Casa Alternavida

What if you’ve been looking at leadership all wrong?
Leadership isn’t just about what you do; it’s about the mindset you bring. Every thought, emotion, and action creates ripple effects that shape your experience, your team, and your culture. Yet few leaders take time to see how their limiting beliefs quietly weaken performance, trust, and collaboration.
Many leaders today are at a breaking point. Disengagement has become the norm, draining trillions worldwide and leaving teams burned out and disconnected. The answer isn’t working harder or exerting more control, it’s learning to lead differently.
 
Amplify Your Leadership shows you how. Drawing on personal stories, science-backed practices, and two decades of facilitation, Yancy Wright reveals the hidden forces shaping how leaders influence culture and performance. Through practical tools rooted in emotional intelligence, well-being, and nature-based wisdom, this book offers a clear roadmap to shift reactive patterns, build high-performing teams, and create positive change in your world. 

Whether you’re a CEO guiding a company, an HR Director building a team, or just beginning your leadership journey, this book is your invitation to evolve into the leader you were always meant to be. Because when leaders shift, culture shifts. And when culture shifts, the world does too.

Book Author

We create a world where leaders and teams embrace a profound sense of purpose, boundless empowerment, and harmonious collaboration, all inspired by nature's wisdom. Our sanctuary Casa Alternavida stands as a beacon of transformation, empowering leaders to lead with authenticity and grace, while teams forge unbreakable bonds as they navigate challenges and celebrate triumphs together.

We envision a world where self-care is not just a fleeting moment, but an integral part of every leader's journey, fostering resilience, clarity, and personal growth. Our commitment to conscious leadership creates a ripple effect, as these empowered leaders inspire their teams to reach new heights of creativity and collaboration, bringing positive change to organizations and communities worldwide.

Through our unparalleled experience of transformational team building in nature, we envision teams that seamlessly blend individual strengths, unlock collective potential, and foster an unwavering sense of camaraderie and trust. As our retreat center becomes a catalyst for positive global impact, leaders and teams alike will embody a deep connection with each other and nature, working in unison to create a sustainable and thriving world for generations to come.

Together, we embark on a journey of endless possibilities, Casa Alternavida serves as a guiding light, illuminating the path towards a future where leaders and teams flourish, inspire, and shape a world that cherishes both humanity and nature.

Headquartered on the US island of Puerto Rico, we enjoy using our local rainforest, beaches and great climate to create transformational experiences with individuals and teams. We also travel to support our great clients in international locations. http://www.yancywright.com

Founder / CEO

CEO - CASA ALTERNAVIDA - Wellness Retreats for leaders on a mission

Sellen Construction

Created and managed team of green building specialists doing sustainability consulting and training across the US. Led Sellen Construction to become the largest green building contractor in Washington State. Authored innovative curriculum, partnering on grants to train over 2,500 construction workers, developing the first in the nation “green building safety” curriculum, and evolving the construction industry across the US.

Director - Sellen Sustainability

Created and directed company-wide sustainable initiatives, oversaw LEED projects, and managed a wide variety of teams to successfully deliver more than 40 green building projects (LEED) for world-class clients like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Microsoft, GSA, Amazon.com, and Seattle Children’s Hospital. www.sellenconstruction.com

Sustainability Director / Project Engineer 

Schuchart

Managed a team of craftspeople, focused on closing out high-end residential homes

Project Manager - Special Projects Division

Miscelaneous Jobs

Completed masters degree in Architecture with Penn State University in Rome, Italy. Fell in love with Europe and worked many jobs in effort to gain legal status to stay and work in Europe. The result, was a worldly education.

Instructor, Architectural Designer, Construction Administration, Artist

Ambassador of what’s possible.
I’m the facilitator leaders call when they’re ready to stop playing it safe and do the deep work.

Over the past decade, I’ve led 500+ nature-based retreats and guided high-impact leaders to confront blind spots, shift limiting beliefs, and unlock their full potential. My work goes beyond strategy and results. I help CEOs and teams examine how their well-being, energy, and mindset create ripple effects that quietly shape culture and performance.

After burning out as a leader in the green building industry, I founded Casa Alternavida, a transformational retreat center in Puerto Rico. Here, we design immersive experiences that reconnect leaders to their purpose, presence, and authentic leadership, using nature and adventure as powerful catalysts for world change.

Certified in somatic coaching, conscious communication, resilience, and forest therapy, I blend business acumen with emotional intelligence and embodied practice. The result? Leaders who evolve from the inside out, amplifying the ripple effect they have on their companies, relationships, and lives.

I’ve had the privilege of working with purpose-driven organizations such as CBRE, Blanchard, Money Group, Discover Puerto Rico, Interface, and others, helping their leaders and teams reduce stress, strengthen collaboration, and achieve measurable ROI.

Yancy Wright

🌱 Here's a simple truth: You can’t lead well if you’re unwell.

So many leaders push through exhaustion, convincing themselves that slowing down means falling behind. But the truth is, leadership isn’t just about driving results, it’s about the energy and awareness you bring into every room.

What if your next breakthrough didn’t come from doing more but from being still enough to listen?

Still enough to feel your own breath.
Still enough to notice what your team really needs.
Still enough to remember why you started leading in the first place.

When leaders pause, they reconnect to their purpose, to their people, and to themselves.
Because the most powerful influence doesn’t come from force… it comes from presence.

And sometimes, the greatest act of leadership is choosing rest before the world demands it.

