Clark Willcox

I help recruiters + consultants build and leverage their brand to attract more of their ideal clients (and candidates).

You didn't become successful by accident.

You got there by making more calls, closing tougher roles, and outlasting everyone who quit early. 

You built real skill, running great meetings, understanding the market, and delivering results that speak for themselves.

But today, being a high performer isn’t enough to get new business. Or even referrals.

The digital landscape is louder, more crowded, and full of “AI-first” recruiting agencies that look polished online but crumble once a real sales conversation starts. They don’t have your experience, your instincts, or your ability to run a consultative call.

You still win the meeting.

You’re just not getting enough of the right meetings.

That’s the real problem, not your ability, but your positioning.

Most top recruiters never learned marketing. Why would you? 

You were too busy billing. But in today’s market, authority is currency. And if your ideal clients don’t see you as different before the call, they assume you’re the same as every other recruiter DM’ing them.

That’s where I come in.

We’ve helped 100s of recruiters + consultants create consistent inbound demand, elevate their authority, and regain clarity and time.

You don’t need more tech.
You need a better strategy and likely someone to run it for you.

To get what you want which is...

Shorten sales cycles
Book more warmed-up calls
Increase client quality
Use their story, skill, and expertise as a competitive edge

In short, you stop chasing and you stop 

And we do the work for you, strategy, messaging, content, outreach, and systems.

No more pointless cold calling.
No more AI fluff.
No more tech stack collecting dust.
No more roles that were never going to close.

Your experience is your leverage.

I help the market finally see it.

How we can help:
Fractional Sales + Marketing: I run your entire inbound + outreach engine.
LinkedIn Sprint: A fast, proven campaign and content system.
Digital Recruiter Academy: Build a full-funnel recruiting business.
1:1 Coaching: Customized growth and positioning strategy.

“Every post I make, I get an inbound lead.” - Rachel Brown, Founder + PT Recruiter

A little more about me:

10+ years in recruiting and sales, door-to-door, agency, entrepreneurship. I’ve failed, rebuilt, and grown through every season. By the grace of God, I went from being orphaned to having a family of my own and a career I love.

Message me if you’re ready to market like a top performer, not a commodity.

Founder

Growth partner to solo recruiters and small recruiting agencies. 

Need to improve your LinkedIn presence + outbound/inbound approach?

Looking to train up your current crop of recruiters?

Looking to add candidates with potential and a training partner to help them achieve it?

Welcome to the Digital Recruiter

https://testimonial.to/recruiter-accelerator/all

“You guys are awesome and have taken a huge burden off of my shoulders.  Trying to build a business (unexpectedly) while navigating my husbands career demands, my family demands is majorly stressful. You totally delivered and I can focus on what I’m actually good at.”

Tara Rochelo, Founder, Four Corners Search

Let’s see how we can help:
https://calendly.com/thedigitalrecruiter/strategy

Who was cutting onions here? 

Watching this with my almost 1 and 3 year old boys, getting the oldest to do his first U-S-A chant when they won in OT… super fun.

Then team USA showed what brotherhood and being proud of where you’re from and not forgetting your missing brethren other families….

Waterwork city. 

Good one them for keeping Johnny Gaudreau’s legacy going and making sure his children know the positive impact he had. 

Having lost parents at a young age, pictures are a thousand words but the greatest gift is hearing stories from family and friends about who they were. 

God bless those kids 🙏🏼

Founder @ The Digital Recruiter || Fractional Sales + Marketing || We fix and create your business development engine so your prospects actually start responding to you

No alternative text description for this image

My man, Greg Fischer, CPP 👊 

This is all him btw. I gave him pointers and bumpers, but he is consistent with posting and engaging with his market. 

It's been incredible to witness and raises my own bar for staying consistent.

"The market's been tough for all recruiters, right?"

No, not necessarily.

Is money falling out of the sky like 2021-2022? No. And if you thought that could last...

Come on now. Let's live on Earth together. 

What you're experiencing.

Companies being much pickier.

But they are still hiring.

This is a game of musical chairs. 

And you can level up, figure out the competition you're up against.

Don't rely on "what you've always done"

Learn how to evolve. 

AI is rampant? Get better at building rapport and relationships WITHOUT needing a referral. 

Always used to MPC but email slowed down? Figure out a new channel and approach.

Tried something and it didn't work? Try it for longer.

Or find someone that you resonate with more and try that approach.

Staying stagant and b*tching will get you exactly what you want.

Which is zero improvement.

Producers don't have time for a lengthy pity party. 

You get one night to sleep off a bad day. 


h/t Daniel Miller

Astonishing how much push back I got for saying you need great reqs first and foremost.

