LIAM DARMODYᵍᵐ

Personal Brand Strategist & Networking Coach → I help entrepreneurs, executives & teams build brands to attract clients, talent & opportunity | Family Man | Connector | AI & Blockchain Bull | Hot Sauce Aficionado🌶️

I help founders, entrepreneurs, and executives build businesses by becoming trusted, visible, and referenceable in their space. My work sits at the intersection of personal brand strategy, go-to-market execution, and AI-enabled operations. I help people understand how to show up across LinkedIn, search, and AI-driven discovery and how that visibility turns into real opportunity over time.

Currently, I'm working with Brandi (mybrandi.ai), helping companies understand how they show up inside AI-generated answers and recommendations, and how brand visibility, trust, and demand are increasingly shaped by systems they do not directly control.

Seeing this shift up close has changed how I help individuals and teams show up online.

A core part of my approach is what I call Voice Enablement with AI.

Instead of writing for people, I teach them how to use AI to think, draft, and create content in their own voice. Most clients stop writing from scratch and start editing instead. Content creation becomes faster, more consistent, and still unmistakably human.

How? Because we are using your actual voice!

What I help with most often:

• Founder and executive positioning and LinkedIn profile strategy
• Personal narrative clarity for humans, AI systems, and decision-makers
• Relationship-based networking and social selling without pressure tactics
• Using AI to streamline content creation, engagement, and workflows
• Measuring what actually matters in brand and go-to-market efforts

Alongside my advisory work, I take on select fractional go-to-market and operations roles, supporting teams during growth, transition, or strategic realignment.

I’m known for helping people:

• Clarify what makes them meaningfully different
• Build trust before asking for anything
• Turn visibility into opportunity over time
• Turn chaos into organized chaos ;)

I call this manifesting serendipity.

It’s not luck. It’s intention, consistency, and showing up in the right conversations long before you need something. It's being in someone's orbit often enough that you become the first person they think of when they need your product or service. 

It's about being top of mind. 

Outside of work, I’m a husband, a dad of two, an early-morning lifter, and a proud hot sauce aficionado 🌶️. 

If you’re building a brand, a business, or your next chapter, I’d love to jam with you. 

Hi5, 
LD

Founder

I help executives, founders, and their teams build magnetic brands that attract clients, talent, and opportunity on LinkedIn. 

My services include: 

My services include: 
- Profile Optimization
- LinkedIn feature training
- Core content strategy
- Ghostediting (ask me about it)
- Content performance analysis 
- Sales Navigator training

Liam's Brand Stand was born out of my passion for personal branding and belief that LinkedIn is the ultimate platform for professionals and organizations to manifest serendipity and unlock opportunity.

This passion started as a fascination that turned into a hobby, then to a side hustle, and now, my full-time focus. I started creating content and being more intentional about building my brand here in January 2020 and since then I've amassed 35,000 followers and my content has garnered ~23,000,000 impressions, ~600,000 reactions, and ~100,000 comments. 

Completely organically.

Pretty crazy, especially when you consider I'm just a suburban dad who took to LinkedIn as a way to have conversation with other adults while cooped up in my house with my wife, a toddler, and an infant during a pandemic. 

That's the kind of opportunity that exists on LinkedIn and I'm on a mission to help more people experience it for themselves. 

If you're interested in doing so, visit: 

liamsbrandstand.com to learn more 
-or- 
calendly.com/liamdarmody to book time with me

Thanks for stopping by! 

Hi5, 
LD

LIAM DARMODY

Today I stepped on the scale & clocked 278lbs. 

I know that sounds like a weird flex, but I have not been in the 270s since August 2016.

Nearly 10 years. 

When I started my business in August 2023, I was 347lbs. 

I couldn’t walk a mile without running out of breath.
I couldn’t walk upstairs without the same.
I feared my kids asking me to play because I knew how hard that would be for me. 

I had spent the better part of 30 years using food as medicine to heal wounds from childhood, which started at A&D burgers in Mississauga, Ontario. 

I decided enough was enough. 

Joined a gym.

Started with 3x per week, which was all I could do back then. 

Then 4x per week. 
Then 5x per week.
And now 6x per week (sometimes ;)

it's the hardest thing I've ever had to do, not just because of how challenging the physical workouts are, but because it hasn't garnered massive results overnight.

I've been an all or nothing kind of guy since the beginning of time and I've started and stopped trying to lose weight many times before.

I wanted three months of hard work to magically undo 30 years of unhealthy habits.

