Executive Career Management Ltd

Helping C-suite members, Executive Directors, Function Leaders, and Non-Executive Directors control their careers for their best short, medium and long-term outcomes.

I'm the point of call for a Big-4 accountancy services company who help their clients find talented leaders.

Engaged by companies or individuals, I work with senior executives seeking to actively manage their career and know they need help to do it.

Director, Executive CV Writer, LinkedIn Profile Writer & Interview Coach

Staverton Consulting

Advisory Board Member

Barracuda Search Ltd

Delivered the research, identification, cold-approached, initial engagement, and initial filtering of all prospective headhunt candidates.

Roles I have addressed include:

Managing Director
Chief Financial Officer
Finance Director
Group Construction Director
Construction Director
Commercial Director
Inventory Transformation Director
Sales Director
Customer Experience Director
Trading Director
Marketing Director
European Supply Chain Director
Group Head of HR & OD
Head of Online
Head of eCommerce
Head of CRM Development
Head of Digital Operations
Head of Merchandising
Head of Concessions
Head of Property Management
Head of Property Acquisitions
Head of Supply Chain
Head of Franchising
Head of Business Development
Head of Buying
GM, Product Innovation
GM, Regional Operations
GM, Merchandising
Financial Controller
Buying Manager
Category Manager
Replenishment Manager
Regional Operations Manager
Garment Technologist
DC Manager
Franchise Sales Manager
Customer Insights Manager
Construction Project Manager

International Search Recruiter / Headhunter

KIMBOLTON CONSULTING LTD

Delivered multiple international research and delivery consultancy for a select group of executive search recruiters with principal focus on the UK, the Far East, and Australasia.

Worked with clients analysing and enhancing information systems and then increasing data quality for use as a competitive weapon.

Delivered executive search resourcing projects, target market scoping, and candidate cold approach to sell opportunities for career growth.

International Search Recruiter / Headhunter & Search Consultant Trainer

Walton Davies Consulting

Managed a team of 6 research and delivery consultants delivering multiple executive search assignments into the defence and security sectors generated by c.10 Business Developers.

Head of Operations

Nestor Search Ltd

Delivered the research and delivery consultant mandates for multiple search assignments from Heads of Function to Main Board Directors.

Research and Delivery Consultant

Capitis Partners

Head of Search Assignment delivery with a team of 5 research & delivery consultants
Developed and implemented rigorous structures that underpinned successful assignment completions
Trained and Mentored all new team members

Delivery Operations Director

PEC ASSOCIATES LIMITED

Worked with executive recruiters or directly for client companies to identify excellent candidates in specific roles and markets for competitor analysis projects or inclusion in search assignments.

Company Owner

Norman Broadbent Plc

Co-ordinated a team of 3 research consultants to deliver qualified candidates against multiple technology search assignments generated by c.15 Sales & Delivery Consultants.

Research Manager (Technology Practice)

W𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒆𝒓, 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒅, 𝒊𝒏 𝒂 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒐𝒓 𝒓𝒐𝒍𝒆, 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒔?

It's a great wish to aim for

Knowing how to outshine the competition to win a dream role?

People win by being indispensable to their recruiter & interviewer customers

Here's how I help them achieve that;

I weave purpose-driven micro-stories to tightly link people to their recruiter & interviewer customers

𝙄 𝙬𝒓𝙞𝒕𝙚 𝙧𝒊𝙫𝒆𝙩𝒊𝙣𝒈, 𝙚𝒏𝙜𝒂𝙜𝒊𝙣𝒈, & 𝙛𝒐𝙘𝒖𝙨𝒆𝙙 𝒔𝙩𝒐𝙧𝒊𝙚𝙨

How I help...

