TalkToTheo

Builder

Fractional CMO & Growth Consultant

uman

Head of Marketing

Marked

After a few years working as online marketeer in different industries and being active as online marketing freelancer (side business) I decided to take the leap and focus myself on my own business. 

♦ Online marketing strategy development 
♦ Optimizing and monitoring campaigns in Google AdWords
♦ Conversion optimization
♦ Performing SEO optimisations to boost online visibility. 
♦ Performing keyword researches for specific industries
♦ Visualise data in presentations & keynotes. 
♦ Analyse data from Google Analytics and formulate suggestions for optimizations. 
♦ Google Tag Manager & Google Analytics for conversion tracking & data analysis.
♦ Set up highly effective social media campaigns on LinkedIn, Facebook & Twitter. 

✉ Feel free to send me a message. I love networking!

Founder & Head of Growth (exited may 2024)

Birdhouse

Birdhouse Partner - Go to Market & Growth Strategy

Freelance growth marketer

Authority BVBA

Freelance Paid Advertising Specialist

GBL Studio

GBL Studio is a full service marketing agency where online marketing takes on an increasingly important role. For many B2C & B2B customers from various industries (construction, retail, food, etc.) I do the following:

♦ Google Adwords - Search, Display & Remarketing campaigns
♦ SEO Optimisation
♦ Linkbuilding 
♦ Content Marketing
♦ Social Media Management 
♦ Social Media Advertising + Remarketing
♦ CMS Management - Drupal & Wordpress
♦ Copywriting - Website content, Ad copy, SEO Copy
♦ Conversion Optimization for websites & webshops
♦ Comprehensive analyzes and reports 
♦ Marketing Automation
♦ Wireframing
♦ Email Marketing 

Tools & Systems used: Mailchimp - Flexmail - Ahrefs - AWR - Screaming Frog - Sharpspring - MockFlow - Google Analytics - Hotjar - Adwords Editor - SeoQuake - Google Tag Manager - Google Data Studio - Drupal - Wordpress 

Clients I'm working for: Tui - Oxygen Fitness - LVD Group - CBS Beton - Sociaalste School - Benedict Huysentruyt - Westlease - Deiso - Promarket/Publibon - Alpha Works - ABC Labels - Rijschool Merelbeke - Hyboma - Semperfi-Devos - Van Den Bossche Interieur - Vandatax - Gelis - MR Group

Online Marketeer

XMarketing

Online marketing freelancer (Sidejob)

♦ Optimise and monitor campaigns in Google AdWords, and track KPIs in Google Analytics. 
♦ Perform SEO optimisations (MOZ tool) to boost online visibility. 
♦ Perform keyword research in Google Keyword Planner. 
♦ Visualise data in presentations & keynotes. 
♦ Interprete data from Google Analytics and formulate suggestions for optimisations. 
♦ Implement Google Tag Manager & Google Analytics for conversion tracking & data analysis.
♦ Set up highly effective social media campaigns on LinkedIn, Facebook & Twitter.

Freelance Online Marketeer (Sidejob)

Glorious Cars

♦ Car photography
♦ Social media management
♦ Content management
♦ Google analytics analysis for optimisation
♦ Google Adwords campaigns
♦ Event organisation
♦ Partnership deals
♦ Emailmarketing
♦ Influencer marketing
♦ Website optimisation (SEO)
♦ Social Advertising

Digital Marketeer

Guiding B2B SaaS Companies to unlocking Revenue-Driven Success. Founder & Head of Growth @ Marked.

Over the past decade, I've dedicated my career to helping B2B SaaS companies focus on revenue-driven marketing operations that result in tangible growth. 

As the former founder of Marked, a respected agency in Belgium, I have worked with over 50 clients worldwide, providing sustainable growth solutions.

My mission is to empower B2B SaaS businesses by setting up revenue programs that generate consistent and sustainable growth. My approach is centered around practical strategies that drive real results. Nothing fluffy, real action.

What I Offer:
→ Coaching for CMOs & B2B Marketers: Tailored coaching to enhance skills and strategic thinking.
→ Fractional CMO Services: Providing leadership and expertise on a part-time basis to drive your growth.
→ Strategic Trajectories: Developing comprehensive plans that align with your business goals.
→ Building Revenue Systems: Crafting and implementing systems to ensure steady revenue growth.

Notable Clients:
I've had the privilege of working with leading B2B SaaS companies such as Mouseflow, Robovision, 6clicks, Sequesto, Froomle, and Accurat.

