Michelle J Raymond

B2B GROWTH CO - Get Your Business Active on LinkedIn™️ for Growth

Are you looking for someone who can audit your current performance on LinkedIn and provide a strategy on how you can boost the performance?

Want to learn how to create an Employee Advocacy Program using LinkedIn? I can work with your teams to show methods that will give great returns.

LinkedIn can be overwhelming when you first venture onto the platform. Where should you focus your efforts? What is the current LinkedIn best practice?

Built on the principles of #socialselling - building trusted relationships, become the go-to authority and be top of mind ready for when your ideal client is ready to make a purchase. 

The training focusses on WHY you should do different things on LinkedIn so you can tailor to your unique following. 

I never want you to think it's a one size fits all approach.

Head B2B Growth Coach + LinkedIn Trainer

International Speaker & Podcast Guest - LinkedIn™️ Company Page Expert

𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 - https://socialmediaforb2bgrowthpodcast.com/

This show covers everything you need to know to grow your business using social media. It covers Social Selling, Branding, Content Creation, Thought Leadership, and Employee Advocacy.

With weekly sessions featuring global B2B experts, we share proven strategies and actionable tips to 
help you maximise your time on LinkedIn.

Podcast Host and Producer - Social Media for B2B Growth Video Podcast

The LinkedIn Pages Product team have hand-selected a small, engaged group of small & medium-sized business Page Admins to share quick feedback on new concepts and features they are building. 

This is an acknowledgement of the work being done as an advocate for the improvement of LinkedIn  Company Pages and active member of the Page Admins group. 

Please note : I'm unable to share any new features before they are launched.

LinkedIn Pages Team Advisor - Small Business Advisory Council

The LinkedIn Branding Community by #MichelleSquared

Michelle B Griffin and Michelle J Raymond met on LinkedIn through the power of commenting in December 2020. Together they have supported each other with complimentary yet different strengths to rise up and stand out on LinkedIn with their personal branding and business branding businesses.

Both quickly realized that the “Power of Two” as #MichelleSquared was a force for good that would propel success more than what was possible on their own.

The LinkedIn Branding Community was launched in early 2022 as a LinkedIn Audio show followed by their podcast and book that showcases their Brand Squared System™ methodology to pay these lessons forward. 

Their mission is to bond together powerful and impact-driven professionals who are building successful brands and businesses to rise up and stand out on LinkedIn and beyond.

The LinkedIn Branding Community Co-Founder

The top-ranked podcast, The LinkedIn Branding Show, hosted by #MichelleSquared, Michelle B Griffin and Michelle J Raymond, empowers professionals, entrepreneurs, experts, and small business owners to stand out and rise up as they build personal and business brands on LinkedIn. New episodes drop every Thursday on your favorite podcast platform.

Podcast Co-Host - The LinkedIn Branding Show

This isn’t an ordinary branding book or business book, for that matter. The LinkedIn Branding Book is more. This compilation is our invitation to support you in investing and profiting from your unlimited potential through the power of LinkedIn.

Inside, you’ll discover the power of putting yourself out there and the foundational branding steps you need to stand out and rise up on LinkedIn, either as an employee or a business.

Think of #MichelleSquared as empowering yet straight talk experts, guiding you to build a personal or business brand that is uniquely and proudly yours.The LinkedIn Branding Show, our highly regarded weekly podcast, comes to life on these pages. You’ll find interactive episodes with actionable takeaways threaded in with the stories and lessons that will deliver real results.

Throughout, you will be guided by our personal perspectives, our decades of sales and marketing knowledge, and our first-hand experiences building LinkedIn brands on a global scale.

The LinkedIn Branding Book is here to fast-track and ensure your success. You can skip the mistakes we made, avoid frustration, and move forward confidently and convincingly with your refined LinkedIn personal and business brand. Come along for the journey with the Power of #MichelleSquared, the Power of LinkedIn and the Power of Good Brands and Good Businesses.

If you are looking to invest in the success of you and your business, we wrote this book for you.

Michelle B Griffin & Michelle J Raymond AKA #MichelleSquared

Co-Author The LinkedIn Branding Book

I help you get rid of these

If you want credibility for your business you need to get rid of these grey boxes. They could be costing you opportunities. Having your company page set up will legitimise your business, create a great first impression and begin to build trust.

<<< ASK ME HOW TO GET RID OF THESE FOR YOUR BUSINESS

Business Gold

Build Awareness, Authority and Advantage with LinkedIn Company Pages. getbook.at/BusinessGold

Business Gold is the world's first book about LinkedIn company pages and gives you everything you need to know about using Pages to make an impact in your business.

We cover:
▶ Why a Page for your business is an excellent idea and how it will help you achieve your marketing and sales objectives.
▶ How to set up a Page properly so it will receive 20% more reach than incomplete pages.
▶ How to publish from a Page to get high organic reach, without having to pay for adverts.
▶ How Pages differ from personal profiles.
▶ How to grow the following of your Page.
▶ How to successfully run events from your Page.
▶ All you need to know about sub-pages of company Pages.
▶ Examples of excellent Pages.
▶ The future of Pages.

Shelley McConaghy posted this review on Amazon:
This is THE go-to for setting up and managing a LinkedIn Business Page
I can't believe how many amazing tips are contained in this one book, about setting up and continuing to manage a great Linkedin business page. I think I'll be implementing ideas from it for quite a while. Of course things evolve quickly, but the strategies and guidance around implementation of setting up all the features is timeless. Well-written and very digestible.

Follow #BusinessGold and our book page at https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-gold-book

Ranked -
124 In Kindle Store in total
1 in Multilevel Marketing
1 in Business Communications
9 in Business and Economics
1 in Marketing
1 in Marketing and Sales
1 in Business and Investing

Co Author - World’s First Book on LinkedIn Company Pages ** GLOBAL BESTSELLER**

Dalcon Hygiene - Ensuring a Cleaner Future.

Dalcon Hygiene is an Australian manufacturer of commercial cleaning products in both liquids and powders. 

Responsibilties
• Develop a program of cost reduction initiatives by strategically sourcing raw materials.
• Technology upgrade throughout business. Includes responsive/mobile-friendly website, HubSpot Marketing and CRM integration, and mobile account managers.
• Product development by staying on top of current product trends and the latest ingredient technologies.
• Ownership and development of operations aligning with organisational strategy, implementation, and communication to all key stakeholders.
• High focus on increasing warehousing systems and efficiencies within the organisation, including taking employees on the journey and implementing structures for short and long-term success. 
• Led and supported a team of fifteen, focusing on employee performance development, including delivery of plans, budgets, and KPIs. 
• Establishment and implementation of a business plan for a 3-5 year period, consistent with the organisation's plan for commercial activities. 
• Development of organisational capabilities and efficiencies by examining operational infrastructure to ensure the highest level of customer service whilst reviewing underperforming areas of business and introducing improvements to meet stakeholder requirements.

GM Sales & Operations

BRENNTAG ASIA PACIFIC

Responsibilties
• Responsible for the growth and development of major contract manufacturers and brand owners in Sydney and Melbourne.
• Report on business movement, opportunities, industry trends, competitor activity and past/future sales appointments.
• Achieve activity, sales and GP targets whilst identifying and converting new business.
• Attend industry networking functions and events to increase market awareness and new business.
• PACT Group, Pax, Unilever, BWX (Sukin), Ensign Laboratories, Baxter Laboratories, Nature’s Organics, Aesop, Aware Environmental. 
• Distributing materials from - DSM, Solvay, Carrubba Extracts, KCC Silicones, CPL Aromas, JRS Cosmetic Cellulose, Novachem.
• Working at all levels of business with heavy involvement with R&D projects. 

