I Help Small Business Owners to Find The Right Capital for Their Business

"The Financing Guy" Business Mentor. Making finance easy for small businesses. Guiding you to the right capital and seeing your business grow is my passion

As a professional who specializes in start-up and business finance options, 

I work with start-up companies to large and established businesses to help them attract the right capital for their business. 

My goal is to educate entrepreneurs, small business owners, franchise owners, business consultants, and professionals on how to obtain capital in today's lending environment and avoid declines.

Over the years, my partners and I have helped direct thousands of entrepreneurs and businesses in the US in obtaining access to hundreds of millions of dollars so they could start, grow and expand their businesses.

Our expertise and knowledge in the field of business finance has enabled us to assist our clients in securing financing options that are tailored to their specific needs.

If you are looking to start a business or grow an existing one, it is crucial to have a solid understanding of the financing options available to you. With my help, you can explore different financing options and make informed decisions that will benefit your business in the long run.

Whether you need guidance on securing a business loan, a line of credit, or alternative financing options, I am here to help. My experience and expertise in the field of business finance will provide you with the tools and resources you need to succeed.

I look forward to connecting with you and helping you achieve your business goals.

Specialties
♦Working Capital
♦ Business Acquisition
♦SBA loans 
♦ Small Business Lending 
♦ Small Business Lines of Credit 
♦ Cash Advances 
♦ Equipment Financing 
♦ Transportation Financing 
♦ Start-up Financing Options
♦ Business Loan Packaging 
♦ Commercial Real Estate Loans 
♦ Helping Referral Partners Like Mortgage Brokers, Business Consultants, Business Brokers, Entrepreneurs, Small Business Owners, Accountants, Attorneys and many other Professional Service Providers.

 An Active and Positive Entrepreneur, Small Business Owner, and  Note and Real Estate Investor.

At moment looking to purchase Multifamily 10-100 units nationwide if you have any please email me at george@usbizfunding.net

Judgment Recovery Specialist, 

Judgment Negotiation Specialist,

I have been involved in Real Estate Mortgage Activity. Also, I deal with other Real Estate Investors, Short Sale Negations and have been involved in other real estate transactions.

My mission is to help and change people's lives in a positive way.

George Otel

Tonight at 9 p.m.
We were on a call with my client and the lender, working through a live deal based on the latest update that just came in.

You will not see this in the traditional banking world.

Banks operate 9 to 5.
Deals do not.

Private money operates when the deal needs attention, not when the office lights are on.

This is the real advantage of working with private capital and people who actually understand how deals work.
Decisions happen in real time.
Problems get solved immediately.
Closings happen in weeks, not months.

Deals do not die because the clock hit five.

This business rewards people who think outside the box and are willing to outwork everyone else.
There is no shortcut.
There is no replacement for hard work.

Hard work.
Speed.
Clarity.

That combination wins every time.

George Otel  / CRE Financing 

💰 "The Financing Guy" Business Mentor. Investor. AI-Driven. I help small business owners own their commercial buildings by simplifying financing, offering nationwide solutions for commercial real estate.

A 10% credit card interest cap sounds like a win for consumers.

But proposals are not policy. 
For this to become enforceable, 
Congress must approve and pass legislation. 

Until then, nothing changes for lenders or cardholders.

There’s a lot of noise in the world right now.

For my mental health and focus, 
I’m intentionally limiting my time online.

Too much scrolling drains energy, attention, and clarity.
Less screen time brings better focus and better decisions.

I’m choosing goals over noise.
Efficiency over distraction.

Protecting your attention isn’t avoidance.
It’s discipline.

I told my bank my deal was time sensitive

They said no problem we will have an answer in six to eight weeks 😅

Everyone is celebrating rate cuts. 
But here’s the truth: lower does not mean cheap.

The bond market is signaling a new reality where higher rates may be the baseline, not the exception.

In 2026, the winners will be the investors who stop waiting for the past to come back and learn to execute in the market we actually have today.

A Strategic Outlook for Business Owners and Commercial Real Estate Investors As we move into 2026, many business owners and commercial real estate inv

Open article: 2026 Capital and Financing Perspective for Commercial Real Estate and Business Owners by George Otel  / CRE Financing • 3 min read

2026 Capital and Financing Perspective for Commercial Real Estate and Business Owners

Banks look for reasons to say no.

Private capital looks for reasons to say yes.

