Chris Gee Consulting

I guide emerging brands and mid-sized agencies through digital transformation, offering deep expertise in AI implementation and digital strategy. 

Whether you're looking to future-proof your business with AI or accelerate your overall digital strategy, I deliver impactful, data-driven solutions that drive measurable success.

Chief Executive Officer

Ragan Communications and PR Daily

As a Strategic Advisor to Ragan's Center for AI Strategy, I help shape the resources, frameworks, and executive guidance that communications leaders need to integrate AI with clarity and purpose.

My focus:
→ Connecting AI experimentation to real-world outcomes
→ Translating emerging tech into practical comms workflows
→ Ensuring human judgment stays at the center of AI adoption

This work builds on my experience leading AI adoption across corporate comms teams, PR agencies, and advisory firms, and supports the Center’s mission to equip communicators with the skills, tools, and insight to lead in an AI-powered world.

Strategic Advisor

Mixing Board

Mixing Board is an invite-only community of senior marketing and communications leaders who share experience, expertise, and mentorship to elevate our practice.

Mixing Board Member

Edelman

As Head of Digital, U.S. Corporate Affairs & Advisory Services at Edelman, I led a team of experts in digital corporate and public affairs. We helped businesses navigate the complex intersection of business and societal issues, providing strategic counsel to ensure success.

Our team's specialties included:

👥 Digital Executive Visibility: We helped executive leaders hone their presence on social media, resonate with key audiences, and build their personal brands.

🌎 Digital Corporate Public Affairs: We provided expert guidance on navigating public affairs in the digital age, helping clients build trust and mitigate risk.

🚀 Paid Social Media Targeting: We created customized amplification strategies that get the most out of earned media, owned content, and executive voices, reaching key stakeholders where they are most active.

📈 Digital Transformation: With Edelman's CommsTech offering, we helped Corporate Communicators evaluate their tech stack and ensure it is optimized for business impact. This included the integration of generative AI tools and technologies to transform communications and deliver data-driven insights.

Head of Digital, U.S. Corporate Affairs & Advisory Services

FGS Global

I was the Managing Director and Head of Digital Strategy at Finsbury North America, helping clients shape their brand story through data-led insights and snackable content. I advised on digital storytelling, identified new opportunities, and enhanced Finsbury's technology stack. Here are my highlights:

💡 Provided expert counsel on policy creation and stakeholder positioning, including comprehensive online response protocols and scenario planning documents.

💻 Developed a winning social media strategy for lead-generation campaigns with a lower cost per lead than the original goal.

🌟 Positioned key stakeholders as industry leaders through expert policy advising, establishing an influential online presence to manage potential criticism and drive successful outcomes.

Overall, my work helped clients amplify their message and navigate the digital landscape with confidence.

Managing Director - Digital Strategy

Burson

As Head of Digital Strategy & Content for the U.S. Corporate & Financial practice, I drove the integration of digital services into the U.S. Corporate & Financial Practice and led the activation of Studio B for the Practice (the firm's evolving approach to content development and storytelling). My responsibilities also included co-developing and marketing practice specific products and services that generated opportunities for new and existing clients.

Managing Director, Head of Digital Strategy & Content, US Corporate/Financial Practice

General Assemb.ly

Developed curricula and led Influencer Marketing and Social Media Bootcamp workshops at General Assembly (a global network of campuses for technology, business and design). Participants left with a detailed understanding of the social media landscape and how to evaluate which tools and social platforms are the best fit for their organization's strategic goals. They also learned the importance of influence in modern marketing as well as how to mobilize influencers and advocates.

Instructor, Influencer Marketing & Social Media Bootcamp Workshops

RF|Binder

By educating corporate leaders on best practices for using digital, social and mobile platforms, I enabled brands to stay one step ahead of disruptive technologies and to head confidently into an increasingly fragmented communications landscape. I created and evangelized strategies that leveraged the latest digital innovations and allowed leading brands to engage with key audiences and enhance their strategic goals. Our team at RF|Binder used cutting-edge technology to derive meaning from millions of social conversations and apply those insights to results-driven strategies that affect digital, PR and live consumer events.

