Hive Social UK

Hive Social is a Marketing Strategy and Training Consultancy. 

Using my 20+ years of marketing experience, from agency, to in-house and then as a freelancer, I have worked on all sides of the fence. I am passionate about working with companies that share my values and have a purpose over and above pure profit.

I am now empowering small businesses to master their own marketing with a 6 month programme called 'Strategy Made Simple' for business founders (and staff members), to join where I help them clarify their strategy and then give them training, support and accountability to start implementing effectively.

Founder

Small Businesses

I worked in a variety of small businesses who needed marketing support. I could give smaller businesses the marketing support they needed without having to employ a full time member of staff. These projects included:
- creating and implementing marketing plans
- briefing and overseeing rebranding projects
- planning and overseeing new website design and build
- creating email marketing strategies
- overseeing google marketing activity
- consulting on social media strategies and supporting full time staff to implement these
- managing PR and press relationships
- day to day marketing enquiries

Freelance Marketing Consultant

British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong

Responsible for all marketing related activity.  A varied role including publishing a monthly membership magazine, securing press coverage each month and managing a busy calendar of events. I was responsible for managing the marketing budget, developing strategies for targeting new members and developing member get member campaigns.

Marketing Director

WPNC

3 month freelance contract implementing mass media event for The National Autistic Society, sponsored by Vodafone. Responsible for implementing integrated campaign using radio, DM and online, managing the campaign budget, analysing and presenting all results to both parties and developing an ongoing strategy to reach the partnership objectives.

Freelance Account Director

GOOD Agency

Fundraising strategy development and implementation for charity clients (fundraising event generation and roll out). Developed new UK fundraising initiatives for Amnesty, Scope and Age Concern. Worked with other large charities such as RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Greenpeace and Macmillan Cancer Relief. 

Developing DM strategies for testing upgrades, renewals and conversions to monthly direct debits (eg. Amnesty)
Responsible for delivering campaigns on budget and within tight deadlines
Managed a team of 6, accountable for running multiple client relationships
Responsible for reaching team income targets, forecasting profit and reporting to senior management on a monthly basis
Strong knowledge of print production and artwork process

Account Director

Get Real! Marketing (merged to form Campus Group)

Assisting in running PR campaign for a SmithKline Beecham energy drink
Managed the drinks’ sponsorship contract with MTV
Coordinated a national sampling campaign.
Organised and assisted running two NPD/brand-stretching idea generation projects with Nestlé.
Account manager for Random House Publishing student brand manager programme – working with an account executive to coordinate a team of student brand managers based in universities across the UK.

Account Manager

Marketing strategy made simple for small businesses. Generate leads & income using marketing more strategically. Your guide from confusion ➡️ clarity. Strategy, coaching and training. 20+ experience. Take the quiz!👇

If you are feeling: 

❌ Frustrated with effort vs. results with your marketing
❌ Directionless with where to put your focus
❌ Lacking confidence using social media platforms effectively (I specialise in Instagram and LinkedIn)

Then you're in the right place. I am a marketing strategist helping businesses to achieve their goals. From developing a strategy to implementing it, and everything in between.

Together we will: 

✅ Pinpoint who you are targeting (you’d be so surprised how many established businesses haven’t really worked this out!)
✅ Clarify your broader business objectives
✅ Distil down some key marketing messages
✅ Work out your content pillars and a framework for your content

By joining my 'Strategy 'Made Simple Programme' you will:

⭐️ Beat the overwhelm with a clear plan to achieve your objectives
⭐️ Get 1:1 time with me for accountability and targeted action
⭐️ Be part of a community of other likeminded businesses in a similar position
⭐️ Receive practical marketing advice you can implement right away

What clients say: 

"We had 4 inbound enquiries in their first month of posting, having had none for 6 months"

"The BEST part is that one of my dream clients recently reached out. She said that my content resonated with her. Now, we are working together! I can't stop smiling!”

"I often leave our sessions buzzing as you’ve encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone! Working with you has been a game-changer.”

If you're ready to start creating income and impact with your social media then book a FREE strategy call using the link in my bio.

Katie Brown

If you’d told me a few years ago I’d be doing this… I wouldn’t have believed you.

Back then, I was doing the odd bit of freelancing for small businesses, a bit of social media stuff, a bit of website work.

It was small stuff, not very well paid, but it was easing me back into the world of work after stepping away to raise two small human beings!

It wasn’t until post-covid, I was finally ready. I invested in myself and focused on the strategic thinking behind marketing, and then things started to change.

Parts of my brain that had lain dormant suddenly came back to life. It was the beginning of what led me to where I am now.

Which is....

⭐️ I’m working on a 3-day-a-week retainer at a senior level in financial technology.

⭐️I’ve created an online course.

⭐️I’m relaunching my group programme (yay, in January!)

⭐️I run strategy days.

I train LinkedIn to leadership teams.

⭐️I get to spend my weeks helping brilliant coaches and consultants build calm, sustainable marketing systems.

⭐️I share an office in a 500 year old barn with a friend (this pic is the day we moved in!)

4 years ago, I wouldn’t have believed you if you’d painted this picture for me.

But the path hasn’t been without its bumps and roadblocks along the way.

Growth was quiet and imperfect, and usually went unnoticed as I focused on what wasn’t working, rather than what was.

And there’s still a lot of room for improvement; it’s a constant effort.

But equally important to occasionally look back!

👇 What’s something you’re doing now that the old you wouldn’t have believed a few years ago?

Marketing strategist for coaches + consultants. Creator of The Hive Method, a 3-stage system to turn messy, reactive marketing into steady, strategic visibility. DIY course | Marketing Momentum | 1:1’s. DM me! 💬

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My first official Christmas 'do'! 🎄

3 hours of non-stop chatter with this wonderful group of women. 

I joined the Wilder Collective as a founding member and I've watched it grow over that past year an a half or so to 200 strong.

It's hard to put into words what makes this community special, but they inspire, drive change, and there's purpose behind what they all do (and they're all really lovely!) 

It's a place where you can show up unfiltered and talk about whatever's on your plate. No judgement, no agendas. 

Thanks Nicky for another fab event. It's amazing how you can leave an event feeling simultaneously exhausted and energised! 🤣

Loved seeing Femke Harris Tanya Aldcroft Rebecca Cracknell Imogen Partridge Katie Elliott (HR Katie) Rebecca Hogan Sonia Kampshoff Georgie McIntyre Rosie McLaren Helen Smith Carly Claydon-Davies Candice Mason Lucy Horden and probably others!

