John Hancock Resumes

Send your resume for a free review (JohnHancockResumes@gmail.com).


Or call/text to schedule a consultation. (859) 940-2013

My clients have landed jobs at companies like Microsoft, Google, Meta, and Tesla. 

Offering 10+ years of experience with 230+ LinkedIn recommendations and 300+ 5-star Google reviews. 

Save hours of time trying to perfect your resume and just leave it to the pros. 👌🏼

Services offered include:

✅ Resume writing 
✅ Cover letters
✅ LinkedIn customization 
✅ Executive bios
✅ Thank you letters & references 
✅ Career & interview coaching 

Make a good impression within ~6 seconds and get past the applicant tracking system (ATS) bots. 🤖 

We work with clients in nearly every industry and any experience level, from new graduate to executive.

Ask about our 60-day interview guarantee.

Resume Writer, LinkedIn Profile Writer & Career Coach

Escape the Cubicle Newsletter

Read & Subscribe at (www.EscapeTheCubicle.Substack.com)

Growth Strategist

Resume Writer & Remote Career Coach + I’m “That Remote Guy” 🙋🏻‍♂️ Helping people find the remote career they’ve dreamed of in less time + Join 30K+ on the Escape the Cubicle Newsletter👇

You can work from anywhere. I’ll show you how. 👇

A Google search back in 2015 changed the course of my career, “How do you make money online?”

I was at a crossroads in my career and ready to make a change. I knew it was time to start building my own thing, a thing that someone couldn’t take away overnight. 

After discovering the world of freelancing, I replaced my income and never looked back. By the second year, I was able to triple that income (more than I ever thought possible) because of one platform: LinkedIn

LinkedIn allowed me to connect with clients all over the world, right at my fingertips. The opportunities that LinkedIn has opened up have been life-changing.

Now, I get to help others use LinkedIn to build a remote career as a Career Coach & Resume Writer and their own profitable brand as a Growth Strategist. I’ll help coach you on growing an online income through LinkedIn, a newsletter (like Substack), and a digital product.

…oh, and I still write amazing, interview-winning resumes if you need that. Just send a DM, and I’ll provide a free review for you. Or email it to me at (JohnHancockResumes@gmail.com).

---
Here’s what I've built:

✅ 125,000+ engaged LinkedIn followers
✅ 50,000+ LinkedIn newsletter subscribers
✅ 5,000+ Escape the Cubicle Substack subscribers
✅ 500+ transformed through my masterclasses
✅ 3000+ resumes written for every industry 

“Press Start” Here 👇

📌 Subscribe to my Substack at: www.EscapeTheCubicle.Substack.Com

📌 Join my Free 5-Day Email Class on “How to Grow & Monetize on LinkedIn” at the link top of my profile (or Featured Section)

📌 Connect for a 1on1 Coaching Call (by sending me a DM); I’ll help you build an actionable 30-day strategy to grow your brand on LinkedIn & Substack

📌 Grab my Six-Figure LinkedIn Growth Masterclass (& Playbook) with 500+ of my other students; click the link at top of my profile (or Featured Section)

📌 Get a newly polished resume at www.JohnHancockResumes.com

There's a better way to work. Let me show you how to find it.

Wes Pearce

Good salary makes you show up. Great culture makes you want to stay.


I've watched people convince themselves that toxic workplace culture is "just how it is."

Meanwhile, their enthusiasm is gone. Their best ideas stay unshared. Their Sunday nights are filled with dread.

All because they've been told that culture "isn't a good enough reason" to leave.

Here's what actually happens when you prioritize culture:

-You perform better because you're not constantly fighting your environment.

-You grow faster because you're learning from people who lift you up, not tear you down.

-You become the version of yourself that actually gets promoted—because you're not using all your energy just to survive the day.

I've had clients turn down offers with 20% more money.

Every single time? They chose the place with better culture instead.

Companies will post about "culture" and "values" in their job ads, but somehow YOU'RE the unrealistic one for actually expecting those things to be true?

Here's the real risk:

Staying so long in a bad culture that you normalize behavior you'd never accept anywhere else.

The best companies don't want people who just tolerate dysfunction.

They want people who've experienced great culture and refuse to settle for less.

Your career is too short to spend it miserable.

Make sure you're optimizing for fulfillment, not just endurance.

— —
📌 Ready to make your next move? I put together a “resume checklist” to help you update and improve your resume—making sure it actually gets seen by recruiters.

Comment “RESUME” and I’ll send it to you.

Resume Writer & Career Coach helping you “work from anywhere” 👨🏻‍💻 Follow for Career, Remote Job Search, and Creator Tips | Writing daily on EscapeTheCubicle.Substack.com Join 10,000+ Subscribers

I keep watching this exact scenario unfold:


Someone leaves a company that treated them like they were invisible.

Overlooked. Denied raises they deserved three times over.

Then months later, their old colleagues see them thriving at a different organization.

Leading projects. Getting recognized. Finally using the skills that sat dormant for so long.

Suddenly the previous manager reaches out. “Would you ever consider returning?"

The answer is almost always no.

Because something fundamental changes when you exit a place that never saw your worth: you discover what genuine respect feels like.

✅ You end up in meetings where people ask for your input, not talk over you.

✅ You work under leaders who fight for your growth instead of limiting it.

✅ You join environments where recognition is standard practice, not something they remember during your goodbye.

The difference isn't that you improved at your craft. That ability was already present.

It's about finding somewhere that actually understands how to leverage what you offer.

That previous position taught you something critical, even if it stung: certain places don't deserve what you're capable of.

The best decision is often leaving and watching them figure out too late what they lost.