#Leadership #MindfulLeadership #CasaAlternavida #ConsciousBusiness #WellbeingAtWork #PurposeDrivenLeadership #EmotionalIntelligence

Helping Teams 7x Performance, Reduce Burnout, & Drive ROI by Transforming Leadership & Culture | Executive Retreat facilitator, Coach, & Author.

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🌿 Alone time isn’t loneliness, it’s medicine.

When you step outside, away from the noise of meetings, deadlines, and constant notifications, something shifts. The trees don’t ask anything of you. The river doesn’t care about your title. The sky doesn’t measure your productivity.

Nature simply reminds you: you belong, just as you are.

For many leaders, the most powerful insights don’t come from a boardroom. They come from a quiet walk under the canopy, a moment sitting by the water, or breathing deeply in the stillness.

Sometimes the best thing you can do for your team is to give yourself the space to listen, to your body, your thoughts, your heart.

💭 When was the last time you gave yourself real alone time in nature?

#Leadership #SelfAwareness #NatureHeals #MindfulLeadership #PersonalGrowth #RestIsProductive #ConsciousLeadership #WellbeingAtWork #StressRelief

Watch how trees bend in the wind, flexible, not fragile. 🌬️

They don’t resist the storm; they dance with it. That’s how they survive.

Leadership works the same way. When we hold too tightly to control, we snap under pressure. But when we allow flexibility in our plans, our people, and ourselves, we stay grounded even as everything moves around us.

Adaptability isn’t weakness. It’s wisdom in motion. 🌳

💭 How are you learning to bend without breaking?

#LeadershipResilience #EmotionalIntelligence #ConsciousLeadership #PurposeDrivenLeader #MindfulLeadership #CasaAlternavida #NatureAsTeacher #AuthenticLeadership

For too long, we’ve been told to leave emotions at the door to lead with logic and suppress what’s real.
But emotions are not distractions. They’re data.
They show us what we value, where we’re misaligned, and what truly needs attention.

Leadership isn’t about staying unshaken, it’s about staying aware.
The most grounded leaders don’t avoid emotion; they meet it, learn from it, and let it guide them forward.

#EmotionalIntelligence #AuthenticLeadership #ConsciousLeadership  #LeadershipPresence

Leadership isn’t limited to CEOs or managers. It shows up in parenting, in communities, and in how you influence the people around you.

At its heart, leadership isn’t about directing others, it’s about leading yourself first. When you show up with balance and authenticity, influence flows naturally without forcing, and those around you feel more at ease.

What kind of leader are you becoming right now?

👉 Read more here: https://bit.ly/4o0DaGX 

#ConsciousLeadership #AuthenticLeadership #LeadYourself

Let me know if you want me to schedule these, and if there are any particular days you prefer they go out.

Do you know why great leaders coach more than they command?

In today’s fast-moving workplace, traditional command-and-control leadership is losing its edge. Employees don’t just want to be told what to do, they want to be challenged, developed, and supported.

The best leaders know this: coaching beats commanding in the long run.

When you coach instead of command, you’re not giving up authority, you’re building trust, autonomy, and long-term capability.

✅ Commanding delivers compliance.
✅ Coaching builds commitment.

So what does coaching leadership look like?
- It’s asking, not telling.
- It’s listening more than talking.
- It’s helping people find their own answers instead of giving them yours.

You’ll hear questions like:
“What do you think is the best approach here?”
“What did you learn from that experience?”
“What support do you need to move forward?”

These moments don’t take long, but over time, they shape confident, capable teams who own their growth.

The long-term payoff? Stronger engagement, higher retention, more innovation, and a culture where people feel seen and valued

Great leaders don’t just manage tasks, they develop people.
They don’t just command outcomes, they coach for growth.

Because leadership isn’t about being the smartest person in the room. It’s about helping others realize they’re smart too and giving them the space to prove it.

How are you incorporating coaching into your leadership today?
Let’s share ideas in the comments. 💚

Fire transforms everything it touches, just like leaders who act with passion and purpose. 🔥

But even the brightest flame needs care. Too much fuel, and it burns out. Too little, and it fades.

Leadership is the same. Your inner fire needs tending with rest, reflection, and connection so it becomes a steady source of warmth and light, not exhaustion.

True power comes not from burning harder, but from burning wisely. ✨

💭 How are you tending your inner fire this week?

#LeadershipEnergy #MindfulLeadership #SelfCareForLeaders #EmotionalIntelligence #ConsciousLeadership #PurposeDrivenLeader #CasaAlternavida #InnerWork

When a team goes on a nature-based retreat, it’s not just about bonding exercises or stepping away from work.

It’s about noticing the little things: how people walk at different paces on a trail, who naturally pauses to help another cross the rocks, or who finds joy in leading the way through the forest.

These small moments, unseen in the office reveal truths about leadership, collaboration, and patience that no meeting agenda could ever capture.

Nature doesn’t just host your retreat, it teaches it.

The question is: are we slowing down enough to notice the lessons right in front of us? 🌊🍃

#Leadership #TeamRetreat #NatureWisdom #ConsciousLeadership #TeamGrowth

Real team building goes beyond icebreakers and happy hours.

When teams step into nature, slow down, and connect differently, walls come down, communication opens up, and culture resets.

The result isn’t just “team bonding.” It’s stronger cohesion, deeper trust, and practical tools that last long after the retreat.


How does your team currently build trust?

👉 Explore more here: https://bit.ly/3WpsHsE


#TeamBuilding #LeadershipDevelopment #MindfulTeams

In leadership, as in nature, resistance isn’t always strength.

When water meets a rock, it doesn’t force its way through. It pauses, redirects, and finds another path forward. Over time, its persistence shapes even the hardest stone, not by pressure, but by presence.