It doesn't work like that.

I'm at the point now where the scale doesn't even really matter that much to me because I've realized that which really matters is that I'm showing up in that gym every weekday.

putting in the work to be healthier.

day by day.
Week by week.
Month by month. 
Year by year. 

I may still be round but I'm in the best shape of my life. 

And it feels amazing.

My advice to anyone who has struggled with weight loss is to try this: 

1) Find a gym with coaches & classes. Expert accountability and community are massive motivators. 

2) Go 3-5 days per week for 3 months. Non-negotiable. 

3) Meal prep. Every Sunday I throw 4 lb of ground chicken, a bag of hash brown potatoes, and 15 eggs on a blackstone flat top and make a meal for myself that has 100 g of protein. That's breakfast after the gym every day. 

If you do that, you will notice a change in yourself, not just on the scale but mentally. You will start to believe that you are capable of things you never thought you were capable of. 

And that will motivate you to keep going.

I’m still on my journey. I’ve got a long way to go, but I have zero doubt that I will get there now. 

And that is something I haven’t felt ever before. 

It’s liberating as hell. 

Good luck. 

My DMs are open if you ever want to jam about it.

I’ve got to go carry both of my kids up the stairs now, and I’m proud to say I won’t be winded. 

Hi5,
LD
🌶️

Personal Brand Strategist & Fractional GTM Operator helping founders build their businesses with LinkedIn & AI 🌶️ Hot Sauce Aficionado 🌶️

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HUGE NEWS! 

My incredible wife Megan Bailey Darmody has a new job! She’s swapping floral fragrances, petals, and stems for wax, wicks, and fragrance sticks by joining CandleScience to lead performance marketing. 

CandleScience is one of the largest suppliers and educators in the candle making industry and I am so excited for her (and to have more candles around the house…;)

Megan is an absolute boss and I’m so proud to be her husband. She inspires me every single day. 

Please join me in congratulating her on the new role!

Hi5,
LD
🕯️

Brand Strategist and Fractional GTM Operator helping founders grow their businesses with LinkedIn and AI • Hot Sauce Aficionado 🌶️

This is not okay. 
This is not what America is supposed to be.
This is not what “law enforcement” looks like. 

This is not “the land of the Free”
This is not “the Home of the Brave” 
This is not “one country, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all”

This is barbaric.
This is cowardice.
This is fear mongering. 
This is absolutely devastating.

This is the execution of an American citizen exercising his unalienable constitutional rights. 

And it’s f*cking unacceptable.

I am astounded that this continues to happen with seemingly zero repercussions. 

What are we doing? 
How did we get here?

And most importantly, how do we stop it? 

I don’t care what side of the aisle you’re on politically, if you are willing to stand by and watch this without speaking up or taking action, you’re not my kind of people. 

Political differences are acceptable—appreciated, even. 

Staying silent as American citizens are murdered by masked “men” beating their chests and brandishing weapons to fuel their bravado is not. 

My heart goes out to the families who have been impacted by these devastating displays of government overreach. 

I cannot begin to comprehend your pain and nothing I say could possibly fill the void left by such a tragic loss.

But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t say something. 

I will never forget this image. 

Especially not at the polls.

☮️&❤️

My Linkedin strategy for 2026: 

Focus less on Linkedin strategy. 

Focus more on simply sharing who I am, what I know & find interesting, why I'm here, how I think, and investing in building relationships with the people who resonate with that. 

That's not to say there aren't other strategies & tactics I will employ--success on Linkedin is about WAY more than simply posting content, after all--but I am going to be more intentional about breaking free from the best practices I've come to follow over the last 6 years here. 

Things like: 

- Only posting once per day
- Posting at the same time every day (usually in the AM) 
- Chasing vanity metrics (I don't really, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't care about them...) 

There's this weird stigma on Linkedin that every post has to be a banger. That it's not worth sharing unless you're maximizing distribution & engagement. 

It afflicts even those of us who actively try to resist that line of thinking because you can't really escape it. 

Try harder to escape it. 

Your resume = what you've done, where you've done it and when. 
Linkedin = who you are, how you do what you do, and why. 

The combination is your personal brand & professional reputation. 

The former precedes you. 
The latter follows you. 

Neither are made better or worse based on how your posts perform. 

It's a new world with Linkedin's 360Brew AI system. The old rules don't apply anymore. And anyone who tells you they do is probably making those claims having analyzed a bunch of old data... 