Chief Digital Officer

Teneo Strategy

The widespread adoption of social media has permanently changed the world of communications, transformed audiences into publishers and amplified the potential rewards and damage possible in communications challenges beyond what was possible in the past. During my 2 years at Teneo, I provided insight-based digital media solutions for Brand Marketers, Financial Services firms, Digital Innovators and non-profit organizations. Having established Teneo’s Digital Advisory practice, I developed tools for online influencer engagement, digital thought leadership and insights stemming from Big Data analytics. With Teneo’s focus on serving CEOs and board level directors, I counseled the executive leaders for many of the world’s most important brands.

Managing Director, Social Media & Digital Strategy

Splendid Communications (US)

Managing Director of Splendid Communications, (US). Splendid is an award-winning global communications group specializing in creating brand ideas that live in the earned and owned media space. Utilizing a fresh, engaging re-mix of social media, content, PR and events, Splendid brings consumers closer to the brands they love.

Managing Director

I empower leaders with AI Workshops & B2B digital strategy | LinkedIn Top Voice | Public Speaker | Board Director | Podcaster🎙️

AI won't replace communicators, but 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗔𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲.

The industry is shifting. And the teams that integrate AI now — 𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆 — will be the ones who thrive.

At Chris Gee Consulting, we help comms leaders and PR teams streamline workflows, save time, and lead with data-driven clarity. Whether you're starting from scratch or optimizing your AI strategy, our workshops and advisory services are built for today's communicators, 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗰𝘀, 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹-𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

Let's future-proof your team. Learn more at chrisgee.me or book a call.

Chris Gee

Yesterday, I spoke about something I see inside almost every organization I work with.

Most teams are experimenting with AI.
𝗩𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁.

Yesterday morning, I delivered the opening keynote at P World's AI in Communications Boot Camp 2 in NYC. In the room, almost every hand went up when I asked who was “using AI.”

However, only a small handful raised their hands when I asked who had a documented strategy, clear ownership, or a real roadmap for the next few years. 

That gap is what I call the integration gap.
It is the space between curiosity and capability.

Teams are testing tools, playing with features, and getting quick wins.
But without structure, governance, and leadership alignment, the progress stalls.
🚫 Shadow AI grows.
🚫 Experimentation becomes siloed.
🚫 And the organization never gets the ROI it expected.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺.
𝗜𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺.

The maturity model I shared yesterday makes it clear.
Most organizations are stuck in the middle.
They understand the potential, but they have not put the scaffolding in place to turn potential into practice. 

Integration requires:
✅ Clear priorities
✅ Shared guardrails
✅ AI champions inside every function
✅ A plan for upskilling at scale
✅ Leaders who model the behavior they expect

Curiosity is how you start.
Integration is how you grow.
Transformation is what happens when both come together.

Where is your organization on that journey today? Let me know in the comments! 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾

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Talks about #ai, #pr, #dei, #thoughtleadership, and #corporatecommunications

P World

Helping PR & Comms leaders future-proof with AI strategy | Speaker + Trainer | Keynotes + Workshops | Ragan Advisor

Over the past year, I’ve been tracking a trend that’s now impossible to ignore.
AI is not replacing comms jobs one-to-one.
But it is replacing pieces of those jobs.
And companies are reorganizing teams because of it.

That’s the theme of my latest short video and the focus of the newest episode of 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿, which I’ve officially resumed.

Here’s the data:
📉 𝟳𝟯 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 of marketing leaders using AI have already reduced external content spend.
📉 𝟴𝟯 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 say they expect to reduce agency spending further as AI tools improve.
📉 𝟭𝟭 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 say they would eliminate agencies for basic content work once AI becomes “good enough.”

