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$20k Monthly Brain Based Sales System Without Chasing the "Yes"

You know the feeling:
😳 Your brain lights up with “What if they think I’m pushy?” the second you open a DM.
😬 You’d rather post and pray the right people find you than risk being ghosted.
😅 You tell yourself that if you were really good, clients would just show up.

You don’t want to fake connection just to pitch.
You want sales that feels human. Real conversations, not pressure tactics.

You’re not bad at sales.
Your brain is just protecting you.

The amygdala flags rejection as danger.
Your prefrontal cortex freezes.
And boom hesitation, overthinking, silence.

That’s where my work comes in.
I teach the Neuroscience of No-Pressure Sales so you can sell with calm confidence instead of fear.

No scripts. No manipulation.
Just science, psychology, and simple tools to retrain your nervous system so selling feels natural again.

When your brain is relaxed, your authenticity returns.
You stop pitching and start connecting.
Outreach stops feeling like an intrusion and starts feeling like service.

This is sales made easy for coaches who hate selling.

✨ Ways to get started with me:

✅ If you're a coach DM me "Butter"
✅ If you're a business owner DM me "Butter"
✅ If you're a sales leader DM me "Butter"
✅ Attend my next workshop for FREE BRAIN BASED SALES SECRETS. https://forms.gle/HvTRDEZEuu7bgQEF8
✅ Subscribe to the Be Like Butter Bugle: Weekly brain hacks for resilience and influence. https://synaptic-solutions.kit.com/newsletter

Personal interests: 
- Captain ⛵️ 
- Recovering Sugar Addict 🍭 
- Trash TV consumer 🗑️

Sales Coach | Toxic Boss Coach | Neuroscience Coach | Executive Coach | Master Behavioral Strategist | Speaker | Advisor | Expert | 7 figures | Virtual Speaking | Sales Performance Brain Hacker | Mindset Coach I Corporate Trainer I Influence I Key Note Speaker

🧠 Shannon Smith, J.D., M.S. 🚀

Stop chasing success alone.

Every innovator who built something great had 1 thing in common

Connection
It’s not that creativity happens alone…
It’s that the brain creates better in connection.

The brain evolved to think with other brains.
When connection is present, threat detection quiets.

The amygdala relaxes.
The prefrontal cortex stays online.
That’s where creativity lives.

Connection increases neural synchrony.
Brains begin to align.
Ideas move faster.
Patterns emerge you can’t see solo.

Isolation does the opposite.
Thinking loops.
Risk tolerance drops.
Novelty dries up.

Creativity isn’t just about safety.
It’s about belonging.
Here’s how :

1️⃣ Think out loud with others
 Speaking activates more neural networks than silent thought.
 Shared dialogue creates neural synchrony,
 helping the brain integrate patterns it can’t access alone.
 Half-formed ideas are fuel, not flaws.

2️⃣ Build before you judge
 Evaluation triggers the amygdala.
 Threat shuts down the prefrontal cortex.
 Sequence matters: expand first, critique later.
 Flow requires a brain that isn’t defending itself.

3️⃣ Create spaces to explore, not perform
 Performance activates social threat circuitry.
 Play lowers cortisol and increases cognitive flexibility.
 A relaxed nervous system makes wider, more novel connections.

Innovation doesn’t come from brilliance.
It comes from brains that feel safe thinking together.

PS: Who do you think best with?

Want to get an article published in a big time magazine?
I'll give you the contact info for 150+ reporters for major publications +
A Custom Message so you can break the ice & establish a relationship. 
How to get it? Join --> https://lnkd.in/gbfNasyU

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This feels illegal.

I built a mobile app while sailing.

Out there, things get quiet.
No notifications fighting for attention.
No noise telling you who to be.

Just wind, water, and time to notice what’s inside.

That’s where the idea came from.

Not everyone can disappear onto a boat.
But everyone needs a way to reconnect with themselves
In a loud world that never shuts up.

So I opened Replit
and described an app idea I’d already been researching. 

How to connect with yourself in a tech heavy world using…
Guess what…yes, neuroscience. 
You guessed it. 

Replit turned that idea into a real mobile app.

A live phone preview appeared.
I played with it and iterated between tacks. 
A few messages later, the app matched the intention.

Calm.
Minimal.
Human.

No mobile frameworks.
No complicated setup.
No build headaches.

Replit handled the mobile stack…
the preview
and the path to publishing.

I focused on the part that mattered:
creating space for real connection.

That’s the point.

You don’t need to escape your life to feel grounded.
You can build tools that bring you back to yourself.
Right where you are.
Even in a noisy world.

If you’ve ever wanted to create an app without needing a team
(or a computer) 
NOW you can. 

Get the Replit app and build from anywhere.
YOUR $10 REPLIT CREDIT
https://lnkd.in/gSCu_9Tj

P.S. If I vanish for a few hours I’m probably publishing a new app between tacks. 

-------------------------------------------------------------

➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for brain based peace and app building
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It's not that you aren't creative...

It's that your brain doesn't get enough breathing room

When outcomes matter too much,
the nervous system shifts into protection.

Certainty over curiosity.
Efficiency over exploration.

The amygdala scans for mistakes.
The prefrontal cortex goes quiet.
Thinking narrows to what’s already proven.

That feels like a creativity problem.
It’s actually a safety problem.

Innovation doesn’t come from pushing harder.
It comes from widening the mental field.

Creative insight requires a brain
that isn’t bracing for consequences.

One that feels free to test, miss, and iterate
without immediate judgment.

That’s why pressure-heavy environments
produce more output…
and fewer breakthroughs.

Creativity is a state, not a talent.
Change the state and ideas follow.

Here’s how to heighten creativity on demand:

1/ Slow the body before you think
Creativity follows regulation.
Lengthen your exhale for 60 seconds before ideating.
A calmer nervous system reopens cognitive range.

2/ Create “low-stakes” thinking space
Tell your brain nothing here has to be right.
Set a 10-minute window for bad ideas only.
Permission removes the fear that blocks novelty.

3/ Shift environments, not effort
New inputs disrupt rigid patterns.
Walk. Change rooms. Look farther into the distance.
Movement and visual expansion spark new connections.

When the brain feels safe enough to explore,
it starts to play.
And play is where innovation lives.

PS: Which of these would change how you think the fastest?

Introducing Butterhood Connect:
Find your people - other entrepreneurs like yourself. 
PLUS...FREE content on:
- Craft content that converts
- Understand your ICP deeply
- Increase your cognitive flexibility
- DM to get in front of your prospect
 You don't have to do this alone. Join us FREE
https://lnkd.in/gqMj4Vfz

Video Credit: Unknown
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Clarity doesn’t come from thinking harder

It comes from feeling safer.