Why would your unicorn candidates matter at all without great roles that pay their bills and yours?

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The success story that almost never was....

Isaiah Gibbs booked a call then canceled! 

I asked him for his reasoning and he goes "I have LinkedIn on lock, I need BD help"

Hmm ok, well that's one of my main focuses. We should still chat.

Within 2 weeks of that conversation he had a new client.

More importantly, Isaiah was extremely coachable. And still is. 

He tried everything we discussed. And every week he was sharing a win.

Then sharing different stories he wanted feedback and support with.

There are many ways to capture ROI...and all those ways require the student to invest their energy and attitude.

Isaiah is breaking through previous ceilings, leveraging tech to buy back his time and his content is much more geared to convert quality leads.

Then his actual conversations have skyrocketed in quality. Because he knows his value prop and his boundaries. 

Put all that together, you become dangerous. 

Congrats my friend, here's to many more successes.

Recruiting Top Sales Talent for Equipment Finance & Working Capital Lenders| Founder @ Gibbs Talent Group

"The best money I've ever spent in 29 years of recruiting." 

Now, that only happens when you show up, implement, work through the struggle/pain and keep going.

That's what Dan Regovich did. 

Used to referrals and the "old way of doing things" but that wasn't enough anymore.

The system and approach was good but not enough. Anyone can sign up for automation or make some posts.

We focused on the follow up. 

What are hiring managers reacting to right now in 2026.

There's way more competition than 20 years ago. 

Understanding the landscape and reacting accordingly is critical. 

That's what leads to conversions. 

And the text that Dan sent me today.

"Top of funnel is full."

Music to my ears

If you're struggling with how to hire a good recruiter, domestic, near shore, off shore...this is who you should talk to...

Greg Fischer, CPP 

He's one of the more genuine people I've met in my life but also insanely good at what he does. Rare combo. 

He's helped us navigate hires plus giving me sound advice and feedback on ways to improvement my own management style (I'm a big work in progress).

He's gone out of his way to connect me to so many people as well and so I want nothing else except to fill up his calendar with recruiters that are serious about investing in hiring and training the right people, the right way. 

Whether you become a client of his or not, you won't regret having him in your corner and you will be more knowledgable about hiring best practices after a conversation with him.

Recruiting top 1% Recruiters Globally | Founder @ Well Oiled Machine | admittedly obsessed with the Mountains ⛰️

2 reasons recruiters don't build pipelines on LinkedIn.


1) They aren't consistent with outreach and/or content. 

I've hammered this point over and over, won't do so again right now. 

2) They don't know how to talk to people.

"but Clark, I've recruited forever, I know how to talk to people"

Candidates get a free service.

There is no cold calling a candidate.

There is no true sales.

It's more like getting people to switch energy services and they just get a lower bill. 

Getting managers to buy into you and then pay a fee.

That takes a different level of skill.

You have to know the nuance.

And have to be OK getting left on read. 

And knowing if and when to follow up directly. Or indirectly.

It's quite the web to internalize. 

The only way to win is to dive in head first, and figure it out for yourself. 

If you need help getting more reps, well that's where we come in.

Niche or don't niche? Really what you want to know is, what do people who don't know me need to see? Here's the shift you need to make....

Own your lane...don't defend it. 

The Digital Recruiter clients come in, own a lane, and go for it, get the results they want.

The people we don't work with. They waffle on a lane, are worried about having prospects tune out.

I've seen this paralyze recruiters that have relied on referrals for years. They turn to cold outreach and get frazzled. 

Worry about people that aren't relevant. 

Those prospects are almost always the ones not worth chasing. 

Stop trying to convince about prospects that will never buy.

Understand your strengths. 

Get clear on the type of business you want more of. 

And unapologetically go after it.

"I focus on relationships and rapport." 

Amazing. Now how do you scale that? 

And that right therein lies the answer as to why this platform is so powerful.

Did I scoff in 2018 when I learned people were getting clients from Facebook? Yes, yes I did.

I stopped real quick when seeing how some people had sales on autopilot.

All from digital marketing?

Yes. That's the power of taking a skilled producer, and amplifying their reach.

Not to just anyone.

But their ideal market. 

Your next great "cold" client is looking for the solution you provide.

Instead of overthinking your website, think of how you're going to get in front of them, and stay in front of them...

Without being a pest. 

Easy. Leverage your past success and experience on here in an entertaining way (you don't need video).

Connect with them. Start a real conversation. (Don't let AI write messages for you.)

Focus on them.

The formula is simple.

Executing consistently is the challenge.

If you're a hard working recruiter, that gets your client results 👇 

Get those stories out there. 

It's not just for new connections.