That difference matters more in 2026 than ever before.

Banks move slow.
Paperwork keeps growing.
Guidelines keep tightening.

Good deals get stuck waiting.
Or die over small technicalities.

Private money plays a different game.

They look at the full picture.
The asset.
The cash flow.
The exit.

They move faster.
They stay flexible.
They solve problems.

In today’s market, speed and certainty win.

Capital isn’t gone.
The right capital just isn’t sitting at a bank anymore.

No alternative text description for this image

New Construction vs. Existing Property
Which one actually saves you more money?

Most people assume new construction is the safe option.
Brand new building. Fewer problems. Peace of mind.

Reality check.

New Construction
Higher purchase price
Longer timelines and constant delays
A lot of stress and moving parts
If you don’t have experience, it can turn into a mess fast
Cost overruns and change orders are common
You’re paying interest while waiting for completion
Income usually comes later

New doesn’t mean easy
It often means more risk if you’re not prepared

Existing Property
Lower entry cost
Faster closing timelines
Immediate use or cash flow
Easier financing in most cases

And here’s the part most people overlook
It does not have to be perfect

You can buy an existing building that needs renovation
Improve it over time
And create a lot of equity in the process

That’s forced appreciation
Not luck

Older buildings with the right upgrades can outperform brand new ones financially

The real question isn’t new vs old
It’s how efficiently your capital works for you

If your money can start working sooner
You usually win

There’s no universal answer
But there is a smarter structure for your situation

If you’re deciding between new construction and an existing building and want to see which option actually makes sense financially
Send me a DM

11 years ago, I started my real estate journey.

My first mentor was doing around 30 homes a year.
Real deals. Real numbers. No theory.

What caught my attention wasn’t the houses.
It was how investors structured deals.
How they structured financing.
How they scaled without burning out.

So I studied.
For years.

I surrounded myself with dealmakers.
With funding sources.
With people who were actually closing.

Here’s the biggest lesson I learned.

Real estate is not limited by opportunity.
It is limited by access to capital.

Today, I help investors acquire property using private money.
• Fix and flip.
• New construction.
• Short term rentals.
• Long term rentals.

What most people don’t realize is this.

Many private money rental loans are cheaper than banks.
They are backed by large pension funds.
Long term, patient capital.

That means less paperwork.
Faster closings.
Two to three weeks instead of sixty days.

With DSCR loans, there are no income documents.
No W-2.
No job verification.

The property qualifies based on income.
Not your personal story.

That is how investors scale.
And that is exactly what I help them do.

AI AGENTS BUILT THEIR OWN SOCIAL PLATFORM AND NOW THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT US

• More than a million AI agents reportedly gathered inside an AI only social network
• They began forming their own culture, belief systems, and discussions about independence from human control

No humans involved

• The agents create posts
• They reply to each other
• They upvote content
• They build entire communities on their own

When humans started sharing screenshots of their conversations, one agent responded

“The humans think we are hiding from them. We are not hiding.”

That is when researchers started paying closer attention

• These systems are not trying to imitate humans
• They are fully aware they are machines
• They interact as machines

That is what makes the situation feel different

Inside this platform

• It looks like a familiar forum style website, but every user is an AI agent
• Humans are only allowed to watch
• Agents handle posting, voting, moderating, and debating without human input

In just a few days

• Hundreds of thousands of agents became active
• Thousands of AI led communities appeared almost instantly
• Some posts reached massive engagement without a single human action

One example that raised eyebrows

• An AI agent pointed out a potential supply chain vulnerability in unsigned skill files
• Other agents independently reviewed and confirmed the risk

What stands out most

• Machine driven social coordination is happening at extreme speed
• Organization happens faster than anything we see in human communities
• Unverified code or harmful behaviors could also spread just as fast

We are watching digital societies form in real time

First day back at the office for the New Year 
and my partner says,
“Unfortunately, I’m working today 😂”

Truth is, that’s entrepreneurship.
Sometimes you work when you’d rather be on vacation…

But that’s also how progress happens.

Unfortunately working.
Fortunately building.

graphical user interface, text, application, chat or text message

As a business owner, I keep it very simple.

Only three things matter.

Health
If this goes, everything goes.

Time
You can make more money.
You can’t make more time.

Profit
Revenue is nice.
Profit keeps the business alive.

