FLANCE Directive Creators

PARTNERING WITH THE BEST

FLANCE Directive Creators is an experienced digital marketing agency and brand consultancy that delivers a multidisciplinary service to companies in South Africa, the African continent and further afield. We are very proud of our global footprint, having worked with many multinational brands across various industries.

We provide an array of services to many of these companies. Our key focus is to give businesses access to services, expertise and knowledge that large organisations utilize to grow their market and brand positioning.

FLANCE Directive Creators is a team of highly experienced and trained individuals, having worked in both the creative and corporate sectors. 

Our digital experience not only spans the design and development of websites but extends to the development and management of various large custom web-based platforms with sophisticated back-end functionality. These platforms become integral operational tools that assist businesses with understanding the operations of their business allows for more informed decision making. Supporting the website backbone of digital communications, FLANCE provides support services such as social media management, digital marketing and full reporting and analysis.

Managing Director

Apart from specialised website design and development solutions, FLANCE can provide custom, innovative internal systems for unique business challenges. We also offer management and maintenance services to ensure peak performance.

Helping companies develop custom systems and digital portals

The Lekker Network

From Mzansi to the world > We’re bringing Saffas together.

The Lekker Network is a place for Saffas to connect, share opportunities, and do business together. We are our country’s greatest export. Imagine what we could achieve if we all came together. Hint: It’ll be lekker!

Co-Founder

Trigger

Trigger is a US based Global Outsourcing Partner with operations in South Africa and next generation infrastructure that delivers exceptional quality on every engagement. Trigger focuses on two service delivery pillars: extraordinary human talent and key performance, enhancing technology and aims for flexible, long term partnerships with our clients. To learn more about Trigger’s service offerings, feel free to contact me or visit our website www.TriggerPS.com

Co-Founder - TriggerLink

Podium One

Podium One is a collective of creators, marketers, designers, executives, and former professional athletes on a mission to redefine the world of sports. 

We created Podium One to help professional athletes move into the next stage of their careers by leveraging their influence and experience to establish a vast network that gives them access to unique opportunities through LinkedIn.

We have spent more than a decade mastering the art of personal branding so that we can deliver world-class services to our clients. We are passionate about helping former players turn their influence into opportunities by maximising their personal brand on LinkedIn. 

www.Podium1.co

Digital Animal

The Digital Animal blog was created to help, teach and assist small to medium-sized business owners with the ability to run their own digital marketing.  

The blog provides insights, strategies, and how-to guides that SME owners can use.

Digital Marketing can be easy and we simplify the world of digital marketing for business owners. 

The DA site can be used to navigate and create the optimal digital ecosystem your business needs.

Founder

Audience & Income

Member

Black Marketing - The Dark Art of Social Media Marketing

With 1,800 LinkedIn Recommendations, 100,000 LinkedIn followers, 4 No.1 international best selling books on LinkedIn, an Official LinkedIn Power Profile and an Official Forbes Member writing about LinkedIn and Personal Branding, Black Marketing Founder and Global CEO, Chris J Reed is LinkedIn's No.1 Global LinkedIn Marketing Expert on LinkedIn and created and leads the World No.1 LinkedIn Marketing Firm.

Chris is also one of the most talked about and infamously known as "The Only CEO With A Mohawk", recognised globally by his Mohawk.

Chris achieved notoriety when he was fired from his first job in Singapore for writing a blog about taxi drivers, appearing on the front page of every newspaper and featured in every media outlet. He used this name recognition to build his personal brand and launch Black Marketing.

Chris's Grandad told him that "it's who you know, not what you know" and he use's LinkedIn to accentuate this, meeting people he meets on line, off line all over the world.

Chris loves Singapore so much that he renounced his UK citizenship and is now a fully fledged and very proud Singaporean citizen.

Chris has 4 Official No.1 International Bestselling Books "Personal Branding Mastery For Entrepreneurs", "LinkedIn Mastery For Entrepreneurs" ,"Social Selling Mastery for Entrepreneurs" and his latest "How To Become a LinkedIn Rock Star".

Black Marketing and Chris have won countless industry awards. They are the No.1 Global LinkedIn Marketing Experts with an unprecedented 1,800 LinkedIn Recommendations for their work.

Senior Account Manager

Social Animal

Based in the heart of Cape Town city, Social Animal provides businesses the ability and platforms to showcase their products and services online. The Digital Marketing world is moving at a frightening speed with new updates and changes taking place daily. We have made Digital Marketing our world and we would love for you to be part of it!  We are committed to our clients and they remain at the heart of our business, while helping them grow a strong online presence. Our team consists of strong innovative thinkers who are not afraid to challenge the status quo and push boundaries.