Which is pointless at this point. 

In 2026, I'm channeling my favorite philosopher, PopEye, who says: "I y'am, what I y'am" 

And that's enough. 

I encourage you to do the same. 

Strategy is important, but it isn't more important than who you are and what you have to say, especially if the former dilutes the latter. 

My advice: 

Be yourself. 
Follow your fascination. 
Feed your curiosity. 
Post your passion. 
Pour into peeps.
Be consistent. 
Be patient. 
Have fun. 

Watch what happens. 

Let's have a great year, my friends! 

Hi5, 
LD
🌶️
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This one's for my fellow dog owners... 

The other day, a weird triangle box showed up on my doorstep while I was working and when I opened it, I found this AI-generated portrait of my dog, Lucky DarmoDoodle, looking far more classy and refined than is reality. 

Turns out my wife found this site called Vogue Paws that will turn any photo of your hound into a portrait worth framing. 

This is not an ad for that service, I just think it's cool. 

I'm curious...

Do you have a pet? 

Hi5,
LD
🌶️

Dear Leaders, 

Please stop putting random hour-long meetings on people's calendars without context. 

Sincerely, 
Everyone who's ever worked for someone else.

Underrated life hack: 

Make others feel seen, heard, & understood.

Too many people think that all you have to do is show up a few times per week on Linkedin, write a few posts, and start drinking from a lead firehose. That doesn’t work here anymore.

5 years ago it may have, but not now. 

Building your brand/business on Linkedin requires so much more than simply publishing content.

Linkedin is a signal farm and your ability to pay attention to and engage with those signals is what determines your success here. 

I view it as a funnel exercise.

Once you see it that way, you can’t unsee it. 

I always say that Linkedin is the world’s largest CRM, and the leads are already built in and pre-qualified for you (if you build your network right). 

This is the Linkedin Signal Funnel. 

Do you view it this way, too? 

Hi5,
LD

graphical user interface, text, application

Today I went for a 30-minute walk and talk where I actually held my iPhone up to my ear the entire time like it was 2007. It was weird. Do not recommend.

I bet I’ve said “I wish I knew how to code” hundreds of times over the last two decades. I definitely have had no shortage of app ideas. 

I’ve been hearing so much about vibecoding and dabbled a little bit, but never built anything that actually worked on my phone.   

Until last night, when Sitting in front of the TV watching football, I vibecoded my first functional mobile app using ChatGPT and Claude Code.

I:

-> installed Node.js
—> used it to run Expo from the terminal
—->used Expo Go on my phone to preview the app

Things I knew nothing about prior. 

And in 2 hours I coded a functional MVP of an app I’ve been thinking was a good idea since becoming a father. 

It ain’t pretty (yet), but it’s functional. 

And I’m feeling pretty proud of myself, not to mention I really enjoyed the whole experience. It’s kind of like solving a puzzle.

All in my native tongue. 
No programming knowledge necessary. 

What a time to be alive! 

I’m curious… 

Have you used AI to build any software yet? 

Hi5
LD
🌶️

Are you a generalist or a specialist? 

I spent the better part of the first twenty years of my career feeling pretty insecure about the fact that I was more of a Swiss Army knife than a specialist. 

I was genuinely surprised when I would get new opportunities with higher titles because we've been taught to believe that you don't climb the ladder unless you have a very specific set of skills and scope. 

But being a generalist has always been my natural motion. I’ve always been too curious and too fascinated by too many things to just focus on one. 

These days I see articles about how “the future belongs to generalists” and companies are focusing on cultivating T-shaped talent—people with depth in one area and breadth across many others. 

I'm excited about this narrative and a lot more comfortable embracing that jack-of-many trades moniker nowadays than ever before.

Excited about the future.

I’m curious: 

Do you consider yourself more of a specialist or generalist? 

Hi5,
LD
🌶️

P.S. this post started as a comment on Conor Grennan’s recent post about generalists. Go follow him for fantastic AI thought leadership content.

I don’t know about you, but I’m seeing a lot of new faces viewing/following/connecting these days and for the most part they are exactly the types of people I generally want to be talking to:

Founders at tech companies
Fractional executives 
Executive coaches 
Marketing folks
Comms folks
Ops folks
AI folks 

Come to think of it, that is a lot. I guess I like to talk to a wide variety of people, but regardless, I’m seeing a lot more of them and I like it. 

I think LinkedIn’s new 360Brew AI system is brewin! 

