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

I have one memory of my grandfather.

So when I found this photo of me with him, surrounded by all the Kennedy men, it stopped me. 

(Some tears were shed)

My grandfather must have passed shortly after this photo was taken. 

My dad took it in the early 90s and I’d never seen it before.

He recently uploaded a bunch of old photos to OneDrive. I sat down one night to look through them and didn’t expect it to hit like it did.

It made me think about legacy in a quiet way. 

Not the big stuff. 

But just the everyday moments.

No lesson or corny analogy today fam. 

Just one of those photos that makes you pause and think about life. 

If you have a photo or memory that makes you think about legacy, I’d love to see it in the comments. 

P.S. I’m the redhead LOL.

No alternative text description for this image

10 reasons why being a dad with small kids makes snow days better:

(No I wasn’t doing donuts at City Hall in Philly) 
	
1. You wake up already winning. Endless coffee is on the menu. 
	
2. Two inches of snow feels like a national holiday. (In this case, we got 8.)
	
3. Sledding/shoveling becomes cardio you didn’t schedule.
	
4. Coming back inside feels heroic.
	
5. Snow forts start outside and somehow end up in the living room.
	
6. Couch cushions turn into architecture.
	
7. Games last longer because no one’s in a rush to be anywhere.
	
8. Snacks disappear faster.
	
9. Time stretches in a way it rarely does.
	
10. Everyone crashes early, worn out in the best possible way.

Snow days hit different when you’re a dad.

They slow you down without asking permission.

You stop thinking about what you should be doing and start noticing what you’re part of.

Years from now, they won’t remember the snow totals.

They’ll remember you were there.

What did you do in the snow yesterday?

10 years ago (crazy to say), I was packing up my life to spend a year in Paris for an internship that completely changed me.

It was wild.

Yes, I:

• Went to museums
• Drank so much espresso I got dizzy
• Ate pain au chocolat on the Champs-Élysées

But I also:

• Learned a new language
• Met my current pastor (on another continent, somehow)
• Helped build a church under a bridge in a gypsy camp
• Built habits I still carry today

That year gave me so many memories.

It rewired how I see the world, faith, work, and what’s possible when you say yes before everything makes sense.

Lately, I’ve had that same feeling again.

Something about 2026 feels different.

People feel locked in and excited about what’s coming.

For most, that energy will fade after a few weeks. Life will creep back in and the same ole patterns will return.

But I don’t know.

This feels like an adventure year.

The kind you don’t fully understand until you’re already in it.

You feeling it too?

360Brew sounds like a solid cup of coffee while I’m knocking out LinkedIn posts.
 
It’s also the name of the new algorithm model for LinkedIn. 

Feels about right for 2026 (can I get an amen?). 

Regardless, here’s what I’m focusing on this year:

1. Ownership.
2. Real stories.
3. Saying things plainly.
4. Sharing how I actually think.
5. Showing skill through the work itself.
6. Talking with people, not performing for them.
7. Posting even when it feels repetitive or boring.

Some people are pumped about what’s changing. Others feel like they’re getting crushed.

To me, it still comes back to doing the work and showing up like a real person.

What are you doubling down on this year?

You’re not where you want to be because you’re not desperate enough to get there.

That stings. But it’s true.

We can go as far as we want to go. 

The scary part? Personal responsibility.

Want to make more sales?
→ Contact 50 people a day, not 10.

Want to build your brand?
→ Spend less time making another reel and more time having real conversations.

Want to scale your business?
→ Stop hoping for “one big break” and start stacking small wins, daily.

The people who hit their goals aren’t necessarily smarter or more talented.

• They’re hungrier.
• They’re more consistent.
• They do the uncomfortable work, over and over.

The gap between where you are and where you want to be isn’t strategy.

It’s desperation.

How badly do you want it?

One of my coaching clients got their first inbound lead after two weeks of consistent posting.

I know people will say inbound on LinkedIn doesn’t work. 

“It takes months!”

“Only big accounts get inbound leads.”

It’s not true.

Just keep going:

• Optimize your profile so it clearly says who you help, what problems you solve, and why your perspective matters
• Post consistently in the same lane so your message compounds instead of resetting every week
• Talk about real problems your buyers already think about, using language they actually recognize

Most people quit right before LinkedIn starts working for them.

DM me if you want to join my LinkedIn 1:1 mentorship.

“Building authority is like how my grandma baked her blueberry pie.”

The sentence just came out of thin air on a client call the other day. 

(Not even sure if I had the analogy all worked out)

Later, I thought: “wow that’s actually pretty good.”

Everyone loved my grandma’s blueberry pie.

It was one of her things. 

