Lara Acosta

Entrepreneur and investor building businesses online | Featured on Forbes, Kajabi + Semrush | Helped 3,000+ people build their personal brand.

Everyone wants to build a personal brand, and I figured out how.

With over 20M+ impressions, 300,000 followers across socials, and multiple 6 figures made, I can show you how you can build one too (without spending years figuring out how)

In 2022: I was unemployed and trying to get into a master's degree - downloaded LinkedIn
In 2023: I became #1 female creator on LinkedIn by building my personal brand and agency
In 2024: I'm building the best education platform to teach people exactly how to do it

Helped, coached and worked with 500+ build contents systems, increase engagement, improve their writing and beyond using proven strategies that worked for me. 

Here's how I can help you:

1. Subscribe to my YouTube (It's free, and better than people's paid courses!)
2. Join 15,100+ amazing people and subscribe to my newsletter. 
3. Join 500+ members inside Literallyacademy.com

And if you're not ready for either! Welcome to my profile anyway, I talk about writing, storytelling,  personal branding and tell a lot of stories.

See you on the feed 💖

Sponsorships + booking : mary@ladigitalmx.com

Founder

pov: you become the first millionaire in your family

i never thought I'd get to write this post.

not long ago i was yet another unemployed student. 

struggled with anxiety and depression.
couldn't land an interview at "my dream" company. 

i'd given up on myself, my dreams and future. 

but my dad never did. not once. 

where i saw struggle, he saw opportunity.

see, my dad grew up poor. picking cotton from the fields in mexico. he worked day and night to get out of it. 

just to be able to give me a life worth living. 

and every day i make sure i do. 

because if i can't do it for me, i'm doing it for him. 

can't complain about my plate being full when the goal was to eat. 

grateful to everyone who's given me a platform to grow.
and proud of whoever is on the same journey.

keep going, i believe in you. 

Repost ♻️ to inspire all other entrepreneurs who are doing it for their parents ❤️

PS: Do we look similar???

I just made my most important Gen-Z hire of my career. 

Without even looking at a CV or an interview.

This hire had something special:

A track record proven by her reputation on LinkedIn. 

I hired her over 100s of other applicants.
Because her LinkedIn proved she could do the job. 

Gen-Z isn’t interested in writing the best CVs.
Gen-Z are building their personal brands instead.

And now many don't need a resume to get a job. 

In days Laiba Javed has:

1. Created systems for the entire business
2. Coordinated with every agency and client I work with.
3. Puts off every fire I start and turns it into gold.

The businesses are on track to hit my 2026 goals.

To be honest, I didn’t have to ask Laiba to prove her “experience” 

She did that a few months ago.
Noticed I needed a right hand woman.

She observed, she studied and came with action.

I hate ideas, I hate "suggestions," and she knew that.

So she let her work speak for itself.
And her reputation to close the deal. 

Anyone can learn anything; that's easy.
But having curiosity and bias for action can't be taught. 

Hiring managers...

Your best hire won't be the person with the shiniest resume.
It'll be the person who's willing to learn.

Give people a chance ❤️

PS: Laiba has been on my watch list for a looong time, so it's MY honour to have her be part of this journey.

Big confession: I'm a big fan of "small accounts".

So today, I'm celebrating my favorite LinkedIn accounts. 

Not the "biggest" ones. Not the most "viral".
But the ones who I think deserve it the most. 

Because community is the backbone of this platform. 

Connecting with people.
Commenting and networking.
Collaborating and supporting.

This is the LinkedIn that built this brand.

Took me 1000s of hours, and now I get to giveback.

So in honour of seeing those following my steps.

And spending hours doing the same....

Here are 10 entrepreneurs in my watchlist. 

Ali Amiri, MD = health advice that can change your life 
Aditi Pilania = mum and on a career growth journey
George Draco = how professionals can use AI today
Mischa Collins = fastest growing personal brand
Guy Massey = proof that any topic works, if you work!
Alan Greenin = making mortaging simple for everyone
Jess Coffman = one of the smartest marketers I've seen
Sophia Spadão = how to build an agency in your 20s
Joseph Tannous = how to get featured in PR and grow
Hayden Swerling = the best HR account right now

I need to keep doing these! So the goal is to do it more.

Look, I know LinkedIn may feel hard.
I know it seems cringe to post sometimes.

Sometimes you may feel like no one is watching.
But we are, I am. 

Keep going, your work will be noticed.

You're only one post away from changing your life.

As always my kings and queens. I'm rooting for you. 

P.S. Who are the creators that deserve more recognition? I'll be following ALL of them. 