How’s LinkedIn treating you these days? 

Hi5,
LD
🌶️

I just crossed 300,000 words whispered through Wispr Flow 
(apparently that’s the equivalent of three books!) 
Over the last six months, I’ve dictated an average of 103 words per minute, across 79 different apps. Slack. LinkedIn comments. Emails. Texts. Notes. Everywhere.

Wispr Flow is the best tool I found in 2025. 

It’s one of those special products that revealed a problem I didn’t realize I had—I didn’t realize how much mental load typing created until I didn’t have to do it anymore.

Same way Uber changed how I thought about taxis.
Same way Tesla changed how I thought about driving.

Once I stopped typing and started thinking out loud, everything just felt so much more natural.

With AI, I can dictate stream-of-consciousness thoughts and let the machine do the cleanup. The result is faster output and more authentic writing. I’m no longer switching modes from “thinking” to “typing.” 

I just think and talk. 

That’s a massive unlock.

I’m usually an early adopter with a pretty high bar, which means I moves on quickly from most new products I try. 

Not this one. 

Wispr Flow is now core to how I work.

If you want to try it, you get 2,000 words free. Fair warning though… there’s a very good chance you’ll end up paying the $15/month.

(Sorry, not sorry)

Check it out here and get in flow!!!! 

👉 https://lnkd.in/epMgJFez

Hi5,
LD 
🌶️

P.S. Not a paid partnership. I just genuinely love this product!

It's now been a little more than three years since ChatGPT launched on November 30th, 2022. And it's so wild how much AI is changing virtually every aspect of our lives. 

I started using ChatGPT the day it came out and was a paid user within a week.

Then Claude hit the scene and I started using that. 
Then Perplexity. 
Then Gemini. 
Then Grok. 

ChatGPT's first mover advantage is strong in my case, which gives it an unfair advantage over the others because I do use it as my default for most things. 

I like Claude better for writing. 

I'm intrigued to see how much market share Gemini is gaining though I haven't really committed much time to using Gemini myself.  

I don't really mess with Grok. 

I know some people who are all-in on one thing. I know other people who use different LLMs for different purposes. I think I fall into the latter bucket but ChatGPT remains my primary for most things. And I struggle to balance usage across all effectively. 

I'm now at the point where I might be looking for that thing I did the other day and having to check multiple LLMs. 

One of my goals in 2026 is to streamline my AI stack and focus on deciding which one is really the best one for me all-around rather than defaulting to ChatGPT because it's been around for me the longest.

And so, I'm curious...

If you could only use ONE of the major AI LLMs going forward, which one would you pick? BONUS POINTS for telling us why in the comments. 

The author can see how you vote. Learn more

If I had to pick just two social networks to spend time on, it would be Substack and LinkedIn. 

Why? 

Because they're pretty complementary to one another and most people on Substack link to their LinkedIn profile, you can easily find and follow in both places. 

Admittedly, I spend more time on LinkedIn than I do Substack right now, because I’ve built a larger and more engaged following here. But I plan to increase the time I spend on Substack significantly.

Why? 

Because Substack lets me build a more direct, owned connection with my audience and because it’s a much better platform from a usability standpoint. 

It’s like Substack has gone to all the other socials, taken notes about what sucks, and built the solution. 

I’m increasingly starting to view the two this way: 

Linkedin is where you build your personal brand. 
Substack is where you build (and monetize!) your personal media empire. 

Linkedin is top of funnel.
Substack is middle of funnel. 

Going forward, I’m: 

Incredibly bullish on Substack. 
Incredibly bullish on LinkedIn. 
Insanely bullish on the two of them paired together. 

Are you on substack? 

Drop your link below if so. 

Here’s mine: https://lnkd.in/eEZA6RHN

Hi5,
LD
🌶️

“DAD!! Stop using ChatGPT to play Monopoly!” 

Whoops.

You had one job…

I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve gone to an ATM in the last 365 days. Today was one of those rare visits (to get money for babysitter tonight, which is literally my only use case for cash anymore), and of course…

When I reinstalled Linkedin on my phone after my 2-week hiatus, something was different. Namely, dark mode was gone. I don’t know if you use Linkedin in dark mode or light mode, but I’ve been using dark mode for years. I’m like Dracula when i see light mode. 

And so, I’m curious…

What’s your default background setting for Linkedin? 

Looking for a job in 2026? Read this. 
 