When the brain senses pressure, it prepares to defend.
 
Attention narrows.
Options collapse.
The mind looks for certainty.

That state is efficient.
It’s not creative.

Innovation requires uncertainty tolerance.
That tolerance lives in the nervous system,
not the intellect.

When the parasympathetic nervous system activates,

✅ The body slows.
✅ The threat response stands down.
✅ The brain regains flexibility.

This is when perception widens.
Old assumptions loosen.

Problems reorganize themselves.
New pathways become visible.
Psychological safety is what allows this shift.

It tells the brain nothing bad will happen
if you explore a different angle.

Without safety, the brain repeats.
With safety, the brain imagines.

No regulation, no reframing.
No reframing, no innovation.

Here’s how to design for it:
1️⃣ Regulate before you reason
 Slowing the breath reduces neural noise.
 Clear thinking follows bodily calm.

2️⃣ Delay decisions during ideation
 Premature judgment triggers threat circuits.
 Time preserves creative flexibility.

3️⃣ Create private space to think freely
 Privacy lowers social evaluation.
 Safety expands possibility.

Breakthroughs come from a nervous system 
that feels safe enough
to see the problem differently.

PS: What helps your body settle fastest?

Join us for innovation --> https://lnkd.in/gbfNasyU

Video Credit: Unknown

-------------------------------------------------------
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You’re not broken.

You're just not connected...

...in a way no one taught you to recognize.

We have more connection technology than ever.
Group chats. Slack threads. Social feeds.
Standing meetings. Faces everywhere.

You can be busy, productive, and surrounded by people
And still feel unseen, unfelt, and unsupported.

Modern life keeps the nervous system overstimulated.
Your brain is flooded with input, decisions,
and performance cues.

When that happens, the social brain goes offline.
You don’t lose the desire for connection.
You lose access to it.

So you adapt.

You stay functional instead of present.
You keep conversations light instead of real.
You handle things alone because it feels safer.
You tell yourself you’re “fine”
while feeling disconnected from yourself.

Over time, that state becomes your baseline.
And the most painful part?

You start to believe this is just how life is.
It’s not.

Disconnection isn’t a personality trait.
It’s a nervous system state.
And nervous system states can change.

Here’s what neuroscience shows actually helps.

1/ regulation comes before connection.
 When your system is overloaded,
 bonding chemistry can’t do its job.
 You don’t need better words.
 You need your body to feel safe enough
 to be real.

2/ small moments matter more
 than deep conversations.
 Eye contact that lasts a beat longer.
 A pause instead of rushing away.
 Naming what you notice
 instead of what sounds impressive.

3/ connection accelerates in the right environment.
Trying to heal disconnection alone
 keeps the brain in protection mode.
 Being around others doing hard inner work
 creates co-regulation.

Your nervous system learns:
“I don’t have to carry this by myself.”
That’s why community matters.

Not noisy.
Not performative.
Not networking.

But a grounded space of people 
reconnecting with themselves
and with others.

This is what I’m building.
A community for capable, thoughtful people
doing hard things
who don’t want to do them alone.

A place to regulate, reflect, and be real
without fixing yourself
or pretending you’re fine.

If you’ve felt alone in a world full of people,
it’s not because something is wrong with you.
It’s because your nervous system
hasn’t had the right conditions yet.

And you don’t have to create those alone.
If this resonated, the community is open
for people ready to reconnect with themselves and with others.

P.S. Where do you feel most disconnected right now?

Introducing Butterhood Connect:
Find your people - other entrepreneurs like yourself. 
PLUS...FREE content on:
- Craft content that converts
- Understand your ICP deeply
- Increase your cognitive flexibility
- DM to get in front of your prospect
 You don't have to do this alone. Join us FREE
https://lnkd.in/gqMj4Vfz

------------------------------------------------------------
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♻️ Share this with someone who might feel alone but never say it

It’s not that your team doesn't have new ideas…

It’s that they don’t feel safe enough to share them with you.

When people sense evaluation,
their nervous systems switch to self-protection.

😶‍🌫️ They edit.
😶‍🌫️ They hedge.
😶‍🌫️ They stick to what’s already approved.

That looks like alignment.
It’s actually inhibition.

Innovation requires exposure.
New ideas are, by definition, unproven.
And the brain treats being wrong like a social threat.

So the amygdala gets loud.
Risk tolerance drops.
Thinking narrows to what won’t get you in trouble.

That’s why teams with “high standards”
but low psychological safety
produce execution…
not breakthroughs.

Psychological safety isn’t about being nice.
It’s about creating conditions
where the prefrontal cortex stays online.

When people believe they won’t be punished
for experimenting,
their brains stay open.

They challenge assumptions.
They connect unlikely dots.
They surface problems early.

No safety, no innovation.
No innovation, no future edge.

If you want better ideas, don’t ask for more creativity.
Design environments where
people don’t have to protect themselves first.

PS: Where do you notice people holding back on your team?

Join the Butterhood Connect
- Get free resources and training on DMs
- Figure out your sales style
- Jumpstart your sales!
Build relationships with other entrepreneurs
You don't have to do this ALONE
https://lnkd.in/gbpNMdU6

Video Credit: Unknown

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Your CRM shows ACTIVITY.

It doesn't show REALITY.

Most managers think they understand their pipeline.
But they’re only seeing the version their reps feel comfortable sharing.

The CRM shows progress.
The reps show confidence.
The pipeline shows movement.

But underneath all of that
there’s hesitation, uncertainty, and doubt
that never makes it into the forecast.

And that’s the part that costs you.

Reps aren’t trying to mislead you.
They’re trying to look competent.
So they hold back the early warning signs.
They soften how shaky a deal feels.
They overstate buyer momentum.

They wait until a problem becomes undeniable
and by then
your quarter is already in danger.

That’s why so many leaders get blindsided.
Not because the deals are bad
but because the real signals were never visible.

A CRM tracks activity.
It doesn’t track conviction.
It doesn’t track buyer emotions.
It doesn’t track rep confidence.
It doesn’t track the energy of the deal
which is the part that collapses first.

SalesSage exposes that hidden layer.
It reveals where reps feel unsure.
It highlights deals that look fine on paper
but feel unstable underneath.
It identifies slipping belief before it becomes slipping revenue.
It gives you truth early
so you can fix the problem while there’s still time.

