Your success, my mission | 3x founder & CEO | Former CIO $4B company | DEIB ally | Sharing 24 years of hard-earned leadership & self-mastery wisdom

My purpose is to inspire and empower individuals to unleash their potential and create a positive impact in the world.

I believe success is a byproduct of helping others, and the best leaders create other leaders.

When you:
set a clear vision,
lead by example, and
empower your people,
they give you their best
and you all win together.

🔭 Former Corporate Exec | 🌱 Entrepreneur | 💡 Founder | 📚 Lifelong Learner

After 22 years of corporate life and reaching the pinnacle, I stepped off the high-wire to begin a new chapter.

Trading the executive suite of a $4B global powerhouse for the excitement of entrepreneurship, I'm now spreading knowledge, innovation, and transformation.

Through 5 major career transitions, I evolved from a VP of Marketing & Sales to Division President, and ultimately, CIO.

But behind every business transaction, there's a face. I firmly believe that people are the heart and soul of any endeavor. I owe my success to the great teams I've been a part of and the wise mentors who guided me. My advice for aspiring leaders:

Be bold.
Be curious.
Be authentic.
Be respectful.
Be transparent.
Be growth-minded.
And success will follow.

Today, as an entrepreneur, I've swapped corporate structure for startup passion, partnering with my wife as co-owners of a holding company, founding multiple business ventures, crafting 3 new brands, consulting growing companies, and extending my love of mentoring into coaching.

In between, you’ll find me nurturing my four personal passions: learning, writing, traveling, and gardening. They keep me rooted and help me grow. After all, isn't life one big, beautiful garden? Here’s to growing together! 🌱

Justin Wright

I’ve watched managers publicly humiliate their own team.

In meetings.
In front of clients.
Like it was nothing.

And it taught me something I’ll never forget:

If you don’t defend your people, you don’t deserve to lead.

True leaders know:

➟ Your team's success is your success
➟ Their growth and achievements are your legacy
➟ Their trust is what makes you a leader, not your title

So what does it mean to defend your team?

It’s not about lowering the bar. 
Or making excuses. 

It’s about this:

✅ Fighting for their growth
✅ Protecting them from burnout
✅ Shielding them from toxic politics
✅ Offering support without micromanaging
✅ Being their voice when they're not in the room

The best leader I ever had modeled this.

When things went wrong, she’d say: 
“That’s on me. We’ll fix it.”

When we crushed it? 
“My team did all the work. I just cleared the path.”

She gave tough feedback. 
Held us to high standards. 
But she never made us feel small.

That made all the difference.

We gave everything for that team. 
Grew faster than ever. 
Hit milestones we never thought possible.

Because we knew she had our back. 
Always.

Anyone can manage tasks. 
Real leaders develop people. 
And you can’t develop what you don’t defend.

So choose wisely. 
Your team is watching. 
And they won’t forget.

P.S. Ever worked with a leader like this? Tag them below.
 
🔁 Repost if defending your team is non-negotiable.
 
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Your success, my mission | CEO @ Polished Carbon | Former CIO $4B company | DEIB ally | Sharing 25 years of hard-won wisdom on people-first leadership + emotional intelligence + self-mastery

It's so important to know when to leave.

The job.
The party.
The relationship.

Most people stay too long in situations that drain them.

They think leaving means giving up.

But sometimes, leaving is the bravest thing you can do.

I learned this the hard way.

I stayed at a toxic job for a year longer than I should have.

Why? Because I thought I could fix it.

I thought if I just...

Stayed later
Worked harder
Proved my worth

...things would change.

They didn't. But I did.

I became anxious. Exhausted. Resentful.

Until one day, I realized:

Staying wasn't loyalty. It was self-sabotage.

The strongest people I know have mastered 1 skill:
They know when to walk away.

It takes emotional intelligence to recognize:

When your values are being compromised
When your energy is being drained
When your growth has stopped
When respect has left the room

And it takes courage to act on that knowledge.

I wish someone had told me sooner:

You don't need a reason to choose yourself.
You don't need permission to protect your peace.
You don't need to stay anywhere that makes you small.

The right people will understand.
The wrong people will try to guilt you into staying.

That's how you know you're making the right choice.

Your EQ isn't just about understanding others.

It's about knowing yourself well enough to honor your needs.

Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is simply leave.

And create space for something better.

♻️ Agree? Repost to inspire someone in your network.
Thank you!

9 daily choices that make you memorable:

Kindness...
it echoes.

Respect...
it stays.

Help...
it inspires.

Honesty...
it’s admired.

Listening...
it’s valued.

Smiling...
it’s infectious.

Time...
give it.

Love...
spread it.

Promises...
keep them.

And you'll...
be remembered.

Which of these makes a person memorable to you?

P.S. Repost to inspire others ♻️.
Thank you!

The most powerful leadership tool costs $0.

(And you already have it.)

Kindness.

Most people think success comes from being tough.

From pushing harder.
From demanding more.

But here's what the research shows:

Teams led with kindness are...

➟ 70% more engaged
➟ 40% more resilient
➟ 21% more productive 
➟ 4x more likely to stay

Because kindness isn't weak. It's a strength multiplier.

It transforms average teams into exceptional ones.

Think about it:

When someone shows you kindness at work, you feel seen.

Valued.

Ready to give your best.