𝟭. 𝗚𝗵𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 a 𝗖𝗩

In 20+ years headhunting, most applicants wrote weak CVs. Even though many were great candidates, I helped them articulate it

Working with an engaging, customer-focused structure I wordsmith the best version of a person to give them a riveting, customer-engaging presence

𝟮. 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝘆

Aiming high is great but without a plan but it's all luck & stress, unless people have a guide

I have been the guide chosen by hundreds of senior executives to shepherd them through their journey into their next green pasture

𝟯. 𝗚𝗵𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱𝗜𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲

LinkedIn profiles are a personal brand statement. Is a person a star, average, or easily forgetable?

Executive recruiters & interviewers always use a LinkedIn profile with a CV. So, each needs to add strong flavour to the recipe for success

My 20+ years executive recruitment experience adds depth & richness to a person's recipe that delights their customer

𝟰. 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄

Bad interviews happen because interviewees are poor candidates and interviewers are untrained

Excellent candidates save interviewers

I guide across the 6 W's of What, When, Where, Why, Who & How to grow interview power & control

This is about people confidently controlling their career

I assist people to fulfil their dreams

Paul Cooper MBA, CIPD

The Foundry for Art Design + Culture

The market doesn't reward the best. It rewards the best positioned.

The Foundry builds premium brand ecosystems that make leaders and organizations irreplaceable. Strategy. Story. Systems. Since 2007.

Most leaders and organizations have transformative value the world never sees. They're brilliant in boardrooms but invisible in markets. Their expertise dies in PowerPoints. Their culture gets lost in corporate speak.

The Foundry changes that narrative.

Since 2007, we've turned hidden giants into market leaders. We decode what makes you irreplaceable—then build the brand systems that prove it. Corporate storytelling that makes culture magnetic. Executive positioning that commands premium opportunities. Strategic video and design that transforms expertise into influence.

Your competition is playing small with "good enough" brands. You're building an empire of influence.

From Mohawk to Marriott, from founders to Fortune 500s—we make the invisible undeniable.

The Foundry. Where leaders become irreplaceable.
New York State certified MWBE.

Chief Branding Officer + Co-Founder

United Group of Companies

Responsible for developing strategic branding solutions for all commercial, multi-family, student housing, and senior housing portfolios. Develop brand creative, market research, brand purpose, strategy and voice, naming, and visual identity. Developed concepts for integrating the brand into built environments. Responsible for planning, developing, and implementing all marketing and sales strategies, marketing communications, and public relations activities, both external and internal.

Director of Brand & Marketing

Oberlander Group

Responsible for the development and management of all creative work including concept, design, presentation, execution, and production. Senior management leader executing agency vision and brand stewardship, strategic planning across agency products and services—including marketing and public relations, and new business development.

Creative Art Director

Russell Sage College

Full-time faculty member responsible for teaching advanced level Visual Communication Design courses and development of Graphic Design, Typography, and Portfolio course curricula.

Professor

The College of Saint Rose

Full-time faculty member responsible for teaching advanced level Visual Communication Design courses and development of advance level Graphic Design, and Portfolio curricula.

Personal brand strategy for CEOs & C-Suites | 10Xing Executive Brands to increase revenue, build authority, and attract unicorn talent | Top 50 LinkedIn Creator 11th Worldwide, 3rd US | +94K IG | NYS M/WBE

There are two ways to build a business, a career, or a legacy in 2025:

1. Blend in. Get replaced.
2. Lead. Build a brand that's irreplaceable.

Most are stuck in the first.

Even brilliant executives. Successful founders. Industry experts with decades of proof.

Here's what no one tells you: Having expertise isn't enough anymore. Having a "personal brand" isn't enough either.

You need the complete strategic ecosystem, positioning, brand strategy, and aligned offers, working together to make you the only choice in your market.

Right now, you're likely leaving $100K-$250K on the table because:


• Your positioning sounds like everyone else's "I help" statements
• Your brand strategy and business strategy aren't aligned (the expensive gap)
• Your offers don't reflect your true value or market position
• These pieces operate in silos instead of as one powerful system


The real problem? You're treating brand as decoration when it should be your business strategy.