What if leadership was the same?
Instead of meeting challenges with resistance or control, what if we learned to flow, to adapt, observe, and trust movement over force?

Adaptability isn’t giving up. It’s the wisdom to know when to shift, when to pause, and when to allow what’s unfolding to teach you something new.

💧Flow doesn’t mean weakness, it’s how the strongest leaders lead with grace.

#Leadership #Adaptability #MindfulLeadership #NatureWisdom #EmotionalIntelligence #CasaAlternavida #ConsciousLeadership #PurposeDrivenLeaders

In today’s world, speed is often mistaken for success. We celebrate productivity, multitasking, and constant motion as if slowing down means falling behind. But true leadership isn’t found in how fast we move; it’s revealed in how deeply we connect, reflect, and choose our next step.

We’ve seen how powerful it can be when leaders give themselves permission to pause. In that stillness, the noise of constant doing fades, and clarity begins to surface. The pause becomes a sacred space where intuition strengthens, priorities realign, and creativity flows naturally again.

Slowing down isn’t a luxury; it’s an act of courage. It takes bravery to stop in a culture that glorifies exhaustion and to lead from presence instead of pressure. Yet when leaders model this, they send a quiet but transformative message: it’s safe to breathe, to think, and to reconnect.

When a team sees their leader honoring rest and reflection, they too begin to move with more authenticity and intention. Progress doesn’t disappear, it deepens.

Because sometimes, the most powerful way to move forward… is to slow down first. 🌿

#EmotionalIntelligence #LeadershipPresence #PurposeDrivenLeaders

Burnout doesn’t arrive suddenly, it whispers before it roars.
It builds quietly in the skipped meals, the late-night emails, and the moments you tell yourself, “I’ll rest when this is done.”

But when leaders ignore their limits, the cost is steep, creativity fades, empathy dulls, and connection breaks down.
Rest isn’t a retreat from responsibility; it’s what makes responsibility sustainable.

Prevention starts with one brave act: slowing down before life forces you to. 🌿

#LeadershipWellbeing #ResilientLeadership #CasaAlternavida #ConsciousBusiness #WorkplaceWellness #EmbodiedLeadership #MindfulWork

After every storm, nature pauses. The sky clears. The air softens. The world exhales.

As leaders, we often rush from one challenge to the next carrying tension long after the storm has passed. But true resilience isn’t found in constant motion; it’s found in our ability to pause, breathe, and let clarity return.

Stillness isn’t laziness. It’s recovery. It’s recalibration.
It’s the moment when we remember what truly matters and lead from that place of calm presence once again.

🌿 When was the last time you allowed yourself to pause after the chaos?

#Resilience #LeadershipPresence #WellbeingAtWork #NatureReflection #ConsciousLeadership #CasaAlternavida #MindfulLeadership #EmotionalIntelligence

When a leader cultivates inner calm, the whole team feels it.
Their presence shifts the room, conversations slow down, clarity returns, and trust deepens.

Stillness isn’t passive. It’s a quiet strength that creates psychological safety and opens space for creativity and connection.

In a world that often equates leadership with urgency, stillness reminds us that impact doesn’t always come from doing more, it comes from being more present.

✨ The way you lead is the way you ripple.

#Leadership #MindfulLeadership #EmotionalIntelligence #CasaAlternavida #ConsciousBusiness #TeamCulture #Presence #PurposeDrivenLeaders #WellbeingAtWork #InnerLeadership

We often admire the height of a tree, its branches stretching toward the light but rarely do we think about the roots holding it steady through storms.

Leadership is the same.
What sustains you isn’t always visible. Your values, rest, inner clarity, and emotional wellbeing are what keep you grounded when challenges arise.

It’s easy to chase growth upward, goals, results, recognition but real resilience comes from deepening your roots.
Because when your foundation is nourished, you don’t just grow taller, you grow stronger, steadier, and more alive.

🌿 What’s one “root” you want to nurture this week?

#LeadershipGrowth #SelfAwareness #ConsciousLeadership #InnerWork #MindfulLeadership #CasaAlternavida #EmotionalIntelligence #PurposeDrivenLeaders

In today’s leadership culture, we often equate busyness with success. Our calendars overflow, our inboxes never empty, and somewhere along the way, we begin to measure our worth by how much we can fit into a single day.

But here’s the truth: constant motion doesn’t equal meaningful progress. When every moment is filled with doing, we lose connection to being and that’s where real insight, creativity, and purpose live.

True leadership isn’t defined by how much you accomplish, but by the depth of awareness you bring to what you do. It’s not about moving faster, but about moving with intention.

✨ What if slowing down became your most productive move?

#MindfulLeadership #LeadershipWellbeing #CasaAlternavida #PurposeDrivenLeadership #ConsciousBusiness #StillnessMatters #LeadershipClarity

🌿 In nature, stillness isn’t absence, it’s preparation.
The forest rests before it blooms. The soil pauses before it gives life again.

Maybe your next spark of clarity or inspiration isn’t waiting in your to-do list, but in the quiet space between breaths.
Sometimes the most powerful progress happens when we stop trying to make it happen.

Because even in stillness, growth is quietly taking root. 🌱

#LeadershipReflection #RestIsProductive #MindfulLeadership #CasaAlternavida #NatureWisdom #WellbeingAtWork #SlowLeadership

We often think of massage as a luxury, something you “treat” yourself to after months of stress. But in reality, massage is one of the simplest ways to bring the body back into balance. 💆‍♀️

Massage isn’t just about relaxation. It:
✨ Supports circulation and lymphatic flow
✨ Releases tension stored in the muscles
✨ Lowers stress hormones and calms the nervous system
✨ Invites the mind to slow down and reconnect with the body

For leaders, it’s more than comfort, it’s capacity. The clearer and lighter you feel in your own body, the more grounded and present you can be with others.

