Darren Gibb

I teach coaches how to win more clients using Strategic Content that Converts | Ask about my CLOSE Framework

How many times have you tried to make LinkedIn ‘work’ for you? 🤦‍♂️

If it's not working, you're focusing on the wrong things. Here's why 👇

Because most LinkedIn advice focuses on fluffy nonsense
→ Hooks
→ Formatting
→ How to grow your account (whilst making no money).

(spoiler alert: I am unashamedly about helping you make $$$, not get likes).

It’s easy to look popular.
To fain popularity.
And to get people liking your content.

But what coaches truly suffer from is creating the right type of strategic content.

The type of content which attracts the right people
And repels the wrong.

The type of content which turns you into your prospects’ number 1 expert.

The type of content which strategically positions you as the ONLY solution to their problems.

And the type of content which - best of all - converts those followers of yours into happy, paying clients.

You’ve likely tried the free courses.
Paid some money to unlock the ‘secrets’ from the gurus…
Yet still don’t have a predictable amount of leads coming your way every month.

Or perhaps you feel that you’ve cracked LinkedIn and are ready for that next step:
Webinars, Masterclasses and Challenges (ask me about how I helped one of my clients, Andy, turn a $150 webinar into almost $50k 👀) 

LinkedIn and social selling isn’t difficult - and I make it easier with my CLOSE Framework:

→  𝗖ontent That Attracts & Repels
→  𝗟everage LinkedIn Intelligently
→  𝗢ptimized DM Strategy
→  𝗦trong Sales Strategies
→  𝗘nhance Expert Influence

It really is as simple as that.

And that’s what I’m known for (check out my testimonials for evidence).

If you want to CLOSE and make money.
Shoot over a DM saying 'CLOSE' to find out more.

But - I only work with hard-working coaches who are serious about 

→ improving their LinkedIn strategies
→ Serving more of their ideal clients
→ Know that everything takes work.

If this sounds like you, I look forward to chatting.

If not, I hope you still learn something from my content.

And if you’ve read down to here, drop a DM just to say hello. 

DM the word ‘STARBURSTER’ and I’ll send you over something I usually sell...

For free 🌟 

Also check out my website in my Featured Section to get some free gifts and also sign up to my newsletter.

Storytelling on LinkedIn Coach

Combining my knowledge and passion for storytelling with my knowledge for LinkedIn, I help coaches and solopreneurs use storytelling and proven strategies to improve their content and convert more followers into paying clients.

International Women's Day was yesterday.

Here's what pisses me off the most:

That we even need to have one.

That it's 2026 and women and men need to go to the streets to call for equality.

1. It will take 108 years to close the gender gap
2. Only 6 countries* give women equal legal work rights as men*
3. 22% of AI professionals are women - and it could be down to lack of confidence
4. Women are 47% more likely to suffer severe injuries in car crashes because safety features are designed for men
5. 33,000 girls become child brides every day.

In every area of life, women are misrepresented.
In the past, today, and going forward.

So, whilst it's nice to celebrate women, I instead feel genuine anger that we still have to have this conversation.

At least next year's IWD will be 107 years to close the gender gap 🤷‍♀️✊.

To all of our sisters, keep fighting the right fight.
We stand by you.

(Oh, and bye bye to my misogynistic followers - every 8th March is my most unfollowed day 😇)




* Belgium, Denmark, France, Latvia, Luxembourg and Sweden


_____________
Click here to follow --> Darren Gibb 
I burn the fluff from your feed 🔥

I teach you how to book calls in 8 DM messages | It was never about your content | Let’s stop pretending you’re not using LinkedIn to grow your business 😉

Your LinkedIn Besties' are killing your biz

(And LinkedIn's engineers have admitted it) 👇
 
I've been telling clients this for five years...
 
And LinkedIn's engineers finally published in a research paper it last year. 

Almost nobody in our space read it. 
I did.
 
Every click, like, comment and post you engage with trains LinkedIn's AI on who you are.
 
It builds your "topic fingerprint."
 
And out of hundreds of millions of posts, the AI uses that fingerprint to decide which 2,000 you see.
 
Two. Thousand.
 
So all that "networking" you've been doing:
 
The engagement pods. 
The coffee chats with your Linky Besties. 
The daily commenting on other coaches' posts so they'll comment on yours...
 