And brands are saying the quiet part out loud.
🚫 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘇 plans to cut agency fees by up to 50 percent.
🚫 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗔𝗜 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼 is producing assets 30 percent faster.
🚫 𝗪𝗣𝗣 says brands using AI are reducing what they pay their agencies.

And it’s showing up inside my own business.
In 2024, about 80 percent of my clients were in-house comms teams.
This year, 60 to 70 percent are agencies looking to adapt.

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲.

Companies have spent the past two years pouring money into AI infrastructure and workflow redesign. One Nvidia chip costs as much as a car, and companies are buying them by the thousands. That money has to come from somewhere.

So organizations are shifting dollars from lower-margin areas they believe have less strategic impact.
And many have concluded that PR and comms fall into that category.

𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁.
🚫 Scopes are shrinking.
🚫 2026 decisions are being delayed.
🚫 Brands are internalizing work they used to outsource.

This is not about AI replacing communicators.
It is about the economics of AI reshaping the financial foundation of agency and in-house relationships.

I’m looking forward to continuing this conversation on the podcast and here on LinkedIn, because this moment matters for every communicator, at every level.

Would love your thoughts or feedback.
How are you seeing this play out inside your organization? 👇🏾

Google used to define your reputation.
Now, it’s ChatGPT, Perplexity, and AI search.

When someone asks an AI about your brand, it doesn’t return a list of links.

𝗜𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆.

That story depends on how your digital footprint has been optimized for AI models, not just for traditional SEO.

If your content isn’t recognized, cited, or understood by these systems, you risk being invisible in the next wave of discovery.

I’ve been working with PR and communications teams to rethink their visibility strategies in relation to this idea.

𝗔𝗜 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘁.

It’s no longer enough to rank on Google.
You need to appear in AI-generated answers that summarize your brand for millions of people who may never click through.

The organizations getting this right are treating AI optimization as the next evolution of reputation management.

They’re ensuring their executives’ voices, FAQs, and thought leadership are structured in ways AI can find, interpret, and trust.

𝗜𝗳 𝗔𝗜 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆?

What are your thoughts? Is your corporate reputation optimized for AI search? Let me know in the comments! 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾

Last week, I spoke at the AI in Comms Summit about a trend I am seeing across the communications industry.

𝗔𝗜 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘀 𝗷𝗼𝗯𝘀.
𝗔𝗜 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝘀.

In 2024, about 80 percent of my consulting clients were in-house communications teams.

This year, that number has flipped.
Roughly 60 to 70 percent of my clients are agencies.

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲.

Over the past one to two years, brands have spent heavily on AI.
Infrastructure. Licenses. Cloud expansion. Data. Training. Governance.
The kind of investments that do not show up on the surface, but absolutely show up on a balance sheet.

𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗡𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝗿.
𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝘆 𝗼𝗻𝗲. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗯𝘂𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀.

And that money has to come from somewhere.

So companies are shifting dollars away from functions they believe have lower margins and lower perceived impact.
Unfortunately, many have decided that PR and communications fall into that category.

Here is what I am seeing play out:
🚫 Agency scopes of work being canceled or reduced
🚫 Longer timelines before committing to 2026 budgets
🚫 Brands quietly using AI to perform tasks they used to outsource
🚫 Pressure to show “efficiency gains” before discussing strategy

Data shared by @Eleanor Hawkins of Axios data backs this up.
𝗢𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝟰𝟰 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗥 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝘀 𝟲𝟬 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗔𝗜 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴.

This is not robots replacing writers.
It is economics.
Capital is being reallocated to fund AI.

And this is the part we have to recognize.
Comms leaders are not struggling because they cannot keep up with AI technology.
They are struggling because AI spending is reshaping the financial foundation of the industry.

AI will transform communications.
But the first wave of impact is not technological.
𝗜𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹.

If AI is the new cost center, the question for every comms leader becomes:
How will you show value in an environment where budgets are moving under your feet?

What are you seeing? Let me know in the comments! 👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽

The move from SEO to GEO is happening faster than most people realize.

I’m seeing it everywhere.
In client conversations.
In workshops.
In the questions comms leaders ask when they realize 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴.

