Founder @ Kennedy Creative | Helping B2B leaders dominate their category on LinkedIn and convert influence into revenue through content and outbound

Most executives treat LinkedIn like a resume.

I treat it like a revenue engine.

I work with enterprise B2B executives and founders in the 7–9 figure range to turn authority into measurable growth.

Through The Creative Catalyst Method — a system built on content + outbound — my clients transform visibility into deal flow, building 7+ figure pipelines in as little as 6 months.

And the results speak for themselves:
	
• 30+ MQLs generated in less than 60 days
• Clients getting 3+ leads every week with content + outbound
• A 5-figure deal closed by an agency in under 60 days
• $100K pipeline built in less than 90 days for a SaaS company

What makes this possible isn’t just content.

It’s the combination of strategic positioning, executive voice, and consistent outbound touchpoints that makes your brand unforgettable — and turns authority into revenue.

If you’re an executive ready to move from authority → pipeline → growth, let’s talk.

👉 Book a call or connect with me here on LinkedIn.

Doug Kennedy

When I first started posting on LinkedIn, I was afraid of what people would think.

I’m not talking about strangers. 

I was worried about people I actually knew.

- Old friends. 
- Former coworkers. 
- People I’d see at networking events. 

But I did it anyway.

My fears were realized almost immediately.

“This isn’t really how you’re supposed to use LinkedIn.”

“People laugh at your LinkedIn posts at networking events.”

“Your beard is the worst.”

(Okay I didn’t actually get that last one) 

You start replaying it in your head.

Are they screenshotting it?
Are they mocking it?
Do I look stupid?

For a second, you want to delete everything and go back to being invisible.

But here’s what I learned:

The moment you step into the arena, you become a mirror.

• Your consistency makes other people uncomfortable.
• Your courage highlights their hesitation.
• Your action exposes their excuses.

It’s easier to critique the person posting than to become the person posting.

So they say “no one cares.”

But that’s not true.

If no one cared, they wouldn’t be talking about it.

If no one cared, they wouldn’t be laughing.

If no one cared, they wouldn’t feel the need to comment on it at all.

People start to care when you refuse to stop.

And here’s the funny part.

The same people who questioned it…
The same people who laughed…

Eventually start asking:

“How did you grow like that?”
“How are you getting inbound?”
“How are you turning content into clients?”

Funny how that works.

If you’re building something, expect resistance.

Push through.

The version of you on the other side of consistency will thank you.

Founder @ Kennedy Creative | Executive Authority Architect for Growth-Stage B2B Companies | Turning Leadership Visibility into Pipeline

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The other day I got a cold DM from a college kid.

It was clear he never looked at my profile.

(also had strong automation energy)

If you’re doing outreach, your first message has one job:

Build trust in 2–3 sentences.

Here’s what actually works:

1. Prove you looked

Reference something specific.

- A recent post.
- A podcast they were on.
- A project they launched.

“Hey, saw your post about repositioning your business around revenue impact. The point about roadmap prioritization stood out.”

Now I know you paid attention.

2. Add personality

Sound human.

- A light joke.
- A relatable comment.
- A quick shared experience.

“Fellow dad trying to build online while kids are jumping on the couch over here.”

Now you feel real.

3. Make it about them

Curiosity > pitch.
- Ask a thoughtful question.
- Invite perspective.
- Open a loop.

Now we’re in conversation, not combat.

And here are 3 things not to do. I know from experience:

• Don’t lead with a Calendly link
• Don’t write a 7-paragraph essay
• Don’t pretend you “love what we’re doing” if you clearly don’t know

Outreach works. I’ve closed great clients from DMs.

But only when it feels like one person talking to another.

If you want a simple framework for writing trust-first DMs, comment “DM” and I’ll send you what I use.

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Almost every time I edit or coach someone on their LinkedIn content, the same 3 things need to change.

When we fix them, their content stops “looking good” and starts driving inbound conversations.

Here they are:

1. The Hook

The purpose of the hook is simple: Earn the next line.

Most people start with a platitude.

“Consistency is key.”
“Personal branding matters.”
“Mindset is everything.”

That doesn’t stop the reader.

Instead, use hooks that create tension, clarity, or curiosity.

3 quick hook formulas:

• The Pattern Interrupt
I almost quit posting on LinkedIn last year.

• The Contrarian Take
You don’t have a content problem. You have a positioning problem.

• The Specific Result
One small tweak to this post turned into an inbound lead in 48 hours.

Hooks are not introductions.
They are doorways.
	
2. The Flow

Most posts don’t stick to one coherent idea.

• Writers drift.
• They stack thoughts.
• They introduce side topics that dilute the main point.

I’ve been there…

A strong post:

• Has one core idea
• Builds logically from sentence to sentence
• Removes anything unrelated
• Uses spacing, bullets, or numbers to guide the eye

If it feels messy to read, it feels risky to trust.