——
📌 If you’re needing more inspiration, I’ve been writing about this on my Substack newsletter: EscapeTheCubicle.Substack.Com  

For a year now, I’ve been talking about how to take your talents/skills and build your own portfolio career. 

Grown to 14,000+ subscribers who are taking control of their careers…

Quitting that toxic job won’t make you look like a “job hopper.” Trust me. 


It makes you someone who values their well-being more than someone else's perception.

I've watched clients stay in toxic jobs because they're paralyzed by what it might look like on their resume or LinkedIn.

Meanwhile, their health is declining. Their relationships are suffering. Their spark is gone.

All to avoid being labeled a "job hopper" by people who've never walked in their shoes.

Here's what actually happens when you leave toxicity quickly:

—You reclaim months (or years) of your life that you would've spent miserable.

—You show future employers that you have boundaries—and you're not afraid to enforce them.

—You give yourself permission to find a place where you can actually thrive, not just survive.

I've had clients leave jobs after 3 months, after 6 months, after realizing on day one that the role was misrepresented.

Every single one? They found something better within weeks.

Because the only thing worse than a short stint on your resume is a long stint that breaks you.

Companies will eliminate your position without a second thought, but somehow you’re the flaky one for leaving when the environment is damaging your health?

The real risk? Staying so long that the toxicity becomes your baseline and you forget what a healthy workplace even feels like.

The best hiring managers don't judge you for leaving quickly.

They judge you for how you talk about it, what you learned, and what you're looking for instead.

Your mental health isn't negotiable.

Make sure your career reflects that.

— —
📌 Ready to make your next move? I put together a resume checklist to help you update and improve your resume—making sure it actually gets seen by recruiters.

Comment "RESUME" and I'll send it to you.

Let’s stop shaming people for leaving a toxic job. They’re not quitting, they’re standing up for their career. 


Maria came to me at 40, exhausted and defeated.

For eight years, she'd been working at a company where her ideas were dismissed, her achievements went unrecognized, and her manager took credit for her work. 

She stayed because she feared starting over would mean "throwing away" her experience.

"But what if I can't find anything else at my age?" she asked during our first session.
I see this fear paralyze so many talented professionals. The belief that starting over means starting from zero. The worry that age makes you less valuable.

Neither is true.

Together, we took inventory of her transferable skills – project management, team leadership, client relations – skills that transcend any specific role or industry.

Then we identified her non-negotiables:

✅ Remote to eliminate hercommute
✅ Collaborative culture that valued input
✅ Clear opportunities for growth
✅ Work that aligned with her core values

Maria hesitated when I suggested she could find all four. 

“That feels like asking for too much," she said. Three months later, she proved herself wrong.

After submitting 20+ applications, doing 4 interviews, and turning down 2 offers that didn't meet her criteria, Sarah landed a fully remote position with a company whose mission she believes in – at a 15% higher salary than her previous role.

The best part? She recently told me: "For the first time in years, I feel valued. My manager actually thanked me for my contributions last week. I didn't realize how starved I was for basic recognition."

Maria’s story isn't about starting from nothing. It's about having the courage to use everything she'd learned to write a better next chapter.

If you're staying in a toxic environment because you fear starting over, remember: 

You're not starting from zero. You're starting from experience.

Question: What would you do in your career if you weren't afraid of beginning again?

—
📌 If you’re needing more help, this is why I created Remote Dream Job Masterclass.

It’s the exact strategy I teach all my 1on1 coaching clients to land interviews without applying online. 

If you’d like to join, just scroll up and click “View My Newsletter” or check the Featured Section on my profile.

graphical user interface, text, application

The career advice that's actually ruining people: "Just stick it out for two years."


No. Quitting a job early is ok. Moving on is ok. Changing careers is ok.

But what's not ok? Staying in a toxic job that doesn't value or appreciate your worth.

I've seen people stay in awful situations for years because they're terrified of how it'll look.

"What will people think?"

"What if recruiters see this as a red flag?"

"What if I can't explain the gap?"

Meanwhile, they're miserable. Anxious. Watching their skills and confidence erode month after month.

The hiring managers worth working for don't care that you left a bad situation quickly.

They care that you recognized it was bad and had the self-respect to walk away.

Staying in a toxic job doesn't make you loyal. It makes you unavailable for the right opportunity when it shows up.

Your resume doesn't need to be perfect. It needs to tell the truth.

And the truth is: sometimes the smartest career move is knowing when to leave.

Stop sacrificing your mental health to avoid an awkward conversation in an interview.

Any company that judges you for protecting your well-being isn't a company you want to work for anyway.

You don't owe toxicity your time, your energy, or your future.

Leave. Recover. Find better.

That's not quitting. That's leveling up.

---
📌 Ready to make your next move? I put together a “Resume Checklist” to help you update and improve your resume—making sure it actually gets seen by recruiters.

Over 200+ job seekers have already downloaded it. 

Comment "RESUME" and I'll send it to you.

Leaving a toxic job doesn't make you a “quitter.”


It makes you someone who finally understood their worth.

For years, we were gaslit into believing:

"Be grateful you have a job."
"It's not supposed to be fun."
"Everywhere is like this."

No. Everywhere is NOT like this.

That Sunday anxiety?
That's not normal.

Crying in your car before work?
Not a rite of passage.

Feeling physically sick at the thought of Monday?
That's your body screaming at you to leave.

And when you finally do?

Society calls you ungrateful. Entitled. A quitter.

I call it self-preservation.

Here's what nobody tells you:
You don't have to find another box to fit into.

You can build a career around YOUR life. Not someone else's org chart.

The people leaving toxic workplaces aren't just job hopping anymore.

They're becoming consultants who triple their hourly rate.