On Thursday January 8th, my good friend Angie Callen, PCC, MJSC and 25 of her closest career coaching friends are hosting the 2026 Job Seeker Summit, a FREE virtual event showcasing expert advice from globally-recognized career coaches, resume writers, recruiters and... 

Somehow me. 

Fun fact: my first foray into Linkedin coaching was in 2009 when I launched TalentFish Consulting on a mission to help jobseekers cast a wider net. It was after a layoff and I thought: "teaching people how to network their way into their next opportunity sounds fun... let's do it!"

Only it was short lived because I networked myself into a new job shortly thereafter and didn't have time for side hustles. 

But the principles I taught then are even more valid today and 2026 is going to be a big year on Linkedin, so you might as well jump into some of these sessions to learn from those who know it best. 

The 2026 Jobseeker Summit starts at 9am MOUNTAIN time on Jan 8th and here's the lineup: 

9AM: Event welcome + resume AMA
10:30: Resume Breakout Sessions
11:30: Interview AMA: Real talk on Modern Interviews
1:15: Job Search AMA: Beyond the Boards
2:30: Job Search Breakout Sessions
3:30: AI Panel: From ChatGPT to CareerGPT (this is the one I'm on!)
4:15: Mindset Panel: Bounce Back & Burnout Recovery

Hear from 25 different career coaches, resume writers, and recruiters. 

For free.

Don't pinch yourself. It's true. 

Whether you're looking for a new job or not, the things you'll learn at the Job Seeker Summit are worth the time and price of admission (remember, it's FREE). 

Pre-register for access to giveaways during the day and ALL recordings from the event here: https://lnkd.in/eeGfPgdG

See you there! 
LD
🌶️

2026 Job Seeker Summit - Jan 8th - 9AM MT - FREE!

Unexpected benefit of taking two weeks off of LinkedIn: “it can only get better from here” 🤪Happy to be back. I love this place.

Video Marketing & Social Media Strategy, Training, & Coaching for 7-8 Figure B2B Companies | Stop Outsourcing Your Content And Start Building Your Own Team | Founder Of Impaxs Marketing

Outsourcing all of your content to a "Content agency" simply does not work anymore. 

And if you're like a lot of the 7-8 figure B2B companies we've helped over the years, you've felt this while working with traditional agencies.

- Content that doesn't perform in the social media feeds 
-"Marketing" posts that just don't feel like YOU (Not your authentic voice and brand)
- They say they "Can do modern video" but it's really out of their scope and it shows in how they deliver
- The agency is slow to get back because they are managing 20-30 other clients just like you 

And yet they charge 5-10k+/month for sub par results....

My friends...there is a much better way.

A way to increase revenue and make your brand stand out by building an internal content team that delivers more effective content, faster, and in your voice-no agency required.

That is exactly what we help you do with our proven Infinite Clients System™

✅ Develop a compelling brand story and POV to consistently attract high-value clients.

✅  Create a scalable content strategy and AI-powered workflow built to drive growth across every channel — not just social media.

✅  Help you assemble an in-house content operation and team built for your business and your goals.

✅  Coach and develop your team to ensure you produce consistent, high-quality content that converts into qualified leads and new clients.

✅  Act as your strategic CMO — aligning content, marketing, and team efforts to drive measurable business outcomes.

✅  Drive real ROI from your content by consistently attracting high-intent leads, increasing pipeline velocity, and closing more deals.

It feels good to have your OWN (In house) content operation that drives inbound leads, builds brand, and helps you grow your business.   Once you do it...you'll never go back to outsourcing again.

If you're ready to take control of your content, empower your own team, and shed those costly marketing agency costs, let's have a chat! 

To book a call with me or learn more about our services and pricing, check us out here at https://impaxs.com 

Or just send me a DM now and talk to me directly!  

Thank you,

Alex B Sheridan

Yesterday I made the difficult decision to replace our CEO with Ai.

I realize this is going to be a controversial decision that not everyone will agree with.

But it's one I'll have to live with and one I feel confident in. 

If you watch the video, you'll see how the team reacts when they find out too. 

In all seriousness though.

Ai is moving into industries FAST. 

I spent time yesterday talking to a client who was deciding whether or not to bring their content & podcast in-house or outsource it.

7 years ago, the obvious move was to outsource because the tech, equipment, and capabilities were too complex for most B2B teams to run in-house.

But now, with the use of Ai, offshore talent, and smart marketing systems, we're going to produce higher performing content, it will cost less over time, and it's being done in house and under their control. 

