Aster Arch

I help coaches go from vague to premium by building a distinct language system that sells. In just 30 days, we build a Signature Language System™ that includes:

•  A proprietary language bank to keep their messaging consistent
•  A compelling name for their coaching program or offer
•  Named frameworks, models, and metaphors
•  Memorable phrases and taglines

By naming the steps of the transformation, the coaches offer looks and feels like a proven system, not a vague promise. That structure gives buyers confidence. It signals clarity, expertise, and repeatable results. And it makes the offer instantly referable, recognizable, and ready to sell.

Communications Consultant

•  Expanded and enhanced executive profiles (internally and externally) by creating clear, strategic, engaging, thought leadership content for keynote addresses, videos, presentations, blogs, social media, webinars, and partner/customer/media events. 
> The increased executive profile elevated the partner business, which became a pillar of SAP strategy.
•  Established and drove reputation of “advocacy & amplification” team with employees, partners, and customers.
> This led to greater support for the team and furthered the recognition of partner value.
•  Create event content (email marketing, and presenter and panel talking points) 
•  Wrote customer success stories. 
> Showcased positive relationship between SAP and partners in serving customers.
•  Supported partner public relations with strategy, direction, and content development.
> This educated and empowered partners to use public relations to grow their businesses.

Senior Editor, Partner Advocacy and Amplification 

•   Managed SAP’s global review process of partner press releases – with zero escalations.
•  Improved partner press releases for quality and clarity to increase media pickup.
•  Managed internal SAP reviews and approvals across multiple stakeholders.
•  Diplomatically integrated feedback from multiple SAP stakeholders into partner press releases to ensure accuracy and reduce legal exposure. 
•  Streamlined review process for SAP employees and partners to make it faster and easier.

Senior Editor, Public Relations and Marketing

OxiCool, Inc

•  Managed all communications, marketing, and branding activity for this clean-tech start-up.
•  Maximized the brand story (of the founder and company) to secure ongoing venture capital.
•  Coached CEO/founder in effective storytelling and messaging for media and speaking engagements.

Vice President Communications and Marketing

bswift, an Aetna company

• Developed end-to-end communication strategy, to deliver a single, clear user experience
• Drove focus on clear language to improve user experience when shopping, comparing, and buying health plans
• Created “Best Practices Guide” for account teams to improve client websites
• Led content strategy to deliver information where consumers needed it in the sales funnel

Director, Content Strategy

Aetna

•	Led in-house creative (copywriters, web managers, proofreaders to improve readability and consumer focus 
•	Cross-trained staff for greater business knowledge and to expand contributors’ value
•	Led development of department workflow process that improved productivity and reporting
•	Worked with internal clients to meet their business goals while protecting the company brand
•	Led content streamlining and re-writing of Aetna.com (Brought external work in-house to save approximately $600,000)

Director, Content and Communications (creative agency)

•	Architect of Aetna’s plain language initiative, which brought national attention to the company as a thought leader and led to the inclusion of clear communication in the new brand voice
•	Created award-winning employee newsletter on clear communication 
•	Formed editorial review board that solved language/brand voice problems
•	Consulted on user experience in creation and improvement of industry-leading Health Assessment and Payment Estimator digital tools

Digital Engagement (Content Creator, Web Manager)

•	Created content that increased visits and page views, and helped win a Webby Award
•	Delivered content and tools to DiscoveryHealth.com to further the reach of the brand
•	Ghosted articles for doctors (in Better Homes & Gardens) that increased name recognition

Writer/Editor/Digital Producer for InteliHealth, an Aetna company

You’re a coach with an offer that works.
But too many sales call feel like a 30-minute explain-athons that end in ghosting.

You're paying the Language Tax...
The hidden cost of vague, forgettable messaging that drains revenue AND confidence.

Here's what it looks like:

- Content with views but no conversions.
- Ghosted sales calls and endless explaining.
- Weak referrals – even fans struggle to explain what you do.

Every unclear phrase costs you...

- trust
- time
- and $3K–$10K per lost client 

This isn't just a marketing problem; it's a revenue leak.

I help coaches, creators, and experts eliminate the Language Tax and recover lost revenue by transforming your expertise into a Signature Language System™. 

This isn’t copy polish; it’s a revenue rescue mission to ensure your words work as hard as you do.

We'll build language that:

- Commands premium prices (no over-explaining).
- Converts without convincing (value is undeniable).
- Makes you impossible to confuse, overlook, or undersell.

