LIAM DARMODYᵍᵐ

Liam's Brand Stand

I help coaches, founders, executives 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

Founder

The Outlier Project

The Outlier Project is a unique private membership community for people who believe that anyone can be ordinary, but we all have the power to choose to be extraordinary. 

Encouragement from a brilliant and diverse global community ensures that our members always have a built-in support system for all of life's personal and professional ups and downs as well as unique learning and development opportunities created exclusively for our members.

Member

WillowTree

Hired into a newly created, board-visible role to build an outbound recruitment marketing engine at scale. 

Collaborated with executive leadership and cross-functional teams to create target personas for design, engineering, product and project management prospects. 

Hired and led a team of four to build a prospect database of 15,000 and deploy evergreen email marketing campaigns that yielded 59% open, 18% reply, and 9% conversion rates.

Launched “ShopTalk Conversations” campaign strategy that became the second best-performing recruitment source, yielding candidates 2.5x more likely to receive offers and 3x more likely to be hired. 

Developed social media and employee advocacy strategies that increased company Linkedin following by 39%. 

Implemented cost-saving strategies for advertising channels and implemented Linkedin Recruiter platform, increasing efficiency across a 20-person talent acquisition team. 

Choice quotes from interested talent prospects: 
• "'Would you be open to having a conversation with one of our devs to talk about what it's like to build here?' < that is one of the best recruiting pitches I've heard right there" -- Frontend Web Developer

• "I gotta say that I normally loathe the "just checking in" emails and it's the quickest way to get on my hard-no list, but the ShopTalks you described in the first email are just so interesting that I'm kind of curious..." - Engineering Director 

• "Frankly this is the most innovative thing I've seen in recruiting. Well done!" - Product Manager

Director of Employer Brand & Talent Marketing Operations

Homesnap

Leading a team of 7 responsible for streamlining project management & delivery of revenue-generating initiatives & processes spanning engineering, marketing, product, sales, & support. 

Established, launched, & scaled operational processes for high-performance sales & customer success teams responsible for generating & retaining $5,000,000 annual recurring revenue (ARR)

Streamlining cross-team operational efficiency by focusing on relentless process & system automation that decreases the opportunity cost associated with highly manual, rote tasks being performed by humans so that they are free to do more empathetic, strategic work that benefits the bottom line.

Director of Revenue Operations

AddThis

Launched 3-person Customer Success team to service strategic clients post acquisition, increasing engaged accounts from 0 to 600, with a 98% retention rate. 

Appointed to manage 5-person Customer Support team (3 in North America, 2 in India) providing 24/5 assistance to customer base of 15M by resolving ~1200 tickets/month with 99% positive CSAT ratings.

Set vision & defined all strategy, standard operating procedures, documentation, functional reporting, OKRs and CRM configuration (Salesforce & Desk.com) for both teams.  

Established Customer Advisory Council that increased total customer feedback by 47%, positive feedback by 62%, and average positive CSAT from 86% to 96% QoQ. 

Championed “Project Barycenter” from hackathon initiative to formal development of tool that improves operational efficiency of customer teams by eliminating data silos, detecting product usage anomalies to identify churn risks, and decreasing reliance on engineering teams. 

Implemented measurable, closed-loop customer feedback process with product & engineering teams that increased development of feature requests received by customers from 0% to 72% in just 2 quarters.

Increased collaboration with marketing to align customer acquisition strategies, develop cohesive communication, gather case studies, and improve NPS scores. 

Launched TRIORG, a cross-functional team focused on improving internal processes relating to talent, recruitment, interviewing, onboarding & retention after dedicated HR-team was disbanded.

Director of Product Operations & Customer Experience

LivingSocial

Spearheaded cross-functional change management initiatives resulting in 400% increase in quantity and length of available online inventory while simultaneously optimizing sales efficiency. 

Revised & redefined standard operating procedures and protocol for sales & operations teams of 400+

Managed team of 29 responsible for ensuring excellence in sales planning, internal client support, and advertising operations. More specifically: 

2 managers & 14 Sales Planners responsible for providing both strategic & tactical sales guidance to a team of ~400 sellers covering 250+ North American markets responsible for generating ~$300MM in annual revenues 

1 Manager & 6 Enablement Specialists dedicated to triaging issues from the field, conducting root cause analysis, gathering product requirements and collaborating with engineering to improve tools

1 Manager & 5 Advertising Operations specialists responsible for managing advertising operations for Fortune 500 companies.

Director Of Sales Operations & Enablement

Leading an innovative, nimble team responsible for strategizing and executing on key company initiatives that optimize process, improve efficiency, and contribute to revenue growth

Establishing standardized processes through a central hub that internal & external teams rely upon for accurate information, dissemination of important messaging, effective training, and project management

Developing in-depth reporting suite that provides greater visibility of team performance to department heads 

Managing robust process for intake & prioritization of system enhancements and partnering with product teams to scope & deploy solutions quickly and thoroughly 

Facilitated smooth change management processes associated with multiple wholesale workflow changes

Director of Product Operations

Lead a team of internal consultants that provided strategic guidance to global Sales & Operations teams in the United Kingdom, Australia, Spain & France 

Established centralized best practice library and disseminated standardized documentation to all global entities 

Regularly deployed overseas to conduct in-country assessments, develop improvement plans, and work with country leadership to execute on key initiatives

Sr. Manager, International Business Operations & Strategy

Recruited, trained, & scaled team from 1 to 35 people responsible for quality control and market programming 

Developed effective launch process & communication channels across marketing, sales, finance & operations 

Launched 5 verticals in 250+ North American markets, including a single day launch of 25 markets in 2010

Defined & deployed sales guidelines upon which all deal structures were based 

Identified & implemented revenue optimization strategies resulting in multi-million dollar gains

Facilitated launch of LivingSocial UK by recruiting, hiring, and training personnel on the ground 

Deployed to launch first 6 markets of LivingSocial Australia in November 2010 

Tapped by executive management to spearhead international expansion & optimization

Sr. Manager, Quality Control & Market Programming

Collaborated with company founders to define & operationalize daily deal business 

Developed product requirements for front & backend systems that have supported expansion to hundreds of international markets and multiple business verticals 

Managed online community through social media, sales, servicing customer & merchant relationships, writing copy for all deals, subject lines, and website

Manager, Product & Business Operations

Revolution Health Group

People Operations

Support the communication of requirements and user stories pertaining to Premium Services web products.

Create and maintain project plans and workflow management. 

Working in concert with product managers, software development teams, and business units to ensure that products are developed according to specifications throughout the entire SDLC.

Act as liaison to facilitate communication between marketing/business unit, graphic design, product management, software engineering teams, and quality assurance testers.

Assist VP of Technologies and CTO with program management duties - keeping track of the status' of all active projects across the company.

Business Project Manager

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 entrepreneurs & executives build magnetic personal brands that attract clients, talent, and opportunity. After nearly two decades scaling revenue operations at tech startups, I realized something powerful: the skills I used to help companies grow - strategy, operations, marketing, and analytics - could help individuals grow too. That's why I launched Liam's Brand Stand. 

I combine my operational expertise with my passion for personal branding to help entrepreneurs & executives manifest serendipity on LinkedIn. Think of me as your personal brand operator - I help you develop strategy, establish processes, and measure what matters.

My Services Include:

🌶️ Brand Strategy & Profile Optimization
Transform your LinkedIn presence into a powerful brand asset that attracts your target audience.

🌶️ GhostEDITING (Not Ghostwriting)
Unlike ghostwriters who write for you, I help you find and amplify your authentic voice. We collaborate on content strategy and I edit your drafts to optimize them for LinkedIn while maintaining your personality.

🌶️ Business Growth Coaching
Learn how to leverage LinkedIn strategically to attract clients, build partnerships, and grow your business organically.

🌶️ LinkedIn Feature Training 
Master Sales Navigator and other LinkedIn tools to network strategically and build meaningful relationships.

🌶️ Content Performance Analysis
Get data-driven insights about your content performance with detailed analytics that help measure what matters.

More about me: 

My Roots 🌱:
• Irish/Italian-Canadian born US Citizen
• Have lived in Toronto, Los Angeles, Boston, DC, & now Raleigh, NC
• Proud husband to an amazing wife & father to two wonderful tiny humans

My Passions ❤️:
• Helping others build & scale 
• Aspiring backyard BBQ pitmaster
• Hot sauce aficionado (seriously, my collection is ridiculous)

My Personality 🧠:
• Gallup Strengthsfinder Top 5: Woo, Communication, Strategic, Positivity, Adaptability
• ColorCode: Yellow (53%), Red (22.94%), Blue (16.16%), White (7.9%)
• Myers Briggs: ENFP > Extraverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Perceiving
• 16personalities: "The Campaigner" (ENFP-T) | Role: Diplomat | Strategy: Social Engagement
• Kolbe A: 7-3-8-3 "Terrific when juggling rapidly changing priorities. Known for taking risks grounded in practical reality."

Favorite Quotes:
"I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it" - Thomas Jefferson

"There are no strangers here, only friends you haven't yet met" - William Butler Yeats

Ready to amplify your personal brand? Book an appointment up 🔝

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

Like many this week, I'm reflecting on what I'm most grateful for. Today it's my health. Two years ago, I was 347 pounds.

I couldn't walk upstairs without getting winded.
Playing with my kids was a physical strain.
I was ashamed and miserable.