At family gatherings or church events, someone always asked if she brought the pie.

That pie was part of her reputation.

Here’s the recipe for both (simplified):

1. The crust sets the foundation. Clear values and a point of view give everything else something to stand on.
	
2. The structure keeps it repeatable. A simple framework makes the work sustainable over time.
	
3. The blueberries deliver the value. They’re the reason people remember it and come back.
	
4. The butter adds personality. You can feel the care and intention behind the work.
	
5. The sugar creates connection. It invites conversation and brings people together.
	
6. The lemon juice adds contrast. Stories and lived experience keep it from feeling flat.
	
7. The egg wash finishes the presentation. Details matter when you want to be taken seriously.
	
8. The thickener is consistency. Showing up the same way over time is what builds trust.

*See the instructions below to put it all together. 

She never called it branding, but she built trust the same way strong personal brands are built.

- One clear recipe.
- Executed consistently.
- Long enough that your name becomes shorthand for quality.

That’s how personal brands actually last.

Low engagement doesn’t always mean your content failed.

It usually means the right people are watching quietly.

If you only optimize for visible reactions, you optimize for the wrong audience.

Here’s how to think about who’s actually on the other side of your posts:

The 3 Audiences Reading Your Content

Even heading into 2026, a lot of us are still mentally parked in 2025 (somewhat). 

- Closing loops.
- Tying things up.
- Making sense of what actually happened.

Right now looks a lot like:

• Looking back over performance data
• Following up with leads that went quiet
• Analyzing what worked and what didn’t
• And, of course, going through the books

That last one mattered more than I expected this year.

The margin for “I’ll clean this up later” disappears fast. I wanted clarity and confidence that I wasn’t missing something small that could turn into something painful later.

So I asked for help.

I reached out to We Got Your Books, and it was one of the better decisions I made in 2025.

They had a clean report for me in just a few days (it literally blew my mind). 

If you’re looking for support, reach out to 
Emma Smith.

Clean books change how you think. And how you plan what’s next.

The posts that gets likes and the posts that gets DMs are built for two different jobs.

Applause content feels good.

• Broad advice
• Clean conclusions
• Everyone nods along
• The loop closes

People leave thinking, “That was helpful” and then they move on.

DM-driving content does something else.

• It introduces tension
• It speaks to a specific problem
• It leaves the loop open

Instead of satisfaction, it creates recognition: “That’s exactly what I’m dealing with.”

That’s why posts like: “5 habits of successful CEOs” can rack up engagement…

…but posts like: “Most founders try to fix X, but the real issue is Y” quietly build pipeline.

One resolves curiosity. The other sharpens it.

A few simple shifts that change everything:

• Stop teaching. Start diagnosing.
• Share the what and why. Save the how.
• End with a question only the right person can answer.

This isn’t about tricking people.

It’s about writing content that does the job you actually want it to do.

Applause content has a place. So does DM content.

The mistake is expecting one to do the other’s job.

If you’re posting consistently and not seeing inbound, it’s usually not a volume problem.

It’s a positioning problem.

Resume Writer & Remote Career Coach + I’m “That Remote Guy” 🙋🏻‍♂️ Helping people find the remote career they’ve dreamed of in less time + Join 30K+ on the Escape the Cubicle Newsletter👇

You can work from anywhere. I’ll show you how. 👇

A Google search back in 2015 changed the course of my career, “How do you make money online?”

I was at a crossroads in my career and ready to make a change. I knew it was time to start building my own thing, a thing that someone couldn’t take away overnight. 

After discovering the world of freelancing, I replaced my income and never looked back. By the second year, I was able to triple that income (more than I ever thought possible) because of one platform: LinkedIn

LinkedIn allowed me to connect with clients all over the world, right at my fingertips. The opportunities that LinkedIn has opened up have been life-changing.

Now, I get to help others use LinkedIn to build a remote career as a Career Coach & Resume Writer and their own profitable brand as a Growth Strategist. I’ll help coach you on growing an online income through LinkedIn, a newsletter (like Substack), and a digital product.

…oh, and I still write amazing, interview-winning resumes if you need that. Just send a DM, and I’ll provide a free review for you. Or email it to me at (JohnHancockResumes@gmail.com).