Happy Sunday!

pov: you’re building a business in london 

(surrounded by 8-figure founders because of LinkedIn) 

building a personal brand changed my life, forever.

sure it built my business… 
but it gave me what I needed the most.

high-value friends who won’t let me quit.

timo & chris are 2 of them. 

they gave me a chance when 99% wouldn’t
they clapped so loud i never noticed who didn’t 

they’ve given me their platforms to shine and grow.

all because i didn't let my fear stop me. 
and when it did, my friends stopped it for me.

specially, Timothy. 

and today is my time to celebrate him, loudly.
but you're coming with me.

join me at his book launch january 10th.
i'll be speaking on stage alongside:

Daniel Priestley, Chris Donnelly, Simon Squibb!

we'll be sharing every single lesson on business and marketing we've learnt along the way.

free to attend, 5 hours straight, $10,000 worth in prizes!

this is your time to finally launch your business, get investment or even, build a brand. 

link is here for anyone who wants to sign up:

https://lnkd.in/e_zeuYeV

PS: I'll be giving away thousands in surprises too. 

PPS: tag that 1 person that claps loudly for you! they deserve it! 

repost ♻️ to win a copy of his book (it changed my life)

My 4-step writing framework is unbeatable.

(If you're stuck at low likes and impressions, read this)

Everyone is talking about the algorithm changing.
But small creators are going viral using this hack.

I called it the SLAY Framework:

1. The first 3 lines of your post should be a story.
2. Then on line 4 lead with a lesson for your audience.
3. Add to the post using actionable advice (listicles).
4. Finish with a question that puts the ball in their court.

Storytelling is the ultimate weapon for LinkedIn growth.

Because in a platform oversaturated with information...
Don't focus on facts, focus on emotions.

They'll remember you forever. 
.
Bonus: Think about the lesson 1st, and the story 2nd.

Your main goal is to educate using stories as the vehicle.

♻️ Repost this to make storytelling easy for everyone.

PS: I've seen the SLAY framework used 2x today on viral posts with 1k+ likes! My job here is done 🤝

You don't need algorithm hacks to grow on LinkedIn.

I spent the last 90 days testing every growth hack I could find. Here's what actually works:

(Based on analyzing content in different niches)

1. Hyper-specific content (3x a week)

• Solve one exact problem per post
• Use industry language your clients use
• Speak directly to one person

Adam Robinson has mastered this for B2B. 
Nausheen I. Chen is killing it for B2C. 

Address their problems directly. 

i.e "Stop losing credibility with your body language."

2. Proof-First Content

80% tactical step-by-step frameworks and screenshots.
20% stories on how you're doing it (use stories)

The 80% builds trust, the 20% engages them more. 

Educate and storytell. Always both. 

3. LinkedIn Video (let me explain...)

Video reach might be down right now.
But it's the fastest way to prove authority. 

LinkedIn video is ok.
Linkedin Lives? They're a goldmine.

We had a LinkedIn live with 200 people.
Made $10,000 from it. 

People buy from people they trust. Video accelerates this! 

I'd limit these to 2 a month, though, no pressure. 

I left a checklist for you in the image below for you to script your first Linkedin video too btw.

This is the no-bs blueprint for entrepreneurs. 

It's not about more volume, it's about more insights.

Dominating LinkedIn isn't just about virality right now.
It's about building a brand that earns trust.

Keep your focus on your 1 thing. 

The rest will follow.

I've just recorded a private video on how to dominate "storytelling" on LinkedIn like an expert. 

If you want it ♻️ repost this post and I'll send it to you (20 people max). 

PS: Which step do you struggle with the most? 

--
PS: Got a surprise for you today, get 50% off my programmes until the end of November here: https://lnkd.in/e4RKsGx9

I got rejected from (nearly) every single job I applied to.

5yrs of Industry experience. 2 degrees. But 0 offers.

The consistent rejections made me feel unemployable.

So, I started writing on LinkedIn daily.

If you're not seeing any luck either:

Swap writing Resumes for writing posts on Linkedin
Quit waiting for opportunities and build your own.
Build an undeniable network that lifts you up.

1 month of writing on Linkedin → 10x more visibility.

Lesson? Become unemployable to others.

Build your own job instead. 

PS: I'm running a GIVEAWAY to celebrate nearly hitting 50k on YouTube! I'm giving away over $1,000 worth in prizes to the next 100 people who subscribe https://lnkd.in/eyMb42iX

To enter:

1. Subscribe to my YouTube Channel
2. Screenshot that you have and comment the photo

Winners will be announced on the 17th of November!