After receiving some concerning lab results from my doctor, I knew something had to change, so Megan and I joined Omnia Paratus Health Training.

We started going 3x per week.

It was grueling.
I was perpetually sore.
And I was the weakest dude there. 

But I kept showing up.

Eventually 3x became 4x.
Then 5x.
Now 6x.

Today I'm ~290lbs, which isn't exactly a flex, but I've lost 60 pounds, gained a ton of muscle, and am stronger than I ever have been. 

(Even made the 1000lb club twice!)

Went from being unable to walk up a flight of stairs solo without getting winded to carrying both my kids on my shoulders upsta without elevating my heart rate one bit. 

At my heaviest, I wondered if that would ever be possible.

But more than the physical transformation, I've had a complete mindset shift.

I used to be an all-or-nothing guy. 

I'd set unrealistic goals, like declaring I was going get 10,000 steps in by 10am every day, only to quit shortly thereafter when I realized just how hard that actually is. 

But I'm a changed person now and I've embraced the idea that most things worth doing are not easy and require consistency and patience above all else. 

That meaningful progress doesn't happen overnight.

Instead, it happens:

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

Meaningful progress is achieved through a bunch of micro actions compounding over time (it's the same thing I preach about building on LinkedIn, coincidentally.)

Show up.
Do the work.
Trust the process.

Now I'm not where I want to be yet--I've got a long way to go--but I'm so damn proud of how far I've come and I'm grateful that I get to wake up every day feeling strong, healthy, and capable.

Turns out it feels good to feel your muscles. Who knew?  

To everyone else on a health journey: keep going.

Every step forward is a step forward and worth feeling proud about. 

Hi5 & stay tuned for gratitude post No. 3!
LD 
🙏🏼

Personal Brand Strategist & AI Coach | Helping humans build soulful brands & smarter operating systems w/ AI | Linkedin Sales Navigator Expert | Hot Sauce Aficionado 🌶️

Beverly Hills. 13 years old. Chubby Canadian kid at an all-boys prep school. I spent my afternoons at the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts waiting for my Dad to finish work, and my nights practicing my American accent. 

A-bout.
Not "aboot." 

Desperately trying to sound less Canadian. 
Less foreign. 
Less different.

Anything to make a friend.

Being an only child who already struggled with connection, I thought if I could just blend in, maybe I'd finally fit somewhere.

My dad and I used to drive around the big mansions belonging to all of the Hollywood stars to pass time. 

One day he asked me: 

"What's the most important thing to you in life?"

Heavy question for a kid. I thought for a second and said: 

"Human relationships."

My dad was stunned. 

He tells this story to this day--he expected me to say video games. Or sports. Or girls.

Human connection was nowhere on the radar.

A few weeks later, we're on a walk and dad asks where I'd want to live if I could go anywhere in the US.

"I've always heard good things about Boston," I said. Turns out he'd been offered a job in Boston that very day.

And that was my first taste of serendipity.

Fast forward three decades. Here I am helping people build personal brands that create stronger connections and manifest serendipity on LinkedIn.

It's everything I've ever cared about wrapped into one business. That lonely 13-year-old practicing his American accent would be proud.

I guess sometimes your biggest pain points become your life's work.

What's a story from your youth that drives who you are or what you do today?

Hi5, 
LD 
🌶️
__
Building your brand on Linkedin? I'd love to help. 
Book an appointment above & let's jam.

Personal Brand & AI Strategist - helping humans build soulful brands, strong connections & smarter operating systems | Startup Advisor | Linkedin Social Selling Pro | Sales Navigator Sherpa | Hot Sauce Aficionado 🌶️

This week I'm taking time to reflect on what I'm truly grateful for and first up is my family, starting with my wife Megan.

She's been the biggest champion I've ever had. Steady. Even-keeled. Exactly the kind of support I always needed.

She's my rock.

When I got laid off and was debating what to do next, she didn’t let fear get in the way. Instead, she said: "You’ve been talking about launching your own business for as long as I’ve known you. Now’s your time."

That was the push I needed to bet on myself. Without her belief in me, I’m not sure I would’ve had the courage to jump. Her faith and fearlessness helped me find my own. 

She’s the strongest woman I know, and every day I’m trying to rise to her level. I’m incredibly lucky to have her.

Then there are the gifts that are Brooks and PJ.

Becoming a dad changed everything for me.

For years, I knew I needed to take my health seriously, but I stayed stuck -- lazy, scared of change, telling myself I’d “do it eventually.”

But my kids gave me a reason bigger than myself to finally become the person I wanted to be.

They push me to show up as the best version of myself every day and I want them to look back and see a dad who didn’t just talk about what he 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 do,  but actually 𝑑𝑖𝑑 it.

A dad who:

Bet on himself at 40  
Built something from nothing  
Broke decades-long bad habits to lose 60 pounds 
Refused to believe “I can’t” was a permanent truth  

A dad who proved it’s never too late to become who you’re meant to be.

Megan, Brooks, and Piper: you make me better every single day, and I love you beyond measure. 

I’m so grateful for & to you. 

Hi5 & stay tuned for gratitude post No. 2!
LD  
🙏🏼

Just crossed 47,000 followers.

Back in early 2020, I wrote an article called “Why LinkedIn is the place to be in 2020" and I’ve shown up pretty much every single day since.

I built this following 100% organically. 

No growth hacks. 
No shortcuts.
No pods. 

Could I have grown faster? Sure.
But that’s never been the point.

Because your personal brand outlives every algorithm shift and every trend and there's no need to rush it. Instead, show up authentically, consistently, and strategically.

Slow and steady really does win here.

Since 2020, my life has changed for the better three times over because of this platform: 

1) A career pivot fell into my lap. 
2) I bought a home sight unseen via the DMs. 
3) I started my business because LinkedIn gave me the confidence and network to take the leap.

I love Linkedin because it is the emotionally intelligent social network that boasts the most empathetic community online. 

It's a place where serendipity manifests and compounds when you invest in people, not vanity metrics. 

And the best part is? 

We're still early! 

If you’re new, here's a bit about what I do: 

I help humans: 

- Craft their authentic personal brand narrative
- Learn how to network with intention
- Build content pillars
- Master social selling through Sales Navigator
- Create smarter, AI-powered content & operating systems

I'm unique because I blend 20 years of go-to-market operations at startups with personal branding.

Authenticity is my operating system and my approach to Linkedin can best be summarized by two of my favorite quotes: 

“There are no strangers here, only friends you haven’t yet met.” — Yeats

“I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.” — Jefferson

Thanks for being part of this journey.
Thanks for trusting me with your attention.
Thanks for showing up as your real self alongside me.

I truly believe that the best is yet to come.

Hi5,
LD
🌶️
__
Building your brand on LinkedIn? I’d love to help.
Book an appointment up 🔝 & let’s jam.

I don’t judge people who like their own posts (because you do you, my friend), but this is the first thing I think every time I see it... do with that what you will. 

Hi5, 
LD
🌶️
__
Want to build your brand on Linkedin without relying on hacks? Book an appointment above & let's jam. Or snag some of my free resources at stan.store/liamdarmody

No alternative text description for this image

While brushing my teeth last night and pining at my thinning hair, I had a thought: 'I wonder if Nano Banana could show me what I'll look like bald!?' And, well... 

(See real photo for comparison in my profile banner)

Life is beautiful.
I flippin’ love this time of year. 
Happy Holidays to you and yours, Linkedin!
Hi5,
LD

Think about how useful YouTube is. 

Now think about what happens if every professional on earth starts sharing what they know on LinkedIn the way that people share what they know on YouTube. 

Are you gonna show up for that or not? 

Brendan Gahan says that LinkedIn is like early YouTube.
Gary Vaynerchuk says that LinkedIn is like early Facebook.  

These two gentlemen can see the forest for the trees. 

Can you?

Day 3 of posting what I'm thankful for.

Today: the Linkedin community.

For the first 15 years I was on Linkedin, I didn't view it as a community. I viewed it the way most people do: a storage utility for your professional accolades and a place to find your next job.

Somewhere around 2017, I started getting LinkedIn emails that ended with "join the conversation.

"What conversation?"

But my interest was piqued.

In 2019, I decided to feed my curiosity and make LinkedIn a place I intentionally spent time on.

I wasn't here to do business. 
I wasn't here to make money.

I just wanted a place to learn and share my thoughts about business.

That proved to be a lifesaver when the pandemic hit and I was stuck inside a tiny house with Megan Bailey Darmody and our tiny humans instead of going to the office every day.

I love my family, but man did I miss the office. 

The energy. 
The coffee walks.
The conversations. 

So I spent my free time on LinkedIn.

People were confused why I was even here if I didn't have anything to sell.

"I'm here for the vibes," I'd tell them.

That's truer today than ever.
(But I make a little money now, too).

I went from never posting to posting daily and leaving 500+ comments per week (made easier thanks to Buffer & Wispr Flow).

In 2021, LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky himself messaged me about being selected for the Creator Accelerator Program and that's when I really started to grow my community here. 

One post at a time. 
One comment at a time.
One DM at a time.

I went from thinking that hopping on a Zoom with a stranger was weird to hosting audio rooms with 50-100 people (remember The Block Party?).

It proved worthwhile when I got laid off and started my own business.

Hundreds of strangers I had turned into friends showed up to support me. Years of building relationships in the comments became the foundation for my first business.