Your current network will notice too.

It's endless the amount of veteran recruiters we've help showcase their stories...

In a way that's relatable and readable (no AI slop)

And it's turned into immediate meetings, deals, and/or prospect awareness.

Timing is everything in sales.

Instead of only working through the call list 1 by 1.

Get in front of 1000 of them at a time. Consistently.

We can have a full month of content for you in one hour of your time.

What's the hold up?

I was poking around a client's campaigns yesterday and gave him a heads up on an old lead. What he responded with is the reason he's so successful...


"Oh ya, I emailed him last week. Trying to lock him down"

The original lead? From April 2025. 

That relentless follow up is what is key.

We help you open doors to more conversations all day.

But without staying on top of it, most leads fall through the cracks.

"We closed a $35k fee and have a $40k offer out thanks to your candidate messaging and sequence for LinkedIn." - nice voice memo to start the day with. the catch? 

"But the sales side is still TBD"

And that's fairly normal. When you're use to the cold email/call game, it can be an adjustment navigating LinkedIn and doing more rapport building.

Candidate outreach almost always clicks first. The service is free on their side, so fixing messaging to resonate more with their incentives changes their behavior quickly into what you were always looking for.

Client side? They need a bit more time to earn that trust. And that's where consistency comes into play.

Trying different wants to open up conversations. Finding ways to add value without just needing an open role.

Having "feel" is a critical part of becoming better at biz dev. When the immediate opportunity doesn't present itself, how do you approach it? 

Improving your systems and approach on the candidate side = more opportunity to get the time and reps on mastering biz dev.

What's you get all that in place, you become dynamic, and you always know how to "catch your own fish."

That's when $35k and $40k doesn't just happen on a good week, but it happens over and over again.

"I don't want to look like my feed." This is 100% the right way to think if you're a recruiter. Because most recruiters' posts aren't leading to business.

...Unless you're following a bunch of Digital Recruiter members. 

But if you're seeing a bunch of selfies, em dashes, rocketship emojis, complaining, etc...

You're right. Those people aren't building a pipeline of quality leads with that content. 

There is a formula that works.

One that when inputed with YOUR voice and stories, make it unique to you.

And that's what resonates with your market.

***Assuming you're connecting with them daily.

***And that you're profile is optimized to drive them to see you as a solution. 

See? There's a lot of pieces to put together.

And that's why people struggle with marketing.

Because it's not ONE thing.

It's all the things put together. And you have to know how to interpret the signals.

Who to follow up with. And when. And what to say.

That's how you build a pipeline. 
Warm up your sales calls. 
Close better clients. 
Raise your fees. 

If you don't want to sound like a generic recruiter on LinkedIn.

You have to be intentional in doing so.

Texas is in the house today. Got some gold to share with y'all TSRSA in about 90 minutes. Even if...

...there's a missing L in Willcox 😂 I hold no grudges

Join us on February 26th for an insightful session with Clark Willcox:
“Building a Consistent Recruiting Ecosystem”

Clark brings over 12 years of sales and recruiting experience, starting his career at Aerotek, the largest privately held staffing company in the U.S. Today, he owns and operates Digital Recruiter and Digital Recruiter Talent Group, helping firms build scalable, repeatable recruiting systems that actually work.

If you’re looking to:
✅ Create consistency in your recruiting efforts
✅ Build systems that support sustainable growth
✅ Align sales, recruiting, and digital strategy. You won’t want to miss this session.

🔗 Connect with Clark Willcox

Register now: https://lnkd.in/gWAbCuZ4 

#TSRSA #RecruitingLeadership #StaffingIndustry #RecruitingEcosystem #TalentAcquisition #ProfessionalDevelopment
Jessica Wheeler Judy Collins Nancy Martinez Beth Hammond, CTS Gayle Tapps Mike Lejeune Tiffany Wallace Ui Culbertson Chris Myers Dana Laramore, CPC

I keep coming back to the same idea when it comes to AI in recruiting...

The tool matters less than how teams actually use it.

This conversation with Josh Kirkham was a good example of that. 

We talked about where AI genuinely helps agency recruiters, where human judgment still matters, and why systems, enablement, and consistency end up being the real differentiators over time.

A lot of ground covered, from write ups and ATS hygiene to onboarding, execution, and building workflows that people actually stick with.

If you’re thinking about scale, efficiency, and sustainability inside an agency, this one is worth your time.

The episode is live now.
YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gTT6yugx
Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gRemXc5V
Apple: https://lnkd.in/gjyMprXg

podcasts.apple.com

Digital Recruiter Podcast

VP Revenue | #1 AI Assistant for Recruiting Agencies

You don’t need 2 hours to write a great LinkedIn post.