That's why great leaders practice these daily:

• They ask real questions, not just "how are you?"
• They defend people who aren't in the room
• They celebrate others' wins like their own
• They respect boundaries and off-hours
• They lead with empathy, not authority
• They offer help before being asked
• They include the quiet voices
• They share knowledge freely
• They give credit generously

The truth?

Leadership isn't about power.
It's about impact.

And nothing impacts people more than genuine kindness.

Make kindness your competitive advantage.

Your team will thank you.
Your results will show it.
Your legacy will prove it.

Want to transform your workplace?

Start with kindness.
The rest will follow.

P.S. How do you show kindness at work?

♻️ Repost if this resonates with you. Thanks!

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If you dread Monday mornings, it's not you.
It's your workplace.

If your ideas are dismissed in meetings...
If you feel invisible and undervalued...
If your hard work goes unnoticed...

You're not alone.
And you deserve better.

As a leader, I've seen how toxicity affects talented people.

I've seen them shrink.
I've watched their spark fade.
I've noticed their energy disappear.

That's why I make it my mission to create a space where my team feels:

➟ Valued for their unique skills
➟ Inspired to do their best work
➟ Empowered to make decisions
➟ Supported when challenges arise
➟ Appreciated for their contributions
➟ Included in important conversations

Life's too short to spend it where you're not valued.

No paycheck is worth:

➟ Your time with loved ones
➟ Your peace of mind
➟ Your mental health
➟ Your self-worth
➟ Your joy

The signs are there if you feel:

🚫 Relief when your boss is out of the office
🚫 Exhausted beyond normal tiredness
🚫 Anxious about checking your email
🚫 Unable to speak up in meetings
🚫 That Sunday night dread

Remember this truth:

You weren't born to just pay bills and be miserable.
You deserve to work where your talents shine.

Where your work has meaning.
Where your voice matters.

Don't stay where you're tolerated.
Go where you're celebrated.

Your talents are too valuable to waste in a place that dims your light.

♻️ Agree? Repost to share with your network. Thanks!

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Power doesn’t make you a leader.
(What you do with it does.)

The truth hits hard:

A boss takes what they need.
A leader creates what everyone needs.

Look closely at any thriving team.
You’ll spot the difference instantly.

Bosses:
➟ Command through position
➟ Guard resources like secrets
➟ Take credit for others' wins
➟ Stand above the team
➟ Demand loyalty

True leaders:
➟ Inspire through action
➟ Share openly and freely
➟ Give credit where it's due
➟ Stand alongside their team
➟ Earn trust through words & actions

It’s never about power.
It’s about empowerment.

Not about being first in line, 
but making sure no one’s left behind.

Not about drinking alone,
but making the well bigger for everyone.

Because when you lead with service,
people follow with passion.

When you clear the path for others,
they’ll give their best for you.

Your example doesn’t just influence.
It multiplies.

Choose wisely.

Be the leader you'd want to follow.

Have you seen the difference between a boss and a leader in your workplace?

♻️ Repost if you believe in true leadership. Thanks!

P.S. Want my 99 best cheat sheets?
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Video credit: Millionaire Mentor

Leadership isn't a title... it's actions and behaviors.

12 essential traits of a great leader:

1. Confident, Not Arrogant
↳ Confidence inspires trust. Arrogance destroys it.

2. Empowers Their Team
↳ Sets them up for success with resources & support

3. Good Listener
↳ Listens with empathy and values others' input

4. Doesn't Play Favorites
↳ Treats everyone fairly and with respect

5. Emotionally Intelligent 
↳ Manages own emotions and responds well to others'

6. Encourages Feedback 
↳ Welcomes honest input to continuously improve

7. Always Learning 
↳ Stays curious and open to new ideas

8. Supports Team's Growth 
↳ Invests time to help them develop skills and advance

9. Gives Recognition 
↳ Celebrates team's wins and effort, not just results

10. Calm Under Pressure 
↳ Stays poised in challenges to guide team forward

11. Genuinely Cares 
↳ Looks out for team's wellbeing, beyond just work

12. Owns Their Mistakes 
↳ Takes responsibility, learns, and course-corrects

The impact of a great leader can't be overstated.

They bring out the best in others.

When you find a leader like this, learn from them.

And always be this kind of leader for others.

Find this valuable? Repost to share it ♻️. Thanks!

P.S. What did I miss? What would you add?

I made my biggest leadership mistake on day one.

I was so proud of that promotion.

Now I'm in the spotlight, I thought.

Until I eventually learned...

Leadership is all about shining a light on others.

When you become a leader, your impact is no longer measured by what you produce.

It's now measured by how you help others grow and reach their potential.

Your greatest achievement becomes your team's success, not your own.

You see, leadership isn't about:
➟ Being the loudest voice in the room
➟ Taking credit for your team's work
➟ Having an answer for everything

Instead, it's about:

➟ Amplifying the quiet voices
➟ Celebrating your team's wins
➟ Creating space for their growth

Great leaders invest in their people daily.

They see potential before others do.

They push you when you need pushing.
And support you when you need supporting.

Try asking your team:

"What's one obstacle I can remove for you this week?"
"What skill do you want to develop next?"

When someone doubts themselves, remind them of their past wins. Their hidden strengths.

A single "I believe in you" can change everything.

Because at its heart, leadership is simple:

Your job isn't to be the best person on the team.

It's to bring out the best in everyone else.

♻️ Agree? Repost to inspire other leaders. Thanks!

Want my 99 best cheat sheets?
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Today's my 50th birthday.
If I could go back, here's the advice
I'd give my 20-year-old self:

Don't be afraid to start over.
You might just like your new story better.