I built my first business to 6-figures after class. 

The reason? I didn't wait until "I felt ready" and you shouldn't either, because you already are. 

You don't need a logo, your first customers won't care.
You don't need a website, your ideal client wants proof.

You don't even need a shiny degree, you just need skill.

We're taught to wait until everything is perfect.
But perfect never comes, procrastination does, though. 

If you want to launch your new business.
Or promote a new offer you've been perfecting. 

Do this instead: 

1. List the 5 key problems you are solving for someone. 
2. Ask ChatGPT to expand on why this needs solving.
3. Create content on LinkedIn using the pain + solution
4. Use social proof wherever you can (can borrow it too)
5. Post case studies of people who you've helped
6. If you haven't yet, write about how this helped you
7. Take 10 people on this offer for free to get real results
8. Create content around these repeating steps 1-5

One fool-proof way to get clients (free or paid):

1. Search for people who look like you can help on Linky.
2. Send them a loom or gamma doc with your system
3. Tell them step-by-step how you can help immediatley 

Do this 20x a week, I guarantee you'll land a client.

Bonus tip: Implement your offer for them for free, so they can see the value of your work instantly. 

Trust me, after 4 weeks coaching next to 8-figure agency owners, this STILL works. 

This is what I did too, and would do again. 

No website, no crazy credentials, not even a logo.

Literally just a calendly link, a canva pitch and content that made people reach out.

Closed clients with the loom approach.

This isn't about virality, it's about making money. 
Your ideal client might not like the post and make it viral.

But they'll 100% reach out if you follow this strategy. 

I'll be expanding on some of the points in the comments.
Which step do you get stuck on the most? I'll help! 

Repost ♻️ so everyone wins in 2026!

How to build a personal brand in 90 seconds.

(The ultimate LinkedIn Content Crash Course)

Step 1: Skill and value
Step 2: Content themes + consistency
Step 3: Hooks and how to write them
Step 4: Leveraged Networking to grow

These are the main 4 key elements of a winning brand.

Watch the video and get the full tutorial!

PS: My Black Friday deal is ON! Get 50% off my programmes and mentorship. 
Here we go: https://lnkd.in/e4RKsGx9


(Please repost this for your network ♻️ Thank you)

I've coached over 3,000+ entrepreneurs and creators.

Today, I want to review your posts for free.

But there are thousands of you here ( and only 1 me) 

So - I’ve got a special gift for you today: 

I built a GPT that behaves like me. 

It grades your posts on 3 specific checkpoints.

1. Clarity
2. Proof
3. Capture

And tells you what to fix in 60 seconds.

If you're ready to get brutally roasted.
And get the feedback on your hooks and content...

I built an FREE AI tool that does this for you. 
I call it the AI Post Analyzer.

(Deleting in 42hrs)

PS: The algorithm rewards what readers finish.

Write for readers first. Optimize for views after.

Profile optimization is overrated. Honestly. 

Focus on your content first. Comment 50x a day instead..

This is something you'll hear me say a lot. 

Because most people waste endless hours here.
Optimizing everything but have no traffic.

But....

If your content is getting traction.
You're commenting and networking daily.

But you're not seeing an increase in conversions.

Then your profile might be the problem. 

Most people will see your post.
They'll go to your profile looking for proof.
And if they're convinced, they'll book a call with you. 

So your next task after nailing content?

Optimizing your profile.

1. Your profile photo = shows warmth 
2. Your banner = shows instant proof 
3. Your featured section = tells them where to go

I made you a guide so you can implement it today.

Follow it step by step and position yourself as an expert.

PS: What colour did we like more black or white?

Repost ♻️ if you want more breakdowns like this

PS: Got a surprise for you today, get 50% off my programmes until the end of November here: https://lnkd.in/e4RKsGx9

The Ultimate LinkedIn Profile Optimization Guide (1)

This simple LinkedIn funnel made us hit $200k+ 

(In under 2 weeks, without doing outbound).

So let me walk you through exactly what I did for my content strategy.

Watch the 12-minute video for the entire breakdown.

I covered:

1. How do I don't burn my audience while launching offers
2. How to drive traffic to an offer and how to convert it 
3. The secret Linkedin weapon no one is using right now

Now, I rushed to post this because it's black friday.
One of the biggest sales months for businesses.

If you have an offer, and want to monetise it...
This is your perfect chance to launch it. 

This is literally all it takes.

Content to grow, emails to launch and webinars to convert. 

My black friday offer? 50% off everything. 

Get all of my courses in 1 for 50% off today. 