For years, we optimized for Google.
Now, we are optimizing for generative engines.
ChatGPT, Perplexity, and AI search are becoming the first place people go to learn about a brand.

And they don’t give you ten blue links.
𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿.
A summary.
A story.

As we move from search engines to answer engines, brands must learn how to be understood by the models that shape those answers.

This piece from PR Daily is a solid starting point for anyone who wants to get their arms around the SEO to GEO shift.

The organizations that get ahead of this will shape how AI describes them.
The ones that do not will be described by default.

What are your thoughts? Is your org making the shift from SEO to GEO? Let me know in the comments! 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾

Later today, I’m giving a keynote on a theme I’m seeing everywhere in the communications world.

𝗔𝗜 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆.

Most organizations are experimenting with AI. Very few have a real strategy.

And almost none have alignment across leadership, workflows, or governance.

Here’s what recent data shows:
According to the insights I’ll be sharing later today, at AI in Comms Bootcamp here in NYC: 

💡 𝟳𝟴 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 of clients evaluate agencies based on AI capabilities (Gartner), and
💡𝟰𝟯 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 of talent consider AI maturity when choosing where to work (Korn Ferry). 

Your AI readiness is no longer a tech issue.
It is a reputation issue.

𝗜𝘁 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗲𝗿𝗮 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.

The teams getting this right are:
✅ Building literacy at every level
✅ Standardizing workflows to reduce risk
✅ Measuring hours saved and insights gained
✅ Creating governance that builds trust internally and externally

AI will not replace communicators.
Communicators who use AI well will redefine the field.

More to come later today.
If you’ll be there, I look forward to connecting!

Most people saw the “code red” headlines this week. 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱.

Sam Altman didn't sound the alarm for nothing.
He did it because Google is eating his lunch.

I want to break down what the “code red” pause actually means, why OpenAI halted agent development, and why it matters for anyone navigating AI inside their organization.

Here is the short version:

𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗔𝗜 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗳 𝗶𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲.

For almost three years, OpenAI held a comfortable lead. That changed with the release of Google’s Gemini 3, which surpassed GPT-4 and OpenAI’s later iterations in speed, reasoning, and multimodal capability.

The “code red” memo is a response to that shift. Altman reportedly instructed teams to pause or abandon several high-profile agent projects and redirect resources back to the core ChatGPT model.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱?

⏸️ “Pulse,” a personalized assistant (my personal fav)
⏸️ Vertical agents for shopping and health
⏸️ Advertising features that were meant to be new revenue streams (wait, what???)

These were supposed to be the next evolution of ChatGPT.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗽𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄?

If agents are the future, why pause them? Three reasons stand out.

1️⃣ 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗴𝗹𝗲’𝘀 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹-𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲
Google owns the chips (TPUs), the cloud, the data centers, and the distribution via Android, Chrome, and Search.

OpenAI pays Microsoft and Nvidia every time it trains or deploys an agent. Google pays itself. That cost imbalance makes a direct agent war unwinnable right now.

2️⃣. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻-𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺
Agents only work as well as the model they run on. If Gemini 3 is smarter and faster, then a “Google agent” will naturally outperform an “OpenAI agent.” You cannot build a high-functioning assistant on top of a model losing ground.

3️⃣ 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
OpenAI is still a startup fighting a trillion-dollar ecosystem. Splitting engineers across GPT-5, Pulse, shopping agents, health agents, and ads meant they were losing ground everywhere. The pause is an effort to fix the foundation first.

Is the “Age of Agents” over?

No. But the Age of Agents as a standalone product category just hit a ceiling.

OpenAI’s move signals that gents are not something you bolt on. They are an outcome of having the smartest, most reliable model.

If the foundation is slipping, the entire agent strategy collapses.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗺 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲

OpenAI is pulling back from application-layer features to protect the core model. They are stepping back from the furniture to fix the foundation.