Yes it's scary.
Yes it's humbling.
Yes it's uncomfortable.

But it can be incredibly rewarding.

Some of my biggest leaps happened
because I was willing to begin from zero.

In 2012, I lost 140 lbs in just over a year.
It completely changed my life.

I went from being "demoted" at work
to rising to the C-Suite of a $4B company.

In 2023, I left a 23-year corporate career
to start my own company.

No idea how to do it.
No personal brand to build from.
I'd never even posted on social media.

I went from 1,766 LinkedIn followers in June 2023
to 687,015 today (hi fam 👋).

Your support means the world to me. Thank you.

Every single restart was humbling.
Every single restart was terrifying.

But starting over doesn't erase your experience.
It redirects it. It sharpens it.

The weight loss taught me discipline.
The demotion taught me resilience.
The career change taught me courage.

And I'm grateful for all of it.

You don't lose your story when you start over.
You write a new chapter.

The hardest part is deciding to try.
The second hardest is sticking with it.

But if you do both...
you can change everything.

Your career.
Your health.
Your confidence.
Your life.

Stick with it. You can change your life.

♻️ Repost if this resonates with you.

P.S. Want my 99 best cheat sheets?
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Your success, my mission | CEO @ Polished Carbon | Former CIO, $4B company | DEIB ally | Follow for leadership + emotional intelligence + personal growth

12 traits I see in every high performer.
(They're not born this way.)

They build these habits over time.

And you can too.

Here's what the top 1% do differently:

1. They don't wait to be asked.
↳ They see what needs doing and handle it.
↳ They take action without being told.

2. They stay out of drama.
↳ Office politics drain energy. Solutions create it.
↳ They focus on results, not rumors.

3. They fix what's broken.
↳ Anyone can point to problems. They solve them.
↳ They bring answers, not just complaints.

4. They admit what they don't know.
↳ "I'll find out" shows strength, not weakness.
↳ Then they learn fast to close the gap.

5. They turn ideas into action.
↳ Talk is easy. Execution is rare.
↳ While others discuss, they deliver.

6. They truly listen.
↳ Not just waiting for their turn to speak.
↳ They hear what others really need.

7. They balance data with instinct.
↳ Numbers matter. So does intuition.
↳ They know when to trust each.

8. They spot hidden patterns.
↳ Where others see random events, they see connections.
↳ This ability to anticipate creates massive value.

9. They handle challenges with high EQ.
↳ Pressure reveals character. Stress tests resilience.
↳ They respond thoughtfully, not just react emotionally.

10. They finish what they start.
↳ Starting is common. Finishing is valuable.
↳ Their word is their bond.

11. They make work better for others.
↳ Value isn't just about your personal output.
↳ It's about helping the whole team shine.

12. They lift others up without seeking credit.
↳ True help comes with no strings attached.
↳ They cheer for team wins like their own.

These traits aren't about talent or IQ.
They're about daily choices and commitment.

Anyone can develop them.
Few actually do.

Will you be one?

♻️ Repost to help others if this resonated with you.

P.S. Want PDFs of my 99 best cheat sheets?
Get them free: BrillianceBrief.com

9 seconds could change your life.

That's how long it takes to make a choice that
defines your character.

I once worked with someone who taught me this lesson.

Aaron was always the first to help, even when no one
was watching.

He'd stay late to finish a project, refusing to cut corners.

In meetings, he'd give credit to others before himself.

One day, I asked him why he bothered.

His answer stuck with me:

"If you can't be trusted with the small stuff,
how can anyone trust you with the big stuff?"

He was right.

Good character isn't about:
— Grand gestures
— Public recognition
— Doing the right thing when it's easy

It's about:
— Quiet integrity
— Consistent kindness
— Doing the right thing, especially when it's hard

The truth is, we all face character tests daily:
— Do we own up to mistakes?
— Do we gossip about a coworker?
— Do we help without expecting anything?

These small decisions shape who we become.

Remember:

Your character is your real resume.

It's what people say about you when
you're not in the room.

So, next time you're faced with a choice,
take those 9 seconds. Make them count.

Build a character that makes you proud.

Agree? Disagree? I'd love to hear your thoughts below.

♻️ Repost to inspire someone in your network. Thanks!

You can't control much in life
(but these 22 things you always can):

1. Your Attitude
Choose to have a positive outlook.
 
2. Your Integrity
Stick to your values, even when it's hard.
 
3. Your Courage
Face your fears and grow.
 
4. Your Kindness
A small act can change someone's day.
 
5. Your Influence
Be the leader you'd want to follow.
 
6. Your Actions
Make decisions you'll be proud of later.
 
7. Your Boundaries
Say no when you need to.
 
8. Your Effort
Push through when it gets tough.

9. Your Circle
Surround yourself with supportive people.
 
10. Your Self-Belief
Believe you can, and you will.
 
11. Your Excuses
Kill them before they kill your dreams.
 
12. Your Goals
Set them high to inspire your growth.
 
13. Your Focus
Choose where you direct your attention.
 
14. Your Limits
Break them, then set new ones.
 
15. Your Time
Prioritize what matters most to you.
 
16. Your Words
Speak positively to yourself and others.
 
17. Your Self-Care
Make time for yourself every day.
 
18. Your Silence
Speak up, even when it's unpopular.
 
19. Your Inner Critic
Put it in its place.
 
20. Your Mindset
Shift from fixed to growth thinking.
 
21. Your Purpose
Align your actions with your mission.
 
22. Your Gratitude
Count your blessings, no matter how small.

And remember, even though you can't control
what you feel...