---
Here’s what I've built:

✅ 125,000+ engaged LinkedIn followers
✅ 50,000+ LinkedIn newsletter subscribers
✅ 5,000+ Escape the Cubicle Substack subscribers
✅ 500+ transformed through my masterclasses
✅ 3000+ resumes written for every industry 

“Press Start” Here 👇

📌 Subscribe to my Substack at: www.EscapeTheCubicle.Substack.Com

📌 Join my Free 5-Day Email Class on “How to Grow & Monetize on LinkedIn” at the link top of my profile (or Featured Section)

📌 Connect for a 1on1 Coaching Call (by sending me a DM); I’ll help you build an actionable 30-day strategy to grow your brand on LinkedIn & Substack

📌 Grab my Six-Figure LinkedIn Growth Masterclass (& Playbook) with 500+ of my other students; click the link at top of my profile (or Featured Section)

📌 Get a newly polished resume at www.JohnHancockResumes.com

There's a better way to work. Let me show you how to find it.

Wes Pearce

Leaving a job because of a toxic boss isn’t weakness. It’s called self-preservation and being brave. 


I spent two years trying to "make it work" with a boss who constantly undermined me.

I watched my confidence erode. My Sunday nights became anxiety-filled. My health suffered.

Then I finally left.

Within two months at my new company, I realized something profound: I wasn't the problem. I never was.

Here's the truth: 

✅ 57% of people have quit specifically because of their boss, with another 37% considering it. (from DDI Development Dimensions International)

You're not alone if you're thinking about making that move.

What we tolerate becomes our standard. Every day you stay in a toxic work environment, you're telling yourself that's what you deserve.

The most courageous career move isn't always climbing higher. Sometimes it's walking away.

Watch for these warning signs that it's time to go:

📌 Your boss takes credit for your wins but blames you for their mistakes

📌 You receive unclear expectations then face criticism for not meeting them

📌 Your physical wellbeing or your mental health is declining

📌 You're constantly questioning your own competence at work 

📌 You can't remember the last time you were recognized for your work

A staggering 82% of American workers say they would quit their job because of a bad manager. The problem is, many don't, believing it reflects poorly on them.

Let me be clear: Leaving a toxic boss isn't failure. It's an act of self-respect.

—-
Ready to make your next move in 2026? I created Remote Dream Job Masterclass for you. 

Here’s the exact strategy & blueprint I teach all my 1on1 clients: https://lnkd.in/eExXfKCX

Resume Writer & Career Coach helping you “work from anywhere” 👨🏻‍💻 Follow for Career, Remote Job Search, and Creator Tips | Writing daily on EscapeTheCubicle.Substack.com Join 10,000+ Subscribers

I'll never forget the dream job I thought I had locked down. And then ghosted. 


Four rounds of interviews. Met with the hiring manager twice. Presented to the team. 

Even had a final conversation with the VP where he said, "We're really excited about bringing you on board. You'll hear from us this week."

Four weeks later, No call. No email. Not even a generic rejection.

I followed up once. Then twice. Then realized I was chasing people who clearly didn't respect my time enough to send a two-sentence email.

Here's what made it worse: I'd turned down other interviews because I thought this was a done deal.

That experience taught me something I'll never forget: How a company treats you during the hiring process is exactly how they'll treat you as an employee.

And companies wonder why they can't attract top talent.

Here's the reality: Every person you ghost tells 10 other people about the experience.

If you're hiring: Send the email. Even if it's a template. Even if it's bad news.

Candidates deserve basic human decency, not radio silence.

And if you're job searching: Remember that ghosting tells you everything you need to know about that company.

You didn't dodge a bullet. You dodged a whole firing squad. 

Has this ever happened to you?

—
📌 PS - Need more help with your job search? This is why I created Remote Dream Job Masterclass.

I’ll teach you the exact strategy I give my 1on1 clients to start generating remote job interviews without applying on job boards.

Or you can sign-up here: https://lnkd.in/eExXfKCX

The most inspiring story I've been part of this year wasn't about a 25-year-old founder.


It was about Margaret, my client who started her coaching business at 68.

After spending 40 years as a nurse, raising three kids, and surviving a divorce that wiped out her savings, she came to me ready to build something of her own.

No business degree, No email list, No idea how to start a Substack or sell coaching.

Just decades of experience helping people and a refusal to let age define what she could build.

We started from scratch. Built her Substack and then launched her pilot coaching program. Figured it out step by step.

Today? She's at 1,000+ subscribers and her coaching program is slowing booking out. She's making more than she ever did as a nurse doing work that finally feels like hers.

But you won't see Margaret on any "30 Under 30" list. You won't read her story in business magazines celebrating "young disruptors."

Because we're obsessed with early success. With people who "made it" by 25. With the idea that if you haven't figured it out by 40, you've somehow missed your window.

But some of the best work happens after 50. After 60. After life has given you the wisdom that only comes from actually living.

The 55-year-old who finally published their book after years of rejection.

The 62-year-old who started a business after being laid off and told they were "too senior."