(offer expires in a few days...) 

Grab it here: https://lnkd.in/e4RKsGx9

PS: Is this useful? Should I make more videos like this?

Pathfinder Coaching

Traditional career advice wasn’t built for ADHDers—especially mid-career professionals navigating pivots, identity shifts, and burnout.

They’re handed rigid frameworks.
Told to “network more.”

They’re left overwhelmed by:

— Tabs.
— Dumb to-do lists.
— Advice that never sticks.

I created the Core 4 Framework™, a system designed for clarity, momentum, and sustainable job search success.

Together, we focus on:

• Clarity – Clarifying strengths and direction
• Cohesion – Building a brand that feels authentic
• Connection – Making networking natural, never forced
• Communicate – Creating original content that builds authority

Wins include:

• 100+ ADHDers coached through mid-career pivots
• LinkedIn profiles that draw leads and recruiter outreach
• Clear personal brands that open doors to roles that finally fit

This isn’t about fitting in—it’s about finally aligning with what works.

📅 Book a free chemistry call: www.pathfinder.coach/connect
✉️ david@pathfinder.coach

Career Coach

White Path Search

At White Path Search I leveraged an extensive network of professionals to help talented executive-level support find their way to the right career path. 

Through building deep relationships with my clients, I helped employers find and connect with top executive-level talent. My recruiting approach was relationship-centric, which was essential for building long-term, trusting, and open relationships.

Executive Recruiter

Green Key Resources

I led Green Key Resource's IT Division and, as Director, assisted in defining the firm's broader strategy for continued growth of the team in NYC.

Director

Career Group Inc.

Vice President, Full Time Division

Strategic Moves

Staffing firm specialized in placing telecommunications professionals with manufacturers, re-sellers, ISPs, and the financial services industries.

Recruiter

Royal Air Force (RAF)

Human Resources

ADHD Career Coach | Founder of Momentum — the 8-week coaching program built to get ADHD brains off the overthinking line and into a rhythm of task execution (even on low-energy days)

Starting was always the hardest part. I could see the work in front of me and knew what needed to get done. 

But getting off the line always felt impossible.

The more tasks piled up, the heavier it got.
I’d stall, not because I didn’t care, but because I wasn’t sure I could finish.
That stall cost me a promotion.

They gave it to someone from the outside.
I smiled through it, but inside, I knew I hadn’t done enough.
I didn’t know how to change it.

I spent 20 years in recruiting and HR. Running a full desk. Building teams. Closing searches from kickoff to offer.

Edtech. Martech. Hedge funds, PE, and asset managers who expected results yesterday.

That pace? I could handle it.
Last-minute scrambling was my superpower.

But longer timelines and steady execution?
Total kryptonite.

Then in my 50s, I got diagnosed with ADHD.
And suddenly, everything made sense.

Once I stopped trying to “just focus” and started building around my brain, everything shifted.

✅ Timers
✅ Systems
✅ Boundaries
✅ Automation

Not hacks. Just stuff that works.

Now I coach mid-career professionals with ADHD who are stuck at the starting line.

That’s why I built Persona™ — the world’s first AI job search engine for ADHDers.

It takes 80% of the work off your plate so you can get off the line, into motion, and all the way to completion.

For most of us, the real stall isn’t starting. It’s the dread of not finishing.
That fear is rooted in past failures and impostor syndrome.

Persona changes that. 

It builds in structure and support to see things through.
Small wins stack up, the dopamine hits, and finishing becomes the new normal.

And here’s the part that matters most. Persona is built around your actual speaking voice.
Everything you touch — your resume, LinkedIn profile, comments, content — it all sounds like you.

By the time interviews roll in, they already know what it’s like to talk to you.
You’re not walking in cold.

Through my 8-week Momentum program, I combine Persona with one-on-one coaching to help you get clear, get visible, and off the line — without burning out or pretending to be someone you’re not.

Because ADHD isn’t a flaw.
It’s just a different operating system.
Once you learn how to run it, momentum feels possible.

📩 DM me "Momentum" if you’re ready to stop staring at the starting line and finally move forward.

David Hannan

Just crossed 60,000 followers on LinkedIn.

Want to know what I'm actually proud of?

I didn't buy a single one of them.

No engagement pods. No $200/month growth gurus. No trading reach through 'mutual' comment spam.

And still, every month...

Someone with a big following slides into my DMs with an invitation to some exclusive club to '10x my reach.'

Latest one? 

Claimed they went from 2K to 155K followers in 15 months. Had the balls to call it 'authentic visibility.'