You get invited to Christmas drinks by the wonderful Emily Penny , so you say yes, (of course) but arrive realising you only know 2 people! 

It could go either way right? 

Happy to say that Emily filled the room with creative superstars that she collaborates with , and the conversations certainly didn't disappoint!

Special thanks to David Lloyd  and Sarah Robb - we covered everything from petting zoo's, vodka shots, raves, M&S cardigans and intermittent fasting, and rounded off the evening with a group hug. 🥰 My kind of networking! 

Haven't laughed so much in a while. 

And Emily, thank you for my #AdventColander - it will be cherished! 

If you can't read the note it says: 

Your Holy Truth:
"Time"
Experience pours through us like water, and only certain moments cling to our mesh. This is not loss, but the way meaning slowly distills'. ❤️

Thank you Emily for being part of my network, it's certainly more colourful with you in it!

A spot of festive co-working yesterday (thank you Nicky!) 🎄

 A great chance to catch up, and surprisingly actually get some work done! 

And I have finally taken action on a job I've been ignoring for months - merging my email from an old platform into a new one. I didn't quite manage to do it then but it somehow spurred me on when I got home. 

Plus I had a massive email purge which was scary but also liberating! 

Funny how getting out of your routine sometimes gives you perspective on stuff you're avoiding doing! 

Progress is never perfect, but then action at least moves us along the path! 

Got any festive get togethers coming up? I will be at my clients Christmas party later today 🥳🍾

Lovely to see Yvonne Phillips Rebecca Cracknell plus others not on LinkedIn!

It’s funny, I wanted to do a degree in advertising when I left school.

My parents said no… I had to do a more ‘academic’ degree (with the best of intentions, of course!). 🙄

After scratching around, I decided on ‘Modern History and International Relations’ - I had an amazing history teacher who had really brought the subject to life for me in the last 2 years at school.

And International Relations… I’d had quite an international life, I guess, I honestly can’t really remember why I chose to study that.

It was fine, I guess. I certainly didn’t love it. The standout memorable subject was learning about the history of feminism (which I did love).

But at the end of my degree, I still wanted to work in marketing (doh!) 🤦♀️ and by now I had no experience, and no network.

My first break was in a tiny Soho agency that had an office that looked exactly like a private investigator's office… (not exactly the glamorous agency life I was expecting!)

Thankfully, things moved upwards from there…

Anyway, lesson learnt for my kids, I won’t be dissuading them from their chosen path of study (or not study, whatever the case may be).

How about you? Did you get put off certain pathways when you were young? Any regrets?

If I were rebuilding my marketing for 2026, here’s exactly where I’d start (in a nutshell):

1️⃣ Get really specific

No more fluff - you know how they are feeling, call it out.

Get straight to the heart of the issue, for a very specific group of people who immediately recognise themselves when they see your content.

2️⃣ Make your offers painfully clear

People shouldn’t need detective skills to understand what you do.

Name the problem, the process and the outcome.

3️⃣ Build a weekly rhythm you can actually stick to (not the one in your dreams!)

A simple structure that keeps you visible, even when life or client work gets busy. Make a commitment as to what’s non-negotiable with your marketing.

4️⃣ Create higher-quality touchpoints

Workshops. Short trainings. Free sessions.Have tangible outcomes.

This brings new people into your world and gives you an immediate, deeper connection to them. Make sure you leave them with a strong offer so it’s clear how they can take the next step.

People buy when they’ve experienced you and seen your expertise first-hand.

5️⃣ Show evidence every single week

Tiny wins. Client stories. Screenshots. Reflections.

Your audience isn’t asking “Can you help me?”

They’re asking, “Have you helped someone exactly like me before… and can you prove it?”

The way we market is changing; 2026 is going to be all about resonating with your target audience in an ‘impossible to ignore’ way.

They have less time, they're more switched on than ever, and they've seen you coming a mile off, so you'd better make it good.

Would you agree? What shifts are you making for 2026?

Whilst I am fully booked for December, there are new ways to work with me in January to get you set up for a successful 2026: 👇

📌 DIY marketing strategy course
📌 Marketing Momentum 6-month Programme (launching in Jan)
📌 Marketing Reset - 90 min x 1:1's
📌 2026 Marketing Blueprint VIP days

DM me to find out more!

Friday is a day to work on MY business (and get to the gym 💪).

It's good to have a slightly slower pace, a bit more thinking time.

- try to get my content lined up for the following week
- write emails
- working on a new lead magnet
- checking how my meta ads are performing
- still trying to wrap my head around GoHighLevel and be brave enough to move my whole mailing list over.
- spend half an hour on my finances
- working on copy for a new sales page

I could go on, but realistically, I won't achieve half of what I want to! 

The day disappears quite quickly! 

What do your Fridays look like? 

PS. Loving my new White Company mugs!

If you're a coach or consultant, you're most likely selling time for money. Which means you probably have this problem 👇

You’re either in delivery work or you’re selling 1:1 sessions. You want to be fully booked, of course, but with that comes the inevitable lack of time to work on your business rather than in it.

Then a client contract eventually runs its course and comes to an end, and suddenly, you reclaim those hours of your time.

The problem is that by then, you're feeling an urgency to replace clients, but that cycle can be lengthy (chats can linger for 6 months easily before turning into paid work).

So there's a lag that you can’t afford.

So you throw everything at your marketing until eventually you get another client or clients.

Once again bogged down by work, you loop back to shelving your marketing again.

And so the cycle continues!

It’s a well-trodden path (and your nervous system isn’t thanking you!)

What’s the answer?

It’s having a marketing system that can work alongside your client work. Because to get out of this cycle, you have to make some changes.

And yes, it does mean doing some foundational work, but once that work is done, it will have a lasting impact on your business (and your sanity)!

Does this sound familiar? How are you evening out these peaks and troughs?


📌 (If this is you, you might be interested in Marketing Momentum, which starts in January - DM me and I'll pop you on the waiting list, and send you the details soon!)

If you're a coach or a consultant, you didn't sign up for this much hard work alongside your day job...😤

But marketing is changing so quickly, it's hard for anyone to keep up.