Key Achievements:
→ Assisted over 50 clients worldwide
→ Established Marked as a respected agency within Belgium
→ Advised startups through Belgian accelerators

If you're interested in learning more about how I can help your business grow, visit my personal site or subscribe to my newsletter for the latest insights and strategies.

Learn More:

Personal Site: xanmannekens.me
Newsletter: b2bmarketerscompass.com

Let's connect and explore how we can drive growth for your business together.

Xan Mannekens

Before you write your 2026 marketing plan, read this.

Another 50-page strategy deck won't help you
if your team can't execute it.

The #1 reason marketing plans fail isn't a lack of ideas.
It's a lack of connection to daily work.

If you want 2026 to be different,
you need to build the bridge between your plan and your team's priorities.

Here's the 5-step framework to make that happen:
1. Objectives: From vague goals to 3-5 key results.
2. Timeline: From annual pressure to weekly sprints.
3. Actions: From a long to-do list to 2-3 daily priorities.
4. Ownership: From group confusion to individual accountability.
5. Accountability: From monthly check-ins to a consistent daily rhythm.

Please don't start 2026 with another plan that is going to collect dust.

Start it with a system for execution.

What's your biggest goal for your marketing team in 2026?

I help early stage startups gain traction through smart marketing and GTM engineering | Fractional CMO

40+ Linkedin Money-Making-Influence Resources I Toxic Boss Immunity I Frequency of INFLUENCE: ETHICAL PERSUASION I $20k Brain-Based Sales System | HarvardX Neuroscience Research I Keynote 🎤 I X-Microsoft I Captain ⛵

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This is sales made easy for coaches who hate selling.

✨ Ways to get started with me:

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

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

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

🧠 Shannon Smith, J.D., M.S. 🚀

Your answers are already in your head.

You just have to slow down long enough to hear them.

Your brain holds ideas you have not discovered yet.
But it cannot reveal them when you never pause.
Creativity needs space.
Insight needs quiet.

Most people overwork their minds.
But the brain solves problems when you stop trying.
Silence activates deeper networks.
Boredom lets ideas rise to the surface.

Here are 3 ways to access the answers inside you 👇
1️⃣ Give your brain boredom time
✔️ Take short breaks without your phone
 Boredom activates the default mode network
 This is where creativity lives

2️⃣ Use quiet as a tool
✔️ Sit still for a few minutes
 Quiet reduces noise in the prefrontal cortex
 Your thoughts get clearer and sharper

3️⃣ Let your mind wander
✔️ Go for a slow walk with no agenda
 Wandering boosts pattern recognition
 Your brain connects ideas without force

You are not stuck.
Your mind just needs room to speak.
When you rest it, it reveals what you need.
The answers show up when the noise drops.

P.S. When is the last time you surprised yourself?

BIG NEWS! SALES SAGE IS LIVE!
See the truth your reps won’t say out loud (before it blows up your number)
Taking 100 beta testers - 14 day free trial
Minority Report for Sales Teams
https://salessage.co/ 

Video Credit: Unknown

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

➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for more brain based insights
♻️ Repost if your best ideas hit you in the quiet moments

The hard things you avoid 

Are the exact things that free you

Most people avoid the hard stuff.
Not because they are lazy.
Because their brain is trying to protect them.

The prefrontal cortex wants long term wins
But the amygdala wants immediate comfort
So every hard task feels like a threat
And your brain tells you to delay it
Even when it hurts you later.

Here is how to flip the switch
So your brain stops fighting you
And starts working for you.

1/ Reduce the threat signal
 Big tasks feel dangerous
 So your brain freezes
 Break the task into the smallest next move
 Science: Small steps lower amygdala activity
 And increase dopamine for starting

2/ Front load the friction
 Do the hardest task first
 Before your brain is overloaded
 Science: Your decision making power is highest early
 And cortisol rises as the day goes on

3/ Create a reward loop
 Your brain needs a reason to try
 Pair the hard task with a positive cue
 Tea, music, a small celebration
 Science: Dopamine releases faster
 When a reward is tied to effort, not outcomes

When you train your brain to face hard things
You stop leaking energy
You build momentum
And the tough stuff becomes automatic

P.S. Whats your best procrastination buster? 