They all lead with follower count like it matters.

It doesn't.

You can't control who follows you. 

But you can control who you connect with. 

You can control the quality of what you create. 

And you can damn sure control where you show up and who you engage with every day.

Took me four years to go from 5,000 to 60,000. 

Four years of being real, showing up, and writing what I actually think instead of what performs.

- No hacks. 
- No shortcuts. 
- And no bullshit.

Just consistent, organic, human content.

If you're building something that matters, you don't need a pod to prop it up. 

You need patience. 
You need clarity. 

And you need to trust that quality compounds faster than tricks ever will.

The followers came because the work was real.

That's the only metric worth celebrating.

P.S. Who's still doing this the real way?

I help senior leadership build clarity, visibility, and authority for their next career move | Founder of Momentum | Ex-recruiter | Girl dad

"I can't say no to people who need me."

That's what he told me during our second call.

Smart guy. Former VP. Built teams. Coached juniors.

Always the guy people called when things got hard.

And now?

Six months into his own job search.

Still hasn't finished his resume.

Here's what was happening:

Every week, someone would reach out.

→ "Can you review my LinkedIn profile?"
→ "Can you hop on a call to discuss my search?"
→ "Can you intro me to someone in your network?"

And every week, he'd say yes.

Because that's what good leaders do, right?

Except now he wasn't leading a team.

He was unemployed.

And his "helpfulness" was costing him momentum.

If you've got ADHD, you know this pattern. 

You feel people's pain like it's your own.

Someone asks for help, and your brain absorbs the urgency. Suddenly their problem is your problem.

So you say yes.
Again. And again.

Until you realize you've been everyone's coach, connector, and therapist…

…but you haven't sent a single application this week.

Here's the lie your brain tells you:
"If I don't help them, I'm selfish."

But here's the truth:
You can't pour from an empty cup.

Every time you put someone else's career first?

You're practicing self-abandonment.

The boundary phrase that changed everything:

"I want to help you, but I need to finish this round of my own search first. Can we reconnect next week?"

That's it.

→ Not "no." 
→ Not "I'm too busy."
→ Just honest resource allocation.

Most people said, "Of course. Good luck."

A few disappeared.

The ones who respected his boundary stuck around.
The ones who didn't were just looking for free labor.

Here's your permission:

→ You're allowed to prioritize yourself.
→ You're allowed to safeguard your energy.
→ You're not selfish for choosing yourself first.

Because the best way to help people long-term?

Get yourself across the finish line first.

Where are you still helping before you heal? 

Drop it in the comments... or just sit with it.

Either way, you already know the answer.

——
♻️ Share if someone in your network needs to hear it.

Follow me, David Hannan, if you're done sacrificing your own career to fix everyone else's.

I got something wrong this past year, and it's been sitting heavy for a while.

A lot of people who need help never reach out.

Not because they don't want support.

Because they don't want to label themselves to get it.

Some are dealing with ADHD, but it's not the same for everyone.

Some aren't.
Some aren't sure.
Some never want to say it out loud.

I've shared a lot about my recent diagnosis, and I'm comfortable talking about it.

But that doesn't mean everyone else is.

That's something I didn't fully appreciate until recently.

I used to think narrowing my focus to ADHD was the inclusive move.

I see now that I was wrong about that.

It ended up having the opposite effect.

And for that, I'm deeply sorry.

Over the last few weeks, I've had long conversations with clients, coaches, and people in the ND space.

Some of those talks were heavy.

They made me realize something I should have understood from the start.

For a lot of people with ADHD, the struggle isn't the brain.

It's the label.
It's the stereotype.
It's the fear of being boxed in.

It's the pressure to explain yourself before you can even ask for help.

The last thing I ever wanted was to add to that.

So I'm widening the front door.

The work isn't changing. 

My clients still get the same structure, support, clarity, and steady path forward.

The shift is simple.

People shouldn't have to decide what to call themselves before they ask for help.

Nobody should feel boxed in by a label just to start a conversation.

That's the part I'm fixing.

This isn't about turning away people who don't have ADHD.

It's about making sure people with ADHD aren't forced into a corner just to get help.

They deal with enough already.

Widening the doors makes the room bigger so people get to ask for help without feeling boxed in.

More people get to feel safe.

That's the goal.

Let me be honest. LinkedIn can mess with your head if you're not careful.

You scroll long enough and it starts to look like:

— Everyone else has their sh*t together
— Their week seemed to make sense
— You're the only one stuck in the drafts

I see this every week with ADHD clients.

They look at somebody's clean, final version and forget there was a messy middle.