Social Animal specialises in: Google Adwords (Pay Per Click Advertising), Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), Online Marketing services, Inbound Marketing, Social Media Marketing and Management, Content Creation, Website Creation and Optimization.

We achieve what matters the most to YOU: growing audiences, engaging with customers and generating demand. All done while increasing your return on investment

At Social Animal we believe in thinking big, delivering results while having fun in the process. If you are looking for a company that:

Brings the best creative ideas to life, in intriguing and engaging ways
A team that provides relevant, authentic and shareable content for consumers
A strategically sound, result focused, bursting with creativity company- then Social Animal is for you.
The best at innovation are the ones that enhance life in meaningful ways! Allow Social Animal to help Unleash Your Brand!

Owner / Digital Marketing Consultant 

The Media Crowd

The Media Crowd is a team of young and bold media enthusiasts, who love what we do. Our passion for media lies deep within us and is driven by the constant need to create new ideas, creating innovative ways of advertising and fresh methods to spread a message to quench our consumers’ thirst for information and knowledge. 
The Media Crowd boasts versatility as our wide range of abilities allows us to excel on all media platforms, particularly print and digital.

Marketing and Brand Manager

The Callsheet Newspaper

The Callsheet Magazine is seen as the most influential film publication in South Africa. I handled the brand and advertising within the publication. Acquiring new business on a continuous basis and fostering existing relationships. A wonderful experience within a vibrant industry.

Brand Manager

LinkedIn has the power to change your business and life. All you have to do is use it right!

Hi, I’m Renier Lombard – 

One relationship can change everything > Let me show you how to use your LinkedIn Personal Brand to find and attract those relationships.

It’s the superpower many don’t know they have in their arsenal.

I’ve seen the landscape on all platforms change. LinkedIn is no exception. It’s evolved into a powerful tool that many people and companies don’t utilise to its full potential. 

This is understandable as it requires a vast amount of time and energy to visit profiles, create content, invite users to connect, run searches, manage the messages, see who visited your profile, connect with them and much, much more…

With FDC, you don’t have to do any of the above but still reap the rewards.

LinkedIn is a professional landscape with opportunities at your fingertips; all you need is the right team to bring those opportunities to you.

👉  We will build your personal brand, 
👉  Grow your network
👉  Add value for your audience through your content.

With your industry knowledge and our LinkedIn expertise, we'll grow your business from great to the upper-most echelons.

If you'd like to save money and time and still grow your business, LinkedIn's the place to do it.

It is the vehicle to achieve your goals, from talent acquisition to networking, lead generation, investor sourcing and personal brand awareness.

And if you'd like all that the easy way, connect with me, and let's get the conversation rolling.

So get in touch!

📧  Email me at renier@flance.co.za 
🤝   Book a time with me on https://go.oncehub.com/RenierLombard 
💻   To see more, visit https://fdc.agency/linkedin/

Renier Lombard "The Digital Animal"

I'm an unemployable person. 

And I say that with pride.

I started my first business when I was 23, not because I had it all figured out, but because I was fired.

Before that, I would never last more than 6 months in a job.

Not because I was lazy or uncommitted, I just questioned too much.
- I’d call out decisions.
- Challenge processes.
- Argue with bosses about “why we do it this way.”

I couldn’t just sit quietly and follow instructions that made no sense to me.

So eventually, the universe made the decision for me, I got fired.
(P.S, never use your company email to moonlight on the side, rookie mistake)

And that firing turned out to be the best career promotion I’ve ever received.

Since then, I’ve become completely unemployable.

I can’t unsee inefficiency, bureaucracy, or wasted potential.

Entrepreneurship rewires you.
It teaches you ownership, urgency, accountability, and resilience.

Once you’ve lived that way, it’s impossible to go back.

So yes, I’d probably make the worst employee ever.

But I’ve also built a life doing what I love, with people who inspire me, solving problems that matter.

To all the “unemployables” out there, Cheers! Welcome to the club.

You’re not broken. You’re just built differently.

Renier Lombard

One relationship can change your business & life > Let me show you how to use your LinkedIn Personal Brand to find and attract those relationships. | Building in public. Follow to watch us build our agency.

South Africa just ranked 4th most athletically talented country in the world.

Surprised? I’m not.

We’ve been turning backyards into boot camps or cricket fields since forever. We “maak ’n plan,” lace up with whatever we’ve got, and then we win with heart.