But you also don’t want AI doing all the thinking for you.

Because if it’s generic, it just adds to the noise.

Here’s a simple template that actually works:

Find a real hiring problem your market is feeling.

(Too many interview steps? Offers getting rejected?)

Share your insight.

“I worked with a client who had a 7-step process. We cut it to 3, got clear on the must-haves, and filled the role in weeks instead of months.”

Give a takeaway.

“If roles are sitting open, your interview process might be the issue. Simplify it.”

If you’re a recruiter doing good work

You already have stories like this.

Start writing them down.

Share what you’re learning.

That’s how you build trust with hiring managers before the first message.

"How do I come up with content?"

Here ya go....

Does your ideal client read it and think,

“Yep. That’s exactly what I’m dealing with."

That's it. The best part...

You already have this content.

It’s inside your all your discovery and client calls.

For example...you ask a hiring manager,

 “Have you worked with agencies before?”

They say yes. You ask, “What went wrong?”

They say, “They just sent resumes.” or “They didn’t understand our product.”

That’s a post.

Or when HR says, “We don’t use agencies.” Instead of pushing back, you think,

“That makes sense, until a role sits open 4 months and delays your roadmap.”

That’s a post.

Or when they push back on fees and you ask, “How much revenue is delayed because this role isn’t filled?”

That’s a post.

Content that sells is translating real conversations into teaching moments.

It's explaining what you see.

That’s what builds authority, inbound leads and increased replies in your outreach.

Keep It Human in the AI Era

AI is everywhere in recruiting right now.

But here’s the real question we got into on our latest episode:

How much of the human aspect are we pulling out when we lean too hard on automation?

Michael Malinowsky, Director of Recruiting at Lean Synergy Solutions, started his recruiting career in the U.S. Army. 

In the military, recruiting meant hunting.
-Finding people where they actually are
-Thinking outside the box
-Building real relationships
-Earning trust with candidates and families

That mindset carried over to the agency world.

We talked about the difference between the art and the science of recruiting. The science is KPIs and numbers. The art is reading people, building relationships, negotiating based on what someone actually values, and caring enough to personalize every touchpoint.

One line that stuck with me:
“Keep it human. Don’t forget there’s a living, breathing person behind every resume.”

In a world where filters auto-reject candidates in seconds and messaging can be written by a robot, the recruiters who win are the ones who personalize their outreach, take time to actually review resumes, focus on fit, not just keywords, and build relationships that help with retention and negotiation

We also got into his “humanity audit” idea, reviewing auto-rejections and asking whether filters are set for compliance instead of potential.

If you’re a recruiter trying to balance AI with authenticity, or a hiring manager wondering why great people slip through the cracks, this conversation is worth your time.

You can listen to the full episode here:
YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gFKD_w9M
Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gvm7n9jM
Apple: https://lnkd.in/gW9PvRE7

Open article: Digital Recruiter Podcast by tinyurl.com

Worried about posting content? 

Here’s a motto that’l reduce posting anxiety 

Likes don’t equal Leads.

You’re optimizing for dopamine when chasing likes. Not deals.

There’s been numerous posts from myself and recruiters we’ve helped across multiple industries that get leads with posts in the single and low double digit lien range. 

Here’s the formula that drives inbound and powers content-led outbound:

Authority – Prove you know what you're doing. Speak like an expert.

Process – Show how you help. Be specific.

Story – Your journey. Client stories. Candidate stories Be real, show that you’re in the trenches.

Results – Provide numbers. Metrics. Proof. And share it in an interesting way. 

That’s how you build trust.

That’s how you attract clients who already want what you offer.

Not by hoping for likes. No selfies. No hashtags. No complaining. 

But posting for the follow up.

And by showing you can solve the exact problems your next best client is trying to fix.

Wife & Mother of 7 | Venture Capital | Scientist | TOP 30 Patent Drafters | United States Patent Examiner | Violinist | Polyglot | STEM Children's Author | #1 LinkedIn Global Influencer in Innovation/IP Law

Kathryn Vatt is a scientist, former USPTO Examiner, and devoted wife and mother of seven, with over 25 years shaping the future of innovation. Recognized as one of the Top 30 Patent Drafters and Prosecutors and the #1 LinkedIn Global Influencer in Innovation/IP Law, Kathryn has built a career at the intersection of science, law, and business—helping inventors, startups, and global companies turn creativity into competitive advantage.

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (B.S. Biology) and Johns Hopkins University (M.S. Biotechnology), Kathryn is currently pursuing her Juris Doctor in Patent Law at the Franklin Pierce School of Law, one of the world’s leading IP programs. Her rare cross-disciplinary background gives her both the scientific insight and the legal strategy to protect ideas at the highest level.