Here's how my Signature Language System (30-day 1:1 engagement) systematically builds your market-ready language toolkit:

✅ Architect Core Language
Develop a stand-out program name and proprietary Signature System (your unique, easy-to-explain method).

✅ Forge Unstoppable Differentiation 
Craft a Positioning Glove and Memorability Matrix to make you uniquely unforgettable and immune to price comparison.

✅ Master Sales-Ready Content
Get a high-converting tagline, key phrases for those "So what do you do?" moments, and a Sales Copy Kit to attract ideal clients.

✅ Activate Your Rollout Playbook
Launch new language across LinkedIn, offer docs, and sales calls, seeing results from week one.

Proof It Works:
Brian Martinez, a top fitness coach, transformed his sales, booking multiple $500–$1,000 clients in 30 days. His secret? Not changing his funnel, pricing, or service — just his words.

My background ghostwriting for Fortune 100 execs, doctors, and top-tier coaches taught me this...
Brilliant ideas often get buried in jargon. The problem isn't expertise; it's weak language.

I help ambitious experts stop explaining and start enrolling by shaping brand language that sells as if your next client is already convinced.

If your message isn't pulling its weight, you're paying a silent tax. Let’s fix that.

DM me "LANGUAGE TAX" today. 
We'll find where your message is leaking money and permanently close that gap.

Brian Berkenstock

Before anyone gets themself all overheated…

I’m not saying everyone needs a college degree.
Some of the smartest, most capable people I know are self-taught.
What I am saying is that education wasn’t meant to just make us employable.

Education has serious problems that need fixing, for sure...
But that doesn't mean we should treat “educated” like a dirty word. 
Or think learning is a waste of time.

There's a difference between reasonable critique and thoughtless contempt.

Your offer’s confusing | I make it clear and memorable | This means positioning, branding, and messaging that connects | Cats can be fuzzy, your offer cannot

Our Kids Will Be Rich and Stupid

There's no HOOK for today's post.
Just some...hesitation.

I'm doing something a bit out of the ordinary for me.
Sharing a personal story.
(With the help of Sandra Macele and her Authority cohort!)

I've been trying to walk a delicate line on LinkedIn.

On one side is BUSINESS.
On the other is SOCIAL.

The biz side is a piece of cake.

I have oodles of experience.
A solid offer.
And killer testimonials.

The personal/social side has been a challenge.

I like the social sharing aspect of LinkedIn.
And getting to know people beyond their banners.
But I don't like "trauma dumping." 
Which feels both revealing and artificial at the same time.

I first need some guardrails for myself.
Here's where I landed...

I'll try to share stories to inspire or help us look at things in a new light.

Let me know how I did.

A Life of No Regret

Do you want a “catchy” program name or one that goes KA-CHING?  

Amateurs chase “catchy” because they don’t know what makes people buy. 

So they pile on adjectives, layer in excess words, and sprinkle in “elevate” for good measure. (Then they wonder why nobody remembers or buys it.) 

Meanwhile, offer names that sell aren’t "cute." 
They’re clear because they hit the right nerve.
They sound like something you’d brag about owning. 

This carousel walks through 7 rules for naming that make people stop, smile, and say, “Wait, what’s that?” 

Swipe through "Name Your Program."

*****							

👋 I’m BrianB.
💡 I build positioning systems to make your offer unforgettable
🎯 Names, frameworks, processes, and taglines people remember
💬 DM me if your brilliance needs better packaging
🐾 My cats and my kids like me!

Name Your Program

A coach said, “I used ChatGPT to name my offer." 
("Okaaaaay," I thought.)
Said it sounded great, until the realization hit that it could name anyone’s offer.

This is the silent cost of AI-created content.
(The Language Tax you pay and don't realize.)
You can publish AI content, but you can’t OWN IT.

An offer name may work thematically, but FAIL EMOTIONALLY.
That's because AI can fit a mold, but it can't build a mission.

That’s when this coach hired me.
Not to make the offer name fancy, but to make it "ownable."

AI names what exists.
I name what stands apart.

*****							

👋 I’m BrianB.
💡 I build positioning systems to make your offer unforgettable
🎯 Names, frameworks, processes, and taglines people remember
💬 DM me if your brilliance needs better packaging
🐾 My cats and my kids like me!

AI Can't Write Sticky

Don't beat yourself up!
This communication stuff is hard.
For example, many folks think "clarity sells."
It doesn’t.