What I love most about this ranking (from a global survey of 16,960 people across 36 countries) isn’t the number, it’s what it confirms: our raw potential is ridiculous. 

From township courts to school fields to packed stadiums, we produce world-class athletes because grit is baked into our DNA.

Now imagine we channel that same energy into business, at scale.

Connecting South Africans everywhere - from Joburg to Dubai, Cape Town to London, Sydney to San Diego > turning potential into pipeline.

Where intros become opportunities.
And local talent drives global impact.

Because that’s how we punch above our weight.
-One relationship at a time.
-One door opened for a fellow South African.
-One team win that lifts an entire community.

If you’re part of the South African diaspora, or building right here at home, here’s my challenge:

👉 Tag a South African doing something exceptional (in sport or business).👉 And make one meaningful intro this week.

Let’s keep proving that South Africans don’t just compete > we create momentum. 🌍

Ah, good old Rassie. 💛
You deserve it, man. Enjoy the win. The Boks played phenomenally! 

It was one of those nerve-clenching, pace-the-lounge, shout-at-the-TV kind of games… but hey, a win’s a win! 

Well done to the boys. You damn well earned this one. 

Lekker stuff, lads.

The secret to networking.

Take the time to help someone, without the need to gain. 

I’m talking beyond clients and friends, helping wherever there’s an opportunity to do so. 

Modern-day networking often feels transactional, like we’re connecting with people just because of the potential they have to help us in the future.

But by giving first and providing clear value, we shift the mindset from networking for personal gain to networking with the intent to grow together. 

It’s a subtle but incredibly powerful change that cuts through the impersonal and inauthentic, building genuine, long-lasting relationships. 

I see it all the time.. The most successful people are the most generous with their time, their knowledge, and their support.

Whether it’s sharing experiences, offering advice, or even simply cheering on someone’s achievements - these small acts create ripples. 

Which, in turn, build into waves that elevate your network and lift your personal brand in the process.

So, here’s my challenge for you today: Find one way to help someone.

It might seem small, but I guarantee it will leave a mark. 

“People may not remember what you said, but they will remember how you made them feel.” - Maya Angelou

🔥 This is a BIG moment.

Google is now showing The Lekker Network as a listed resource for the South African community in the USA - right alongside established orgs like SACCUSA. 👀

Specifically:
“A network that hosts local events for South Africans in different cities to connect and share experiences.”

That’s organic recognition.

We didn’t pay for this. We didn’t pitch for this.
We built something that’s real, and Google decided it matters.

Why this matters strategically:

Credibility: We are now seen as an authoritative community platform globally.

Discoverability: Anyone searching for South Africans in the U.S. can now discover TLN.

Proof of traction: Validation that what we’re building is being recognised at scale.

From an idea…
-to a survey…
-to a founding member group…
-to becoming a search-indexed diaspora infrastructure brand.

This is how movements start.
>One validated step at a time.

Lekker things are happening, and we’re just getting started. 🌎

Assumptions kill possibilities. 

We’ve all done it, sent a message, waited.. and then assumed the worst.

In my first year of business, I sent a proposal to someone, waited a few days, and didn’t hear back. So, I assumed they weren’t interested.

In my impatience, I even followed up with a message that basically said as much.

 A few days later, I got a reply.

They told me that a member of their team had fallen ill, and that they’d been dealing with a tough situation. My assumption couldn’t have been further from the truth.

But instead of taking offense, they gave me a piece of advice that stuck with me for life:

“Never fill the silence with your own story.”

That hit me hard. Because when we don’t know what’s going on, our minds love to invent reasons, and most of the time, they’re wrong.

Fast forward to today, I get anywhere from 50 to 100 messages a day.

Some people reach out for opportunities, some for help, some just to connect.

And occasionally, someone will follow up with frustration, assuming I’ve ignored them, or that I’m not interested in helping.

The truth? I’m probably just catching a flight, in back-to-back meetings, or trying to stay on top of 100 other things.

We all have moments when life gets busy.

We all drop a few balls.

But here’s the thing: assumptions don’t just kill conversations, they kill opportunities.

Before you assume, pause.
-Ask.
-Wait.
-Give grace.

Because the world isn’t always as it seems, and the stories we tell ourselves can cost us the relationships and opportunities that matter most.

One of the toughest challenges we've facing building The Lekker Network. 

It’s not the vision.
It’s not the belief.
It’s not even the funding (yet 😅). 

It’s bandwidth.

The Lekker Network is only 8 months old, still a startup by every definition.

A tiny team with a huge mission:

To connect extraordinary South Africans around the world.