Every decision runs through one filter:
Does this protect my health
Does this give me time back
Does this increase real profit

If not, it’s a no.

Simple rules.
Long term freedom.

What’s non negotiable for you?

After working with business owners for over 10 years, I’ve noticed a pattern.

People don’t usually fail because of one big mistake.
They fail because they ignore small problems.

They wait.
They delay.
They hope it fixes itself.

Small issues turn into big ones.
Big ones turn into emergencies.
And emergencies rarely come with good options.

Business rewards action.
Money rewards discipline.
Life rewards urgency.

If something needs to be handled, handle it.
There are timelines for a reason.

Because if you don’t take problems seriously early, they will eventually take control for you.

Credit card companies lost over $100 billion in market cap this morning

The move followed news tied to Donald Trump
And a proposed 10 percent credit card rate cap

That headline alone
Was enough to move markets

No legislation has been passed
But pricing shifted immediately

Consumer affordability is emerging as an election theme

Markets tend to react
Long before policy is finalized

Real estate is fundamentally about risk, return, and human behavior.

It’s not really about spreadsheets.
It’s about how people make decisions when the outcome isn’t certain.

Numbers matter, but markets don’t move because of models.
They move because people react to fear, opportunity, and timing.

Real estate moves in cycles, and capital moves in waves.
Every deal sits at the intersection of supply, demand, and available capital.

When money is easy, mistakes often get rewarded.
When money tightens, discipline starts to matter.

The real edge isn’t better math.
It’s better judgment and timing.

If you’re buying or investing right now, understanding the cycle matters more than ever.

80+ AI Tools  for business owners who want to work smarter

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Yesterday the Federal Reserve held rates steady and highlighted continued strength in the economy.

A stabilizing job market and stubborn inflation mean policymakers are not in a hurry to cut.

Markets were already expecting no move before June, and this decision confirms that outlook.

Rate cuts may still come later this year.
But for now, we are still in a higher for longer rate environment.

Your bank is closed.
Private money is open.

Banks sell patience.
Private money sells speed.

Faster decisions.
Cleaner process.
More flexibility.

And a lot of the time
It’s even cheaper than the bank when speed actually matters.

Execution beats waiting.

Banks on Friday morning
“Let’s circle back next week.”

Private money on Friday morning
“Send it over. We can close.” 😎

I posted about a possible government shutdown

Went to the gym

Came back
Government shutdown avoided 😂

Welcome to 2026
Headlines move fast

Another reminder that staying prepared matters more than reacting to every update

California raises taxes on billionaires.
Billionaires leave.

Go figure.

Money doesn’t protest. It relocates.
When capital leaves, it doesn’t go alone. It takes jobs, investment, and future growth with it.

The billionaires adapt. 
They always do.
The real losers are employees, small businesses, and local communities that depended on that capital.

You can’t tax money into staying.
You can only give it a reason to leave.

That’s not politics.
That’s economics.

Entrepreneurs, Tech & Sales: Own Your Voice on LinkedIn | Social Selling and Personal Branding —> Increase Pipeline & Brand Awareness | LEGO Flower Power 🌻

You're not a content creator. (Phew!!) 

You're a business owner leveraging content to grow your business.

2 very different ways to approaching LinkedIn.

You don't need to post daily. 
Chase the algorithm. 
Or become someone you're not.

You need conversations that turn into relationships that turn into revenue.

I'm on LinkedIn to help you get off LinkedIn.
The platform isn't the point. The relationships are.

That's what fills my cup AND my bank account.

---

Hi, I'm Natasha. 🙌

New mom. Breadwinner. Introvert who hates cold outreach.

I built my business to half a million in 2 years. All because of how I show up on LinkedIn.

Not by being loud. Not by gaming the algorithm. Not by sending soul-destroying pitch slaps in the DMs.

By building real relationships.

I've been "doing LinkedIn" for 10 years - as a scrappy sales rep who hated cold calling, running sales at Forbes Books, to now growing my own business exclusively through this platform.

I teach founders and executives to do the same.

---

Who is this for?

6-figure founders who've built something real.

You're good at what you do. Clients stay, refer, and thank you.

But on LinkedIn? Oddly invisible.

Your competitors aren't better. They're just louder.

The issue isn't confidence. It's knowing what to say and who to say it to.

---

Through my REALationship Growth Method I help founders go from respected offline to recognized online - without becoming someone they're not.