Leaders don’t need more data.
They need the truth behind the data.
That’s the gap SalesSage closes.

If you want to see what’s really happening
beneath the surface of your pipeline sign up
14 day free trial
https://salessage.co/

P.S. How was your Q4?

-----------------------------------------------------------------
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♻️ Share if you’ve ever been blindsided by a “healthy” deal that fell apart

You can’t fix a quarter your team’s afraid to talk about.

Your biggest revenue leak isn’t pipeline. It’s silence.

The worst part of running a sales team
is thinking you’re safe right before the quarter blows up.

Your CRM says you’re good.
Your reps say deals are “strong”.
Forecast looks clean.
You breathe for two seconds.

Then the quarter flips
and you’re standing there like
what the hell just happened?

Here’s the truth nobody wants to say:
Reps aren’t lying.
Their brains are.

People say things are fine when they’re overwhelmed.
They overestimate deals when they’re stressed.
They downplay risk when they don’t want to look behind.

So you get the truth only after it hits your number.
Sales Sage catches it earlier.

It spots confidence dips.
Avoidance patterns.
Dead deals dressed up as healthy ones.
Execution cracks that never show in a CRM.

Stuff reps don’t say out loud but absolutely tank a quarter.
If you’re tired of getting blindsided
by “everything looks good” data

P.S. What's your best closing line?

See the truth your reps won’t say out loud 
(before it blows up your number)
Taking 100 beta testers - 14 day free trial
https://salessage.co/

---------------------------------------------------------------

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➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for brain based sales insights

Your pipeline isn’t lying. 

Your reps just don’t feel safe telling you the truth.

Managers think they know what’s in their pipeline.
But they only know what the CRM tells them.
And the CRM only tells them what reps feel safe enough to share.

You’re managing numbers you can’t trust.
Your pipeline looks clean.
Your reps sound confident.
Your CRM says things are “on track.”
But something feels off.

Deals stall quietly.
Momentum fades.
Forecasts slip.
And you don’t see it until it's too late.

Reps aren’t dishonest.
They’re human.
They soften risk.
They hide uncertainty.
They overstate momentum
because nobody wants to look unsure.

So you get blindsided.
Not by deals.
But by the emotional truth your CRM can’t capture.

This creates a silent threat inside every sales org.
You miss red flags early.
You lose weeks of runway.
You carry the blame for information
you never got soon enough.

The cost isn’t just deals.
It’s trust.
It’s team performance.
It’s the reputational hit when your forecast misses again.

SalesSage uncovers what’s really going on
Underneath the numbers.

It reads emotional signals your CRM can’t track.
It surfaces hesitation before it becomes a stall.
It identifies low conviction before it becomes a lost deal.
It reveals drift before it becomes a blown quarter.

No pressure on reps.
No interrogation.
Just a 10 minute pulse
that shows you the truth behind the pipeline.

If you want your pipeline to tell you what’s real
not what’s hopeful

Taking 100 beta testers - 14 day free trial
https://salessage.co/

--------------------------------------------------------------------

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♻️ Share if you’ve ever been blindsided by a “healthy” pipeline

Stop telling yourself that you're too busy to DM.

Stop telling yourself DMs are too pushy. 

DMs close sales. Period. 

Most people think outreach stalls
because they don’t know what to say.
That’s rarely true.

What’s actually happening is identity protection.
Your brain isn’t avoiding DMs to save time.
It’s protecting how you see yourself.

So you stay visible.
You post.
You wait.

And the conversations that move revenue never start.

When the nervous system flags selling as risk,
avoidance looks like strategy.

Weeks pass.
Opportunities decay.
Revenue becomes unpredictable.
That delay has a real cost.

Avoiding just 3–5 high-value messages a week
can quietly leave $15K–$100K per quarter on the table.

Not because you lack ability.
Because “selling” feels unsafe.

This is why scripts don’t stick.
Knowledge ≠ movement.

Insight shows up first.
Behavior only follows when the underlying pattern shifts.

That’s what Butterhood is for.
Not more information.
Not performance.
Not pressure.

It’s a place to notice friction in real time
and make small, deliberate moves
that change momentum.

Inside, we work on:
Why certain conversations stall even when you say the right thing
What makes outreach feel heavy and how to remove that friction
How to move conversations forward without forcing or performing
Installing a sales rhythm that feels stable instead of stressful

They’re ordered intentionally.
Each layer stabilizes the nervous system for the next.

If you’ve ever thought, “This makes sense…
so why am I not doing it yet?”

That’s the signal.
GET IN THE DMS.
Still resisting?
GET INTO THE BUTTERHOOD.

If you want influence that moves like butter 🧈
Join Butterhood → https://lnkd.in/gbfNasyU

BONUS: Want to get an article published in a big time magazine?
I'll give you the contact info for 150+ reporters for major publications +
A Custom Message so you can break the ice & establish a relationship. 
How to get it? Join --> https://lnkd.in/gbfNasyU

PS: Where do your conversations stall right now?

---------------------------------------------------------------------

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♻️ Share this if you want to help someone move again

Why do you have that stupid look on your face?

A C-level executive asked me on my first day

I was sitting across his desk of my first big girl job
(Talk about an executive onboarding)
I was just 20 years old.

I remember freezing.
Not answering.
Just blinking.

I laughed it off and swallowed my pride. 

Meeting over.
But my body stayed locked.

Jaw tight.
Chest and body buzzing.
Mind replaying every word.

Later that day a coworker asked if I was okay.

I said yes.
I wasn’t lying on purpose.
I just didn’t know what “okay” even meant anymore.

That’s the problem with stress.
It normalizes.
Your nervous system adapts.
Your baseline quietly shifts.

You think its no big deal. 
I’m fine. 

Your body knows that you’re not.
For years, I relied on vibes.
Am I handling it or barely holding it together?

No data.
No baseline.
Just guessing.

That’s why I built a these resources
✅ An entire toxic boss armor system
✅ 25-question nervous system audit
✅ An app that helps you each step of the way

Not a personality quiz.
Not mindset fluff.

Actual signals of load, recovery,
and how close you are to the edge.

The site and app give you a real baseline.
Clear data.
Practical next steps.

You don’t need thicker skin.
You need awareness and a hand up. 

PS What's your worst toxic boss story?

https://lnkd.in/guRmdNEu

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Why do you have that stupid look on your face

Everyone wants AI magic.

Few want to invest in the foundation.

People light up when they talk about AI lead gen.

AI outreach.
AI follow up.
AI prospecting.
The promise of more output with less effort...
It's intoxicating.

