Connector of Talent and Success 💼 | Empowering Businesses to Thrive through People | Culture Growth Strategist | Coach | Writer | HR leader | #1 LinkedIn Belgium | Top #150 LinkedIn 🌍

Who I help: Ambitious introverts and people-first companies

Problems: Visibility without burnout, quiet leadership, culture that enables deep work

Outcomes: Promotions, role transitions, retention, high-trust cultures

STRATEGIC HR LEADER AND COACH WITH HANDS-ON APPROACH AIMING FOR THE BEST EMPLOYEE/BUSINESS EXPERIENCE - INTROVERT ADVOCATE

International HR Executive passionate about the link between employee experience and business dynamics. Combining a strong focus on strategic thinking and planning with a structured and factual hands-on approach. A positive well connected team coach with a natural sense of empowering team members in a spirit of challenge, learning and mutual recognition. Sound decision making capabilities based on critical reflections within companies focusing on innovation, change, digital transformation and learning.

A. Group HR Director Alter Pharma (200 FTE - BE/IRL/US) – private equity backed firm defining & implementing HR strategy (from strategy to operations) including definition of mission/vision/strategy & values.
B. Global HR Business Partner BU Kerley international/Tessenderlo Group (+/-300 employees - 11 countries) developing/transforming key HR processes (talent resource planning, talent acquisition, performance management, competency management, learning, reward,..) - HR project lead new factory Rouen, France. 
C. Global HR Executive SWIFT (+/- 3.000 employees in +25 countries) transforming/coaching business and HR into new ways of (digital) working/thinking to improve the employee and business experience 
D. Global Head of Reward Tessenderlo Group (+/- 5.000 employees in +25 countries) - strategic development/transformation reward strategy
E. Development new holistic performance management framework for Tessenderlo Group, including full implementation recognition stream.
F. HR Project Manager : move of the Chiquita EME Headquarters from Belgium to Switzerland (social plan negotiations, c&b setup, recruitment, mobility, new policy/process design,...)

Professional coaching certification Better Minds at Work               2018 - 2019
Centre for Creative Leadership - senior leadership program           Q1-2 2018
Management Development Programme Vlerick (17 days)		  2010 - 2011
Strategic Compensation & Benefits Management, Vlerick 		  2007      
Master degree in Law&Taxation, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven    1997 - 1998

Steven Claes

Every setback felt like proof I was too quiet to succeed.
Every win felt like luck.

At 32, my boss pulled me aside.
“You're too quiet for executive leadership.”

I replayed that conversation for months.
Every meeting I stayed quiet.
Every presentation I let others dominate.
Every networking event I left early.

The feedback stung because I believed it.

The lateral moves? I blamed myself for not being louder.
The passed-over promotions? Thought I didn’t sell myself enough.
The struggling projects? Maybe I was too introverted to lead.

I carried those stories for years.
Like stones in my pocket.
Getting heavier with each new challenge.

Then something shifted.

The promotions I didn’t get kept me learning.
Now I lead with knowledge, not just ambition.

The struggling projects taught me to listen for what wasn’t being said.
That skill transformed every team I touched.

What introverts do differently with setbacks:
 • We don’t bounce back. We build back.
 • We don’t forget feedback. We mine it for truth.
 • We don’t perform resilience. We develop it quietly.

What others saw as mistakes:
 → Avoided office politics (built trust through work)
 → Skipped self-promotion (let results speak louder)
 → Stayed in roles too long (mastered depth)
 → Took time to process (while others rushed to respond)

Today I’m CHRO.
Still quiet.
Those “setbacks” were my education.

Every introvert I’ve hired has a similar story.
Told they were too quiet.
Too thoughtful.
Too slow.

Now they’re running divisions.
Transforming cultures.
Leading quietly.

Your setbacks aren’t failures.
They’re data points.
Your quiet processing isn’t weakness.
It’s how you turn feedback into fuel.

That boss who said I was too quiet?
He was half right.
I was quiet.
But I was building.

💬 What feedback once hurt but later helped you grow?

♻️ Repost if you've been underestimated for being quiet
📩 Free Weekly career strategies for Ambitious Introverts -> hit the newsletter button under my profile

Some introverts are prisoners of their wiring.
Others are architects of their growth.

I’ve coached enough quiet leaders to see the split happen in real time:

The stuck ones hold on to: "I'm wired this way. I can't change."
The ones who thrive? They know wiring is where you begin, not where you end.

I worked with a senior manager who kept saying:
"I was raised to stay quiet and not make waves."

Fifteen years. That one sentence kept her invisible.
Passed over for promotions.
Watching louder colleagues move ahead.

And yet. In those same fifteen years, she'd:

-Led 3 projects that saved millions
-Built relationships nobody else could unlock
-Spotted problems that stayed invisible to everyone around her

Her quiet upbringing gave her the ability to observe. 
Deep listening became strategy. 
Her stillness earned trust.

The prison wasn't her introversion.
The prison was her story about it.

Evolution for introverts isn't about becoming extroverted.
It's about updating your story.

Instead of avoiding tough conversations 
→ Use email to drive decisions

Instead of dreading all meetings 
→ Own your 1-on-1s where depth wins

Instead of staying silent 
→ Put your thoughts on paper first, then speak

That senior manager I mentioned?
She stopped apologizing for how she works.
Started using her strengths.
Promoted six months later.

Same person. Different story.

Here's what this work taught me:

Your nature doesn't need fixing. 
Your story about it does.

Your past shaped you. 
Your choices reshape your future.

Your quiet traits aren't a limitation. They're data.

Stop waiting for permission to evolve.
Start choosing which parts of your wiring serve you.

Which story kept you quiet this week?

♻️ Share this with introverts ready to rewrite their story

📩 Follow me (Steven Claes) for introvert career strategies

Stop trying to fix introverts.

In 20 years as an HR leader, I've seen companies burn millions trying to turn quiet leaders into loud ones.

It doesn't work. And it pushes your best people out the door.

Swipe through for what introverts need vs. what people think we need.

💾 Save/share this before your next 1:1. 

P.S. What would you add to this list?

li_at

JSESSIONID

Talks about #hr, #culture, #strategy, #leadership, and #management

What Workplaces Think Introverts Need vs What We Need

omnia khfagy

They told me to fix my introversion. 
I fixed my environment instead.

We're introverts. We're not broken, just wired differently.

I spent 20 years as a CHRO watching the same pattern play out. 
The loudest voices got heard while the deepest thinkers got ignored. 

Quick reactions got rewarded, and thoughtful strategies got buried under the noise.

That's when I realized something.

We don't need to compete on volume. No, we compete on depth.

We build fewer bonds but stronger connections. 
Not because we can't connect widely, but because we choose connection wisely. 

While others drain themselves chasing validation, we recharge in stillness. 
While they mistake noise for progress, we find power in pause.

This isn't weakness. It's strategy.

We're not hiding or afraid. 
We're protecting our energy for what actually matters.

The research backs what we've always known: 

• Introverted leaders see 40% higher team retention because we listen more than we talk 
• We outperform in complex problem-solving by 74% because we think before we act 
• Our deep work drives 3x more innovation because we focus on substance over speed

Depth beats width. Every time.

What I need you to understand:

➡️ Your need for constant stimulation isn't our problem. 
➡️ Your discomfort with silence isn't our emergency. 
➡️ And your definition of success isn't our blueprint.

If we let you in, you've earned it. 

Not through persistence or pressure, 
but through respect. 
Through substance. 
Through understanding that our boundaries aren't barriers, they're filters.

➡️ We're not antisocial, we're selectively social. 
➡️ We're not slow, we're thorough. 
➡️ We're not cold, we're careful.

In a world drowning in noise, that's not a limitation.

That's an advantage.

Stop trying to fix us. We were never broken.

What boundary have you set recently that protected your energy?

♻️ Share if you're proudly wired differently 
📩 Follow Steven Claes for more introvert truth

Research reveals the introvert paradox: 
More productive. Lower performance ratings. 