At the USPTO, Kathryn examined thousands of patent applications, conducted exhaustive prior art searches, and made determinations that shaped industries and influenced global innovation. After leaving the Patent Office, she founded Vatt IP Management, where she develops bulletproof IP strategies, drafts airtight applications, and supports litigation teams in defending patents. She also mentors engineering and life science students through Arizona State University’s Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute and judges international startup competitions, nurturing the next generation of innovators.

Her entrepreneurial vision extends to her ventures:

My Startup Shield™, a founder-focused program that helps startups secure their innovations before they pitch. It protects ideas at the earliest, most vulnerable stage and positions founders to raise capital with confidence

My AI Examiner™, the world’s first proprietary patent search platform that combines examiner-trained AI Patent Examiners with Kathryn’s own human review. Unlike conventional tools, it doesn’t just search faster—it “thinks like an examiner,” offering inventors and startups clarity, precision, and strategy.

MyKidVentors™, a STEM-inspired children’s book series born from her seven children’s real “What if?” questions. Through these imaginative stories, she nurtures curiosity in the next generation, showing that every big invention begins with a single question.

For Kathryn, the same motherly instinct that guides her family fuels her professional mission: to protect, guide, and nurture startups with care, strategy, foresight, and integrity. She believes innovation doesn’t just start in labs or boardrooms—it starts in the curious minds of those brave enough to ask, “What if?”

Kathryn V.

OREOS FOR MOTHER’S DAY

At a small neighborhood shop, a man quietly changes lives.

He gives free food to kids who show him their grades...a reward not just for doing well in school, but for trying, for caring, for showing up.

In this video, one young boy steps up to the counter, offered the chance to choose anything he wants.

Today, he picks milk, bread, eggs...and cookies for Mother’s Day.
And the shop owner...touched by that choice...adds a bouquet of flowers for him to bring home.

Neither of them realizes that what just happened will be remembered for years.
Because kindness like that doesn’t end at the counter...it multiplies.

Every act of generosity plants a seed:
A child whose confidence blooms.
A parent who feels seen and loved.
A community reminded that humanity still shines bright.

So here’s to the everyday heroes: the ones who lift others quietly, who give without expecting anything in return.

You may never see the full impact of your kindness...but someone’s world is brighter because of you. 


------
If you enjoy my posts please follow me:
Kathryn V.
VATT IP Management
My AI Examiner™
My Startup Shield™
https://lnkd.in/gAERstmz
https://lnkd.in/gmAS9P7Z
https://lnkd.in/gJyb28T8

Your Company ≠ Their Company

Startup culture is loud.

Announcements.
Rounds.
Launches.
Leaps.

And even the most confident founders feel it.
That quiet comparison.
“Should I be further by now?”
“Why does their growth look easier?”
“Am I missing something?”

But when you compare, you slowly lose sight of what’s yours to build.
And what’s yours was never meant to look like anyone else’s.

Different wiring.
Different gifts.
Different responsibilities.
Different seasons.

Some are drawn to bold, public momentum.
Others move with careful protection.
Some are compelled to disrupt.
Others feel called to preserve and strengthen.

None of it is accidental.
And none of it is a hierarchy.

But when you try to imitate someone else’s arc,
you drift from your own.

You trade alignment for applause.

At Founder Chapel, we care deeply about stewardship.

Stewarding your vision.
Stewarding your ownership.
Stewarding your influence.
Stewarding the people who trust you.

Because leadership isn’t about matching someone else’s leap.
It’s about faithfully tending what’s been placed in your hands.

That’s why we created Founder Chapel Learning Pods.
Small, steady circles where founders can step out of comparison and return to clarity...about their gifts, their values, and the kind of company they are called to build.

I’m deeply honored to be leading the pod focused on intellectual property and building your moat; helping founders protect what they’ve been entrusted with and think carefully about how they bring it into the market with integrity.

My incredible Founder Chapel family: David Y., Jay Jin, and Katrena Drake are leading pods of their own, each walking alongside founders through different pressures and seasons.

You don’t need someone else’s platform.
You need to steward your own.
And you don’t have to do that alone.

Come as you are.
We welcome you to apply here → https://lnkd.in/gM9xz6qk

FIRST TOGETHER


At Founder Chapel, we believe real leaders don’t climb alone.
They rise by lifting others.

In a world obsessed with rankings, valuations, and visibility, it’s easy to believe leadership means standing above everyone else. 

But the founders who build legacies understand something deeper:
Nothing meaningful is built alone.

Behind every breakthrough are unseen sacrifices, honest conversations, shared burdens, and people who stood steady when things felt uncertain.