I'm a big believer in simplifying things right down, hence these bite-sized observations might be helpful. 

They might give you a nudge toward what to focus on next.

What have you been noticing lately?

 Anything that’s felt different, harder, easier, or just… odd?
 Tell me below 👇


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I'm Katie, a marketing strategist helping coaches and consultants turn messy, reactive marketing into steady, strategic visibility.
📌 DIY marketing strategy course
📌 Marketing Momentum 6-month Programme (launching in Jan)
📌 Marketing Reset - 90 min x 1:1's
📌 2026 Marketing Blueprint VIP days

Scribbles from a strategist

Yep, we all know it can feel pretty heavy sometimes...

Your own marketing is in a long queue, usually way after loads of client stuff that needs prioritising. 

Here are some ways I help my clients make their marketing feel lighter, easier and more enjoyable. 

I know I bang on about foundations, but honestly, it does lighten the load. 

Would you add anything?

Lighten the load

There’s a knack to getting the kind testimonial that has others hammering down your door to work with you.

And it’s not by giving your clients free rein and a blank piece of paper.

I am working with a leadership coach at the moment, and she admitted she gets really variable testimonials, not because her work and her transformation isn’t outstanding. It’s just hard to capture that journey in a testimonial.

Clients often need a helping hand.

Having a testimonial system in place really helps.

💡 Ask them at the right time in your work together (when they are in the moment of really feeling a real difference and a change by your work with them). Work out when this typically is and diarise it for each client when you start working together.
💡 Give them a structure to work with - ask questions about their situation before they met you, what their experience was working with you, and what changed for them as a result of your work together.
💡 Make them dig a bit deeper than the surface level, capture more than you need or will use.

As a result, you’ll get those golden nuggets.

Or consider recording a Zoom call to run through the questions so they can talk about the experience. Afterwards, you can use the transcript to extract the best bits.

Have you got a system for this?


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I'm Katie, a marketing strategist helping coaches and consultants turn messy, reactive marketing into steady, strategic visibility.
📌 DIY marketing strategy course
📌 Marketing Momentum 6-month Programme (launching in Jan)
📌 Marketing Reset - 90 min x 1:1's
📌 2026 Marketing Blueprint VIP days

There’s usually no magical window to prioritise your marketing.

Who’s said this to themselves?

“I’ll start posting again when things quieten down’, or ‘I’ll get that weekly email going when I’ve got a bit more time'.

The tough lesson here is that marketing needs to carry on ALL the time.

Chugging along quietly in the background.

Which is really HARD if you’re constantly starting from scratch.

The trick here is having systems in place that allow this to happen.

Because if you don’t, and you are busy with client work, then it’s no wonder that marketing your business as well feels like it requires superhuman strength.

And even with systems in place, you’ll probably find every 6-12 months that things need reviewing or upgrading. Messaging and positioning need to be rechecked, and just getting a fresh perspective on everything is crucial to keep your momentum going.

Do you feel like you have a solid marketing system in place that carries you through the highs and lows of client work?


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I'm Katie, a marketing strategist helping coaches and consultants turn messy, reactive marketing into steady, strategic visibility.
📌 DIY marketing strategy course
📌 Marketing Momentum 6-month Programme (launching in Jan)
📌 Marketing Reset - 90 min x 1:1's
📌 2026 Marketing Blueprint VIP days

Some of the more unusual work situations I have found myself in over the years…

🎢 Clambering around a rollercoaster track at Legoland in high heels whilst the park was shut (taking a brief to fully wrap a train in Legoland graphics, amongst other projects).

📸 Casting for male models on the Kings Road with a photographer in tow (utterly mortifying and SO un-PC) for a campaign for Avery Office Labels (I know - weird!)

🛏 A free stay in a suite at the Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong so I could write about them for the British Chamber magazine (part of my marketing role for the British Chamber of Hong Kong) - a tough job…but someone had to do it!

🚐 Being forcibly removed from the press caravan we were staying in at the Lizard festival (for the solar eclipse of 1999), because the festival went bust and the bailiffs took all the caravans away (I was managing Smithkline Beecham’s sponsorship of the event)

🌷 Choosing the flower at Covent Garden Market at 4am, that was to become the icon for the Chelsea Flower Show that year and was featured on all the creative as an illustration.

Never a dull moment in a colourful career in agency life.

Annoyingly, I have no good photos, pre-iPhone days 🙄 (this is the best I could do from my HK working days!)

Give me your strangest working situation you found yourself in….

I’ve been marketing my own consultancy for 3.5 years now, and I’ll tell you what I've learned (the hard way). 👇

I’ve occasionally been derailed into following and absorbing advice from the wrong people.

Caught up in other people’s idea of success, instead of my own.

Rewording my marketing to reflect what other people think, which sometimes didn’t sit that naturally with me.

And whilst it might have got me to a certain point, there were times that it felt a bit uncomfortable and misaligned with where I wanted to be.

Because ultimately, your marketing needs to reflect you as a person and be truly tuned into your potential clients and what they’re feeling in that moment. That can’t be sold to you in a downloadable freebie or quick masterclass.

And you do inherently have that knowledge; you just need someone to show you how to use it.

It takes some deep thinking and delving, but once you find your own way of communicating your magic to the right people, that’s when all the stars align.

Have you ever tried things with your marketing that haven’t felt quite right for you?

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Whilst I am fully booked for December, there are new ways to work with me in January to get you set up for a successful 2026: 👇

📌 DIY marketing strategy course
📌 Marketing Momentum 6-month Programme (launching in Jan)
📌 Marketing Reset - 90 min x 1:1's
📌 2026 Marketing Blueprint VIP days

The bit that no one talks about…

However glossy our businesses look on the outside, it’s rarely the story behind the scenes.

It’s all exciting to start with - the new website, photos, branding, the first posts.

Then suddenly, a few years on, it all starts to feel a bit messy.

Things don’t work as well as they used to.

Your audience starts to feel a bit stale.

You’ve not stuck at some of the things you started with good intentions, and now you wish you had.

You’re constantly looking over your shoulder at others who just seem to be overtaking you.

I definitely found there was a three year slump, and it was really hard to pick myself up from it.

What I’ve realised is that it’s a never-ending process of re-invention. You can’t afford to sit still, you can’t stop investing, you can’t stop re-imagining your business.

So, can we stop putting this pressure on ourselves to have it all figured out?