You've trained the algorithm to think you ARE a coach who CONSUMES coaching content.
 
So it shows you - more coaching content. 
And shows YOUR content to - more coaches.
 
Not prospects...
 
Peers. 🤦‍♂️
 
You built your own echo chamber. 
And now you're wondering why nobody with a chequebook ever shows up.
 
I know this because I did it.
 
A few years back I fell into the same trap. 
I wanted more engagement. 
And the easiest place to get it?
 
My peers. 
Other coaches. 
Other creators.
 
Surely, I thought, their prospects are hanging around their content - so if I show up there, those prospects will find me too.
 
Nope.
They didn't.
Their comments sections full of other coaches.
 
My engagement looked great. 
My pipeline looked empty.
 
(Sound familiar?)
 
The moment I shifted..
 
It shifted.
 
In my posts. 
In my DMs. 
On my calendar.
 
I never went back to it.
 
And I see it happening even faster with clients now with this algo.
 
Different people showing up on their posts.
In their DMs. 
On their calendar.
 
Not bEsTiEs clapping along... 
Actual prospects - because the algorithm finally knows where the hell to put them.
 
The paper explains the mechanics. 
But the lesson is simpler than any research paper:
 
The algorithm doesn't reward engagement. 
It rewards the RIGHT engagement.
 
So here's the question that'll tell you everything:
 
When was the last time an actual prospect - not a peer, not a bEsTiE, not someone in your "support group" - left a comment on your post?
 
If you can't remember, that's not a content problem. 
That's an algorithm identity problem.
 
And it's fixable. 
Fast.

 
👀 P.S. I've broken down what this paper means for coaches and consultants - the 5 things the AI actually measures in the algo and how to use them. DM or comment "DIME ALGO!" and I'll send it over.

7.1bn people - world war 3: yep, we're about to start

linkedin - 7 ways to build a personal brand!

dunno whether to love or hate this platform sometimes 😅

scrolling through is literally just like any other monday.

bUt ThE wOrLd MiGhT eNd!!!!
- umm yeah, but check out my sweet carousel about the top 67 LinkedIn Creators to follow!


what a world we live in. 😅

If I've missed something huge about the algo...

Is there a chance you've missed a few of these?

And yes.. This is a post about the algo...
But no... It's not based in hearsay or bullshit.

LinkedIn never talk about their algo
(ex-LinkedIn Alicia Teltz often emphasises how little LinkedIn staff know about it).

So when their engineers released this a few months back, it mostly went unnoticed.

I've found myself going back to it and seeing I can still be doing more.

It's nerdy and technical..

So I've broken it down in plain English:

And each one will make you re-think your entire approach:

1️⃣ Your content fights through a filter of hundreds of millions of posts. 
 ↳ Most don't survive it.

2️⃣ The algorithm builds a "fingerprint" of you. 
 ↳ And it's probably wrong.

3️⃣ Only your positive actions train the AI. 
 ↳ What you scroll past doesn't exist.

4️⃣ Your engagement strategy is training the algorithm to hide you from buyers.
 ↳ Read that again.

5️⃣ Your headline isn't written for humans anymore. 
 ↳ The AI reads it first.

6️⃣ The people who benefit most from the algorithm will never comment on your post.
 ↳ And that's not the worst thing in the world.

7️⃣ The algorithm delivers your prospects. 
↳ But if you're not catching them, someone else is.

And I've put together something I've not seen anyone else do.
 
3 Claude prompts that do the hard work for you.
 
One audits your algorithmic fingerprint in 5 minutes. One rewrites your headline so the AI actually knows where to put you. One writes your DM opener when a prospect lands in your profile views.
 
They're inside a free playbook I put together off the back of this research.

You get the prompt.
How to execute it.
And then how to use it properly

(cos let's be honest, you don't need more random prompts.)

DM me Algo Claude and I'll send it over.
 
(Swipe the carousel. Then come back and tell me which one surprised you most.)



_____________
Click here to follow --> Darren Gibb

7 Reasons the Algo HATES you (and how to fix them now)

"Post consistently!" was always shit advice.
 
And this algorithm proves it 👇
 
The more I nerd out about this algo, the more I love it. 
(Seriously.)
 