Learn how to build a $20k No Chasing the Yes Sales System
Apply here → https://lnkd.in/eZRF_jZe

Video Credit: Unknown

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

➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon  to get more brainy tips
♻️ Repost to help more people train their brain to thrive

I used to shrink parts of myself to fit into corporate.

It quietly drained the life out of my ideas (and me).

At the time, I thought success required self-erasure.
I hit every goal on the board.
But I felt empty.

 🧠 Promotions
 🧠 Pay raises
 🧠 Prestige

None of it mattered.
My spark was gone.
And so was my creativity.

Have you ever noticed how your brain invents ideas
When you’re not even trying?

Your imagination lights up your neural networks
Like a synchronized light show.

Brain imaging reveals that
Most of your regions activate during visualization.

Here’s what fuels your imagination 👇

1/ Your Brain’s Creative Engine
 ↳ Default Mode Network turns on as the PFC steps back
 ↳ Memory blends with emotion to create new associations
 ↳ Your brain recombines patterns without limits

2/ The Moment Insight Strikes
 ↳ Gamma bursts peak during big realizations
 ↳ Hippocampus sends raw material to the DMN
 ↳ New pathways strengthen the more you play with ideas

3/ Your Creativity Enhancement Tools
 ↳ Take short intentional pauses for DMN activation
 ↳ Change scenes to trigger fresh circuitry
 ↳ Welcome boredom because it sparks innovation

Creativity is not magic.
It is a neural process you can train.
All you need is the space and permission to
Reconnect with curiosity and let your mind roam.
Don’t lose your spark chasing goals that dim you.

BIG NEWS! SALES SAGE IS LIVE!
See the truth your reps won’t say out loud (before it blows up your number)
Taking 100 beta testers - 14 day free trial
Minority Report for Sales Teams
https://salessage.co/ 

PS: When does your imagination run wild?

Video Credit: Unknown

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

♻️ Share to help others reclaim their creativity
➕ Follow Shannon for more brain-based growth insights

The only true failure in life is quitting. 

Success is never a straight line. It certainly wasn't for me.

I've had many failures and setbacks along my path.
Layoffs.
Failed ventures.
Bad investments. 

Life is messy. 
Mess is a part of life.

Enjoy the messiness. 
And, your brain kinda likes it messy too.

Why your brain craves zigzag paths 🧠

(The science of why progress feels so messy) 👇

Your neural pathways aren't built in straight lines
And neither is your path to greatness
Here's what's really happening in your brain:

1️⃣ The Neural Reality
↳ Growth pathways form through trial and error
↳ Each "failure" strengthens neural connections
↳ Your brain requires contrast to learn

2️⃣ The Resilience Loop
↳ Setbacks activate problem-solving networks
↳ Stress actually enhances memory formation
↳ Recovery periods boost cognitive flexibility

3️⃣ The Growth Paradox
↳ Progress activates dopamine reward system
↳ Plateaus create new neural foundations
↳ Breakthroughs happen during apparent standstills

Your "messy" journey is how your brain is designed to learn and grow.

P.S. What was your latest messiness?

Learn how to build a $20k - No Chasing the Yes - Sales System
Apply here --> https://lnkd.in/eZRF_jZe

Video Credit: Unknown

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

♻️ Share if you're ready to embrace the zigzag
➕ Follow Shannon for more brain-based insights

Most people’s LinkedIn strategy: grind harder and hope

Mine: close clients while living life on my own schedule

I’ve wandered through the Greek islands
- Boat rides to hidden beaches
- Mornings working with seaside views
- A weekend in Skopelos without realizing it was a movie set

I spent a month in Athens
- Day trips to Agistri, turquoise blue waters
- Afternoons coaching clients

Why am I sharing this?
 Because your brain says “that’s not for me”
 Because it tells you to stick with the familiar
 (It’s called comfort bias and it keeps you stuck)

But here’s what no one will tell you:
If you want it, this life is closer than you think

Here’s how your brain makes it happen:

1️⃣ The Belief Reset
 ↳ Your brain avoids what feels out of reach
 ↳ Turn “impossible” into doable with simple shifts
 ↳ Stack wins until change feels normal

2️⃣ The LinkedIn Advantage
 ↳ Know what your ideal client looks for before they decide
 ↳ Post and message in ways that feel safe and personal
 ↳ Use a system that works even while you’re away

3️⃣ The Lifestyle Flywheel
 ↳ Every yes starts before the offer is made
 ↳ Match your approach to their decision process
 ↳ That’s how I work from coastlines and mountain trails

The point?