Literally no one does.

Those who are successful are in a constant state of reinvention.

I’d love to know what you think…

Some definite low patches, but some real highs too. 

Some stuff happened this year that I could never have anticipated, once again I end a year in a totally different place to where I started (or here I thought I would end). 

Enjoying the ride, working harder than ever, looking forward to battening down the hatches with some mince pies and mulled wine next week ad watching Love Actually on repeat. 🎁

Anyone else?

Rating 2025

A Christmas round-up! 🎄 It’s been the busiest run-up to Christmas work-wise, some balls were dropped on family stuff (thank you for picking them up, Murray Brown!)

Still managed to squeeze in some Christmas fun though:

⛸ Battersea Power Station Ice Skating
🎄 Henley Christmas Market
🍾 Client Christmas party in London
🎉 Christmas party with my business buddies
💻 Christmas co-working
 💬 Christmas Networking
🏙 And heading into London for a Christmas lunch on Monday.

Hope to be packing up work on Tuesday.

I’ll be having a bit of LinkedIn free time over the next week.

Will you be posting? Scrolling? Or switching off entirely?

Just putting it out there…👇

If you’re a coach or consultant who loves delivering transformational results for your clients, but cannot seem to get your marketing off the ground, I would LOVE to help you! 

You’re tired of relying on referrals and word-of-mouth (because it’s so haphazard), you’ve been doing piecemeal marketing based on random tips - a post here, a networking event there - but nothing connects up into actual client flow.

You know you need to invest some time, energy and money into your marketing, but you’ve been putting it off.

Maybe you’re a coach who would like to find your own clients rather that doing associate work (and getting paid less for it).

I can help give you a system for you marketing that works alongside your client work (so it’s not longer an either/or).

I work with clients to create solid foundations for their marketing, and then we build a LinkedIn first approach, so you’re finally finding new clients outside your network.

If this sounds like something you need, DM me and let’s chat (my new programme Called Marketing Momentum launches in January, and it will have a limited beta price for those who join first).

Ways to work with me in 2026

Deena Priest

Executive Coach | Accelerating Careers Without Burnout & Designing Smarter Exits | ex-PwC & Accenture Leader | Former Lawyer 🇺🇸🇬🇧🇦🇺

I help corporate leaders turn 15+ years of experience into a profitable solo coaching or consulting business – without undercharging or guessing your way through it.

If you’ve left (or are ready to leave) a senior role in a mid to large corporate business, you probably recognize this:

1. You’re brilliant at delivering complex projects… but talking about your own offer feels vague.
2. You want freedom, but you don’t want your income to fall off a cliff.
3. You keep hearing “charge your worth”, yet you have no idea what “premium” actually means.

You didn’t build a 15+ year career to become a $150/hr freelancer.
------
A. WHAT WE DO TOGETHER

I work with corporate directors, VPs and senior leaders to:

1. Design a market-relevant, premium coaching/consulting offer that leverages your track record (not generic “life coaching”).

3. Build a de-risked, structured plan to replace – and then exceed – your corporate salary with a small number of well-fit clients.

3. Create a simple, repeatable client acquisition system (often LinkedIn-led) so you’re not relying on random referrals or hope.

4. Navigate the identity shift from employee to business owner, so selling starts to feel natural, not needy.
--------
B. WHO AM I

I spent two decades in high-pressure environments across law, top-tier consulting and commercial leadership, working with senior stakeholders who expected results, not fluff.

Now I’m the founder of the SAVVY™ advisory growth system, a step-by-step method to exit corporate and build a profitable, high-trust coaching or consulting business without chaos.

I’ve coached 150+ executives and senior leaders through big transitions – including turning “hidden expertise” into visible, premium offers that real clients pay for.
------
C. WHAT YOU CAN ACHIEVE 

1. A sharp, confident vision of what’s next (not just “I’ll be a coach”).

2. A clearly defined, premium offer that you can explain in one or two sentences – and that clients will happily pay for.

3. Pricing, positioning and messaging that reflect your seniority, not junior contractor rates.

4. An authority-led personal brand and simple sales process that consistently creates opportunities and conversations.
------
D. HOW TO WORK WITH ME

If you want your coaching/consulting practice to feel as solid as your corporate career – financially and professionally:

👉 Learn more / apply for the next Corporate Pivot Accelerator cohort here:
https://deenapriest.org/corporatepivotaccelerator

Or send me a DM with the word SAVVY and a line about where you’re at now.

Coach  - Mentor

If imposter syndrome is stopping you starting a business, remember this: 👇
 
You’ve done harder things in life.
 
Maybe you've:
 
Sat through restructures, politics, power plays.
Raised a couple of kids while doing all that.
Faced loss, love, messy real life.

Or maybe, like me, you actually had to use the library to do research when at university. 🤔
The prehistoric era.
 
When I left corporate, I remember staring at my first proposal thinking,  “Who am I to charge for this?”  

Then I caught myself: I’d led global projects, managed huge budgets, coached leaders for years.  

The work wasn’t new, the context was.
 
Your expertise lives in every decision or result you've ever produced.

Now you need a new container to turn it into a sustainable business.
 
You could try asking AI to help you.

But it will falsely stroke your ego with: “Excellent point, Dave – brilliant insight”  to whatever you type.
 
You need objectivity, challenge, and accountability.
 
That’s why I built the 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗣𝗶𝘃𝗼𝘁 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿™ –  for corporate leaders done doubting themselves and ready to build premium coaching or consulting businesses.

Doors officially open for the January cohort.
 
Join the waitlist for details: https://lnkd.in/e8F7Z2BQ

KR,
Deena Priest

FREE WEBINAR 18 DEC: Exceed your salary with a premium consulting/coaching business | For corporate pros (40s+) → Win premium clients | Join via “visit website” link

The biggest risk once you hit 35+ is taking no risk.

And people often regret playing it safe. 

This month, I've been with multiple ex-corporate professionals who all said: "I wish I'd started my business sooner." 

(Myself included.)

Warren Buffett has spent a lifetime watching people sabotage their own success because of limiting beliefs and behaviors.

His 10 uncomfortable truths feel inconvenient now. 

But ignoring them feeds long-term regret.

(#10 hits hard.)

𝟭. 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆 
↳The applause. The pressure. The title. 
↳Let it shape you, not define you.