Every organization experimenting with agents should get the lesson here:

Foundations come first.
Capabilities come second.

Losing the intelligence layer means losing everything built on top of it.

Join me from 26–27 February at the AI in Communications Boot Camp in Los Angeles. Use my code 𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗘𝗥𝟭𝟬 to get your ticket with a 10% discount.
Looking forward to discussing how AI is changing comms.
For more info about my session, visit:
https://lnkd.in/ewTCREu8

AI drift is real.
And most teams don’t see it happening.

Yesterday I met with two different comms teams. Both were excited about AI. Both were experimenting. Both were learning on their own.

But both shared the same challenge:
Everyone is using AI differently, with no shared expectations from leadership.

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀.

Teams create their own rules.
People choose their own tools.
Quality becomes inconsistent.
Risks slip through the cracks.
And leaders assume progress is happening when, in reality, workflows are quietly fragmenting.

What actually unlocks AI adoption isn’t more tools.
𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.

A few things I shared on the calls:

💡 Teams need clarity on where AI should be used and where it shouldn’t.
💡 They need a common language for evaluating outputs.
💡 They need a simple way to share what’s working.
💡 And they need leadership to set the floor — not the ceiling — for how AI shows up in the work.

When you don’t set that foundation, AI drifts.
When you do, AI scales.

If you’re early in your AI journey, start here:

✅ Pick 3–4 workflows everyone agrees to standardize.
✅ Define the quality bar.
✅ Identify one person or committee to collect and share learnings.
✅ Set expectations for responsible use.
✅ And revisit the plan monthly. Not annually.

The teams that win with AI aren’t the ones experimenting the most.
They’re the ones aligning the fastest.

How are you seeing AI drift show up in your org? Let met know in the comments! 👇🏾

While we were eating turkey, the music industry just offered a glimpse of where AI governance is headed.

𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 that allows artists to opt in to AI-generated music using their own voice, image, and compositions. It is a notable milestone, not only because of who is involved, but because of what it signals.

✅ This is a transition from confrontation to coordination.
✅ A major rights holder chose to license its catalog.
✅ An AI company rebuilt its models on permitted content.
✅ And creators were given the ability to decide how their work is used.

It is an early blueprint for how consent may evolve across digital ecosystems.

For communications leaders, there are three dimensions to watch.

1️⃣ 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰.
As AI systems become more capable, industries will need clearer rules for likeness, voice, writing style, interviews, and archival material. We will likely see more explicit opt-in structures as organizations protect how their identities are represented.

2️⃣ 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.
This includes setting boundaries for approved use cases, clarifying training data rights, establishing disclosure practices, and defining escalation paths when content appears that was not authorized.

3️⃣ 𝗔𝗜 𝗰𝗼-𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲.
Deals like this indicate a maturing market. Brands will soon have ways to generate content using licensed IP in a controlled, transparent manner. This will influence how teams think about scale, quality, and cost.

This settlement is not only a music story. It's an early signal of what regulated AI creation could look like across sectors.

The question now is how organizations prepare for a future in which digital identity, consent, and AI co-creation converge. 

Is your organization ready? Let me know in the comments. 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾

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. 🚀

Leaders don't do things for you. 

They inspire you to grow into someone who can do them 

Your brain's mirror neurons are fascinating...

When we observe great leadership, 
Our neural networks literally reshape themselves 🧠

Here's what happened in my team's brains 
When I shifted from problem-solver to growth catalyst:

1️⃣ Neural Leadership Networks
↳ Prefrontal cortex activation in decision-making up 
↳ Stress response pathways decreased
↳ Reward circuits fired during problem-solving

2️⃣ Learning Circuit Activation
↳ Neuroplasticity peaked during challenges
↳ Dopamine loops strengthened team bonds
↳ Cognitive flexibility increased 

3️⃣ Performance Neuroscience
↳ Cortisol levels dropped 
↳ Oxytocin boosted trust signals
↳ Group synchronization improved

Science shows: When leaders step back,
The team's collective neural networks step up.