It’s not about more work
It’s about the right work for the brain

I am offering a once in a lifetime DONE FOR YOU SYSTEM
For One Month, I will revamp your LI system
- ICP Subtext Discovery 
- LI Optimization
- DM Framework that gets sales calls
- 1 month of content that gets inbound leads
- Engagement that builds your reach

I will only take ONE client. 
If you want me to build your system,
the way I went from 3k to 50k followers, then DM me
"DFY Butter" and we'll chat.

P.S. Where would you take your laptop first?
P.P.S. Pic from Poseidon's Temple (10/10)
-----------------------------------------------------------

♻️ Share if your goal is freedom without the hustle
➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for more brain-based sales strategies

One more trip around the sun.

It's been a doozy.

Every birthday, I pause and reflect on my last year.
This year was the year that stretched me in every direction.

I lost my favorite person (my Belley Bean)
That loss began an 8 month walkabout across the globe.

I found my spiritual side.
I found strength I didn't know I had.

I escaped 3 typhoons
I sailed the Mediterranean
I ate the most amazing food 
I chopped a bajillion bananas
I swam in the Blue Cave in Croatia
I cared for 140 elephants and 700 dogs
I got bit and headbutted by deer in Nara
I moved what felt like a million watermelons
I spoiled myself at a Japanese Onsen regularly
I calmly navigated a stalker sitch right up to my airplane 
I lost a toenail trying an advanced yoga post in Cabo San Lucas

I missed my family.
I missed my friends.

I grew.
I grew so much.
I think I grew more this year than any year before.

I admired the precision of Japanese trains.
I learned Thai people do not use chopsticks.
I went from a 3k to 50k community in 8 months.
I was stunned by the beauty of the Greek islands.
I made new friends in the most unexpected places.
I built a predictable, brain-based revenue machine.
I helped countless clients do the same for their businesses.

This year was not easy.
It was not predictable.
But it was deeply transformative.

Here is to another year of becoming.
Here is to letting go, leaning in, and staying open.

And if you are reading this…
Thank you for being part of my journey.

P.S. Today, I am Seattle celebrating!
Wanna celebrate with me?

I am offering a once in a lifetime DONE FOR YOU SYSTEM
For One Month, I will revamp your LI system
- ICP Subtext Discovery 
- LI Optimization
- DM Framework that gets sales calls
- 1 month of content that gets inbound leads
- Engagement that builds your reach

I will only take ONE client. 
If you want me to build your system,
the way I went from 3k to 50k followers, then DM me
"DFY Butter" and we'll chat.

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

♻️ Share if your goal is freedom without the hustle
➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for more brain-based sales strategies

Lighting someone else's candle doesn't dim yours.

It just makes the room brighter.

Helping others shine doesn't dim your light.
Your brain actually glows brighter when you lift people up.

Most people think helping drains energy.
Neuroscience shows it does the opposite.
Your brain rewards contribution.
It expands your capacity, not shrinks it.

Here are 3 ways helping others strengthens your brain 👇
1️⃣ Your reward system lights up
✔️ Kindness boosts dopamine
 Dopamine lifts motivation and focus
 Your flame grows, not fades

2️⃣ Your connection circuits strengthen
✔️ Support boosts oxytocin
 Oxytocin builds trust and safety
 Your brain gets more resilient

3️⃣ Your creative networks open
✔️ Giving lowers stress chemicals
 Lower stress frees the prefrontal cortex
 Ideas flow easier when your heart is open

Lifting others isn't self sacrifice.
It's self expansion.
Your brain shines brighter
every time you help someone rise.

P.S. What's the last time someone lit your flame?

BIG NEWS! SALES SAGE IS LIVE!
See the truth your reps won’t say out loud (before it blows up your number)
Taking 100 beta testers - 14 day free trial
Minority Report for Sales Teams
https://salessage.co/ 

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

➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for more brain based insights
♻️ Repost to help someone light up today

The real threat to your number isn't the market.

It's the things your reps never say.

Everyone talks about activity.
Everyone talks about coaching.
Everyone talks about pipeline discipline.

But nobody talks about the truth gap.

The space between what your reps say...
...and what is actually happening.

That gap is where bad quarters grow.

😱 The rep who says “all good” while confidence tanks.
😱 The pipeline that looks clean but is full of dead deals.
😱 The silent fear that turns into quiet quitting.