- Coaches who work 20 hours a week.
- Freelancers who choose their clients.
- Writers who monetize their expertise.
- Creators who own their time.

They're not asking for permission anymore.

They're building portfolio careers that actually fit their skills, values, and lives.

More money. More flexibility. Zero Sunday scaries.

That toxic job taught you something valuable:

You're worth more than they were paying you. In every sense of the word.

Walking away wasn't quitting.

It was the beginning.

— —
📌 I’ve been writing about this on my Substack EscapeTheCubicle.Substack.Com, everything from portfolio careers and becoming a solopreneur. 

It’s grown to a community of 14,000+ subscribers all inspired to escape their own cubicles. 

I’d love for you to join up and follow along.

I stayed on the wrong train, wrong dead end job for two years.

 
I knew within the first three months the job wasn't what they'd sold me. 

The culture was toxic. The growth opportunities didn't exist. My manager was actively holding me back.

But I stayed.

"Maybe it'll get better." "I just need to prove myself." "What will it look like if I leave this soon?"

So I rode that train for two more years. 

Watching my confidence drain, skills stagnate, and mental health decline.

When I finally got off, the return trip cost me everything. It took six months to rebuild my confidence. 

All because I was too afraid to admit I was on the wrong train.

Here's what I learned: The cost of staying is always higher than the cost of leaving.

And the return trip? It's not just about finding a new job. 

It's about undoing the damage: rebuilding your self-worth, recovering your energy, remembering who you were before that place broke you down.

If you know you're on the wrong train, get off at the next station.

Not next year. Not after you hit some arbitrary milestone. Now.

The longer you wait, the more expensive the return trip becomes.

And some costs you can't get back.

——
📌 Ready to land a remote job? I put together a “Remote Job Search Guide” with everything you need to find and land your next work-from-home role.

Comment "GUIDE" and I'll send it to you.

Or scroll up and click “View my Newsletter” to get the Guide.

I'll never forget the boss who looked at my resume and said: "You don't have the experience we typically look for."


Then added: "But I like how you think. Let's give you a shot."

No traditional qualifications. No industry background. 

Just curiosity, drive, and a willingness to figure it out.

That one decision changed the trajectory of my entire career. Not because I was the most skilled candidate.

Because someone saw my potential instead of just a piece of paper.

Fast forward, and I've now been on the other side of that table hundreds of times.

And here's what I've learned: the candidates who look perfect on paper aren't always the ones who perform.

The ones who succeed? They're coachable. Hungry. Resilient.

You can teach someone a software system in two weeks.

You can't teach someone to give a damn.

✅ If you're hiring: take a chance on the person with the right attitude over the one with the perfect resume.

✅ If you're job searching: find the leader who's willing to bet on your potential, not just your past.

That person exists.

And when you find them, you'll spend the rest of your career trying to pay that forward.

---
📌 Ready to make your next move? I put together a resume checklist to help you update and improve your resume—making sure it actually gets seen by recruiters.

Comment "RESUME" and I'll send it to you.

This would be a career-changer for somebody. 👇🏼

Founder & CEO @ Limelight | B2B Creator Marketplace | 3x Founder | MBA Mentor

I’m HIRING a Customer Success Manager!! 🎉 👀 Want to join a tech startup DOMINATING the creator economy space?!

Keep reading 👇

I don’t care about your fancy degree.
Or what brands are on your CV.
Or how old you are.

If you're awesome at what you do...

WE WANT YOU!!!

Simple as that 👏👏

The ideal candidate:

🔥 Has startup experience (and can work fast)
🔥 Can build relationships with enterprise customers
🔥 Understands B2B influence/creator partnerships
🔥 Has the grit and accountability to own outcomes

You'll get:

→ Ability to work from anywhere
→ Skin in the game + bonuses
→ Responsibility from day one
→ Total creative freedom

This is a rare opportunity for someone to join our early team and go on a MAJOR growth journey with us.

A bit about Limelight:

- Just won SaaStock Europe’s global pitch
- Growing fast with $3.6M in proposals sent
- Working with brands like HubSpot, Clay, Xero
- Building the future of B2B influencer marketing
- Used by thousands of world-class content creators

We made our last hire in under 10 days.

And we’re looking for someone incredible again.

Ready for the challenge?

Apply here: https://lnkd.in/d6bnJyJP

Know someone who is?

Tag ‘em!

Leadership Coach, Mentor & Keynote Speaker • Helping leaders grow agility and spark innovation • Follow for posts about personal growth, productivity, and process improvement • Founder at Agile Experts.

🚀 I help leaders and organizations to seriously level up their performance. No fluff!
Catalyzing meaningful change and progress straight ahead.
Especially, if you got stuck in shortcuts.
But still willing to make a difference!

💥 As a Leadership, Business Agility Coach and Trainer I offer highly effective services for enterprise transformation, strategy development, process improvement, leadership agility and culture change.

My focus 👉 Leadership for an evolution of adaptive organizations, purpose-driven, innovative and engaging.

My personal stance 👉 Standing in Inquiry and Respecting other People's views! 
Co-Creating even Better Ways!

Key topics in my daily work, and as a creator/author are:
👉 personal growth, 
👉 leadership development, 
👉 product innovation, 
👉 and joyful productivity. 

As we have entered the age of AI, uncertainty and change is everywhere.
I keep exploring the latest trends and developments with AI.
And I'm sharing my insights about the possibilities that come for leaders and organizations through AI.

Mike Leber

Some leaders read numbers.

Great leaders read people.

They notice what others miss -
what’s unspoken,
what’s missing,
what’s hurting.

Because empathy isn’t just a skill.
It’s awareness.
Of what’s really happening beneath the surface.