Imagine instead:
Having positioning so clear that ideal clients find YOU. A brand strategy that drives every business decision. Offers that practically sell themselves at premium rates. All working as one ecosystem that builds your authority, revenue, and the freedom to live how you choose.

That's where I come in.

I'm the brand strategist who transforms high-performing leaders into irreplaceable market authorities. Using my Value DNA™ framework, I architect the complete system, brand strategy, premium positioning, and aligned offers, that makes you uncopyable.

Whether you prefer the energy of group momentum (VIB, the focus of private coaching, or complete done-for-you execution, I help you:
→ Build brand strategy that becomes your business strategy
→ Position and differentiate yourself as the only choice (not the best choice)
→ Design offers that align with your premium market position
→ Create the ecosystem where every element amplifies your value

The result? You stop competing and start commanding your category.

If you're ready to build the brand strategy that makes you irreplaceable, and add $250K+ through an aligned ecosystem that actually works, let's talk.

Explore offers below.

Alana Sparrow

Today, I celebrate 57 trips around the sun.

( I believed I’d die by 25)

At 5, a near-death asthma attack.
By 10, 3 sports-related concussions.
At 13, paternal aunt was murdered at 16.
At 15, birth father died in a car crash at 33.
At 18, a near-death crash on my MTB bike.
At 21, was intubated for asthma difficulties.

My relationship with destiny was complex.

A secret belief I would die early was strong.
Which had me question almost everything.
I lived in a regular state of survival mode.
Decisions always made by my inner child.
Fighting, flighting, fleeing, and fawning

All this made an imposter out of me.

It’s ok. I’ve come to accept that.
I fake it most every day of my life.
Not because I’m insecure or unsure.
But because I’m a lifelong student who
is at times woefully ignorant, still growing,
and always learning how to be a better me.

Not to mention I’ve got an awful lot of shit
I don’t know how to get done each day.
And from my experience, faking it,
has become a bit of a personal
cheerleading anthem, and an
honest path to making it.

A bit of faking what you know,
what you can do...there is
nothing wrong with that.
So long as you’re not
faking who you are.

I now know and love
the good, the bad,
the beautiful,
and the ugly
in myself.

They all depend
on one another
regardless
of how it
seems.

I’ve come to accept myself
intellectually, physically
and emotionally
just as I am.

Not as a means to be lazy
or as an excuse for my
own ignorance, flaws,
or bad behavior.

But because I’ve
come to believe
I am worthy of
life and love.

Regardless
of any of
these
things.

We all are.

I’m excited to be alive.

And 55+ discounts. I’m excited about discounts.

PS: Birthday wish: post a funny meme below.

Alana Sparrow 

Making Leaders Irreplaceable (+$250K) | Positioning & Premium Brand Strategy for CEOs, Founders & Executives | Private + VIB Group Coaching + DFY Brand Strategy | Global Top 1% Strategist | NYS M/WBE

There’s a special kind of hell for brilliant people who can’t explain what they do in one sentence.

Your LinkedIn headline? Vague. 
Your bio? A beige wall of words. 
Your introductions? A wild mix of job titles and metaphors.

You’ve built credibility—but clarity? Still optional.

And you’ve 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥 to fix it.

You’ve rewritten your pitch, tweaked your niche, 
even crowdsourced your “brand voice” 

(which is how you ended up sounding like everyone else).

Still?

You’re overexplaining to confused people 
and under-converting in rooms where 
you 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 be the obvious yes.

Why?

Because the smarter you are, 
the harder it is to self-translate.

You’re too close to your genius. 
What comes easy to you sounds “basic,” 
so you bury the gold under strategy-speak and soft qualifiers.

Here’s the truth:
You don’t need to sound simpler. 
You need to sound like a f*cking category.