Clarity only works when people already CARE.

If they don’t care, “explaining it better” won't help.

That’s why your “clarity” doesn’t create clients.

In my new carousel, I show why clarity fails (and what creates conversion).

See why clarity without desire is one of the costliest traps in coaching.

*****							

👋 I’m BrianB.
💡 I build positioning systems to make your offer unforgettable
🎯 Names, frameworks, processes, and taglines people remember
💬 DM me if your brilliance needs better packaging

Clarity is Only Half the Story

After a year of working with coaches and consultants, I’ve noticed a pattern. Those who convert best don’t sound smarter, they sound TRUER.

They find ways to make their words carry conviction. You can FEEL that they’ve lived what they’re saying.

AI can echo expertise, but never experiences.
It can list benefits, but not capture beliefs.

And that gap between “what sounds right” and “what feels real” is everything.

That’s why I don’t just write clearer copy. I build positioning and language to make your brand unforgettable. 

The kind of words no one but you could own.

*****							

👋 I’m BrianB.
💡 I build positioning systems to make your offer unforgettable
🎯 Names, frameworks, processes, and taglines people remember
💬 DM me if your brilliance needs better packaging
🐾 My cats and my kids like me!

OK, I'm saying it, "You don’t need better AI prompts."

Every day I see people blaming AI for “Not getting it right.”
But it’s not the tech. It’s the thinking.

AI can follow instructions, but it can’t read our INTENTIONS.
AI can clean up our sentences, but it can’t clarify our THINKING.

AI doesn’t know who you’re talking to or what they care about.
AI can’t sense the tiny moments when readers stop believing you.
 
If we don’t know what we’re trying to be or prove, no prompt can save us.
If a message isn’t clear in the writer’s head, no algorithm can untangle it.

AI makes sentences.
Thinkers make sense.

*****							

👋 I’m BrianB.
💡 I build positioning systems to make your offer unforgettable
🎯 Names, frameworks, processes, and taglines people remember
💬 DM me if your brilliance needs better packaging
🐾 My cats and my kids like me!

Brian vs. AI. (Good gravy, it's not even close!)

Some coaches hire a naming expert and get a list generated by ChatGPT. 

Here's what goes into building brand language that actually sells.
My process starts with a simple rule: No AI until the human work is done.
 
Generative AI is a powerful tool, but a terrible strategist. It can't understand nuance, hear the energy or excitement in your voice, or uncover metaphors you don't even know you use. That's my job.

Before any algorithm gets involved, I'm deep in the trenches with:

I. Recorded Calls 
I listen to your client calls to find hidden language that may resonate and connect.

II. Semantic Maps

I visually cluster your concepts to find the sweet spot between what you DO and what your clients NEED.

III. Brand Archetypes 
I align your name not just to your offer, but to your identity (Like Sage, Hero, and Rebel).

IV. Mouthboards 
(My alternative to visual moodboards). I collect your linguistic inspiration — podcasts, book titles, song lyrics — to define and refine your unique tone.

AI can't notice the metaphor hidden in an offhand comment. And it can't pull inspiration from your cultural identity or that phrase your grandmother used to say.

My 3-phase process does that and more:

1. FOUNDATION // The Deep Dive 
I don't start with words, but with structure. I pressure-test your offer to ensure the foundation is solid before we build language on top of it.

2. EXCAVATION // The Human Work 
Through live sessions, The Naming Forge, and The Language Lab, I excavate, shape, and polish concepts rooted in psychological and emotional truth, not rehashed buzzwords.

3. ACTIVATION // The Launchpad 
I don't just hand you a name and walk away. Through the Concept Reveal, Precision Polish, and Language Launch, I give you assets and a plan to implement.

This is a complete Signature Language System:

> A system to productize your offer and raises your perceived value. 
> A Positioning Glove that fits only you, separating you from the crowd. 
> A Word Bank that makes content creation effortless and authentic. 
> Strategic Phrases for calls, podcasts, and DMs to elevate confidence. 
> A Launch Playbook to unveil your new brand language with impact.

This isn't about simply naming an offer. This is the foundation of an ownable brand, which gives your life's work a voice that can't be ignored.

*****							

👋 I’m BrianB.
💡 I build positioning systems to make your offer unforgettable
🎯 Names, frameworks, processes, and taglines people remember
💬 DM me if your brilliance needs better packaging
🐾 My cats and my kids like me!