Key Achievements 
• Delivered 147% of GM budget.
• Member of Brenntag Asia Digital Marketing Team
• Interim supplier management for a number of suppliers over a period of five months

Key Account Manager - Personal Care

• Liaise with core suppliers, Personal Care unit manager, logistics, sourcing and QSHE teams to deliver service excellence to customers.
• Use of social media and business networks to promote principal suppliers and their products.
• Account Management of key brand owners and contract manufacturers such as: Unilever, PACT Group (Jalco), Pax, Activ Pharma, Moorebank Aerosols, Pure Fiji

Key Achievements:
• Interim management of principal suppliers and team leadership in the absence of a Personal Care Market Manager
• Market map completed of mineral oils and petroleum jelly in Australia. Identified 2500t of potential new business for the personal care market. 
• Delivered GM $300k of new business development.

Account Manager - Personal Care

IXOM

Life Sciences incorporates Household and Laundry, Personal Care and Beauty and Health. 

In this role, I worked with key accounts such as Unilever, PACT Group, Pax, Trendpac, Delta Laboratories, Natures Care.

Major manufacturers promoted - Seppic, Lubrizol, CLR, AAK, Stepan, Vantage, Shin Etsu, Strahl & Pitsch, Novachem.

In depth understanding of the challenges faced in manufacturing, my role is working to find solutions to enable my customers to maintain high quality in increasingly tight market. 

Ingredients and raw materials sold varied from commodities to specialty ingredients, including flavours/fragrances 

Achievements
•  Bulk Powders Laundry Project - $15M revenue
• Heated ISO SLES Project - $5M revenue

Key Account Manager - Life Sciences

Working with small to mid-size manufacturers in the household and industrial space nationally. 

Key Responsibilities
• Strong focus on reactivating lost business and building opportunities in this space. 

Key Achievements
• Increased Ixom's market share of this portfolio by 8% after several years of decline. 
• Reactivated 30% of lost business accounts in the short period that this role was held before promotion. 
• Developed and delivered sales plans.

Account Manager - Household and Industrial

Pacific Non Wovens

This hybrid role was a combination of short and long cycle selling at all levels of business. 

National Wipes Product Manager - a multi faceted role which included completion of requests for proposals, renegotiating existing contracts, marketing strategies, business development, product training  and budgeting. Customer portfolio was a mix of janitorial, office, industrial and wholesale suppliers. Also managed the toll manufacturing on behalf of Unilever Australia.

Completed a relaunch of the Vistex brand into the distributor market place. This included complete packaging redesign, marketing material, sales training program.

Senior Technical Account Manager – broad spectrum of customers across many different non woven textile markets.  Specialist in acoustic and filtration products.
A technical solutions based selling role from product development, testing and implementation. 

Responsible for $6 million portfolio representing approx 25% of total company sales budget.  

Also included the oversight of Sydney based customer service representative to ensure that NSW Sales representatives were supported.

National Product Manager / Senior Technical Account Manager

Contract Role to manage key client relationships during The Smith Family’s divestment process.

Key Responsibilities
• Develop strong working relationships with internal stakeholders e.g. warehouse, production planning, finance 
• Technical-based sales of Non-Woven fabrics.
• Complete monthly forecast and review to liaise with the Operations team to ensure order demands could be met. 
• Manage customer service representatives to ensure daily tasks are completed in a timely manner. 

Key Accomplishments
• Cleared all slow-moving and obsolete stock from the warehouse, increasing sales by $95K.
• Achievement of an average 97% of orders delivered in full and on time.

Customer Service and Warehouse Team Leader

Universal Choice Wholesalers

Responsibilities
• Management of one local sales representative and four based in overseas sales team. (Philippines).
• Management of team to drive retention and growth against sales targets through new product expansion and new business development. 
• Development of a marketing plan to expand the Universal Choice brand in respective markets. 
Improvement of GM% against company targets

Key Accomplishments
• Increased average Gross Margin % from 10% to 35% within the first six months. 
• Developed Universal Choice brochures for beauty, aged care, child care and safety markets to expand Universal brand in the market. 
• Achieved 11% growth on customer portfolio, reversing the trend of negative growth for the previous 12-month period.

Sales Manager

Responsibilities
• Provide recommendations and advice on suitable products and convert client queries into sales.
• Utilise LIVCRM system to monitor customer purchasing patterns and manage multiple sales prospects. 
• Negotiation of new business with various levels of management. 

Key Accomplishments
* Account management of sales budgets of AUD$1.2m, including 12.5% growth in first six months. 
* Designated team specialist in reactivating inactive customers.
* Promoted to Sales Manager.
* Growth of 17% on number of items sold.

Senior Account Executive

The Smith Family

Responsibilities
• Manage Supply Agreements with the aim of ensuring all market offers are delivering the greatest value to the customer account and earning TSFCE the highest profit margin possible.
• Prepared 2009/10 Sales budgets and analysis of performance against budget reported monthly. 
New business research and development, including quotations.

Key Accomplishments
• Account management of sales budgets of $4m with a focus on Distribution portfolio e.g. Vistex Wiping Cloths 
• Captitalised on individual market research and initiated new business and product development with estimated sales of AUD$1m. 
• Analysed Market Offer and sales for the Furniture Felt segment and implemented a revised market offer, which delivered improved gross margins of 7% due to reduced handling and freight costs. 
• Prepared the marketing plan to reinvigorate the “Vistex” brand of wiping cloths. Sales trend reversed to have the highest on record for 18 months.

Technical Sales Representative

As part of the Sales and Marketing team, managed the Customer Service team to be proactive service providers in order to maximise the effectiveness of the customer service provided to internal/external and Australian/Overseas customers.
• Escalated calls, ensured achievement of KPIs, 
• Mentored team for growth and development and manage conflicting priorities.

Key Accomplishments
• Led cross-functional teams to develop and implement Service Level Agreements throughout the Supply  Chain, which improved on-time deliveries by 9%.
• Procedural development and deployment across Customer Service and the Supply Chain.
• Overall efficiencies gained allowed for the Customer Service team to take on an additional Export function reduction in wages of 25%.

Customer Service Manager

Business LinkedIn Trainer - B2B Marketers/Business Owners my LinkedIn G.R.O.W.T.H Masterclass & B2B Community Builder are your secret to growth. Company Page Expert. 2XLinkedIn Author.

“I know my business should be on LinkedIn, BUT… (Insert Your Reason Here).” Are you feeling frustrated that you know that your target audience is on LinkedIn, but you aren’t sure how to take advantage of this?

You probably looked around LinkedIn, and there was conflicting and often questionable advice that isn’t tailored to B2B and certainly not aligned with your business goals and resources. 

You quickly realise you don’t have time to figure LinkedIn out. You just want to work with someone you can trust. 

With over two decades of B2B sales experience, eight of them using LinkedIn to scale businesses, I founded B2B GROWTH CO because I’m passionate about helping businesses like yours leverage LinkedIn to build a powerful industry-leading community and attract opportunities for business growth.

I work one on one as I know that no two businesses are the same. You have unique requirements, resources and experience that need to be factored in. One size never fits all, and your LinkedIn B2B strategy is no different. 

LinkedIn for business success is built on the power of your company brand and the personal brand of your employees working together. That’s why I've developed three products that will be your blueprint for making this happen.

After a free intro call, I will recommend which course or combo will help your business most  - 
 📌 LinkedIn G.R.O.W.T.H Masterclass - foundational training for all employees. 
 📌 LinkedIn B2B Community Builder Masterclass - exclusive for Company Page admins running the Company Page.
 📌 LinkedIn Profile Recharge – Say goodbye to profiles that undersell knowledge and experience. 

My mission is to give your team confidence and clarity in taking effective actions on LinkedIn without wasting time. 

What makes me different to most is that I genuinely care about your business growth and results. I’m strongly against automation tools, engagement pods, and other hacks that avoid genuine relationship-building. 

Don't just take my word for it. Here's what one of my clients, Kelly K, says: "Michelle is our LinkedIn whisperer... having someone we can rely on to keep us on top of what's happening has been invaluable. Her enthusiasm and positivity are contagious."