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

PS: What neural pathway did your best leader help you strengthen? 🧠

Video credit: Unlnown

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

♻️ Share to build stronger leadership brains
➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for more brain-based growth insights

The hard things you avoid 

Are the exact things that free you

Most people avoid the hard stuff.
Not because they are lazy.
Because their brain is trying to protect them.

The prefrontal cortex wants long term wins
But the amygdala wants immediate comfort
So every hard task feels like a threat
And your brain tells you to delay it
Even when it hurts you later.

Here is how to flip the switch
So your brain stops fighting you
And starts working for you.

1/ Reduce the threat signal
 Big tasks feel dangerous
 So your brain freezes
 Break the task into the smallest next move
 Science: Small steps lower amygdala activity
 And increase dopamine for starting

2/ Front load the friction
 Do the hardest task first
 Before your brain is overloaded
 Science: Your decision making power is highest early
 And cortisol rises as the day goes on

3/ Create a reward loop
 Your brain needs a reason to try
 Pair the hard task with a positive cue
 Tea, music, a small celebration
 Science: Dopamine releases faster
 When a reward is tied to effort, not outcomes

When you train your brain to face hard things
You stop leaking energy
You build momentum
And the tough stuff becomes automatic

P.S. Whats your best procrastination buster? 

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

Video Credit: Unknown

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➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon  to get more brainy tips
♻️ Repost to help more people train their brain to thrive

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

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♻️ Share to help others reclaim their creativity
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Your brain won't save you.

Your heart will. 

For two weeks, I volunteered to help rescue animals.
Feeding, cleaning, comforting the scared and the broken.

They had nothing to give back
but showing up still felt right.

Because giving changes you.
It pulls you out of fear and back into purpose.

And right now, the world needs more of that.
 💔 People are hurting.
 💔 Jobs disappearing.
 💔 Markets spiraling.
 💔 Stress levels through the roof.

Everyone’s doing their best just to stay afloat.
But when everything feels unstable,
most people grip tighter.
They try to control.
They chase.
They push harder for the “yes.”

That’s exactly why it stops working.
The brain senses pressure and shuts down trust.
You can’t sell, serve, or lead from scarcity.
You can only do it from calm generosity.

That’s why I’m giving away what I’ve learned.
The exact framework that helped me break free from corporate,
build consistency on my own,
and stop chasing clients who weren’t ready.

It’s called Stop Chasing the Yes.
A workshop to help you
 – Build your own predictable client system
 – Shift from pressure to presence in every conversation
 – Lead with calm confidence instead of fear

If you’ve been giving everything and still feel stuck,
this is your next step.

Because giving works best
when you give to yourself too.

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

P.S. Do you volunteer, if so where?

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

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♻️ Repost to help others give without burning out

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
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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

You have more answers than you think. 

You just don't know it...yet.

Most people say they want to think outside the box.
But few ever leave it.

Because the box feels safe.
It’s made of habits, rules, and comfort.
It’s your brain’s way of protecting you from uncertainty.

But that same safety is what keeps you small.
Every great idea, every business, every leap
starts the moment you question the walls around you.

When you think differently, new neural pathways fire.
Your prefrontal cortex lights up.
Dopamine releases as you connect unfamiliar dots.
That’s not chaos. That’s creativity.

Thinking outside the box trains your brain to
🧠 see possibilities instead of patterns,
🧠 stay adaptable when the world shifts,
🧠 and turn fear into curiosity instead of paralysis.

Inside the box, life feels predictable.
Outside, it feels alive.

If you want freedom, income, and purpose,
you can’t just color outside the lines.
You have to stop believing they’re even there.

That’s the work we do inside my workshop
Because the world doesn’t reward safety.
It rewards those who think beyond it.

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

Usually, the answer is already within you 
(channeling Yoda today).

P.S. When was the last time you already knew the answer...you just had to remember you did?