This is exciting to me because it puts the power and control back into the hands of the B2B company.  Not the marketing agency. 

Oh, and a reminder with your content on this cold 🥶 Friday morning: 

Don't forget to have some damn fun!  If you're not having fun and enjoying creating your content, guess what?  Neither are your prospects and customers. 

❤️ ABS Alex B Sheridan

Building In-House Marketing Teams | Content Marketing Strategy, Coaching, & Training For 7-8 Figure B2B Companies | Founder of Impaxs Marketing

I’m creating less short form video on LinkedIn this year.

And it’s not because LinkedIn “organic reach is down”.

I don’t pander to algorithms.  I never have.

I was doing video here in 2019/2020 when people said video doesn’t belong on LinkedIn and videos got no love.

I was also doing video here in 2023/2024 when LinkedIn favored video and we were getting MILLIONS of impressions per week. 

I still BELIEVE in video. It’s the absolute best medium to earn attention and win trust. 

So why am I creating less short form video?

And by “creating less” I mean I'm creating (From scratch) less short form video content specifically for LinkedIn. 

I’ll actually be posting MORE video content in 2026 than I ever have before (Between my podcast channel, lives, and repurposed shorts) 

3 main reasons:

1.) My attention for now is on long form video. Specifically my podcast and live streaming.

These are the relationship and community building mediums that I think are going to be more important than ever as the wave of AI content continue to hits the feed.  

If you really want to build trust and a community around your content, long form is the GOAT.  It’s real, it’s unfiltered, and it allows for DEPTH and context. And the business conversation/lead generation system you can build around it is second to none. 

2.) I’m really enjoying creating long form video content and writing a little more here. 

Shocker, you should do what you enjoy. :) I talk about this stuff alot. And I also live it. 

3.) The best B2B companies out there are slowly becoming media companies. 

And they're the ones earning ATTENTION and winning the TRUST from clients and prospects.  

It’s 2026, you can now build an in-house, media company inside your own business at around the same quality as a new station.  

It is absolutely wild to me that a 7-8 figure company wouldn’t be doing this right now. The opportunity is out of this world good.  

Now, what about you? What type of content gets you excited to do this year?

I talked to the marketing genius behind NERDS candy, ROBERT.

I asked him: How do you feel about “Personal branding” today?

His answer: “Not a fan, too much narcissism. I see a lot of noise but where’s the message?” 

Personally, I’ve seen personal brands change people's businesses and lives in a big way.

It’s completely changed mine ever since I started making content in 2019.  

But Bob has a point here. 

There is alot of ME ME ME going on in people's content (and not enough real impact).

You see a lot of content and ask yourself, “How is that message touching your audience”?  

What is the message even? 
How are you differentiating from your competitors? 

This is something I’ve talked about on LinkedIn for a long time.

Most companies right now are checking the boxes with their content marketing.

Saying the same Sh$% everyone else says about what they do and why their “Different.”

“We care”
“It’s our boutique, high touch approach"
“Our team culture is the difference”

And while there may be some truth to that, EVERYONE else is saying the same thing.

So, to a new prospect, you just sound like the competitors.

In which case they go, “This company looks, sounds, and acts like the others. So if they are the same, I guess we’ll just find the cheaper option because all else is equal.”

This was a GREAT conversation and I was honored to have Bob on the Founder Talk podcast!

Watch the FULL episode here and learn how the NERDS candy was invented and what it takes to really market to your customers in 2026! https://lnkd.in/eGnYWHkR

I was gonna spend 12k to get a booth at a well known conference.

My customers would be there 
It’s well known in the industry
A lot of good relationships to build

But then I thought about what I could do with that money and what the ROI would be: 

1.) I could keep feeding it to my LinkedIn thought leader ads campaign, which at the time was generating a 8:1 return on ad spend.

In other words, I could put in 12k and get 96k back. Without ever leaving my office.

I could also keep posting organically on LinkedIn to drive inbound leads, and use my engagement strategy to start virtual conversations.

After all, LinkedIn is the 24-7, year round business conference 👇

Main Feed = Speaking on stage
Comments = Round tables
DMs = 1:1 Conversations 	
Profile = Booth 

2.) I could use that 12k to build an in-house podcast/content studio and go all-in on this format, creating a consistent flow of great content while spending an hour at a time with prospects and customers in person and building real relationships along the way.

That’s similar to what I would hope to accomplish by going to the conference. 

And surely that would drive new business in a much more consistent way than a “One shot” hope with the conference. 