The question isn’t, “Can I make time for this?” The real question is, “What shifts when I do?”

#LeadershipWellbeing #MindfulLeadership #StressRelief #WellbeingAtWork #HolisticHealth #NervousSystemRegulation #EmbodiedLeadership

In moments of pressure, it’s easy to react to defend, control, or rush into decisions just to ease the discomfort. But reaction often comes from fear or fatigue, not clarity.

True leadership begins when we learn to pause long enough to respond instead.

That pause, even just one conscious breath creates space for awareness.
It’s where empathy replaces reactivity.
It’s where intuition meets intention.
It’s where trust is built.

When we shift from reaction to response, we lead from presence instead of pressure.
And that presence ripples through conversations, teams, and entire cultures.

✨ What would change if, in your next moment of tension, you paused before responding?

#MindfulLeadership #EmotionalIntelligence #CasaAlternavida #ConsciousLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #Presence #SelfAwareness #TeamCulture #InnerLeadership #PurposeDrivenLeaders

Firm. Grounded. Unmoving yet shaped gently by time and water.

Rocks remind us that true strength isn’t about resisting change; it’s about trusting the process that shapes you. Over time, even the hardest surfaces are softened by flow, not force.

In leadership and in life, we’re constantly being refined by the elements around us, challenges, relationships, transitions. The question is: do we resist them, or let them shape us into something wiser, smoother, more grounded?

Because strength isn’t rigidity. It’s grace in motion.

💭 Where in your life are you learning to stay steady while still evolving?

#AuthenticLeadership #SelfDiscovery #NatureAsTeacher #CasaAlternavida #MindfulLeadership #ResilientLeaders #InnerStrength #EmotionalIntelligence

Culturally Fluent

Personal Branding, Ghostwriting, Online Visibility in English or Spanish

Founder

Booked And Branded

Fully Booked

Writer

OLAN

Multicultural Communications, Marketing & Public Relations

Chief Executive Officer

iHeartRadio

Executive Producer/Radio Anchor

U.S. House of Representatives

Director of Communications for Congressman Darren Soto (D-FL)

Darren Soto for Congress

Director of Strategic Communications

Impremedia

Editor of La Prensa, Central Florida’s oldest Spanish-language newspaper under ImpreMedia’s management

Editor In Chief

Press Secretary for Congressman Alan Grayson (D-FL) 

Reporter for La Prensa Orlando under ImpreMedia’s management

News Reporter

Award-Winning PR & Brand Advisor | Build Global Recognition & Demand | Forbes-Featured | 32M+ Reach | Ex: News Executive, Press US Congress |

Turn offline expertise into online recognition so capital, stages, partnerships, and press come to you.

My team advises public figures and legacy brands around the globe. To date, clients have earned $3M+ in international media from our work.

Is this you?

You’re not an influencer, you’re a thought leader. 
You can’t afford to be misquoted, unseen, or misinterpreted.

Competitors are dominating the digital conversation in your industry.

If that’s you, welcome to your next level. In high-stakes spaces, silence gets filled by whoever is more visible. 

We make sure it’s you on LinkedIn, in the media, and beyond.

Clients call me when:
— The board says, “It’s time to be visible.”
— The media starts calling.
— The moment demands market leadership not optics.

Career highlights:

• Forbes-featured as communications and LinkedIn Expert
• Award-winning journalist (NYT Regional Group, TV, radio)
• Former media strategist to U.S. Congress members & senior executives
• Advisor to six- and seven-figure leaders on visibility, brand narrative, positioning
• Google News Initiative / LION Publishers alum
• Favikon Who’s Who in Influence 2025
• Featured on a Times Square billboard as a top expert (2025)
• Best PR Firms in Orlando, Florida (Expertise)
• US Congressional Record (Hispanic Heritage Month) (Women's International Month)

This isn’t vanity. It’s velocity.
Let’s put your name where it belongs, ahead of the conversation.

Iza Montalvo 🧲

You can be great at your job
but if people don’t like working with you, it gets harder to grow.

Talent can open doors.
Kindness keeps them open.

We’ve all seen it.
Someone who’s smart and skilled.
But the team feels tense around them.

Meetings are quiet.
Projects slow down.

Here are the 6 traits that separate the indispensable 
from the impressive:

1/Be clear.
Say what you mean.
Make it easy to understand.

2/Be respectful.
Listen to others.
You don’t have to agree, just care.

3/Be reliable.
Do what you said you’d do.
People need to know they can count on you.

4/Be flexible.
When things change, stay calm and find a new way.

5/Be kind.
It costs nothing.
It means everything.

6/Be open.
Take feedback as help, not hurt.
Talent helps people notice you.
Character helps people trust you.
And trust builds success.

PS: What’s one thing that makes you easy to work with?

♻️ Share this if you’ve ever had a teammate who made work feel lighter.
➕ Follow me Iza Montalvo 🧲 for more

Ranked #1 Global Branding Strategist | Ex U.S. Congress Comms Director | Turning Visibility Into Media, Stages & Deals 🤝

"One day, those who didn’t see your worth 
will want to be part of your story." 👇 

Memorize this quote and repeat it often...

Picture this:

Suddenly, those you doubted you
are now your biggest supporters.