True leadership isn’t about guarding the top spot.
It’s about making space on it.

Because titles fade.
Headlines move on.
Momentum comes and goes.

But character remains.
Stewardship remains.
The way you build...and who you build with...remains.

That’s why Founder Chapel exists.

Through our Learning Pods, founders gather not just to scale companies, but to sharpen judgment, strengthen conviction, and build with integrity alongside others who believe leadership is a responsibility, not a spotlight.

If you’re building something that matters and you want to build it with depth, wisdom, and community...we invite you to apply here → https://lnkd.in/gM9xz6qk

Founder Chapel: Build well. Lead faithfully. Rise together.
David Y. Jay Jin Katrena Drake

LET US REMOVE THE PLANK

A donkey is trying to squeeze through a fence...
stuck between two planks, pushing, trying, determined to get through.

Another donkey stands nearby, watching the struggle.
Present, but unsure how to help.

Then a third donkey arrives.
It doesn’t rush in.
It watches for a moment.

And then, quietly, it walks up to the fence and removes one of the planks.
Suddenly, what felt impossible…isn’t.

That moment felt like such a clear picture of what so many founders experience.

Founders are relentless.
They push. They problem-solve. They endure.
Often with others watching...investors, peers, family, and friends. People who care, but don’t quite know how to step in.

And sometimes, what’s needed isn’t more effort or more grit.
It’s someone who can see the structure from a different angle 
and help remove the piece that’s making everything harder than it needs to be.

That’s what Founder Chapel exists to be.
Not another voice shouting encouragement from the sidelines.
Not more pressure to push through.
But steady presence. Clear perspective.
And the right kind of help at the right moment.

As we begin our Founder Chapel Learning Pods, we’re creating small, trusted spaces where founders don’t have to struggle alone...
where real questions are welcome,
where clarity can emerge,
and where the weight gets lighter because it’s shared.

I’m deeply honored to be serving as one of the Founder Chapel Learning Pod Guides. In my pod, I will walk alongside founders and talk through the things that quietly matter most...
protecting your intellectual property,
thinking clearly about go-to-market strategy,
and making sure you’re safeguarding your ownership rights and your ability to ethically bring what you’re building into the world.

Please see the link below to apply for my pod, as well as the pods led by my amazing Founder Chapel family: David Y. (B2B Sales for $1M+ Revenue Startups), Jay Jin (Social Media Scaling: Managing 100+ Videos production & uploads every week with AI), and Katrena Drake (Operationalizing Your Startup).

👉 https://lnkd.in/gM9xz6qk

This year, you don’t have to carry it alone.
We’re here.
Come as you are. 🙏

“You cannot have a symphony made entirely of soloists.” – David Y.

I’ve been thinking about that line ever since I read it in David's latest piece in Unicorn Parents (https://lnkd.in/gzUt3QHV ).

How easy it is, as parents, to confuse shaping with loving.

When you hold a newborn for the first time, you don’t see a résumé.
You don’t see a title.
You don’t see a future LinkedIn headline.

You see a soul.

And yet somewhere along the way, the noise creeps in.

Be confident.
Be exceptional.
Stand out.
Lead.
Win.

But what if the truest work of parenting isn’t pushing our children toward a spotlight…
but learning the light they already carry?

I have seven children.

Seven hearts.
Seven temperaments.
Seven entirely different ways of moving through the world.

One feels deeply and needs time before speaking.
One runs headfirst into new rooms.
One studies quietly before acting.
One wants clear direction.
Another wants room to explore.

If I tried to mold them into one “ideal” personality, I would crush something sacred in each of them.

Not every child is meant to be loud.
Not every child is meant to be first.
Not every child is meant to lead in the way our culture applauds.

Some are anchors.
Some are builders.
Some are bridges.
Some are protectors.
Some are steady flames that warm a room without ever demanding attention.

And all of it matters.

I think the real discipline of motherhood is restraint.

Resisting the urge to project our unfinished dreams.
Resisting comparison.
Resisting panic when they don’t fit the mold.

And instead, choosing to watch closely.
To listen carefully.
To guide gently.

Children unfold. They don’t perform.

Their identity is not something we engineer. It’s something we steward.

And when they feel safe enough to become who they truly are...not who we wish they were...something beautiful happens.

They grow in confidence that is quiet but rooted.
They make choices that feel aligned, not forced.
They step into responsibility when they’re ready...not when we’re anxious.

The world does not need copies.

It needs fully formed humans.

Our role isn’t to script their story.

It’s to love them so well that they have the courage to write their own. 💛

BUILD THE BOOTH ANYWAY

I saw the cutest video today.
A man is driving through his neighborhood and spots a golden retriever standing behind a little booth.