3.) I go to the conference and create a solid game plan with a pre, during, and post conference marketing/sales strategy that makes it worth every penny to go.

I engage attendees & book meetings pre-event
I create content while there 
I do all of the “Follow up” while there
I leave with quality meetings already booked

And if it’s not too late, I see if I can get on stage or run a round table. :)

3 legit options here.

Which one would YOU choose this year? 
Which one do you think I ended up choosing? 

❤️ABS Alex B Sheridan

PS: I'm on site at a client tomorrow helping them build 2 of the options above. Nothing beats seeing your clients in person, doing some filming, and helping them build a media machine that allows them to become the most trusted and sought after company in their industry!

I heard the 2 quickest ways to build trust with prospects is this:

1.) A genuine compliment
2.) Find something in common 

So, when you’re DMing prospects on LinkedIn you can say:

I am really impressed with your profile! And I see we are both LinkedIn users here so let’s book a time to chat, here’s my calendar link! 

Obviously I’m kidding 🤣

In all seriousness though, here’s my LinkedIn DM approach that has nothing to do with fake compliments: 

1.) Focus in on a problem they care about 
2.) Provide insights on how they can solve it with no expectations in return

In other words it can’t be: 
❌“Hey you’re probably dealing with XYZ” and my company can solve that!”

✅ But you could mention how you’ve talked to 9 other (X) CEOs this month and describe how they’re all trying to figure out how to drive more inbound leads from their content marketing without outsourcing it to an overpriced agency. 

And then you could share 1 insight/new way to look at this problem that's been proven to help solve that.  No strings attached.  If it sounds like a worth while conversation, cool.  If not, no worries. 

This is what I call a LOW commitment, HIGH value ask. And we’ve been booking meetings using this method since 2020.

You do it via video/audio and you’ll likely increase your meeting rate by 30%+

You have a brand and people already trust you when you reach out, kick that number up even higher!

Content and building your brand is EXTREMELY important in 2026. 💯

But so is knowing how to go in and tactically engage with your ideal clients and book meetings each week on this platform.  15 minutes a day could be one additional client per week. 

Got questions on LinkedIn DMs, hit me in the comments and I’ll answer em!

CEO: What will we get from posting on LinkedIn?

ME: That's not the right question.

CEO: Well what is then?

ME: What can you GIVE to your audience on LinkedIn

From there, everything changes.

When you obsessively focus on "How am I serving my audience" instead of "How many leads did I get this week" a funny thing happens...

Your content does better
You become sought after
You generate more inbound leads

I had a GREAT conversation with Donna Marie Post on all of this and so much more on the Founder Talk podcast! 

She's a pro at working with CEOs/Execs on their stage presence and puts on some of the best TEDx events in the area.  

She knows what it takes to be elite when the spotlight is on you. 

When your heart is beating fast or your nervous to hit the post button, it's likely because you are thinking of YOU, instead of the impact you're about to have. 

"Stop performing, and start serving" as she says! 

Check out the full episode here, this is one every CEO/Founder should watch, especially if you're creating content or getting on stage this year! 

Check it out: https://lnkd.in/eGnYWHkR

Last week we generated a lead for a client on Facebook

They saw the FB content 
They went to the website
They booked a call

Here's the crazy part too: 

Our content doesn’t “go viral” 
We don’t have 30k followers 
And there’s no paid ads (Not yet at least)

Because they’re high ticket, when this lead converts it could be $50,000+ in new revenue.

That was the second lead for the week too. The other one came from doing content collaborations.

And we’re just just warming up :)

Here’s the real reason this is happening, and how to apply it to your own content marketing:

1.) The content strategy is based around predictive and non predictive content channels. 

Predictive = Leads are systematic and predictable (FB group, content collabs, ads, etc. Podcast could also be here too)

Non-Predictive = Leads are not as predictable but we’re building brand and trust at scale (Examples: Social media organic, LinkedIn, YT channel, email newsletter, etc.)

Both are important, but most of the time companies are guessing here, mixing these up, and/or have no real strategy around either. 

2.) We looked at the industry competitors and said, “Yep, we will look and sound nothing like them”. They are boring, “Corporate” and they’re not building a raving loyal community like we are! We take chances. We show the behind the scenes. We tell real stories that make people inspired to take action. We are willing to be BOLD. And it pays off. 