You see these problems too late.
You take the hit.
You carry the blame.

And you never get the early signal
that could have saved the quarter.

Your top threat is not performance.
It is blind spots.

Sales Sage closes them.
Ten minutes.
A simple pulse.

✅ Signals you will never see in a meeting.
✅ Patterns no CRM can surface.
✅ Emotional shifts that predict misses

BEFORE they show up in your number.

If you want to know what your team is really telling you
before it becomes a fire you have to put out

Take advantage of the 14 day free trial
https://salessage.co/
See the truth your reps won’t say out loud 
(before it blows up your number)

You will never manage your team the same way again.

P.S. The pic looks like a mix of me and Data from Star Trek, right?

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

♻️ Share if you are tired of surprise misses
 ➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for more brain based sales insights

"Get out of my head."

That is what I hear a LOT. 

It's also what my clients hear.
If you want to win in business
Learn to enter your ICP’s mind.

Not their surface answers.
Their unspoken thoughts.
The quiet stuff they never say out loud.

Your ICP is thinking about risk, safety, and reputation.
Their nervous system scans the world for certainty.
Your job is to understand the subtext they hide.

Here are 5 ways to read your ICP’s real inner world:

1️⃣ Listen for the pause
 When they hesitate, note the silence.
 Write down what fear that pause might signal.
 Ask one gentle question to explore it.

2️⃣ Name the problem better than they can
 Say the thing they hint at but avoid.
 Use words they have not said yet.
 Their brain relaxes when it feels understood.

3️⃣ Track their emotional patterns
 Notice where their tone shifts.
 Spot excitement, tension, or doubt.
 These shifts reveal what they truly value.

4️⃣ Map their failed attempts
 Ask what they have already tried.
 Look for frustration in their answers.
 This reveals hidden pain they rarely voice.

5️⃣ Reflect their vision back to them
 Repeat their goals in simple language.
 Show them the future they want.
 The brain trusts what it can picture clearly.

When you understand the thoughts they never say,
your ICP feels seen at a deeper level.
They think you can read their mind.
And trust becomes the easiest part of the sale.

P.S. When is the last time you thought someone was in your head?

BIG NEWS! SALES SAGE IS LIVE!
See the truth your reps won’t say out loud (before it blows up your number)
Taking 100 beta testers - 14 day free trial
Minority Report for Sales Teams
https://salessage.co/ 

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

♻️ Share to help others build resilient minds
➕ Follow Shannon for more brain-based growth insights

Persuasion isn’t pressure.

Persuasion is helping someone feel safe.

Here are 8 ethical persuasion swaps that actually work 👇

Most people try to persuade with logic or force.
But the brain listens to safety signals first.
When you protect autonomy and reduce threat,
People open up, not shut down.

Here are the 8 upgrades:

1️⃣ Regulate before you relate
❌ Don’t say: 
“Let me just explain why this makes sense.”

✅ Say this:
“Before we dive in, take a breath. I want this to feel clear.”

🔬Science:
 A calm nervous system sends safety cues.
 Their mirror neurons match your steadiness, lowering resistance.

2️⃣ Lead with curiosity
❌ Don’t say:
 “Here’s what you need to do.”

✅ Say this:
 “What feels hardest about this right now?”

🔬 Science:
 Curiosity keeps the amygdala quiet.
 Questions activate the prefrontal cortex, the part that evaluates options calmly.

3️⃣ Validate before redirecting
❌ Don’t say:
 “I understand, but…”

✅ Say this:
 “It makes sense you’d feel that way.”

🔬 Science:
 Validation reduces cortisol.
 It signals “You’re safe to express hesitations,” which reopens trust pathways.

4️⃣ Protect autonomy
❌ Don’t say:
 “You should really move forward.”

✅ Say this:
 “Want to explore this together?”

🔬 Science:
Autonomy is a core human need.
When someone feels in control, dopamine rises and decision-making improves.

5️⃣ Reframe with clarity
❌ Don’t say:
 “You’re overthinking this.”

✅ Say this:
 “What might shift if this were already solved?”

🔬 Science:
Reframing widens cognitive perspective.
It moves the brain out of threat mode and into problem-solving mode.

6️⃣ Align intentions
❌ Don’t say:
 “I just want you to see my point.”

✅ Say this:
 “We both want a solution that actually works for you.”

🔬 Science:
Shared goals increase oxytocin.
Oxytocin boosts collaboration and reduces defensiveness.