Look, if "being consistent" led to booked calls and multi six figs, 
about 90% of the coaches and consultants posting 5x a week on here would be millionaires by now.
 
But they're not.
 
This worked 4 years ago. 
When the gurus used it to grow their accounts.
 
It's because you have 5 posts a week and 5, 6, 7 different pillars/topics...
 
That's what's costing you.
 
The algorithm can't classify you. 
It's not punishing you. 
It doesn't really 'hate' you...
 
It just really... Doesn't know who in the blue hell you are. 

Or what you do.
Or who you help.
Or how you help them.
 
You're making it guess - and it's guessing wrong.
 
And those gurus whose content you're leaving comments on. 
Spending time on. 
Liking others' comments on.
 
Yeah.
 
That's bolloxed it as well.
 
The algorithm thinks you're looking for people in your own niche... 
Which is why coaches see so many other coaches. 
And solopreneurs don't see those B2B clients.
 
It thinks you're a generalist. 
So it serves you generalist content.
 
So here's what to start doing now:
 
➡️ Lock in fewer topics. 
  ↳ 2-3 Pillars (I bet those other 2-3 are bullshit leadership fluff anyway).
 
➡️ Look at your last 10 posts. Seriously - do this. 
  ↳ Count distinct topics. More than 2-3? There's your answer.
 
➡️ The creators who are closing deals... 
  ↳ Are saying the same 2-3 things 15 different ways.
 
Oh, and posting 2-3 times a week seems to be the sweet spot. 

Yeah.
 
Stop posting more. 
Start saying fewer things better.
 

🗣️ Tell me in the comments (wrong answers only):
👉 If the algorithm had to describe what you do in one sentence based on your last month of content - what would it say?


_____________
Click here to follow --> Darren Gibb

90% of your buyers...

Will never comment on a single post.
 
They lurk. 
They save. 
They screenshot your carousels at 11pm. 
They check your profile three times before they ever message you.
 
And they make a decision based on 5 things you've never thought about.
 
Not your follower count. 
Not your engagement rate. 
Not how "valuable" your content is.
 
Five specific signals that tell them whether you're the expert they hire - or the resource they bookmark and forget.
 
I didn't guess this. 
I watched it happen across 20,000+ DM conversations.
 
Same patterns. 
Same signals. 
Same decision-making process. 
Over and over.
 
Most experienced coaches are sending at least 3 of the wrong signals right now.
 
(and the engagement metrics won't tell you which ones)
 
Swipe through. 
I've laid out all 5.
 
Slide 7 shows you how to reverse-engineer your LinkedIn fingerprint - shows you what the algorithm actually thinks you are. Built from LinkedIn's own engineering research.
 
DM me HIRED and I'll send it over.

🗣️ Let me know in the comments
👉 Who do you think the algorithm thinks you are (wrong answers only)?



_____________
Click here to follow --> Darren Gibb 
I burn the fluff from your feed 🔥

5 things your buyers see that you dont

If your posts get comments but your DMs stay empty… 

I just built the thing that fixes that 👀

(and I want 5 people to test it before I release it).

It takes ppl from your Content to Deep in the DMs.

The problem is so much AI bullshit on here is generic.
Badly engineered crap.

This takes your last 10+ LinkedIn posts.
Audits them against the algorithm we know and love/hate.
And scores each one on whether it's actually creating any DM opportunities.

(Spoiler: the majority aren't).

But here's where it gets interesting.

For the people who commented on your posts?
It writes the DM to send them.

Not a pitch.
Not "loved your comment!"
A real, contextual conversation opener based on what they actually said.

Most AI tools tell you your content "suuuuucks."
Cheers for that.

This one shows you the gap - and builds the bridge across it.

I've been deep in this AI → Conversion world for almost 4 years.
I've reviewed over 15,000 DM conversations.
I know what works.

And more importantly, what doesn't.

I've been using a version of this with my clients - it works.
It REALLY works.

But I want to stress-test it with people I haven't coached.
People who don't already know my frameworks.
To see if it holds up cold.

Here's the deal:
→ 5 people.
→ You need to have posted at least 10 times in the last 2 months.
→ You need to actually use it and tell me what happened.

That's it.

DM me the word ALPHABETAMETA.