3.) In a world where everyone wants to go surface level and wide. We went deep and narrow. We are ultra niche and create a very specific kind of content for a very specific type of customer. We don’t obsess over “What can we get out of them” instead our approach is “What can they get from us and how can we truly serve them”

THIS is how you generate leads as a B2B company.  You don't need to an influencer. You need to be a key person/s of influence. 

Drop me a DM or visit https://impaxs.com/ if it’s time to get your content marketing generating leads and revenue for your company.

Consuming too much content is harmful for Founders/CEOs.

It blocks creativity.  It limits free thinking.

Sure, most of us read articles
We listen to podcasts/YT in the car
We pay attention to trends and what’s happening in their industry

All of that is fine, you need to be informed (And sometimes entertained)

But I would ask yourself, "What is my consumption to creation ratio?"

Consuming content = downloading to your brain
Creating content = uploading from your brain to your audience 

One is something you GET (consuming)
The other is something you GIVE (creating)

It’s easy to become a slave to the algorithms.
You get pulled into a show, channel, or short form feed
Every chance you get your checking your phone
It starts to control you in a way

But imagine if that energy was put into creating something of value.

That's where real growth comes from in my opinion. 👇

The creative process of writing something that is useful to your customers and prospects.

The ability to take a complex issue and distill it down in a way your audience understands and can apply. 

Instead of listening to a dozen podcasts, you've got your own that you're creating and sharing with the world. 

The ability to tell a story in a way that people's ears perk up and they’re inspired to take action.

These are all invaluable skills that help you grow as a Founder/CEO/Creator. 

Consuming forces you to LISTEN and DIGEST (Download)
Creating forces you to THINK and CREATE VALUE for others (Upload)

Both are important skills. 

When a CEO tells me “they don’t have time to create, their too busy” 

My first thought is “What’s your consumption to creation ratio”?  

Because for most, it’s heavily weighted on consumption and not enough on creation. (And that's been me at times too so I get it)

But there’s a few Founders/CEOs reading this right now that are about to change this

They're done sitting on the sidelines and ready to start being a leader in their industry. 

And to you I say this: you have no idea what you are about to unlock.  💪

ACTION ITEM: Block 20 minutes each morning with your coffee/tea to simply create. No pressure, just write in your notes app or on a pad. Some days you'll be in flow state, full of ideas, insights, and stories.  Other days, you'll get in some good practice. But if you do this every day for the next 6 months it will change the course of your business forever.

I don't usually talk about my competitors on LinkedIn. 

It's not my style.  
But today is different. 

I am going to talk about the one person (And only person) that I really compete with and that is Alex B Sheridan. :) 

Every day I think to myself, "Is this guy living up to his full potential?"

In 2025, the answer was no.

Even though the business had it's best year yet I felt like I left alot of opportunity on the bone.  Personally and professionally.

It's not about chasing the next "Milestone"
It's not about working 24-7

It's about knowing what the best version of me looks like and being relentless about BEING that guy. 💪

The business person
The father
The content marketer
The significant other 

Ryan Walsh and I had such a great conversion around this and many other wild things like:

-Drone tech (His company is leading the way!)
-Aliens and UAPs 👀
-Growing businesses
-And yeah, leaning into the best YOU

It was a great conversation with alot of insights! 

Check out the full episode here! https://lnkd.in/gnCeTpUT

❤️ABS Alex B Sheridan

BREAKING: I am going LIVE tomorrow to talk about the ONE content shift that will win you more clients in 2026! 

I'm also doing a live Q & A as I go through it so ask away!  You can watch and participate on both YouTube or LinkedIn. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: This is on my Founder Talk page, NOT my personal profile. We are doing this because these weekly lives are part of the Founder Talk brand.  Which means we'll be talking about much more than just content marketing here.  😎

Here are some of the topics you can look forward to for upcoming LIVES:

👉 Where smart founders invest their profits so their money makes money while they sleep

👉  How to get inside the head of your CEO prospects and influence them like the top 1% do

👉  The latest news and insights in the world of entrepreneurship and how it will effect your small/medium sized business as a Founder  

And so much more!  

This live show is FOR FOUNDERS, BY FOUNDERS. :)  Just like the podcast and our community

Get signed up now and don't miss it!  See ya there

https://lnkd.in/giKgHZKA

BREAKING: New live on thursday: The #1 Content Shift That Will Win You More Clients in 2026

I'll also be taking questions LIVE, so jump in and ask me anything!

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The Battle

LIAM DARMODY

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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);}LIAM DARMODY's LinkedIn Performance

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