You might think this will feel like victory. 
It feels like watching a magic trick.

Same people. 
Different story.

The ones who said you were "unrealistic" 
now tell people they "always knew you'd make it."

The reality is, you're still building.
You're still learning. 
You have bigger dreams to conquer.

The ones who questioned every decision 
somehow remember being your biggest cheerleaders.

Memory is creative like that.

But here's what changes the story:

When you stop building for their approval. 
When you start building for your own truth.

The real transformation isn't in how others see you. 
It's in how you see yourself.

When you're not performing for the critics, 
something powerful happens:

→ Your confidence becomes unshakeable 
→ Your vision becomes clear 
→ Your work becomes authentic

The sweetest part isn't proving them wrong. 
It's realizing you never needed them to be right.

Let them rewrite the story. 
You're too busy writing the sequel.

And in that sequel?
You're both the author and the hero.

PS: What story are you writing that doesn't need anyone else's approval? 

♻️ Repost to remind someone of their potential
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Ranked #1 in Global Branding | Ex–U.S. Congress Comms Director | Turning Hidden Experts Into Stage-Ready, Press-Worthy Brands

I recovered from burnout when I discovered
the magic of tiny habits. 

Because let's be honest...

Burnout doesn’t happen overnight.
It happens break by break... 👇 
the ones you never take.

We glorify overworking like it’s a trophy:
 
→ “I’ll rest when I’m done.”
 → “I just need to push a little more.”
 → “Breaks slow me down.”

But science (and real life) says the opposite.
💡 Your brain isn’t built for 6-hour marathons.
 It’s built for rhythm: focus, recover, repeat.

Here’s a simple reframe:
Work or study for 1 hour.
 
Then do something that fills you back up
for 5 minutes: 

Then do it again every hour. 

🎵 Listen to one song.
 📞 Call a friend.
 🚶‍♀️ Step outside.
 😄 Talk to your kid.

Because the goal isn’t to squeeze more in.
It’s to make the hours you do spend count.

High performers don’t grind nonstop.
They recover on purpose.

Your next breakthrough might come
after your next break.

PS: What’s your favorite 5-minute reset?
Mine’s a quick walk with my dog Max, no phone.

♻️ Repost if your network needs this reminder
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Ranked #1 in Global Branding | Advisor to Visionaries Shaping Influence | Ex U.S. Congress Comms Director | You Know You’re The Best. Let’s Make Sure The World Sees It. 🤝

"Two things define us: Our patience when we have nothing 
and our attitude when we have everything."

We've all been on both sides.

The grind when you have nothing:

↳ Months between jobs, still networking with a smile
↳ Pitching ideas that keep getting rejected
↳ Building something nobody understands yet
↳ Watching others get opportunities you want

That's when patience becomes your superpower.

Not just waiting.
But how you wait.

Stay curious instead of bitter.
Help others even when you need help yourself.
Keep learning when doors keep closing.

Then success comes.
And that's the test.

The promotion arrives.
The big client says yes.
Your idea finally takes off.

💫 Do you remember the rejections that shaped you?
💫 Do you still take calls from people climbing the ladder?
💫 Do you celebrate others' wins or just your own?

❤️‍🔥 Success can make us forget.
❤️‍🔥 Struggle can make us bitter.

But here's what I've noticed:
The people worth working with master both moments.

They stay patient in the valley.
They stay humble on the mountain.

PS: Which moment has revealed more about who you really are?

♻️ Repost if you agree
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Bryan Sperry was 89 when he laced up his cleats again.
A University of Kansas player from the 1940s.
 
One more spring game.
One last run toward the dream that never left.

Wearing his iconic blue KU jersey, 
he caught the handoff and started down the field.
Younger alumni ran beside him, clearing a lane.

Eighty-nine years old and still chasing the end zone.

🏈He crossed the line.
🏈Touchdown.
🏈No scoreboard needed.

The crowd stood quiet for a moment before they cheered.
Everyone knew they’d just watched something more than a game.

Here’s what stays with me:

💫 Dreams wait for you. Even when your body can’t keep pace, they don’t leave.
💫 We need each other. Those players didn’t just block, they carried him home.
💫 Do it, don’t describe it. He showed what legacy looks like by running, not talking.
💫 Time moves. You move with it, or you watch it go.

Bryan’s touchdown wasn’t nostalgia.
He made history.
If the dream still lives in you, it’s not finished with you yet.

🏈 Dreams don’t retire.
🎥 Video credit: SM 

PS: What dream have you been waiting to lace up for again?

♻️ Share this story if you believe age is just a number
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Award-Winning Founder | Top 1% Branding Executive | Turning Leaders & Teams Into Trusted Public Voices | Ex–US Congress Comms Director

I thought micromanagement was a sign of excellence.
It was actually a sign of fear.

In my first months as a leader, I controlled everything.

🥺 Every deck. 
🥺 Every client call. 
🥺 Every comma.

I told myself I was protecting the quality.
But really, I was protecting my ego.

I was afraid that if something went wrong,
it would reflect on me, not the process.

That fear created chaos.
And chaos disguised itself as control.

Micromanagement doesn't start with your team. 
It starts with your fear of losing grip.

And the cost isn't just productivity, 
it's credibility.

When you micromanage, 
here's what you're really signaling:

❌ Self-doubt (checking every detail)
❌ Unclear expectations (demanding constant updates)
❌ Lack of trust (overriding decisions)

Control feels safe.
But it kills creativity, morale, and trust.

True leaders don't manage every move.
They manage their own anxiety first.