First 5 get it today.
Everyone else waits. 💅


_____________
Click here to follow --> Darren Gibb

Your sales calls aren't failing at the close. 

They're failing in the first five minutes.

And I know why you hear "I need to think about it"...

More than anything else on sales calls.
 
I know because I've listened to the recordings.
 
Hundreds of them. 

Across 150+ clients. 

Coaches, consultants, GTM professionals. 

All experienced. 
All credible. 
All losing deals they should be winning.
 
And the pattern is brutal in its consistency.
 
Five mistakes. 
The same five.
Every time. 

And not one of them is what the sales gurus tell you.
 
It's not "handle objections better." 
It's not "use this magic closing script." 
It's not confidence or energy or any of that motivational bollocks.
 
It's structural. 

The way the call is built means the prospect was always going to say "let me think about it." 

You just didn't see it happening in real time.
 
(Ryan didn't either. He was closing 1 in 5. Changed one thing - not a script, a frame - and hit 4 in 5 within weeks... Then 95%)
 
I mapped out all five in this carousel. 
Each one with the psychology underneath and the shift that fixes it.
 
Swipe through. 
Be brutally honest with yourself.
 
Then - if you want the real diagnostic - I built a GPT that reads your actual sales call transcripts and pinpoints exactly where the deal died.

Trained on the various sales experts I've studied and learned from over the years, they will pick apart your call and show you exactly where you went wrong.

Not theory. 
Your calls. 
Your patterns. 
Your blind spots.
Your future won calls.
 
DM or Comment "I DON'T NEED TO THINK ABOUT IT!" and I'll send it straight over.

🗣️ Let me know in the comments below. 
👉 Looking back what's the most cringe mistake you've made in a sales call? 

_____________
Click here to follow --> Darren Gibb 
I burn the fluff from your feed 🔥

5 Reasons your Sales Calls End with I NEED TO THINK ABOUT 

"If I had to start" [writing hooks again] "tomorrow..."

I'd never use this fkn structure (iykyk)🤦‍♂️.

Same with :

2020 - sad and depressed
2026 - bit happier, still depressed.

or

2025: unemployed and sad.
2026: multi-7-fig founder (and still a bit sad).

please.
(steal this hook 🤦‍♂️)...

someone tell me when the adults have come back to linkedin.

you see, the people actually booking calls from LinkedIn aren't using the same tired hook templates.
 
they're using the reader's own words back at them.
(but that's a conversation for another day)



#MonYayMotivation  
#sadnotsad 
#whydopeoplestillusehashtagslikeits2014onlinkedinfml 



PS does this 'resonate'?
PPS does this 'hit hard'?
PPPS 'is this such a 'vibe'? 😎

I feel bullied and triggered.

Are you responsible?

"Comment X for Y" posts...
 
Everyone seems to hate them all of a sudden
(Well.. apart from my bank account 🤷‍♂️)
 
Those who don't like them complain "value" isn't given. 
Bullshit.
 
It is if it's done correctly. 
If the lead magnet is great. (as it always should be)
 
🧨 Actually... DM/comment SHOW ME HOW and I'll send you over my Playbook I use with my clients on how to do this - most pull in at least 3 leads per post doing this. 💥
 
And if it leads to a client - as it often does with the right strategy... 
Then it's a WIN-WIN.
 
You've solved their problem.
 
And if a person has volunteered themselves forward... then who cares?! 
(nobody's forcing anybody to comment)
 
Seriously.
 
It has gotten me so many clients over the years.
 
Why?
 
Cos most prospects NEVER like or comment on content.
 
Fact.
 
85%+ are lurkers
(Ask yourself how many of your clients came from people who ALWAYS commented and liked your content. Exactly.)
 
So 'Comment X for Y' encourages people to reach out - who normally wouldn't.
 
It surfaces a gap in their knowledge. 
And creates an itch to be scratched.
 
So, those who have such a problem: 
Stop crying and get back to work.
 
Leave those of us who know what we're doing... do it.
 

🗣️ Let me know in the comments (bring on the debate!). 
👉 What are your thoughts and experiences about these posts?
 