For that I am truly grateful.

The LinkedIn community is special. 

It's an emotionally intelligent social network filled with empathetic humans who want to see you win.

Not everyone sees that, though, because much of it happens beneath the surface. 

The comments sections are like little networking events where people converge to chat. It's subtle and you can't see it unless you're showing up consistently, but once you do, you cannot unsee it.

My next evolution is to start my own community. 

A place to go deeper with a smaller group because not everyone in my comments knows one another, and that seems like a missed opportunity.

(If you're interested, let me know)

To all of you strangers I've turned into friends over these last 6 years: thank you. 

This community has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life.

I'm curious...
How has this community helped you?

Hi5 & have a great day! 
LD

Loving Sims Tillirson’s energy with this post. 

Pivoting from a 20-year career as a W2 employee at 40-years-old opened my eyes to the fact that the definition of success I had been chasing my entire life (money & titles mainly) was the wrong one. 

I made 74% of my most recent w2 salary in my first year in business and I couldn’t care less if I never make more than that if doing so means changing the quality of life I have as am entrepreneur. 

Entrepreneurship is the most terrifyingly exciting thing I’ve ever done, but it’s also the most liberating. So long as the excitement continues to outweigh the terror, I'll keep doing it. 

Because nothing beats following’s your fascination, feeding your curiosity, and pursuing your passion for a living. 

Next week I'm starting the most exciting thing I've done since starting my business. And I can't wait to share it with you.

Hi5 & stay tuned! 
LD

Brand Strategist & AI Coach for founders building standout brands and smarter operating systems with AI • LinkedIn Strategy • Fractional Ops • Hot Sauce Aficionado 🌶️

Don't forget your manners when talking to the robots. Consider it like life insurance just in case there comes a day when they're determining whether to keep us or get rid of us. 😅

You can take the guy out of ops, but you can’t take ops out of the guy. Most brand strategists will teach you content frameworks and engagement tactics.

I do that too.

But after 20 years in go-to-market operations, I also obsess over the systems that make content creation sustainable.

That’s why my tech stack looks more like a startup’s operational backbone than a typical creator’s toolkit.

AI tools for efficiency. 
Video platforms for repurposing. 
Automation to eliminate bottlenecks. 
CRMs to track relationships. 
Voice-to-text to capture ideas in real-time.

While other strategists are debating hook formulas, I’m building workflows that let you show up consistently without burning out.

The reality is most “brand experts” have never run sales ops, scaled a team, or optimized conversion funnels. 

They understand attention but not systems. 

But in order to establish and scale your brand effectively, you need to understand both. 

I spent two decades systematizing everything from lead flow to revenue operations at fast-paced tech companies, several of which were acquired for 9-figure sums. 

Now I apply that same operational rigor to personal branding.

When you work with me, you’re not just getting content strategy.

You’re getting 20 years of operations expertise applied to making your LinkedIn presence actually work like a business asset.

That’s the difference between someone who teaches you what to post and someone who builds the machine that makes posting effortless.

I’m curious… 

What’s one operational bottleneck that’s keeping you from being consistent on LinkedIn?

If you want some help, just holler!

Hi5,
LD
🌶️
___
Find this useful? Saves & sends appreciated. 
Want to jam? Book a free appointment above.

This is how companies should handle situations like Cloudflare's SNAFU that shut down the internet today. It shouldn't come from the head of comms or through a PR firm. It should come from the highest ranking executive of the department responsible for the issue. 

Was it inconvenient? Yes. 
Do I respect Dane Knecht for owning it publicly? You bet. 

Seeing things like this further humanizes business. 

And we need that now more than ever. 

What do you think? 

Hi5, 
LD
🌶️

I used to dread getting annual physicals and the lab results that subsequently followed because they reaffirmed what I already knew: that I wasn't taking care of myself. 

 "How bad is it going to be this year?" I would ask myself. 

On Wednesday, I got my annual physical at One Medical & the lab results just came back… 

For the 2nd year in a row, my doctor congratulated me on achieving exceptional results. 

And when I popped them into my ChatGPT Doctor, it clarified that not only am I healthy, I’m actually “metabolically impressive” and in the top-tier cardiovascular risk range. 

At 290lbs.

Proud of myself and pumped for next year’s labs!

Special thanks to Eric & Erika Hoeckberg of Omnia Paratus Health Training and especially Richard Plona for helping me make health a habit. 

And thanks for all of your support, Linkedin!

Hi5 & LFG!
LD

"Be yourself" is not a strategy.

I hear this all the time from people who think authentic personal branding is naive.

I disagree completely.

I'm doing just fine, and I'm literally just being myself.

But most people view their personality as a liability online. 

They think if they share too much, they'll miss opportunities. 
Someone won't like what they say. 
A prospect will scroll past.

So they water themselves down. 
They talk only about business. 
They become another voice in an ocean of forgettable content.

Meanwhile, I'm posting about hot sauce, AI experiments, my weight loss journey, and random thoughts from my neurodivergent brain.

People love it.

(Not everyone. But the right people for me to serve do.)

Being yourself online is a filtering mechanism. 

The people who don't vibe with you were never going to be great clients anyway.

The people who do vibe with you show up ready to work because they already know and trust who you are.

Yes, pair authenticity with strategy. 
Yes, be professional. 
Yes, be intentional. 

But stop putting your personality in a box—it’s your best asset, especially in the AI era. 

And, since personality is subjective, I tell my clients  to treat their LinkedIn presence like a journal they’d share with family, friends, clients and/or colleagues (including your boss, if you have one). 

That’s a good litmus test. 

Remember, the purpose of brand marketing is to attract the right audience and detract the wrong ones with the same level of effort. 

Your personal brand is no different. 

I'm curious... 

How much of the "real you" do we see here?  

Hi5, 
LD
🌶️
__
Dig this? Saves & sends appreciated. 
Building your brand? I'd love to help. 
Book an appointment up top & let's jam!

Who's got recommendations for banner designers? 

A friend of mine is looking for help with her Linkedin banner. I gave her the name of the person who did mine (👀 Jane Kisnica), but I figured it might be a good opportunity to crowdsource a broader list. 

If you have recommendations, we're all ears! 

Hi5 & thanks! 
LD 
🌶️
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Day 5 of sharing what I'm grateful for.

Today, I'm grateful for my clients!

Over the past two years, I've had the privilege of working with 150+ executives & entrepreneurs who trusted me to help them craft their personal brand & social selling strategy on LinkedIn.

As a first-time entrepreneur myself, they've taught me as much as I've taught them and I have learned so much. 

It's invaluable to me. 

Every cohort has its own energy.
Every 1:1 session reveals something new.
Every success story reminds me why I do this work.

I've seen executives go from being terrified to post to becoming confident thought leaders in their space. From being nervous their network would judge them to receiving all sorts of praise for their words. 

I've seen entrepreneurs go from posting and praying for clients to executing a social selling strategy that builds pipeline and converts new business predictably. 

But what I'm most grateful for is this:

My clients don't just show up to learn. They show up to do the work because that's what it takes. 

Because I don't work with people trying to cut corners. 

My ideal clients are: 

Willing to roll up their sleeves. 
Willing to bet on themselves.
Willing to be vulnerable.
Willing to experiment.
Willing to learn. 
Willing to work.

Because success here is worth working for. 

And when they win? I win.

There's nothing more fulfilling than seeing someone finally "get it" and watching their business transform as a result.

So to every person who has trusted me with their personal brand & social selling journey: THANK YOU! 

You've made my first 2 years in business possible, not to mention enjoyable.  You've reminded me every single day why I took the leap and you've proven to me that I'm doing the work I'm meant to do.

I don't take that lightly. 

And being that it's Black Friday here in the U.S., I'm offering the two deepest discounts I ever have: 

50% off a 60-minute strategy session
(https://lnkd.in/e_utpjCS) 
-OR- 
50% off my January Personal Brand & Social Selling cohort.
(https://lnkd.in/eyzACahu)

If you've been contemplating working together, there's no better time than now to make that investment. 

I look forward to chatting with you!

Hi5,
LD

Client Testimonials for Liam Darmody

🗳️RANDOM WEEKDAY POLL🗳️  

I am connected to 200 Linkedin employees and 16% of my profile views over the last 365 days are from people who work at Linkedin. 

That's by design. 

(Hoping one day the deciderer of Top Voice badges bestows one upon me). 

My "Linkedin Team" list in Sales Navigator allows me to see all of their posts in a single feed whenever I like so that I can: 

A) See what they're talking about
B) Join the conversation

Do you know what a lot of them are talking about right now? 

TRUST. 

The word TRUST gets used a LOT by Linkedin employees--almost as if it's a corporate strategy objective or something ;) 

So many social networks have lost people's trust because they're so filled with bombastic growth hackers trying to sell things. 

For a while there, Linkedin seemed to be going down that path as well, but I believe that they are taking steps to remedy that situation (in fact, I know they are because I see them talking about it here). 

And it makes sense when you think about it. 

Linkedin requires us to use our real names. 
Linkedin requires us to use our real likeness. 
Linkedin encourages us to verify our identities. 

All of those things help build TRUST. 

So before you decide to work with someone you find on Linkedin, ask yourself one question: 

Do you TRUST that person? 

If one iota of your being thinks twice, listen to it. 

One of the most common things I hear from people I meet 1:1 (virtually or IRL) is: "you're exactly the same person I thought you'd be from your online persona." 