Video credit: Unlnown

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

➕ Follow Shannon for more neuroscience tools for clarity and creativity
♻️ Repost to help more people break out of their mental box

Persuasion isn't manipulation

Persuasion is making the prospect feel safe.

The top 8 secrets to ethically persuade 👇

Most people think persuasion means convincing or winning.
But real persuasion begins in calm awareness.
Your nervous system leads the conversation 
Long before your words do.
When your energy is steady, others feel safe to open.

Here's the 8 secret ways to ethically persuade

1️⃣ Regulate before you relate
 Take one slow breath before you speak.
 This quiets the body and steadies your focus.
 Your calm signals safety and builds connection.

2️⃣ Lead with curiosity
 Ask questions that invite reflection.
 “What feels most challenging right now?”
 Curiosity keeps the brain open and the energy light.

3️⃣ Validate before you redirect
 When people hesitate, meet them with empathy.
 “I understand why you’d feel that way.”
 Validation relaxes tension and rebuilds trust.

4️⃣ Keep autonomy intact
 People need to feel in control of their choices.
 Invite, don’t push.
 “Would you like to explore this together?”

5️⃣ Reframe with clarity
 Fear narrows focus, clarity opens it again.
 Ask, “What might shift if this were already solved?”
 It helps people see beyond the problem.

6️⃣ Align around shared intention
 Focus on what matters to both of you.
 “We both want this to create real results.”
 Shared purpose turns pressure into partnership.

7️⃣ Match energy before guiding change
 People follow what feels familiar.
 First, attune to their tone and pace.
 Then gently guide the conversation toward calm and clarity.

8️⃣ End with clarity, not pressure
 Unfinished conversations keep the mind spinning.
 Summarize, confirm, and close the loop.
 “Are you ready to get started?"

Ethical persuasion is calm, curious, and choice-based.
🧠 Regulate first. 
🧠 Match energy. 
🧠 Keep autonomy strong.

That’s how influence becomes trust.

P.S. Have you ever felt pressured to buy?

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

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

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 ♻️ Repost to help more people influence with integrity

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 number 1 reason you’re invisible on Linkedin...

You aren't breaking through the RAS filter

Your prospect never sees most of what you say.
Their brain deletes it before it gets inside.

The Reticular Activating System filters everything.
It looks for relevance, novelty, safety, and clarity.
If your message feels routine, it gets ignored.
If it feels vivid and personal, it gets through.
Here are ten ways to pass the filter fast.

1/ Pattern breaks win
Don’t start predictable
Do open with novelty
Science: RAS flags newness first

2/ Short lines keep attention
 Don’t write long blocks
 Do use simple spacing
 Science: Low load keeps thinking open

3/ Make it about them
Don’t lead with yourself
Do mirror their world
Science: RAS checks for self relevance

4/ Signal credibility fast
Don’t over explain
Do give one strong proof
Science: Fast heuristics shape trust

5/ Use micro commitments
Don’t push for yes
Do ask tiny questions
Science: Micro wins open dopamine

6/ Use visual outcomes
Don’t stay vague
Do paint clear images
Science: RAS tags vivid scenes

7/ Match their energy
Don’t push your pace
Do mirror tone
Science: Mirror neurons sync fast

8/ Validate their words
Don’t jump to fixes
Do echo their phrasing
Science: Neural validation needs match

9/ Create safety, not pressure
Don’t force urgency
Do slow the tempo
Science: Threat shuts attention down

10/ Give one next step
Don’t dump info
Do guide clearly
Science: Sequence reduces neural noise

When you speak to the brain instead of the ego
You stop sounding like everyone else
You bypass resistance
You increase trust
And your message finally lands

P.S. Which one has worked for you??

Learn how to build a $20k No Chasing the Yes Sales System
Apply here → https://lnkd.in/eZRF_jZe
Dec 15 - 11am - 2pm PST

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➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon  to get more brainy tips
♻️ Repost to help more people train their brain to thrive

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

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

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

Get sh#t done even when you don’t feel like it

(using neuroscience)

Procrastination isn't a time management problem. 
It’s an emotion management problem.