A “good enough” name for your offer is NEVER good enough.
Especially when competitors use the same AI tools.

With so many people using the same tools, we risk language becoming like wallpaper — clean, correct, and instantly forgettable.

The difference between “content” and “communication” is ownership.
AI can help you write faster, but only humans can write something that sticks.

AI builds patterns.
I build signatures.

*****							

👋 I’m BrianB.
💡 I build positioning systems to make your offer unforgettable
🎯 Names, frameworks, processes, and taglines people remember
💬 DM me if your brilliance needs better packaging
🐾 My cats and my kids like me!

NO! Your brand is not “fine.”
It’s familiar, which is a tragic weakness.

Every brand that feels “okay” borders on being irrelevant.

People wait for something obvious to "go wrong" before they fix their brand...

> A drop in sales
> A quiet pipeline
> A client saying, “We went in another direction.”

Look closely and you'll see most brands don’t collapse suddenly. 
They drift into oblivion.

A voice that once felt BAZINGA now now feels BLAH.
A story that once sold now sounds stale.

A brand audit can help you FIND YOURSELF before the market misses you.

Swipe through the carousel to see what drift looks like, and why awareness — not aesthetics — is the first step back to strength.

*****							

👋 I’m BrianB.
💡 I build positioning systems to make your offer unforgettable
🎯 Names, frameworks, processes, and taglines people remember
💬 DM me if your brilliance needs better packaging
🐾 My cats and my kids like me!

How to Audit Your Brand

You know how you have a great offer…?
But you struggle to explain it clearly.
Or in a way people remember.

Well, I fix that. 

That’s all I have to say today.

*****							

👋 I’m BrianB.
💡 I build positioning systems to make your offer unforgettable
🎯 Names, frameworks, processes, and taglines people remember
💬 DM me if your brilliance needs better packaging
🐾 My cats and my kids like me!

I'd like to coin a new word today — "blanding." 
That’s the combination of "branding" and "blending in."
It's what AI does so well.

Can AI make your messaging faster and easier?
Yes.
 
Does it make your language/brand unique and "ownable?"
It does not. 

AI can do many cool things, but it’s not built to MAKE YOU STAND OUT. 

AI is built on averages. 
It studies what’s come before and predicts what’s likely to come next. 

That’s not branding, it's blending.
(C'mon, Help me out here. Let's all call is "blanding" from now on.) 

Ask AI to “Make my offer clear” and it WILL clean up your sentences. 
But it can’t see the gap between what you MEAN and what an audience HEARS. 

AI can handle grammar and punctuation — though it’s quite heavy handed with the em dash, isn't it? — but AI doesn’t do well with things that matter to your brand, like empathy and tension. 

No matter how many times you say, “Make this sound better,” AI can’t fix what it doesn’t understand. And that's the human element.

That’s why I don't worry when people say, “I’ll use AI for my positioning, branding, and naming.” 

AI can polish words. My process architects meaning. 

So shoot me a DM if you’re tired of sounding like the bland dreck AI spits out. 

***** 

👋 I’m BrianB. 
💡 I build positioning systems to make your offer unforgettable 
🎯 Names, frameworks, processes, and taglines people remember 
💬 DM me if your brilliance needs better packaging 
🐾 My cats and my kids like me!

Ghostwriter & Messaging Strategist helping leaders achieve 70% opt-ins with a Microstory Journey using the 3-Minute Story Blueprint to build trust and convert hesitant prospects into eager customers.

Most businesses struggle to convert leads because they rely on forgettable downloads and meaningless discounts that fail to create an emotional connection. 

Prospects don't just need information, they need to feel valued, to trust you, and to experience genuine engagement. 

That's why I created the concept of the Microstory Journey, a 5-day emotional experience that uses the 3-Minute Story Blueprint to touch hearts, build authentic connections, and establish unshakable trust, turning hesitant prospects into eager customers ready to take action.

AWAI Verified Copywriter
Case Studies Certification
Sales Enablement Certification

WRITING SERVICES I PROVIDE:

📨 5-Day Education Email Courses
💲 Ghostwriting on Social Media Platforms
📰  Newsletters
🌐   Web Content
✍️   Blog Posting
📧   Email Marketing
🛒   Sales Pages
📱   Facebook/Google Ads 

WHOM I WORK WITH: I help executives, CEOs, founders, & coaches.