PS.. Not joking! 🧨 DM/comment SHOW ME HOW and I'll send you over my Playbook I use with my clients on how to do this - most pull in at least 3 leads per post doing this. 💥
 


_____________
Click here to follow --> Darren Gibb 
I burn the fluff from your feed 🔥

You've found that ideal prospect. Then...

Silence. Ignored. Gone. Here's why 👇 

They were interested. 
Then silence.
 
You scroll back through the thread. 
Re-read every message. 
Wonder what you said wrong.

(DM me "I SEE GHOSTS!" and I'll give you the immediate fix).
 
Then you do the thing that kills the deal:
 
"Hey, just checking in!"
 
(we've all done it)
 
Here's what 15,000+ DM conversations taught me about ghosts:
 
They didn't lose interest. 
You lost the frame.
 
Somewhere in that thread - usually two or three messages before the silence - something shifted. 

You went from expert diagnosing their problem to vendor hoping for a sale.
 
And they felt it.
Immediately.
 
The silence isn't rejection. 
It's a response to positioning.
 
The fix isn't a better follow-up message. 
(Despite what broke gurus might claim).

It's a completely different re-entry. 
No references to the silence. 
No questions. 
No pressure.
 
You reappear with something genuinely useful. 
Something that made you think of their situation. 

Not a nudge - a reason.
 
When the frame resets, they come back. 
And this time, they're the ones asking for the call.
 
I built a free GPT that diagnoses exactly where your DM threads break.

Cos giving you a clever line was never really the solution.

Paste the conversation in. 
Get the diagnosis in seconds.

Check out the carousel for the full Ghost Recovery sequence. 👀👻
 
P.S. DM me I SEE GHOSTS and I'll send you the GPT link.

DMs - Ghost Protocol

If your DM conversations keep dying...

It's not what you said - It's when.

Most coaches think their DMs are fine...
Then they show me.

And it's almost always the same:
5 specific moments where trust breaks.

Not big dramatic mistakes.
Tiny, polite, professional moves that feel right and cost you everything.
(and that's exactly why nobody catches them)

Pitching before they've owned the problem.
Giving a brilliant answer when they ask a question.
Ending messages with "no pressure" and "totally understand."

Each one feels professional.
But each one is building a door for your prospect to leave through.

The real issue isn't five separate mistakes.

It's one missing skill: knowing who controls the frame.

Experts get hired. 
Resources get bookmarked.
And forgotten about moments later.

Your DMs are deciding which one you are.

The deal didn't die when they ghosted.
It died three messages earlier. 
You just didn't see it.

🗣️ Let me know in the comments
👉 If you scrolled your last five dead DM threads right now - what pattern would you see? (Wrong answers only)

P.S. - DM me DM Killer and I'll send you the GPT that diagnoses - and fixes - exactly where your conversations are dying. Paste your thread in. It maps the break point in 20 seconds.

5 DMs Which Are KILLING Your Conversations

You lost the call before you even opened Zoom.

(And yes. This one was ALL on you 👇)

I see this constantly.

Coaches invest in sales training. 
Objection handling scripts. 
Closing techniques. 
Better slide decks.

Then they get on a call and hear: 

"Let me think about it." 
"Can you send me more info?" 
"I need to speak to my partner."

And they think: I need to get better at selling.

No. 

You need to get better at the 8 messages before the sell.

Here is what nobody tells you:

If the prospect has not named their own problem before the call - 
↳ You are pitching, not closing.

If they have not said what it is costing them - 
↳ They have no urgency.

If they have not told you what they actually want - 
↳ You are guessing, not solving.

These 3 things happen in DMs. 
Or they do not happen at all.

Steve saw this firsthand.
Actually, a great salesperson.
But lost the call more often than not in the DMs.

He changed nothing about his call. 
Changed everything about his DM conversations.
And closed $32k is his second month of working together.

The call is just the last step. 
The sale was made - or lost - in the conversation before it.


👀 Still here? Congrats! 

DM or comment below saying 'NO PRECALL NERVES!' and I'll send you over the exact checklist I send to my clients before their sales call - with the questions you're likely missing included.


🗣️ Let me know in the comments
👉 What is the most common thing you hear on sales calls that tells you the deal is already dead?


P.S.
Are text-only posts kinda cool again?
Asking for a friend 🤷‍♂️


_____________
Click here to follow --> Darren Gibb

I see you fucking up every day.