That used to surprise me because I can't imagine being different online than I am in real life, but I've come to realize that's not always the case. 

To me, your personal brand isn't who you are online. 
To me, your personal brand is who you are. 
Online. 

(grammar is powerful, eh?) 

And so, I'm curious...

The author can see how you vote. Learn more

🦃TURKEY DAY POLL🦃 

FUN FACTS from Perplexity:  

Americans consume approximately 46 million turkeys on Thanksgiving Day alone, representing about 21-22% of all turkeys eaten in the United States annually. 

The average turkey purchased for Thanksgiving weighs around 16 pounds, meaning Americans consume roughly 736 million pounds of turkey during this single holiday.

Americans consume 80 million pounds of cranberries during Thanksgiving week, which represents 20% of the 400 million pounds of cranberries consumed annually in the United States. This includes approximately 5 million gallons of jellied cranberry sauce purchased specifically for the occasion. 

Americans purchase about 214 million pounds of potatoes in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving in the U.S. and around 50 million pounds of sweet potatoes for the holiday. 

Happy Thanksgiving y’all!

The burning question on my mind is…

Do you eat cranberry sauce with your Thanksgiving meal? If so, what kind? 

Nice try, Linkedin, but not gonna happen!

I've created 4,500 posts in 6 years on this platform. I don't regret it for a second, but there is zero chance I'll ever pay to boost a post here. 

Zero. 

Because once you do, they know you will, and that's when you can really kiss organic reach goodbye. 

Not to mention, you don't need to boost your posts here. There are many other ways to build & be seen by your target audience (Sales Navigator, anyone? IYKYK.) 

I'm curious... 

Have you/would you boost your Linkedin posts? 

If you're on the fence, do yourself a favor and snag some time with me before you do... I promise it'll be worth it :) 

Hi5, 
LD
🌶️

Billy Samoa Saleebey

Podify

Podify, LLC is a podcasting services and technology company that specializes in the production and promotion of digital media and podcasts. We work with podcasters and companies to provide audio editing, video editing, search engine optimization, web development, writing, analytics, transcription, publishing, media management, advertising, marketing, and social media support. Our clients subscribe to our monthly membership to receive these services and our mission is to help their podcasts achieve high production quality while reaching their target audience. We also create applications, technology, and automated tools to help create a more efficient workflow to produce a podcast.

Co-Founder & CEO

Insight Out with Billy Samoa 

What if an insight could change your life? 

Host Billy Samoa Saleebey (award-winning filmmaker and former Tesla Exec) sits down with the world’s most remarkable people to uncover their life-changing insights. Impeccable research and deep curiosity help to shine a spotlight on transformational insights that can change your life. Learn the secret formulas and playbooks world changers, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders have used to reach incredible levels of success. Practical and specific, you will walk away knowing how to put these lessons into action so get ready to take theses Insights Out!

Creator and Host of Insight Out

For the Love of Podcast

After leaving corporate life last year, I’ve become obsessed with podcasting. I created the show Insight Out to highlight the transformational moments of remarkable people.

It was a year spent learning a new industry and while I may have left my career, in the process I found my calling!

The purpose of this new show is to help podcasters create world-class podcasts. I meet with the best podcasters in the world, renowned experts, and industry leaders to continue my own learning and to serve this purpose.

There are over 1,000,000 podcasts and this show will focus on what separates the top 1% from the rest.

So this is a podcast about podcasts, podcasters, and podcasting.

I’ll dissect what makes some shows are great while others fail to find success; Exploring how to produce a high-quality show and how to promote it so it can find it’s audience

I’m on a mission to help make your podcast shine by giving you the tools, insights, and technical tips used by best podcasters of all time

If you’re like me, constantly working to make your podcast reach its fullest potential then you’re in right place

I hope you’ll join me on this journey, where everything we do, we do it...

FOR THE LOVE OF PODCAST!

To be notified when the first episode is out please join the mailing list by visiting the link below:
http://fortheloveofpodcast.com/for-the-love-of-podcast-is-launching-8-31/


#podcast #billysamoa #podcasters #podcasting

Creator and Host of For the Love of Podcast

Insight Media

Insight Media is a Los Angeles based broadcasting and media production company focused on the growth and development of individuals and businesses.  Our mission is to produce content and experiences that will inspire action for the good of humanity. We do this by sharing insights and life stories that help illustrate how the choices we make have an impact on our life and our planet. Our first program is a podcast and video series called Insight Out (http://insightoutshow.com). The purpose of this show is to discover and dissect transformational insights that have helped propel the lives and careers of exceptionally successful individuals.  Through interviews and case studies we examine how these major breakthrough moments teach valuable lessons that often influence the trajectory of our lives. 

For more information please visit our website to see our Master Plan: https://insightoutshow.com/index.php/2019/09/01/insight-studios-public-master-plan/

President and Founder

Tesla

As Director of Global Sales & Product Training I am responsible for all sales and product training teams for Tesla worldwide.  My organization supports every sales function at Tesla and provides product knowledge to empower all our employees to share how our groundbreaking eco-system of products enhance our customer’s lives while accelerating the world’s transition to sustainable energy. My mission is to ensure all our global sales teams receive the training and development necessary to perform at an exceptional level so they are equipped to exceed sales targets while delighting our customers with a world-class experience.

Director, Global Sales & Product Training

As Director of Global Onboarding & Growth I am responsible for all new employee onboarding at Tesla. This includes the new hire welcome experience (orientation), mergers & acquisitions, new markets, and role-specific training. In this role, I work closely with senior business leaders and an incredible team to develop and deploy effective and impactful Onboarding experiences to thousands of individuals that join Tesla each year. Our approach is simple; never ever settle and constantly raise the bar. This ensures we are providing a world-class experience for all new Tesla team members.  We are not just “training” a new hire, we our providing an immersive experience that will prepare them to contribute to our mission to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy.

Director of Global Onboarding & Growth

As Senior Director of Training & Development I am responsible for all sales training departments at SolarCity, including new hire onboarding, ongoing training, and leadership development.  In this role, I work closely with senior leaders and world-class trainers to develop and deploy effective and impactful training curriculum to all 5,000+ sales professionals in the organization.  In addition to training, I am responsible for all sales communications, including the production of SolarCity TV, our internal television network that is focused on delivering communication to the entire company.

Senior Director of Training & Development (SolarCity)

Responsible for creating positive, transparent, and constant communication between all levels of the organization.  Assist sales leadership in developing the voice and content used to ensure that all team members feel heard and engaged in building the most transformative company on the planet.  

This role combines elements of film/video production, sales execution, management strategy, training and motivation of sales professionals.  Responsibilities include gathering continual feedback from all sales channels at all levels, sharing ideas for improvement with all necessary departments, building a world class management training program, collaborating with the CRO in preparing weekly all-hands meeting agendas/contests/content, and creating motivational videos and other training deliverables that will provide an exciting and innovative approach to disseminating all information to the sales organization.

Director of Internal Sales Communications (SolarCity)

Verengo Solar

• Responsible for all sales functions for Inside and Outside Sales Organizations
• Developed new strategy for referral and pipeline conversion
• Increased overall sales volume 50% 
• Created new business practices and personally rolled out initiatives to every sales market
• Hosted weekly company-wide training webinars on successful sales strategies

Vice President of Sales

• Oversaw all training and development for Inside and Outside Sales organizations
• Managed team of trainers, instructional designers, and support staff
• Developed modular 12 Step Sales Process
• Created compresensive 90 day onboarding infrastructure for all new solar consultants
• Designed four part Solar Academy curriculum with classroom and field training
• Achieved 30% average close rate for newly hired solar consultants
• Developed ongoing training curriculum and certification
• Applied Adult Learning Theory methodology to all training fuctions
• Created weekly training series “Ask the Expert” to share best practices of high performers
• Developed full service LMS from ground up using Moodle platform

Director of Sales Training

• Responsible for all sales activities and revenue for Los Angeles market
• Managed sales supervisors and team of 25 solar consultants
• Maintained highest overall revenue, deal count, and SG/referral volume every month
• Orchastrated initiatives that led to company-wide canvass program
• Set company record for total monthly revenue: 7.1 million (March 2012)
• Set company record for most deals in a single day: 20 (September 2013)
• Set company record for most revenue in a single day: 600k (September 2013)

Regional Sales Manager

• Educated homeowners on the benefits of solar for their home electricity needs
• Sold over 200 PV solar systems
• Set company record for most sales in a month: 33 deals (December 2010)
• Set company record for most revenue in one month: 1.3 million (December 2010)

Solar Sales Consultant

Believe Entertainment

OWNER, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, DIRECTOR,  2002 –  2009
• Wrote, directed, and produced award winning feature film Rolling
• Winner of Audience Award at San Francisco Independent Film Festival
• Winner of Evil City New York Film Festival
• Winner of PRISM Award recognizing the accurate depiction of substance abuse
• Coordinated film festival tour spanning 10 cities in the US, Germany, England and Australia
• Deployed grassroots social media marketing campaign
• Sold merchandise and products to both retailers and end users
• Raised over half a million dollars to produce, promote and distribute film
• Landed multi-territory film distribution deal Indican Pictures

Owner, Executive Producer, Director

We Launch 🚀 Podcasts🎙️for Speakers🎤 Authors✍️ and Founders🔥 Ex-Tesla 🚘 Exec Turned Podcast Production & Marketing Agency Owner 🔴 You Record, We Do the Rest → Learn More by Booking a Podcast🎙️Strategy Call Below👇

𝗠𝗬 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬:
In 2019, I left Tesla as the Head of Global Sales & Product Training and went ALL IN on podcasting

I left my career but I found my calling. Here's what happened 👇

Spent a decade making movies - My feature film, Rolling, won awards, went to festivals all over the world, and got picked up for distribution in 2009

In 2010, I decided to make a pivot

I wanted to make a difference so I got into the renewables space

Helped scale a small solar company scale to become one of the biggest in the country

Got recruited by SolarCity

When Tesla acquired SolarCity, I got the opportunity to create the Onboarding Program for Tesla

Every new hire who starts at Tesla, goes through this program

I became the Global Head of Sales and Product Training, one level removed from Elon

Then I got the call...