𝟮. 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗿 
↳Not everyone gets what they deserve.
↳Forget fairness. Move forward.

𝟯. 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 > 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 
↳Your people matter more than anything else.
↳Invest your energy in those who really count.

𝟰. 𝗢𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 
↳Your self-respect sets the tone. 
↳Upgrade your own standards first.

𝟱. 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝗿 
↳Anger protects you from something. 
↳Name the fear and confront it.

𝟲. 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 
↳It’s not given. It’s chosen.
↳Know what lifts you. Choose more of it.

𝟳. 𝗔 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 
↳If not now, when? 
↳Most people wait too long. Don’t be one of them.

𝟴. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗼 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸 
↳Comfort zones become cages. 
↳Jump before you’re ready.

𝟵. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 
↳Stuff fades. Meaning sticks. 
↳Make space for what’s real.

𝟭𝟬. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲 
↳Playing not to lose ≠ playing to win.
↳Take the shot. Say the thing. Live fully.

Success isn’t stolen in a single moment. 

It’s stolen over time because of fear, inaction and limiting beliefs.

Do you agree / disagree with Warren's truths?

KR,
Deena Priest

Corporate leaders (40s+) launching consulting & coaching businesses → Exceed your salary | Win premium clients | 150+ coached | Former Big 4, Big Tech & lawyer

It's a good time to start a solo consultancy.

Everyone asks:  “But how do I compete with the Big 4 or other big consultancies?”
 
You don’t.
 
You differentiate. 
 
One of my clients (a two-person business) just beat a global player to win a major operating model project.
 
Another launched a solo risk advisory consultancy from scratch.  She’s now leading global engagements.
 
Another Ex-CRO now earns double his corporate salary, running a sales strategy consultancy.
 
These aren’t anomalies.  
They are the new normal. 
 
Why?  
 
Because clients want trusted, specialized advisors who solve painful problems. Fast.
 
Here's how to get started:

1. Define your profitable niche and offer
2. Work out your market positioning and messaging
3. Use LinkedIn as a platform to build your authority
 
You don’t need to be a “big” consultancy.  

You need to be a right-fit one.

Anyways:

In all Ernst (and Young): 

If you want to know what's PwC (Possible Without Corporate),

I'd be Deloitted to speak to you. 

Let's KPMG (Kick-off Profitable, Meaningful Growth.)😉

Take the diagnostic to see if you're ready to build a profitable solo business: https://lnkd.in/eyJx78uv

Deena Priest

----
Image credit: wallstreetoasis on IG

Turning senior corporate leaders into in-demand consultants + coaches | Exceed your old salary | Win premium clients | 150+ coached (SAVVY™ method) | ex-Accenture & PwC

Are you overcomplicating your goal of starting a business?
 
If your 2025 goal was to launch your consulting or coaching business…
 
Let me save you from the “analysis paralysis” phase.
 
But first, here's what's not needed:

❌ A website  
❌ An MBA 
❌ A 38-page business plan 
 
And here's what is.
 
𝟱 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗹𝗲 (and will help you replace your corporate salary):
 
𝟭. 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲, 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿.  
→ Choose ONE urgent problem you solve for ONE decision-maker.  
→ Package it as a high-value outcome.
 
𝟮. 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝘆 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝟭𝟬 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘀.  
→ Use your network, warm intros, or alumni groups.  
→ Ask: “Is this a real pain point?”
🚫 No pitching. 
 
𝟯. 𝗥𝘂𝗻 𝗮 ‘𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗺 𝘃𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆’ 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝟭–𝟯 𝗽𝗶𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀.  
→ Offer part of your service in exchange for feedback.  
→ Focus on delivering a fast, tangible win.  
 
𝟰. 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳.  
Turn that one win into a before/after story, a testimonial, a content post.
 
𝟱. 𝗜𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵.
Develop a real go-to-market-plan. 

Voila.
 
Your 2026 goals sorted. 

Action > Analysis.
 
👇 Which of the above are you stuck on?

---
➕ 𝗧𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲  "𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗼 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿" 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘇 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀: https://lnkd.in/eAMqzJ-Q

Follow Deena Priest for more.

I attended the funeral of a dear friend last week.
 
She was 45. Cancer. Two kids.  

And she lived more in 45 years than most do in 90.
 
Raised a family.
Built businesses.  
Travelled the world.    
Kept friendships alive.
 
Her energy was contagious.  
Any time I hesitated, she’d say:  “Come on. Just do it.”
 
And it reminds me that life’s biggest regrets don’t come from what you do.

They come from what you don't do.
 
The conversation you never had.
The business you never started. 
The change you kept deferring.  
The dream you kept on hold.

You tell yourself there’s time.  

After the next bonus.  
After the kids are older.  
After the mortgage is paid off.
 
But the truth is, you’re never fully ready.  

And sometimes "after" never comes.
 
So take the risk.  
Start the thing.  
Make the move.
Just do it.
 
Back yourself fully.  
(If not now, then when?)
 
Because the fear of trying fades.  

But the regret of not lingers.

Make your next chapter count.
 
Warmly,
Deena Priest

When you leave corporate to become a consultant or coach, knowledge is power.  

Because no matter how brilliant you were in corporate, entrepreneurship is a different game.
 
And the stats are sobering: 50% of businesses fail within the first 5 years.
 
I made three big mistakes when I first left:
 
1. 𝗜 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗜 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝘆𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳.  
I tried to build a roadmap with books, webinars, and endless Googling.  

None of it created enough traction.
 
2. 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝘆 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗽𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴.  
Client acquisition in a digital world is its own skill set.  

And the most critical part of your business.
 
3. 𝗜 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲.  
Going from having colleagues to building solo (without a community) was a shock.
 
The harsh truth is, "if you build it, they won’t come."  

Not without:
 
• A profitable niche and clear offer
• A consistent client acquisition strategy
• A community of ambitious colleagues on the same journey
  
📌 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟴𝘁𝗵, 𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽: "𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘆."

If you’re in motion and want the structure to move faster, join the webinar: https://lnkd.in/eusPbe9N

KR,
Deena Priest

"I’ll build my business when I have more time.”

This is the biggest blocker to exiting corporate. 

Most people think a salary is the most important thing.

It’s not. It’s your time

The one currency you’ll never get back.

If you’ve spent 20+ years building:
✔️ Deep expertise
✔️ A strong reputation
✔️ Financial stability

You may have built money
But not time or financial freedom.