STOP UNDERSELLING YOUR BUSINESS ON LINKEDIN!

𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗔𝗖𝗧 𝗠𝗘:
😃 The time is NOW to grow your business - Book a FREE 15min Intro Call
📅 https://calendly.com/michelle-j-raymond/book-an-intro-call-15mins

Global LinkedIn Pages Expert - LinkedIn Strategist and Trainer - B2B Social Selling Consultant

LinkedIn feels like it has changed more in the past year than it has in the last five, don't you think? You'd be forgiven if you're struggling to keep up.

If your reach has dropped or your posts feel unpredictable, it’s not you. The platform is evolving.

Big creators are seeing smaller numbers, smaller creators are getting surprise boosts, and pay-to-play has arrived.

But here’s the first truth bomb. 💣

You can still win on LinkedIn. You just need to evolve your strategy.

Ready for the full breakdown? 

My latest newsletter dives into what’s actually working right now with help from this week's guest, the fabulous Michaela Alexis.

B2B Marketers LinkedIn Bestie. Don’t waste time figuring out LinkedIn. I’ve already done that and can help you implement LinkedIn in your business. LinkedIn Training, LinkedIn Profile Writing, Company Page Management.

There’s a quiet frustration running through LinkedIn right now. Marketers, creators, and business owners are all asking the same questions. “Why is my

Open article: LinkedIn Has Changed: 5 Truth Bombs Every Professional Needs to Know by Michelle J Raymond • 4 min read

LinkedIn Has Changed: 5 Truth Bombs Every Professional Needs to Know

Who's coming to Social Media Marketing World Anaheim in 2026? It's the place where Marketers' Dreams Come True. 😉

Fun fact: my first ever speaking gig was at this event in 2024. 

It's so cool to be invited back to speak at this event for the third time. Every year that Liliane Abboud and I go, we learn so much and we meet so many great people (too many to tag, but the temptation to try is real!).

Here's my topic for 2026 - LINKEDIN COMPANY PAGES THAT CONVERT: THE 5 STRATEGIES EVERYONE ELSE MISSES.

Buy your ticket through this link (in person or virtual) - https://lnkd.in/gBfUYzpK

Mike Stelzner and the Social Media Examiner team do such an amazing job putting on this event, and I can't wait to see what energy the new location brings. 

Will I see you there?

PS Yes I'll be packing Tim Tams 😀

No alternative text description for this image

Hot take: If your LinkedIn strategy falls apart the moment an employee leaves, it was never a strategy to begin with. You just borrowed their brand.

Everyone talks about building employee personal brands because they “get more reach than Company Pages”.  Yes, it's true they do get more reach. 

They’re powerful. They matter. They humanise your business.

But here’s what no one wants to say out loud:

Gen Z makes up 65% of LinkedIn members. It is this generation that businesses rely on to amplify their brands. 

But Gen Z now averages around one year in a role, and 1 in 3 plan to change jobs in the next 12 months. (no judgement)

With that level of churn, building your entire visibility on individual profiles is… unstable at best.

Your Company Page is the brand asset you own.
Your employees are the amplifiers - not the foundation.

Here’s the twist people forget: a strong Company Page is what attracts the next wave of great employees in the first place.

My solution - The Power of Two wins every time. 
A strong company brand + strong employee brands.

“Employee personal brands = borrowed land". Change my mind.

Man smiling while sitting at a table with a sign that reads "Employee personal brands = borrowed land. Change my mind."

You want your content to sell stuff on LinkedIn. But it's not.

I'll give you the answers today to change that on one condition.....

You'll need to stop using impressions and engagement as your only measure of success. It's killing your conversions.

Because writing for likes and comments isn't the same as writing for conversion. 

Good news for you, The Ghost 👻 a.k.a Sarra Richmond is here to help in this week's episode. 

The summary is in the newsletter, but do yourself a favour and watch or listen to the whole episode so you don't miss out on what could be that one thing that is a game-changer for your content.

What did you learn from reading this?

Repost if you think it will help someone else 😀

You’re posting. You’re showing up. You’re “doing all the right things” according to what the feed says… and still nothing moves. On the surface, your 

Open article: How to Fix Your LinkedIn Conversions: The Real Reasons Your Content Isn’t Working by Michelle J Raymond • 4 min read

How to Fix Your LinkedIn Conversions: The Real Reasons Your Content Isn’t Working

Dare to be different.

Or not. But here's what happens when you don't..

There's the obvious - you blend in with competitors. I see that all the time when I'm doing Page Audit & Strategy sessions with clients. 

Remove the logo, and everyone still looks the same and sounds the same. 

Being professional ✅
Blending into obscurity ✅

But Marketers, there is another angle for you to consider that's not so obvious. 

That nagging voice inside you that knows what you are doing won't work, doesn't go away. The job you once found fulfilling now feels more like an empty void. 

Because deep down, you know the truth.

Safe content isn’t strategic. It’s self-sabotage dressed up as professionalism.

The longer you play small, the further you drift from the impact you could be making.

If you want results, you can’t hide behind what’s “industry standard”.

You have to lead. Experiment. Put your own stamp on things.

Dare to be different. 😀

Your audience, your brand and your career will thank you for it.

Cheers
Michelle

PS Do you need help getting back the courage to back yourself and do the type of marketing that lights you up? Send me a DM.

Should I join an engagement pod and reap the potential rewards? A question I've pondered recently and answered why I couldn't do it in my 200th episode recording with Neal Veglio. 

There are many reasons why my answer was no; it would never be worth it. 

The main one - my clients. 

How could I offer training and done-for-you LinkedIn services if I fundamentally didn't believe they would work for my clients?

There is no way that I could lie to their face and say follow my process, it works with a disclaimer of **only if you buy the engagement and followers**. 

I don't pretend that with clients, LinkedIn for business growth will always be easy. It's not. 

Nor will I overpromise the types of results they can expect or the timelines in which they will occur. I know I've missed out on opportunities because of this, but those potential clients weren't the right fit to work with me. 

I am 100% confident in my G.R.O.W.T.H framework, and other LinkedIn training programs will set clients up for success if they do the work. 

Integrity will always be the foundation of working with B2B GROWTH CO - Grow Your B2B on LinkedIn. 

If you are a B2B Marketer or business owner that shares these values and is looking to refine your LinkedIn strategy for 2026 book a time with me. Limited places left before the end of the year.

Tim Tam Tip - imagine this is the LinkedIn feed. There is a little bit of everything out there. You have to give people a reason to pick you, your content, your brand. 

You won’t be for everyone.

But the one’s that align with your brand will choose you.

That’s the great part about branding. It makes selection easy. 

Just like there is no way I’m eating bananas (Liliane Abboud you can have them). 

How many Tim Tams are on this platter?

PS If someone invents Tim Tam pie I’m jumping on the Thanksgiving trend here. What do you think Brenda Meller🥧 ? 

Happy Belated Aussie Friday 😃

Marketers - winning on LinkedIn in 2026 will come down to one thing: Know Thy Customer.

Having tunnel vision to serve your customer with your LinkedIn Marketing is a skill we all need to practice. 

I see it with Company Pages that fail, as they constantly focus only on the brand. 

I see it with individuals who get sidetracked by trending content, algorithm reports and the noise LinkedIn sends our way, like ads and suggested posts.

Know Thy Customer for me is not getting ChatGPT to create an ICP profile in a few seconds; you give it attention for 4 minutes and 22 seconds, and then forget about it as the next distraction comes in. 

It's about real conversations that happen with customers. 

Maybe the marketing team have the opportunity to speak directly, maybe it's social listening, or maybe you are leveraging your customer-facing colleagues.

Narrow down your customer and solve their biggest problem, and as Sarra Richmond says - CHING 💰💰💰💰

Tim Tam Tip - Let's get dark this week. Dark Tim Tam & Dark Social. 