Natan Mohart put this very cool caro together
Follow him if you don't already

7 ways to get sh#t done 
Even when your brain says nope

Your brain resists for a reason
It is wired for safety not progress
So when you freeze nothing is wrong with you
Your nervous system is protecting you

Here is how to move anyway
1/ Name the state
 When you label what you feel
 your threat response drops
 Clarity replaces chaos
 → Say I feel pressure not I am failing
 → Describe the body sensation

2/ Reduce the friction
 Your brain avoids heavy starts
 Make the first step tiny
 so momentum becomes possible
 → Set up your space in advance
 → Break the task into one micro move

3/ Reward bundle the hard stuff
 Dopamine drives action
 Pair the difficult task with something you enjoy
 so your brain stops resisting
 → Music you only use for work
 → A small treat linked to completion

4/ Shift the channel
 Your state creates your output
 Move your body to reset your brain
 before starting
 → Three minute movement break
 → Change rooms or posture

5/ Borrow future you
 Your brain listens to identity
 Act from the version of you
 who already finishes things
 → Ask what future you would choose
 → Take one small step as that version

6/ Time box the resistance
 Open ended tasks feel unsafe
 A short container makes your brain relax
 and frees up energy
 → Ten minute sprints
 → Stop when the timer rings

7/ Celebrate micro evidence
 Small wins train your brain
 to expect progress
 and repeat it
 → Track tiny completions
 → Acknowledge what you did well out loud

Your brain learns from action not intention
Teach it that forward movement is safe
and it will follow you every time

P.S. What tactic works for you when you’re a nope?

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

➕ Follow Natan Mohart & Shannon to get more brainy tips
♻️ Repost to help more people train their brain to thrive

How to Get Sh#t Done Using Neuroscience

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

Confidence isn’t a personality trait. 

It’s a regulated nervous system.

You can't sell if your brain is in survival mode.
But you can train your mind to stay calm under pressure.

High pressure flips your nervous system fast.
 😱 Your heart speeds up.
 😱 Your thoughts race.
 😱 Your brain shifts into threat.
 😱 That’s when deals slip and confidence drops.

It’s not about skill.
It’s about regulation.
Your brain needs clear signals to stay steady.

Here are 3 ways to keep your brain calm when things get tense:
✔️ Slow your exhale
 A long exhale activates your calm system.
 It tells your brain you're safe.
 Clear thinking returns fast.

✔️ Name what you feel
 A quick "I'm feeling pressure" helps the amygdala settle.
 Your brain relaxes when you name the feeling.

✔️ Ground your senses
 Notice one thing you see, hear, or feel.
 This pulls your brain out of threat mode.
 Your thinking brain comes back online.

When your brain stays regulated, you stay in control.
✅ You listen better.
✅ You ask smarter questions.
✅ You hold your power in the conversation.

Prospects feel your steadiness and trust you more.
Your mind isn't the enemy under pressure.
It just needs direction.

P.S. What's the hardest moment for you to stay calm in a call?

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/ 

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

➕ Follow Shannon for more brain based insights
♻️ Repost to help someone keep their calm today

Your clean pipeline is the biggest red flag.

Silence and perfection always come before surprises.

Every dashboard looks clean.
Every rep sounds confident.
Every pipeline looks alive.
Until the moment it’s not.

Reps hide struggle.
They mask doubt.
They soften bad news.
And you hear it too late.

Bad quarters don’t start in QBRs.
They start in silence.
SalesSage breaks that silence.
Ten minutes.
One pulse.
Full clarity.

Signals you can’t see alone.
Patterns no CRM reveals.
Early warnings before the miss.

If you want fewer surprises
and more control over your number
start your free 14 day trial:
https://salessage.co/

See what your team won’t say out loud.
Save the quarter before it slips.

P.S. When is the last time a squeaky clean pipeline bit you in the butt?

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

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➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for brain based sales insights

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