That’s what we do inside the VIB:
→ Decode your Value DNA™ 
→ Build positioning that 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘪𝘵𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 
→ Make your authority travel across every room that matters

Because the right people aren’t confused. 
They’re just waiting for you to finally say it with your chest.

DM me if you're done sounding optional. I've got options.

It’s time your brand earned what your expertise already has.

PS: Posting 6:30am EST Mon-Friday. Want to be irreplaceable in any market? Ring my bell pickle pop.

If I had to start LinkedIn all over again…

Here's what I'd do different

Not. A. Damn. Thing.

I’ve been a brand strategist for 35 years.

Built brands for 
– startups
– Fortune 500s,
– entrepreneurs alike

When I started showing up here, I wasn’t finding my voice...I was 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵.

And I just did what I’d always done: 

Positioned with purpose.
Communicated with clarity.
Spoke to the right people...not the most people.

I wasn’t trying to build a new identity here. 
I was translating an existing one.

Same message. 
Different medium.

And because I understood that from day one: 

– Clients started DMing me to work together 
– I replaced my referral pipeline without burning out 
– My content built trust while I was off building my biz

No gimmicks.
No gaming the algorithm.

Just a clear brand—
positioned for the people who were already looking.

( don’t confuse this for an obnoxious flex ) 

This message is for those who have authority. 
You’re not here to build from scratch.
You’re here to make it visible.

Most entrepreneurs treat LinkedIn like a performance. 
I treated it like a platform.

Because if you’ve built your business offline 
You don’t need to start from scratch.

You need to translate your authority to a platform that reflects it.

That’s not content creation. 
That’s brand strategy. 

And it’s what I help purpose-driven entrepreneurs do every day.


PS: People say LinkedIn is a place to “build your authority.”

But what if you already have it?

Here’s my take: 
I didn’t build authority here, I 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 it. 

That’s the real skill most people are missing.

CEOs who say 'I help companies grow' make me sad

( and sad ain't a vibe )

So come on.

You've built companies from scratch. 
Saved others from bankruptcy. 
Turned disasters into unicorns.

And your LinkedIn says... "I help companies grow"?

That's like Beyoncé introducing herself as "I sing songs."

True? Yes. 
The point? Not even close.

Last week, a CEO showed me his profile. 
30 years experience. Incredible track record. 
His headline: "Growth-focused executive leader."

I asked him one question. 
His answer made him laugh out loud.

"I'm the only CEO who's turned three dying hardware companies into software giants without firing anyone."

THAT'S not "growth-focused." 
That's a very specific, very expensive superpower.

Here's what most leaders overlook:

Generic positioning doesn't make you relatable. 
It makes you invisible.

The market doesn't need another "growth expert." 
It needs YOUR specific genius for YOUR specific transformation.

But you keep hiding it under safe, corporate-approved, beige language.

Stop it.

Your next board seat, fractional gig, or acquisition isn't waiting for another "strategic leader."

It's waiting for exactly what you do. 
Said exactly like only you can say it.

PS: If your LinkedIn headline could describe 500 other people, you're playing small. Let’s go ahead and fwix it.

PPS: Sharp truths about positioning daily at 6:30am EST. Ring the bell Jeff.

Not leveraging this 1 thing, costs you +$30K 

( every quarter...min...ouch )

Your dream 50 list.

The people who already know you.
Trust you.
Would hire you tomorrow.

I ignored mine in my first month here.
Posted great content.
Built my following.
Zero outreach to my past.

Cost me $30k. Minimum.

Meanwhile in crazy town...

That's just ONE of four revenue gaps.

Skip your dream at 50? -$30k
Ignore the other three? -$20-45k more

Doesn't matter if you're new or seasoned. 
No 90-day plan = money left behind.

Most are operating without 90-day cycles. 
Winging it. Wondering why revenue's flat.

Even veterans. Especially veterans.
Think they’re past needing structure.

Huge mistake.