But effectiveness still comes from the human brain.
The seller’s state.
The buyer’s state.
The interaction between the two.

If your nervous system is overloaded, 
your messages won’t land.

If your prospect’s nervous system is tense,
your tools won’t move them.

If your clarity wobbles,
your AI will wobble with it.

Tools can accelerate your behavior.
They can’t upgrade your regulation.
They can’t deepen your presence.
They can’t create safety for a buyer who isn’t sure yet.

So you can very quickly send a bad message to 
a lot of people (and I see this a lot).
Super efficient. 
Effective?
Not so much. 

You would have been better off 
not to send anything at all. 

You create
👀 noise.
👀 hesitation.
👀 stall points.

Before you automate anything,
your nervous system has to support the interaction.
Your messaging has to speak to the real pressure points.
Your awareness has to read what the buyer is actually signaling.

Here are the pieces that shift everything:
1️⃣ A regulated internal state
A steady system writes messages people lean into.

2️⃣ Understanding buyer pressure
Not their demographics.
Their actual cognitive load.

3️⃣ Signal-based communication
Warmth, recency, micro-openings, lowered stakes.

Without this foundation in place, AI becomes clutter.
😶‍🌫️ Damages your brand.
😶‍🌫️ Irritates your people. 
😶‍🌫️ Loses your clients.

Inside Butterhood, this is the core work.
The human layer that makes every tool
more powerful, more accurate, and more profitable.
EFFECTIVE.

Join us → https://lnkd.in/gbfNasyU

PS: What AI promise are people chasing the hardest right now?

---------------------------------------------------------------
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7 signs you're tough enough for your toxic boss...

without quitting your job.

Your nervous system has a baseline.
That baseline shapes how pressure lands.

Here are 7 signs you're tough enough:

1/ Your baseline state
 A system that rarely rests stays closer to threat.
 From that state, stress hits faster and harder.
 Do this: notice how you feel when you first wake up.
 Do this: schedule one daily pause with no objective.

2/ Continuous motion
 Moving task to task keeps activation high.
 The body never completes a stress cycle.
 Do this: insert a 2-minute pause between blocks.
 Do this: stand still and breathe before switching tasks.

3/ Mental load during “rest”
 A busy mind keeps the system activated.
 Physical stillness alone doesn’t equal recovery.
 Do this: notice if your mind stays busy at rest.
 Do this: gently bring attention to body sensations.

4/ Guilt around slowing down
 Guilt keeps the nervous system alert.
 Safety requires permission to stop.
 Do this: notice the urge to justify rest.
 Do this: remind yourself recovery supports performance.

5/ Morning and evening carryover
 Tension on waking signals unresolved load.
 Evening stress blocks downshifting.
 Do this: check your body before checking your phone.
 Do this: create a short shutdown ritual at night.

6/ Recovery timing
 Waiting for exhaustion delays regulation.
 Late recovery takes longer to work.
 Do this: rest before you feel depleted.
 Do this: add small resets throughout the day.

7/ Social threat sensitivity
 Overloaded systems struggle with power dynamics.
 Emotional range narrows under pressure.
 Do this: regulate before interactions, not after.
 Do this: widen awareness when tension rises.

This comes before any boss strategy.
Awareness of starting state is the first layer of immunity.

PS Which point showed you something you hadn’t noticed before?

Toxic Boss Immunity - 
Building a self-serve platform
To create a path to freedom where you call the shots, you're unshakable, you're influential, and free from anyone else’s control.
Get on the waitlist for FREE
https://lnkd.in/gGJYwXPa
OR
DM Me "Toxic Audit" for your own quick check

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 7 signs you're tough enough for a toxic boss

Don't just pray for a job.

Pray for a leader, not a toxic boss. 

They say you leave your manager, not your job.
So. True. 

Culture lives in nervous systems.
Leaders set the baseline every day.
Teams regulate around that signal automatically.

Here are 5 signs of a great leader:

1/ Self-regulation
 A great leader notices their own stress.
 They slow down before they speak.
 The room settles when they enter.

A toxic leader brings unprocessed stress.
The room tightens immediately.

2/ Clarity under pressure
 A great leader keeps priorities stable.
 Expectations stay clear during chaos.
 Brains relax when rules do not shift.

A toxic leader changes direction emotionally.
The team scans moods instead of work.

3/ Pressure flows upward
 A great leader absorbs pressure from above.
 They filter noise before it hits the team.
 Focus stays intact.

A toxic leader pushes pressure downward.
Urgency spreads through the group.

4/ Recovery is allowed
 A great leader respects human limits.
 Pauses are normal and safe.
 Energy and thinking stay strong.

A toxic leader rewards constant output.
Rest feels risky or earned.

5/ Response over reaction
 A great leader pauses in conflict.
 Their nervous system stays online.
 Hard talks feel contained.

A toxic leader reacts emotionally.
Others mirror the instability.
Trust erodes quietly.

Leadership is not control.
It is regulation.

PS Which one of these have you felt?

Toxic Boss Immunity 
Building a self-serve platform
To create a path to freedom where you call the shots, you're unshakable, you're influential, and free from anyone else’s control.
Get on the waitlist for FREE
https://lnkd.in/gGJYwXPa

-----------------------------------------------------------

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♻️ Repost if a leader you know needs this lens.

Behind every “I’m not qualified”

Is a future you haven’t met yet. 

I’m not technical.
I’ve never wanted to be “the code person.”
And honestly, that used to stop me.

Because most AI coding hype assumes
you already know what you’re doing.
Repos.
Installs.
Setup before you even start.

That’s where Replit felt different.
I stayed in the browser.
I described what I wanted in plain words.
And I watched a real app come to life.
Live.

I wasn’t struggling to learn syntax.
I was refining an idea using my own language. 

You grow by doing things you aren’t qualified to do yet.
Most people don’t fail because they can’t.

They stop because they tell themselves
“I’m not technical enough.”

I didn’t suddenly become technical.
The barrier just disappeared.

Replit handled the setup, hosting, and deployment.
I focused on what the app should feel like.
That’s the unlock.

If you already code,
pairing Replit with Claude Code accelerates shipping.
If you don’t,
Replit still lets you build something real.

No identity change required.

You don’t need permission.
You don’t need a team.
You don’t need to be “qualified” yet.
You just need to start.

P.S. What have you been waiting to build?