Clarity builds authority. Authority builds demand.

3. The CTA

This is the quiet killer few talk about. 

People are afraid to tell others what to do next.

The other day I tweaked one client’s CTA.

Result? Inbound lead.

Strong CTAs that work:

• Conversation CTA
Comment “PLAN” and I’ll send you the framework.

• Soft Authority CTA
Follow me if you’re building your brand this year. I break this down weekly.

• Direct Pipeline CTA
If you want help building this for your business, DM me “Catalyst.”

If you don’t direct the next step, the reader leaves.

Most content doesn’t fail because the creator lacks talent.

It fails because it lacks structure.

Your content stops being boring and starts becoming pipeline.

If you want to rebuild your content engine the right way, my 1:1 Creator Catalyst program is where we do it.

DM me “Catalyst” and let’s talk.

In 10th grade, my dream of becoming a chemical engineer for DuPont was obliterated.

I’d wanted to be a chemist ever since I saw  The Absent-Minded Professor as a kid. 

Then I took trigonometry.

I hated it.

But I realized that my love for science had been replaced by a love of ideas. 

I became obsessed with politics and philosophy. 

That’s when I started noticing something: Formulas solve problems, but ideas move people.

It wasn’t until years later that I realized that people move markets.

That was the shift.

99.9% of founders I talk to think they’re in the product business.

They’re not.

They’re in the idea business.

- The idea behind the product.
- The idea behind the company.
- The idea behind the future they’re selling.

If the idea isn’t clear, the market doesn’t respond.

Writing is leverage. 

It’s how you scale belief.

When a founder realizes their ideas can shape markets, not just conversations… everything changes.

Here’s the real question:

When did you realize your thinking had more power than your technical skill?

Picture: My dad helping me my chemistry set in 3rd grade.

The force that pulls you into Lord of the Rings, the Bible, and an Apple keynote is the same force most founders never learn to use.

It’s metanarrative.

A metanarrative is the overarching explanation of how the world works.

It answers:

• What’s fundamentally broken
• Who the real villain is
• What the future should look like
• What kind of person thrives in that future
• And why now is the turning point

That’s why Tolkien and C.S. Lewis grip you.

There’s a corrupting force.
There’s a small band of unlikely heroes.
There’s sacrifice.
There’s destiny.
There’s restoration.

The Bible does the same on a cosmic scale: creation, fall, redemption, restoration.

Now look at business.

Steve Jobs didn’t sell devices.

He built a metanarrative around creative rebellion. Technology is liberation. The individual is up against the gray corporate machine.

Elon Musk’s metanarrative is that humanity survives by advancing and it looks like:

Multi-planetary life. 
Sustainable energy. 
Relentless innovation.

You don’t have to agree with them. But you know the story they’re telling.

Most $10M+ founders never define theirs.

- They post tactics.
- They explain services.
- They chase engagement.

But they never articulate:

→ What era is ending.
→ What era is emerging.
→ Why their company is built for the new one.

A metanarrative gives your content gravity.
Without it, you have posts.

With it, you have positioning.

If you want to develop one, start here:

1. Identify the dominant belief in your industry.
2. Define why it’s incomplete or outdated.
3. Articulate the shift that’s happening.
4. Define the type of leader who thrives in this new landscape.
5. Position your company as an instrument of that shift.

Repeat that worldview consistently.

Over time, the market begins to see through your lens.

That’s how industries move.

Not through louder messaging, but through clearer meaning.

Reading this and realizing this is what your executive brand is missing? Send me a DM.

When you’re building something, everyone talks about finding the right partners.

- Creators.
- Editors.
- Designers.
- Other founders.

That stuff matters. I love that part.

But there’s another side nobody posts about.

The numbers.

→ invoices scattered across tools
→ subscriptions you forgot existed
→ tax season quietly approaching

For a while my finances lived in a category called: “I’ll organize that later.”

Later never came.

Working with We Got Your Books changed that.

They took a jumbled mess and turned it into clean reports. My accountant was thrilled…always a good sign.

More importantly:

• I know exactly where things stand
• I stopped guessing month to month
• I actually sleep better

Sometimes the most valuable partner isn’t the one who helps you grow faster.

It’s the one who helps you breathe easier.

If you need someone to help clean up your books, reach out to Emma Smith. They’ll take great care of you!

I’ve talked to too many founders with 10,000+ followers and no pipeline.

Strong engagement.
Consistent posting.
Thoughtful ideas.

Still no qualified inbound!

That’s not an algorithm problem. It’s a positioning problem.

In the first issue of The Creative Catalyst, I break down:

→ Why attention and authority are not the same thing
→ The “invisible buyer” most founders ignore
→ Why publishing consistently doesn’t equal positioning
→ The shift I make with clients that changes inbound in 60–90 days
→ A simple test to see if your profile is building leverage or just audience

Most founders don’t need more content.