Timfluencer Testing Leaderboard 

1) Double Coated Chocolate
2) Deluxe Dark Chocolate Mint
3) Original
4) Dark Chocolate
5) Decadent Triple Coated Chocolate
6) Strawberries & Cream
7) Cafe Latte
8) Mangoes & Cream (confession, I can't bring myself to try this flavour)

Happy Friday, 21/11/2025 - Let me know in your comment the date you see this post. I'm curious when people will actually see this.

Krista Mollion

Last Business Coach You'll Ever Need I 100% Activator + Rebel 💥 Blow Up Your Solopreneur Business By Joining Profitable Solopreneur/MBA/Accelerator 🚀 Free Masterclass: Path To 10k+ Months 🎯 Content AI Workshop 5/10🧠

I help early-stage B2B founders and consultants (1–100 person companies, $100K–$10M revenue) who:

struggle with visibility and consistent leads

feel overwhelmed by marketing, AI, and systems

want inbound demand, not outbound begging

are running a business (and a life) and need a trusted expert to keep growth moving

With 20+ years in Silicon Valley, I’ve had the privilege of working with iconic global brands including Apple, Sephora, HP, Autodesk, and Samsung.

I’m also a creator and educator dedicated to helping founders build powerful brands, create content that converts, and scale through smart, efficient systems. I share the lessons, tools, and shortcuts I wish I had when I started from zero.

✨ What I Do

I help B2B founders and expert service providers:

• Build AI-powered marketing systems that save time and generate predictable inbound
• Clarify their positioning so they stand out—and get chosen—by the right buyers
• Educate and coach on how to market smarter, not louder
• Launch GTM strategies, incorporate, get trademarks, and expand nationally & globally
• Build and manage high-performance marketing teams, budgets, and campaigns A–Z
• Partner with brands aligned with my mission to support entrepreneurs

📌 What I’m Known For

• Turning complex marketing into simple, repeatable systems
• Helping founders replace overwhelm with clarity and consistent growth
• Blending strategy + storytelling to make businesses unforgettable
• Saving founders thousands annually through smarter tools, team structure, and automation

If you’re a founder, investor, or brand looking for growth and pipeline stability, let’s connect.

𝑨𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑴𝒆

Built an 8-figure agency with zero funding

Built a 7-figure consultancy with zero funding

Building a global personal brand with zero funding

20+ years in B2B marketing leadership

And I didn’t sacrifice my life to do it.
I have four kids (and pets). I travel. I cook. I enjoy hobbies.
I believe entrepreneurs shouldn’t burn down their lives to build their businesses.

I’m proof that you can scale smart without losing the things that matter.

Want Incredible Tips?

Join the Unignorable Brands Newsletter (free):
https://kristamollion.com/insiders

Also on Substack:
https://open.substack.com/pub/unignorablebrands

Let’s Partner

Looking for a brand collaboration, podcast guest, or speaker on cutting-edge B2B marketing?
📩 kristamollion.collabs@gmail.com

☎️ https://tidycal.com/kmollion/30-minute-collab-call ☎️

Fractional CMO + Chief Creative Disruptor for SaaS Brands

Attention is currency and it is our mission to get you more of it. 

We design creative, AI-driven, digital and influencer marketing campaigns For micro brands with macro goals

For years on Thanksgiving, I had to sit across from my abuser.
Again.

And watch my entire family pretend it never happened.

The pattern was always the same:
The abuser hurt me. Everyone ignores it and says I'm the problem.
"You provoked them."
"You're seeking attention."
"Stop causing drama."

For years, I'd fold. Internalize the guilt. Stay silent through the holidays while suffering inside.

But that's long over now.

I don't stay silent anymore.
I don't accept it.
I don't give in.
And I made the tough decision not to spend Thanksgiving with my family because they refuse to acknowledge the abuse or support me.

And I'm sharing this on LinkedIn—yes, a professional platform and I'm breaking the tabu rule, but I'll do it despite the risk because this is also a human platform. ❤️

I'm in a better place today but I know some of you are dealing with this exact situation right now.
The family member who gets a pass for everything.
The relatives who enable them then gaslight you.
Holidays that feel like survival instead of celebration.

If that's you, I need you to hear this:

Your holidays should not be about suffering in silence.
You deserve to feel safe. Supported. Grounded. Happy even.
You deserve boundaries that protect your peace and people who have your back.

The uncomfortable truth?

Some families are better at protecting abusers than protecting victims.
Some people will always choose comfort over courage.
Some tables aren't worth sitting at.

And that's okay.
You're not obligated to light yourself on fire to keep dysfunctional people warm.
Have Thanksgiving somewhere else and don't feel one bit bad about it.

Your kids won't remember the family gatherings you forced yourself through.
They'll remember if you modeled self-respect.

Choose accordingly. 💎

Who else has found the courage to set boundaries, even when it opposes others' wishes, because you love yourself enough to say 'no more'?

Who else is redefining "family time" this holiday season?

💎 I Help B2B Founders Become Unignorable | Fractional CMO | AI Visibility & Marketing Systems That Build a Predictable Lead Engine 24/7| Start With Your Free Visibility Checklist

I recently tested 47 AI marketing tools. 44 were expensive distractions.

Here are the only 3 that actually moved revenue:

After burning through $8,000+ in subscriptions and 200 hours of testing, I can tell you exactly which AI tools are worth it and which ones are just shiny objects.

The 44 failures all had the same problem:
They promised to "revolutionize" my workflow.
They required 17 integrations.
They needed a PhD to understand.
They generated garbage that sounded like robots wrote it.

Meanwhile, my revenue stayed flat.

The 3 winners? Dead simple:

1/ ChatGPT Plus ($20/month)
Not for writing posts. For research.
I feed it competitor websites, ask for gaps in their messaging, find angles they're missing.
Takes 10 minutes. Saves 10 hours of analysis.
ROI: Found 3 new service angles that landed $45K in contracts.

2/ Opus Clip ($19/month)
Turn one long video into 30 short clips.
No fancy editing. No complex settings.
Record once, post everywhere.
ROI: 5x increase in content reach, 3 new clients from repurposed content.

3/ Perplexity Pro ($20/month)
Real-time market research that actually cites sources.
Ask it what your ideal clients are struggling with right now.
Get actual data, not hallucinations.
ROI: Discovered a trending pain point, created an offer around it, $22K in first month.

Total monthly cost: $59
Total revenue impact: $67K+ in 60 days

The other 44 tools? They're still sending me emails about their "game-changing updates."

While everyone's chasing the latest AI trend, I'm using three basic tools that actually work.

Because the best AI strategy isn't about having all the tools.
It's about having the right ones.

And actually using them instead of watching tutorial videos for 6 hours.

Stop collecting tools.
Start collecting results.

That's the only metric that matters. 💎

What AI tool do you actually use every day? Not the one gathering dust in your subscriptions.

💎 Fractional CMO for B2B Founders | AI-Powered Visibility & Marketing Systems To Help You Scale and Build A Lead Engine That Works 24/7 For You | Free Visibility Checklist

I fired a $5K/month client for asking me to work Thanksgiving.

They called it "just a quick strategy session."
Three hours. During a family trip to Paris.
"You can dial in from your phone!"

I said no.
They said I was being difficult.
I said goodbye.

Lost $60K in annual revenue in one email.

And I'd do it again tomorrow.

Because money that costs you your boundaries isn't profit—it's a loan against your sanity with 1000% interest.

I've been there before:

The 8-figure agency where I answered emails during my kid's birthday.
The "urgent" calls during family vacations.
The clients who thought paying well meant owning my soul.

Burned out so hard I shut the whole thing down.

Now I have rules:

• Minimize calls 
• No work on holidays (not even "quick questions")
• No clients who confuse availability with professionalism
• No amount of money is worth missing real life

That $5K client? They'll find another consultant.
Someone hungry enough to sacrifice their family dinner.
Someone who still thinks being always-on means being valuable.