Elon didn't want a global head of sales training

I could have stayed in corporate, but it was time to do my own thing

I started my podcast, Insight Out

Quickly realized how much work it is, so built a team

It became clear that others could also use help, so I started Podify

Today we help 40+ podcasters produce, promote, and monetize their shows

______________________
𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗥 𝗛𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦 🚀
🎙️Insight Out - Top 1% Globally
▶️ Co-Founder & CEO of Podify
🎞️ Audience Award Best Feature - Rolling
🎥 Million+ views on YouTube
🤝 30K+ on LinkedIn - Millions of content views 
🏆 Top 100 LinkedIn Sales Star
🚗 Global Leader at Tesla
🥇All-Time Sales Record Holder
📺 Creator of SCTV 

______________________
𝗠𝗬 𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡 🌎
To help visionaries and change-makers amplify their VOICE to make their mark on the world!

______________________
𝗠𝗬 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗣𝗔𝗡𝗬 🎙
We help podcasters and brands produce, edit, promote, and monetize their shows - Podify.com

______________________
𝗠𝗬 𝗣𝗢𝗗𝗖𝗔𝗦𝗧 🎙
Insight Out dissects how the world’s most impactful people have made their mark - insightoutshow.com

______________________
𝗪𝗛𝗢 𝗜 𝗪𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗠𝗘𝗘𝗧 🤝
People who are changing the world

______________________
𝗪𝗛𝗢 𝗜 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 👊🏻
Brands, influencers, celebrities, podcasters, athletes, speakers, radio/TV personalities, entrepreneurs, and executives

______________________
𝗙𝗨𝗡 𝗙𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗦 🤙🏻
🌎 World Traveller (42 countries 6 continents)
🍜 Ramen Addict
👨‍👦Dad to Kid Epic (YouTube)
⚾️ Little League Coach

______________________
𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗔𝗖𝗧 𝗠𝗘 📲
📆 Book a FREE podcast strategy call:
calendly.com/billysamoa/podify

📫 Media requests: saleebey@gmail.com

I post here daily: Hit 🛎 to be notified

Follow #BillySamoa

FUN FACT: British Airways accidentally launched one of the most iconic hip-hop groups of all time.

In 1983, the Beastie Boys were just three broke kids trying to make music in New York City.

Then something unexpected happened:
British Airways used their song "Beastie Revolution" in a TV commercial.

Without permission.

The band lawyered up.

They sued the airline...and won $40,000.

What did they do with the money?

✈ Rented an apartment on 59 Chrystie Street in Chinatown.
✈ Turned it into a studio.
✈ Rehearsed. Recorded. Created.

Then, 39 years ago today, they released this truly EPIC album: Licensed to Ill

That apartment became the birthplace of the Beastie Boys as we know them.

It wasn’t a record deal.
It wasn’t a viral moment.
It was a legal battle that funded their future.

They later thanked the guy who stole their song.

Because without him, they might never have made it.

Sometimes your big break looks like a breakdown.
Sometimes your unfair advantage starts as an injustice.

Stay ready.
Stay scrappy.

Turn the chaos into your catapult.

Founder of Podify | Launching Video Podcasts for Speakers, Authors & Founders | Amplifying Purpose-Driven Voices, Building Unstoppable Brands | Ex-Tesla

This is what building a business actually looks like…and most people will never survive it. Here’s the part nobody wants to admit:

Most entrepreneurs don’t win because they’re smarter.
 
They win because they keep going after the part that would make normal people quit.

Everyone wants the “perfect plan.”
 
But the real skill?

- Using the chaos to your advantage.
 - Turning the obstacle into the strategy.
 - Making the landing look intentional, even when the middle was a disaster.

The best founders aren’t avoiding friction.
They’re weaponizing it.

Real examples:
• Airbnb couldn’t get traction… until they leaned into politics and protests and used “belong anywhere” to turn resistance into the brand.
 Their friction became their positioning.

• Netflix was getting crushed by Blockbuster on convenience… so they turned a disadvantage (mailing DVDs) into a subscription model that created predictable revenue.
 Their limitation became the business model everyone copied.

• Slack wasn’t built to be Slack. It was a failed video game.
 The thing that wasn’t supposed to be the product became a $26B product.

• Spanx couldn’t get into stores—so Sara Blakely used that invisibility to listen to customers directly, build community, and create pull instead of push.

Lack of access became a moat.

The pattern?

Some people crumble under friction.
Entrepreneurs manipulate it.
Elite entrepreneurs turn it into leverage.

If you can’t handle unpredictability, you don’t have a “strategy problem.”
 
You have a capacity problem.

Building a company rewards founders who stay in the car when it’s violently flipping…and somehow steer on the way down.

The goal isn’t to avoid chaos.

The goal is to become the kind of operator who can turn chaos into a competitive advantage.

That’s the muscle.
 
Build it and you become unbeatable.

I came across this photo recently and it hit me a little differently than it used to.
On the right is me.
Across the table are two legends: Todd Cochrane and Rob Greenlee, two people whose fingerprints are all over the foundation of the podcasting industry.

Todd passed away about a couple of months ago.

But his impact… that lives everywhere in this space.

What I remember most about him, and about Rob, wasn’t the accolades, the Hall of Fame status, or the decades of contribution.

It was how approachable they were.

When I first got into podcasting, I interviewed Todd long before I ever met him in person.

And when I finally saw him at Podcast Movement, he treated me like someone he’d known for years. 

Funny, friendly, and a personality you can't forget. The last time I saw him we walked around for a while even talked about a possible business venture together. 

This is a guy who didn't need me. He built his own company and legacy yet he was totally up for thinking of how we could partner on something...in fact, it was his idea to team up!

That's the thing about podcasting... 

The people who built this industry didn’t pull the ladder up behind them.

They held it steady for the rest of us.

That’s something both Todd and Rob share:

They never acted like gatekeepers. They acted like mentors.

And honestly, that’s one of the things I love most about this industry.

Podcasting grew because people like them didn’t compete in the shadows, instead, they shared openly, helped generously, and pulled so many of us up with them.

Approachable.
Generous in sharing wisdom.
Genuinely excited to help the next generation of creators.

From my experience, podcasting has always been less cutthroat than other creative industries.
 
More collaborative.
More “we” than “me.”

If you’re just getting started, here’s the lesson I learned from these two:

- Don’t be afraid to ask questions of the people who’ve walked the path before you.
- Attend the events.
- Reach out.
- Say hello.

You might be surprised by how willing they are to help.

I certainly was.

You never know who will shape your journey or how much time you’ll have to say thank you.

Grateful for Todd’s legacy, and grateful for people like Rob who continue to build this community by lifting others up.

#Podcasting #Legacy #Community #Gratitude

The debate is over: Die Hard is NOT a Christmas movie. Here’s the definitive case.
Before you throw your ornaments at me… let’s look at this like adults:

1. Christmas themes ≠ Christmas decor

Christmas movies center on:
• generosity
• redemption
• belonging
• transformation
• a Christmas-specific moral

Die Hard centers on:
terrorism, masculinity, marriage conflict, corporate greed.

Christmas does not shape the story.
 
It’s wallpaper.

2. Christmas does NOT create the conflict

Christmas movies require the holiday to:
• create stakes
• drive tension
• shape the plot

In Die Hard:
• the heist creates the stakes
• Hans’s plan has nothing to do with the holiday
• McClane’s marriage issues existed already
• Christmas adds zero narrative pressure

Move the date → nothing breaks

3. Christmas movies resolve on a Christmas message

Elf, Grinch, Home Alone, Wonderful Life…

Their endings reinforce Christmas morals

Die Hard ends with:
“A cop kills terrorists and leaves with his wife.”

Great ending
Not a Christmas ending

4. The creators themselves rejected the label

Bruce Willis (Comedy Central Roast):
“Die Hard is not a Christmas movie. It’s a Bruce Willis movie.”

Director John McTiernan:
“We weren’t making a Christmas movie. Christmas was a backdrop.”

Writer Steven E. de Souza:
Joked about it online, but has never once said it was actually made as a Christmas film.

Creator intention matters. Just asked the guy who invented the GIF

This settles the genre debate, but there's more, and it gets even more compelling...

5. The release date nukes the argument

Die Hard premiered on July 22, 1988
Summer
 
Action-movie season.
Not Christmas season.

Studios don’t accidentally release holiday films in July.

This was positioned/marketed as a summer blockbuster.

6. Christmas is not required for any major plot point

A true Christmas movie breaks if you remove Christmas.