That’s why I built GTM90. 
My 90-day go-to-market system. 
Turns all four gaps into revenue.

Start any time. Any stage.

$33 to stop bleeding revenue.

Grab it here: https://lnkd.in/eVRz3DtN

PS: Reaching out to my Q4 dream 50 this week. Already found 3 "holy shit, why haven't I reached out" names. Curious how many come to mind for you. Drop them in the comments.

A year ago, I prayed my dad wouldn’t make it. 

Not out of cruelty. Out of mercy.

At 89, he’d lived a long, vibrant life. 
Bought a Harley at 83 𝘵𝘰 ride across the country.
He was that cool. That full of life.

Then last year one fall. One surgery. One nightmare.

When he woke, he didn’t know who we were. 
Didn’t know where he was. 
Couldn’t remember more than two seconds at a time.
This went on for months.

Doctors warned us he might stay that way...if he survived at all.

My mom was eighteen years younger. 
She was supposed to go second. 
But the universe had other plans.
She went sudden in 2022.

So there we were, my sister and I...
feeling like we’d just adopted an elderly child. 

Making medical decisions no one prepares you for. 
Moving him from the New Mexico desert he loved 
while two hurricanes hit my winter home in Florida. 
All while running a major launch 𝘢𝘯𝘥 a full roster of 1:1 clients.

And I just… stopped. 
Ten days off LinkedIn. 
No posts. No analytics. No pretending.

And the wild thing?
Nothing fell apart.
Clients still came.
Revenue held.
Because I’d rebuilt my business after my mom died
to 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴.
To build around life, not force life to fit around business.

My dad came back to us (mostly). 
He’s 90 now. 
Still breaking hearts.

That season reminded me what I really help my clients do: 
Not just grow. 
But build brands that buy back their 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦. 
So when life hits, the business holds.

PS: If you've been here from the start, or you just found me... thank you. 

Drop a 💬 if you're building something designed to hold you when it matters most.

There are 3 types of people when it comes to invisible → positioned as an industry leader. 
Where are you?

1st aren't ready. 

They're collecting courses they never open.
In love with the idea but not in the arena. 

If that's you, come back when you're ready to move.
( I'll still be here )

2nd are ready and taking the stairs. 

You're capable. You'll figure it out. 
It'll just take 18-24 months. 

And while you're climbing....
someone else becomes THE known 
authority in your space. 

Ouch.

The opportunities go to them. 
The premium clients choose them.
Authority compounds while you're still testing messaging.

Every month on the stairs, you're losing deals 
to people who aren't better...just better positioned. 

You're working harder for the same money, opportunity, or authority
because you don't have the leverage 
that comes with being known.

The stairs work. But, they're just slow AF. 
And slow in Q4 2025 is expensive AF.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝟯𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿.

You already know you're ready. 
The question isn't "Can I do this?"... it's 
"Do I figure this out over 18 months, 
or do I get 7-figure eyes on my business 
and compress the timeline?"

Because here's how I see it: 
2026 positioning is being decided RIGHT NOW. 
The speaking gigs, partnerships, and 
"known expert" status
it's being locked in in Q4 2025. 

Miss this window and you're playing catch-up all year.

The VIB is my 7-figure eyes all over your business. 
Group container...but real-time support. 
Pattern recognition you don't have yet. 
Momentum when the market is consolidating authority fast.

The stairs will work. 

But what does 18 months of invisible cost you?

If you're elevator-ready, let's talk about the VIB.

How do I know if a client will be a nightmare?
It starts with how they handle 'no.'

Your process isn’t just about efficiency, it’s your strategy for protecting your best work.

I’ve questioned mine before:

– Am I being too rigid?
– Should I bend to make the deal work?
– Am I losing opportunities by sticking to my process?

But here’s the truth:

Your process is your filter.

– It shows who values quality over shortcuts.
– It reveals who respects the craft behind your work.
– It attracts clients who choose partnership over transactions.