But my kids won't get endless Thanksgivings or other holidays with me.
Does this make me less commited to work?
Heck no but also my best work doesn't come from a place of feeling pressured to be non-stop 'on call'.

The wildest part?

Within 30 days of firing them, I landed two new clients.
Both respected boundaries.
Both paid more.
Both understand that rested consultants deliver better results than burned-out ones.

Because clients who respect your time attract more clients who respect your time.
And clients who don't? They attract burnout.

We teach people how to treat us.
Every yes to a boundary violation is permission for the next one.
Every no is an investment in the business you actually want.

Money talks.
But boundaries scream. 💎

Ever fired a client for crossing a line? I'd love to hear about it.

P.S. Who loves Paris? Give me a ❤️

I had everything Silicon Valley promised would make me happy.

Elite job. Stock options. Fast-track career.
And I was watching my future disappear one meeting at a time.

No viral "I quit!" moment.
Just a quiet, decisive moment where everything pointed to one truth:

If I stayed where I was, I would never become the woman I wanted to be.

I grew up the classic overachiever. In 4th grade, tested "low gifted." School offered acceleration.

My parents said no.
"Let her stay where she is."

Twenty years later, I was still hearing the same message—from managers who couldn't understand why I'd want more.

Fast forward: I'd hustled my way into an elite Silicon Valley job. Project manager for one of the richest men in the world. Global launches. Insane hours. ADHD brain on fire.

I loved it.
Until I got married and started thinking long-term.

That's when I noticed:

In this massive tech company, I didn't see a single woman living a life I wanted.

The few at the top? Exhausted. Single. Freezing eggs. In therapy.
The ones who left for families? Disappeared. No support. No path back.

HR didn't even have a maternity leave policy.
Thousands of employees. Zero policy.

The breaking point came in a meeting with my two managers.

My boss: A woman in her 40s who sacrificed everything to "make it in a man's world."
Her boss: Father figure with 4 kids he never saw.

Neither life looked remotely appealing.

Back then—pre-social media—I had no examples of women building their own path.

Just my intuition.
And one book: The 4-Hour Workweek.

Tim Ferriss showed me success didn't mean sacrifice. You could design your own rules. Build wealth without building a prison.

So I resigned.

Walked away from stock options. Fast-track career. "So much potential."

Both managers lectured me:
"You're making a mistake."
"You could have been someone here."

But I understood perfectly.

I wasn't giving anything up.
I was choosing myself.

The moment I handed in that letter, I felt something I hadn't felt in years:

Certainty.
A deep knowing that this was my path.

That's when I became an entrepreneur—not when I filed my LLC or got my first client.

It happened the moment I stopped looking for role models and became my own. 💎

What was the exact moment you knew you couldn't stay?

Not the day you quit—the moment the switch flipped.

Mine was in that conference room, staring at two lives I didn't want.

Where was yours?

💎 I Help B2B Founders Become Unignorable | Fractional CMO | AI Visibility & Marketing Systems That Build a Predictable Lead Engine 24/7 Start With Your Free Visibility Checklist

Yesterday I deleted 47 DMs without reading past the first line.

Why are so many people using mediocre, ineffective, outdated outreach strategies?

You want clients? Stop doing this:

❌ 1. Fake Flattery That Insults My Intelligence

"I love your podcast!"
"I read your newsletter every week!"

Cool. Name one episode. Mention one takeaway.

95% of people can't even name the podcast they claim to "love."

Why would I ever want to work with someone who starts the relationship with a lie?

❌ 2. Empty Chit-Chat

"How are you?"
"Just popping in because I love my community!"

No, you're not. You want something. And that's fine—just be honest about it.

This fake "friendly" chit-chat raises red flags. We're all busy. Just get to the point like a grown adult.

❌ 3. The Random "Let's Hop on a Call"

The 15-minute call.
The 17-minute call (clearly coming from the same template or coach).
The "quick chat."

Why 17 minutes? What exactly can be achieved in that oddly specific amount of time?

If your first message to me asks for a rando call, we're done here.

❌ 4. The Link Dump

Nothing screams "I don't respect your time" like sending 25 links and expecting me to click through all of them.

If you need a dissertation to explain your offer, your offer is the problem—not me.

So… What ACTUALLY Works?

✅ 1. Make Your Profile Do the Selling Before You Even Message

Before I even click your name, I should see—clearly—what you do and who you help.

Not "CEO @ My Company" with zero context.
Not buzzwords like "synergy specialist."
Not a headline that takes 3 reads to understand.

Clear. Specific. Obvious value.

✅ 2. Learn to Write Like a Human Who Respects Other Humans

People calling me "sir" like we're in the military.
"Bro" like we went to college together.
"Dear" like they're my grandmother.

Strange tone. Abrupt messages. Zero clarity.

Take an online communication class. Learn how to talk to humans.

Because the current outreach style I see on LinkedIn is shocking.

✅ 3. Get to the Point in 3 Seconds

When someone messages me, they have my attention for exactly that long.

In that moment, I want to know:
• Who are you?
• What do you do?
• Why are you messaging me?

Not your life story.
Not 47 qualifying questions.
Not a mystery novel.

If you can't articulate this clearly and quickly, you're not ready for client-facing work.

✅ 4. Show Me Evidence, Not Promises

Anyone can call themselves a CEO, a coach, or a consultant.
But very few can actually prove anything.

Real case studies with real numbers.
Screenshots of actual client wins.
Specific transformations you've delivered.

Not "I help 6-figure founders scale."
But "Here's how I helped Sarah go from $8K to $25K months—with receipts."

The uncomfortable truth?

If your DMs aren't working, it's not because people are too busy.

It's because your approach sucks.

Fix that, and watch your calendar fill up. 💎

What's the worst DM opener you've gotten this week?

P.S. I'm OOO skiing. ⛷️

That $5K/month client I wrote about recently who I fired on Thanksgiving wasn't worth $60K/year.

Here's what they really cost me:

• 1 panic attacks during my daughter's school recital
• 47 weekend texts that "couldn't wait"
• My son asking why I'm always on my phone
• Two vacations ruined by "emergencies"
• 10 lbs of stress weight that I put on by mindless eating and skipping the gym.

The math was simple: $60K in, sanity out.

But I kept justifying it.
"It's starter money."
"They need me."
"Just one more quarter."

Until my then 5-year-old said: "Mom, are you ever not working?"

That hit harder than losing the revenue ever could.

See, toxic clients don't just steal your time.
They steal your presence.
Your peace.
Your ability to show up for the people who actually matter.

I'd answer their calls during dinner.
Check their Slack during bedtime stories.
Apologize to my family while prioritizing their "urgencies."

The breaking point?

They scheduled a "critical" meeting during my Thanksgiving vacation in Paris.
Said it couldn't be rescheduled.
Said my commitment was questionable.

I fired them the next morning.

And you know what happened?

Within 6 weeks, I replaced them with new clients who paid more, ranging from $7k to $20K/month.
Combined drama: Zero.

The clients I keep today respect my boundaries.
They value my expertise, not my availability.
They understand that burnt-out consultants create burnt-out strategies.

That toxic $5K client taught me the most expensive lesson of my solo career:

Bad money costs more than no money.

Because while you're tolerating their chaos, you're missing the clients who would respect your genius without demanding your soul.

Your kids won't remember the revenue.
But they'll remember if you were present.

Choose accordingly. 💎

What's the real cost of that difficult client you're tolerating right now?

Are you brave enough to say 'no' and opt not to take that toxic energy into 2026?

What kind of client or job do you want to attract? Let me know in the comments! ❤️

My Kids' Teacher Called Me 'Unemployed'

Standing at school pickup when another mom asked, "So what do you do?"

"I'm a fractional CMO."

Blank stare.