You do get to choose how you respond.

Your power starts and ends with you 💪.

Master these 22, and watch your whole world transform.

You're not a passenger in life.

You're the driver.

P.S. Which of the 22 is most important to you?
Any I missed that you'd add?

♻️ Repost if this resonates with you.

P.S. Want PDFs of my 99 best cheat sheets?
Get them free: brilliancebrief.com

The human brain has 6 gears.
Most people never shift past 2nd.

Bloom's Taxonomy gives a clear guide.
Here's how to access all 6:

REMEMBER is 1st gear.
We all start here, memorizing facts.
It's essential, but just the beginning.

UNDERSTAND is 2nd gear.
Being able to explain concepts clearly.
Many of us get comfortable here.

APPLY is 3rd gear.
Where knowledge turns into action.
Where real growth begins.

ANALYZE is 4th gear.
Breaking big problems into smaller pieces.
Seeing patterns others miss.
This is where strategic insights form.

EVALUATE is 5th gear.
Making smart decisions backed by clear thinking.
Choosing the best path forward.
Leaders thrive here.

CREATE is top gear.
Where new ideas come to life.
Where solutions to old problems are born.
The space for innovation.

The beautiful thing?

Every gear builds on the one before it.

Each level makes you more capable.
More valuable to yourself and others.

Most haven't been shown how to shift gears.
But it's possible for anyone.

Your brain is incredible.

It can do so much more than you think.

Ready to level up?

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P.S. Want my 99 best cheat sheets?
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What does it take to build a strong team?

Start by understanding what drives people.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs isn't just a theory.
It’s a guidebook for team-building.

Let me show you how:

1. Set a Foundation of Security
↳ Ensure clear roles and job stability.
↳ Trust and safety are non-negotiable.

2. Build Community
↳ Create real connections.
↳ Regular team-building is essential.

3. Create a Culture of Recognition and Respect
↳ Say "thank you" often. Celebrate wins.
↳ Make appreciation a habit, not a rarity.

4. Support Growth and Development
↳ Invest in training and mentorship.
↳ Support their personal and professional journey.

5. Instill a Sense of Purpose and Creativity
↳ Align team goals with individual passions.
↳ Encourage innovative thinking and passion projects.

6. Create Leaders, Not Just Followers
↳ Mentor your team to become future leaders.
↳ Empower them to take ownership and grow.

Why does this matter?

When you meet these needs,
your team isn't just working…

They’re thriving.

The impact?

➟ Higher employee engagement
➟ Better team collaboration
➟ Increased productivity
➟ Healthier culture
➟ More fun

How do you make it happen?

✅ Lead with empathy.
✅ Understand their needs.
✅ Unlock your team's potential.

♻️ Find this valuable? Repost to help others too.

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Leaders are like Wi-Fi. Good ones connect & empower.
Toxic ones leave you frustrated and unproductive.

Think about your best leader.
Remember how they made you feel?

Motivated. Inspired. Ready to take on the world.

Now think about your worst.
That pit in your stomach. The dread of going to work.

The difference is night and day.

Great leaders:
• Have your back when things go wrong
• Push you to grow, not to break
• Listen more than they speak
• Celebrate your wins
 
They're the ones who:
↳ Help you see your potential
↳ Make you believe in yourself
↳ Create a team that feels like home

Bad leaders?

They do the opposite:
• Take credit for your work
• Micromanage every little thing
• Play favorites and create drama
• Blame you when things go south
 
Working for them feels like:
↳ Losing your passion for what you do
↳ Never being good enough
↳ Walking on eggshells

Here's the thing:
Leadership isn't about titles or corner offices.
It's about how you make people feel.

Do you lift them up or tear them down?
Do you inspire or intimidate?

Leaders, remember:
Your team's success is your legacy.
Their growth is your real achievement.

So, ask yourself:
Are you the Wi-Fi that connects and empowers?
Or the one that leaves everyone disconnected?

The choice is yours.
But your team is counting on you to get it right.

♻ Agree? Repost for your network. Thanks!

12 leadership traits they don't teach at Harvard:


Everyone talks about confidence and charisma.

But true leadership runs deeper than that.

Here's what great leaders do differently:

1. Lead With Heart
↳ They know kindness isn't weakness
↳ Their humanity makes their impact stronger

2. Share The Spotlight
↳ They celebrate your wins like their own
↳ Your success becomes their success

3. Stay Curious
↳ They listen first, speak second
↳ Your ideas shape their decisions

4. Trust Their Team
↳ They resist the urge to control
↳ Autonomy creates ownership

5. Stand Behind You
↳ They defend you when it matters
↳ Support isn't just words, it's action

6. Show Up Authentically
↳ They ask how you're doing and mean it
↳ Tough times reveal their true character

7. Value Your Time
↳ They protect your boundaries
↳ Work-life balance isn't just talk

8. Fight Burnout
↳ They notice when you're stretched thin
↳ Prevention beats damage control

9. Read The Room
↳ They tune into unspoken signals
↳ Emotional intelligence guides their moves

10. Build Others Up
↳ They surround themselves with brilliance
↳ Your growth is their investment

11. Stay Grounded
↳ Success hasn't changed their core
↳ They remember where they started

12. Own Solutions
↳ They focus on fixing, not blaming
↳ Progress beats pointing fingers

These traits aren't flashy.
They don't make headlines.
But they build legacies.