3 Simple Steps to Powerful Messaging
1. Define your goals and messaging. 
2. Develop a customized storytelling strategy. 
3. Execute and refine messaging for maximum impact.

HERE'S WHAT TO DO NEXT:
Email me at mike@mikehays.net OR
Book a call with me at https://calendly.com/ask-mikehays

Mike Hays

“If I were really that good… wouldn’t people just know?”

I used to think great work spoke for itself.

That thought used to haunt me.

I’d pour my heart into coaching, get referrals 
here and there, and quietly assume that great 
work would naturally lead to great clients.

Meanwhile, I watched others post daily.
Sharing testimonials. Wins. Lessons. Offers.
At first, I judged them. “Must be compensating,” I told myself.

But beneath that judgment?
A fear I didn’t want to name.

The day I tried writing a post about my services, I froze.
It felt like admitting I wasn’t good enough.
Like needing to promote meant my work couldn’t speak for itself.

But then a client said something that cracked the whole illusion:

I had no idea you even did that. 
I would’ve hired you months ago if I knew.

That hit hard.

Here’s what I finally realized:

The people who need you the most aren’t psychic.
They don’t see the lives you’ve changed unless you show them.
They don’t know the depth of your work unless you talk about it.

Self-promotion isn’t proof you’re not good enough.
It’s proof you care enough to serve beyond 
the ones who already found you.

Quiet brilliance doesn’t create impact.
Visible value does.

Self-promotion isn’t arrogance.
It’s leadership.

If you're a coach or consultant struggling to be seen
what's holding you back from showing up?

Follow Mike Hays for more insights on leadership.

Mike  Hays

Messaging Strategist & Ghostwriter for Leaders - I help you turn short stories into trust, influence, and premium clients with my Microstory Journey using the 3-Minute Story Blueprint.

If Your Team Can't Picture Your Strategy…

They'll Never Execute It Properly.

(The visualization gap that kills execution)

Everyone says, "communicate the vision."
But here's what leaders miss:

↳ Abstract strategies create confusion.
↳ Clear mental pictures drive action.

Here's why visualization transforms execution:

1. Cognitive Clarity

↳ Brain processes images 60,000x faster than text
↳ Visual concepts eliminate interpretation gaps
↳ Teams align on the same mental model

2. Emotional Connection

↳ Pictures trigger emotional engagement
↳ People commit to what they can see
↳ Abstract goals feel impossible to reach

3. Decision Framework

↳ Clear vision becomes a filter
↳ Teams self-correct toward the picture
↳ Reduces constant micro-management needs

4. Progress Tracking

↳ Visual goals show measurable progress
↳ Milestones become obvious checkpoints
↳ Momentum builds through visible wins

The Leadership Reality:

↳ Complex strategies overwhelm teams
↳ Clarity beats complexity every time
↳ Simple pictures inspire action

Your team isn't failing execution.
They're failing visualization.

Quick Question:

How do you help your team picture success?

Share your approach below
Follow Mike Hays  for more leadership insights

The Simple Clarity System I Guarded for Years

Now I’m Finally Sharing It

My career has been defined by high-stakes decisions and ticking clocks.

One thing kept me from burning out.

Clarity.

When the pressure hits, your brain 
wants options, not decisions.

More meetings, more messages, 
more browser tabs pretending to be progress.

Early in my career, I played that game.
I was always busy, rarely moving the needle.

Then higher roles raised the stakes even further.

Clients waited on my calls, revenue hinged on my calendar.

That pressure forced a hard truth on me.

Clarity isn't a nice-to-have.
Clarity is survival.

So I built a simple productivity system my career could trust.

Here is the system I use every single day:
→ Decide what you want.
→ Write it down where you will see it.
→ Each morning, choose the ONE task that moves you closest.
→ Block time and do that task before anything else.

No inbox.

No scrolling.

No “quick favors” that hijack your day.

This is how I rebuilt myself, again and again.

I have started companies, sold franchises, and pivoted careers.
Every reinvention began with one clear daily priority.

Most people confuse movement with progress.

Their calendars are full, their results are thin.

You win when your day serves your direction.

Tonight, will you pick tomorrow's one non-negotiable task?

Follow Mike Hays for more leadership advice.

Being a doctor, lawyer, or consultant actually makes you a worse writer.
Not better....Worse.


Because once you're the expert, your job becomes to "know."
↳To explain.
↳To teach.
↳To correct.