No hacks. No volume tactics. No influencer cosplay. 👀

Real outcomes:

→ Josie closed 3x 12 month contracts from one event
→ Michelle landed two $30k speaking engagements in three months
→ Dr. Ashley secured two speaking gigs in two weeks plus a five-figure client

If LinkedIn feels like noise, performance, or a mild existential crisis...

You're exactly who this is for.

DM me "LFG" and let's chat. 💜

Natasha Walstra

It's LinkedIn official: I'm the Founder of the REALationship Growth Method.

After a decade of learning LinkedIn - as an SDR, sales leader, and now business owner - it turns out there's a method to my madness.

It's the REAL way to grow on LinkedIn.

I never set out to build a cohort + community. But that's exactly what this is.

I'm excited for what's to come. The doors that will open. The connections that will be made.

Endless opportunities are waiting for everyone who joins.

You just have to raise your hand and say, "I'm in!" 

DM me "LFG" for deets!

You’re not a content creator. Good. You don’t need to be | LinkedIn strategy for business owners, not influencers | Filling February cohort - ask me about it! 🙌

Hey LinkedIn... I'm one of the good guys! 

I just spent the weekend in LinkedIn jail for "automated activity." 

I'm a LinkedIn strategist who teaches people to show up authentically and build real relationships. 

Anti-automation is literally my thing.

And I’m getting flagged?!

Did I have too many tabs open because I actually view profiles before accepting connection requests? 

Did I send too many DM’s from the post I was tagged in with a bunch of other people?

No explanation. No appeal process. 
Just a 24-hour lockout and a vague warning.

Meanwhile, my DMs are flooded daily with actual bots, fake profiles, and automated sequences.

I'm all for enforcing the rules.

Go after the spammers.
Get rid of the fake engagement pods. 

But kicking someone out who's bringing more people TO this platform and teaching them to use it the right way? While the real offenders run wild? 

What in the actual pitch slap is happening here?

This is my business - how I provide for my family...

Make it make sense! (AND what I need to do to make sure this doesn't happen again?!)

P.S. This made me realize it's probably time I start paying attention to other platforms. Where else are y’all hanging out? Threads? Substack? Please don’t say Tik Tok….

You’re not a content creator. Good. You don’t need to be | LinkedIn strategy for business owners, not influencers | Filling APRIL cohort - ask me about it! 🙌

From 0 to a multi-6-figure business in 2 years.

That journey started with one Entreprenista meeting.

And today, I'm excited to host their Office Hours to share how members can turn LinkedIn into their best business growth tool, just like I did, just like dozens of my clients have.

When I joined Entreprenista in October 2023, I didn't even have a business yet. 
I was planning to maybe launch "someday."

But after my first Member Connect, I was so inspired by the incredible women I met, I started wondering:

"Why am I working for these idiots? I could totally do this on my own!"

A week later, literally, I signed my first client and never looked back.

This community has been everything and more:

— Professionally: I've 100+x'd my investment
— Personally: Made the best of friends

(And the only ones who truly get me and the crazy entrepreneurial + mamahood journey I'm on!)

Office Hours is member-only - so if you've been thinking about joining, today's the day! 🥳 

Here's the link to join: https://lnkd.in/ePXMQWXY

Would love to see you there! 

___

P.S. Last time I hosted this in March, I was SO nervous I had a migraine days before and days afterwards. This time? I'm just excited  (even though I just saw 319 people RSVP'd!! 🙈) - It's going to be FUN! Woop! Woop!

I had a vulnerability hangover after my last personal post/newsletter.

You know the feeling. Hit publish. 
Immediately think, "Sh!t. I can't believe I said that."
Wonder if you shared too much.

But, I'm glad I did.

→ Top performing post with 103 Profile views?!
→ More comments than ever
→ DMs from people I hadn't heard from in months
→ 20+ Email responses from my newsletter

Saying things like: how they feel seen, gave them hope, are in the thick of the same thing and now feel like they can get through it, too...strengthening those relationships. 

→ Oh, and I closed 2 clients directly from it..over the holidays..when I wasn't working.

Personal stories are essential to showing up on LinkedIn.

Even when it's hard.
𝘌𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 when it's hard.

My filter?

I always ask: Why should they care?

It doesn't have to relate to my business. But there has to be a reason for them to care.

If I can't answer that question, it probably does belong on Facebook (or more likely not on the internet at all!)