Probably the same kind of week you just had.

The real pressure isn't posting, it's:

— Trying to make your week look "cleaner"
— Worrying the finished draft won't "succeed"
— Feeling like you need to polish the whole thing

That's usually the moment everything tightens and you stop sounding like yourself.

Here's what helps when the overthinking kicks in.

One-Line Audit:
"Is this real, and does it help?"

If yes, that's enough.

❌ You don't need shiny.
❌ You don't need clever.
❌ You don't need perfect.

You just need something honest and useful to the next person who thinks the way you do.

Authenticity isn't a brand play. 
It's authority.

People trust what feels lived, not polished.

PS: What kind of post feels most real for you lately?

The one thing that gets my ADHD brain into a dopamine loop isn't what you think.

Some people meditate or journal in the morning.

But I needed something with guaranteed results.

The best way I've found isn't some fancy hack.

It's posting insightful comments on LinkedIn.

— The thing is, good comments get answered.
— Because I'm adding value people can use.
— And that's my built-in feedback loop.

That loop hits every switch in my head.

Connection. Movement. A quick win.

And it's enough to get me going.

— After school drop-off, I'm 20 comments in.
— And by late morning, I'm closer to 100.
— All from my phone, just my thumbs.

People think this is discipline.

It isn't.

— It's me giving my brain something that works.
— Most ADHDers wait for motivation.
— I can't do that.

I built a loop that rewards me before anything slips.

And here's why commenting feels easy for me.

I stick to posts that matter to me.

— Stuff I relate to.
— Stuff I can actually add value to.
— That's when ideas flow, even on low-energy days.

The question that keeps it simple?

"What opinion can I share, and how can I add something useful to the thread?"

That's the whole thing.

— One question.
— One intention.
— Zero pressure.

And that's enough.

— Some mornings I'm sharp.
— Some mornings I'm cooked.
— But that tiny prompt still works.

It warms up the quiet parts of my brain and turns LinkedIn into a place where I show up, not hide.

If you want visibility without the overwhelm.

Don't worry about posting content.

Start by posting comments.

— Make it light.
— Make it daily if you can.
— Let it feel good enough to repeat.

Consistency comes from the reward.

Not the grind.

P.S. What gets you moving?

Tried to take it easy last night in front of the telly.

Ended up sorting my sock drawer instead.

I swear my brain can’t just “rest.”

It needs a mission.
Any mission.
Even a stupid one.

Been binging The Man in the High Castle recently, so I figured I’d put on an episode and switch off for a bit.

Next thing I know, I’m standing over the drawer rearranging every folded sock bundle.

⬅️ ➡️ From left to right.
⬆️ ⬇️ To top to bottom.

Like some deranged Marie Kondo fanboy who can’t follow his own advice.

ADHD rest works like this for me.
I go looking for calm.

My brain finds a tiny project it can finish before it loses interest.

And honestly, I’m learning to roll with it. It’s harmless.

It settles my head in a way “relaxing” never does, and it gives me a quick win without asking for much.

So if tonight’s “rest” turns into rearranging something that didn’t need rearranging, I'm cool with it.

At least it gets me out of my own way.

You got a version of this?

She made more progress on Tuesdays than the rest of her week combined. 

I didn't notice it at first.

But when we charted her week during our weekly Momentum check-in, the pattern was unmistakable.

𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆? 
☑ Comments left.
☑ Applications sent. 
☑ Conversations started. 

𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆? 
☒ Total collapse.

Here's what struck me:

She wasn't inconsistent.
She was predictably consistent.

Her energy had a rhythm. She just didn't know it yet.

Most people with ADHD think they're chaotic.

They're not.
They're 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱.

The brain craves certainty. 

When you can't predict your own capacity, you assume you don't have any.

But the second you start tracking momentum instead of tasks, something shifts.

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴:
"𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘐 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘺?"

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴:
"𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘮 𝘐 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘰 𝘐 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵?"

Here's what we did.

I told her to stop logging what she accomplished.
Instead, log days in motion.

Not hours worked. Not tasks completed.
Just: Did I move forward today? Yes or no.

No judgment. No shame spirals.
Just data.

𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝟭: 3 days in motion.
𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝟮: 4 days.
𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝟯: 5 days (one of them was a Friday)

By Week 4, she wasn't asking me for motivation.

𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴:
"𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘺 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘛𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴? 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘰 𝘐 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵?"

That's the shift.

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺:
"I'm broken and unpredictable."

𝗧𝗼:
"I have patterns I can work with."

Quantifying momentum doesn't just reduce self-doubt.