A 2024 study by SOAS University of London found: 
"Introverts are more productive despite displaying lower job performance than extroverts." 

I've watched this disconnect destroy careers. 

As a CHRO for 20 years, I saw the pattern repeat itself over and over again. 
Claire outperformed every metric. 
Yet her evaluation said "lacks presence." 

Thomas designed the entire system architecture. 
His review noted "could be more vocal in meetings." 

The quiet frustration builds. 
The talent gets overlooked. 

The problem isn't your output. 
It's the visibility of your output. 

Introverts lose in three predictable scenarios: 

1. The visibility trap 
Your deep work happens in silence. 
Your contributions lack witnesses. 
Your impact goes unrecognized. 

2. The documentation gap 
Your wins stay in your head. 
Your progress lacks a paper trail. 
Your patterns remain invisible. 

3. The credit vacuum 
Your ideas travel. 
Your name gets left behind. 
Your influence goes unmeasured. 

But smart introverts don't try to become extroverts. 
They create systems to show their natural strengths. 

Four systems that actually work: 
1. Create your visibility rhythm 

→ Monday: Share your weekly focus (3 bullet points) 
→ Friday: Send a 5-minute wins report to stakeholders 
→ Monthly: Connect your work to company priorities 

2. Build your evidence file 

→ Capture metrics from your deep work sessions 
→ Save positive feedback verbatim 
→ Track resources saved through your solutions 

3. Set deep work boundaries 

→ Block 90-minute uninterrupted focus blocks 
→ Create canned responses for interruptions 
→ Set "office hours" for questions/collaboration 

4. Use strategic presence 

→ Speak once early in every meeting 
→ Send one thoughtful follow-up after discussions 
→ Ask one question that shows your listening depth 

When I coached Sarah, an introverted finance director, she started sending a weekly "impact email" every Friday at 4pm. 
Five bullet points. 
Three minutes to write. 

Her boss forwarded it to the C-suite every single week. 
She went from "too quiet" to "indispensable strategic partner" in six months. 

The only thing that changed? 
Her system, not her personality. 

Your introversion isn't the problem. 
Your strategic approach is the solution. 

Want to advance without exhaustion? 

Get the exact templates, scripts, and systems that helped thousands of introverts without burning out in the free A+ Introvert Newsletter (link in featured section). 

💾 Save this for when your impact feels invisible.

🔁 Repost if you believe quiet professionals deserve loud recognition.

Introverts don't need fixing.
Your workplace culture does.

I spent 20 years watching companies try to "fix" introverts.

Presentation skills workshops.
Open offices.
Loud happy hours.

Meanwhile, they ignored the real problems:
• Meetings that reward whoever talks most
• Brainstorms that silence deep thinkers
• "Collaboration" that means constant interruption

At 32, a VP told me:
"You need to speak up more. This quiet thing is career suicide."

I tried to be louder.
Until I realized: the mold was broken, not me.

Today I'm CHRO.
Still quiet. Still succeeding.
Because I stopped fixing myself and started fixing the system.

👇 This carousel breaks down what actually works.

♻️ Share if you believe quiet leadership deserves more respect and save for later.

Introverts Don't Need Fixing (Your Workplace Culture Does)

I thought I was too quiet to lead.
Turns out, I was just introverted.

These 10 TED Talks helped me stop overthinking,
start showing up, and build a career on my terms:

Skip the Small Talk by Kalina Silverman
https://lnkd.in/dDJhrm_U
→ Permission to skip surface-level conversations

The Art of Being Yourself by Caroline McHugh
https://lnkd.in/dvqjsPzP
→ Stop performing. Start being.

The Secret Shame of Introverts by Monica Parkin
https://lnkd.in/ddgjTnk5
→ Why your quiet nature isn't a weakness

The Mind Behind Linux by Linus Torvalds
https://lnkd.in/dgnNDY-C
→ Proof that introverts build world-changing things

Stop Screwing Yourself Over by Mel Robbins
https://lnkd.in/dsVzu2MJ
→ The 5-second rule that bypasses overthinking

Your Body Language Shapes You by Amy Cuddy
https://lnkd.in/dayBXPnF
→ Power poses for when confidence feels fake

My Year of Saying Yes by Shonda Rhimes
https://lnkd.in/dUsR6Jxz
→ An introvert's guide to selective courage

Who Are You, Really? by Brian Little
https://lnkd.in/dF6Dp4Ks
→ Why acting out of character serves your goals

The Power of Vulnerability by Brené Brown
https://lnkd.in/dnVNdWnR
→ Leading with authenticity, not armor

The Power of Introverts by Susan Cain
https://lnkd.in/drHJYhyD
→ The talk that started a quiet revolution

After 20 years as CHRO, I know this:
Your quiet leadership style isn't the problem.
The world just hasn't caught up yet.

These talks taught me to stop apologizing for thinking before speaking.
To stop forcing extroversion.
To start leading from my strengths.

💾 Save this for later, and repost it to spread some value to your network.

📩 Follow Steven Claes for introvert career strategies that keep you authentic.

54% of employees are quietly breaking down.
You won’t see it until it’s too late.

Your best people aren’t quitting.
They’re not burning out.
They’re breaking. In silence.

And your quietest ones?
They’re drowning.

👉 Swipe to spot the signs before they disappear.

💾 Save this to revisit the warning signs.

♻️ Share it to support someone who's quietly cracking.

Warning Signs Everyone Misses (Means breaking)

Overthinking costs you more than you realize.

Not in time.
In opportunities you never take.

Introverts know this trap better than anyone. Analysis becomes avoidance.

Five ways to close that gap:

1. The 5-Second Rule

Mel Robbins nailed it. You have an instinct to move? Count down 5-4-3-2-1 and go.

Your brain will talk you out of it otherwise.
That window closes fast. Five seconds. Use them.

———

2. The Two-Minute Rule

Takes less than two minutes? Do it now.
Don't add it to a list. Don't schedule it. Don't think about it.

David Allen's point: tracking a small task takes longer than finishing it.
Stop managing. Start finishing.

———

3. Brain Dump Before You Decide

Too much noise in your head? Set a timer for ten minutes. Write it all down.
No filter. No structure. Just out.

Once it's on paper, patterns appear. Priorities get clear.
You can't organize chaos while you're drowning in it.

———

4. Externalize the Problem

Stop saying "I'm an overthinker."
Say "Overthinking is here again."

See the difference? You're not the problem. The thought pattern is.
You're not the storm. You're the one watching it pass through.

———

5. The "If-Then" Plan

Vague intentions don't work. Automatic actions do.

Try this:
"If it's 7am, then I write for 20 minutes."
"If I feel resistance, then I count 5-4-3-2-1 and start."

Peter Gollwitzer's research backs this. It doubles your success rate.
Pre-decide so you don't have to re-decide every time.

———

The truth more introverts need to hear:
Knowing what to do means nothing if you don't do it.

Your move.

♻️ Share this with someone who needs it.
👤 Follow me (Steven Claes) for more on ambitious introverts

A 23-year-old intern dismantled my entire hiring strategy with one question:

"But what if they're not comfortable talking about themselves?"

She was talking about introverts in interviews.

I'd been screening out brilliance for 5 years and had no idea.

I used to defend every view.
Debate every point.
Need to be right.

But that one quiet question changed everything.

It taught me something 10 years as CHRO hadn't:

Wisdom isn't about having the best answers.
It's about hearing the questions you never thought to ask.

Now when someone speaks, whether it's my CEO or my nephew, I do something different.

I pause.

Not to plan my response.
But to understand their world.

The 3-Question Framework I Use to Listen Deeper

1. What am I defending?
Before responding, name the ego or assumption you're protecting.
Then let it go.

2. What's their 10%?
Even if you disagree with 90%, find the 10% that's true.
There's always something. Start there.

3. What would I think if I were them?
Not with your experience. With theirs.
Not with your context. With theirs.
This is where breakthroughs live.