Be the leader you'd want to follow.

What underrated trait would you add?

♻️ Agree? Repost to share this with others.

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The best leader I ever had did something unique:


They made our weekly 1:1s a priority.

No phone. No interruptions. Just pure attention.

In those moments, I felt truly valued.

And it changed everything about how I showed up at work.

Now as a leader, I know the secret:

Great leadership isn't about having the loudest voice.

It's about having the most open ears.

Here's why:

It builds stronger, more authentic relationships.
It encourages your team to share their ideas.
It helps you pick up on unspoken concerns.
It shows your team you truly value them.
It creates a more positive work culture.
It boosts morale and motivation.
It improves communication.
It sets a good example.

9 ways you can be more present for your team:

Put your phone away.
Pause before reacting.
Ask thoughtful questions.
Focus on one thing at a time.
Make time for 1:1 conversations.
Be mindful of your body language.
Give your full attention in meetings.
Ask for feedback from your team often.
Listen to understand, not just to respond.

Your presence is more powerful than your words.

Your attention is more valuable than your advice.

Your listening creates the space for others to shine.

Want to transform your leadership today?

Start with one simple act:

Put your phone away during your next conversation.

Watch what happens when you give someone your full attention.

♻️ Agree? Repost to help a leader in your network. Thanks!

Want my 99 best cheat sheets?
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The most underrated leadership skill isn't strategy.
It's confidence. (But not the kind you think.)

Not the "I have all the answers" kind.

The kind where you can make a tough call when nothing is certain

... and still sleep at night.

The kind where you hear hard feedback

... and don't get defensive about it.

The kind where you hand off important work to someone on your team

... even though you could do it faster yourself.

There are 7 types of confidence great leaders build over time.

Decision confidence
Feedback confidence
Vulnerability confidence
Delegation confidence
Emotional confidence
Boundary confidence
Humble confidence

The one most people skip?
Vulnerability confidence.

Because admitting what you don't know feels like weakness.

But it's actually what makes your team trust you more.

♻️ Agree? Repost to inspire someone in your network.

P.S. Want my 99 best cheat sheets?
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Team motivation made simple.

6 keys that actually work:

1. Listen First, Act Second
↳ Ask for their ideas and put them into action
↳ Show them their input matters

2. Give Recognition
↳ Pay attention to their efforts
↳ Make recognition part of your routine

3. Challenge and Support
↳ Set goals that help them grow
↳ Be there when they need guidance

4. See the Whole Person
↳ Care about their life outside work
↳ Respect what matters to them

5. Support Their Growth
↳ Learn about their career goals
↳ Help remove obstacles in their way

6. Trust and Empower
↳ Let them lead projects
↳ Support their decisions

Motivation doesn't come from ra-ra speeches.

It's from daily actions that show your team they matter.

When people feel truly supported, they achieve extraordinary things.

P.S. Which key do you think is most important?

♻️ Find this helpful? Repost to share with others.

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I used to avoid difficult conversations.
(You know the ones.)

That talk with the team member who's missing deadlines.

The discussion about expectations with your boss.

The feedback that needs to be given but feels too hard.

I thought I was keeping the peace by staying silent.

But what if silence is actually the problem?

I learned this the hard way with my project manager.

His work quality was slipping. The team noticed.
I said nothing for months.

When I finally had the conversation:

"I've been waiting for you to bring this up," he said.
"I know I'm struggling. I thought you didn't care."

That's when it hit me hard. My silence wasn't kindness.

It was abandonment disguised as peace-keeping.

What I thought protected our relationship was actually destroying it.

Every time you choose courage over comfort, you build something precious:

➟ A culture where honesty thrives
➟ Relationships built on real trust
➟ Solutions that actually solve problems

Yes, difficult conversations are... difficult.

But the space on the other side?

That's where real progress happens.

The awkward feeling might last a few mins.
But regret can last a lifetime.

Your team is waiting for you to lead.
Not around the hard stuff.
But through it.

♻️ Agree? Repost to share with your network. Thanks!

Want my 99 best cheat sheets?
Get them free: BrillianceBrief.com

I Build Companies That Sell For Millions And Teach Founders How to Do the Same

Billion Dollar Exits is the first programme designed to help you sell your company for the highest possible price.

You'll be joining a network of founders who've sold over $3.6 billion worth of businesses between them, all of whom are invested in helping you do the same. We work together to figure out what's holding back your growth and then actually fix it.

This could mean building a leadership team, making your sales engine more predictable, or getting your pricing where it should be.

And when you're ready to go to market, we introduce you directly to buyers and help you get the deal done.

Message me to join the waiting list.

Timothy Armoo

How do you network when you're a nobody?

This is a tactical masterclass from Daniel Priestley that got viewed 220k times on Instagram with 4,549 shares - incredible stuff!!

He breaks down exactly how he built a network before anyone knew him.

This is the stuff I swear by - I even dedicated an entire cheatcode to networking in my book - What's Stopping You?

You can certainly magic a network from thin air... as long as you have a strategy! 

Watch the below reel to steal how Dan built his with just 2 weeks in the UK:

Business Builder | Global Speaker | #1 Sunday Times Bestselling Author

Getting customers isn't hard if you know what you're doing.

Most founders think they have a sales problem when they actually have an attention problem, and they're trying to close people who don't even know they exist.