It replaces guessing with evidence.
And evidence is calm.

Here's my challenge for you.

Stop tracking tasks for one week.

𝗔𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻:
"𝘞𝘢𝘴 𝘐 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺?"

Yes or no. That's it.

By the end of the week, you'll know more about your actual capacity than any to-do list ever told you.

What would you learn if you tracked motion, not minutes, for a week?

Drop a comment. I'm curious.

And if this hit ♻️ repost it.

Someone in your network needs permission to stop lying to themselves about "consistency."

A marketing SVP joined a call with a plan for her next chapter.

I asked her to print it out. Then rip it in half.

She smiled for the first time in weeks.

Like a lot of people I meet, she’d turned “career clarity” into a side project.

Every night:

— Job boards filled with roles she could do.
— Browser full of "maybes" that never felt right.
— Spreadsheets for tracking apps and salary bands.

By Friday, she’d built a case study instead of a plan.

That’s what happens when the smartest people I work with start overthinking their next move.

They research to feel safe.
They gather data to calm the noise.

And it works, until it doesn’t.

Chasing proof while ignoring what was clear all along.

At that point, the work is about doing less.

— So we slowed it down.
— No ten-step plans.
— No frameworks. 

Just a few simple questions:

— What parts of the week still feel solid?
— Where does energy show up without effort?
— What’s been quietly pushing you the whole time?

Twenty minutes in, her tone shifted.

— No more lists.
— No more rehearsed logic.
— Just honest proof of what actually fits.

That was the moment it clicked.

Her voice changed and you could hear the weight come off.

Clarity isn’t about finding something new.

It’s about finally noticing what’s been steady underneath everything else.

PS: Sometimes the next step starts with ripping up the first one.

Many creators won't see me in their comments soon.

I'm seeing a shift I'm not okay with.

I’ve been on this platform a long time.
Long enough to know when something's off.

And the comments lately?
They're turning into a landfill of AI slop.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹.

You know the deal. You leave something real, and the author hits you with an AI echo.

- same tone
- same phrasing you used
- same "thanks for the valuable insight" garbage

It's everywhere. 
And from people I've followed and admired for years.

Here's what it tells me:

- you didn't write it
- you didn't read my comment
- you didn't give a shit enough to be yourself

And look, I get using AI to draft, explore, brainstorm, whatever. I literally build GPTs for a living. 

That's not the issue.

The issue is outsourcing your presence.
The part that's meant to be you.

Because when someone takes the time to comment on your work, that's effort.

That's attention they didn't have to spend on you.

That's a moment of connection you just handed to a VA or to a ChatGPT agent with a copy-paste prompt.

It cheapens the whole thing.

I'm not feeding into it anymore.
And I'm done pretending it's fine.

So here's what I'm doing this month:

- blocking people who "bot" their replies
- stepping out of spaces that don't feel human
- tightening my circle to folks who show up as real

If you’re one of the real ones, you’ll still see me.
If not, don’t take it personally.
You already checked out before I did.

And let's be honest.
A lot of you won't even read this.

You'll have your AI tool skim it for "sentiment" and spit out a nice little reply.

Which is exactly the point.

I still believe in actual people.
That's who I'll be showing up for.

PS: What’s your read on all this?

Three days before Thanksgiving, and I’d make the same list four times.

Couldn’t find any of them.

Monday, I felt ready. Wrote it out.
Tuesday, it disappeared. Started again.
Wednesday, back to ShopRite for the 2nd time.
Thursday morning, arrival texts lighting up my phone.

It came together. Sort of.

The turkey was okay. The sides were fine.
Everyone said it was good.

I nodded along even though the cranberry sauce sat in the fridge until someone asked where it was.

This is the part I didn’t understand for years.

Holiday chaos is grim because the whole week is built for people who plan three steps ahead. 

That setup burns through anyone whose brain runs hot or needs more space to ramp up. 

I’m in that camp. You might be too.

So stop trying to feel ready.
That feeling never shows up.

Prep one dish the night before. One.
Take a break when you need it.

Even if that means hiding in the guest room for ten minutes so your brain can have a bit of a breather.

One thing I’m thankful for this year?

Having it at someone else’s house.

What’s one thing that gets you through holiday prep?

Most weeknights used to follow the same pattern in my house. 

Olivia would walk over with glitter nail polish in her hand and say, “Can you play with me, Daddy?”

And there I’d be, still trying to knock out something work-related I should’ve finished earlier.

— I’d tell myself it’d take a minute.
— Then another minute.
— Then another.