When I worked 80 rigid hours in corporate, I missed:

> My son’s football matches
> My own health check-ups
> Most of my vacation allowance

“Flexibility” was just a corporate buzzword.

The reality:

99 percent of my time was eaten up by admin, egos,politics etc.

Maybe 1% of my week was focused on real impact.

Use your money and knowledge to map your exit and build your high-impact business. 

Here’s how I did it:

1. Buy clarity before you build
> Invest in someone who’s walked the path.
> Shortcut months of second-guessing with a clear map and mirror.

2. Extract the value from your career
> You don’t need reinvention. Just repositioning.
> Package what already works and make it profitable.

3. Buy back hours with expert thinking
> Ditch the PDFs and random LinkedIn posts.
> Use frameworks that actually move you forward.

4. Build a premium offer that respects your time
> No low-ticket time traps.
> High-trust work with high-calibre clients on your terms.

5. Learn while you earn
> Start now, while still employed.
> Gain clients and confidence before you ever hand in your notice.

Your knowledge built your salary.
Now it can build your exit.

But only if you start treating your time
like your most valuable asset.

P.S - Time is not the issue. Clarity is. Once you're clear on what your business does and how to build it, you find the time to drive things forward.

Deena Priest

Many ex-corporate leaders turned coaches underprice.  

Not because they’re new.  
Because they’re still thinking like employees.
 
One client came to me after 20+ years leading multimillion-dollar teams.  

He was coaching for free.  

I asked him why.
 
“I wanted to prove I could help.”
 
Here’s the problem:  
When you undercharge, you don’t prove your value.  

You prove you don’t believe in it.
 
And I see this every week:
 
• Free = devalued
• Cheap = not trusted
• Underpriced = underchosen
 
Your pricing isn’t about greed.  

It’s about energy, equity, and transformation.
 
You don’t need to charge like a hedge fund.  

But you do need to:
 
𝟭/ 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻  
A CRO I coached dropped “leadership coaching” and positioned her offer around a $10M sales leak.  

She landed a retainer within weeks at 4x her original rate.
 
𝟮/ 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲  
One ex-COO came in charging $300/hr.  
We repackaged her expertise into a 90-day delivery ops engagement.  

First deal. $25K. 
 
 𝟯/ 𝗥𝗲𝘄𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗲𝘁
A public sector leader told me, “I don’t want to be seen as greedy.”  

After working through that belief, she doubled her rates and signed two clients in a month.
 
 𝟰/ 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗮 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁  
One ex-MD was still asking, “Am I allowed to charge that much?”  

That question vanished the moment she got a “yes” on a $150K proposal.
 
Because you’re not here to play “pretty woman.”
 
You’re here to build a business that respects your decades of work.  
 
Price accordingly.

KR,
Deena Priest

“I don’t want to be that person on LinkedIn…”
 
I hear this all the time from current or ex-corporate leaders who’ve started businesses and know they should post on LinkedIn.
 
They’ve built their careers on credibility, so the thought of posting something cringey, performative, or irrelevant?
 
Absolutely not.
 
But 82% of buyers say LinkedIn content influences their buying decisions.  
 
So if you’ve started a business or plan to, invisibility is not an option.
 
Here’s the fix:
 
𝟭. 𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵.  
Enough said.
 
𝟮. 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲.  
If you’re over 40, you’ve earned the right to show up with your wisdom, depth, and perspective.
 
𝟯. 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝘀.  
Even personal stories need to be relevant and valuable to your reader.
 
But it’s not just about storytelling for storytelling’s sake.
 
It’s about sharing what shaped you and why it matters to the people you serve.
 
Your story is the bridge to trust.
 
And trust is the currency of sales, referrals, and reputation.
 
If you want to grow a business, it’s time to stop hiding behind your resume and start leading with resonance.
 
Don’t forget the "personal" in personal brand.

KR,
Deena Priest

I left a 6-figure corporate career in my 40s and started a business.

The identity shift was real.  

But all my clients in their 40s and 50s have that pull toward 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵?
 
By now, many have:  

• Grown-up kids  
• Respected networks  
• Paid-down mortgages  
• 20+ years of wisdom, leadership
 
It 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴 like the right time to make a change.

They don't want to climb the ladder anymore.
 
They want to use their expertise to gain more freedom, fulfillment, purpose, legacy.

But here’s what often stalls them:
 
• Clarity: “I’m not sure how to do it”  
• Fear: “What if I fail and have to go back?”
• Financials: “What if I can’t replace my salary?”    
 
👆 All of it? Just fear of the unknown.
 
Here’s what helped my clients and I all move forward:
 
1️⃣ Roadmap 
– A step-by-step plan to replace and exceed your salary

2️⃣ Structure 
– Clarity on what to offer, who to serve, how to get clients  

3️⃣ Community 
– Others walking the same path (so you're not doing this in isolation)
 
𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗜 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗣𝗶𝘃𝗼𝘁 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿™
The system for corporate professionals to launch consultancy or coaching businesses that are credible, profitable, and purpose-led.
 
Turn your expertise into a profitable business without risking income or reputation.
 
👥 Join the waitlist now to get first access and details: https://lnkd.in/e8F7Z2BQ
 
Or send me a message and I will share more details.

Deena Priest

If you're at stage 3, it may be time to start your business.
 
The stats are brutal:  
• Executives spend ~23 hours a week in meetings.  
• Around half of them are totally unproductive.
 
That’s calendar captivity.
 
It’s stopping you from doing the high-impact work that actually gives you energy and fulfilment.
 
When you build your own consulting / coaching business:  

• You get paid for outcomes, not attendance.  
• You spend your time on high-ROI, high-impact work.
• You decide which meetings exist (and who’s in them).  

Here’s how to start shifting out of stage 3:
 
1️⃣ 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀   
→ Don't let others' priorities run your calendar.  
→ Ring-fence 2–4 hours a week for planning and doing.
 
2️⃣ 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿  
→ Start thinking in problems solved.  
→ Who do you help → what do you fix → what changes?  
→ That shift to “I solve this” is the bridge to becoming a business owner.
 
3️⃣ 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀  
→ Prioritize conversations with those who benefit from your expertise.
→Their challenges will literally point to where your future business fits.
 
Free up your time → Make an impact → Earn well. 