💡 $10 credit for Replit Core users —>
https://lnkd.in/gSCu_9Tj

P.P.S. If you’ve been telling yourself “I’m not ready for that yet,”
THIS IS YOUR SIGN

------------------------------------------------------------------

➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for brain based performance
♻️ Share to inspire someone who’s doubting their fire

The way to get clients on Linkedin is this...

Understand the inner thoughts of your ICP

Most people study their ICP on the surface.
Top sellers study how their ICP thinks.

If you want to sell on LinkedIn,
you have to know what your ICP is actually worried about,
not what they pretend to care about.

Here are 8 steps to uncover the real subtext 
of your ICP on LinkedIn:

1. Audit Their LinkedIn Profiles
Look at what they emphasize.
Tension shows up in their headcount, KPIs, and team priorities.
Their top headaches are usually hiding in plain sight.

2. Study Their Event Activity
Search for events they attend.
Then check the attendee list.
The themes they show up for
tell you what’s keeping them up at night.

3. Watch Them in Comment Sections
Look at your ICP commenting on competitors’ posts.
Their questions reveal fears.
Their reactions reveal pressure points.

4. Analyze Comments Under Hand-Raising Posts
Creators often say “comment for more info.”
Those comments are gold.
They show exactly what your ICP thinks they need
and what they wish someone would help them solve.

5. Read Your Own Comments Differently
Your commenters are micro-versions of your ICP.
Study their language, frustrations, and patterns.
Your future offer refinement is already hiding there.

6. Track What They Subscribe To
Newsletters, creators, and series they follow
tell you what they’re actively trying to improve.
Subscription signals = priority signals.

7. Act Like Your ICP For a Day
Ask yourself:
If I were them, what problems would I think about at 10 a.m.?
Budget. Productivity. Risk. Politics. Efficiency.
Not “culture” or “soft skills.”
Speak to the internal pressure they feel,
not the topic you want to teach.

8. Go One Layer Deeper Than Logic
Once you find the logical problem,
double punch it.
What’s the emotional layer?
Fear of missing targets?
Fear of looking incompetent?
Fear of wasting budget?
Fear of taking a risk and being wrong?
This is the real subtext.

If you understand your ICP’s subtext,
you won’t sound like their 10th vendor.
You’ll sound like the only person
who actually gets how they think.

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(before it blows up your number)
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P.S. What is the number 1 problem your ICP cares about?

----------------------------------------------------------

➕ Follow Shannon for brain based sales and insight
♻️ Share to help someone see what their buyers really mean

If you can’t regulate...

You can’t close.

Sales exposes you.
You meet yourself in every conversation.

Your patterns.
Your pressure points.
Your nervous system.
And there are truths you can’t bypass.

You can only face them and train your brain to handle them.
Here are the fifteen brutal truths that shape every 
👀 coach
👀 solopreneur
👀 salesperson

Skinny to long.
Short to heavy.

Exactly how they hit in real life.

1. Pain shows.
2. Hope lies.
3. Buyers drift.
4. Silence grows teeth.
5. Confidence is unstable.
6. Urgency fades overnight.
7. Your tone leaks your pressure.
8. Your pipeline mirrors your mind.
9. Hard calls get pushed tomorrow.
10. Deals die from emotional overload.
11. You cling to maybes to avoid rejection.
12. You chase when your nervous system spikes.
13. You fill your calendar instead of your forecast.
14. You talk more when your brain feels threatened.
15. You lose more deals from dysregulation than bad skills.

The people who win aren’t the hardest closers.
They’re the ones who can think when the noise hits.

They regulate faster.
They recover quicker.
They protect their cognitive bandwidth.

If you want a system that reduces noise, 
increases yeses..
and keeps you out of chasing mode
Let's Talk here --> https://lnkd.in/gbfNasyU

PS. Which truth hit the hardest today?

---------------------------------------------------------------

♻️ Share if you’ve lived a brutal truth
➕ Follow Shannon for brain based sales insights

Challenges don't happen TO you...

They happen FOR you.

Resilience doesn’t come from comfort.
It comes from contact with difficulty.

Most people think resilience is something
you either have or you don’t.
👀 Tough childhood.
👀 Hard jobs.
👀 Big failures.

When you face manageable adversity, 
your brain adapts.

Stress-response systems recalibrate.
The nervous system learns,
“I survived that.”

Each challenge becomes data.
Not trauma.
Training.

The amygdala stops overreacting.
The prefrontal cortex gets better at regulating emotion.

You think clearer under pressure.
You recover faster.
You don’t break.
You build.

That’s why people who’ve faced some adversity
often handle future stress better than those who’ve faced none.

It’s why setbacks sharpen judgment.
Why failure builds emotional range.
Why hard seasons quietly increase capacity.

Adversity isn’t the enemy.
Unprocessed adversity is.

When difficulty is integrated,
it turns into resilience.

And resilience changes how bad things land.
Less collapse.
More choice.
More perspective.

Every strong nervous system you admire
was shaped by something it didn’t choose.

If you’re going through something hard,
there’s a future version of you
that’s gaining strength right now.

PS: What challenge in your life might be training you, not punishing you?

Introducing Butterhood Connect:
Find your people - other entrepreneurs like yourself. 
PLUS...FREE content on:
- Craft content that converts
- Understand your ICP deeply
- Increase your cognitive flexibility
- DM to get in front of your prospect
 You don't have to do this alone. Join us FREE
https://lnkd.in/gqMj4Vfz

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

👉 Follow 🧠 Shannon for neuroscience-backed insights
♻️ Share this if you want to help others grow

Don’t be afraid to start all over again.

You might like your new story better.

Most people don’t stay with toxic bosses
because they love the job.

They stay because starting over feels risky.

You already invested time.
You already proved yourself.
You already survived this much.

So you tell yourself to push through.
But toxic environments don’t just drain energy.
They slowly rewrite who you think you are.

Confidence narrows.
Vision shrinks.
Your nervous system learns to expect threat.

Starting over isn’t failure.
It’s interruption.
And sometimes, leaving isn’t possible yet.
That’s where people get stuck.

Here’s how to regain agency
even if you can’t leave right now.

Three pillars.
Practical. Grounded. Usable.

1/ Establish your baseline
You need to know your starting state.
Stress feels normal when it’s chronic.
Without data, you guess how you’re doing.
Do this: assess how activated you feel most days.
Do this: track sleep, tension, and recovery honestly.
Baseline awareness tells you whether you’re already 
overloaded before the boss even enters the picture.

2/ Predict instead of brace
Toxic bosses are patterned.
The same situations trigger the same behavior.
Surprise is what spikes threat.
Do this: list the moments they escalate.
Do this: plan your response before it happens.
Prediction gives your nervous system what it desperately wants.
Certainty.