This is my open letter to you:

Stop chasing trends.
Stop trying to be someone you’re not.
Stop trying to be something you’re not.

Cos this isn’t working for you.

Posting on LinkedIn.
Numerous times a week.
Cos the Gurus told you to.

Delegating your soul to ChatGPT.

Cos you simply don’t have the energy to create the amount of content you’ve been led to believe that you need to.

DMs?
They’re just reserved for Linky Besties.

Why?
Cos of that daily rejection you feel.
Those aimless messages.
That DM script you got given.

None of it works.

And it never has.

So just be your fucking self.

I tried to be someone else for the first 9 months on here.
It drove me to almost quit.

I swear like a trooper.

That’s why the 'f-word' is in my content.

It’s to warn people I’m like this…
And to warm those who are cool with it.

So strip back the bullshit.

Fuck the trends
(those billboards kinda make you look desperate - sorry!).

And start communicating like a human being.

Oh, and get in the damn DMs - your business depends on it

Almost 90% of my buyers have never liked or commented on a single post.
(yep - read that back again).

But they saw me.
My values. 
How I believe things should be done.

And when they were ready - they reached out.

And that's where the conversation starts.

In the DMs.
I promise - they're beautiful once you know how.

You know what to do.

You might just surprise yourself.

See you Monday 💪
(and remember - be a human being ffs).


🗣️ Let me know in the comments 
👉 What's the worst bit of LinkedIn advice you’ve followed? 🤦‍♀️



_____________
Click here to follow --> Darren Gibb 
I burn the fluff from your feed 🔥

LinkedIn makes you feel everyone's winning.

They're not - and nor are you. And that's ok.

It's ok to be having a bad day.
(yep, read that back again).

To lack creativity or inspiration.
To question every answer you think you have.

To lose that call you were sure you were going to win.
To wonder why it seems so easy for everyone else.
To feel it might, MIGHT just be better to quit.

We all have those days.

And when we do, walk away from it all.
Take the day off.
Be graceful with yourself.

And come back ready tomorrow... Or even on Monday.

Cos you're good at this shit.
You know it.
Your clients know it.

And deep down, that voice inside does as well.

Accountability Coach | Project Manager | Fractional Chief of Staff | Helping visionary coaches and consultants get sh!t done and ditch the overwhelm 💪 | Vegan 🌱 + Alcohol-Free

Your business has grown faster than your systems - and you're feeling it.

You've built something real. Proven offers. Loyal clients. A team that supports you. But somehow you're still the one connecting all the dots, holding all the context, making all the strategic decisions.

Your team handles operations. Your business coach guides strategy. But no one else sees the whole picture the way you do.

And honestly? You're exhausted from being the only integration point.

That's the gap I fill.

I'm a Fractional Chief of Staff who works with multi-six-figure coaches and consultants who already have operational support but need someone at the strategic level - someone who can:

🔹Share the load of holding your business's complexity
🔹Help you make better decisions faster
🔹Translate your business coach's insights into what's actually feasible
🔹Coordinate your most important initiatives
🔹Free you up to focus on the work only you can do

Here's how I work:

I provide strategic thought partnership with hands-on support. I manage 1-2 strategic initiatives at a time (like your book launch or new program rollout), optimize key systems, and coordinate team efforts on priorities. But I'm not managing your team day-to-day or running operations - that's what your OBM or VA does.

I work at the strategic level alongside you - the layer between your visionary thinking and your team's operational execution.

What clients say:
They describe me as a trusted thought partner and strategic integrator who brings calm, structure, and momentum to complex visions. I excel at soundboarding, asking the right questions, and connecting dots others miss.

With 25 years of experience across diverse sectors, I bring deep pattern recognition and the ability to see both the big picture and the details that make execution possible.

My approach:
I help you bridge the gap between vision and reality. I zoom out to see your whole ecosystem, then help you flesh out the projects, timelines, and systems that bring your biggest ideas to life. I remove roadblocks, identify what's missing, and ensure your systems, team, and operations finally move in sync.

Ready for a strategic partner who shares the load?