Handmade sign.
“Kisses: $100”

The man gets out of his car in disbelief.
“What? No one is going to pay $100 for a kiss.”

The camera pans.
There’s a long line of women waiting their turn.
Almost fighting each other to pay.

And I thought…
That’s entrepreneurship.
There will always be someone who rolls down the window and says:
“No one will buy that.”
“That’s too much.”
“Who do you think you are?”

And meanwhile…
There’s a line forming you can’t see yet.

Not because the golden retriever was the loudest.
Not because he begged.
Not because he discounted his kisses to $5 to prove a point.
But because he believed in the booth enough to build it.

Founders...
don’t listen to the person in the car.

Build the booth.
Put up the sign.
Set your price.
If it’s real, if it’s authentic, if it’s aligned...
your people will feel it.

And when you build something with heart?
It becomes contagious.
Investors don’t line up for desperation.
They line up for conviction.

Happy Valentine’s Day to the ones brave enough to put their idea out there.
Build it with love.
The right line will form. ❤️

THE FOUNDER CHAPEL SOLO CUP CHALLENGE

As I watched this video, I kept thinking about the founders I walk alongside every day.

Building a company can feel exactly like that hallway.

Contracts.
Hiring decisions.
Fundraising.
Intellectual property.
Go-to-market strategy.
Partnerships.
Ownership rights.

So many cups.
So little margin for error.

Some founders charge ahead.
Some try to leap everything at once.
Some quietly step out of the hallway altogether.

But sometimes the wisest move isn’t speed.
It’s slowing down long enough to understand the structure of the room.

At Founder Chapel, we don’t believe every founder should move the same way.

Different temperaments.
Different wiring.
Different seasons.

Some need bold momentum.
Some need careful navigation.
All need companionship.

That’s why we created Founder Chapel Learning Pods.
Small groups of founders walking through their own hallways...together.

I’m deeply honored to be leading the Learning Pod focused on intellectual property and building your moat: helping founders move carefully through decisions that affect ownership, protection, and ethical market entry.

My incredible Founder Chapel family...David Y., Jay Jin, and Katrena Drake... are leading pods of their own, each supporting founders in different ways.

No bulldozing required.
No leaping necessary.
No walking away alone.

Just steady steps.
Thoughtful guidance.
And a community that understands the weight of the hallway.

This year, you don’t have to navigate the cups alone.
Come as you are. Feel the presence. 💛             

We invite you to apply --> https://lnkd.in/gM9xz6qk

So, so good, Jason Butcher!

Founders - isn’t this true of any relationship? 

Trust isn’t built in moments of performance...it’s built in the quiet, consistent ones. 

In how you communicate when it’s uncomfortable. In whether your actions match your words. 

Investors, like all humans, are looking for patterns. 

Consistency builds trust. Trust builds confidence. And confidence is what ultimately moves capital.

Multi Exit Founder, seasoned advisor and strategic investor backing bold ideas in Payments, Fintech, AI, Sports Tech, Mental Health and creative Innovative projects while empowering founders to make a positive impact.

Long-term trust with investors isn’t built during a pitch.
It’s built, how you behave when nothing is being sold.

Investors pay close attention to patterns, how you communicate, how you handle uncertainty, and whether your words consistently match your actions.

They don’t expect certainty. They expect judgment.

Being realistic earns more trust than being optimistic. Saying what’s actually happening, especially when it’s uncomfortable, builds far more credibility than waiting to “fix it first.”

Small commitments matter more than big promises.
If you respect timelines, follow up when you say you will, and communicate clearly, investors assume you’ll respect their capital the same way.

Numbers alone don’t build confidence. Context does.
Explaining why things changed shows awareness. Avoiding the conversation signals risk.

What ultimately compounds trust is ownership. Founders who take responsibility, without defensiveness or excuses, earn long-term support, even through volatility.

The strongest investor relationships aren’t transactional.
They’re built on transparency, consistency, and alignment over time.

Capital follows confidence.
Confidence follows trust.

#InvestorRelations #TrustBuilding

Professionalism and humanity start with respect. Every message. Every time.

Monday rant.    Apologies in advance but I have to...

IYKYK, I'm here on LinkedIn alot.   

I follow lots of you, I read your posts, I comment on many.   

I love the power of this platform.   Because sometimes, serendipity happens.  Some of your LinkedIn DM's, Hubble calls or Boardy intros leads to me Investing or actively Advising many of you.   The power of connecting, sending that DM, a Hubble call, and having that conversation, it never ceases to amaze me.  