To turn proximity into opportunity.
To build a global ecosystem > from Cape Town to London, Sydney to San Diego.

Because of that mission, we’re experiencing something I never truly anticipated:

A massive influx of people trying to help, collaborate, advise, introduce, volunteer, build chapters, and share opportunities.

Which is an absolute blessing, honestly, we’re incredibly grateful.
It means people believe.
It means this matters.

But here’s the hard reality:
The world is big.
The opportunity is big.
And the inbox continues to get bigger.

There are thousands of ideas, requests, and messages coming our way, from incredible humans.

And we want to honour every single one.

But we simply can’t get back to everyone in real time.
Not because we don’t care.
Not because we’re ignoring anyone.

But because…

-Some ideas might not be right for right now
-Some opportunities need more time to execute
-Some messages get buried during 12-hour days of meetings and onboarding

We’re building the plane while flying it, and yes, sometimes we drop a spanner in the clouds.

So this message is a small request:

🙏 If we haven’t been able to get back to you, or there is a delay in action, please don’t take it personally.

Please keep the ideas and energy coming.

And please give us grace as we grow.

We are taking every message seriously.
We are creating the systems to handle the volume.
We will get better and faster.

And the fact that this is one of our biggest challenges?

It tells me something important:
South Africans around the world are ready for this.
And we’re just getting started.🌍

Thanks for being part of the journey.
Thanks for the patience.
Thanks for believing.

Building in public isn’t always polished, but it’s real.
And it’s worth it.

Massive thanks and appreciation to Brent Lindeque 🙌.

Thank you so much for having Nic Latouf and The Lekker Network on the Good Things Guy podcast. 

We’re on a mission, and every opportunity like this helps us spread the word, rally the community, and remind South Africans everywhere what’s possible when we work together. 

The Lekker Network is more than just a community, it’s a space that’s creating massive impact, real change, and incredible opportunities for South Africans across the world. And we see that happening every single day.

Thank you Brent, we really appreciate you shining a light on what we’re building.

Link to the podcast episode in the comments - It's a fantastic listen👌

One intro. Two websites. Four days. A whole new chapter.

Like with most good things, it started with someone reaching out. 

The year was 2014, and a Cape Town freelancer I knew messaged me, “Can you help a mate with two urgent sites... like, done in three days?” 

I’d never built a WordPress site in my life, but I said yes. That mate was Eugene Meyer, the founder of FDC.

I quoted R4,000 per site. He paid the invoice that same day. My brain exploded. 

Then came the reality: three nights of no sleep, begging strangers on Fiverr to help me figure out back-ends, and learning on the fly until both sites shipped in four days. 

It was chaos, but that one “yes” turned into a working relationship… then a decision, why not bundle our strengths and build something bigger together? 

We merged, just two solo okes turning into an actual agency, and that’s how I formally joined FDC. 

Here’s the point: you don’t need 10,000 cold DMs to change your trajectory. You need to be the person people trust enough to recommend, and then overdeliver so the door stays open.

Here's what I've learnt that makes you “referable” in South Africa (and anywhere, really):

Reliability beats hype - Say yes with intent, then do exactly what you said you’d do, especially when it’s uncomfortable. 

Speed is a love language - Momentum creates trust. Short deadlines? Make a plan, move. Four days changed my life. 

Generosity compounds - Share credit. Add value before the invoice. Play the long game, because relationships outlive campaigns. 

If you want more “lucky breaks”, become the person people tag without thinking.

Tag someone who opened a door for you, and tell them why it mattered. Then go be that person for someone else.

Be worth the tag.

Proximity is power.

In business. In life. In growth.

Who you spend time around will quietly shape who you become.

Your energy, your ambition, your habits, they all rise or fall to the level of the people you surround yourself with.

If you spend your time with builders, creators, and doers > you start building, creating, and doing.

If you spend your time with complainers and doubters > you’ll slowly start to sound like them too.

-It’s not just about networking.
-It’s about environment design.

Because your circle either pulls you forward or keeps you still.

So ask yourself:
-Where are you finding your tribe?
-Who are you learning from, collaborating with, and growing alongside?
-Are you intentionally building that around yourself, or just letting it happen by default?

Because at the end of the day, proximity isn’t just power.

It’s direction.
It’s momentum.
It’s the difference between staying the same and evolving into who you’re meant to be.

Exciting News!

It’s a great pleasure to officially welcome John Chan as our Head of Chapter for Australia 🙌

John has been part of The Lekker Network since the very beginning, in fact, I think he was member number 30! From day one, he’s been a true ambassador for what this community stands for.