Die Hard:
• The heist works any day the building is empty
• McClane could visit L.A. for any family reason
• The party could be any corporate event

Change Date
Same movie

7. Critics in 1988 never called it a Christmas movie

Not one

• No Christmas marketing
• No holiday framing
• No genre classification
• No awards positioning

The “Christmas movie” label started decades later

8. The Christmas setting only survived because it was in the original book

The film is based on a novel that takes place at Christmas, but it’s not thematic.

kept out of convenience, not intention

BONUS: The psychology of why people want it to be a Christmas movie

People call Die Hard a Christmas movie because:
• it’s ironic
• signals “I’m in on the joke”
• turns a non-holiday movie into a holiday tradition
• it creates a sense of identity & ritual


Watch it at Christmas
Enjoy it at Christmas
Make it your tradition

But…
Die Hard is an action movie set during Christmas, not a Christmas movie with action.

Your turn:
Where do you stand?

 (And yes… I’m prepared for the comments.)

Convince me I'm wrong!

Stop scrolling.
I just found the most organized place in America…and it’s a Taco Bell sauce station.

Seriously, look at this thing.

Every Diablo, Fire, Hot, and Mild packet lined up like they’re interviewing for a job at NASA.

Straws? Perfect.
Napkins? Perfect.
Salt? Perfect.
My life? Not as perfect.

But here’s the part that gets me:
Someone did this voluntarily.
 
At a fast-food condiment bar.
Probably at 11PM.

No bonus.
No promotion.
 
Not even a “Great job arranging the Diablo packets in a perfect 4x5 grid!” from their manager.

Just quiet, obsessive excellence.

And honestly?

I’d hire this person immediately.

Because if someone cares THIS much about the smallest part of the job…you can trust them with the biggest parts.

Most companies chase “rockstars.”
 
Meanwhile the real rockstars are out here alphabetizing hot sauce.

Find that person.
Promote that person.
Protect that person.

What’s the most unexpectedly elite act of excellence you’ve ever seen at work?

The unusual origin of Black Friday that almost no one knows...

Black Friday didn’t start with discounts.
Or profits.
Or retail strategy.

It started with chaos.

1960

Philadelphia police began calling the day after Thanksgiving “Black Friday” because the city was slammed with:
 • traffic gridlock
 • packed sidewalks
 • shoplifting
 • crowd control issues
 • long overtime shifts
 (They dreaded the day — it was a logistical nightmare.)

1961

Philadelphia retailers hated the name so much they tried to rebrand it as “Big Friday.”

It didn’t work.
The public ignored it.

1980s

National retailers took the term and flipped the meaning.

They reframed it as the day stores finally went from “in the red” to “in the black.”
 (The story wasn’t historically true, but it was psychologically brilliant.)

That narrative stuck.

And the negative term became the most profitable retail event of the year.

Entrepreneurial takeaways (non-obvious):

1. Reframing > Reinvention

You don’t always need a new product.
Sometimes you just need a new meaning.
Black Friday turned chaos into profitability through a story — not a strategy.

2. People follow narratives more than logic

When retailers said, “This is the day we go into the black,” shoppers didn’t ask for proof.
 
They joined the ritual.

Your audience doesn’t buy your product first.
They buy your story.

3. Momentum is often manufactured

Black Friday grew through a feedback loop:

crowds → coverage → more crowds → cultural tradition.

Entrepreneurs can create their own loop by aligning:
a moment
a message
a reason to act now

4. A flaw can become your feature

Black Friday was a problem.

Then it became a promotion.
Then a cultural pillar.

Sometimes your biggest frustration is hiding your biggest advantage, you just haven’t reframed it yet.

Final Thought:

Black Friday is proof that the story you tell about your business can completely reshape the outcome.

The holidays aren’t broken—but how we approach them might be. Here's why 👇
Every December, we get caught in a whirlwind of tasks:

Buy the perfect gifts.

Wrap them beautifully.

Send them to everyone on our list.

Shop for the best holiday feast.

Put up the lights.

You know the drill.

But here’s the truth: when we obsess over doing, we forget about being.

A few years ago, I spent Christmas Day glued to my phone, frantically hunting for last-minute deals. Guess what I don’t remember? Being on the phone and missing the important moments that matter. 

That moment taught me something simple but profound:

Presence beats presents every time.

This year, I ditched the checklist and chose to show up differently, and this image sums it up perfectly. 

The best holiday memories aren’t about what you give or do. They’re about how you show up.

What’s one thing you stopped doing to create space for what matters most? 

Share below. And remember to make this the season of being. ❤️ 🎄 💚

Your biggest fans will never like, comment, or share your content.
And they’re the ones who quietly grow your business the most.

Here’s the part almost nobody understands:

The internet is powered by lurkers, not loud people.

We’ve been conditioned to chase visible engagement…
 
But the people who change your business are almost always invisible.

Why?

Because “lurking” isn’t passive.
 
It’s psychological due diligence.

Silent followers aren’t disengaged, they’re evaluating you:
 • consistency
 • tone
 • expertise
 • emotional safety
 • alignment with their worldview
 • and whether you actually follow through on what you preach

They’re not signalers.
They’re observers.

And observers convert.

Because here’s the non-obvious truth:

**The commenter wants attention.
The lurker wants transformation.**

One is performing.
The other is deciding.

And if you understand how audiences actually behave, you stop optimizing for applause…and start optimizing for trust.

Here’s what most creators miss:

1. Lurkers are the ones who binge your content.

They don’t drop likes, they collect receipts.
They’re building an internal map of who you are, what you stand for, and whether you’re worth betting on.

2. Lurkers are status-conscious.

Research shows most people avoid commenting publicly because it feels socially risky.
 
But buying from you?
That’s private.
Safe.
High reward, low exposure.

3. Lurkers are the ones who read every word.
 
Your long posts?
 Your deep dives?
 Your frameworks?
 The people who never engage are actually consuming the most.

4. Lurkers are where the real money comes from.
 
Your “superfans” hype you.
 Your lurkers hire you.
 Ask any agency owner, consultant, coach, or founder: they’ll tell you 80–90% of revenue comes from people they've never seen comment once.

5. Lurkers create network effects without you knowing.

They’ll recommend you in private WhatsApp chats, Slack channels, mastermind groups, and dinner tables.
 Not for clout.
 For utility.

6. Lurkers think long-term.

They’re not impulsive.
They buy only when they fully trust you.
Which means if they convert… they stay.
And here’s the mindset shift entrepreneurs need to make:

**If your marketing strategy relies on visible engagement, you don’t have a marketing strategy, you have an ego strategy.**

Serious businesses don’t need likes.
They need leverage.

And the silent majority gives you exactly that:
 • They compound trust.
 • They drive private referrals.
 • They convert quietly and repeatedly.
 • And they require you to play the long game.

Most people quit because they think no one is listening.

But someone always is.
 They’re watching.
 They’re learning.
 They’re deciding.

And one day, they reach out with six words that change everything:

“Hey, I’ve been following your stuff…”

If you want to win in the creator-economy:

Stop creating for the people who react.
Start creating for the people who remember.

That’s where real brands are built.

After much thought, here are my Top 10 favorite Christmas movies. 

Here are my Top 3 favorite Christmas movies that aren't Christmas movies:

1. Trading Places
2. Die Hard
3. Gremlins

What about you? What are your Top 10?

Why this post exploded: An antomy of a viral LinkedIn post

Thank you Megan Cornish, LICSW for allowing me to break this down!

Viral posts follow patterns: psychologically, algorithmically, linguistically, and structurally

1. Hook is explosive, taboo, and curiosity-driven

4 elements:

A. Pattern interrupt
LinkedIn is filled with “5 tips for…” posts.

Gender-swap experiment?
400% jump?

Stops the eye immediately.

B. High-stakes social issue
Sexism, gender bias, and algorithmic inequity = engagement triggers.

C. Shock + simplicity
The entire story premise is delivered in 14 words.
Short = shareable, screenshot-able, unforgettable.

D. Curiosity gap
“Is this real?”
 “Why would this happen?”
 “What else is the algorithm doing?”
 “Could this happen to me?”

Curiosity = scrolling.
Scrolling = dwell time.
Dwell time = reach.

2. She shares a real experiment, not an opinion

Test-driven.
Measurable.
Scientific.

Data-driven posts travel farther

3. Challenges the platform

3 topics guaranteed to drive LinkedIn virality:
LinkedIn algorithm
Job market
Leadership toxicity

This post hits 'em all!

Calling out LinkedIn’s algorithm?
Guaranteed engagement.

People love talking about LinkedIn on LinkedIn.
It’s meta-engagement

4. Speaks to two MASSIVE emotional triggers: 

A. Fairness

Feels unjust.
Sharing is an emotional response to injustice.

B. Identity
Women will share it
Men will respond to it
DEI experts will amplify it
Marketers will debate it
Creators will test it

One post.
Many identities activated
This multiplies virality

5. Ties 2 trending topics together: gender + AI

She explicitly says:
ChatGPT rewrote her headline & posts
Voice became more "male"

So suddenly the post becomes about:
AI bias
Algorithm bias
Gender bias
Linguistic bias

6. Writing style is “messy human,” not polished corporate

People trust vulnerability

Reads like a real person typing rapidly while excited, not a brand polishing a statement.

Creates:
- Authenticity
- Imperfection (good for trust)
 ✔ Emotional tone
 ✔ Conversational rhythm

Polished posts get scrolled
Raw posts get read.