But too many chase KPIs 
and forget the humans behind them.
They master management - but fail at humanity.

Real leaders don’t talk about empathy -
they prove it. 👇

1. They notice when something’s off
The smile feels forced.
The room feels heavy.
They check in before it breaks.

2. They ask before they act
No jumping to judgment.
“What’s making this hard for you right now?”
Understanding beats assumption.

3. They protect dignity - not egos
Direct, never demeaning.
Growth can’t bloom in shame.

4. They slow down when others struggle
Compassion > urgency.
Lift one person, not just the numbers.

5. They normalize honesty
No pretending. No masks.
They make it safe to say, “I’m not okay.”

6. They stay kind under pressure
When it’s hardest to care-
that’s when it matters most.

7. They understand you carry more than tasks
Sometimes, it’s grief.
Sometimes, fear.
Sometimes, life itself-
and they lead with space for all of it.

Experience can teach you process.
Empathy teaches you people.

And that’s what separates those who manage work
from those who change lives.

♻ Repost to spark more care, less control.
➕ Follow Mike Leber for daily insights on leadership and growth.

Good leaders build followers. 
Great leaders build more leaders.
The best build legacies.

Because the greatest gift you can give your team
isn't perks. 
Isn't praise. 
Isn't promises.

It's belief.
The kind that says:
“I want you to succeed - even if it outshines me.”

When leaders lead this, everything changes:
✅ Confidence grows
✅ Trust deepens
✅ Teams thrive

8 ways great leaders prove they care 👇
(and spark unstoppable teams)

1. Believe out loud
Say “I believe in you” more often.
People rise to the level of belief they feel.

2. Clear the path
Remove roadblocks so your team can run.
Your job isn’t to make life harder.
It’s to make progress easier.

3. Share the stage
Give credit publicly, even when you could take it.
Leaders who share the spotlight build brighter teams.

4. Invest in growth
Not just for the role they’re in - 
but for the one they dream of.

5. Defend their back
When politics creep in, protect your people.
Trust is built in the moments they’re not in the room.

6. Listen without agenda
Don’t just hear.
Understand.
Listening is the loudest form of respect.

7. Celebrate effort, not just results
The journey matters as much as the destination.
Recognition fuels resilience.

8. Push with care
Challenge them when they play small.
Support them when they take bold risks.

The truth?
Your legacy won’t be the numbers you hit.
It’ll be the people you lifted.

So lead with courage.
Cheer louder than their doubts.
Open doors they didn’t know existed.

Because when you help others rise,
you rise higher than you ever could alone.

♻ Repost this to inspire leaders who build people.
➕ Follow Mike Leber for more daily insights on leadership and growth.

—

📌 Grab my free "True Leader's Playbook" (+ Leadership Team extension) for leadership growth
https://lnkd.in/eNy9xRUK

You don’t grow by shining alone-
Your light grows brightest
the moment you use it to lift someone else.

Too many people guard their spark like it’s scarce.
They hold back knowledge.
Withhold credit.
Protect their spotlight.

But the truth?
The more you help others shine,
the brighter the whole room gets-
and so do you.

Here's what grows when you help others glow 👇

1. You build legacy, not followers
Lift others, and they’ll light ten more.

2. You spark belief
A single “I believe in you”
can flip doubt into drive.

3. You create unstoppable teams
Confidence spreads faster than doubt.
And unity becomes the fuel.

4. You unlock innovation
People don’t share ideas in the dark.
Your light gives them courage.

5. You earn loyalty that lasts
People remember who lifted them-
especially when no one else did.

6. You multiply your impact
One flame becomes many.
And suddenly, you’re igniting change.

So don’t hold back your fire.
You’re not losing energy-
you’re multiplying possibility.

Be the match that starts a movement.
Be the reason others shine.

♻ Repost to remind your network: real leaders share the light.
➕ Follow Mike Leber for more daily insights on leadership and growth.

Image credit: Gareth Lloyd

Power moves tasks.
Care moves people.
That's the real scoreboard of leadership.

And it’s the part most leaders forget.

They chase recognition.
Collect accolades.
Protect status.

But your impact?
It lives in the people who crossed your path.

No one will talk about your KPIs in ten years.
Or your job title.

They’ll remember how you made them feel -
valued or invisible,
inspired or dismissed,
seen or small.

Want to leave a legacy that outlives your LinkedIn headline?
Start here 👇

1. Lift, don’t drain
Most conversations take energy.
Great leaders give it back.

2. Listen to understand
Not to reply.
Not to fix.
Just to make people feel heard.

3. See what others miss
Effort.
Potential.
Small wins.
Tiny struggles.
People never forget the one who finally saw them.

4. Leave your ego at the door
Your presence should expand others- 
not eclipse them.

5. Show up consistently, every day
Your team shouldn’t have to guess 
which version of you is walking in today.

6. Shape confidence quietly
The best leaders grow people
without making them feel “managed.”

Because in the end-
leadership isn’t about titles, targets, or trophies.

It’s about the lives you lifted.
The courage you’ve sparked.
The people who grew because you believed in them.

That’s the real scoreboard.

Be unforgettable.
For the right reasons.

Build that legacy.
Starting today.

♻ Repost to remind leaders what legacy really means.
➕ Follow Mike Leber for daily insights on leadership and growth.

— 

📌 Join my newsletter “Saturday’s Recharge”
Free tools and frameworks to support your path to lasting impact:
👉 https://lnkd.in/e6VqJauz

If a workplace dims your light,
don’t stay and suffer.
Raise the bar. Or leave.

The truth?

Too many smart people stay stuck.
Not because they lack talent.
But because they wait.

For permission.
For clarity.
For change.

But no one’s coming to rescue your potential.
You are the turning point.