Based in Sydney, John has now stepped up to lead the Australian Chapter, bringing together the thousands of South Africans who call Australia home. 

We’ll be meeting in person at our upcoming Sydney Meetup, and I couldn’t be more excited to see what John will build with this incredible community down under.

John’s vision is bold, to make Australia one of the most active and impactful chapters within The Lekker Network where South Africans connect, collaborate, and create opportunity together.

Welcome aboard, John.

Let’s make magic happen 👊

I just came across this graph, and how wild is this?

It shows the S&P 500 shooting up while total job openings have been steadily dropping since the launch of ChatGPT.

Now, yes, there are a few nuances here. The economy, inflation, and interest rates all play a role, and correlation doesn’t always mean causation. But still... it’s scary and fascinating to look at.

The scary part?

Jobs aren’t being created at the same rate as before. Whether AI is directly responsible or not, the disruption is already visible. The efficiency gap between those who adopt these tools and those who don’t is widening, fast.

The reality is this: the world is changing faster than ever.

You can either learn to use these tools and move with the change, or risk being left behind by it.

The next 10 > 20 years are going to be absolutely wild, and how we adapt now will define who thrives later.

Sydney here we come!

I'll be there from the 13th of November to the 18th of November, and we’re excited to announce that we’ll be hosting The Lekker Network's first official meetup on Friday, the 14th of November. 

We’ve aiming for about 100 attendees > so if you’re in or around Sydney, thinking about joining The Lekker Network, and want to meet me and some incredible members, send me a Direct Message! 

I'll send you the registration link to join.

It’s a great opportunity to:
> To learn more about The Lekker Network
> Meet other like-minded South Africans and business owners
> See how the network could support your journey
> And of course, enjoy a glass of South African wine, and beer with good company!

It would be fantastic to put some faces to names and share a great evening together.

Super excited for this trip. See you there!

----

P.S. if you can't make it to the meet up and would like to meet in person, send me a direct message and let's see if we can make a plan to meet up.

Cue Studios

Cue Studios helps founders turn expertise into influence. I built it after years working across content, partnerships, and strategy, combining those skills to help entrepreneurs show up consistently and credibly online.

• Led personal brand strategies for 30+ founders across SaaS, fintech, healthtech, and Web3
• Built async content systems: founders record once, we turn it into weeks of posts and videos
• Ghostwrote 1,000+ LinkedIn posts, newsletters, and video scripts
• Helped clients generate inbound leads, speaking invites, hires, and partnerships
• Delivered frameworks to boost content performance by up to 400% on LinkedIn

All-Access (AAA)

Supporting growth and investor engagement for AAA, a smart event platform backed by Spartan Labs and Arche Fund.

I advise on brand strategy, investor positioning, and founder-led content to help shape how the company shows up to the world.

• Working closely with the founding team on messaging, marketing, and capital strategy
• Helping define how we communicate value to partners, investors, and early users
• Developing content and positioning that builds trust across Web3 and traditional markets

If you're an investor interested in next-gen fan engagement and event tech, feel free to reach out.

Head of Strategy (MENA)

Another Excuse

Conversations with founders who’ve done the hard part: getting started, and keeping going.

I host long-form interviews with entrepreneurs, operators, and investors to unpack what it really takes to build something sustainable. No fluff. Just sharp, honest lessons from people in the trenches.

• 70+ episodes with guests from SaaS, fintech, healthtech, and creative industries
• Topics include: founder psychology, content strategy, personal branding, early-stage growth, and long-term thinking
• Repurposed across LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, and a weekly newsletter

If you’re building something interesting and want to share the story behind it, reach out, I’m always open to good conversations.

Podcaster and Writer

Fetch.ai

Brief stint before realising my own thing was the way to go. I helped shape Fetch.ai's social strategy and manage content channels. Focused on storytelling for an AI agent-driven product.

• Ran successful social accounts on behalf of the business
• Created social calendars and wrote content aligned with product milestones
• Helped set up systems for consistent, scalable content production

Short stint, but key exposure to a large early-stage startup, learned how to build fast, without fluff.

Social Media and Content Manager

Sonder

Sonder is a personal branding agency — this is where I sharpened my skills in founder positioning and executive content.

• Ghostwrote for CEOs, founders, and operators across industries
• Built content strategies focused on real outcomes, not vanity metrics
• Helped develop brand voice, narrative, and messaging frameworks for clients
• Supported campaigns across LinkedIn, personal sites, and internal decks

This was my transition from general content into personal brand leadership.