This shift changed how I lead:

→ I stopped mistaking volume for value
→ Started finding insight in silence
→ Learned that understanding > being understood

The data backs it up:

Teams with psychological safety where every voice matters are:

✔️ 76% more likely to engage
✔️ 50% more productive
✔️ 27% less likely to leave their jobs

But we still reward:

❌ Quick answers over thoughtful questions
❌ Confident assertions over curious pauses
❌ Debate winners over bridge builders

Your quietest team member isn't checked out.
They're checking angles you haven't considered.

That junior employee questioning your process?
Might be your next breakthrough.

Growth doesn't come from adding more of what you already know.
It comes from seeing what you've been blind to.

Perspective isn't just power.
It's the only path to wisdom that matters.

Try these 3 questions in your next meeting. Watch what shifts.

And tell me this:

💬 When did listening to someone completely different from you change everything?

♻️ Share this if you believe the quietest voices often hold the deepest insights

I stopped pretending to be an extrovert.
My career exploded.

Because showing up everywhere wasn't commitment. 
It was fear wearing a name tag.

The truth?
You don't advance by being everywhere.
You advance by managing yourself.

What drains introverts in leadership
and what drives career growth instead 👇

1. Performing extroversion kills energy
Self-management creates sustainability.
→ Forcing constant visibility? You burn out.
→ Strategic presence? You grow faster.

2. Saying yes to everything stalls growth
Saying no with boundaries accelerates it.
→ Nearly half of introverts in extroverted roles report burnout compared to a quarter of extroverts.
→ Protecting your energy isn't selfish. It's strategic.

3. Constant meetings drain focus
Delegation multiplies impact.
→ Being in every conversation limits your team.
→ Empowering others to lead is 5x more effective at avoiding burnout.

4. Loud leadership demands attention
Quiet leadership earns respect.
→ Empathetic leadership isn't about volume. It's about making space.
→ Inclusive leadership recognizes people recharge differently.

5. Networking everywhere scatters influence
Showing up intentionally builds it.
→ Career advancement for introverts: be present where it matters, invisible where it doesn't.

6. Chasing visibility creates exhaustion
Managing energy creates resilience.
→ I went from performing to leading authentically and my impact multiplied.
→ The shift? Self-management became non-negotiable.

7. Ignoring rest kills performance
Protecting solitude fuels it.
→ Introverts need quiet to recharge. Ignoring that is running on empty.
→ Real leadership models rest, not just productivity.

You can build a career through constant performance.
Or sustainable success through intentional leadership.

One burns you out by Wednesday.
The other grows even when you step back.

♻ Repost to help introverts: visibility isn't everything. Intention is.

📬 Want deeper strategies like these?
I write a weekly newsletter on quiet leadership and career growth for introverts: https://lnkd.in/e2Yn259g

Your star performer left at 5 PM every day.

That wasn't a red flag.
That was a roadmap.

I used to stay until 8.
Sent emails at midnight.
Wore exhaustion like a badge.

Then I noticed something.

Sarah, our top analyst, packed up at 5 PM.
Every. Single. Day.

The execs whispered about her "lack of commitment."
Some people labeled her not a team player.

But six months later?
She delivered more value than our entire always-on team.

What they missed:
She wasn't coasting. She was focused.

• No 47-email chains about nothing
• No staying late just to be seen
• No 3-hour meetings that could've been an email
• No pretending to work while scrolling LinkedIn

Just deep, meaningful work.

After 5?
She recharged. Unplugged. Came back clearer.

While others ran on fumes.

What happened next changed how I led:

• The "lazy" analyst got promoted to Director
• One team member hit a wall and had to step back
• The always-on manager made critical mistakes

I learned something:
8 focused hours beat 12 exhausted ones.
Real productivity happens in bursts, not marathons.
Your best ideas come after rest, not during it.

I started telling my team:
→ Your best work happens when you're fresh
→ Creativity needs room to breathe
→ Burnout helps no one

The outcomes?

The exec who doubted her? Stress leave.
The always-on manager? Critical mistakes cost us a major client.
Sarah? Running the department.

Her worth was never in the hours.
It was in the outcomes.

♻️ Repost if you believe boundaries create better teams
📩 Join thousands of ambitious introverts building sustainable success: https://lnkd.in/e7xQPNtn

Gary Brown

Your best introvert is planning their exit. 
They just haven't told you yet.

Micromanaging says three things: 

"I don't trust you." 
"I need control more than results." 
"Your process scares me because it's not mine."

For introverts, this kills retention faster than anything else.

We need deep work. 

Focus without constant interruption and mental space to think through complex problems.

Micromanaging destroys all three, and it's why your quiet top performers leave first. 

No drama, no warnings. 
They're just gone.

In 20 years as a CHRO, I've watched this pattern play out dozens of times.

One company I worked with broke the cycle with a simple shift. 
Outcome accountability instead of process control. 

Leaders set the goal, and teams chose how to get there.

The impact was immediate. 

Turnover among introverted leaders dropped 60%. 
Same deadlines, better quality, and zero hand-holding required. 

Because when you trust people to do the work their way, they deliver.

Great leaders trust, then step back. 
Micromanaging says everything about the manager and nothing about you.

How have you handled micromanagers without burning bridges?

♻️ Share if you care

Your meetings are killing your best talent.

I was the quiet one for 10 years.
Invisible. Passed over.
Watching others get promoted for my ideas.

Now I'm the one changing the room.

Here's what introverts hear when you say:
"Why are you so quiet?" → "Why are you broken?"
"Just jump in!" → "Is this worth my battery?"
"Let's go around the table." → Time to update LinkedIn.

The math is simple but more leaders miss it:
- 50% of your workforce = introverts
- 90% of your meetings = built for extroverts

You're designing meetings that push your brightest people out.

I made 10 script swaps to save your talent.

Small changes in how you run meetings. 
Big difference in who stays engaged.

Swipe through. Change the words. Keep your people.

Quiet isn't disengaged.
It's brilliant.

♻️ Share and save this before your quiet talent becomes your competition

📩 Follow the A+Introvert Newsletter for more bite-sized career insights

What to Say (and not say) To Support Introverts in meeting

Most introverts nail the interview.
Then burn out in 90 days.

After 20 years as a CHRO, I've seen it happen too many times. 

Brilliant introverts accepting roles that drain them because they didn't ask whether the company actually values different working styles.

73% of employees leave due to poor cultural fit. 
Introverts feel this more, scoring 10% lower in workplace well-being.

The interview isn't just them sizing you up. 
It's you sizing up whether this company respects how you work best.

Swipe through for the 9 questions every introvert should ask before saying yes.

Your energy isn't up for negotiation. Neither is your environment.

💾 Save this for your next interview
♻️ Share with an introvert who needs this

Most Introverts Nail The Interview (Then Burn Out)

Stop building a career on loyalty.
It's the ultimate introvert trap.

For 10 years, I gave my quiet best to companies that forgot my name the day I left.

The loyal one stayed with the company.
The purposeful one stayed with the mission.

This simple truth is reshaping how ambitious introverts build careers.

And the data backs it up.

———

Nobody talks about this:

92% of people want purpose at work.
Not perks. Not ping pong tables.
Purpose.

But only 21% of workers feel truly engaged.

That gap?
That's where ambitious introverts thrive.

———

You've been told to network more.
Speak up in meetings.
Be more visible.

But the research reveals something different.

Employees who find their work meaningful are 294% more likely to stay.

That's not a typo. 294%.

Compare that to fair pay? Only 54% more likely to stay.

Meaning beats money by 5X.

———

The introvert's mission-first strategy:

1. Anchor to your calling, not your contract
68% of Millennials accept lower pay for deeper purpose.
Why? Purpose energizes. Prestige exhausts.

2. Let your results do the talking
You don't need the spotlight.
You need the right mission.

3. Choose companies that match your values
Purpose-driven companies have 40% higher retention.
3x better financial returns.
Higher employee satisfaction.