The businesses that win don't just market better, they get eyeballs first and then turn those eyeballs into buyers with a system that actually works.

In this video I break down how I'd get customers for different businesses:

- Barber
- Plumber
- Gardener
- Marketing Agency

Each one needs a different approach, but the principle stays the same...

Grab attention, then convert it into sales.

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What is the best way to get customers? 

With Daniel Priestley

Would you pitch for investment in your bathing suit?

Rachel Peru was the first contestant in our new IG series - Invest OR Next?

She pitched her body confident swimwear range outside in this ever-reliable British weather 😅 

Rachel has already built a body positivity community and she is targeting an excellent niche with a powerful message... 

But was it enough to say yes or did I hit next?

This is the story of how I met Richard Branson!

It was amazing to speak to a room of hungry founders at Virgin HQ.

Some advice I always like to give people who are starting a new business or venture is to always find the 'third door' and make opportunities happen for yourself.

You can manufacture your own luck.

What do you think?

Happy Mother's Day to the greatest mum ❤️

Thanks for the spelling tests at the kitchen table and bribing strangers at the airport to smuggle books back for me as a kid.

Thanks for the excessive Bible scriptures and the long sermons on how to avoid gold diggers (still relevant, by the way).

Thanks for showing unconditional love even when it was something you had to actively learn yourself. That kind of love takes courage.

Thanks for the quotes you'd drop so casually that I'd carry them with me for years without even realising it.

You didn't just raise me. You equipped me.

Thank you ❤️

7 Profound Things My Mum Told Me

One of my biggest regrets is not working for someone else first before starting a business!

I know that sounds wild coming from me 😂

But honestly, so many of the mistakes I made in the early days of Fanbytes were completely avoidable...

If I'd spent even a year shadowing someone who'd already built and sold a business, I would have seen the pitfalls coming from a mile away.

Instead I learned everything the hard way.

Wasted money on the wrong hires. Took deals that looked good on paper but drained us. Spent months figuring out things someone experienced could have told me in an afternoon.

Working for someone else isn't giving up on your dream - it's borrowing their mistakes so you don't have to make them yourself. 

You get to copy what works, skip what doesn't, and show up to your own business with a serious head start.

I say this a lot when I speak to Gen Z founders especially.

You have time!! You're young!!

The urgency you feel to start right now is real, but it's not always right. 

A year or two learning inside someone else's business could save you five years of painful trial and error.

The best founders I know didn't just have ideas. They had context. 

Go get some 💪🏿

My first YouTube video is live!!

I grew up on a fourth floor council estate in South London, raised by Ghanaian parents in one of the poorest parts of the city, with a dad who worked every hour he could.

But by 27, I had sold a company to Brainlabs in a multi eight figure all cash deal.

However, the part people rarely talk about is everything that happened in between.

It began with a £500 bet at 14 that turned into my first business, and by 17 I had built and sold an online magazine for £110k. 

What followed was far less tidy. I spent years building seven businesses in a row that completely failed, and during that time I also lost my dad at 21.

Eventually I built Fanbytes to a team of 80 people, working with brands like Nike and McDonald’s.

Along the way I landed on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, wrote a book that reached number one on the Sunday Times bestseller list, and reached a £30M net worth before turning 30.

None of it came in a straight line, and the straight line version of the story is not the useful one anyway.

I made this video because I wanted people to see the real version, not the highlight reel. The doubt, the losses, and the moments where it genuinely could have gone the other way.

If someone who grew up where I grew up can build something like this, then far more is possible than most people realise.

Link to watch is here: https://lnkd.in/eUa5_Fh8

Last week I flew to Milan with Visa and Revolut Business for the Olympic Winter Games!

They handed me their new Visa Titan card and set me a challenge: use it the way I'd genuinely use a card day to day and see if it actually holds up.

I told them I would only share about it if it earned its place in my wallet.

It did.

Here’s some of my favourite bits of the card.

1. Free subscriptions to WeWork, Perplexity & The Economist

An absolute game changer. I have not seen any other card doing this!

2.10GB eSIM every month

So if you’re travelling somewhere rather than getting hit with roaming charges or having to faff with random apps that may or may not work, you get 10GB included automatically.

3. Access to over 1400 lounges

If you travel a lot, the worst bit is needing to crack on with work and having nowhere decent to sit and focus.

With the Visa Titan card you get access to 1400 plus lounges worldwide, so you can land, get set up, and get the final bits done properly.

Business cards have suffered from a crazy lack of innovation for years and it’s refreshing to see Revolut Business actually bringing something different to the table.

If you’re an entrepreneur building a company, the Visa Titan card can definitely make your life that little bit easier (and more fun).

Thanks again to Visa and Revolut Business for the weekend… I now love figure skating.

Learn more about the Visa Titan card and sign up for one yourself here: https://lnkd.in/gu5qpFbV

#PaidPartnership

You don't need to be the best, you just need to be early!

Back in 2017, I started Fanbytes when people were still writing articles wondering why kids like KSI were shouting into webcams in their bedrooms.

We saw what others didn't - these kids had massive influence over Gen Z!

We weren't the greatest agency on earth, we were just in an emerging market at the exact right time.

When you pick an industry in its infancy, you naturally rise as the entire industry rises.

Every market goes through three phases:

Infancy: A small group geeks out, the world doesn't get it yet
Maturity: Competitors flood in, market gets established
Consolidation: M&A activity explodes, businesses get bought up

Get in during infancy and stay in the game long enough for consolidation to happen.