When you finally let go:

✅ Your team's creativity explodes
✅ Your influence multiplies
✅ Your leadership matures

You don't need to control everything.
You need to create the conditions where your team can deliver.

Start here: 👇 
Define what "done" looks like, then step back.

PS:What's one leadership habit you had to unlearn to grow?

♻️ Repost to help someone lead better
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Ranked #1 Global Branding | Forbes-Featured | Ex-Director of Communications U.S. Congress | $3M+ in Earned Media For Clients

Can't sleep because your mind won't turn off?
If your thoughts are racing in circles, read this 👇

I've been there.
That's why I started studying Japanese philosophy. 
Here are 4 techniques that help me:

1/ IKIGAI
It means to have a purpose in life.

4 Rules of IKIGAI:
💖 Do what you love.
💖 Do what you are good at.
💖 Do what the world needs.
💖 Do what you can be paid for..

2/ KAIZEN:
Focus on small improvements every day, 
aiming to become 1% better daily instead 
of waiting for big changes.

3/ SHOSHIN:
Approach things with a beginner's mindset.
“If your mind is empty, it opens to everything!”

4/ HARA HACHI BU:
Stop eating when you're 80% full.
Eating until full will make you tired and lead to brain fog, causing procrastination…

Note: Some of these concepts have been adapted for Western
audiences.

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Ranked #1 Global Strategist | Ex U.S. Congress Comms Director | Turn Visibility Into Media, Stages & Deals

>> JAPANESE TECHNIQUES TO STOP OVERTHINKING<<

Sometimes it is very challenging to stay positive
(in a negative situation)

I know it is tough right now. 
But this is where leaders are made.

Everyone's pulling back. 

🌸 Reducing budgets. 
🌸 Deleting drafts. 
🌸 Going quiet. 

Waiting for "better timing."
I'm seeing this everywhere. 

And I'm calling it out: 
This is the exact opposite of what you should do.

Look, I understand.

🥀 The world feels heavy. 
🥀 Markets are unstable. 
🥀 People are tired. 

I feel it too. 

You don't want to seem tone-deaf.
That instinct to protect yourself by going quiet 
makes sense.

But history keeps teaching the same lesson:
2008 proved this.
2020 confirmed it.

Every era of progress began in the middle of chaos.
The creators who became household names didn't wait for stability. 
They built during the breakdown.

When others froze. They moved. 
When others went silent. They spoke. 
When others got scared. They acted.

Crisis doesn't create leaders. 
It reveals them.

Here's what separates the ones who disappear 
from the ones who define this moment:

1/They don't chase certainty. 
They double down on what already works.
2/They don't wait for motivation. 
They create despite the fear, the doubt, the exhaustion.
3/ They stay visible. Not because it's easy. Because it's necessary.

Crisis forces honesty. 
It shows what's resilient, 
and what was just routine.

This is where expertise replaces panic. 
The economy might be slowing, but creativity isn't.
Momentum doesn't live in the market. 
It lives in your choices.

This moment isn't meant to defeat you. 
It's meant to define you.

❤️‍🔥 Keep building. 
❤️‍🔥 Keep showing up. 
❤️‍🔥 Keep doing what works.

PS: The market will recover.
But will you be positioned to win?

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Ranked #1 Global Branding | Forbes-Featured Strategist | Ex-U.S. Congress Media Advisor | Top 1% LinkedIn Voice

I stopped pushing harder when my business hit a wall.
Instead, I changed the angle.

For years, I thought progress meant force:

🌿 More effort 
🌿 More hours 
🌿 More hustle

But when things stopped moving, 
I realized it wasn't about my work ethic.
It was my perspective.

Ever watched a photographer at work?
When the shot isn't right...

✅ They move around. 
✅ Adjust settings. 
✅ Wait for better light.

Turns out, we can run our businesses the same way.
Change the frame, change your results.

Here are 6 things I learned after changing mine:

1/ See it from a different lens
When you're stuck, don't just push harder, step back.
Ask "what if?" instead of "why not?"

2/ Know what you want.
Decisions get easier when you're clear on your goal.
Fuzzy targets waste energy.
Pick your priority: watch everything else falls into place.

3/ Keep trying new things.
The best photographers take hundreds of shots.
Same goes for us in business.
Try, shift, rethink, repeat.
Your breakthrough is hiding behind one more small test.

4/ Trust the journey.
Great results take time 
Every "mistake" teaches you something.

5/ Get curious, not defensive.
Stop trying to be right all the time, start seeing things as they are.
Questions move you forward faster than certainties.

6/ Invite other perspectives.
Fresh eyes spot what you've become blind to.
Bringing others in isn't a distraction, it's how we see the complete picture.

PS: What angle have you changed lately?
🎥 Video credit: photographynobl

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Anyone can lead in good times.
Few can lead now.

Everyone’s working twice as hard with half the help.
Let's look at the numbers: 👇 

4,000+ companies worldwide have cut staff or frozen hiring this year.
Nearly 950,000 jobs were eliminated in the U.S. through September,
the most since 2020.
Government leads with 299,000 cuts, followed by technology (107,000+) and financial services.

The goals didn’t shrink.
The deadlines didn’t move.
The resources did.

That’s why leadership looks different now.

It’s not tested when things go well.
It’s measured when things break,
when people are tired,
when you don’t have the answer
but they still trust you enough to follow.

Good leaders manage outcomes.
Great leaders shape who people become.
Real leaders don’t grow companies.
They grow people.

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Everyone’s waiting for their moment.
But maybe the moment’s been waiting for you.

I used to think success was timing:
right place, right network, right energy.