Here’s where it begins 👇

1. Stop proving. Start protecting.
Respect isn’t earned through burnout.

2. Don’t adjust to dysfunction. Disrupt it.
Silence is complicity.

3. Shrinking isn’t humility. It’s self-erasure.
Take up space - on purpose.

4. Don’t wait for “better leadership.” Be it.
Your values are louder than any title.

5. Don't compete in broken systems. Build better ones.
Collaboration beats competition.

6. Trade fake harmony for honest tension.
Growth starts where pretending ends.

7. Elevate the room - or walk out.
Sometimes the boldest move is leaving with your self-worth intact.

Because:
Great culture isn’t something you join.

It’s something you co-create, 
With people who refuse to settle.

Choose better.
Speak louder.
Protect what fuels you.

💬 Who are the people bringing out your best right now?

♻ Repost to remind someone: They deserve to thrive - not just survive.
➕ Follow Mike Leber for daily insights on leadership and growth.

—

📌 Join my newsletter “Saturday’s Recharge”
Free tools and frameworks, for a career that’s bold, not borrowed:
https://lnkd.in/e6VqJauz

Comfort protects your ego.
Growth protects your future.
Stop apologising for wanting more.

We were raised on outdated rules:
“Stay loyal.”
“Be patient.”
“Wait your turn.”

But that thinking belongs to another era.

Staying just for loyalty quietly costs you:
- Growth you’ll never get back
- Skills that go stale
- Confidence that fades one year at a time

You’re not disloyal for moving on.
You’re courageous for refusing to shrink.

Here’s what the best professionals know 👇

1. Treat your career like a portfolio, not a prison
Every role adds value. 
No single job defines your path.

2. Choose growth over comfort
Comfort feels safe - 
until it starts costing you momentum.

3. Follow opportunity, not approval
Stop waiting for permission 
Start stepping into your next chapter.

4. Reinvent before routine traps you
New skills. 
New rooms.
New level.

5. Don’t shrink to stay “grateful”
Gratitude should lift your path -
not limit your progress.

6. Find rooms that expand, not contain you
Some places push you forward.
Others keep you boxed in.

7. See evolution as duty, not betrayal
You’re not erasing your story.
Just writing the next bold chapter.

8. Move before you feel ready
Growth doesn’t wait for timing.
It rewards courage.

Stop trying to fit
What no longer fits you.

You’ve outgrown the version that stayed quiet.
Move.
Stretch.
Build what’s next.

Growth isn’t betrayal.
It’s self-respect in action.

♻ Repost to remind someone it’s okay to want more.
➕ Follow Mike Leber for bold, inspiring insights on career and leadership.

Inspiration: Maryann (MJ) Jamieson

— 

📌 Join my newsletter “Saturday’s Recharge”
Free tools and frameworks to dial up your personal growth:
👉 https://lnkd.in/e6VqJauz

Great leaders don’t need fans. 
They need challengers.
Because progress dies in echo chambers.

Strong leaders know:
The best ideas don’t come from nodding heads.

They come from:
✔ Raised hands
✔ Honest questions
✔ Courageous voices

When everyone agrees, 
You’re not leading.
You’re managing harmony.

7 traits of leaders who welcome challenge:

1. Seek truth, not comfort
→ Surround yourself with thinkers, not echo chambers.

2. Ask open questions
→ “What am I missing?” is a power move.

3. Reward dissent
→ Publicly thank the person who disagrees.

4. Stay curious, not defensive
→ Curiosity shows strength. Ego shows fear.

5. Hire for courage
→ Skills matter. Backbone matters more.

6. Model vulnerability
→ Admit mistakes. It invites honesty.

7. Celebrate better ideas
→ Especially when they’re not yours.

Great leadership isn’t about being right.
It’s about being brave enough to be wrong -
and wise enough to grow from it.

If no one challenges you, 
You’re not leading. 
You’re just managing an echo.

♻ Repost to inspire better leadership.
➕ Follow Mike Leber for actionable insights on real leadership.

Image credit: Employ Humanity

—

📌 Grab my free "True leader's playbook"
21 daily habits for impactful leaders:
https://lnkd.in/eNy9xRUK

When someone who truly cares walks away-
You don’t just lose a colleague.
You lose belief, trust, and heart.

Because skill can do the work.
But only care makes the work matter.

Real leadership isn’t about plain retention.
It’s about keeping hearts in the room.

How great leaders inspire people
to go beyond their job -
and spark care, ownership, and pride 👇

1. Make gratitude specific.
“Good job” fades.
“Your effort saved that project” stays.

2. Ask for ideas before they’re proven right.
People rise fastest when trusted early.
Belief is the oxygen of ownership.

3. See who they’re becoming, not just who they are.
See what they can’t yet - 
that’s where leadership begins.

4. Judge intention before outcome.
People stop trying 
when every mistake costs their courage.

5. Show up when it’s inconvenient.
Care that interrupts your comfort 
builds lifelong loyalty.

6. Speak to potential as a fact.
When people feel seen at their best, 
they start living up to it.

7. Model the care you expect.
Your tone. Your patience. Your consistency.
That’s what people learn from most.

Because people don’t stay for paychecks.
They stay for leaders 
who make work feel like meaning.

And when people care,
they stop following -
and start building beside you.

Care is leadership’s loudest language. 
Speak it often.

♻ Repost to remind leaders: lead hearts first - results will follow.
➕ Follow Mike Leber for daily insights on leadership and growth.

Inspiration: Gary Travis

—

📌 Get started with a free copy of my "True leader's playbook" -  
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Stop comparing. Start growing.
The race you’re running isn’t against anyone else.
It’s against the person you were yesterday.