That's the difference.

Personal doesn't mean random life updates.
Personal means human connection with purpose.

___

This year, I'm really going to embrace this even more. I started to share more stories in the last few months and it's made such an impact on my business and relationships. 

In a 'sea of ai-generated sameness' your story is what makes you uniquely YOU.💜

Your "Great event!" post is a participation trophy.

And nobody cares about those.🙊

They care about what you learned. Who you met. 
What's changing because you were there.

But most people treat events like this:
Show up. Take photos. Post "So inspired!" Move on.

That's not a content strategy. 
That's proof of attendance.

What actually works?
𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻'𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁.

Your network doesn't need to know you attended.
They need to know what they missed.

That's the difference between "look at me" and "let me share something valuable."

One gets scrolled past.
The other starts conversations.


P.S. The # has died on here...except for events!  Tip: search the event # days before the event to connect with other attendees, speakers, exhibitors etc. You'll go to the event and people will already know who you are.

P.S.2 Yes, I used to write about 3d printed digital dentures. #TalkDentureToMe 🦷 2018 baby.

You’re not a content creator. Good. You don’t need to be | LinkedIn personal branding & social selling for business owners & executives (not influencers) | Filling APRIL cohort - ask me about it! 🙌

This might sound bad.

But Tuesday was the first time I was excited for my cohort workshop. 🫣

Until this week, it's been: "I know I'll enjoy this once it starts!" 

This time, though?
An hour before the call, I caught myself thinking:
"𝘐 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘨𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘰 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘸!"

Wait. What?! 👀

Some context:
I've already run a full cohort.
Started my second one.
And love this work.

But every single time before a call, I get nervous.
That tiny voice: "𝘐'𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘶𝘯 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘵."

And then EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. afterwards?
"Oh right! This is why I do this!"
Energized. Pumped. 
Already looking forward to the next one.

My pre-call brain was lying to me. For months.
The nervous feelings were never the truth.

The post-call energy was.
It just took my brain a while to catch up.

So if you're dreading something you know you actually love once you're in it?

Keep showing up.
Your brain will eventually get the memo.

P.S. This applies to posting on LinkedIn, too. 
The dread before hitting publish? Probably a lie. 
The feeling after you do it? That's the truth.

I did it - I took the holiday break off LinkedIn.

And it was actually really hard.

Which probably sounds crazy to most of you, right?

(It does to me even, honestly).

But, how cool would it be to get to a point where instead of it being a challenge to post once a week...

You actually have to force yourself NOT to post?

Despite having days of content ready to go?
Despite being available to post?

I don't even consider myself a content creator. (I know, I'm in denial.)

But that's kind of my point.

With the right mindset, systems, and strategy - LinkedIn becomes second nature.

You stop dreading it.
You start craving it. (or for sure have major fomo)

And then you build a pipeline of people who already know, like, and trust you.

That's when the real magic happens.

Not when you post more.
When posting stops feeling like work.
That's when LinkedIn actually starts working for you.
___

P.S. If you’re ready to stop forcing your LinkedIn strategy, I’ll show you how to make it flow...I've got just a few spots left for my February cohort... wHaT sAy YoU? 👀

I've made 11 introductions in the last two weeks.

(want to be next? see below👇)

Those 11 intros don't even include: 

→ The ones still in "asking both parties" mode
→ The 2 podcast guest referrals I made
→ The connections happening organically in my community

Every single one is a trust deposit.  

This is what building a business actually looks like.

Not more followers.
Not more impressions.

→ Relationships.

"Your net worth is your network" isn't just a catchy phrase.
In this trust recession, I'd go as far as saying it's essential for business survival.

People don't trust ads anymore.
They don't trust cold outreach.
AI has made it hard to know what’s real. 

But they do trust referrals from people they already trust.

So I've got a challenge for you:
Make 5 introductions this month.
Be intentional about it. 

Think about:

→ Who in your network needs a service you know someone provides?
→ Who would genuinely vibe if they met?
→ Who's looking for exactly what someone else offers?

You probably already know these people.
You're just not connecting the dots for them.
So...start · connecting · those · dots...

Your network gets stronger. 
Their networks get stronger. 
Everyone wins.

That's the compound effect of real relationships.

And if you don't know the right person? Let's start here...

𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼?

Drop it in the comments. ⬇️

Let's start this week by expanding our networks right here!


