
💡 Fix: Audit your follow-up. Prompt, personalized, and objection-ready beats “just checking in.”

8️⃣ Customers buy once and disappear.
💡 Fix: Automate post-purchase engagement — onboarding, surveys, loyalty offers. Keep educating so they return.

Most funnels don’t fail from lack of traffic.
They fail from lack of connection.

The words on the page either build belief, or break it.

👉 Which part of the funnel are you most excited to optimize?

__________
#MarketingStrategy #LeadGeneration #ConversionOptimization #SalesFunnel

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Three seconds.
That’s all your DM gets before it’s labeled “pitch.”

And once that happens?
It’s over.

Not because your offer is bad.
Not because you’re unqualified.

But because your opener felt like every other copy-paste message on this platform.

The truth:
Most people don’t have a sales problem.

They have a first-line problem.

Because if your DM starts with…
“Hey, quick question…”
“Hope you’re well.”
“Can I pick your brain?”
or the classic
 “Thought you might be interested in our solution…”

You’ve already triggered the delete instinct.

The good news?
You can fix this fast.

Try these 9 conversation starters that actually open doors, the kind that feel human, warm, and impossible to ignore.

They’re simple, natural, and designed to spark real conversations… not defensiveness.

Use them to start:
💬 client chats
💬 partnerships
💬 podcast invites
💬 speaking opportunities
💬 or just better relationships on here

DMs aren’t the problem.
Bad openers are.

What’s the one DM line that’s gotten you the best response?
________
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If your lead gen campaign is “not working”… 


It’s the invisible cracks in the system you stopped noticing.

Here’s the simple truth:

Most funnels don’t fail at Step 7 or Step 8.
They fail at Step 1.

Let me show you the 8-step diagnostic I use whenever a pipeline suddenly falls off a cliff 👇

1️⃣ Diagnose the real problem, not the symptom.
Weak offer? Misaligned message? Wrong audience?
Most ad issues start here… not in Ads Manager.

2️⃣ Audit the journey.
Click your own ad like a customer.
 – Does the landing page match the promise?
 – Any friction? Slow load? Confusing UX?
 – Is the CTA actually irresistible?

3️⃣ Review the data, not your gut.
CTR under 1%? → Your hook is flat.
High CTR but low conversions? → Your offer isn’t landing.
Low impressions? → Targeting or budget mismatch.

4️⃣ Check audience–offer fit.
Right message, wrong crowd = wasted spend.
Speak to one pain, one moment, one persona.

5️⃣ Refine the message.
If your audience doesn’t feel urgency or relevance, no creative will save you.
Add social proof, specificity, or a new angle tied to real pain.

6️⃣ Refresh the creative.
Change the pattern, not just the picture.
New headline. New story format. New POV.
One bold hook can revive an entire funnel.

7️⃣ Test small. Scale smart.
Start with 3 new hooks × 2 offers × 1 CTA.
Don’t rebuild the whole machine, fix the leaks.

8️⃣ Re-engage your warm audience.
They’ve seen you before.
Now give them a reason to care again.
Switch tone. Switch format. Lead with emotion, not logic.

Lead gen isn’t broken.
Your diagnostics are.

Fix the right thing → everything else accelerates.

Want me to audit these 8 steps for your funnel? Comment “Audit” and I’ll DM you.

________
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Your content doesn’t need more trends, it needs more truth.

Shoutout to Ham Maghazeh for this incredible carousel (please give him a follow)

Everyone claims to have insights.
Very few actually do.

Most of what people call “insights” are just surface-level facts:
 📊 a data point
 📈 a trend
 👥 an audience detail
 📱 a behavior we can all see

That’s not insight, that’s reporting.

A real insight digs into the emotional friction behind behavior.
It reveals the truth people feel but rarely say out loud.
It creates that punch-in-the-gut moment:
“Ugh… that’s me.”

Here’s why it matters:
People don’t engage with content because it’s clever.
They engage because it reflects something they quietly know about themselves.

Great insights usually follow this pattern:
 • There’s a tension people feel
 • There’s a deeper reason driving it
 • There’s a fresh way to express it

That combination turns content from background noise into something magnetic, something that feels like it was written for them, not at them.

And on social, you don’t get five seconds to explain yourself.
Your insight either lands instantly… or it disappears into the scroll.

Insight isn’t a buzzword.
It’s the bridge between what you post and why anyone should care.

What’s one insight you’ve uncovered lately?

__________
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Insight: the Most Misused Word in Advertising

Non-marketers, “Can we go viral and get leads?” 😅


I have this conversation at least twice a week with prospects. 

Meanwhile, marketers are over here juggling 27 tabs, 14 tools, and 6 coffees… just to move one metric 10%. ☕📈

What people see is the shiny outcome.
So please give your marketing team a big shoutout and thank you because...

What marketers do is the messy middle:
strategy, psychology, pricing, funnels, analytics, storytelling, design, and a whole lot of testing.

It’s not just “posting cool stuff online.”
It’s human behavior science.

It’s understanding why people buy, not just how to sell.

But here’s the kicker, the best marketers don’t chase virality.
They chase consistency, trust, and empathy.

That’s what drives real growth (and actual leads).

What’s the most misunderstood part of your job that outsiders just don’t get?
Let’s hear it 👇

________
VC Clara Valls Moreno
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“Ads don’t work in my industry.” 


That’s what the owner told me on our first call.
He’d “already tried ads.”
He’d “tested everything.”
He was “100% sure” his audience just didn’t respond to paid campaigns.

So we asked one question:
“Show us what everyone else in your industry is doing.”

He shared his screen.
What happened next still makes me laugh.
We pulled up 20 of his direct competitors.

And within 30 seconds…
the entire narrative fell apart.

Every single competitor was running ads,
the big ones, the small ones, even the scrappy new entrants.

Not quietly.
Not casually.
Aggressively.

And guess what?

They weren’t just running ads…
They were scaling them.

There was a moment of silence on the call,
the kind of silence you get when a belief collapses in real time.

Then he said:
“…Okay. Maybe ads can work. Maybe we tested the wrong things.”

So we dug into his campaigns.

And the problem became obvious, fast:
🚫 Wrong message
🚫 Wrong creative
🚫 Wrong timing
🚫 Wrong audience
🚫 Wrong landing page

He hadn’t tested ads.
He’d tested bad assumptions.

Once we fixed the fundamentals, the targeting, the value prop, the funnel, the ads didn’t just “work.”

They became one of his top acquisition channels.
The industry didn’t change.
The market didn’t change.

Only one thing changed:
He stopped assuming he was the exception…
and started testing the data.

What’s one belief you held for years… that data later proved completely wrong?

________
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