"So like... consulting?"

"Kind of. I work as a part-time executive for multiple companies."

"Oh, so you're between jobs?"

And that's when my 8-year-old piped up:
"Mom runs marketing for FIVE companies at the same time. She just doesn't go to an office because she's too smart for that."

The other mom walked away confused.
My kid? Dead accurate.

The word "fractional" breaks people's brains because we've been trained to think:
One person = One job = One company.

Full-time or unemployed.
Employee or entrepreneur.
Committed or freelancing.

But fractional work doesn't fit the box.

We're not consultants who give advice and leave.
We're not freelancers juggling gigs.
We're not "between jobs" or "taking a break."

We're executives who discovered the math:

5 companies at 20% > 1 company at 100%

More impact. More income. More freedom.
And zero commute to prove our worth.

After dozens of confused conversations at school events, I finally landed on this:

"I'm a part-time marketing executive for several companies. Instead of working for one company full-time, I help five companies grow—but only on the strategic stuff that actually matters."

Suddenly people get it.
No more "unemployed" assumptions.
No more "must be nice" comments.

The uncomfortable truth?

Most people can't imagine expertise without exclusivity.
They can't picture commitment without captivity.
They can't see value without visibility in an office.

But our kids? They get it instantly.

They see us present at pickup AND crushing deliverables.
They see us at their games AND closing deals.
They watch us build empires from the kitchen table.

And when someone suggests we're "unemployed"?

They know better.

We're not unemployed.
We're uncommitted to the old way of working. 💎

What's your 10-second explanation for fractional work that actually lands?

I torched a profitable course business that everyone thought was "the dream."

300+ videos. Six programs. Monthly community. Six-figure mastermind.
Growing. Profitable. Zero debt.

And I shut it all down.

Here's the uncomfortable truth about why:

I built a prison and called it passive income.

Every morning I'd wake up to:
• Community questions that needed answers
• Algorithm changes requiring video updates  
• Launch deadlines breathing down my neck
• Kajabi breaking something new
• Students expecting 24/7 availability

The more successful it got, the less freedom I had.

Think about it:
To keep a course business profitable, you need constant sales.
Which means endless launches, ads, funnels, content.
Which means bigger teams, more overhead, more complexity.

It's a hamster wheel disguised as entrepreneurship.

I watched other course creators "living the dream" while privately messaging me about burnout, anxiety, and wanting to quit.

Most of them either:
→ Had no kids
→ Had a spouse handling everything at home
→ Built massive teams to run the machine
→Were constantly tied to keeping students happy by daily community engagement 7 days per week and even on holidays

Nothing wrong with that.
But I'm a mom with ADHD trying to build a life, not an empire.

So two years ago, I made the shift:
Fewer clients. Deeper work. Actual freedom.

Now I cap my working ongoing with 5 businesses max per year and a handful of shorter commitments. 
No community management. No weekly livestreams. No launch anxiety. No need for a constant stream of leads.

Just one clear strategy, focus on high-quality services, clear results, and my business boundaries.

The course gurus will tell you I'm crazy.
That I "left money on the table."
That I should've just "hired it out."

But here's what they won't tell you:

Your business model should fit YOUR life.
Not the other way around.

Before you chase someone else's version of success, ask yourself:
• Do I want to manage a team?
• Do I want to be "on" constantly?
• Do I want to trade one boss for 1,000?
• Is this actually the freedom I'm after?

I kept all the curriculum.
I can repurpose it whenever I want.
But I'm no longer its prisoner.

Best decision I ever made. 💎

Anyone else shut down something "successful" because it was slowly killing you? I'd love to hear your story.

Most founders don’t have a marketing problem.
They have a visibility problem.
And as we enter 2026, that gap is becoming brutal.
AI made content cheaper.
Competition got louder.
Buyers trust fewer brands than ever.
The founders who win this year won’t be the loudest…
They’ll be the ones with the strongest narrative + smartest distribution.
Today, I released what might be the most important thing I’ve written all year:

👉 The 2026 Visibility Playbook: How Founders Win in the AI Era

Inside I break down:

• why the old visibility model is dead
• the 3 new visibility loops founders must master
• the formula I use with clients to make their brand unignorable
• the 30-day plan to rebuild your visibility from scratch

This is the blueprint every founder should read before 2026 hits.
If you want to scale, sell, stand out, or simply stop being ignored — start here:

🔗 Read the full Visibility Playbook Below 👇🏻

In 2026 you won’t be invisible.
You’ll be unignorable.

A new blueprint for founders who refuse to stay invisible in the year of AI disruption. Thank you for reading my newsletter, Un-Ignorable Brands, wher

Open article: The 2026 Visibility Playbook: How Founders Win in the AI Era  by Krista Mollion • 5 min read

The 2026 Visibility Playbook: How Founders Win in the AI Era

Feeling invisible online?

It’s not your offer.

It’s not the algorithm.

It’s not that “everyone else is ahead of you.”

It’s simply this:

You’re competing in a market that’s already overcrowded.

Most founders spend years fighting in “red oceans” — saturated spaces where everyone sounds the same, looks the same, and sells the same thing.

But the founders who stand out?
The ones who grow fast?
The ones who become unignorable?

They don’t compete.
They create their own category.

Read my latest article: 
👉 Blue Ocean Theory for Modern Founders: How to Escape Competition and Become Unignorable by Creating Your Own Category

If visibility has felt like an uphill battle, this is the shift you’ve been missing.

How to Escape Competition and Become Unignorable by Creating Your Own Category Thank you for reading my newsletter, Un-Ignorable Brands, where I share

Open article: Blue Ocean Theory for Modern Founders by Krista Mollion • 5 min read

If you're not investing in marketing, you're not serious about sales.

I see this mistake constantly. Just last week, a founder told me they needed 50% growth but their marketing budget was $0.

They wanted the results but refused to fuel the engine.

It's like expecting your car to run without gas.
Won't happen. Can't happen.

They think marketing is an expense.
Wrong.
It's an investment with measurable returns.

Marketing = the fuel
Sales = the outcome

More fuel → Bigger outcomes
No fuel → Stuck on the side of the road

I've watched brilliant founders with incredible products fail because they thought their work would "speak for itself."

In fact, I coached a guy 4 (!!) years ago who wanted to quit his job but wasn't willing to invest in marketing himself. Guess where he is today? You guessed right: he is still stuck in the 9 to 5 he hates, wondering why his dream never "manifected" after reading Think and Grow Rich...

Meanwhile, mediocre products with strong marketing eat their lunch.

Because visibility often trumps quality in the marketplace.

You can have the best product in the world.
If no one knows about it, you have nothing.

Stop treating marketing like it's optional.
Stop expecting magic without investment.
Stop wondering why competitors are winning while you're invisible.

The choice is stark: Invest in marketing or settle for mediocrity. 💎

What's really stopping you from investing in your marketing? Is it fear of wasting money, or just not knowing where to begin?

P.S. Q: When can you stop marketing? A: When you close your business, of course! Until then, it's 365 days per year, sweetheart.

Behind every profile… there are layers. 🍊
Most people only show you the shiny outside.
But the truth? We’re all made of multiple identities, experiences, and roles that shape how we show up.

Here are my layers — founder, human, fractional CMO, coach… and a woman who rebuilt herself more than once. When you follow my channels and subscribe to them, no surprises: this is the exactly content you can expect from me!

Thanks to Justin Bariso for recently sending me his email newsletter introduction email where instead of the usual bland salesy jargon he does the opposite:

he shares some of his layers and revealed how much we have in-common. These layers show us from an angle that a traditional professional introduction would have totally missed.

Great job, Justin, and thank you for inspiring my layered re-intro! 

Now enough of the one-dimensional "boring" intro: I want to meet your layers.
👇✨
Tell me who YOU are in 3–4 layers (and make it juicy).

I shifted my coaching business 2 yrs ago to do the thing everyone's trying to escape.