7️⃣ Match energy before guiding
❌ Don’t say:
 “Relax, it’s not a big deal.”

✅ Say this:
 “I hear how this feels for you. Let’s slow it down together.”

🔬Science:
Attunement regulates the nervous system.
The brain trusts what feels familiar before it trusts new direction.

8️⃣ Close with clarity, not pressure
❌ Don’t say:
 “So… are you ready or not?”

✅ Say this:
 “Here’s what the next step looks like. Does this feel right to you?”

🔬 Science:
Clear choices reduce cognitive load.
When the brain knows the path, uncertainty drops—and commitment rises.

Ethical persuasion is simple:
 🧠 Lower threat
 🧠 Raise clarity
 🧠 Protect autonomy

That’s how influence becomes trust.

P.S. Ever notice how pressure makes you want to run?

My workshops are open again.
Learn how to build a $20k No Chasing the Yes Sales System
Apply here → https://lnkd.in/eZRF_jZe

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

➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for more brain-based sales tools
♻️ Repost to help more people influence with integrity

Selling gets easier the moment you stop trying to sell.

Pressure never closes the deal. Safety does.

People think the only way to sell on LinkedIn is to push harder.

👀 More messages.
👀 More follow ups.
👀 More asking for the call.

But pressure is the fastest way to shut a buyer down.
When someone feels pushed, their brain shifts into protection mode.

✅ Amygdala fires.
✅ Trust drops.
✅ They stop listening.

You’re not getting ignored because your offer’s weak.
You’re getting ignored because the pressure makes people pull back.

Here’s what actually works:
The best sellers stay calm.
They make buyers feel understood early.
They create safety before they ever talk about the offer.

A regulated seller creates a regulated buyer.
It’s how the brain works.
Most people spiral here:
I don’t want to bug them.
But I need clients.
Maybe I should push a little.

And that energy leaks into your content and your DMs.
People can feel it instantly.

You’ll sell more when you stop trying to convince.
Curiosity beats pressure.
Clarity beats force.
Safety beats scripts.

When buyers feel safe, they move on their own.
If you want to close more without pushing,
Drop BUTTER and we’ll have a chat

P.S. When’s the last time selling felt easy for you?

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

♻️ Share if you’re done chasing
➕ Follow Shannon for more brain based sales psychology

Most deals don’t die from budget.

They die from your buyer’s FOMU.

Fear of Messing Up kills more deals than price ever will.

If a prospect stalls, it’s not about money.
It’s not about timing.
It’s about fear.

FOMU freezes the nervous system.
The buyer pulls back to stay safe.
Not to avoid you.

The Silent Freeze

Buyers don’t vanish because they’re not interested.
They vanish because the choice feels dangerous.

Do this:
Check in with safety, not pressure.

Say this:
“Feeling unsure is normal.
Want to walk through what feels unclear?”

Why FOMU Helps You
Hesitation shows you where clarity is missing.
It’s not rejection.
It’s guidance.

Do this:
Treat hesitation as data.

Say this:
“Where does this feel unclear or risky right now?”

What The Brain Does
The amygdala fires at the risk of regret.
The prefrontal cortex fogs.
The insula recalls failure.
The ACC flags uncertainty.

They’re not blocking you.
They’re blocking pain.

Do this:
Name the feeling to lower threat.

Say this:
“It sounds like this feels heavy.
That’s completely normal.”

Safety Sells
Buyers calm when they feel attuned to.
Not pushed.
Not rushed.

Do this:
Slow down.
Mirror their tone.
Give space.
Stay curious.

Say this:
“I’m here to make this easy.
Take your time.”

FOMU On LinkedIn
Fear starts before the call.

They lurk on your posts.
They reread your content.
They check your profile often.
They click but don’t submit.

Not apathy.
Fear of choosing wrong.

Do this:
Use repeatable clarity cues.

Say this:
“Here’s the path from first call to final result.”

What FOMU Sounds Like
"It’s not the right time.”
“I need to think.”
“We’re reviewing budgets.”

These phrases mean one thing:
“I’m scared to mess this up.”

Do this:
Speak to the fear, not the words.

Say this:
“Want to walk through what feels risky here?”

Bottom Line
FOMU is not a block.
It’s an invitation.

When safety rises, clarity rises.
When clarity rises, trust rises.
When trust rises, decisions get easy.

Safety is the real close.

P.S. What’s the biggest deal you’ve seen stall to FOMU?