———

The truth that changes everything:

Company loyalty asks: "How long will you stay?"
Mission alignment asks: "What impact will you make?"

One traps you.
One frees you.

44% of Gen Z and 45% of Millennials have already quit jobs lacking purpose.

They're not job-hopping.
They're mission-hopping.

———

Freedom is harder than attachment.
Security is easier than purpose.

But when you commit to a purpose instead of a place:
You perform better.
You stay longer.
You grow faster.

The right mission won't require you to be louder.
It will require you to be you.

So anchor to your calling.
Not your contract.

Serve meaning.
Not membership.

What mission pulls you out of bed?

♻️ Repost this to help people find their mission (and save to check later)

📩 Follow Steven Claes for career strategies that honor your wiring

I thought I was too quiet to lead.
Turns out, I was just introverted.

But it took me 15 years of forcing extroversion to figure that out.

These 10 books helped me stop apologizing for who I am
and start building a career that actually fits me.

1. Quiet by Susan Cain
The book that redefined what it means to lead with calm and conviction

2. The Introverted Leader by Jennifer B. Kahnweiler
A step-by-step guide to leading without faking extroversion

3. Deep Work by Cal Newport
Why focused thinkers are becoming the most valuable people in any room

4. The Introvert's Edge by Matthew Pollard
Sales isn't about charm. It's about process. Introverts win with both

5. The Introvert Advantage by Marti Olsen Laney
The science behind why you need depth, not noise

6. Quiet Influence by Jennifer B. Kahnweiler
Six strengths that help introverts lead lasting change

7. Networking for People Who Hate Networking by Devora Zack
Real strategies for building relationships without working a room

8. Self-Promotion for Introverts by Nancy Ancowitz
How to get noticed without having to shout

9. The Powerful Purpose of Introverts by Holley Gerth
You're not flawed. You're wired this way for a reason

10. The Introvert Entrepreneur by Beth Buelow
How to build something big without pretending to be loud

After 20 years as CHRO, here's what I've learned:
Your quiet style isn't the problem.
The workplace just hasn't caught up yet.

These books reminded me that:
✔ Listening in 1-on-1s created more trust than speaking at 100 all-hands
✔ My written strategy docs moved projects faster than any meeting pitch
✔ Deep thinking in solitude solved problems committees couldn't crack
✔ Building three strong relationships beat networking with 300 strangers

Half the population is introverted.
It's time we stopped treating that like a disadvantage.

If you're tired of being told to "speak up,"
this list is your permission to double down on your quiet strength.

Which of these books speaks to your current challenge?

💾 Save this for when you need it

🔁 Share it with a quiet professional who deserves to feel seen

PS. Follow the Free A+Introvert Newsletter for weekly bite-sized career insights (link in my profile).

Today I turn 52.
At 25, I hid in bathroom stalls before meetings.
Now I lead them as CHRO.

The same traits that made you second‑guess yourself at 25
are the ones that can make you impossible to replace
at 25, 52, or whatever comes next.

But only if you stop apologising for them.

I knew that in my head a long time ago.
I just didn’t have the guts to say it out loud.
That part took years.

I hope you don’t wait as long as I did.

25: The Breaking Point

I was the quiet one faking loud.

Forced networking until 2am. 
Performed enthusiasm I didn't feel. 
Dominated meetings that drained me by noon.

I sat in my car after another leadership summit thinking: 
"I'm in the wrong career."

Then a mentor said eight words that changed everything: 
"Stop playing their game. Start playing yours."

52: The Breakthrough

Today, I lead differently.

I skip 80% of networking events. 
Build five deep relationships instead of fifty shallow ones. 
Speak less but land every word.

Not despite being quiet. Because of it.

This is what I finally understood:

That overthinking? Catches problems before they explode. 
That selective socializing? Builds unbreakable loyalty. 
That need for quiet? Where real strategy happens. 
That careful processing? Why people trust my decisions.

At 25, I thought leadership meant being everywhere. 
At 52, I know it means being fully present where it matters.

I protect my mornings for deep work. 
Take walking meetings when I need to think. 
Leave events before I'm drained, not after.

The same traits that made you doubt yourself at 25 will make you irreplaceable at 52. 
But only if you stop apologizing for them.

You don't rise by volume. 
You rise by depth.

To every introvert who thinks they need to change: The world has enough performers. It needs more thinkers.

What "weakness" from your 20s became your superpower?

♻️ Share this if you're done apologizing for how you're wired. Not as an admission, as a declaration.

PS. Who dares to guess the age at this picture? :)

Exhaustion isn’t a badge of honor.
It’s a sign of poor energy management.

I was close to burnout before I turned 35.
Today, I’m a CHRO.

Still introverted. Never drained.

These seven tactics helped me stay energized,
lead effectively without pretending to be an extrovert,
and build a sustainable career on my terms.

Your energy is currency.
Spend it wisely.

♻️ Share this for introverts running on empty

💾 Save it for future reference

7 Energy Tactics That Saved My Introverted Career

I watched an introvert change an executive team with three words: "I need help."

The room fell silent.

The VP of Product had been carrying a troubled launch quietly for months.
She'd analyzed the data, built contingency plans, tested solutions.

But she never told anyone how bad it was until that Tuesday morning.

There was no drama, just clarity.
Her voice was steady and her request was precise.

The COO leaned forward. "What do you need?"

The extroverts might have called emergency meetings, escalated loudly, created urgency.

She did something braver.
She picked her moment and was vulnerable with intention.

Research shows teams led by vulnerable leaders see higher engagement, often by 25% or more. What most people miss is that introverts are built for this kind of leadership.

After coaching dozens of introverted leaders through moments like these, I've learned this: vulnerability is only risky when it's careless.

When it's strategic, it builds the kind of trust that moves teams.

How introverts approach vulnerability differently

✓ We prepare for it thoroughly: Timing matters more than speed

✓ We choose our moments with intent: Not every meeting needs every truth

✓ We frame it with solutions: "Here's what I need" beats "I'm drowning"

✓ We adjust the depth to match the moment: Context drives disclosure

When we speak up, it cuts through because it's not impulsive. It's earned.

In my work with introverted leaders, I hear the same fears over and over.

- "If I admit I need help, I'll lose respect."
- "If I share struggles, I'll look weak."
- "If I show uncertainty, I'll lose influence."

But the opposite happens every time.

One director I worked with voiced that she was overwhelmed.
She got the support she needed and delivered three weeks early.

A team lead raised doubts on a critical project. He prevented a costly mistake and earned a promotion six months later.

A quiet CTO opened up about health challenges.
She built the most loyal team I've seen, with 94% retention over two years.

The uncomfortable truth? 
Vulnerability works for introverts because it's rare.
It comes from someone who has already earned credibility.

People trust those who trust them first.

One DDI study found that 76% of leaders say they lead authentically, but only 24% allow themselves to be vulnerable.

That gap is the opportunity.

Introverts don't need to act louder to lead.
We just need to show more of what's already there, with purpose, in moments that matter.

The VP who said "I need help" that morning?
She's now the CEO.

When did your quiet leadership speak loudest?

♻️ Share this to help introverted leaders find their voice (and save for later)
📩 Follow Steven Claes for introvert career strategies that honor your wiring: https://lnkd.in/e2Yn259g

Deena Priest

Corporate Pivot Accelerator

Helping experienced corporate leaders build high-impact consulting and coaching businesses for freedom and fulfillment.

https://deenapriest.org/corporatepivotaccelerator

Stage 1: Explore
The Clarity Sprint
Get clear on your vision and niche.

Stage 2: Engineer
Client Magnet System
Build a roadmap to 6-7 figures with premium positioning, a signature offer, and systems.

Stage 3: Execute
Authority Amplifier
Unlock predictable leads and referrals via LinkedIn thought leadership, partnerships, and other marketing channels.

All underpinned by accountability and the elimination of imposter syndrome.

----
Client  Successes:

Kitty left a 20 year sales career and is now a 6-figure executive coach to CROs.