Let's connect ✨


A bit about me: I'm into house music, dancing, yoga, strength training, reading, and plant-based cooking. ISFJ + Human Design 3/5 Emo Projector 


✉️ GET MY WEEKLY INSIGHTS (too good for social) all about bridging the gap between your big vision and daily execution:

https://vibehigh.kit.com/87437b9dcf

Moriah Bacus, CAPM Ⓥ

You have a book idea. Or a half-finished manuscript collecting dust.

And a very good reason why it's not done yet.

The book idea is rarely the problem. 

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱.

If you've been sitting on a manuscript (or a vision for one), Tuesday's email was written for you.

I'm breaking down the most common places authors get stuck, and sharing two Author Audits to help you clarify your vision and build real momentum - whether you haven't started yet or you're already in process.

I'm also pulling back the curtain on how I've supported coaches and consultants through every stage, from concept to bestseller - including my recent work alongside Story Consultant, Brand Strategist, and Thought Leadership Coach, Catalina Margulis 

Cat helps purpose-driven leaders and trailblazing experts turn their stories into signature books, magnetic brands, and powerful platforms for lasting impact. If you're not already connected with her, now's the time.

💌 Join here to get Tuesday's email delivered straight to your inbox: https://lnkd.in/gE2RNuuK

Fractional Chief of Staff for Multi-Six-Figure Coaches + Consultants | Strategic Alignment System: Clarity, Capacity, Continuity | Stop being the bottleneck | Vegan 🌱 + Alcohol-Free

I don't soften my language.

Not in my content. Not in my client work. Not in my personal life.

I've been consciously leaning into directness as part of deconditioning from my "good girl programming." 

And I've noticed a pattern in how some people respond when they encounter clarity without the usual social lubrication:

They feel called out rather than informed. 
They reframe clarity as harshness or formality. 
They make it about the delivery rather than the content. 
They offer explanations and justifications rather than simply receiving the feedback.

Here's what's actually happening: 

Most people use softening language as a signal that says, "I'm not a threat." When that layer is absent, people mistake directness for hostility - even when the content is completely reasonable.

And here's why this matters:

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗮𝗯𝗶𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 - 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀.

• When you soften feedback to a team member, they don't course-correct. They think things are fine.
• When you soften your offer, prospects don't understand the value. They see it as optional, not essential.
• When you soften your content, your ideal client doesn't recognize themselves in it. They keep scrolling.

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲:

❌ "I was thinking maybe we could try to..." 
✅ "Let’s do this."

❌ "I'm not sure if this makes sense, but..." 
✅ "Here's what I'm seeing."

❌ "Would it be possible for you to consider..." 
✅ "Could you please [specific action]."

❌ "I could be wrong, but it seems like..." 
✅ "This isn't working. Let's talk about what needs to change."

My weekly newsletter open rates? 65-70%. Well above industry average. My ideal clients can clearly relate to my message.

The people who unsubscribe from my emails or ghost after one conversation? They were never going to be aligned clients anyway.

The people who stay, who open every email, who reach out to work together? They came for exactly this - unfiltered clarity.

𝗥𝗲𝗳𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗮 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸. 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗮 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿 - 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮 𝗳𝗶𝘁.

Your team doesn't need your kindness wrapped in vague language. Your clients don't need reassurance that you're not "too much." Your content doesn't need to apologize for taking up space.

We need your clarity. Your authority. Your unfiltered insight.

𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂: Do you catch yourself softening language without even realizing it? Where does it show up most - with your team, in your offers, or in your content?

Moriah is standing in front of a large window with the CN Tower behind her in the distance

We were parting ways after a coffee meetup. I'd been struggling to open up about something weighing on me.

As I said goodbye and turned to cross the street, he called after me and said, "Hey! I'm your friend, okay?"

At the time, I didn't realize how important that message was. I remember smiling and saying "okay..."

Weeks later, in a moment of crisis, I remembered that moment. I knew he was the only person I could confide in who would get it. And he answered the call. Being able to talk through what was happening centered and grounded me. 

Yesterday, in a conversation with someone I'm exploring a working relationship with, I was trusted with something heavy they were going through. 

The conversation went deep. A lot was processed.

Near the end of the conversation, it came back around to working together. I told them - "I'm your friend. I'll be here for you through this and we can talk business when you're on the other side of it." 

I could sense the impact of my words.