BIG NEWS! SALES SAGE IS LIVE!
See the truth your reps won’t say out loud (before it blows up your number)
Taking 100 beta testers - 14 day free trial
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♻️ Repost if you want more buyers to feel safe saying yes
➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for brain-based sales mastery

Overcome Your Buyer's FOMU

You can’t fix your team

If they're too scared to tell you the truth

WHY REPS HIDE THE TRUTH
(And what their brain is trying to protect)

1️⃣ Amygdala fear
 It’s not laziness.
 It’s survival.
 Reps fear rejection, criticism,
 and the fallout of a wrong call.
 When the stakes feel high,
 the amygdala takes the wheel.

Solution:
 Psychological safety first.
 Normalize mistakes as data,
 not character flaws.

2️⃣ Identity protection
 Reps hide what threatens
 their self-image.
 Vulnerability feels risky.
 Competence feels fragile.
 So they mask.
 They perform.
 They protect themselves.

Solution:
 Separate worth from outcomes.
 Create space for real talk,
 not performance talk.

3️⃣ Overload blind spots
 Cognitive overload
 creates tunnel vision.
 Urgent tasks crowd out
 critical details.
 Reps don’t see the full picture
 not because they won’t,
 but because they can’t.

Solution:
 Clarify focus regularly.
 Streamline workflows.
 Help the brain breathe.

4️⃣ Buyer signal fog
 Ambiguous cues
 turn into risky assumptions.
 Reps misread signals,
 fill gaps with fear,
 and avoid telling the truth
 because the truth feels unclear.

Solution:
 Train structured questions.
 Build clear confirmation steps
 into every stage.

People don’t hide information to be difficult.
They hide it to stay safe.

Fix safety.
Fix identity.
Fix overload.
Fix clarity.

And honesty becomes effortless.

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

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♻️ Share if you’re building teams that can finally tell the truth
➕ Follow Shannon for more brain-based sales insights

People who seem fearless aren’t certain.

They just learned to move while afraid.

Technology is moving fast than imagined.
New tools appear every week.
New systems shift every month.
New AI applications we never thought of.

If your brain isn't bendy, you fall behind quick.
Not because you lack talent.

But because your neural pathways favor comfort.
Most people resist change.
But your brain can be trained to welcome it.
Despite any fear you feel.

Neuroplasticity is the answer (for all of us). 
Here's how you can keep your brain bendy

1️⃣ Practice daily discomfort
✅ Try one thing that feels unfamiliar
 A new skill.
 A new feature.
 A new creative method.
 Novelty boosts dopamine and strengthens learning loops.

2️⃣ Reframe overwhelm into opportunity
✅ Ask what if this makes my work easier
 This simple shift reduces threat.
 A calm brain learns faster and adapts faster.

3️⃣ Use ten minute micro learning
✅ Study one small skill for ten minutes
 Explore a tool.
 Test a workflow.
 Short bursts build stronger neural pathways.

Thriving today isn't about knowing everything.
It's about staying flexible.
A bendy brain wins in a fast world.

P.S. What's the last thing you learned?

BIG NEWS! SALES SAGE IS LIVE!
See the truth your reps won’t say out loud (before it blows up your number)
Taking 100 beta testers - 14 day free trial
Minority Report for Sales Teams
https://salessage.co/ 

Video Credit: Unknown

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➕ Follow Shannon for more brain based sales tools
 ♻️ Repost to help more people train their brain to adapt

The number one predictor of founder success?

Tenacity.

Most people think grit is personality.
It’s not.
It’s brain training.

The mACC is the part of your brain
that keeps you moving in hard moments.

It tracks effort.
It monitors progress.
It pushes you forward
when the path isn’t clear.

This region lights up
when you hit setbacks, surprises,
and unforeseen problems.

It decides if you push through or shut down.
That’s why tenacity is built, not born.

When life hits you sideways, 
the mACC scans the situation fast.

If it senses threat, you freeze.
If it senses capability, you act.
The difference is training.

Do this:
✅ Choose discomfort daily.
✅ Take a harder route once a day.
✅ Delay an easy reward.
✅ Finish one small task you avoided.

Each rep teaches your mACC: “I can handle this.”

Say this to yourself:
“I’ve done hard things before. I can do this too.”

This line calms the amygdala and boosts the mACC.

It shifts your brain from fear to capability.