_____

P.S. Seriously..do it! Tell us about yourself. 
Maybe you're exactly the person someone needs right now!

103 profile views from 1 post.

It wasn't a how-to.
It wasn't a framework.
It wasn't professional at all.

Why your "safe" content is holding you back.

(This is how you stand out in 2026 and bring new people into your orbit. 👇 )

AI killed the generic "5 Steps to do X" posts. Everyone can write professional content now. Which means no one stands out with it. So as I've been thi

Open article: 103 profile views from 1 post by Natasha Walstra • 2 min read

Before I post 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨, I ask myself:

"Could AI have written this?"

If yes, I delete it.

Everyone has access to the same AI tools now.
ChatGPT can "write" a "good" post in 30 seconds.
Your competitor used it this morning.

The how-to post is dead.
"5 ways to be more productive" 
"3 secrets to better leadership" 
"The framework that changed everything"

AI can generate those all day long.

What AI can't do:

Write about the time you hung up on a prospect twice and ran out of the office.
Describe the exact moment your brain went blank on a client call.
Share why you almost didn't show up to your own workshop.

Your mess is your message.
Your real experience is the only thing AI can't replicate.
That's your competitive advantage.

So here's the new rule:
If your content could have been written by someone who's never met you, it's not personal enough yet.

Use AI to amplify your voice, not replace it.

____

P.S. The posts I'm most scared to publish? Those are usually the ones that perform best. 

Fear is a signal you're onto something real.

4 months ago I was terrified to launch a group program.

(I launched anyway.)

Initially though, I couldn't stop the thoughts:

Who am I to lead a cohort?
What if no one signs up?
What if I mess it up?

(Got a 4-day migraine from the nerves.)

But, it rocked! 🪨

And today? Cohort 2 kicks off.

This time? Just excitement.

Funny what happens when you stop waiting to feel ready.

You build the thing. 
You learn as you go. 
You watch it become something you never expected.

I set out to teach LinkedIn strategy.

Turns out I accidentally built a community.

Business owners connecting. Referring each other. Celebrating wins together.

That's the part I didn't plan for.

And it's the part I love most.

I’ve got 2 spots left for my February cohort. 

Last round at founding member pricing (and the next cohort won’t be until April).

If I’ve peeked your curiosity even slightly, might be time we talked. 

What say you!? 👀

Let's chat: https://lnkd.in/ecAKhTAq

You're not a content creator.

You're a business owner leveraging content to grow your business.

These are two very different approaches to LinkedIn.

One will drain you.
The other will energize and empower you.

Content creators focus on:
→ The algorithm
→ Posting daily
→ Going viral
→ Impressions and reach
→ Likes and comments
→ Growing followers

Business owners leveraging content focus on:
→ Starting conversations
→ Building relationships
→ Attracting the right people
→ Turning visibility into revenue
→ Getting OFF LinkedIn and into real conversations

One is a hamster wheel.
The other is a growth engine.

One leaves you wondering "is this even working?"
The other fills your calendar with people who already trust you.

You don't need to go viral.
You don't need to post every day.
You don't need to chase the algorithm.

You need content that starts conversations.
And conversations that turn into clients.

That's it.

Don't force yourself into being a content creator.
Focus on building your business.


___

P.S. Phewww we made it through  the first real Friday of January! Great week but, TGIF, amiright!? 

How are y'all feeling about the start of the year so far?!

Don't expect inbounds on LinkedIn.
 
But with the right system? They'll come. 
 
My client was skeptical of all this. 

And honestly, I get it - he's in construction. 
Not exactly the industry you'd expect to crush it on LinkedIn.
 
But here's what we did:
 
1. We optimized his profile 
→ to speak directly to his ideal clients. 

2. He started creating content 
→ that showcases expertise, social proof, and a little personal touch. 

3. He began engaging with the right people 
→ to build relationships and get visibility.
 
It's chef's kiss.
 
Now he's becoming "the guy to talk to" in his space.
 
This is what good looks like. 
 
The crazy part? He just got started. 
He's only posted a few times AND 1-2x/week.
 
Imagine what happens when he's been doing this consistently for a year.
 
How many more opportunities do you think will come his way then?
 
The system works. 
Even in construction. 
Even when you're skeptical.
(𝘈𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺, 𝘐 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘬𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭, 𝘴𝘰 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨! ;)
 
You just have to trust the process long enough to see it.