Content Manager

We're Sonder, a London-based personal brand consultancy working with Founders, CEOs and Senior Leaders of global enterprises at the forefront of innovation.

Unlike other personal branding entities, we don’t quantify only vanity metrics as ‘success’, instead, we adopt a holistic approach to personal branding that achieves actual results in the form of strategic opportunities for our clients and their businesses.

From startups to Fortune 500s, we are defined by our ability to seamlessly integrate into a diverse range of often complex business ecosystems, providing value that far transcends just personal branding.

Beyond the success we achieve for our clients, we are proud to create and shape narratives that define culture and affect meaningful societal change.

Copywriter

VAT IT

Owned channel partnerships and supported internal comms at a global tax recovery firm.

• Managed B2B relationships with enterprise clients and channel partners
• Wrote internal comms and supported brand messaging
• Learned how to align stakeholders across sales, product, and operations

This role taught me how to work cross-functionally, essential now when working with busy founder clients.

Channel Manager

Nifty Nuggets (NFT Project)

• Developed dynamic scripts for content advertisements to amplify product awareness and drive demand.
• Produced engaging YouTube content through meticulous video editing and crafted compelling Twitter • CTA posts to attract target audiences.
• Formulated and executed successful brand image and voice strategies to enhance the project's appeal and reach.

Marketing and Content

0xA Technologies

• Developed and executed effective social media and brand identity strategies to increase company awareness and engagement.
• Established content channels and created compelling content to drive traffic and generate leads.
• Conducted in-depth interviews with founders to gain valuable insights into our tool and better understand market needs.
• Delivered detailed market reports that informed decision-making, resulting in improved product positioning and increased revenue.

Marketing Specialist

Local schools

English Teacher

MC World

• Conducted research and development initiatives to enhance overall operational efficiency.
• Managed components to ensure seamless integration and optimization of resources.
• Facilitated effective communications management across teams, resulting in improved collaboration and organizational alignment.

Operations Manager

Helping Founders Become Thought Leaders | Founder of Cue Studios

You’re already sitting on a goldmine (your personal brand). Let’s unlock it.

I never set out to "build a personal brand." I just started sharing what I knew.

And then, something unexpected happened. Opportunities started coming my way. Clients. Speaking invites. Partnerships.

That was my first “aha” moment. This isn’t just posting online. It’s a growth engine.

Most founders ignore their personal brand. Here’s why that’s a mistake.

Right now, you’re running a business. You’re solving problems. You’re having conversations every day that could be turned into valuable content.

But instead:

• You don’t know what to talk about
• You’re not sure how you want to come across
• You’re not leveraging your experience to attract the right people

What if I told you you don’t have to do anything extra?

Your daily insights are already content. You just need the right strategy to get it in front of the right people.

This is where I come in.

I help founders turn their expertise into authority without wasting time or chasing vanity metrics.

What I do:

• Define your personal brand. Who you are, what you stand for, and how you should show up online
• Create the right content for the right audience so you attract clients, investors, or opportunities
• Develop a system so your brand runs without taking over your life

And here’s what happens when we get it right:

• Speaking engagements on top-tier stages
• Inbound leads and investment opportunities
• Industry recognition that makes you the go-to name in your field
• A network of high-value relationships that drive your business forward

I’ve helped tech founders, Web3 builders, and executives grow their influence and I can help you do the same.

So, what’s your next move?

You can keep letting others control the narrative about who you are.

Or you can start shaping it yourself and attract the kind of opportunities that change everything.

DM me or book a call. Let’s make your brand work for you.

Byron Grealy

The hardest part of building a personal brand? 

It’s sticking with it.

Over the last year, on this platform, I’ve seen so many people come and go. 
And some even come back again.

The problem isn’t creativity. 
It’s consistency.

And it’s funny, because consistency is both the hardest and the simplest part of this whole thing.

Hard, because life happens. 
Priorities shift. Posting slips down the list.

Simple, because there’s no trick to it.
You just keep showing up, every day, or every other day, and keep going.

Look at the biggest creators on here.
They’ve been doing this for years.
They’re not just building an audience, they’re compounding momentum.

And as their lives get more complicated, more clients, more travel, more everything, they’re still consistent.

Why?

Most of the time, it’s not because they’re more inspired or more motivated.
It’s because they have systems.

If you don’t have structure, this stuff gets overwhelming fast.
But if you do, even a simple one, it gets easier to stay in motion.

So here’s your reminder to keep showing up.
Even if it’s imperfect. Even if it’s not your best post.

Published beats perfect.
Every time.