But most people forget that.

They scroll through highlight reels.
Chase illusions of “better.”
Lose sleep trying to keep up.

Comparison kills peace.
It drains joy.
It suffocates progress.
It turns growth into guilt.

And worst of all -
It makes you forget how far you’ve already come.

Comparison is a thief disguised as motivation.
It pushes you to win...
but never to grow.

Here’s what real progress looks like 👇

1. Define your own scoreboard
Stop measuring life by someone else’s metrics.
Peace starts when you stop keeping their score.

2. Choose growth over competition
It’s not about being better than others.
It’s about becoming better for yourself.

3. Measure effort, not applause
The world celebrates outcomes.
Champions celebrate consistency.

4. Collect lessons, not likes
Mistakes aren’t proof you’re behind.
They’re data for your next breakthrough.

5. Honor your pace
You’re not late.
You’re building depth while others chase speed.

6. Redefine success
It’s not about what you earn.
It’s about what you learn, contribute, and become.

7. Stay grounded in gratitude
Comparison fades when appreciation grows.

The truth:
Fulfillment isn’t found in someone else’s timeline.
It’s built every day you choose to rise - 
your way.

Keep going.
Quiet progress still counts.

♻ Repost - someone out there is forgetting how far they’ve come.
➕ Follow Mike Leber for daily insights on leadership and self-mastery.

— 

📌 Grab my FREE "High Performer's Guide to Clarity & Action" 
Your roadmap to focus, balance, and momentum: https://lnkd.in/eP_YWqhY

Anyone can react.
Few can stay centered.
Be the calm voice when others lose theirs.

I learned that the hard way.
Early in my career, I thought speed equaled strength.
When something went wrong, 
I jumped in - fixed, defended, decided.

It looked decisive.
But it wasn’t leadership.
It was reactivity disguised as control.

Reacting feels powerful in the moment -
until you realize you’re just mirroring the chaos.

True strength starts 
where urgency ends -
in the pause, the breath, 
the space between stimulus and response.

How to lead with calm, not chaos 👇

1. Create space before you speak
Breathe. Think.
Let calm arrive before your words do.

2. Separate facts from feelings
Notice emotion -
but don’t hand it the wheel.

3. Ask before assuming
Get curious.
Most tension fades once people feel heard.

4. Zoom out before zooming in
See the pattern, not just the problem.
Perspective builds authority.

5. Write before you reply
Draft. Pause. Re-read.
Clarity lives in distance.

6. Set emotional checkpoints
After hard moments, ask:
“What did that teach me?”

7. Journal your triggers
End your day with awareness.
That’s how composure is built.

8. Use mentors as mirrors
Don’t seek answers.
Seek what you’re not seeing.

9. Say “thank you” for hard truths
Feedback isn’t attack.
It’s how leaders grow.

Stay kind when chaos calls.
Breathe when others rush.
Pause when others panic.

Because your power isn’t in noise -
It’s in your presence.

Stay calm.
Lead forward.

♻ Repost to help others lead with calm and clarity.
➕ Follow Mike Leber for daily insights on leadership and growth.

Your biggest career risk isn’t failure.
It’s comfort.
It feels safe - until it quietly kills your growth.

Comfort is the silent trap that convinces you:
“You’re fine.”
“You’re doing enough.”
“You’ll move when things calm down.”

But growth never happens there.
Growth lives in discomfort- 
in the stretch, 
the sweat,
the uncertainty.

That’s where you evolve.

Growth hides behind the things you resist 👇

1. Awkward silence in meetings
You hold back to stay safe.
But that’s your moment to step in - and lead the room.

2. Receiving tough feedback
Your first instinct is to defend.
Listen instead - it’s the mirror that shows how you grow.

3. Leading people smarter than you
You want to prove you belong.
Let go - this is how you learn to empower, not impress.

4. Facing failure publicly
You want to hide until it fades.
But the brave own it - and earn respect doing so.

5. Asking for what you deserve
You fear sounding selfish.
Ask anyway - it’s how confidence learns to speak.

6. Starting something new
Your brain screams, “Not ready.”
Start anyway - growth never waits for permission.

This week, get uncomfortable.
Say yes to something that scares you.
Have that hard conversation.
Ask for feedback.
Try something you might fail at.

Because comfort builds routines.
Discomfort builds leaders.

♻ Repost to remind someone that comfort kills potential.
➕ Follow Mike Leber for daily insights on leadership and growth.

—

📘 Grab my free “High Performer’s Guide to Clarity & Action” - 
your roadmap to focus, balance, and growth:
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You can break down.
Or break through.
Same pain - different choice.

We all go through storms.
Job losses. 
Rejections. 
Unfair breaks.
Moments when progress feels pointless.

But the truth is:
Growth never happens in comfort.
It happens when you still choose to show up.
Still choose to believe.
Still choose you.

How to rebuild when everything feels broken 👇

1. Accept the fall - but refuse to stay down.
Failure is a bruise, not a scar.
Every setback strengthens your resolve.

2. Keep moving - even when motivation dies.
Tiny steps count. Momentum rebuilds confidence.

3. Learn before you leap again.
Lessons are your fuel. Regret is dead weight.

4. Choose faith over fear.
When nothing feels certain, belief becomes your advantage.

5. Rebuild from the inside out.
No new job, title, or follower can replace self-worth.

6. Focus forward.
You can’t drive your future staring in the rearview.

7. Turn pain into purpose.
Every struggle can become your best story.

8. Trust the timing.
Sometimes, the waiting is the work.

9. Believe again - louder this time.
Because resilience isn’t avoiding pain.
It’s outgrowing it.

No one escapes hard seasons.
But trust me-
If you keep showing up,
you’ll rise higher than before.