Peter, ex-corporate COO, replaced his salary within 90 days and works three days a week.

Glen, HR Director, secured two paid consulting clients before leaving corporate.

Laura, lawyer, runs an executive coaching practice with a thriving group program.

Rachel, left the Big 4 and runs her own risk advisory practice alongside her other passions.

Founder  | Executive Business Coaching

Deena Priest Coaching & Consulting

Helping Corporate Professionals (35+):

✅ Escape burnout, stagnation, and career traps
✅ Gain clarity on your next chapter
✅ Maximize income and visibility with a strong personal brand.
✅ Build a future-proof career with more autonomy, purpose & peace

Executive Coach 

Corporate workshops and keynote presentations on future of work and workplace culture.

Speaker

Purpose & Pay Newsletter

Try it free: https://deenapriest.org/join-purpose-and-pay

Strategies and frameworks for leaving corporate and building a coaching or consulting business.

Writer

Parentaly

Transforming the false tradeoff between career and parenthood  into a win-win.

Coach

Serco

Coach Mentor

Accenture

Led digital strategy projects for consumer goods, retailers and professional services businesses.

Managed and led project teams for large-scale digital transformation, change management and innovation programs.

Part of the team that shaped Accenture's AI proposition for Consulting.

Facilitated workshops for Accenture's Innovation Centre -> helping key clients plan their future strategies.

Managed several key client accounts Client Account Lead -> helping scale Accenture's footprint across Consulting, Digital, Outsourcing & Strategy services.

Digital Transformation & Client Account Director

Part of the Change Management & Talent Consulting function.

Helping PwC client's implement large scale change and transformation programs from a people perspective.

Programs included:

(i) Target Operating Model changes for financial services clients.
(ii) Business recovery consulting for a Global Bank who collapsed during the economic crisis
(iii) Talent advisory for consumer goods businesses.

People & Organisational Transformation Manager

Various Companies

Lawyer

Executive Coach | Accelerating Careers Without Burnout & Designing Smarter Exits | ex-PwC & Accenture Leader | Former Lawyer 🇺🇸🇬🇧🇦🇺

I coach ambitious corporate professionals (15+ years experience) to build businesses or portfolio careers — with their health, wealth, and credibility intact.

👋 Who are you?

You’re a high-achieving corporate professional or leader with 15+ years of experience.

But now you're burned out, boxed in, or simply done with the politics, pace, and pressure.

➤ You want freedom without losing income
➤ You want to work with purpose, on your terms
➤ You want to build something of your own with clarity, confidence, and control

👋 Who am I?

I’m Deena Priest.

I spent two decades in  high-pressure industries including law, consulting, and commercial leadership. 

I’m the founder of the SAVVY Framework™, a step-by-step method to exit corporate and build entrepreneurial freedom without the chaos.

🎯 What You Can Expect to Achieve

➤ Clarity and a sharp vision for what’s next
➤ A market-relevant offer that clients will pay for
➤ An authority-driven personal brand that opens doors

💼 This is the heart of the Corporate Pivot Accelerator Program.

A high-touch, high-impact coaching experience for ambitious professionals ready to design and launch their next chapter.

📅 Join the January Waitlist:
👉 https://deenapriest.org/corporatepivotaccelerator

Coach  - Mentor

When someone close to me passed away, 
their employer only cared about two things:

1️⃣ Proof it had really happened. 
2️⃣ Whether they were liable.

(Yes and no were the answers.)

A few weeks later, a new replacement sat at their desk.

That’s when it really became apparent: 

In the corporate world, you are always replaceable at work.

It isn’t personal. It’s just business. 

But it should change how we all live and work.

After that, I ran my decisions through a different filter:

1. Do I have freedom and autonomy?
2. If I leave on time, who will care/remember? 
3. Am I being present when I am with my kids?
4. What are the consequences of cancelling my vacation?
5. Does saying “yes” mean "no" to something important?
6. Will late-night emails really make me indispensable?
7. If I sacrifice weekends, will I progress or burnout? 

It was the driver for me to leave corporate and start my own business.

And the reason I am a strong advocate for having a fall-back business or income stream (without relying on a single source salary.)

Because as the current market is showing us - everyone is replaceable at work.

Does this mean you shouldn't work hard and do your best?
Of course not.

It means that you should never lose sight of your key priorities.

Your health, relationships and financial security.

Making different choices in the moment means you stop trading the irreplaceable for the replaceable.

Deena Priest

Turning senior corporate leaders into in-demand consultants + coaches | Exceed your old salary | Win premium clients | 150+ coached (SAVVY™ method) | ex-Accenture & PwC

Even senior executives suffer from imposter syndrome.

All of my client's building businesses ask: "What if I fail?"

My response: "What if you succeed?"

When I started my coaching business, I had zero entrepreneurial experience.

I came from a family of academics: Lawyers, engineers, judges, doctors. 

So the idea of becoming a business owner was a big leap of faith. 

I told myself:

I  wasn’t ready.
I didn’t know enough. 
I needed 5 more qualifications.

Now I see the same mindset stall brilliant, seasoned leaders. 

They have the skills. 
The network. 
The ambition. 

But they still doubt themselves.

Here’s what I’ve learned: 

→ Confidence comes after action, not before. 
→ All skills are learnable. Business is no different. 
→ You don’t need more validation. You need action.

Double down on your strengths. 
Close your gaps.
Execute.

And start before you feel ready.

That’s how legacies are created.

♻️ Repost to remind that action builds confidence.

➕ Follow Deena Priest for more.

I help current and ex-senior corporate leaders build profitable coaching & consulting practices | Structured framework to replace or exceed corporate income | 150+ execs coached | ex-Accenture & PwC

When my kids were born, I decided my loyalty was to them not my 80-hour corporate role.

So I started a flexible, high-impact business. 

Loyalty to a business can be your biggest career risk after 40.

It can keep you stuck in a role where your potential outpaces your reality.

We’re raised to believe loyalty is a virtue.

And it is. But only when it doesn’t harm you.

Here’s when loyalty becomes a liability:

• You put all your eggs in one basket 
• You stay in a role that’s burning you out 
• You are loyal to a company that lays you off
• You are loyal to a boss that doesn’t see your potential

That kind of loyalty isn’t noble. It’s costly.

I’ve seen it too many times:

• High performers afraid to start a business 
• Leaders staying because “the team needs me” 
• Talented professionals pushing themselves to burnout

Here’s what healthy loyalty looks like:

✅ Loyalty to your values 
✅ Loyalty to your wellbeing 
✅ Loyalty to your future, growth, and purpose

When you start directing that loyalty inward, everything shifts:

✅ You realise your potential
✅ You stop tolerating sub-par cultures

In 2025, there are thousands of other ways to earn.

Definitely don't stay loyal to a paycheck.

♻️ Repost if this hit home. 
➕ Follow Deena Priest  for more.

And if you are leaving corporate to start a business, 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗹𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀: https://lnkd.in/e4c_nEp7

I help senior corporate leaders launch coaching & consulting practices | Structured, de-risked path to replace income | 150+ execs coached | ex-Accenture & PwC

It's a good time to start a solo consultancy.

Everyone asks:  “But how do I compete with the Big 4 or other big consultancies?”
 
You don’t.
 
You differentiate. 
 
One of my clients (a two-person business) just beat a global player to win a major operating model project.
 
Another launched a solo risk advisory consultancy from scratch.  She’s now leading global engagements.
 
Another Ex-CRO now earns double his corporate salary, running a sales strategy consultancy.
 
These aren’t anomalies.  
They are the new normal. 
 
Why?  
 
Because clients want trusted, specialized advisors who solve painful problems. Fast.
 
Here's how to get started:

1. Define your profitable niche and offer
2. Work out your market positioning and messaging
3. Use LinkedIn as a platform to build your authority
 
You don’t need to be a “big” consultancy.  

You need to be a right-fit one.