But that same expertise, your years of training, the frameworks you’ve mastered can trap you.

You start writing from reflex.
From what you’ve already decided is true.

And in doing so, you kill the very thing that makes writing online worth reading:

Fresh thinking.

Writing that changes minds doesn’t come from what you know
it comes from what you’re willing to re-examine.

The professionals who win online don’t have the most credentials.

↳They’re the ones who reflect publicly.
↳They question assumptions—even their own.
↳They share what others are afraid to say.
↳They think differently, and then they write from that difference.


In the age of AI and content overload, repeating 
the same “expert advice” makes you forgettable.

But when you write from reflection
not repetition you become magnetic.

People follow professionals who make them think.

Not the ones who explain what they already believe.

You’re not paid to write what’s obvious.

You’re remembered for writing what’s original.

Follow Mike Hays for more insights on growth and creativity

There’s no “magic list” of buyer emotions.

But there is a sequence you can’t skip.

Every time someone says yes to your offer
They’ve walked an invisible emotional path to get there.

Not because you convinced them.
Because you reflected what was already true.

They were feeling something.
They saw themselves in your words.
And something clicked.

It didn’t start with logic.
It started with emotion.

Here’s what that emotional journey looks like underneath the surface:

Desire: “This matters to me.”

Resonance: “You get me.”

Belief: “This could actually work.”

Vision: “That’s what my life could look like.”

Momentum: “I don’t want to wait another day.”

That’s the runway.

Not persuasion.
Progression.

If your story, sales page, or pitch isn’t landing
Check the emotional sequence.

Are you rushing to urgency…
Before someone even believes it’s possible?

Are you pitching transformation…
Before they’ve felt seen?

Every skipped emotion is a drop-off point.
Every honored one builds trust.

Don’t just move people.
Walk with them.

Which step in the emotional journey are you most likely to skip?

Follow Mike Hays for more communication strategies

⚠️ MARKETER WARNING:

Side effects include curiosity, skepticism, and clicks..

Use of the Word “New” May Cause Unexpected Spikes in Attention, Consideration, and Click-Through Rates...

…but only if you know what the heck you're doing.

Side Effects of Reckless “New” Usage Include:

❌ Sudden bursts of hype with no substance
❌ Inflated expectations your product can’t deliver
❌ Momentary engagement followed by long-term brand erosion
❌ Confused buyers who think “new” means “unproven”

Use “New” Responsibly:

✅ Only apply to genuinely novel value
✅ Frame as a trigger for exploration, not a crutch for conversion
✅ Combine with context, contrast, or mechanisms
✅ Treat “new” as a frame, not just a feature

Final Note:

“New” is a match.
Strike it right, and it sparks attention.

Strike it wrong, and you’re just burning through trust.

Use with strategic intent or don’t use it at all.

Follow Mike Hays and look for the release of Story Sells Better Newsletter

She made a decision most people never do.

Did the world’s most famous coaches give her the right advice?

She stopped asking if she should leave her marriage.

And asked something much harder.

They still loved each other. That part wasn’t broken.

But the relationship?
It was stuck.

↳ No spark.
↳ No growth.
↳ Just a subtle decay
Like paint fading in slow motion.

She felt invisible in her own life.
Still loyal. Still present.
But disconnected from the woman she used to be.

She didn’t want a divorce.
She wanted her clarity back.

So she took a chance and asked for help 
from two people known for unlocking human potential.

They didn’t give her an answer.
They gave her a challenge:

What if, for the next 90 days, you led with love, not logic?

What if you stopped waiting to feel it, and became it?

Not the kind of love that feels good to give.
The kind that feels good to receive from him.

↳ Appreciation.
↳ Recognition.
↳ Presence.

Not to change him.
Not to fix anything.

But to clean the lens so she could finally 
see what was real and what wasn’t.

Long-term relationships gather dust.
Old resentments. Recycled assumptions.
Little bruises that go unspoken.

That dust clouds everything.

But clarity doesn’t come from distance.
It comes from immersion.

The question wasn’t:
"Do I stay or go?"

It was:
“Can I show up with zero agenda, total presence, 
and serve the love that’s still alive?”

This isn’t just about marriage.
It’s about ANY relationship that matters.

Whether it's a spouse, a business partner, or your own team:

* Don’t wait for change—>lead it.
* Don’t negotiate love—>demonstrate it.
* Don’t react from fear—>respond from alignment.

She didn’t find the answer.
She became the woman who could see it.