Don’t let yesterday’s pain steal tomorrow’s potential.
Your comeback story is still being written.

♻ Repost to inspire someone who’s rebuilding.
➕ Follow Mike Leber for daily insights on leadership and growth.

IQ opens doors.
Belief builds empires.
Perspective decides who wins.

I’ve seen talent collapse under doubt -
and quiet belief build unstoppable momentum.
Because mindset always wins the long game.

What you believe shapes what you become.

Two people.
Same challenge.
One sees a wall.
The other sees a doorway.

Here’s what winners think differently 👇

❌ “This setback proves I’m not ready.”
✅ “This setback is preparing me.”
➟ Growth starts where comfort ends.

❌ “I don’t have the skills yet.”
✅ “I can learn them.”
➟ Curiosity > Credentials.

❌ “No one’s giving me a chance.”
✅ “I’ll create one.”
➟ Ownership builds opportunity.

❌ “I failed.”
✅ “I found a way that didn’t work.”
➟ Failure’s feedback, not identity.

❌ “They’re ahead of me.”
✅ “They’re proof it’s possible.”
➟ Inspiration beats comparison.

❌ “I’m not ready.”
✅ “Starting makes me ready.”
➟ Confidence comes from motion.

❌ “I have too many problems.”
✅ “I have more lessons to learn.”
➟ Pressure grows what comfort hides.

❌ “This is happening to me.”
✅ “This is happening for me.”
➟ Victim mindsets break. Growth mindsets build.

Winners don’t think positive.
They think productive.

When things go wrong, they don’t spiral.
They study.
They extract the lesson, 
upgrade their thinking, and move.

You can do the same.
Pause when you feel stuck.
Ask: What belief is holding me here?
Then replace it with one that pulls you forward.

Your life expands at the speed of your belief.
Train it daily.
Protect it fiercely.
Lead it forward.

♻ Repost - someone in your feed needs to read this today.
➕ Follow Mike Leber for bold daily lessons on leadership and growth.

—

📌 Grab my free “High Performer’s Guide to Clarity & Action” - 
your toolkit to build belief, direction, and momentum:
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Big dreams don’t fail because they’re impossible.
They fail because people stop too soon.
Endurance is the price of greatness.

Success isn’t built in comfort.
It’s built in comebacks.

💡 Henry Ford went broke five times.
💡 Serena Williams fell - came back up stronger.
💡 J.K. Rowling faced rejection after rejection - still changed the world.

Different dreams.
Same pattern.

They didn’t quit when it hurt.
They kept showing up when it didn’t make sense.
They refused to let “no” be the final word.

Most people want the dream.
Few are willing to carry the weight that comes with it.

The truth?
Those who make it aren’t the lucky ones.
They’re the relentless ones.

If you’re tired but not done - 
this is for you 👇

1. Stay consistent when motivation fades
Progress doesn’t need fireworks - it needs discipline.

2. Learn through failure, not from comfort
Each setback becomes a teacher, not a reason to stop.

3. Work in silence, then let results speak
No need for validation when you know your direction.

4. Rest without quitting
Power comes from those who know when to pause.

5. Play the long game
Speed fades. Endurance builds legacies.

6. Believe again - every single day
Even when logic says “give up,” faith says “go on.”

7. Show up when no one’s watching
Discipline in private creates impact in public.

8. Learn from those ahead - and lift those behind
No one wins alone. Growth multiplies when shared.

9. Let gratitude fuel the grind
You can’t stay bitter and become better.

The truth is simple:
The road is long.
The rewards are late.
But those who refuse to quit - arrive.

Stay patient.
Stay persistent.
Don’t lose faith before the miracle happens.

♻ Repost to remind others: every comeback starts with “one more try.”
➕ Follow Mike Leber for daily lessons on leadership and growth.

— 

📌 Join my newsletter “Saturday’s Recharge” 
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Leadership isn’t about being in charge.
It’s about being worth following.
Too many forget the difference.

Because anyone can manage results.
Few can multiply belief.

A manager drives tasks.
A leader drives people.

Management runs on systems.
Leadership runs on souls.

You don’t earn loyalty with deadlines.
You earn it with character.

You don’t build greatness through control.
You build it through care.

Forget titles. 
Forget tactics. 
This is what real leadership takes 👇

1. Set direction, then step back
People don’t grow when you steer every move - 
they grow when you trust their judgment.

2. Bring light, not heat
When tension rises, illuminate - 
don’t inflame.

3. See potential where others see problems
Every mistake hides a lesson. 
Every skeptic hides a strength.

4. Start with meaning, not metrics.
People move mountains for why, not what.

5. Teach self-trust
Empower others to decide - 
that’s how ownership is born.

6. Grow people, not your ego
Your legacy lives in their confidence, 
not your title.

7. Keep promises when it’s inconvenient
Trust is built when it would be easier to walk away.

8. Listen until others feel safe to speak
The quietest voices often carry the boldest ideas.

9. Lead with heart, not hierarchy
Power controls. 
Empathy transforms.

Leadership isn’t about being in charge.
It’s about bringing out the best in those who are.

So if you want to build something that lasts -
Stop managing work.
Start leading people.

Because power might move tasks -
but only care moves hearts.

♻️ Repost to remind others what leadership really means.
➕ Follow Mike Leber for daily insights on leadership and growth.

Inspired by Mike Ettore's book "Trust-Based Leadership"
(Highly recommended!)

Stop treating people like paperwork.

Behind every resume is a heartbeat.

A person with rent to pay.
A story to tell.
A dream they’re trying to keep alive.

Somewhere along the way, we forgot that.