Anyways:

In all Ernst (and Young): 

If you want to know what's PwC (Possible Without Corporate),

I'd be Deloitted to speak to you. 

Let's KPMG (Kick-off Profitable, Meaningful Growth.)😉

Take the diagnostic to see if you're ready to build a profitable solo business: https://lnkd.in/eyJx78uv

Deena Priest

----
Image credit: wallstreetoasis on IG

Are you overcomplicating your goal of starting a business?
 
If your 2025 goal was to launch your consulting or coaching business…
 
Let me save you from the “analysis paralysis” phase.
 
But first, here's what's not needed:

❌ A website  
❌ An MBA 
❌ A 38-page business plan 
 
And here's what is.
 
𝟱 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗹𝗲 (and will help you replace your corporate salary):
 
𝟭. 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲, 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿.  
→ Choose ONE urgent problem you solve for ONE decision-maker.  
→ Package it as a high-value outcome.
 
𝟮. 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝘆 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝟭𝟬 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘀.  
→ Use your network, warm intros, or alumni groups.  
→ Ask: “Is this a real pain point?”
🚫 No pitching. 
 
𝟯. 𝗥𝘂𝗻 𝗮 ‘𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗺 𝘃𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆’ 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝟭–𝟯 𝗽𝗶𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀.  
→ Offer part of your service in exchange for feedback.  
→ Focus on delivering a fast, tangible win.  
 
𝟰. 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳.  
Turn that one win into a before/after story, a testimonial, a content post.
 
𝟱. 𝗜𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵.
Develop a real go-to-market-plan. 

Voila.
 
Your 2026 goals sorted. 

Action > Analysis.
 
👇 Which of the above are you stuck on?

---
➕ 𝗧𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲  "𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗼 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿" 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘇 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀: https://lnkd.in/eAMqzJ-Q

Follow Deena Priest for more.

From laid-off corporate exec to high 6-figure consultant in 6 months.

This is the new world of work.

Reinvention has become a critical life skill.

In this market:

Job security is gone. 
AI is reshaping industries. 
New career paths are emerging.

(Forbes predicts that 70% of professionals will have portfolio careers by 2030.)

The future belongs to those who can adapt, reposition, and pivot.

Start building your consulting or coaching business whilst still in your corporate job.

This is how I did it:

1️⃣ Monetize Your Expertise
↳Start solving real problems outside your 9–5. 
↳Test offers. Validate your niche. 
↳Don’t wait until you're “ready”

2️⃣ Build Your Personal Brand 
↳If you can't post publicly because of your employer, build (real) relationships behind closed doors.
↳Start showing up where your future clients are. 
.
3️⃣  Stop trading time for money. 
↳Turn your skills into scalable offers—like workshops, strategy days, or advisory retainers.
↳Corporate = capped earnings.
↳Consulting = the sky is your limit.

4️⃣ Create Time Leverage 
↳You don’t need more hours, you need a better system. 
↳Use evenings and weekends to build assets.
↳Automate what you can. Focus only on high-return activities.

5️⃣ Build a new CEO mindset
↳You’re not a “former director”
↳You’re a leader and a trusted advisor solving meaningful problems. 
↳Own it.

“𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥.”— Benjamin Franklin

Reinvention isn’t about restarting.

It’s about leveraging all you've already built to build something better. 

And the best time to start?

Before you have to.

Follow Deena Priest for more.

---
🔥𝟮 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘁:

1. Download the guide: "𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀.": https://lnkd.in/epwykXmZ
   
2. Try the newsletter for 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀: https://lnkd.in/e4c_nEp7

I used to think employment was the safe path. 

But no one’s saying that anymore.

Amazon just laid off 14,000. 
TCS – 19,000. 
Accenture – 3,000. 
Microsoft – 7,000.

Even the most “secure” jobs are changing.

When I took the risk to start a business, I was terrified.

I’d worked so hard to climb the ladder.

But I reached a point where staying felt riskier than leaving.

Still..I didn’t leap blindly. 

Here's what helped me move forward in a de-risked way:

✅ I built a roadmap 
✅ I surrounded myself with others doing the same 
✅ I turned my expertise into an offer with market value.

And here’s what surprised me most. 

Confidence didn’t come before the plan.

 It came because of it.

And now I recommend people start building this path whilst they are STILL in employment.

Because job security is quickly disappearing.

That’s why I built the Corporate Pivot Accelerator: https://lnkd.in/e8F7Z2BQ

Join the January waitlist.

For corporate leaders ready to build a coaching or consulting business with a community of peers and without risking everything they’ve worked for.

Curious what a structured, low-risk path could look like for you? 

Drop a 🔥 or DM me “PLAN”.

Follow Deena Priest for more.

Coached 150+ Corporate Execs To Build 6-Figure Coaching & Consulting Businesses | x-Accenture & PwC | Commercial + Consulting Leader

Fear of failure haunts corporate leaders who exit to start a coaching or consulting business.

And if I am honest, many do fail.

Because you leave corporate thinking your reputation will carry you.

It's not enough.

When I left corporate, I thought 20 years of experience would speak for itself.

But instead of clients lining up… I was scrambling to figure out how to consistently generate revenue.

(And then I noticed 20 year olds creating $10m ARR businesses. 🤔)

It was a kick in the teeth and a steep learning curve.

I questioned everything: 

• Was I even cut out for this? 
• How long could I go without income? 
• Would I have to go back to an employed job?

Many years and lessons learned later...

I now teach my clients how to build sustainable income:

Here's how:

𝟭. 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆
→If you can’t explain your offer in one sentence, clients won’t buy it. 
→We build your signature offer: ✔️ The pain you solve ✔️ The result you deliver ✔️ How it’s packaged 

𝟮. 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆
→Hourly rates and “free sessions” scream uncertainty. 
→You’ll price for outcomes, not time so your clients value you from day one.

𝟯. 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 & 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆
→Client acquisition is a professional skill.
→We ditch vague posting and networking and build thought leadership authority.
→You’ll learn how to attract and convert the right buyers.

𝟰. 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁 = 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁
→If you’re still operating like a corporate exec, you’ll build a job not a business. 
→We rewire how you think, market, and show up so clients see you as the solution.

The coaches and consultants earning real money aren’t more talented than you.

They have learned how to be a successful entrepreneur so they never need to return to corporate.

𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝘂𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: https://lnkd.in/eyJx78uv

Follow Deena Priest for more.

"I’ll build my business when I have more time.”

This is the biggest blocker to exiting corporate. 

Most people think a salary is the most important thing.

It’s not. It’s your time

The one currency you’ll never get back.

If you’ve spent 20+ years building:
✔️ Deep expertise
✔️ A strong reputation
✔️ Financial stability

You may have built money
But not time or financial freedom.

When I worked 80 rigid hours in corporate, I missed:

> My son’s football matches
> My own health check-ups
> Most of my vacation allowance

“Flexibility” was just a corporate buzzword.

The reality:

99 percent of my time was eaten up by admin, egos,politics etc.

Maybe 1% of my week was focused on real impact.

Use your money and knowledge to map your exit and build your high-impact business. 

Here’s how I did it:

1. Buy clarity before you build
> Invest in someone who’s walked the path.
> Shortcut months of second-guessing with a clear map and mirror.

2. Extract the value from your career
> You don’t need reinvention. Just repositioning.
> Package what already works and make it profitable.

3. Buy back hours with expert thinking
> Ditch the PDFs and random LinkedIn posts.
> Use frameworks that actually move you forward.

4. Build a premium offer that respects your time
> No low-ticket time traps.
> High-trust work with high-calibre clients on your terms.

5. Learn while you earn
> Start now, while still employed.
> Gain clients and confidence before you ever hand in your notice.

Your knowledge built your salary.
Now it can build your exit.

But only if you start treating your time
like your most valuable asset.

P.S - Time is not the issue. Clarity is. Once you're clear on what your business does and how to build it, you find the time to drive things forward.

Deena Priest

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Many ex-corporate leaders turned coaches underprice.  