Standing firm doesn’t mean you’re inflexible. It means you’re committed, to trust, focus, and results.

The right clients won’t fight this, they’ll appreciate it.

Because positioning and strategy isn’t just about systems. It’s how you align with the people who get it.

PS: What’s one way your postioning strategy has helped you protect your work, and your sanity?

PPS: To say “no,” place your tongue behind your teeth, open your mouth slightly, and let disappointment fall out.

And… it’s Friday…go have some fun you crazy animal.

You've closed 8-fig deals for other people.
But pricing your own $50K retainer?
Suddenly you're Googling "market rates."

Here's why.

Your nervous system isn't pricing you against the market.

It's pricing you against 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦.

The you with the title. 
The you with the team. 

The you who didn't have to prove your worth because the company logo did it for you.

So when you step out...
fractional, consulting, solo...
and try to price yourself at what you're actually worth?

Your body reads it as: 𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘛𝘍 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦?

Not because you can't deliver.

But because the identity your nervous system has on file is three promotions old.

And that version of you? 
She made $180K and was grateful for it.

This is why executives underprice by 60%.

Why founders who've built 8-figure exits add payment plans before anyone asks.

Why you can advocate for your team's budget without flinching
but naming your own number makes you want to throw up.

Your pricing isn't reflecting the market.

It's reflecting the last time you felt like you "earned" safety.

And no amount of spreadsheets, competitor research, or value-stacking is going to override that.

You don't have a pricing problem.

You have an identity lag.

Your expertise leveled up. Your body didn't get the memo.

And until you close that gap, every number you put on an invoice is just a negotiation with your old self.

More on how to fix this soon.

PS: This insight goes for WHATEVER numbers you're working with.

PPS: Follow for woo and common business sense dropped M-F 6:30am EST.

How to know if you're underpositioned in :30

Read your LinkedIn headline out loud.

Now answer 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘺:

Could 50 other people have written it?

If yes, you're underpositioned. 
If "maybe," you're still underpositioned. 
If "no but"... you're definitely underpositioned.

Here's the test I give every leader:

When you introduce yourself at events, do people: 
A) Nod politely and move on 
B) Say "Oh, like [names competitor]?" 
C) Lean in and say "Wait, tell me more"

If it's not C, you're leaving money and opportunity on the table.

Not because you need better results. 
Because you need better positioning.

I watch 7- and even 8-fig founders fumble introductions. 
Watch CEOs shrink their superpower into job titles. 
Watch consultants describe themselves like Wikipedia entries.

The worst part?

They KNOW they're different. 
They FEEL the frustration. 
They SEE competitors with half their talent charging twice their rates.

But they keep playing it safe with corporate speak.

Here's what underpositioned really costs:

• Dream clients scrolling past you 
• Speaking gigs going to louder voices
• Board seats filled by clearer candidates 
• Rates and salaries stuck at 2019 levels

Your expertise hasn't changed. 
Your track record is stellar. 
Your results speak volumes.

But your positioning whimpers.

The gap between what you know and how you're known? 
That's where your next $250K is hiding.

Stop describing yourself like everyone else. 

Mind the gap...and

Start claiming what makes you irreplaceable…..

It’s usually the million dollar problem you solve like no one else through your unique mechanism, perspective or pretense. 

PS: Took the 30-second test? Failed? DM me "POSITION" and let's fix it.

PPS: More positioning truth bombs Monday, 6:30am EST. Be there.

How I built a 7-fig agency from a town of 16k

( juicy gossip inside )

Cohoes, New York
Population: 16,000
Stoplights: under 30
Agency potential: Zero

At least that's what everyone said.

"You need to be in NYC."
"Clients want local agencies."
"Small town equals small thinking."

Built a 7-figure agency anyway.
Clients included universities, manufacturing, healthcare systems, global NGOs.
Never moved to a "real" city.
Yet did business there every day. 