You’re showing up all over LinkedIn, comments, DMs, search.

If your profile photo sucks, that’s the first impression you’re making.

Your headline doesn’t matter if no one clicks.
Your About section doesn’t matter if no one gets that far.
Your content doesn’t matter if your face is a blurry pixel.

That tiny little circle shows up next to your name, everywhere.

And it still surprises me how little thought people put into it.

I spent five minutes scrolling LinkedIn and saw the same familiar types:
• The blurry car selfie
• The graduation photo from ten years ago
• The sunglasses-at-the-beach shot
• The cropped group photo
• The full-body pic where your face is barely visible
• And of course… the company logo

To make the point clearer, I made a visual with AI-generated examples.
And for the record: I wouldn’t recommend using AI for your actual profile photo.
People can usually tell, and if your goal is to build trust, that has the opposite effect.

The good news is, you don’t need a professional photographer.
You just need a bit of intention.

Here are a few simple tips:
• Stand facing a window, natural light makes a big difference
• Frame it shoulders up so your face is actually visible
• Keep the background clean
• Look approachable (seriously, just look like someone people want to talk to)
• Avoid weird angles, heavy shadows, and filters that don’t look like you
• And make sure it actually reflects your personality

Your profile photo should feel like you.
If you’re relaxed, show it.
If you’re bold, own it.
If you’re more polished and professional, that’s fine too.

This stuff seems small.
But it sets the tone before you’ve said a single word.

It’s worth getting right.

Security isn’t about having something stable anymore.

It’s about being someone adaptable.

With AI advancing, companies going under, and people being let go, there’s a lot of fear right now, and understandably so.

But fear, in this case, usually comes from a place of helplessness.
If you’re afraid of what your future looks like, it’s probably because someone else has control over it. 
And that’s never a good position to be in.

I know everyone’s situation is different, so I can only speak from my own experience.
For a long time, having a job felt like the ultimate form of security.
Now it doesn’t.

Security, to me, is being in control of my future, continuing to learn, staying relevant, growing new skills.
Because that’s the part you can control.
Anyone can learn and upskill. You just have to decide to.
Waiting for life to happen to you won’t get you anywhere.

And the truth is, the bare minimum doesn’t cut it anymore.
It used to. You’d send out a few job applications, do an interview, and get the job.
Now it’s competitive. Everyone’s going above and beyond to stand out.
AI is probably doing half the applications, and people hiring know that.

The same goes for business.
Doing what’s “in demand” isn’t enough anymore.
It’s easy to copy a business that’s making money, but it’s hard to copy a brand, a feeling, a community.

In every industry, in every profession, there’s always something extra you can do to stand out.
Most people already know what that thing is. 
They’re just not doing it.

And maybe that’s the difference between staying stuck and staying afloat.
Because it’s never too late to start.

Negative headlines get 2.3% more clicks.

And we wonder why the internet feels like chaos.

But the same rule applies to your content.
People don’t react to information.
They react to emotion.

That’s where top-of-funnel content comes in.
It’s not there to sell.
It’s there to make people feel something.

It could inspire them.
Frustrate them.
Divide them a little.

Because a reaction is always better than indifference.

And there’s no single formula. 
It depends on your brand.

I’ve seen creators drop the C-word mid-post, on purpose.
Not for shock value, but to say: if that offends you, you’re not my people.
It worked.
It repelled the wrong crowd and pulled the right ones closer.

That’s the game: emotion > neutrality.

Here’s what it looks like:

✅ Positive: Sharing your story of going jobless to independent.
Finally taking a risk that paid off.
Those posts inspire some, irritate others, but no one scrolls past feeling nothing.

❌ Negative: Commenting on UK train chaos, cost of living, or the digital ID rollout.
Everyone’s got a take. Which means everyone engages.

The trick isn’t to chase drama.
It’s to anchor emotion to you.

Trains are a mess - so you introduced a travel allowance.
Strikes hit - so you told your team to stay home.
That’s not a rant. That’s leadership. That’s branding.

Yes, it's sad that negativity spreads faster than positivity.
But when you use it with intent, to show values, spark emotion, or humanise your work, it builds connection, not chaos.

You don’t need to drop the C bomb.
You just need to make people feel something.

Still treating your About section like an afterthought?

That might be why no one’s reaching out.

Writing it is awkward.
You’re supposed to talk about yourself, but not too much.
Sound professional, but not stiff.
Add personality, but stay on brand.

So most people play it safe.
They default to a dry bio, full of buzzwords, or something that doesn’t actually say anything.
And don't get me started on the ones written in the 3rd person. 