7. Shows the receipts

Proof = credibility

Screenshots neutralize skepticism

Visual evidence increases save rate = boosts distribution.

8. Built-in viral mechanics

A. Sparks debate
People cannot resist debating
More comments = more reach

B. Encourages tagging

Women tag other women.
Creators tag AI experts.
DEI leaders tag each other.

Tagging expands reach

C. Repostable

Topic is social commentary = perfect for reposts.

650 reposts amplify impressions - more than likes/comments.

9. It produces what LinkedIn LOVES: “Accelerated Velocity Engagement”

LinkedIn’s algorithm prioritizes posts that get early:
Reactions
Comments
Reposts

“850 impressions but 74 reactions and 31 comments.”
Crazy high engagement ratio

Why it took off!

10. Exposes a system flaw

Any post that reveals:
a hack, loophole, bias, broken system

…creates “YOU MUST SEE THIS” impulse.

We share what surprises us

This is one of the smartest ads you’ll see all year...and it’s not because it’s funny.

It’s because it solves one of the biggest problems in marketing:

Borrowed relevance.

Deadpool & Wolverine dominated culture the summer it came out.

Memes, clips, interviews, trailersy: your feed was flooded with them.

Heinz saw that cultural tsunami saw didn’t do what most brands do

(which is… nothing).

They did something far smarter:
They attached themselves to a cultural moment they didn’t create, but made it feel like it belonged to them.

And here’s the genius:

They didn’t force a connection.
 
They found a truth that already existed:

Red + yellow.
Ketchup + mustard.
Deadpool + Wolverine.

Once you see it, you can’t unsee it.

That’s the entire strategy.

Cultural pattern recognition executed perfectly.

Most brands wait for permission.
Heinz didn’t.

They saw the wave of attention coming and paddled early.

And that’s the real marketing lesson:

The fastest way to become part of culture is to reflect it back to people in a way that feels inevitable.

Not forced.
Not try-hard.
Inevitable.

Deadpool & Wolverine dominated the theaters.

Heinz just made sure they dominated the grocery aisle too.

It’s not just a billboard.

It’s a psychological trick:
➡️ It collapses the distance between a blockbuster movie and a grocery-store product.
 ➡️ It hijacks attention without asking for permission.
 ➡️ It makes Heinz feel like the “official condiment” of the summer’s biggest film…
without ever saying it.

That’s not advertising.
That’s cultural jiu-jitsu.

And it’s a masterclass every brand should study.

#Marketing #BrandStrategy #CulturalMarketing #Heinz #Deadpool #Wolverine

The billion-dollar idea Nintendo almost missed…because it didn’t come from the “innovation team.” In the late 1960s, Nintendo was failing.

They tried everything:
 • instant rice
 • love hotels
 • a taxi company
 • toy guns
 • a vacuum cleaner
 • Disney-themed playing cards

Nothing worked.

The company was days from collapse.

Then something happened that would quietly change the future of the entire video game industry:

A maintenance worker was caught tinkering with a toy idea on his lunch break

His name was Gunpei Yokoi
 
Job title: janitor / maintenance engineer.
 Zero formal authority
Zero product responsibility

He was playing with a homemade, extendable “grabber arm” made from leftover factory parts

Most companies would’ve scolded him:
 “Get back to work”
 “Stay in your lane”
 “That’s not your job”

Nintendo did something different.

They asked: “Could this be something?”

That idea became the Ultra Hand: a cheap, silly plastic toy

Sold over 1.2 million units, saved Nintendo from bankruptcy, and launched Yokoi’s career

Fast-forward:
Yokoi didn’t just invent a toy
 
He invented the Game Boy, the D-pad, and the entire philosophy behind Nintendo’s biggest hits

A maintenance worker became one of the most influential product creators in history

Entrepreneurs miss:

Innovation often comes from the edges of the organization:
 • Hobbyists
 • Tinkerers
 • No official authority
 • Understand the product emotionally, not strategically
 • See problems others are blind to

This is the psychology behind it:
 
1. Hierarchy kills creativity
The higher people climb, the narrower their perception
 Leaders optimize systems
 Front-liners notice friction

Biggest ideas often live at the bottom because that’s where reality lives.

2. Experts are biased toward complexity
Yokoi wasn’t an engineer designing for prestige
 
He believed in “lateral thinking with withered technology” using simple, accessible components to make something fun

That philosophy created:
• The Game & Watch
 • The D-pad
 • The Game Boy
 • Metroid

Sony and Sega chased horsepower, Yokoi chased fun.

 3. Creativity thrives in constraints
Nintendo was broke
Couldn’t afford cutting-edge
Had to invent within limits

Entrepreneurs forget this:
Constraints don’t block creativity
 
They shape it.

Game Boy wasn’t powerful
 It was durable, cheap, and portable

4. Billion-dollar ideas look like toys at first
The Ultra Hand cost pennies to make

But toys or simple experiments reveal the customer’s emotional triggers 

1. Your next breakthrough probably isn’t coming from you
But from someone on your team who’s playing with something “irrelevant.”

2. Build a culture where “side projects” are signals, not distractions.
If Yokoi had been punished for tinkering, Nintendo might not exist today.

3. Stop chasing cutting-edge tech, chase emotional resonance.

Emotion > specs

4. Empower the edges of your organization.

 • support
 • interns
 • ops

If you aren’t listening to them, you’re flying blind.

This “free” plastic football phone quietly generated over $80,000,000 in magazine revenue.

Not because it was high tech.

Because it was high psychology.

Here is what Sports Illustrated did brilliantly:

They sold the bonus, not the product.
 
Nobody wakes up thinking, “I need a long-form sports magazine.”
 
But a talking, working football you can unwrap on Christmas morning? T

That’s a story.
 
The phone was the star. The magazine was the upsell.

They understood unit economics better than most founders do today.

Cost to make the phone: about $4.
Price of the annual subscription: about $55
New subs driven 1986–1991: roughly 1.6M

Rough math:
Revenue ≈ $88M
Premium cost ≈ $6.4M
 
The “free” gift was a rounding error that unlocked massive LTV (lifetime value).

They spoke to the real buyer.
 
The ad isn’t aimed at hardcore sports fans.

It’s aimed at stressed gift-givers.
 
The script is basically:

“Christmas shopping is impossible.”
“This solves your problem in one phone call.”
 
It’s a relief offer, not a features offer.
They bundled identity into plastic.
 
That phone wasn’t just a gadget.
 
It said: “I’m the kind of person who lives and breathes football.”
 
People will happily pay for objects that let them signal who they are.

They made the value stack lopsided.
 
In one shot you get:

A full year of sports coverage.
NFL, NBA, MLB previews.

The famous swimsuit issue.

A novelty phone that sits in your living room.
 
All for “99 cents an issue” and a “free” phone.
 
The perceived value is ridiculous compared to the actual cost.

They used the premium to own the home.
 The magazine lives on the coffee table.
 The phone lives next to the couch.
 
Every time it rang, SI got free impressions.
 
It was physical remarketing before pixels existed.

They turned a commodity into an event.
 
A subscription is boring.
Unboxing a football phone on Christmas morning is memorable.
 
They didn’t sell magazines.
They sold a moment.

What can entrepreneurs steal from this?

Stop obsessing over “features.” Design an offer so good it feels slightly irrational to say no.

Add a physical or experiential premium that costs you little but feels big to the buyer.

Aim your message at the real decision-maker (often the gift-giver, assistant, spouse, or boss).

Think in LTV, not first sale. If a $4 “free” gift acquires a customer who stays for years, it’s a bargain.

Ask: What’s my version of the football phone?
A private community?
A live workshop ticket?
A done-for-you template?
A piece of merch that sits on their desk and keeps your brand in their line of sight?

The football phone wasn’t just a cheesy 90s gimmick.

It was a masterclass in offer design, customer psychology, and long-term thinking.

If your product is good but growth is flat, you may not need a new product.
You might just need a better “football phone.”

Do you feel like this at work?
Because honestly…

This is all of us.

Employees trying to hold up the weight of 10 missing coworkers.
Entrepreneurs trying to carry the whole company on their back.
Leaders pretending the wobbling stack isn’t wobbling.

This guy in the ad?
He’s basically every founder I know.

Carrying 30 boxes.
Balancing a business on two wheels.
Praying today isn’t the day customers, clients, or payroll tip it over.

This classic ad nailed something we still avoid talking about:

Burnout isn’t a personality flaw.

It’s a math problem.
Too many boxes.
Not enough hands.

And no one wants to admit they're one tilt away from disaster.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth:

We glorify hard work…but ignore hard loads.

People aren’t failing.
They’re drowning.

Entrepreneurs aren’t “hustling.”
 They’re duct-taping the universe together.

Here’s why this visual hits:
- Employees see their workload.
 The “do more with less” era has gotten absurd.

- Entrepreneurs see themselves.
 We’re building, selling, hiring, fixing, planning…
 (and somehow still answering service emails at 10pm).

- Everyone sees the truth:
 This isn’t about capability, it’s about capacity.

If your team looks like this, you don’t need tougher people:

you need better systems, better clarity, and fewer boxes.

And if you look like this?

Welcome to entrepreneurship.

You don’t need to push harder.
You need to stop playing human forklift.

What’s the one box you need to put down this week?