But when you look closer, 
the same names keep showing up.

The same people keep getting “lucky.”
The same voices keep rising.

They’re not lucky.
They’re ready.

☘️ They planted seeds long before anyone was paying attention.
☘️ They built relationships before they needed introductions.
☘️ They practiced their message before anyone was listening.

That’s the part most people don’t see.

They think the breakthrough happens when the spotlight turns on.
But the real work happens behind the curtain. 

And if you’re in that season right now
the building, refining, preparing, this is your reminder:

It’s not invisible forever.

Every day you wake up with intention, 
you’re aligning yourself with the opportunities 
that are already on their way.

You don’t need luck.
🪴You’re just in the planting season.

PS: What’s one seed you’re planting this season?

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Forbes-Featured Strategist | Ranked #1 in the World for Branding & Positioning | Trusted by Leaders to Be Chosen, Not Just Seen

The most dangerous weapon in the world isn’t nuclear.
It’s verbal.

 💥 One sentence can ruin a reputation.
 💥 One story can spark a revolution.
 💥 One speech can rewrite what millions believe.

I’ve been preparing for an international talk 
studying some of the most powerful communicators on the planet.

🎤 And then I watched Mohammed Qahtani.
A Saudi engineer.
Walks on stage, lights a cigarette, tells a story so convincing you’d bet it was true.

Then he drops the twist: it was a lie.
That “lie” won him the Toastmasters World Championship of Public Speaking.

The winning message: 

  ☑️ Words can destroy.
  ☑️ Words can heal.
  ☑️ Words can change the world.

And he proved it using the power of his voice.
 
You don’t need more words.
You need the right ones.

🎥 video credit: social media 

 💬 What’s one speech that changed how you see the world?
 Drop it below let’s build a library of world-shifting words.

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Your emotions aren’t obstacles.
They’re messages.

You don’t need to suppress them
you need to study them.

We’re trained to label feelings as professional or personal,
useful or inconvenient.

But emotions aren’t orders.
They’re data.

When I feel my thoughts racing, I move.
Not to escape the feeling, to translate it.

💫 A short walk.
💫 A quick stretch.
💫 A minute of stillness between meetings.

A 2025 study in BMC Psychology found that people who reframed what they felt, a process called cognitive reappraisal,
reported lower anxiety and higher emotional regulation.

Your body is the interpreter your mind can’t always be.
When you move, the noise turns into language.

PS: The body doesn’t overthink. It translates.

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>> RESPOND, NOT REACT <<

You can tell a lot about a leader
by how they treat the people they underestimate.

We see it everywhere:

→ The 22-year-old whose ideas get labeled "too green"
→ The 55-year-old written off as "behind the times"
→ The accented speaker assumed to be "less analytical"
→ The soft-spoken person dismissed as "not executive material"

Here's what these shortcuts cost:

You miss the brilliant strategy.
You overlook the fresh perspective.
You lose the cultural insight.
You waste the hidden talent.

You know stereotypes are driving your decisions when:

✗ You're shocked when someone "defies" expectations
✗ You find yourself saying "surprisingly articulate" or "actually quite smart"
✗ You notice what fits your assumptions, ignore what doesn't
✗ You feel the need to explain away their success

But curiosity changes our biases:

✓ You find strengths you never looked for
✓ You build trust instead of walls
✓ You make decisions based on reality, not assumptions

64% of employees say bias at work hurts their performance.

That's not just a fairness problem.
That's a business problem.

The person you're underestimating today might be the solution you need tomorrow.

Stop categorizing.
Start connecting.

PS: What's the biggest assumption you've seen proven wrong at work?
🎥 Video credit: SM 

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You wouldn’t leave a company to run itself.
Don’t leave your life to chance either 🤚🏼 

✋🏼 Everyone around you adds or takes away.
✋🏼 Every habit pays or costs.
✋🏼 Every thought moves you forward or slows you down.

Growth without review isn’t growth.
It’s drift.

I’ve been in your shoes. 

Here’s how I gained back control: 


1/ Set the terms
Know what earns your time.

2/ Review the results
If it’s not working, it’s gone.

3/ Hire peace
It protects your focus.

4/ Fire drama
It burns time and reputation.

5/ Promote joy
It keeps good people close and work sustainable.

Your name is the business.
Run it accordingly.

PS: What are you promoting today?

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No matter your age, you’ll always wish
you started younger. 
But today is the youngest you’ll ever be.

Ambition doesn’t come with a deadline.
At 40, I started the life I thought I’d missed.

✅ Marriage.
✅ Motherhood.
✅ First business.

The whispers followed me everywhere:
"Shouldn't you have done this sooner?"
"Don't you feel behind?"

Behind who exactly? 🧐  

I used to think turning 40 meant catching up.
Now I know it means arriving. 

With the confidence I never had at 20.
With patience I was still learning at 30.
With wisdom that only comes from rebuilding what fell apart.

Every "late" milestone became proof:
There's no such thing as the right time.
Only YOUR time.

I'm not racing against some invisible clock.
And you shouldn't either. 

Your dreams didn't expire when you turned 30.
Or 40.
Or 50.

🔥 You're getting stronger and better.
🔥 More refined.
🔥 More you.

The person who convinced you it was too late?
They gave up too early on their own story.
Don't let their surrender become your timeline.

PS: What would you pursue today if age wasn't even in the conversation?

Quote attributed to Dan Martell

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Ranked #1 in Global Branding | Ex–US Congress Comms Director | Teaching Leaders & Teams to Sound Human, Persuasive & Credible in the AI Era

"It's not hard.
It's just new.
You'll laugh at this part later."