And the coaches who guided her through that?

Tony Robbins and Sage Robbins.

Follow Mike Hays for more communication insights.

Show Up as Yourself 

Attracts Better Clients Than Any Polished Brand Voice.

If visibility feels like selling out, this is for you.
I used to hide behind my clients’ success instead of my own.

As a coach, I hated those polished, corporate-sounding posts.

Every draft I wrote sounded like a brand deck, not me.
So I stayed quiet and told myself silence meant integrity.

Meanwhile, louder voices defined what “leadership” looked like in my space.
Then a dream client said something that stopped me cold.
“I keep referring you, but your online presence doesn’t sound like you.”

They weren’t asking for a polished version.

They were begging for the real coach they met in sessions.

That day I made one rule for visibility.
I will show up as the room version, not the stage version.

↳ No perfect brand voice.
↳ Just the questions I actually ask clients, written in my voice.
↳ No glossy carousels.
↳ Just simple stories, real stakes, and clear invitations to reflect.

The result surprised me.

Views were smaller, but the right people started reaching out.
They quoted my messy lines, not the polished phrases.

Because leadership and coaching land when they feel human.

If you fear selling out, try this experiment for thirty days.

↳ Post as if you were recapping a session to a trusted friend.
↳ One story, one client moment, one honest insight each time.
↳ Hit publish before you smooth the interesting edges away.

Visibility is not selling out when your values hold the microphone.
What part of you are you still hiding from clients?

Follow Mike Hays for more visibility advice

Sometimes the most obvious solution is staring us in the face…

But we can't see it because we're looking too hard.

(The hiring mistake that costs us millions)

We overthink everything:
↳ The revolutionary marketing agency
↳ The perfect candidate profile
↳ The groundbreaking strategy

But here's what we miss:

What No One Wants to Admit:
↳ 73% of great hires come from internal referrals
↳ Our best marketing ideas already exist in customer feedback
↳ Winning strategies are often simple executions done consistently

Here's why we overlook the obvious:

1. Complexity Bias

↳ We assume harder = better
↳ Simple solutions feel too easy
↳ We discount what's right there

2. External Validation Trap

↳ We chase shiny new agencies
↳ Ignore our internal expertise
↳ Outsource what we already know

3. Strategy Paralysis

↳ We overcomplicate proven methods
↳ Analysis replaces action
↳ Perfect becomes the enemy of good

The Hidden Power:
Our best people are already here.
Our winning message is in our reviews.
Our strategy worked last quarter.

Quick Question:

What obvious solution have you been overlooking in your business?

⤵️ Share below

How a 30-Second Ordinary Moment

Creates Massive Engagement

Most people think great stories need big drama.
They don’t.

I used to believe “epic” moments made content compelling.
Massive wins. Huge failures. Perfectly crafted narratives.

But the posts that resonated most were never the dramatic ones.
They were the small, honest moments I almost didn’t share.

Like the awkward client call.
Or the lesson learned on a random Tuesday.
Or the quiet realization that changed how I lead my team.

You probably don't want to hear this...
Readers connect far more with relatability than spectacle.

They don’t want heroes.
They want humans.

Big stories entertain.
But simple stories connect.

The imperfect detail is what makes people trust you.
The honest moment is what makes people remember you.
The everyday struggle is what makes people engage with you.

You don’t need a dramatic arc to be compelling.
You need clarity, honesty, and a moment someone can see themselves in.

Small stories build big impact.
What “ordinary” moment taught you something recently?

Follow Mike Hays for more microstory tips

The Day I Realized the Market Wasn’t My Enemy

It Was My Mind.

Most entrepreneurs struggle with the same invisible enemy:
(And it's not competition, market conditions, or lack of resources)

False beliefs about themselves.

I know because I fought these battles:
↳ Wasn't a natural communicator
↳ Struggled with confidence
↳ Came from nothing
↳ Felt "not enough"

Here's what changed everything:

1. Evidence Collection

↳ Document every small win
↳ Track progress, not perfection
↳ Your past proves your capability

2. Reframe Your Origin

↳ "From nothing" = resourceful problem-solver
↳ Scarcity taught you efficiency
↳ Your struggle is your competitive advantage

3. Confidence Through Repetition

↳ Confidence isn't innate, it's built
↳ Every post, every conversation adds up
↳ Action creates belief, not the reverse

4. Communication as a Skill

↳ Nobody is born a great communicator
↳ Clarity beats charisma every time
↳ Practice makes you powerful

The Truth:
Your false beliefs aren't facts.
They're outdated stories you keep telling yourself.