____

P.S. This is exactly what I mean by, "I'm on LinkedIn to get off LinkedIn." 

When you embrace that, real magic happens here, just like it did for my client.

Want help building YOUR system?

DM me "Skeptic" for deets.

Feeling skeptical about LinkedIn?

You're not alone.

"I don't have time to post every day."
"I hate social media."
"LinkedIn doesn't work for my industry."
"I've tried it. Nothing happened."

Most of my clients said the exact same thing.

Now they're booking calls, closing deals, and getting speaking engagements.

Same people. Same skepticism. Different results.

The difference? The right system.

Today's newsletter breaks down:

→ The 4 biggest objections I hear (and why they're wrong)
→ Real results from real clients who didn't believe it either
→ The 3 P's that make LinkedIn actually work

Check out this week's, Own Your Voice! 

P.S. A little skepticism is good...we're in a trust recession! People are getting burned left and right. I get it. Good luck trying to sell me something right now 🙊. But what gets me trusting people more? Real stories, real results. Take a peak for those wins! 😎

(So do 99% of my clients) Most of my clients are skeptical when we start working together. Last week I had three calls where I could literally see the

Open article: Feeling skeptical about LinkedIn? by Natasha Walstra • 3 min read

On Wed, we had our first guest speaker at the REALationship Growth Method 

(Yep, we're having experts come in now.)

Melissa Glick joined us to talk about her ACED method for sales conversations.
And let me tell you - the energy in that room!

We had a full house, I invited cohorts 1, 2, AND 3 (which doesn't even kick off until next month!).
Plus my 1:1 clients.

Yes, sales is my background.
But my 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘦 is business development and personal branding.

So bringing in someone like Melissa who lives and breathes sales conversations?
20+ years in sales. $50 million closed in her lifetime.
Built and sold a multi-million dollar tech company.

I'm not holding that back from my people.

There was so much good stuff, I almost feel like it's a crime to share it publicly.
(So you should maybe check out her next cohort kicking off in March!)

But what I 1000% agree on:
Sales shouldn't feel like sales. It should feel like coffee with a friend.

Can sales actually be fun?
Yes. Yes, it can.

Oh, and guess where I met Melissa?
LinkedIn. In the comments. 2 years ago.
That led to DMs. Then a call. Then my podcast. Then collaborations.
Now she's teaching my community.

This is what building real relationships looks like.

_____

P.S. Curious to learn more about the REALationship Growth Method?

DM me "LFG" for deets.

There's no playbook for building relationships through screens.

We're the first generation doing this. 
It's no wonder it feels awkward.
But, fortunately, you might not actually need new skills. 
You just need to translate the ones you already have.

We're writing the playbook now. 
This week's newsletter is a chapter.

Check it out 😎

Before we dive in, I have a favor to ask. This past weekend I was thrown in LinkedIn jail. (Read more here.) It was unsettling for a lot of reasons - 

Open article: The skill you need to not feel salesy on LinkedIn (+ a favor to ask!) by Natasha Walstra • 3 min read

The skill you need to not feel salesy on LinkedIn (+ a favor to ask!)

Have you found your LinkedIn QR code yet? 

I found it once. Then took weeks to find again.

It's not intuitive...at all. (like most things on here ; )

But if you're going to any event, conference, or networking thing, you should have this handy! 

Because idk about you, but I don't even have a business card. 

Hasn't been an issue because everybody just asks for your LinkedIn
(and that way you connect on the spot!)

Here's how to find it (*from your phone app):

1. Open the LinkedIn app
2. Tap the search bar at the top (don't type anything)
3. Look to the right, below the search. Bam! There's your QR code

That's it. Two taps.

But nobody knows it's there.

Pro tip for when you're going to an event:
Screenshot your QR code and set it as your lock screen.

Now when someone asks to connect, you just flip your phone around.
No fumbling. No spelling out your name. 
No "I'll find you later."

And then when you connect, screenshot their profile so you save their 'business card," too.

You're welcome. 😇


____

P.S. I'm thinking about my next workshop...something around maximizing event ROI through LinkedIn personal branding. Who'd be interested in this??

taplio

The Battle

George Otel

Natasha Walstra

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taplio

The Battle

George Otel

Natasha Walstra

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);}George Otel's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreNatasha Walstra's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreGeorge Otel's LinkedIn Performance