My brain grabbed onto whatever I was working on and refused to let go. 

I was off the clock, but I was still “finishing” things. 

Meanwhile, she’d stand there, glitter ready, already deciding what color she wanted to paint my nails.

(blue, every time)

And after a bit, she’d skulk back to the living room.

By the time I finally closed my laptop, she’d be curled up on the couch, convinced I didn't want to play.

That sat with me longer than anything in my inbox.

After-work hours can get messy with ADHD because your head keeps running long after the day’s over. 

If you stop too fast, you lose your place, and that jump between tasks can be absolutely brutal. 

Which makes it far too easy to stay stuck. 

You think you’re trying to protect tomorrow, but you end up stealing from the moment right in front of you.

I saw that pattern more clearly the more it happened.

The drifting, the coming back, all those moments where my body was in the room but my mind wasn’t.

And I hear this from a lot of other parents with ADHD. 

— You want to be present. 
— You’re trying to be in the moment. 
— But unfinished tasks follow you around the house.

And remote work only amplified this nonsense.

Home ends up being as noisy as your job. You close your laptop, but the work sticks around if you let it.

I don’t live in that pattern anymore. 

Dad time comes first now, and nothing in my inbox wins over glitter nails or Barbie doll pool time.

That shift didn’t happen overnight, but it changed everything about how we spend our weeknights.

Yesterday, I went deeper into why this hits harder for ADHD brains and how easy it is to get pulled away from the moments you care about most.

I also shared the 3 things that help me let go without getting pulled back into the day’s leftover noise.

If you’d like to dig in a bit with me and 5,126 others who read it, I’ll drop the link in the comments.

Success opened more doors than I ever imagined.

That's when things went sideways.

After recruiting, I saw four clear paths ahead of me.

– I could stay in the game with in-house recruiting
– I could go the Learning & Development route
– I could slide into a corporate training role
– I could build a coaching practice

All four looked doable, something I'd be good at.

But that's what made it harder.

It wasn't confusion. 

Just too many options at once.

So I tried to think my way through it.

– Pros and cons
– Writing out two columns
– Even walking around the block with it

None of it moved anything.

What helped was a question I didn't see coming:
"Name the one part of your career you'd miss most."

My answer was immediate:
"Working with job seekers."

It told me more than any spreadsheet ever could.

And it made the path in front of me clearer.

Coaching wasn't some grand idea, but it was the only lane that kept the part I cared about most.

And once I saw that, I could move again.

Nothing dramatic.

Just a quiet sense of "this feels real enough to start."

If you're staring at a few different versions of your next move, shrink the question.

What's the one thing you'd actually miss if you lost it?

Start from that.

PS: What’s the one part you’d miss the most?

Every Friday around 2pm, my brain starts narrating my life like David Attenborough.

"And here we see the coach. Staring at his laptop. Cursor blinking. Zero thoughts happening."

Yep. Friday.

All week I'm fine. 

- Sharp.
- Making sense. 
- Juggling six things at once.

Then Friday rolls around and I'm reading the same email three times like I've never seen words before.

I used to think something was wrong with me.

Nope. Just what happens when your ADHD brain spends five days running on fumes.

Here's the deal.

When you have ADHD and work with people all week, you're not just doing your job.

You're also doing this whole other job in the background:

- Manually staying on topic every 90 seconds
- Not blurting out the weird thing mid-meeting
- Pretending your brain isn't playing the Bluey theme

That takes energy.

So by Friday you're not tired from work. 

You're tired from managing your brain 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 you work.

Eventually you just stop.

I used to fight it. Now I just let it happen.

I do three things:

𝟭. 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗸.
Just clear it. Two minutes.

𝟮. 𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱. 
That's the win.

𝟯. 𝗟𝗼𝗴 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜'𝗺 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝗼𝗳. 
"Didn't bail on anything" counts.

Five minutes total, and it keeps me from spiraling.

The Friday fog isn't you failing, it's your brain going: 
"We worked hard. Can we stop now?"

Yeah. You can stop.

Brain running at 40% and beating yourself up? 

Stop.

People with ADHD burn hot all week just to keep up with a world that wasn't built for us.

By Friday the tank's empty.

Let it be empty.

Mine showed up on schedule today. 

- Cleared my desk. 
- Wrote my sentence. 
- Logged my tiny victory.

Done. 

Not because I finished everything, but because I'm allowed to be done.

So are you.

P.S. How does your brain tell you it's Friday?

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The Battle

Lara Acosta

David Hannan

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taplio

The Battle

Lara Acosta

David Hannan

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Engagements

Likes

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

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