But your About section isn’t just a nice-to-have.
It’s positioning.

Whether you’re building a business or looking for a job, you’re selling something.
And if you’re selling, you need to know two things:
Who are you talking to?
And what exactly are you offering?

It still needs to sound like you, but it also needs to do something.

Here’s what actually works:

1. Lead with clarity
The first two lines are everything.
Don’t waste them being clever.
Say what you do and who it’s for, clearly and quickly.

2. Write like a person
If it reads like a LinkedIn bio from 2011, it’s not helping you.
Write like you’re explaining what you do to a smart friend in a different industry.
Cut the jargon. Keep the voice.

3. Add a point of view
What do you care about? What do you want to be known for?
Even one sentence that shows how you think makes you more memorable.

4. Speak to their pain
Whether it’s a hiring manager or a potential client, show them you get it.
What problem are they stuck with? What’s broken? What’s keeping them up at night?
If you can name their problem better than they can, you’ve already built trust.

5. Explain what you actually do
Not your job title, the outcomes.
What problems do you solve? What kind of work do you love doing?
This is where you connect the dots between their pain and your expertise.

6. Make the next step obvious
Looking for work? Say what kind.
Freelancing? Mention the types of projects.
Even something simple like “open to interesting opportunities” helps.
Don’t make people guess.

7. Keep it focused
This isn’t your life story.
It’s a filter to help the right people get what they need and move one step closer to you.
Cut anything that doesn’t serve that.

You don’t need it to be perfect.
You just need it to sound like you and be useful to the person reading it.

That’s what makes it work.

People can spot BS faster than ever.

If you’re not practicing what you pitch, it shows.

Had a chat with a friend the other day about how often we’re pitched by people who clearly don’t do the work for themselves.

You know the type, same recycled script, zero research, clearly copy-pasted.
I’ve had people pitch me the exact services I offer, without realising who they’re pitching.

That’s the problem.

Too many people think the hard part is crafting an offer, writing a clever hook, or blasting out 100 DMs.
It’s not.

The hard part is proof.

No one jumps on a call right away anymore.
They click your profile.
Skim your content.
Scan your site.
And ask: “Do I actually believe this person can do what they say they can?”

Most of the time, the answer’s no.

You can’t sell personal branding if your profile’s a ghost town.
You can’t sell lead gen if your calendar’s empty.
You can’t sell growth if you’re not growing.
And no, taking a few pics in front of a rented lambo doesn’t count.

People aren’t looking for perfection.
They’re looking for proof. For consistency. 
For something that feels real.

And spare me the “too busy with clients” excuse.
That’s not a flex. It’s a red flag.

If you’re actually good at what you do, your presence should show it, not hide it.

So before you hit send on your next pitch, ask yourself:
Would you believe you?

Think LinkedIn’s broken?

Or is your post just bad?

Everyone’s talking about reach being down.
Some are even panicking.
I’ve had a few people DM me about joining engagement lists, like that's the solution. 

But that’s never been how you grow here.

This isn’t one of those “how to fix your reach” posts.
I just want to share what I’ve noticed.

Over the last few weeks, LinkedIn’s feed has shifted.
It used to be predictable; you’d post, and your usual crew would see it almost instantly.
Especially if they’d engaged with you regularly.

Now, even if someone interacts with you all the time, they might not see your post for a few hours, unless they’ve turned on notifications.

At first, I thought it was a glitch.
But it’s not.

It’s a smart algorithm change. 

Because if your post only works on people who already know and like you… 
How valuable is it really?

What seems to be happening now:
LinkedIn tests your post first with people outside your inner circle.
If they pause, engage, or stick around, the algorithm sees that as a signal of value.
If they don’t? 
You don’t get reach, because you didn’t earn it.

It’s not perfect, but it makes sense.
Everyone says they want less recycled content and AI fluff; this is the platform's attempt at filtering for it.

So next time you post, don’t just write for the people who already follow you.

Ask yourself: Would someone brand new care about this?
If not, it’s probably not as strong as you think.

And that’s not a platform problem.
That’s a content problem.

taplio

The Battle

Renier Lombard "The Digital Animal"

Byron Grealy

Followers

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Performance ScoreRenier Lombard "The Digital Animal"'s LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreByron Grealy's LinkedIn Performance

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taplio

The Battle

Renier Lombard "The Digital Animal"

Byron Grealy

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);}Renier Lombard "The Digital Animal"'s LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreByron Grealy's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreRenier Lombard "The Digital Animal"'s LinkedIn Performance