The 70-year-old still learning, still growing, still proving that ambition doesn't retire.

Those are the stories we should be celebrating.

Age isn't a deadline. It's just more experience to build from.

——
📌 if you’re ready to building something of your own in 2026? 

I created a “LinkedIn Growth Guide” breaking down how I grew to 150K followers here and built a business around it.

If you’d like a copy, just comment “GUIDE” I’ll send it over to you.

The worst career advice I’ve ever heard: "Just give it more time. It'll get better."


I've watched too many people torture themselves staying in places that are slowly wearing them down.

Their mental health is suffering, confidence is shot, skills are stagnating.

All because someone convinced them that leaving "looks bad" or that they need to "stick it out."

Here's what actually happens when you stay too long in a toxic place:

-You normalize behavior you'd never accept anywhere else…

-You start believing the problem is you, not the environment…

-You waste years trying to prove yourself to people who've already decided not to see your value…

I've had clients stay in toxic jobs for three, four, five years because they were scared of what leaving would look like on their resume.

Every single one? Wished they'd left sooner.

Your resume doesn't need to show endurance or blind “loyalty.” It needs to show growth.

And sometimes growth means knowing when to leave.

Stop sacrificing your mental health to avoid an awkward conversation in an interview.

Staying in the wrong place doesn't make you loyal. It makes you unavailable for the opportunities you actually deserve.

Leave. Recover. Find better.

That's not quitting. That's self-preservation.

—
📌 Ready to make your next move in 2026? I created Remote Dream Job Masterclass for you. 

& a newly updated DIY Resume & Cover Letter Kit.

Here’s the exact strategy & blueprint I teach all my 1on1 clients: https://lnkd.in/eExXfKCX

Six years in the same role. Zero promotions. Zero growth opportunities.


Jessica had been at the same company for six years.

Same role. Same salary range. Same empty promises about "future opportunities."

She was good at her job. Actually, she was great at it. But there was nowhere to go. 

When we first talked, she knew she needed to leave. But she was paralyzed.

"What if I can't find anything better? What if I'm not as marketable as I think? What if this is as good as it gets?"

So she stayed. Watching her skills plateau while her frustration grew.

Here's what I told her: You're not going to grow in a place that's already decided you're done growing.

So, we built a 90-day exit plan. Targeted roles that actually matched what she wanted. Got her resume in front of the right people.

She put the work in. By the end of summer, she had an offer. 

Fully remote. Higher pay. And actual growth opportunities, not just vague promises in performance reviews.

Here’s the truth: You can't outgrow a space that's designed to keep you small.

You can work harder. Stay later. Prove yourself over and over. 

But if the ceiling is low, you're just going to keep hitting your head on it.

If you've been in the same place too long with nothing to show for it, the problem isn't you.

It's the environment you're trying to grow in.
Change it. And watch what happens.

(Image: Travis Bradberry)

—
📌 Ready to make your next move in 2026? I created my Remote Dream Job Masterclass to help. 

The Masterclass gives you the exact strategy I teach my 1on1 clients to attract recruiters and find your next work-anywhere role. 

You can join here: https://lnkd.in/eExXfKCX

Rachel stayed at her company for four years waiting to be seen.


Four years of coming in early. Staying late. Taking on projects nobody else wanted.

Her manager kept saying she "wasn't ready yet" for a promotion. 

Meanwhile, less experienced people kept moving up around her…

When she finally quit, her manager seemed shocked. "We were going to promote you next quarter."

Sure they were.

Here's where Rachel went: She found a company that saw her value immediately.

Within six months at her new company, she got the promotion her old job said she wasn't ready for. 

Within a year, she was leading projects her old manager said were "above her level."

Her old team reached out last month asking if she'd consider coming back as a senior manager.

She declined. She didn't need validation from people who spent four years overlooking her.

The thing about toxic workplaces is they convince you your value is tied to their opinion. 

That if they don't see what you bring, maybe you don't bring much.

Sometimes the best thing you can do is stop waiting for people to see your worth and go somewhere that already does.

You don't need their table. Build your own. 

Or find one that's been waiting for exactly what you bring.

—
📌 Ready to make your next move in 2026? I created Remote Dream Job Masterclass for you. 

& a newly updated DIY Resume & Cover Letter Kit.

Here’s the exact blueprint I teach all my 1on1 clients, to land interviews in weeks: https://lnkd.in/eExXfKCX

taplio

The Battle

Doug Kennedy

Wes Pearce

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreDoug Kennedy's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreWes Pearce's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Doug Kennedy

Wes Pearce

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 ScoreWes Pearce's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreDoug Kennedy's LinkedIn Performance