In a world where trust seems harder than ever to come by, don't underestimate how much it means to show up for people and clearly communicate your friendship. Even when the relationship is new.

Because we all deserve to have someone we can feel safe with, who we can confidently turn to when sh!t hits the fan.

Early morning light shining through trees at High Park in Toronto

Most multi-six-figure coaches I know have been burned by at least one hire.

A founder told me recently he hired a VA and ended up paying around $6K for 12 social posts. 

Another said that after a similar experience, her partner brought it up every single time she considered investing in outside support again - as proof it wasn't worth it.

They hired someone - a VA, a contractor, sometimes a coach - and when it didn't land, they filed all business support into the same mental folder: overhead. Something to justify rather than invest in.

Here's what I want to gently push back on.

An expense 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘴. You pay it, it's gone, and the only question is whether it was worth the cost. 

An investment 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 - systems, capacity, clarity - long after the initial outlay.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗲. 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀.

When you bring in a strategic partner, the work compounds:

• A proposal process built in month two is still closing clients in month eight. 
• A conference strategy built in Q1 means every room you walk into this year is intentional, not a gamble.
• A book launch strategy developed in month one means you're not scrambling six months later trying to retrofit a marketing plan onto a timeline that's already slipping.

That's not overhead. That's infrastructure.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻'𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲.

One of my clients put it plainly two months into the new year: "𝘐'𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳..."

Not because he got more hours in his day. Because the right things started compounding.

___

Have you been burned by a hire that felt like an expense in hindsight? I'd love to hear what that experience taught you.

If my work wasn't focused on coaches and consultants, I'd be working with…

Authors. 
Event producers.
Keynote speakers. 

.
.
.
.
.

Surprise! I already am.

My clients are authors. They're keynote speakers. They produce and host local and international events. They run multiple revenue streams, serve large audiences, and create ripple effects that extend far beyond their direct client work.

And the more you add to a business, the more context there is to hold.

Someone has to see how the book launch connects to the speaking calendar... connects to the group program waitlist... connects to the team's capacity.

That someone is usually you.

𝗔 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗳𝗳 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁.

With 15+ years in project and event management, I'm built for complexity - for holding the whole ecosystem so you don't have to hold it alone.

If you're building something bigger than a single revenue stream, let's explore what working together could look like. Send me a DM.

P.S. This was on my mind after yesterday's email about working with authors. If you didn't catch it, reply here, and I'll send it over.

"𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘱!"

A few weeks ago, I published an email called "The Unicorn Hire Trap."

Within 24 hours, I got that reply from Sarah (name changed).

Sarah had just gotten notice that her EA of 7 years was leaving. Jessica had been handling everything - graphic design, social media, CRM management, client communication, project coordination, and marketing support.

Sarah's first instinct? Find one person to replace her.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺: Jessica wasn't doing one job. She was doing the work of 3-4 specialists. And after 7 years, she'd built institutional knowledge that made her exponentially more valuable - knowledge you can't hire on day one.

We booked a strategic consultation.

I walked Sarah through my role decomposition process. We broke down Jessica's work, mapped what AI could handle, calculated actual hours, and identified must-haves vs. nice-to-haves.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿.

Sarah thought she needed to hire for 6 different skill categories. Our analysis revealed what she 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 needed - and it wasn't what she expected.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁? Would have gotten zero qualified applicants or completely wrong ones.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻? Clear, specific, and realistic for her budget and timeline.

𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸'𝘀 𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 - the analysis, the actual conversation, and what Sarah's walking away with. Plus a quick self-assessment quiz so you can figure out if your next hire is actually one role or three.

If you're not on my weekly email list yet, sign up here: https://lnkd.in/gE2RNuuK

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗲, 𝗜 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆. 𝗗𝗠 𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵. 𝗜𝗳 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝗮 𝗳𝗶𝘁, 𝗜'𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿.

Moriah is sitting with a thought bubble that appears over her head - inside is a magical unicorn

Instead of a performative post for #IWD26, let's get real. And men + others not impacted by Perimenopause or Menopause, have you considered the impact on your clients, team, and colleagues who are moving through this stage and trying to function like everything's "business as usual?"

Women in perimenopause/menopause: If it impacts your ability to show up for your clients/work, are you open about it or not? #IWD26

The author can see how you vote. Learn more

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