Why This Post Hit 90k+ Impressions

1. The Hook Was Irresistibly Scroll-Stopping

Perfect pattern interrupt:
“This isn’t just a shopping list. It’s a 100-year-old productivity hack we should all be using.”

Curiosity gap: presents a contradiction: a shopping list… that is actually a “productivity hack”?

Historical angle: “100-year-old” triggers novelty and wisdom bias.

Universal relevance: Everyone shops. Everyone wants to be more productive.
No fluff, no jargon: Simple language = fast comprehension.

Earns click on “See more.”


2. The Visual Asset Was Unusual and Highly Shareable

The vintage 1920s grocery list device is:
Visually strange
Tactile
Intriguing
Not commonly seen on LinkedIn

People stop scrolling because the brain is wired to notice objects it doesn’t recognize

Also:
Image contains lots of small text, which makes people zoom, look longer, and re-read

More dwell time = LinkedIn boosts distribution.

3. Perfect Blend of Nostalgia + Utility

Modern pain points:

Overcomplicating things
Using too many apps
Forgetting basics
Getting distracted

Nostalgia posts work well, but nostalgia w/ actionable lesson performs 2–3× better

4. Taps Into a Collective Frustration

“Complexity is the enemy of action.”

People feel this everywhere:
Work systems
Apps
Tech overload
Productivity tools
Business processes

Creates:
Emotional resonance
High comment rate
Shares because people tag colleagues

5. Provided a Framework (LinkedIn LOVES frameworks)

Lesson into actionable steps:

Whiteboard
Physical notebook
Focus on simple processes

Posts that translate insight → action stimulate:
Comments
Saves
Reposts
Longer reading time

6. Invited Conversation

“What’s one outdated system you still use because it just works?”

Easy to answer
Makes people feel smart
Encourages stories 

Makes people think “Ooo I want to share mine”

Drives massive comment volume, which the algorithm rewards.

7. Appeals to Every Demographic

This is rare.

Works equally well for:

Engineers
Founders
Designers
Productivity geeks
Tech skeptics
Parents
Boomers
Gen Z

Any post that spans generations/industries inevitably gets pushed further.

8. Format Is Classic High-Performing Structure

Strong hook
 ↓
 Simple, curiosity-fueling explanation
 ↓
 3-part list (humans love threes)
 ↓
 Cultural commentary
 ↓
 One big lesson
 ↓
 Practical examples
 ↓
 Call-to-comment question

It follows the exact rhythm the LinkedIn algorithm favors.

9. Topic Is “Evergreen Viral”

Themes that perform:
Productivity
Simplicity
History
“Things you didn’t know”
Curiosity objects
Anti-app / anti-tech sentiment


10. People Felt Smart Sharing It

Hidden driver of virality:

People share posts that make them look insightful

EVERY growth lever:

✔ Scroll-stopping hook
 ✔Strange + nostalgic visual
 ✔Universal relatability
 ✔Valuable insight
 ✔Actionable takeaways
 ✔A story + lesson combo
 ✔An irresistible conversation prompt
 ✔Branding alignment
 ✔Perfect rhythm + formatting
 ✔Zero friction to engage

Writing down tasks you already did isn’t laziness. It’s leadership.
Here’s why:

Every founder I know who ships consistently has one thing in common:

They build systems that reward action, not systems that punish imperfection.

A to-do list is supposed to help you focus.

But for most people, it’s a daily reminder of everything they didn’t finish.

The “write it after you do it” trick flips the script:
 • You see progress
 • You reduce stress
 • You reinforce action
 • You stay in motion

That’s the entire game in entrepreneurship.

Most people fail because they quit during the boredom phase.

Not because they weren’t capable, but because they couldn’t feel the progress.

Here’s the real psychology:
 • Dopamine → fuels consistency
 • Consistency → creates output
 • Output → compounds into results

Entrepreneurs don’t need more willpower.

We need more wins.
Tiny, manufactured, unfair wins… every day.

So if crossing off something small keeps you in forward motion?

Do it.
Stack it.
Repeat it.

We think we fail because we’re unorganized or undisciplined.

Nope.

We fail because we don’t give ourselves enough reasons to stay in motion.

Entrepreneurs who win long-term aren’t the ones with the most complex systems.
 
They’re the ones who master one simple skill:

Making progress feel good enough to repeat.

Momentum beats discipline.

Every time.

The world’s fastest-growing meat company… doesn’t use animals. Here’s the wild story behind it:

 It started with an insane question:
 
“What if we could make meat… without animals?”

Most ideas try to improve something that already exists.
 
Ethan Brown tried to reinvent one of the oldest industries on Earth.

Here’s how a farmer from Maryland ended up reshaping global food culture...and the lessons every entrepreneur should study:

1. Big missions start with uncomfortable questions

Ethan grew up around livestock.
 
But he couldn’t ignore the data:
• Meat production uses enormous water and land
• Livestock contributes heavily to greenhouse gases
• Demand was rising, but the system wasn’t sustainable

So he asked the question:
“Meat is just amino acids, lipids, minerals, and water.
 Why can’t we rebuild that…with plants?”

Game-changing ideas begin where most people stop thinking.

2. In 2009, he quit his clean-energy job and went all-in

He assembled a team of scientists, molecular biologists, and food engineers.

Goal wasn’t to make veggie burgers.
 
It was to replicate:
• the sizzle
• the texture
• the fat melt
• the flavor compounds
• the Maillard reaction
…using plants.

Not “fake meat.”

A competing technology.

Entrepreneurial takeaway:
 
The fastest way to win a market is to redefine what the product actually is.

3. Their first stroke of genius wasn’t a product...it was positioning

When Beyond Burger launched in 2016, they didn’t stick it in the vegan aisle.

They put it directly in the meat section next to beef.

This did two things instantly:

Changed perception: If it sits next to beef, it competes with beef.

Expanded TAM: Instead of serving vegans (~2% of consumers), they served everyone.

Entrepreneurial takeaway:

Niche products stay niche because founders place them in niche contexts.
 
Change the context → change the customer

4. They rode momentum and created cultural demand

2018–19:
Fast-food chains like Carl’s Jr., Dunkin’, and A&W start offering Beyond Meat.

Suddenly, plant-based meat isn’t counterculture, it’s mainstream.

In 2019, Beyond Meat goes public.
The stock surges 163% on day one...the best IPO in nearly 20 years.

Entrepreneurial takeaway:
When your mission collides with timing, distribution, and cultural tailwinds...that’s when revolutions happen.

5. The mission wasn’t marketing 

 Beyond wasn’t fighting culture.
 
It was solving an environmental problem using innovation instead of activism.

By 2022, Beyond Meat was in 80+ countries and partnering with KFC, McDonald’s, and Pizza Hut.

Entrepreneurial takeaway:
 A mission becomes a megaphone when it’s measurable:
 • less water
 • less land
 • less emissions
 • same experience

Beyond Meat didn’t win because the world wanted plant-based burgers.
 
It won because Ethan Brown showed the world a future where meat didn’t need animals.

If you want more stories like this about founders who think differently and reshape entire categories, follow me.

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Talks about #leadership, #podcasting, #socialmedia, #contentmarketing, and #entrepreneurship

A snail can sleep for three years. Most entrepreneurs can’t stay consistent for three months. That’s the real problem...

We massively overestimate what we can build in a year…
and completely underestimate what we can build in ten.

The founders who break through aren’t the fastest.
 
They’re the ones who stay in the game long enough for compounding to finally kick in.

Business isn’t a sprint.
 It’s not even a marathon.
It’s a stamina sport.

The truth nobody talks about:
Most companies don’t die from lack of potential.
 
They die from lack of patience.

A snail can wait out three years without moving an inch.
 
Surely we can survive a slow month, a bad quarter, or a season where nothing feels like it’s working.

The entrepreneurs who win aren’t the ones who “hack speed.”
 
They’re the ones who master staying power.

The most resilient founders I know do three things exceptionally well:

1. They don’t confuse stillness with failure.
 Sometimes pulling back is what keeps you alive.

2. They protect their energy more than their ego.
 Slow progress is still progress.

3. They think in decades, not days.
 That’s where compounding becomes unbeatable.

Consistency beats intensity. Every. Single. Time.
• 1 good decision, repeated for 3 years, > 100 “crush it” days
 • 1 offer refined relentlessly beats 10 new ideas
 • 1 audience nurtured beats 10 audiences chased

Momentum always comes back...
but only for the people who are still around to catch it.

Move fast when you can.
Hibernate when you must.
 
Just don’t disappear.
The long game is undefeated.

If you’re moving slow right now?

Good.
 
Direction > velocity.

Just don’t stop.

Every brand claims to be #1.
IKEA became unforgettable by admitting it’s not.

Here’s why that’s genius.

At first glance, it’s just a dad feeding his child.

But notice what’s not happening:

The IKEA high chair is empty.
The toys are ignored.
The product isn't being used at all.

Most brands would panic at that.

IKEA leans into it.

“Proudly second best.”

It’s a message you almost never see in advertising:

We know we’re not the most important thing in your home.
 
Your kid is.
And we’re okay with that.

This is why the campaign worked:

It’s humble instead of loud.
Human instead of salesy.
Honest instead of aspirational.

IKEA isn’t selling a high chair.
 
They’re selling trust.

And trust is what makes a brand last.

#Marketing #BrandStrategy #EmotionalIntelligence #IKEA #Advertising

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