We call things “hard” when they are not familiar.

😅 New job? Hard.
😅 New business? Hard.
😅 New version of yourself? Brutal.

And new messes with your sense of control.
I’ve lived that gap where everything feels heavier than it should.

Where your confidence hasn’t caught up to your ambition yet.
It’s not that you’re doing it wrong.
It’s that you’re losing the comfort of competence.

When you go from expert to beginner again, 
your ego fights back.
But that’s the price of evolution.

And when you sit in that space long enough, 
something shifts.

🔥 You stop fighting it.
🔥 You start getting it.
🔥 That’s where leverage begins.

So if you’re in that stage right now 
where work feels too big and you feel too small 
don’t call it hard.
 
Call it new.

Because once it clicks,
you’ll realize you were never underqualified.
You were just early.

And early always looks harder than it is.

PS: 68% of employees say the biggest challenge in upskilling 
is staying consistent long enough to feel confident (LinkedIn)

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You’re one post away from your next chapter.
Stop waiting for the “right” time.

My clients don’t wait for the perfect moment.
They don’t wait for January 1st.
They act while others plan.

That's why they're winning. 

Here’s what kills your potential 👇 

❌ Winging it without strategy
❌ Letting AI write everything 
❌ Posting content with no real expertise

Your reputation isn’t a side project.

It’s infrastructure that needs proper engineering.
Don’t treat your personal brand like weekend DIY
and wonder why it breaks under pressure.

My clients work with structure:

✅ Build expertise before audience
✅ Strategy before content
✅ Voice over tricks

The results:

→ Magazine feature in 30 days
→ National interview in 2 weeks
→ Paid stage in 3

Even Max, my Chief of Staff and furry baby, knows the rule:
(pic in comments)

There’s writing on LinkedIn.
And there’s leveraging LinkedIn.

One earns attention.
The other builds opportunity.

PS: What are you building now? 
Let me know in the comments!
📸 Vibe Haus, Brooklyn NY 

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Marketing isn't just posting on social media.
Are you missing the whole show? 

Credit to Tom Pestridge for this brilliant way to explain it.

Marketing is like running a circus. 🎪
And most businesses are confusing the acts with the strategy.

Here's what's really happening under the big top:

🎯 ADVERTISING = Those colorful posters around town
🎪 PROMOTION = Discount tickets for opening night  
📰 PUBLICITY = The news covering your star elephant
🤝 PR = Schmoozing with the mayor and local businesses
💰 SALES = The ticket booth magic that closes the deal

But MARKETING?
Marketing is the ringmaster's master plan.

The 7 components that orchestrate the entire show:

1/ GOALS 🎯
What's your big top vision?
Pack 10,000 seats? Go national? Create buzz?
No clear goal = no clear direction.

2/ TARGET AUDIENCE 👥
Families with kids?
Thrill-seekers?
Date night couples?
You can't please everyone under the big top.

3/ YOUR OFFER 🎭
What makes YOUR circus unforgettable?
Death-defying stunts? Comedy gold? Exotic animals?
This is your unique value proposition.

4/ MULTI-CHANNEL APPROACH 📢
Posters. Radio ads. Social media. Word-of-mouth.
One channel is one spotlight.
You need the whole lighting system.

5/ CONVERSION FUNNEL 🎪
They see the poster (awareness)
They check showtimes (interest)
They buy tickets (decision)
They show up and love it (action)

6/ DATA TRACKING 📊
Which acts get standing ovations?
What ticket prices sell fastest?
Which channels bring the biggest crowds?
Data drives decisions.

7/ EXECUTION 🎬
The greatest strategy in the world means nothing
if your performers can't deliver.

Marketing isn't the flashy promotional stuff everyone sees.
It's the invisible strategy that makes everything work.

From the first poster someone notices
to the final bow under the bright lights.

PS: What part of your marketing circus needs attention right now?

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How Do You Explain Marketing? 

I used to think people joined companies.
Now I know they join leaders.

Last month, I met a CEO who hadn’t posted 
or done a podcast in years.

👍 Brilliant operator. 
👍 Great culture. 
👍 Strong margins.

But when investors searched his name
his competitor showed up first.

He thought public exposure wasn’t necessary.
That the work would speak for itself.
That traditional networking is enough.

But in this economy, silence is expensive.

If no one hears from you online,
someone else owns your story.

Every CEO says, “People are our biggest asset.”
Then they disappear behind their logo.
And that’s where opportunity leaks.

Here’s what the numbers say:

🧠 80% of B2B leads start from a personal profile, not a company page.
 💸 Founders with visible brands raise funding 5× faster and close 30% higher valuations.
 📈 CEOs who post consistently cut hiring costs by up to 50%.
 
Those who win online:

✅ Build credibility before the meeting.
✅ Shorten sales cycles.
✅ Attract top talent before they advertise.

If you’re leading a company but staying quiet, start here 👇

1️⃣ Audit your digital footprint.
Google yourself like an investor would.
If the first page doesn’t prove authority, you’re leaking trust.

2️⃣ Publish proof, not polish.
Deals don’t come from slogans.
They come from showing how you think, who you attract, 
and what you’ve built.

3️⃣ Systemize your brand
Block 2 hours a month to approve content that sounds like you.
The ROI means faster closes, better hires, and inbound credibility.

💡Sources: Oktopost, Linkedselling, Emeral Insight, Wiley Online Library

PS: The less you talk, the more you pay to be understood.
💅 The best of my advice is here: izamontalvo.com/joinnow

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