We started screening people like data.
Chasing efficiency instead of empathy.
Optimizing pipelines instead of purpose.

It’s time to bring humanity back to hiring.

Here’s how 👇

1. See the person, not the paper
A resume shows skills.
A conversation reveals soul.

2. Listen beyond the checklist
The best hire isn’t always “perfect on paper.”
It’s the one ready to grow when given a chance.

3. Respond with respect
Ghosting isn’t efficient.
It’s careless.
And it costs you trust.

4. Make interviews human
Less interrogation.
More connection.
Let people exhale before they impress.

5. Measure character, not polish
Confidence can be taught.
Integrity can’t.

6. Look for stories, not slogans
Buzzwords don’t build trust.
Real experiences do.
Ask about moments, not metrics.

7. Remember the ripple
Every hiring decision affects a life,
a family,
a future.

At the end of the day -
you’re not just filling a role.
You’re shaping someone’s story.

Let’s make empathy the new hiring metric.
Because the future of work should start with heart.

♻ Repost if you’re done treating people like numbers.
➕ Follow Mike Leber for daily insights on leadership and growth.

Image credit: George Stern

— 

📌 Join my newsletter “Saturday’s Recharge” 
Free resources to grow as a leader people trust, follow, and remember: 👉 https://lnkd.in/e6VqJauz

People choose to make a career.

The right leaders choose to make it possible.

How often did someone enter their "dream job".
Just to wake up in a nightmare.

How often did they promise you "growth".
Only to end up micromanaged and drained.

People don’t need magic for a great career.

But a career should never cost you:
➟ Fairness
➟ Your voice
➟ Your mental health
➟ Your boundaries
➟ Your self-respect

It should never demand:
- Overtime disguised as loyalty
- Disrespect sold as “feedback”
- Burnout branded as “high performance”
- Silence mistaken for commitment

People just need leaders who:

❌ Don’t: Ask to fit in quietly.
✅ But: Encourage them to stand out boldly.

❌ Don't: Sell false certainty.
✅ But: Guide courageously through uncertainty.

❌ Don’t: Mistake compliance for trust.
✅ But: Create safety for honest disagreement.

❌ Don’t: Demand sacrifices as proof of commitment.
✅ But: Respect boundaries as proof of maturity.

❌ Don’t: Praise burnout culture.
✅ But: Celebrate mindful effort and real rest.

❌ Don’t: Obsess over weaknesses.
✅ But: Amplify strengths into brilliance.

❌ Don’t: Pretend to have every answer.
✅ But: Ask questions that unlock curiosity.

For meaningful careers, people don’t need heroic leaders.

They need humans who truly care.

The real question:

Do we treat employees just as paid resources, 
or as valued partners?

⬇️ Let's discuss below

♻️ Share this to inspire better leadership.
➕ Follow Mike Leber for daily insights on impactful leadership.

The more you notice what’s right,
the less power what’s wrong has over you.
That’s how you build strength without struggle.

Because energy follows attention.
Focus on what’s broken- 
you multiply stress.
Focus on what’s working- 
and you multiply strength.

The truth?
You can’t build confidence from negativity.
You build it from
gratitude,
discipline,
and awareness.

How to stop reacting - and start rising 👇

1. Focus on your response, not the result
You can’t control outcomes - only how you show up.
Power lives in your reaction.

2. Question your thoughts, not your worth
Doubt will whisper.
Don’t mistake it for truth.
You’re not your thoughts - you’re their witness.

3. Detach from what you can’t control
Control everything-lose your peace.
Let go-find it again.
Calm begins where control ends.

4. Choose empowering language
“I have to” drains.
“I get to” restores.
Your words build your world.

5. Visualize before you act
See it.
Feel it.
Then move with clarity.

6. Practice gratitude before success
Gratitude doesn’t follow joy-it creates it.
Find the good where you stand.

7. Reset fast 
A bad moment doesn’t define your day. 
Catch it. Breathe. Recenter.

8. Let go faster
Not everything deserves your energy twice.
Release.
Reset.
Rise.

You don’t need a new job, boss, or title to feel fulfilled.
You need a new focus.

The kind that sees possibilities
where others see problems.

The kind that builds joy
and attracts growth.

Focus on what’s good-
and more good will find you.

♻ Repost to remind someone what really matters.
➕ Follow Mike Leber for daily insights on leadership and growth.

—

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The best leaders don’t build empires.

They build people who can build their own.

Because success isn’t about you.
It’s about what happens without you.

That truth only clicked once I let go of control.
Everything changed when I stopped fixing problems for people -
and started trusting them to fix their own.

If everything collapses when you step back,
You didn’t build a team -
You built dependency.

Leadership isn’t loud.
It’s quiet power.
Influence that multiplies - not controls.

Here’s what the best leaders do differently 👇

1. They grow thinkers, not followers
Avoiding handing out answers - 
helping people find their own.

2. They share the “why,” not just the “how”
Aligning energy instead of assigning tasks.

3. They trust judgment, not just results
Rewarding courage and learning, 
even when outcomes aren’t perfect.

4. They empower voices, not hierarchies
Letting the intern’s idea beat the executive’s ego.

5. They intervene early, not loudly
Fixing small misalignments 
before they turn into blame sessions.

6. They design systems, not bottlenecks
Making themselves optional - 
the real test of leadership.

7. They step away, not above
Leading from among - not from a distance.

And it’s not difficult to start.
Just step back.
And let people step up.

Because the measure of great leadership
is how well others rise 
when you’re not in the room.

♻ Repost to remind others: growth multiplies when you let go.
➕ Follow Mike Leber for more on modern, high-impact leadership.

📌 Grab my free True Leader's Playbook 
and start setting your teams free: 
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