I connect with all of you who request.   I read all your DM's.   My inbox buried but I try to respond to all.  And the DM's I receive, most all are genuine and respectful.    Thank you.

BUT

Sometimes I get -  Terrible.   Not kind.  Not polite.  And some bordering on things I shouldn't have to deal with in 2026.   Seriously.  Can't even repeat here.  But It's so wrong and hurtful.  

And here's what I've learned after 4 decades in Silicon Valley as an Operator and Investor.  The ones who win long term are the ones who treat everyone with RESPECT before they need something.   
Not selectively.   
Not after. 
Never.  

For my entire life, being KIND has never put me back.  
It has never ever been a handicap.  
I think its one of my strengths.

So here's my ask...

Before you send that cold DM, before you hit  'connect'  ask yourself
Would I say this to someone's face at a dinner table?
Will my Mom or Dad be proud of me? 

If the answer is no, pls. DON'T SEND IT 

To the 90% of you who show up with kindness, curiosity, and good intent 
Thank you so much.   

To the other 10%.   PLEASE DO BETTER.  
Be kind.  Be respectful.  Be human.  It's not that hard.

Thank you.   Okay, Rant over.  
I promise to be my colorful smiley positive self soon.  

p.s. - Turns out I don't have 'gloomy moody not smiling pics' but this one styled by ChatGPT, I think did a good job of showing how I really feel right now...

Reposting this from Hubble because every founder needs this reminder. 👇

The desert is real.
The no’s are loud.
The pivots are humbling.

But:
• Anything is possible.
• You’re not trying to be right...you’re trying to get it right.
• Give before you receive.
• And don’t forget to celebrate the milestones.

Kevin's lessons aren’t just inspirational...they’re practical survival strategy.

To every founder building right now (especially in the quiet, unseen moments), you are not alone. Keep going. 🚀

And congratulations to the graduating founders of Spring 2026, Founder Institute Caribbean!! 🎓🚀

Starting a company is choosing one of the hardest, and most rewarding journeys of your life.

Recently, our cofounder Kevin Jurovich was a keynote speaker at the Founder Institute Caribbean Spring 2026 Graduation Ceremony.

Here are Kevin’s 4 personal lessons to carry any new founder through the hardest days as a founder:

1/ Never, ever let go of the feeling that anything is possible.

“In 2016, I left my job in banking, packed up all my stuff, got in my Ford Explorer Sport, and drove up to San Francisco to chase that dream.”

Once you enter the real world, it won’t be kind.

You'll pitch 10, 50, maybe 100 investors who say no.

Cofounders will decline, and customers will churn.

Those rejections will get to you if you don’t do something about it.

You have to find a source of inspiration to pull you out of the cycle.

For Kevin, it was listening to hours and hours of founder podcasts. 

You have to do the same for yourself.

2/ You’re not trying to be right. You’re trying to get it right.

"Every opportunity is an opportunity to run an experiment and learn.”

It’s inevitable you will face a time called “the desert.”

The period when you’re at a dead end, trying to find the path forward.

Kevin spent five years wandering his own desert.

When you arrive, don't panic.

The product you just pitched might look completely different in a year.

Your GTM will shift. 
Your story will evolve. 
You might pivot entirely.

Don’t resist this time.

This is where you get it right.

3/ Always give before you receive.

"Do the most with what you have, give to the world, and karma has a funny way of working it all out in the end.”

Before Hubble, Kevin started writing on LinkedIn about his journey.

His goal was simple: to help other founders.

One day, he wrote a viral post about Uber's first investor, and caught the attention of Mike Walsh.

After a friendly back-and-forth for months, Mike slid into Kevin's DMs:

"Hey pal, I want in."

He led Hubble's pre-seed round.

Being a founder is not about what you can extract from people.

It's about what value you can create for them first.

The returns come when you stop chasing them.

4/ Don’t forget to celebrate the milestones.

"You are exactly where you need to be. You have exactly the abilities and attributes you need.”

As a founder, you’ve one of the hardest paths a human can walk.

The stakes just keep rising.

Don’t skip the milestones.

Everyone’s on their own timeline.

You are exactly where you need to be.

To every founder reading this:

You're not alone.

The journey will be difficult, but you have everything you need already inside you.

P.S. Congratulations to the graduating founders of Spring 2026:

Andrew Phillips, Brian Branch, Dr. Sophia Morgan, Gerard Llanos, Jasmine Greene, Javanna Haughton, Jonathan Joel Mentor, Laureano Leguizamon, Michael Staniewicz, Mileyska Rodriguez, Navin Seeterram, Rodney Browne, Ryan R. Roper, Samantha Carter, Ph.D., Silvia Guzmán, Darren T., and Angela W.

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