If every meeting leaves you thinking, 
"I could be doing something better with my time”… 

Your next chapter is probably not another promotion.  

It’s a business.
 
Deena Priest

📌Join for strategies to go from Corporate → Profitable consultant or coach: https://lnkd.in/e4c_nEp7

How I knew at 40 it was time to exit corporate and start my coaching business.  

(Even though the money was good.)
 
First of all:  

I wasn’t burned out.  
There was no dramatic exit.
 
I simply couldn’t shake the feeling that I was no longer in control of my time or my life.
 
Meetings ruled my calendar.  Politics ate up any impact I hoped to make.
 
Frankly, I was bored of exchanging my time for money.
 
So even though I was "well-compensated"...  I didn’t have time freedom or financial freedom.
 
After my kids were born, I realized:
 
It’s not about getting rich.  
It’s about owning your time.
 
I didn’t need anyone’s validation. 
I wanted presence at home.
 
I didn’t want more responsibility.  
I wanted optionality.
 
If you're here too, wondering whether to start your own business...
 
Here are 12 signs you’re ready:
 
 1. You’re done trading time for salary bands
 2. You know your potential is being underutilized
 3. You’ve realized no job is actually secure
 4. You want to lead with purpose, not politics
 5. You want to own your calendar, not be owned by it
 6. You already have decades of experience and skills
 7. You value freedom more than titles
 8. You want to grow your brand, not someone else’s
 9. You want to make a meaningful impact
10. You’re highly self-disciplined
11. You’re not driven by external validation anymore
12. You’re ready to bet on yourself
 
What’s missing for 99 percent of corporate leaders ready to pivot?
 
A clear roadmap.  
A de-risked plan for turning your expertise into income.
 
𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗱 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗽 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 -> 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄.

(𝗔𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿. 𝗟𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝟱 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲.)

https://lnkd.in/ekE3tHxP

I’ll show you exactly what to focus on to secure clients before Christmas.

Because in the end, money is the tool. 
Not the goal.
 
Freedom is the goal. Don’t forget that.
 
KR,  Deena Priest

If you've left/are leaving corporate to start a business...

John Lennon has something for you.

𝗜𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲 (𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲)
 
🎶 Imagine there's no office
It's easy if you try
No toxic bosses
To politics say goodbye

Imagine all the freedom 
Working on your terms... ooh ooh

You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And your own business will be more fun.🎶 
------

And now to be serious.

If you want a profitable business that gives you freedom, control and income...  

Here’s what you actually need:  👇

1. 𝗔𝗻 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗳𝘂𝗹, 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺
(Not “helping people or businesses grow.” A real painkiller.)     

2. 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗼𝗯𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀
(So you're seen as a premium solution, not a nice-to-have.)     

3. 𝗔 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗱
(No logo, website, or 3-month branding detour needed.)     

4. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲
(Clarity and courage, not confidence, creates action.)  

It’s not about leaving corporate.    

It’s about building a business that’s future-proof, fulfilling, and financially resilient.    

This is the work I do with senior leaders every day.

When you’re ready, send me a message.  

📌 Until then, 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘇 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿: https://lnkd.in/eyJx78uv

P.S - Which version of John Lennon's "imagine" do you prefer? His old version or new version?

KR,
Deena Priest

Niching is the #1 problem new coaches struggle with.  

And yet, it’s the most critical foundation of your business.
 
Without it, you're building a house without walls. 

(And when it’s time to sell that house? Nobody’s buying.)
 
I see this all the time with clients who’ve just left corporate.

They are highly accomplished but their entire value proposition is fuzzy. 

They’re talking to everyone… and signing no one.
 
Here’s what happens when your niche isn’t dialled in:
 
– You undercharge and overdeliver
– You get very few inbound requests  
– You attract people who ghost your offers  

One client came in “helping leaders thrive.” 

We narrowed it to:  Tech execs recovering from burnout in SME businesses.

She signed 3 clients in 6 weeks.
 
Another was “coaching women through transitions.”  

We focused on: Senior women in Retailer Fortune 500 navigating redundancy. 

Her content finally landed.

Why it matters:
 
1. Everyone thinks their problem is unique.  
   They want to feel like you get them.
   
2. It makes you findable.  
   You become known for 1 thing.
   
3. It sharpens everything.  
   Your offer, pricing, positioning.
 
What’s hardest? Picking, narrowing, or owning a niche?

KR,
Deena Priest

I see 3 terrible pieces of advice for consultants and coaches on LinkedIn.  

Especially for those who've recently started their businesses. 
 
Here they are:
 
𝟭. “𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱.”
 
It sounds smart and feels productive.  

But here’s the reality:

A personal brand won’t save you if your offer and positioning are vague.
 
I know people with 100K followers…  who post daily…  who go viral…  and are still broke.
 
Because branding without a clear offer = attention without income.
 
Build your offer and positioning first.  
Speak to real humans second.  
Build your brand last.
 
 
𝟮. “𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁.”
 
No. 
 
Niche is discovered not guessed.
 
You can’t “think” your way to clarity.  

You test and validate with discussions.

Conversations > assumptions.
 
 
𝟯. “𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹.”
 
Not at the start.
 
Funnels don’t work without trust.  

Trust doesn’t come from ads or emails.  

It comes from conversations.
 
Momentum > funnels.
 
 
Most of the advice out there is recycled, misapplied, or shared by people who aren't actual consultants or coaches. 
 
You don’t need hacks.  

You need trust and proof.
 
How do you build that?
 
You guessed it:
 
Conversations.
 
What’s the worst piece of advice you had to unlearn?

------------
If you like posts that cut through the noise, you’ll enjoy my newsletter. It’s where I share the things about leaving corporate to start a business that I don’t post publicly. 

Join here: https://lnkd.in/e4c_nEp7

I built my business in secret while still in corporate.  

Because one day, you're told you are "a key asset to the business."

The next day, you find yourself on a redundancy list.
 
Because employment is just a subscription model.
You can be cancelled anytime.
 
That’s why smart people build their own side businesses and diversify their income.

So they can support themselves and their families regardless of the circumstances.
 
And if you’ve already left corporate to start a business?

Then getting the business right matters so you never have to go back to LinkedIn job boards at 2am.
 
That’s why I built 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗣𝗶𝘃𝗼𝘁 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿.  

For people like you.  
People like me.  