When Fanbytes sold, about eight other influencer marketing companies sold within 12 months. We all picked the right industry, and the rising tide lifted us all.

It comes down to the "Expertise Gap."

Whenever a new industry emerges, there are people who know how to do the thing, people who desperately need that thing done, and sitting right in the middle is a mountain of money.

So what's the "influencer marketing of 2017" today?

AI Automation.

We're currently in the exact same infancy stage. Start an AI automation agency today, bridge the expertise gap for wealthy clients like dentists, lawyers, or PE funds, and wait for the market to consolidate.

So, stop building businesses in saturated markets and fighting for scraps. Pick an emerging industry, get in early, and let the market do the heavy lifting.

Your calendar is costing you more than you think!

The biggest ops risk at Fanbytes wasn’t revenue. It was my memory…

When we were scaling, my calendar was stupid.

I had back-to-back calls with brands, creators, investors, team members and half the time I was typing while someone was speaking… Trying to listen and summarise at the same time.

A week later someone would ask me:
“What did they say about the budget? Did we agree to change scope?”

And I’d scroll through my notes trying to decode what I wrote.

I’d read it and ask myself what was I even talking about… but the scary part is I didn’t think it was a problem - we all just accepted it back then 🤦

If a client referenced something from three months ago, we’d dig through Slack hoping it was there.

When you are small you can get away with it, but as you grow it becomes messy.

Until we switched to using Otter AI.

Every call was being recorded, every conversation was searchable and If someone asks what was said 4 months prior, we’d pull it up word for word using their AI interface. Sounds boring until the day you need it. Now, I don’t live without it.

Check it out and see how Otter for Enterprise can keep your team connected to every conversation: https://hubs.ly/Q042Xb5m0

I've sold 3 businesses over the last 5  years.

The best deals (all cash, minimal earnouts) had these 3 things in common.

1. They started preparing before they felt ready.

Most founders think they'll wake up one morning and just know it's time. Then they scramble to get everything in order while a buyer is already at the table.
 
Selling your business is the biggest financial decision you'll ever make, and it deserves more thinking and more planning than anything else you've done as a founder.

The ones who win start 2 to 3 years early.

(If you actually want to build sellable biz, check the bottom of the post)

2. They dated their buyers.

Two of the businesses I sold ended up going to people who were already in the founder's network.
 
Customers, partners, even competitors they'd built a relationship with over the years. 

If you're serious about selling at some point, you should be building those relationships now, long before you ever send a teaser document.

3. They knew exactly what buyers in their space were paying for.

Every industry values different things. Some buyers care about recurring revenue, others care about your team, others care about IP. 

The founders who got crazy multiples understood what similar companies were being valued on and reverse engineered their business to match. 

If you don't know what your buyer cares about, you're building blind.

On March 4th, I'm running a live workshop on “how to build a sellable business”. 

I'll walk you through how to do all three of these properly so you can start building a business that sells on your terms.

Join me here >> https://lnkd.in/evepyXhD

"I'm not ready to sell my business yet."

I hear this all the time, and I get it - you've got a business to run, and thinking about an exit that's three years away feels like a luxury you can't afford.

I know this because I almost got it wrong myself. 

Three years before I sold Fanbytes, I had someone do a mock valuation of my business because I wanted to know what a buyer would actually see if they looked under the hood.

What I discovered surprised me. I had been obsessing over the wrong things entirely.

One example: there's this concept called "quality of earnings." It's basically how "real" your profits are and whether a new owner could replicate them. Most founders have never heard of it, but buyers care about it enormously.

When I understood that, I changed how I priced our services, restructured certain deals, and made decisions that seemed small at the time but ended up adding significant value to the final number.

None of that would have happened if I'd waited until I was "ready to sell."

You can't fix these issues in six months! They take years to engineer properly.
Thinking about an exit is something you start doing while you still have runway.
By the time you're ready to go to market, the work should already be done.

I'm running a free workshop on what to know before selling your business. It's for founders who are smart enough to start designing for that outcome now, while they still have time to do it right.

Here's the link: https://lnkd.in/evepyXhD

P.S. The founders who get premium multiples all say the same thing: "I started preparing way earlier than I thought I needed to." The ones who got disappointing offers wish they had that time back.

This screenshot is the reason why I spent 2 years writing my book What's Stopping You?

Because no one wrote it for me.

Growing up on a council estate, I had no one who looked like me, came from where I came from, and had actually made it.

So I spent 2 years in my bedroom writing the book I wish someone had handed 18-year-old me.

The one that says: here's what's actually possible, here's what's actually in the way, and here's how to move through it.

Two years is a long time to sit with your own story and wonder if anyone will care.

But then the messages started coming in.

People saying the book cracked something open for them. That they finally felt seen. That they're now taking the leap they'd been putting off for years.

That's the whole point!!!

Not the Sunday Times bestseller list (though I'm not going to pretend that didn't feel incredible).

It's the kid on a council estate somewhere who picks it up and thinks: if he did it, why can't I?

I speak to hundreds of founders every year who want to exit their business.

The most common complaint I get is that they’re still stuck in their business.

So I tell them to do a Disappearance Test.

Literally, once a month be completely unreachable. 

Then when you come back, go through every single message and every request that landed while you were gone and write them all down. 

You'll start to see a pattern pretty quickly - some of those things genuinely needed you and most of them could have been handled by someone else entirely.