Quick Question:

Which false belief held you back the longest?

⤵️ Share below

Thank you, Holly Moe, for helping me rewrite the story I was telling myself.

If You Think Your Question Isn't Worth Asking…

You're Missing the Biggest Growth Opportunity.

(The mindset shift that changes everything)

Everyone thinks, "My question is too basic."
But here's what I've learned after 15 years:

↳ Your "dumb" question is someone else's breakthrough.
Here's why you should ask anyway:

1. The Expertise Curse

↳ Experts forget beginner struggles
↳ Your question fills knowledge gaps
↳ Creates valuable teaching moments

2. Collective Intelligence

↳ Questions spark deeper discussions
↳ Others have the same uncertainty
↳ Community learning accelerates growth

3. Vulnerability Creates Connection

↳ Admitting confusion builds trust
↳ Shows authentic learning mindset
↳ Attracts genuine helpful responses

4. Question Quality Myth

↳ "Basic" questions often reveal fundamentals
↳ Simple inquiries expose complex issues
↳ Clarity benefits everyone involved

What you should know:
↳ Courage to ask creates breakthrough moments.
↳ Your question validates others' confusion.
↳ Silence keeps everyone stuck.

The smartest people ask the most questions.
Not because they know less.
Because they understand learning never stops.

Quick Question:

What's one question you've been afraid to ask? 
Share below and let's learn together.

Before: Brilliant but Invisible. 

After: Visible, Trusted, In-Demand.

The most talented professionals often remain invisible in their industries.

(And it's not because they lack expertise)

It's because of three limiting beliefs.

But here's what they don't realize about visibility:
It's not about ego.
It's about impact.

The Hidden Barriers:
↳ "My credentials should speak for themselves"
↳ "Good work will naturally be discovered"
↳ "Self-promotion feels arrogant"

Here's why these beliefs sabotage success:

1. The Service Reframe

↳ Sharing knowledge isn't bragging. It's helping
↳ Your expertise solves real problems for people
↳ Staying quiet deprives others of solutions

2. The Credential Trap

↳ Qualifications open doors, but stories close deals
↳ People connect with transformation, not titles
↳ Your experience matters more than your degrees

3. The Discovery Myth

↳ Exceptional work happens behind closed doors
↳ Visibility requires intentional communication
↳ Talent without promotion equals missed opportunities

The Part You Can’t Ignore:
Your expertise sitting in silence helps no one.
Your knowledge locked away serves no purpose.
But your voice sharing wisdom changes everything.

The experts who break through don't abandon humility, they channel it into service.

They understand that hiding their light isn't noble; it's selfish.

Quick Question:

What's one piece of expertise you've been keeping to yourself that could transform someone's business?

Follow Mike Hays for more leadership insights.

Authority isn’t about confidence.

It’s about language.

We often assume people follow the loudest voice in the room.
But in real conversations, especially at work
authority shows up in much quieter ways.

I started paying attention to the people who 
consistently guided discussions.

↳ They weren’t forceful.
↳ They weren’t dramatic.
↳ They simply used intentional phrasing that changed how others responded.

And once you notice it, you can’t unsee it.

Three simple shifts can instantly change 
how people perceive your authority even 
if nothing else about you changes.

1. Use words that imply direction.
Phrases like “I’d like to set the direction here…” 
or “I don’t like the direction this is heading…” 
subconsciously signal leadership.

The moment you reference direction, people look to you to guide it.

2. Frame ideas through experience.
Open with, “In the past, I’ve found…” 
or “In these situations, I prefer…”

These phrases add instant credibility
not because you’re boasting, but because 
you’re grounding your perspective in pattern recognition.

3. Set expectations clearly and calmly.
Statements like “Let’s focus on the issue at hand…” or 
“Here’s what I think we should prioritize…” 

Bring clarity to the conversation.
And clarity creates trust the foundation of authority.

None of this requires a title.
None of this requires dominance.
Authority is simply controlled direction, 
earned clarity, and consistent language.

Credit to Jefferson Fisher, whose ideas inspired this lesson.

If you want more authority, start with your words they shape the room long before your title does.

What phrase do you use to guide conversations?

Follow Mike Hays for more communication insights.

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Brian Berkenstock

Mike Hays

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The Battle

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

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