How?

We didn't position based on location.
We positioned based on transformation.

Not: "Cohoes-based branding agency"
But: "The agency that turns invisible assets into market leaders"

Geography became irrelevant when the positioning was magnetic.

Here's what small-town success taught me:

Your limitations are only limitations if you position around them.

In a small town? Position beyond it.
"Too young"? Position around wisdom.
"Too old"? Position around experience.
No big names? Position around results.

We turned every "disadvantage" into distinction:

• Small town = Lower overhead = Better value
• No local talent pool = Remote experts = Best people anywhere
• Can't do lunch meetings = Everything virtual = More efficient

The world opened up because we refused to position small.

Your current "limitation"?
It's only real if you make it central to your positioning.

Position around it.
Position beyond it.
Position despite it.

But don't position from it.

The market doesn't care where you're from.
They care where you can take them.

PS: Cohoes → Fortune 500s. The how drops in tomorrow's newsletter → https://lnkd.in/eACn29sZ

CEO: Go ahead and blow my mind.

Me: Brand is not a marketing function.

CEO: Um k Alana...then what department is it?

Me: It doesn't sit in any department. It's a lens for your entire business strategy.

CEO: My mind just melted.

I remember the first time I laid that out to the CEO of an eight-figure brand.

Yup, even top leadership of massive companies don't fully get the role of brand in their business.

This is not a rant about how branding isn't your logo or your tagline. 

Because those things are branding...the visual expression, and not the point here.

I want to address the biggest misnomer....

That branding is a marketing function.

It's not (at least not only).

Branding is the ecosystem of your 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦 business.

To not understand it's function, does branding a huge disservice

And literally denies your business the lifeline that it desperately needs.

There's so much confusion everywhere, and I've been there myself.

Too wrapped up in marketing, missing the bigger strategic picture.

So this is not going to be the usual branding advice...

But it's probably going to be the best business advice you're ever going to get....

See your brand as a strategic lens for your business strategy. It will change it forever.

I unpack it in the carousel.

PS: All of it applies to personal brands too.

______
Follow me boop for more expertise on positioning brand strategy.

Brand Strategy / Alana Sparrow

3 steps to 7-fig growth that most overlook.
( one of 'em sucks a lot )

You've heard it all before, right?

– push more!
– 10x your productivity!
– work smarter, not harder!

Yawn.

Let's talk about the stuff nobody's mentioning.
The real way to 7-figure growth.

Ready?

1. Embrace the suck of stillness

Yeah, you read that right.

Stillness.

Not hustling. Not grinding.

Why?

Your next big move isn't in your to-do list.
It's buried in the quiet corners of your mind.

– daily meditation? non-negotiable.
– "white space" in your calendar? mandatory.
– saying "no" to good opportunities? critical.

Growth happens in the gaps.

2. Audit your attention, not just your books

You tracking your finances?
Cool. That's basic.

But are you tracking your attention?

Where's your focus going?
What's stealing your mental energy?

Your attention is your most valuable currency.

Spend it wisely.

Redirect that attention to high-leverage activities.
Watch your revenue follow.

3. Build your "no" muscle

The path to 7 figures is paved with "no."

– no to clients who drain you
– no to projects that don't align
– no to opportunities that don't serve your vision

Every "yes" is a "no" to something else.
Choose wisely.

BONUS:

4. Cultivate strategic discomfort

Growth lives outside your comfort zone.
But not in the way you think.

It's:

– having tough conversations
– standing firm in your value
– judgment calls in the dark

Discomfort isn't the goal.
Growth is.

The road to 7 figures isn't just about what you do.

It's about who you become in the process.

PS: check my website link. I dropped your next 90-day revenue plan.

taplio

The Battle

Paul Cooper MBA, CIPD

Alana Sparrow

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The Battle

Paul Cooper MBA, CIPD

Alana Sparrow

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

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

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