Do this once a month for 90 days and you start to see exactly where you're the bottleneck and where your team is perfectly capable of running things without you. 

The questions that keep coming back are the ones worth building a process around, and the ones that got answered without you are proof that you were never needed there in the first place.

After 90 days, most founders I work with have already pulled themselves out of half the things that were keeping them stuck.

Also business starts looking a lot more like something a buyer would actually want because it runs without you being in the middle of everything.

I'm running a workshop on March 4th where I walk through the full process of making your business less dependent on you.

I’ll also leave some time at the end for questions.

Here’s a link to register >> https://lnkd.in/evepyXhD

You self-sabotage more than you realise.

And I only clocked this looking back at my first paid speaking gig. It was at a marketing conference in Belfast where they'd cover travel and accommodation, and I just needed to quote my fee.

I felt a knot in my stomach thinking about what to charge, because I'd spoken publicly before, but getting paid felt completely different 😩

I mustered the courage to ask for £800 and to my surprise they agreed immediately. 

The day arrived and I was terrified, so I faffed and hesitated and delayed until by the time I reached check-in, my flight had left. 

That missed flight wasn't an accident because a tiny part of my brain offered me an escape route, and if I missed the flight, I could tell a story that excused me from the anxiety-inducing commitment.

Self-sabotage is sneaky because it happens beneath the surface!

Sometimes it looks like procrastination, where you tell yourself you're not quite ready or that delaying has some strategic benefit when the real reason is fear.

Sometimes it looks like perfectionism, where you hold yourself to an unrealistic standard not because excellence is the goal, but because the standard becomes a reason to avoid starting at all.

Watch for self-sabotage whenever you feel fear around a specific task and slow down to examine your true motives.

Rachel came to pitch me her new business Thrift!

An online market place available as an app/website where you can sell pre loved outfits.

It's a solid idea, but it's a massively competitive industry which is extremely hard to break into. 

So... did I invest or did I hit next?

What would you have done?

A PR agency came to me last year asking for $12m…

When I looked at the numbers it was $1.4m in revenue and $300k in profit, which meant the market would price it closer to $1.2m. 

They were convinced their relationships and culture justified the gap, even though buyers do not pay for stories, they price risk.

So we focused on four levers that actually move multiples in service businesses.

I call this the LOCK framework:

Locked revenue - by moving key clients onto longer term contracts with auto renewals so income was visible.

Owner optional - by removing the founder from day to day client work so the business could run without her.

Category authority - by narrowing positioning to a defensible niche instead of generic PR.

Key people committed - by tying senior team incentives to staying post acquisition.

Fourteen months later they had not hit $12m, but they moved from roughly $1.2m to $7m without changing revenue or profit. 

The risk profile changed, so the multiple followed.

P.s. I interviewed 27 founders on how they secured their exits and put it all into one blueprint: Sellers Secrets.

If you want to build something buyers actually want, it’s all here: https://lnkd.in/eXb4rq4Z

Every week, 100s of founders ask me… “how can I sell my business”

So for first time, I’m going to be sharing LIVE  my “Scale to EXIT strategies

This is for founders who are scaling and want a life changing exit in the next 1-3 years.

Every founder I know who has had a successful exit (7 figs or more) started planning years in advance. 

This workshop will increase your chances of having a successful exit.

Here's what I'll be covering:
How to know when the right time to sell is and the market signals to look for.

What systems you should have in your business now so you get premium value when you go to market. Hint (it’s not the ones you think)

The “magnet sales system” you can start doing today that scale your business and make it more attractive to buyers.

I’ve done $75m in exits by age 30, i kinda know what I’m talking about 🙂

As a bonus, I will stay for Q+A so you can ask me anything directly about your situation.

If you're thinking about selling in the next one to three years, the decisions you make now are what determine what your exit looks like.

Click the link to sign up for tomorrow's workshop (March 4th):
https://lnkd.in/evepyXhD

Fun fact… you can make less money and sell your business for more.

This is a story of how we took a biz from £2.1m in revenue to 1.6m and ended up selling for £14m.

In 2023, I started working with a founder who sold research reports to banks and consultancies.

Problem was revenue was lumpy, sales cycles were long, and income would go quiet for months between launches. Hard biz.

From a buyer's perspective, this is one of the least attractive revenue profiles you can have.

So we repackaged the underlying research into a data feed that banks and consultancies could subscribe to on a rolling basis.

No more big research reports, just simply subscribing for information.

The average order value went down from £80k a report to £20k a year but because the product was simpler and easier to buy, it opened up the mid market.

Mark's team could now sign dozens of smaller firms rather than spending months closing one big deal.

Revenue dropped from £2.1m to about £1.6m during the transition. But it was now recurring (BIG) spread across more customers (less customer concentration) and sticky (YESS!) because once a bank integrates a data feed into their workflow they don't switch it off.

In May 2025, a PE group acquired a portion of the business in a £14m transaction.

Lower revenue, but a business worth multiples more because of what that revenue looked like.

READ THAT AGAIN, WE MADE LESS REVENUE BUT BUILT A MORE VALUABLE BUSINESS!

We didn't really invent anything new. He repackaged what he already had in a way that matched what buyers actually want to pay for.

I'm running a workshop on March 4th where I break down how to turn your business from a profitable to a valuable asset buyers will pay for.

There’s an opportunity to ask questions too, it’ll be fire.

Link here: https://lnkd.in/evepyXhD

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The Battle

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