By moving from "Business Coach" to "Fractional CMO".

Revenue went up. Stress went down.

Here's why most people have it backwards:

1. Coaching Is 10x Easier… and Somehow 10x More Expensive

Let's be brutally honest:
It's easy to sit on Zoom, point at someone else's business, and tell them everything they're doing wrong.
Then charge $$$$ for it.
Then go meditate.
I saw someone on IG saying she paid her coach 500k for 2026.

For some philosophical advice?
That founder is still drowning, trying to figure out their coaches "transformational insights."
That model never sat right with me.

2. I Tried Everything — As Both Client AND Coach

I once paid $15K for a mastermind where the "breakthrough strategy" was literally:
"Just show up more authentically."

$15,000.
For advice I could've gotten from a fortune cookie.

Every coaching experience ended the same:
• Endless theory, zero implementation
• "Go watch these 47 training modules"
• "It's all about mindset" (while my business stayed stuck)

I'm running a business, not attending a philosophy seminar.
I need things that actually move revenue.

3. The Ugly Truth Nobody Admits

Coaching gives you → A Zoom recording and homework
Done-for-you gives you → A working funnel generating leads while you sleep

Coaching gives you → "Accountability check-ins"
Done-for-you gives you → Actual campaigns running

Coaching gives you → Someone else's opinion
Done-for-you gives you → Measurable results

But here's what really sealed it for me:

When coaching doesn't work, they blame YOU.
"You didn't show up fully."
"You have resistance."
"You need to work on your mindset blocks."

Convenient, right?

4. Why Done-For-You Actually Creates Freedom

I switched because I got tired of selling hope.
I wanted to sell results.

Done-for-you doesn't just tell you what to build.
It builds the damn thing.

But not just any done-for-you.
You need a strategist who executes.

Someone who:
• Thinks before building
• Aligns everything to actual KPIs
• Takes responsibility for outcomes
• Gets in the trenches with you

That's why I offer Fractional CMO services now at Unignorable Brands AI Marketing and Influencer Agency  
Strategy + execution.
Not theory. Not modules. Not "mindset work."

Real campaigns.
Real systems.
Real results.

5. The Bottom Line

If your employer is paying for coaching? 
Take it. Enjoy the free therapy.

But if you're a founder paying out of pocket?
Stop buying advice. Start buying strategy + execution.

Because while everyone else is "manifesting abundance" in their coaching circles, you could be building actual revenue systems.

Not a cheerleader.
Not a guru.
Not another "watch my course" coach.

A partner who builds alongside you. 💎

What's the one business investment you made that everyone said was "smart" but actually held you back?

What are you going to invest in for 2026?

I only take 5 fractional clients per year.

Here's why I make more money working less than when I had 20 clients.

Two years ago, I was drowning in "success."
20+ clients. Academy. Endless Zoom calls. Revenue looked great on paper.
But I was miserable.

Working 70-hour weeks, answering Slack at midnight, and still feeling behind.
My kids barely saw me.
My health was shot.
And the kicker? My profits were good but I had no energy to enjoy them.

So I did something insane.
I fired 75% of my clients.

Went from 20 down to 5.
Raised my prices by 4x.
And said no to everything else.

People thought I'd lost my mind.
"You're leaving money on the table!"
"You'll lose relevance!"
"Your business will die!"

Except the opposite happened.

With 5 clients, I could actually deliver transformation, not just advice.
No more surface-level strategy calls.
No more "quick check-ins" that solve nothing.
Just deep, focused work that moves real metrics.

The math is brutal but simple:

20 clients at $2K/month = $40K
But also: 80+ calls, endless context switching, mediocre results for everyone.

5 clients at $10K/month = $50K
But also: Deep focus, actual implementation, clients who rave about results.

More money. Less work. Better outcomes.

But here's what nobody tells you about extreme selectivity:

You can't fake expertise anymore.
When you only have 5 clients, each one needs to see massive ROI.
No hiding behind volume.
No blaming "implementation issues."
You either deliver or you're done.

That pressure? It made me 10x better.

I stopped selling time and started selling transformation.
Stopped being a consultant and became a true partner.
Stopped spreading myself thin and started going deep.

The clients I work with now?
They don't just pay more. They get more.
Full strategy + execution.
Direct access when it matters.
Someone who actually knows their business inside out.

And me?
I pick up my kids from school.
I don't work Fridays.
I sleep 8 hours.

The uncomfortable truth:

Most consultants are addicted to being busy.
They confuse motion with progress.
They think more clients = more success.

But dilution is the enemy of excellence.

You can serve many adequately.
Or you can serve few exceptionally.

The market rewards the second one.
Every. Single. Time.

So yeah, while I'm alway open for occassional consulting and project work, I only take fractional 5 clients per year.
Not because I'm exclusive.
Because I refuse to be mediocre.

And that refusal?
It's worth more than any amount of "busy." 💎

How many clients is too many for the quality of work you want to deliver?

Founders and execs love to blame "bad hires."
Especially when marketing isn't working.

Last week, a CEO told me they'd fired 3 marketers in 18 months.
"We just can't find good talent," he said.

So I asked to see the job description.

It wanted someone who could:
• Build the entire marketing strategy
• Design all creative assets  
• Write all copy
• Run paid ads
• Manage social media
• Handle PR
• Do video editing
• Track analytics
• Support sales

Starting salary? $65K.

I almost laughed. Almost.

But every time someone tells me "our marketing failed because we hired the wrong person," I dig deeper.

And it's almost never the employee.
It's leadership.

Here's what's really happening:

1️⃣ Vague, misleading job descriptions.
You hire someone for X, and on day one dump Y, Z, and Q on them. Instant misalignment.

2️⃣ Unrealistic expectations.
One marketer is expected to be:
CMO + designer + copywriter + video editor + SEO + social + sales.
No budget, no resources, no clarity.

3️⃣ No KPIs.
Leadership demands "more leads/more followers/more clients"…
but can't define how many, by when, or tied to what baseline.
So success becomes whatever the manager feels that day.

4️⃣ Sales sabotaging marketing.
While marketing's building brand reputation, sales is blasting spam to everyone with a pulse.
Ruining domain reputation.
Creating terrible first impressions.
Burning bridges marketing spent months building.

The result?
Sales drops the ball, CRM data is a mess, attribution is impossible—
but it's still "marketing's fault."

Most "bad hires" aren't bad.
They were set up to fail.

Founders, if your marketing keeps breaking, don't fire the marketer.
Fix the environment you're putting them in.

The uncomfortable truth?

You don't have a talent problem.
You have a leadership problem.

And until you fix that, you'll keep cycling through marketers wondering why nothing works.

When was the last time you audited what you're actually asking your marketing team to deliver—and whether sales is undermining their every move?

Leadership is hard. 

If you can't seem to hire or keep the right people, it's you, not them.💎

Want to know how I set my teams up for success to fix 1-4? 

Book a strategy call and I'll work with you to draft a perfect hiring plan to fit your marketing/growth needs (link in Featured and About sections).

I Made an Introduction That Changed Everything

I've been helping a client from India enter global markets for a while.

Early on, I saw a need and introduced my Indian client to one of my American clients who offered a service I thought would benefit him.
Perfect match on paper. Exactly what he needed.

Then the messages started from the U.S. client.

"Is this an Indian person?"
Yes.
"Isn't it supposed to be the other way around, that the Indians are working for us?"

My jaw dropped. But I stayed professional. Reassured her he was a serious entrepreneur.

Then came message #2:
"I hope he actually pays and doesn't cause problems."

He paid immediately. Of course he did.

The "consulting"call he paid good money for? A disaster.
She chatted, asked random questions, delivered nothing from her own offer page.
My client called it the most pointless use of money he'd ever experienced. I was embarrassed I had even made the referral.

When I professionally pointed out she hadn't delivered what was promised?