3/Plan recovery like it’s required
Stress doesn’t end when the meeting ends.
Unreleased activation carries forward.
That’s how burnout accumulates.
Do this: schedule recovery after interactions.
Do this: close the stress cycle deliberately.
Recovery restores clarity, confidence, and choice.

This is how you protect yourself
while you decide what comes next.

And if there truly is no exit right now,
you still don’t have to white-knuckle it.

That’s why I built
Toxic Boss Armor.

It gives you a baseline.
Helps you predict patterns.
Builds plans that keep your nervous system intact.

Starting over doesn’t always mean leaving tomorrow.
Sometimes it means reclaiming yourself first.

PS If you could rewrite your work story, 
what would you want to feel differently?

Free resources
https://lnkd.in/guRmdNEu

-----------------------------------------------------------

➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for brain-based tools to stay clear at work.
♻️ Repost if someone you know is afraid to start again.

Micromanagement breeds compliance.

Not commitment.

When every move is monitored,
every decision is corrected,
and every mistake is highlighted,
the brain stops optimizing for growth.

It starts optimizing for safety.
Micromanagement increases uncertainty.
Uncertainty activates the amygdala.
Threat signaling rises.
The prefrontal cortex goes partially offline.

That’s the biology of it.
The prefrontal cortex is where initiative lives,
creativity lives, and ownership lives.

When threat is present, those functions are deprioritized.
So the nervous system adapts.
People do what’s asked.

They stop offering ideas.
They wait for instructions.
They avoid visibility.

From the outside, it looks like control is working.
From the inside, commitment is already gone.

Chronic micromanagement also keeps the stress axis activated.
Cortisol stays elevated.
Recovery shortens.
Motivation drops.
Burnout becomes inevitable.

This is nervous system load.
Leaders often assume disengagement = people don’t care.

More often, it means their nervous system 
doesn’t feel safe enough to invest.

And if you’re on the receiving end of this,
you don’t need thicker skin.

You need regulation, data, and strategy.

That’s why I built
Toxic Boss Armor.

It helps you understand your nervous system baseline,
predict toxic patterns,
and protect your clarity and confidence
even when leadership doesn’t change.

Compliance is a warning sign.
Commitment only emerges when the brain feels safe.

PS Are you barely hanging on by a thread? 
Get some relief --> https://lnkd.in/guRmdNEu

-------------------------------------------------------

➕ Follow Shannon for brain-based tools for surviving a toxic boss.
♻️ Repost if someone you know is stuck under a micromanager.

Are you looking for a digital marketing expert who can help you achieve your business goals? Look no further. As a skilled marketer with expertise in social media, Facebook and Google Ads, and video editing, I have a proven track record of delivering results for my clients.

With my social media campaigns, I have increased engagement, followers, and website traffic for numerous clients. My Facebook and Google Ads campaigns have also generated impressive results.

Additionally, my video editing skills have enabled me to create engaging and effective content that resonates with audiences and drives conversions. 

Now, let's talk about how I can help you achieve your digital marketing goals. Whether you're looking to increase brand awareness, drive conversions, or improve your overall digital presence, I am here to help. Let's connect and discuss how we can work together to take your brand to the next level.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to grow your business. Contact me today to schedule a consultation and let's get started.

Sheza Yazdani

Helping CEOs and Founders Grow and Monetize Their Personal Brands on LinkedIn | $100K+ Results from intentional LinkedIn Growth Strategies | Personal Branding Strategist | CEO Focus Solutions

You don’t have a weak business.

You have a positioning failure.

Your work delivers.
Clients get results.
Revenue exists.

But online, your expertise isn’t recognised and that’s costing you authority, leverage, and inbound demand.

That gap between how good you are and how clearly the market understands it is a positioning problem. And closing that gap is exactly what I do.

I have generated $1M+ in organic reach, built a 13K+ following, and helped over 200 leaders position themselves for influence. That’s what strategic authority building looks like and that’s the work I build every day.

I I help proven experts, coaches, consultants, and B2B founders build LinkedIn personal brands that attract high-quality leads and establish authority.

As a LinkedIn branding strategist and personal brand expert, I specialize in:
• LinkedIn Profile Optimization & Personal Branding
• LinkedIn Ghostwriting & Content Strategy
• Authority Building & Positioning
• Lead Generation Systems
• B2B Brand Strategy

My Approach:
Instead of content volume, I focus on clarity. I help you position your expertise so the market instantly understands your value, then structure content that converts credibility into conversations and conversations into inbound demand.

As CEO of Focus Solutions, I build authority systems that clarify your strategic narrative, position your thinking so it can’t be confused or compared, and structure content that attracts clients, media, and real opportunities. 

No hacks. 
No theatrics. 
Just a repeatable system designed to make your name the one people remember.

I have taken a coach from overlooked to a $100K closed deal after a single high-authority post with over 1M views. 

I grew my own LinkedIn presence to 10K+ followers in under 12 months organically. 

And I have helped founders and experts build positioning systems that attract, convert, and compound without cold outreach or algorithm chasing.

If you know your work is strong but your online presence doesn’t reflect it yet, your next move isn’t more content. It’s clarity.

Book a strategy call via my Featured section, and let’s make LinkedIn the proof of the authority you already have.

DM me or book a call

https://calendly.com/sheza-yazdani/new-meeting

Let’s be real: most of what we see on this feed is starting to look exactly the same.

Everyone has the perfect headshot, the perfect "7-step" list, and the perfect success story. 

But when everything looks perfect, it actually starts to feel fake.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. 

We don't need more "thought leaders" on pedestals. 

We need more people who are actually in the trenches doing the work.

In today's edition of The Positioning Playbook, I’m breaking down why "showing the mess" is actually the best way to build a real audience in 2026.

We’re talking about:

1. The "Hidden" Mistakes: 

Why sharing your failures is more valuable than your wins.

2. Street Smarts: 

How to find the "insider" knowledge that AI can’t copy.

3. The Death of Fake Perfection: 

Why a messy screenshot is better for your brand than a fancy graphic.

The era of the "guru" is over. People want to follow the person with mud on their boots.

Read the full breakdown below.

I help proven experts with good businesses fix unclear positioning and build authority so their expertise finally gets recognised and trusted | CEO, Focus Solutions

View newsletter: The Positioning Playbook

Last week, I mentioned that the "generalist" era is over. If your posts feel like a generic Google search, people are just going to keep scrolling. Bu

Open article: The Only Thing Worth Posting on LinkedIn in 2026
 by Sheza Yazdani • 3 min read

The Only Thing Worth Posting on LinkedIn in 2026

Someone asked me yesterday: "How long until I see ROI from personal branding?"