Life never goes to plan.
 😶‍🌫️ Sales calls derail.
 😶‍🌫️ Projects hit walls.
 😶‍🌫️ Opportunities collapse fast.

The people who rise aren’t smarter.
They’re trained.

Their mACC fires strong.
Their brain holds steady.
They push when others pause.

Tenacity is a muscle.
The mACC is the gym.
Your daily reps decide
how far you can go.

Build it now so you don’t break later.
Just like Winkie the Pigeon:)

P.S. What’s one moment where tenacity saved you when everything went sideways?

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

Video Credit: Unknown

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

♻️ Repost if you want more people to build a stronger brain
➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for neuroscience that upgrades your life

A like is not a buying signal. 

99% of you get that wrong. 

Buying signals are precise.
Buyers drop clues long before they commit.
Most sellers chase the wrong ones.

A like isn’t intent.
A compliment isn’t commitment.
And “great post” doesn’t mean “I want to buy.”

Here are the 8 way to tell the difference:

1️⃣ Passive Likes vs Patterned Attention
❌ Random likes on your content.
✅ Repeated and thoughtful comments and DMs
🔬 Science:  Patterned consumption = dopamine-driven curiosity.
 That’s early-stage intent.

2️⃣ “Sounds Interesting” vs Ownership Language
❌ “That’s cool” or “I’ll think about it.”
✅ “How would this work for my team?”
🔬 Science: Ownership language activates planning circuits.
 The brain is rehearsing the decision.

3️⃣ Talking in Circles vs Clarity Moments
❌ Telling long stories about their company with no point.
✅ They articulate the problem clearly and connect it to outcomes.
🔬 Science: Clarity = PFC engagement.
 That’s when decisions begin.

4️⃣ Information Hoarding vs Micro-Commitments
❌ “Send me more info.”
✅ They attend your event, answer questions, or complete a short action.
🔬 Science: Micro-commitments create consistency bias.
 Once the brain starts saying yes, it prefers to continue.

5️⃣ Surface Engagement vs Depth Engagement
❌ A quick DM reply or emoji reaction.
✅ They ask specific questions that reveal internal problem-solving.
🔬 Science: Specificity = cognitive effort.
 The brain only invests when it cares.

6️⃣ Random Compliments vs Risk Reduction Questions
❌ “Love your work.”
✅ “How do you handle onboarding?”
🔬 Science: Risk questions mean their amygdala is evaluating safety.
 They’re preparing to commit.

7️⃣ Friendly Vibes vs Monitoring Behavior
❌ They seem nice, polite, or responsive.
✅ They quietly check your LinkedIn daily, revisit your DMs, or watch old content.
🔬 Science: Monitoring = pre-decision due diligence.
 The brain is gathering safety data.

8️⃣ “Just Exploring” vs Timeline Talk
❌ “I just wanted to learn more.”
✅ “We’re planning for Q1.”
🔬 Science: Timeline activation reduces uncertainty and accelerates commitment.

Buying signals are simple:
 🧠 Depth over noise
 🧠 Patterns over one-offs
 🧠 Specificity over compliments

Once you know the difference,
You stop chasing and start closing.

P.S. Ever notice how the real buyers talk very differently?
My workshops are open again.

BIG NEWS! SALES SAGE IS LIVE!
See the truth your reps won’t say out loud (before it blows up your number)
Taking 100 beta testers - 14 day free trial
Minority Report for Sales Teams
https://salessage.co/ 

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

➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for more brain-based sales tools
 ♻️ Repost to help more people read buyers clearly

Your biggest risk is the rep who says they're "fine."

Your rep's "fine," is eerily similar to your spouse's "fine."

TL:DR It's definitely not "fine."

You don't lose a quarter in one moment.
You lose it in tiny blind spots.

A rep who says they're fine.
A pipeline that looks clean.
A deal that feels safe until it slips.

Then your forecast cracks.
Your VP starts asking questions.
And you wonder what you missed.

What every manager thinks but never says out loud:

You're managing stories, not data.
Your team tells you what feels safe to say.
Not what protects your number.

Sales Sage shows you the parts they leave out.
A simple 10 minute pulse surfaces early risk.

😶‍🌫️ Stress signals. 
😶‍🌫️ Confidence drops.
😶‍🌫️ Hidden struggles that turn into missed targets...
If you catch them too late.

We give you visibility your dashboards say they give you
But can't

The minority report for sales teams. 
14-day free beta: https://salessage.co for early adopters

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