She blocked me.

Here's what shocked me most:

I'd worked with her prior for months, helping her grow her business too. Never suspected her hidden racism. But put her in front of someone with brown skin? The mask came off instantly.

The uncomfortable truth?

Most racists are excellent at hiding.
They smile in diversity meetings.
They post the right hashtags.
They say all the right things.

Until they don't.

Until they're face-to-face with someone they see as "less than."
Then suddenly it's "those people" and "working for us" and assumptions about who can pay.

I'm glad she blocked me.
Saved me the trouble.

Discrimination isn't gone.
It's just gotten better at wearing a suit and speaking corporate.

And if you think someone's nationality determines their worth, their ability to pay, or whether they deserve respect? Unfollow me right now.

I don't want racists in my network.
I don't want them reading my content.

I practice tolerance and equality.💎

Who else has seen the mask slip when they least expected it?

⚠️Before you pay for any Black Friday coaching deal, course, or community…
read this first. It could save you thousands.

First question: Do you actually have the money this program requires?

Not the fee.
I mean the hidden costs the coach doesn't spring on you until AFTER you buy. 
Many of these programs quietly announce you'll need to spend a minimum of $5,000 a month on ads to "get results" or immediately try to upsell you into a higher tier package.
Not to mention the fancy funnel and checkout tools their systems require that will easily add another few thousand a year AND a tech genuis to set up and run.
You should know ALL that before you buy the program, not after you're already inside.

Second question: Do you (actually) have the time?

The big creators selling these offers make it look effortless.

But behind the scenes—they're working 10 to 12 hours a day to grow if they are 6-figure earners and have a team if they are 7-figures.

Meanwhile, you may still be hustling like crazy or have a full-time job so trying to grow is something you only do in your unpaid "free time."

And how long does it really take?
Not 30 days.
Not 90 days.
That's just for the sales pitch.
"Grow your LinkedIn, etc in 30 days"
The reality?
YEARS.
I kid you not.
I've helped over 250 founders, and for self-funded people without ad budgets?
It's 1–3 years to gain traction.

Third question: Do you agree morally with their tactics?

Because some coaches teach you to:
• Spam strangers' DMs
• Copy sleazy sales scripts  
• Join fake engagement pods
• Buy followers
• Hand over your passwords to overseas VAs

If that's not your style, don't buy the program—no matter how good the Black Friday discount looks.

Look, investing in yourself is great.
But heading into 2026, be smart.
Ask the right questions before you click "buy."

And if you purchase something today and instantly realize it's not right?
Ask for a refund. Immediately.
You're not stuck.
You're not obligated.
You're not wrong.
Just be honest and get your money back.

Stay smart. Stay intentional.
And don't let Black Friday shiny objects drain your 2026 budget. 💎

What Black Friday "deal" are you proudly walking away from today?

💎 P.S. Wanna know if something is a good or bad deal? Ask me. For the next week-ish, my DMs are open. Share your finds and I'll help you vet your Black Friday finds (no catch).

Saw something today that broke my brain.

A creator I really admire—not even 30 yrs old, built an 8-figure course business, single mom—posted about being rejected from guesting on a podcast.

The podcast team told her she didn't "qualify."

Eight figures in her 20s yet does'nt qualify. 🤯

I sat there staring at my screen thinking: If SHE feels inadequate, we're all screwed.

Then I started laughing. Not funny laughing. That dark, existential kind where you realize how absurd this all is.

Think about it:

Our ancestors had one job: **Don't die.**

That's it. That was success.
Find food. Stay warm. Make babies. Hope they survive.

Now? You can make millions, have perfect health, build an empire—and some gatekeeper on the internet tells you you're not enough.

A thousand years ago, nobody knew if the guy two villages over had better crops.
Fifty years ago, you only compared yourself to maybe 20 people.

Today? You're competing with 7 billion humans. In real-time. With filters.

Of course we all feel like failures.
The scoreboard is infinite.

Here's the uncomfortable truth:

You will NEVER feel like you've "made it" if the bar keeps moving.

Not at $100K.
Not at $1M.
Not at $10M.

Someone will always be younger, richer, more viral, more "successful."

But what if making it means something else entirely?

What if it's:
• You're safe
• You have people who love you
• Your body works
• You create things you're proud of
• You actually want to wake up tomorrow

Maybe that's the real achievement.
Maybe that's already success.

Because if a beautiful, super smart young woman with 8 figures still feels inadequate...

Maybe the problem isn't our achievements.
It's how we're keeping score. 💎

When did you realize "making it" was a moving target?

My therapist asked me to define success without using numbers.

I sat there for 10 minutes. Silent.
Couldn't do it.

Revenue goals. Follower counts. Client metrics.
That's all I had.

She waited. I squirmed.
Finally said: "I don't know who I am without the scoreboard."

That session wrecked me.

See, I'd spent 12 years building my "dream business." 8 figures. A list of A+ clients. 
Everything the gurus promise will fulfill you.

Except I was having panic attacks in my Landrover.
Taking calls during my kids' sports events
Measuring my worth in monthly recurring revenue.

The uncomfortable truth nobody talks about?

Success addiction is real.
And it's killing entrepreneurs.

We traded corporate burnout for founder burnout.
Same prison. Fancier title.

That therapy session forced me to ask:
• When did I start needing external validation to feel valuable?
• Why do I check revenue before brushing my teeth?
• What am I actually running toward?

The answer hit like a brick:

I wasn't building a business.
I was building a monument to my insecurities.
I had built myself a nice prison

Every new client = proof I'm not a failure
Every testimonial = evidence I matter
Every revenue milestone = temporary relief from not feeling enough

But here's what I discovered:

The entrepreneurs who last? Who actually enjoy their success?
They define winning differently.

Not by what they achieve.
By what they refuse to sacrifice.

For me, that meant:

• No calls during family dinner
• No checking Slack on weekends  
• No fake "emergency" client meetings
• No revenue goal worth my sanity
• Fully attentive to my kids during their soccer games 

And this new "me" would eventually leave my agency to form a solo LLC.

Yes, my growth slowed.
Yes, some people called me "unambitious."
Yes, I left money on the table.

But I also started sleeping better.
Showed up more for my kids.
Remembered why I left corporate in the first place.
Could breathe again without any panic attacks.

Because success without peace isn't success.
It's just burnout with better marketing.

The real flex in 2026?
Building a business that doesn't require you to lose yourself.

Choose accordingly. 💎

What would your definition of success be if you couldn't use a single number?

✨ Join me in celebrating a huge win for Neil Winward today. ✨

This week, his newsletter was ranked "Rising in Finance" on Substack — one of the most competitive categories on the platform.

Not #1.
Not a trophy moment.
But something far more meaningful:

➡️ The platform recognized his work
➡️ His newsletter gained real momentum  
➡️ He's being pushed to thousands of new readers in finance

This is what I call a quiet win — the kind that actually shapes your future visibility.

Everyone wants the big breakthrough moment…
But breakthroughs rarely start loud.
They start like this:

A nudge from the algorithm.
A small acknowledgment.
A tiny shift in momentum that whispers,
"Keep going — the engine is turning."

This is how visibility compounds.
This is how your ENGINE builds.
Quiet → Consistent → Unstoppable.

If you're in the "invisible phase," don't quit.
Your quiet win is coming — and it could happen this week.

And if you care about Finance, Energy, or Macroeconomics, you must follow Neil on Substack! His content is insane. 🔥

People often ask me how I got a Top Voices badge on LinkedIn - same way we are working on Neil's content on Substack. I am not in it to follow fads but to create timeline content that helps you rise to the top. 👆

Want help building the engine that gets you seen (and quckly stand out)?

DM me ENGINE and I'll send you the details💎

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Michelle J Raymond

Krista Mollion

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The Battle

Michelle J Raymond

Krista Mollion

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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);}Michelle J Raymond's LinkedIn Performance

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