My answer made them pretty uncomfortable. 

But it was the exact same thing I told a founder six months ago who thanked me today. 

Here is what I told them:

“At least 90 days to get clarity.

180 days to build credibility.

And 365 days to become unforgettable."

They didn’t love hearing it.

Because here’s the thing:

If you are doing this because you want 10 new leads by next Friday, you shouldn’t even start. 

I know that’s hard to hear. 

Most agencies will try to sell you a "30-day transformation" because it’s easy to sell that.

But the truth is:

Building a reputation doesn't work like a vending machine.

Real ROI doesn't show up as a neat little number on a spreadsheet right away.

It shows up months later. 

It’s the way a room goes quiet when you start talking. 

It’s how an investor already knows your story before you even show them a slide deck. 

It’s the fact that great people want to work for you because they’ve seen what you stand for online.

The reason it’s uncomfortable is because you have to give a lot before you get anything back.

You have to be willing to be "out there" while everyone else is hiding behind a corporate logo.

That founder I spoke to six months ago? 

He was frustrated at first. 

He wanted results fast. 

But he called me last week to say that everything has changed. 

He doesn't have to "sell" himself as hard anymore. 

People already trust him before he even walks into the room.

Building a brand isn't an overnight trick. 

It’s an investment in the most valuable thing you own: your name. 

If you want a quick win, pay for an ad. 

If you want a legacy that makes your job easier for years, build a brand.

Have you been sold "quick results" by agencies? 

Let's talk about reality.

You are not being overlooked your expertise just isn’t recognised yet | I help proven founders with strong delivery turn LinkedIn into a predictable authority engine | CEO, Focus Solutions

Founder reflecting on personal branding ROI timelines emphasizing patience credibility and long term trust over quick wins
Message highlights that real brand value compounds through visibility consistency and reputation over months not days

The more "perfect" your LinkedIn looks, the more people are starting to tune you out.

I was grabbing coffee with a friend yesterday who’s a killer engineer. 

He’s brilliant, but he never posts. 

I asked him why, and he said:

"Sheza, everyone on there sounds like they’re reading from a manual. 

Nobody actually shows how the machine works."

He’s right.

We’ve been taught that being a "thought leader" means having the perfect headshot, the perfect 7-step list, and a success story for every day of the week.

But in 2026, "perfect" is a red flag.

When everything is polished, our brains flag it as an ad. 

We scroll past the high-res graphics to find the person who’s actually in the dirt.

Think about the show Halt and Catch Fire. 

You don’t root for the guy in the suit in the boardroom. 

You root for the person in the messy garage with wires everywhere and a half-broken prototype.

Why? Because the mess is the proof.

If you want to actually build authority this year, stop sharing the "3 tips for success."

Start sharing the "wiring":

The screenshot of the project that’s only 40% done.

The specific reason your last experiment failed.

The "street smarts" you’ve picked up that you can’t find in a textbook.

People aren't looking for gurus anymore. 

They’re looking for builders who aren't afraid to show the rough edges.

Stop trying to look like you have all the answers. 

Just show us what’s actually happening.

P.S. What are you building? 

Let’s make it easier by first sharing it in the comments.

Messy progress beats polished perfection on LinkedIn Real authority shows up when people share the work in motion not just the finished story

Your expertise is invisible if your positioning is off.

You can have 25 years of experience (like Scott) or deep industry knowledge (like Ahlam)...

But if decision-makers can't "categorize" your value in 3 seconds, they move on.

In my latest carousel, I break down how we took two polar-opposite profiles and turned them into lead-gen machines:

✅ From Harvard alum to 4x viral authority. 

✅ From "silent profile" to Forbes features.

The transformation didn't happen by accident. 

We overhauled their niche, rebuilt their authority, and shifted from generic posts to conversion-driven content.

Swipe through to see the exact steps we took. ➡️

Is it time to turn your profile into an inbound machine? 

📩 Message me “POSITIONING” to get started.

From Invisible to In-Demand

I’m so sick of “helpful” content that no one actually trusts. 

It’s polished. It’s professional. It gets likes.

And it gets… zero leads.

So here’s the fix I have decided to share publicly: 

Stop writing to impress, and build your Proof Layer first.

In this week’s newsletter, I break down the exact 3 things every founder needs before they post:

→ A belief no one can Google
→ A client win that actually happened
→ A raw, messy note of what you really think

No tactics. No templates. 

Just a brain dump all about you that you’ll channel to drive real business revenue. 

Read it below, and drop one unpopular belief you’ve never had the guts to post.

Let’s make your content actually do something.

View newsletter: Personal Branding in 2026

Hi, I’m Sheza. This is issue #3 of Personal Branding OS, the no-fluff guide to building a personal brand that attracts leads, partners, and hires with

Open article: Why Your Content Doesn’t Convert (And the Fix No One Talks About)
 by Sheza Yazdani • 3 min read

Why Your Content Doesn’t Convert (And the Fix No One Talks About)

We added AI to our workflows at Focus Solutions last year.

I thought it would save us a ton of time right away.

But it didn’t.

In fact, things got more confusing.

People weren’t sure when to use it.

Some used it too much. 

Others not at all.

Processes got messier.

Not cleaner.

That’s when I realized:

The problem wasn’t the tool.

It was that we weren’t ready for it yet.

So we paused.

Went back to the basics.

Mapped out our tasks.

Decided what actually needed AI and what didn’t.

Here’s what that looked like:

We documented every repeatable task in our client journey, from onboarding to reporting.

We labeled each task: manual, semi-automated, or AI-compatible.

We built “If → Then” decision trees so the team knew exactly when to use AI and when not to.

We assigned clear owners for every AI-supported task, with short training videos so no one guessed.

We set one success metric per workflow, like “reduce onboarding time from 14 to 3 days.”

Only after this did AI become helpful.

We saved 10+ hours/week.

Created faster, more accurate proposals.

And freed up the team to focus on high-value work.

But none of it worked until we clarified:

→ What’s worth automating
→ Who’s responsible
→ What success looks like

This is where most companies go wrong.

They jump into AI hoping it will solve chaos.

But AI doesn’t solve chaos. It exposes it.

Which are you: the 95% or the 5%? What’s blocking AI value in YOUR organization?