Not because they’re new.  
Because they’re still thinking like employees.
 
One client came to me after 20+ years leading multimillion-dollar teams.  

He was coaching for free.  

I asked him why.
 
“I wanted to prove I could help.”
 
Here’s the problem:  
When you undercharge, you don’t prove your value.  

You prove you don’t believe in it.
 
And I see this every week:
 
• Free = devalued
• Cheap = not trusted
• Underpriced = underchosen
 
Your pricing isn’t about greed.  

It’s about energy, equity, and transformation.
 
You don’t need to charge like a hedge fund.  

But you do need to:
 
𝟭/ 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻  
A CRO I coached dropped “leadership coaching” and positioned her offer around a $10M sales leak.  

She landed a retainer within weeks at 4x her original rate.
 
𝟮/ 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲  
One ex-COO came in charging $300/hr.  
We repackaged her expertise into a 90-day delivery ops engagement.  

First deal. $25K. 
 
 𝟯/ 𝗥𝗲𝘄𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗲𝘁
A public sector leader told me, “I don’t want to be seen as greedy.”  

After working through that belief, she doubled her rates and signed two clients in a month.
 
 𝟰/ 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗮 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁  
One ex-MD was still asking, “Am I allowed to charge that much?”  

That question vanished the moment she got a “yes” on a $150K proposal.
 
Because you’re not here to play “pretty woman.”
 
You’re here to build a business that respects your decades of work.  
 
Price accordingly.

KR,
Deena Priest

When Sarah left her executive role to become a growth consultant, she didn't earn.

She had decades of experience. 
A solid network. 
A desire to be her own boss.

But three months into her business, she was signing low-value contracts. 

She was trading time for money. 
Back on the same treadmill she’d tried to escape.

Why?

She followed conventional advice:

→ Launch a website 
→ Post on LinkedIn 
→ Create an offer

Her calendar was full of non-value-add tasks… not traction.

When we looked deeper, the problem wasn’t her capability. 

It was her sequence.

She’d started with visibility. 

But what she needed was value and proximity.

Here’s what we changed:

✔ Prioritized quality conversations over content 
✔ Reworked her value proposition from the ground up 
✔ Priced for outcomes not effort or retainer norms

Within 8 weeks, she signed a $50K client.

From activity → traction. 

From corporate expert → trusted advisor.

If you’re in motion but not gaining momentum,  it might be time to reassess your roadmap.

📌Join my free newsletter for strategies to go from Corporate →Entrepreneur: https://lnkd.in/e4c_nEp7.

Follow Deena Priest for more.

I left a 6-figure corporate career in my 40s and started a business.

The identity shift was real.  

But all my clients in their 40s and 50s have that pull toward 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵?
 
By now, many have:  

• Grown-up kids  
• Respected networks  
• Paid-down mortgages  
• 20+ years of wisdom, leadership
 
It 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴 like the right time to make a change.

They don't want to climb the ladder anymore.
 
They want to use their expertise to gain more freedom, fulfillment, purpose, legacy.

But here’s what often stalls them:
 
• Clarity: “I’m not sure how to do it”  
• Fear: “What if I fail and have to go back?”
• Financials: “What if I can’t replace my salary?”    
 
👆 All of it? Just fear of the unknown.
 
Here’s what helped my clients and I all move forward:
 
1️⃣ Roadmap 
– A step-by-step plan to replace and exceed your salary

2️⃣ Structure 
– Clarity on what to offer, who to serve, how to get clients  

3️⃣ Community 
– Others walking the same path (so you're not doing this in isolation)
 
𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗜 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗣𝗶𝘃𝗼𝘁 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿™
The system for corporate professionals to launch consultancy or coaching businesses that are credible, profitable, and purpose-led.
 
Turn your expertise into a profitable business without risking income or reputation.
 
👥 Join the waitlist now to get first access and details: https://lnkd.in/e8F7Z2BQ
 
Or send me a message and I will share more details.

Deena Priest

If you're at stage 3, it may be time to start your business.
 
The stats are brutal:  
• Executives spend ~23 hours a week in meetings.  
• Around half of them are totally unproductive.
 
That’s calendar captivity.
 
It’s stopping you from doing the high-impact work that actually gives you energy and fulfilment.
 
When you build your own consulting / coaching business:  

• You get paid for outcomes, not attendance.  
• You spend your time on high-ROI, high-impact work.
• You decide which meetings exist (and who’s in them).  

Here’s how to start shifting out of stage 3:
 
1️⃣ 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀   
→ Don't let others' priorities run your calendar.  
→ Ring-fence 2–4 hours a week for planning and doing.
 
2️⃣ 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿  
→ Start thinking in problems solved.  
→ Who do you help → what do you fix → what changes?  
→ That shift to “I solve this” is the bridge to becoming a business owner.
 
3️⃣ 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀  
→ Prioritize conversations with those who benefit from your expertise.
→Their challenges will literally point to where your future business fits.
 
Free up your time → Make an impact → Earn well. 

If every meeting leaves you thinking, 
"I could be doing something better with my time”… 

Your next chapter is probably not another promotion.  

It’s a business.
 
Deena Priest

📌Join for strategies to go from Corporate → Profitable consultant or coach: https://lnkd.in/e4c_nEp7

I missed a billion-dollar opportunity.

In 2005, someone approached me about building a coaching subscription platform. 

Back then, almost no one knew what that even was.

We sketched out the vision. Mapped the model.

It had real potential. But I hesitated.

“I don’t know how to build tech,” I told myself. 
“Maybe later.”

Someone else moved. 

That same idea is now a billion-dollar business.

It’s not about the money.

It’s the hesitation. The self-doubt. The fact that I didn’t back myself.

Sir Richard Branson said it best:
“𝘐𝘧 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘥𝘰 𝘪𝘵, 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘺𝘦𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘪𝘵 𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳.”

Because the cost of hesitation is real: 
Regret. Time. Momentum. Income. Relevance.

If you’ve been:
• Laid off
• Restless
• Sitting on 20 years of wisdom
  
And have wanted to start a business, here's your chance:

𝟭. 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 
If not you, someone else will do it.

𝟮. 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻-𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 
Get clear on what problem you solve better than anyone else.

𝟯. 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝘁 
This is the biggest gap for most ex-corporate leaders and the most powerful shift.

𝟰. 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁  
The right roadmap and peer group changes everything.

I’ve seen clients land deals within 3 weeks of doing this.

Not all opportunities knock twice. 

Some slip by quietly. 

And one day, they belong to someone else.

Don’t let action come too late.

P.S - What’s one opportunity you still think about?

♻️ Repost to encourage action over perfection.

Follow Deena Priest to exit corporate and build a coaching or consulting business.

Your coaching and consulting clients won’t always know what they want.

This is true of both B2C and B2B clients. 

They’ll tell you symptoms: 
“We need clarity.” “We want to grow.” “We’re stuck.”

But if you take that at face value,
you risk selling the wrong thing. 
Delivering the wrong result. 

And ending up with a client who’s “meh” at best or disappointed at worst.

That has a cost: No referrals. No renewals. Damaged reputation.

When I first started consulting, I made this mistake. 

Jumped to strategy. Skipped the deep work. 

And built solutions for problems they hadn’t fully committed to solving.

Everything changed when I redesigned my discovery process.

Now I use 2 core frameworks to uncover what clients really need:

𝟭. 𝗦𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗗 (𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝟮𝗖 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀)
Uncovers both logical and emotional needs, wants and drivers.

𝗦𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 
– What triggered the conversation? 

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺 
– What’s not working day-to-day? 

𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 
– What’s it costing them to stay stuck? 

𝗖𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 
– What’s really underneath it? 

𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 
– What do they say they want?

𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 
– What will make them feel this was worth it?

--------

𝟮. 𝟱𝗗 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 (𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝟮𝗕 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴)
Use this when the ask is big, political, or vague.

𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗿𝗲 
– What do they truly want? 
– Often the request is surface-level. 
– Dig for what’s driving it. Reputation? Revenue? Legacy?

𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 
– What’s in the way? 
– Uncover both external blockers (budget, regulation) and internal ones (silos, resistance).

𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 
– What does success actually look like?
–  Push for tangible outcomes across 3, 6, and 12 months.
 – Not just “more alignment” or “better culture.”

𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 
– What could derail it? Who needs to buy in? 
– What priorities, politics, or hidden agendas exist?

𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 
– What do they actually need? 
– Co-create the solution based on what you’ve now uncovered.

The best consultants and coaches ask sharper questions. 

They define the real problem and co-create the solution.

Client success = Your success.

What's your go-to discovery framework for coaching or consulting?

-----
I'm Deena Priest. I help corporate professionals and executives with 15+ years experience build 6-figure coaching and consulting businesses.

7 years ago, I was afraid to leave my corporate job.

Today, I’m afraid of my 10-year-old daughter.

(She’s brutally honest. Zero filter. No mercy.) 😬

But seriously... we all need someone like that.

Because the more senior you are...  the less truth-tellers you have around you.. the more you ignore the voice in your head that says "do something purposeful."

Has anyone ever sat you down and asked:
“Why are you still grinding 80+ hours a week… for someone else’s dream?”

Nope. Didn't think so. 

But if deep down, you’ve felt:

The uneasy question: “Is this really it?”
The itch to start something of your own 
The frustration that you're capable of more 

Then maybe it’s time to stop ignoring it.

Ask yourself:

1. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸? 
→Is it time? Security? Identity? 
→Or is it fear disguised as “being realistic”?

2. 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻? 
If so, from whom? And is it worth it?

3. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆, 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘂𝘀, 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆? 
(Were you, like me, taught that promotions = prosperity?)

4. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗼𝗿? 
Is there a market for that?

5. 𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲?
Smart people overthink everything.

One of my clients had 25 years in global leadership. 

Brilliant. Respected. Burnt out. 

He kept saying, “I’ll start something of my own when the timing is right.”

Then came the layoff.
Suddenly, someday became now.

Today, he runs a solo sales advisory business that brings in multiple 6 figures.

Most knowledge workers could turn their skills and knowledge into a business. 

But mindset eats strategy for breakfast.

You need to believe it's possible or nothing will happen.

Do you have an honest truth-teller in your life?

Follow Deena Priest for more.

📌Join my free newsletter "Purpose & Pay" for strategies and frameworks to go from Corporate → Entrepreneur: https://lnkd.in/e4c_nEp7

7 Pieces of Business Growth Advice I Ignore.

(And my coaching business still grew).

I’ve worked with some brilliant business advisors. 

But here’s what no one ever tells you when it comes to business: 

Trust your instincts.  

Here’s the common advice I 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 follow:

1. 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼’𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 
   → I trust myself. I know their world better than any guru.
   
2. 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗱𝗮𝘆 
   → If AI can generate it, it doesn’t add value. 
   → I share lived lessons.
   
3. 𝗕𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 
   → I chose 1-2 that actually work for me. 
   → That’s more than enough.
   
4. 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 
   → I built a message that attracts action-takers.
   → No cold pitching required.
   
5. 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 
   → I write how I speak. 
   → Human > expert.
   
6. 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 
   → Clients don’t buy your method. 
   → They buy solutions to their pain.
   
7. 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳𝗶𝗲𝘀 
   →  I mix it up. 
   → Insights > image.
   
Truth is…

When you run a business, the advice can be overwhelming.

But real traction comes from trusting what actually works for you and your ideal clients.

⚡Understand your market. 
⚡Test and refine your approach.

And never outsource your instincts.

P.S - What's been your biggest business lesson?

If you're leaving corporate to start a coaching or consulting business, join the free newsletter for strategies: https://lnkd.in/e4c_nEp7

Follow Deena Priest for more.

I see 3 terrible pieces of advice for consultants and coaches on LinkedIn.  

Especially for those who've recently started their businesses. 
 
Here they are:
 
𝟭. “𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱.”
 
It sounds smart and feels productive.  

But here’s the reality:

A personal brand won’t save you if your offer and positioning are vague.
 
I know people with 100K followers…  who post daily…  who go viral…  and are still broke.
 
Because branding without a clear offer = attention without income.
 
Build your offer and positioning first.  
Speak to real humans second.  
Build your brand last.
 
 
𝟮. “𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁.”
 
No. 
 
Niche is discovered not guessed.
 
You can’t “think” your way to clarity.  

You test and validate with discussions.

Conversations > assumptions.
 
 
𝟯. “𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹.”
 
Not at the start.
 
Funnels don’t work without trust.  

Trust doesn’t come from ads or emails.  

It comes from conversations.
 
Momentum > funnels.
 
 
Most of the advice out there is recycled, misapplied, or shared by people who aren't actual consultants or coaches. 
 
You don’t need hacks.  

You need trust and proof.
 
How do you build that?
 
You guessed it:
 
Conversations.
 
What’s the worst piece of advice you had to unlearn?

------------
If you like posts that cut through the noise, you’ll enjoy my newsletter. It’s where I share the things about leaving corporate to start a business that I don’t post publicly. 

Join here: https://lnkd.in/e4c_nEp7

Sales is 99% mindset. 1% skill. 
 
Many who leave corporate to start their own businesses really struggle with this.  
 
Some of you had previously sold 5M+ deals for a Fortune 500 with a straight face. 
 
But asked to sell your own offer… 
You'd rather eat a Brazilian spider. 🕷️
 
Your brain serves up: 
“I’m being pushy.” 
“They’ll think I’m desperate.” 
 
You hate used car salesman vibes.  
 
Here’s what you don't need to do: 
 
❌ Send mass automated messages 
❌ Start pitching people immediately  
❌ Behave like a hustle bro 
❌ Chase endlessly  
❌ Avoid people  

Reframe your internal dialogue: 
 
You’re not a “used car salesman.” 
You’re a specialist who stops expensive problems. 

Approach it like this:

1. Ensure you have a market-resonant offer
2. Work out your positioning
3. Reach out to a warm and cold network
4. Try to give them as much value as possible
5.  Manage your mindset from "hassling" to "helping."
 
Sales is: 
✅ Helping someone get clear on their real problem. 
✅ Saying honestly if you can solve it.
✅ Inviting them to work with you if there’s a fit. 
 
That’s it. 

It’s possible for anyone to go from Little Red Riding Hood to Wolf of Wall Street (minus the fraud.)
 
Fix the 99% (mindset) so you can hone the 1% (skills).
 
What’s the one sales belief you’d love to drop? 

Deena Priest

How to exit corporate, make an impact and make money.
 
It’s one of the most asked questions on claude, ChatGPT and at 3AM in your head.
 
Here’s what won't make it happen:
 
➡️ You won’t make money just because you’re smart.  
➡️ You won’t get clients just because you have experience.  
➡️ And you definitely won’t succeed trying to figure it all out alone.
 
If you want a profitable business that gives you control, purpose, and income...
 
Here’s what you actually need:
 
1. 𝗔𝗻 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗳𝘂𝗹, 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺  
   (Not “helping people or businesses grow.” A real painkiller.)
   
2. 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗼𝗯𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀  
   (So you're seen as a premium solution, not a nice-to-have.)
   
3. 𝗔 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗱
   (No logo, website, or 3-month branding detour needed.)
   
4. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲
   (Clarity and courage, not confidence, creates action.)
 
It’s not about leaving corporate.  

It’s about building a business that’s future-proof, fulfilling, and financially resilient.  

This is the work I do with senior leaders every day—if you’re ready, send me a message.

📌 Until then, 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘇 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿 once leaving corporate: https://lnkd.in/eyJx78uv
 
Follow Deena Priest for more.

Image Credit: AI3E on instagram.

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The Battle

Steven Claes

Deena Priest

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The Battle

Steven Claes

Deena Priest

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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);}Steven Claes's LinkedIn Performance

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Performance ScoreSteven Claes's LinkedIn Performance