VPs, Directors and senior leaders with decades of experience and the desire to do work that matters.

And who understand how fickle corporate life can be.
 
🎯 Join the waitlist for details: https://lnkd.in/e8F7Z2BQ

(One of my clients was let go after 20 years. 3 months later, she closed her first $25K consulting contract.)
 
In the meantime, here’s a 𝟱-𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 “𝗘𝘅𝗶𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲” 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱:
 
1. 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗶𝘂𝘀.  
   What feels easy to you but hard for others?
   
2. 𝗣𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻.  
   Solve an urgent need or problem.
   
3. 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 ‘𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸-𝗶𝗻-𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿-𝘀𝗹𝗲𝗲𝗽’ 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿.  
   Premium. Specific. Scalable.
   
4. 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗿.  
   No needless DMs. 
   Just clear proof and clean authority.
   
5. 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗮 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲
   Not one that becomes your life.
 
Bottom line:

Corporate is not a forever home.
 
If you’ve built teams, led change, and held the weight of a $200K+ salary…
 
You can build something of your own.
Something profitable, purposeful, and powerful.
 
And if a layoff ever hits, 
 
You’ll already be the CEO of something better.
---
🎯Join the Corporate Pivot Accelerator waitlist here: https://lnkd.in/e8F7Z2BQ

KR,
Deena Priest

A simple shift can prevent the 10–15% of untracked work that silently breaks projects. 

Because many rely on spreadsheets, Slack threads, and instinct.

No real-time tracking. 
No alerts. 
No signal things are falling off a cliff.

I've had plenty of projects with scope creep during my consulting days. 

Many went over by 150+ hours. 

The clients were always thrilled, of course. 

We delivered everything they wanted (and more.)

But our margins? Gone.

This is painfully common. 

When you are heads-down delivering good work, you can be blind to what it’s really costing.

Scope creep isn’t a delivery problem. 
It’s a visibility problem.

And it can be stopped before it burns profit.

If you want to understand exactly where your consultancy stands in terms of operational maturity… 

And get a clear picture of your strengths, weaknesses, and growth levers… 

There’s a free maturity quiz I recommend.

You’ll receive: 
✅ Your maturity score across 9 pillars (prospecting, delivery, finance, HR, etc.) 
✅A benchmark against top-performing agencies 
✅ A personalized report with your efficiency levers

Comment MARGIN and I’ll share the link.

KR, Deena Priest

Brand partnership • FREE WEBINAR 18 DEC: Exceed your salary with a premium consulting/coaching business | For corporate pros (40s+) → Win premium clients | Join via “visit website” link

Sales is 99% mindset. 1% skill. 
 
Many who leave corporate to start their own businesses really struggle with this.  
 
Some of you had previously sold 5M+ deals for a Fortune 500 with a straight face. 
 
But asked to sell your own offer… 
You'd rather eat a Brazilian spider. 🕷️
 
Your brain serves up: 
“I’m being pushy.” 
“They’ll think I’m desperate.” 
 
You hate used car salesman vibes.  
 
Here’s what you don't need to do: 
 
❌ Send mass automated messages 
❌ Start pitching people immediately  
❌ Behave like a hustle bro 
❌ Chase endlessly  
❌ Avoid people  

Reframe your internal dialogue: 
 
You’re not a “used car salesman.” 
You’re a specialist who stops expensive problems. 

Approach it like this:

1. Ensure you have a market-resonant offer
2. Work out your positioning
3. Reach out to a warm and cold network
4. Try to give them as much value as possible
5.  Manage your mindset from "hassling" to "helping."
 
Sales is: 
✅ Helping someone get clear on their real problem. 
✅ Saying honestly if you can solve it.
✅ Inviting them to work with you if there’s a fit. 
 
That’s it. 

It’s possible for anyone to go from Little Red Riding Hood to Wolf of Wall Street (minus the fraud.)
 
Fix the 99% (mindset) so you can hone the 1% (skills).
 
What’s the one sales belief you’d love to drop? 

Deena Priest

How to exit corporate, make an impact and make money.
 
It’s one of the most asked questions on claude, ChatGPT and at 3AM in your head.
 
Here’s what won't make it happen:
 
➡️ You won’t make money just because you’re smart.  
➡️ You won’t get clients just because you have experience.  
➡️ And you definitely won’t succeed trying to figure it all out alone.
 
If you want a profitable business that gives you control, purpose, and income...
 
Here’s what you actually need:
 
1. 𝗔𝗻 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗳𝘂𝗹, 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺  
   (Not “helping people or businesses grow.” A real painkiller.)
   
2. 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗼𝗯𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀  
   (So you're seen as a premium solution, not a nice-to-have.)
   
3. 𝗔 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗱
   (No logo, website, or 3-month branding detour needed.)
   
4. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲
   (Clarity and courage, not confidence, creates action.)
 
It’s not about leaving corporate.  

It’s about building a business that’s future-proof, fulfilling, and financially resilient.  

This is the work I do with senior leaders every day—if you’re ready, send me a message.

📌 Until then, 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘇 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿 once leaving corporate: https://lnkd.in/eyJx78uv
 
Follow Deena Priest for more.

Image Credit: AI3E on instagram.

When you stall on launching your coaching or consulting business, it’s not a mindset issue.

It's a lack of strategy issue.
 
You want more freedom, fulfillment, and flexibility but you don't want to get it wrong.

Or waste time “building” something that doesn't work.
 
But waiting has a cost.  

Because while you're holding back, someone with 1/10th your experience is moving faster than you.

But you're still tied to one employer.  
Still vulnerable to the next restructure.
Still exchanging your time for money.
 
Here’s the clarity you need to stop procrastinating:
 
✅ A profitable niche   
→ A senior finance leader went from “broad coaching” to landing her first £25K client by clarifying her niche.
 
✅ A commercial offer   
→ One Big 4 director pivoted into advisory work and signed two consulting retainers in 90 days.
 
✅ A client acquisition strategy   
→ Another client ran a simple content rhythm that now brings qualified leads weekly.

Once these are in place, procrastination disappears.  

Because now you’re not wondering if it will work.

You’re building something market-validated that does.
 
Want the approach to building something profitable?
 
𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿:  𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴/𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀."

📅  Thursday 18th December 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eusPbe9N  
 
Trust me, you don’t need more time.  

You need the right roadmap.

KR,
Deena Priest

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