A focused team working through a clear workflow on a digital whiteboard with AI tools integrated thoughtfully
Visual contrast between messy processes and streamlined systems showing clarity before automation

I review 30+ executive LinkedIn profiles monthly at Focus Solutions.

The ones that convert to $250K+ deals have 5 psychological triggers embedded throughout:

𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥 #𝟭: 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 (𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁)

Your profile should answer: "What will YOU gain by knowing me?"

The psychology: When you give value upfront, prospects feel compelled to reciprocate by engaging.

𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥 #𝟮: 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳 (𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰)

"Helped hundreds of clients" ❌
"Helped 47 SaaS founders raise $180M+ collectively" ✅

Research shows personalized messages with specific social proof see 45% higher acceptance rates than generic claims.

High-ticket clients don't trust vague testimonials.

They trust:

→ Named clients (with permission)
→ Specific results with numbers
→ Industry-relevant case studies
→ Recommendations from people THEY respect

𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥 #𝟯: 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗕𝗶𝗮𝘀 (𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻)

Your profile should demonstrate YOUR authority while making prospects feel recognized.

How?
→ Feature well-known brands you've worked with
→ Mention publications/podcasts where you've been featured
→ Show industry recognition (awards, speaking engagements)
→ But also: Use language that acknowledges your prospect's expertise

Example: "I work with visionary CEOs in [industry]..." positions your ideal client as the authority too.

𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥 #𝟰: 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘅𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 (𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗹𝘆 + 𝗧𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗱)

Generic profiles convert at 15%.

Contextually relevant profiles convert at 45%.

That's a 3x difference.

What this looks like:

→ Your headline addresses your prospect's current pain point
→ Your About section speaks directly to their stage of business
→ Your Featured section showcases work relevant to THEIR industry
→ Your activity shows you understand their world

At Focus Solutions, we map each executive's profile to their ideal client's buying journey.

Every section = a different stage of the journey.

𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥 #𝟱: 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 + 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆

People want what they can't easily have.

Profiles that convert don't sound "available to anyone."
They sound selective.

Language shifts:
❌ "Let's chat anytime"
✅ "I work with 3-5 clients quarterly"
❌ "Here's my calendar"
✅ "DM me to see if we're a fit"
❌ "We serve all industries"
✅ "We exclusively work with B2B SaaS scaling from $5M-$50M"

The more specific and selective you appear, the more high-ticket clients lean in.

A profile with all 5 triggers creates a psychological pull that makes prospects:

→ Remember you
→ Trust you faster
→ Reach out without being sold to
→ Pre-qualify themselves
→ Close faster when you DO talk

How many of these 5 triggers does YOUR profile have?

Drop a number 1-5 below and I'll give you one specific improvement you can make today.

Let's audit your profile together.

LinkedIn post explaining five psychological triggers used in high converting executive profiles including reciprocity social proof authority relevance and scarcity
Educational breakdown showing how specific language and positioning lead to trust faster decisions and $250K plus deal flow

The personal branding industry has a dirty secret.

Most agencies sell content creation and call it thought leadership.

But let me be clear:

Posting 3x a week about “leadership lessons” ≠ strategy.

Rewriting your About section ≠ positioning.

Having a Canva quote post ≠ authority.

At Focus Solutions, we refuse to play that game.

Here’s how we draw the line:

📌 Content creation = You sound active.

📌 Thought leadership = You sound irreplaceable.

📌 Content creation = Random tips that get likes.

📌 Thought leadership = Clear POV that earns trust (and inbound leads).

📌 Content creation = Surface-level storytelling.

📌 Thought leadership = Strategic narrative that aligns with your business model.

And the real difference?

Content gets you seen.

Thought leadership gets you chosen.

That’s why our clients don’t just look consistent.

They become the obvious choice before they ever get on a sales call.

What are you actually buying:

content or thought leadership?

Most people can’t tell.

Can you?

Message highlights how strategic narrative and clear point of view build trust inbound leads and make brands the obvious choice

The positioning book nobody talks about, but every CEO should read.

Everyone quotes Positioning by Ries & Trout.

But if you're building something innovative, here's the book that's actually useful in 2026:

👉 Obviously Awesome by April Dunford.

Most of my clients struggle with the same blind spot:

❌ They try to differentiate against competitors.

✅ But forget their biggest competition is… inertia.

In Dunford’s framework, “competitive alternatives” doesn’t mean your competitors.

It means what your customer would do if you didn’t exist.

Let that sink in.

When I applied this to Focus Solutions, here’s what changed:

We realized our real competitor wasn’t another agency.

It was the CEO thinking, “I’ll just do this myself”

Or worse: 

“We’ll figure it out later.”

So we shifted our messaging:

❌ From “Here’s how we’re better than other solutions”

✅ To “Here’s the risk of doing nothing (and why it’s costing you).”

That subtle shift?

It made our offer urgent instead of “nice to have.”

And conversion rates jumped.

Here’s how to use this today:

1. Write down what your customer does today without you.

(Manual process? Team hack? Ignoring the issue?)

2. Now rework your value prop to show why that’s no longer safe.

(Show hidden cost, wasted time, or growing risk)

3. Make that your new core messaging.

(Because buyers act to avoid pain more than to gain something new)

If your value prop isn’t landing, you don’t need “better copy.”

You need better positioning.

Start with this: Full summary of Obviously Awesome →

Have you read Obviously Awesome? If not, this is your sign.

I am 37.

I am a mother of three.

When I started my business my youngest had just been born.

No roadmap.

No certainty.

Just responsibility and the need to make it work.

I opened LinkedIn without knowing the direction.

I was building while learning.

Raising three kids while figuring out how to create financial stability.

My business is the same age as my youngest child.
We grew together.

Slowly.

Honestly.

From one person on my team to a 12 person in house team.

From surviving month to month to building real structure.

Along the way I worked with 70 plus clients.

Different industries.
Different goals.
Same pattern.

Most people do not struggle because they lack skill.

They struggle because they lack positioning.

That realization changed how I work.

And it changed how I lead my business.

Today I am less focused on doing everything.

More focused on clarity.

Positioning.

Building something intentional that lasts.

Being a mother taught me discipline.

Business taught me patience.

Consistency did the rest.

If you believe in yourself.

If you stay committed when it feels unclear.

Eventually everything starts making sense.

Happy weekend.

Follow me Sheza Yazdani.

Extreme weather always shows who has systems in place and who is relying on luck. 

Stay safe everyone.

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The Battle

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Sheza Yazdani

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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);}🧠 Shannon Smith, J.D., M.S. 🚀's LinkedIn Performance

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