They need more clarity.

If you’re posting regularly but your pipeline doesn’t reflect it, this one’s for you.

(Subscribe to the LinkedIn newsletter to read more.)

I’ve spoken with this type of founder more times than I can count. They’ve built a respectable audience, they post consistently, and their engagement 

Open article: The Founder With 10,000 Followers and No Pipeline by Doug Kennedy • 3 min read

The Founder With 10,000 Followers and No Pipeline

If your personal brand isn’t driving pipeline on LinkedIn….

You don’t need more content. 

You need a reset. 

Here’s my 7-day authority reset to help you start getting leads on LinkedIn:

Steal my 7-Day Authority Reset 

Dennis Geelen

Business Coach | Keynote Speaker | Author of The Happy Accidents newsletter and The Accidental Solopreneur book

I’ve spent most of my career helping people navigate change.

Sometimes that meant working with leadership teams and organizations.
Sometimes it meant coaching solopreneurs who were building something new after an unexpected turn.
And more recently, it’s meant telling true stories that remind us how unpredictable, strange, and meaningful real life can be.

At the core of everything I do is one idea:
people don’t change because of frameworks alone, they change because of perspective.

What I Do

I’m a speaker, author, and consultant who helps individuals and organizations make sense of uncertainty, transition, and unexpected opportunity.

My work focuses on:
 • Leadership and change
 • Human-centered decision making
 • Serendipity, timing, and “happy accidents”
 • Stories that challenge neat narratives about success and control

I’m currently building The Uncanny, a storytelling project exploring true stories that sound impossible but actually happened.

Who I Work With
 • Event organizers looking for keynote talks that are thoughtful, grounded, and story-driven
 • Organizations and nonprofits navigating change, leadership transitions, or cultural shifts
 • Individuals who want practical clarity through focused, one-hour coaching conversations

(I’m no longer actively promoting large programs or long-term coaching, but I still take on select conversations and workshops when there’s a strong fit.)

What I’ve Created
 • Author of The Zero In Formula and The Accidental Solopreneur
 • Host and creator of story-driven newsletters, podcasts, and short-form video content
 • Speaker on topics including change, leadership, serendipity, and starting before you feel ready

Want to Connect?

If you’re reaching out about:
 • Speaking engagements
 • A focused workshop or session
 • A thoughtful one-on-one coaching conversation

Feel free to DM me.

And if you’re someone who loves true stories that make you pause and say, “That can’t be real”…
you’ll probably enjoy what I’m building next.

Founder

Coaching and mentoring to help you start and scale your one-person business.

Most leadership training gets this backwards.

We teach people how to manage others…
before they know how to manage themselves.

And then we wonder why teams struggle.

There’re some uncomfortable truths we don’t like to acknowledge when it comes to leadership: 

- If you can’t manage your own reactions,
you can’t manage conflict.

- If you don’t understand your own personality, you’ll misread everyone else’s.

- If you don’t take responsibility for your results, you’ll blame your team.

- If you can’t prioritize your own time,
you’ll create chaos for everyone around you.

Contrary to what we like to think, leadership doesn’t start with strategy. 

It starts with self-awareness.

In my 12-week leadership coaching program through Zero In, the first four weeks are entirely about leading yourself.

It’s the foundation for everything that comes afterwards (where we then focus on leading individuals and then leading teams).

In those first four weeks, we dig into personality, stress triggers,
how others actually experience you,
how you respond under pressure,
and how you prioritize what matters.

Because once you can lead yourself…
leading others becomes exponentially easier.

If you’re serious about becoming the kind of leader people actually want to follow,
start there.

Speaker | Author | Consultant - Guiding organizations through leadership transitions and complexity

Some of the most damaging leaders I’ve seen weren’t incompetent.

They were unregulated.

Don’t get me wrong, they were smart,  strategic, and experienced.

But they couldn’t manage themselves.

They couldn’t control their reactions in tense moments.

They took feedback personally.

They blamed circumstances when results slipped.

They said “yes” to everything and then created chaos trying to deliver.

And their teams paid the price.

Leadership isn’t just about vision or communication.

It’s about emotional control.
Self-awareness.
Responsibility.
Discipline with your time and energy.

If you can’t lead your own habits, emotions, and priorities, you end up outsourcing the consequences to everyone around you.

And that’s when trust erodes.

Have you ever worked for a leader who struggled to lead themselves?

What did that look like and how did it affect the team?

Is it your goals?
Is it your habits?
Is it your purpose?

Or is it actually none of those things?

taplio

The Battle

Doug Kennedy

Dennis Geelen

Followers

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Performance ScoreDoug Kennedy's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreDennis Geelen's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Doug Kennedy

Dennis Geelen

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

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

Performance ScoreDennis Geelen's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreDoug Kennedy's LinkedIn Performance