I started building my personal brand on LinkedIn in a corner of my bedroom in 2018. 

Since then I've;

- Quit an underpaying job.
- Built a following of over 300,000 people online. 
- Generated $ 4 mil in inbound revenue from my LinkedIn presence alone. 
- Worked with founders and CEOs from brands like Three, SkyBet, Paddy Power and Markel. 
- Published a best-selling book, The Personal Branding Playbook. 
- Been paid to do a dozen speaking gigs, globally. 
- Partnered with brands like Planable, Tide Bank and LinkedIn. 
- Regularly meet my friends for mid-week lunches. 
- Get to pick my kids up at 3.30pm and take them swimming every Friday. 
- Get paid to do something I LOVE. 

Building my personal brand  quite literally changed my life. 

If I can do it, why not you? So many people hold themselves back from building their personal brand through fear of judgement, or not knowing what to say? 

But what if you lost out on an amazing job because your profile wasn't up to scratch? Or had to spend your entire week chasing cold leads because people didn't see a clear difference between you and a competitor? What if you lost actual opportunities to someone with half your talent, just because they had a more impressive profile online?

Building your personal brand solves all of those problems - and will change your life. Just like it's changed mine. 

So what are you waiting for?

Just f*cking post it... ;) 

Ready to get to work? I'd love to hear from you: amelia@pencetalent.com 

💜

Amelia Sordell 🔥

Five years ago, I was tricked into a “coffee meeting.”
Turned out it was actually a pitch to the entire board.

I walked in with nothing but a notebook.
My competitor walked in with a deck, a demo, and the contract.

I lost the deal - a £50,000 contract - right at the beginning of my business - when I really, really needed the money.

I was humiliated.

Not because I didn’t win, but because I didn’t even know I was playing a game. 

Turns out, my competitor had been briefed properly.
He knew it was a pitch.
He was told who’d be in the room.

I know because he told me himself.

I felt set up.

I was a young, naive woman in brand new industry with a brand new business. 

I spent the next 3 days spiralling.
Rereading every email.
Beating myself up for not asking better questions.
Blaming everyone - including myself for the deal that I felt was "taken" from me. 

Then I called a friend, another founder, to trauma-dump, and to be honest to get someone else to feel sorry for me. And I still remember that call today. He said;

"Feel sorry for yourself, or figure out how to win next time. You don’t have time for both."

That moment changed everything.

Because he was right.

Winners don’t waste time regretting what they didn’t do, they just make damn sure they do it next time.

And I did.

Now I never walk into a room without knowing exactly who’s in it, what they want, and how I’m going to win.

Even if it's "just a coffee". 

Hard lesson.
Expensive mistake.
But now I know this game isn't about win or lose. 
It's only win or LEARN.

I built a $4M business off the back of my personal brand. Now, I teach founders and their teams, how to do the same 🕺 Speaker. Consultant. Best-selling Author.

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I have never met a woman more successful than me hating on me trying.
I've never met someone in a beautiful, secure relationship, gossiping about mine. 

Women, and men at the top do not compete against each other - they collaborate. 

Because surprise, surprise - there is enough business and success to go around for all of us! 

So;

- Share your spotlight.
- Shout your friends.
- Praise your colleagues in public. 

And give your internet besties all the hype they deserve and connect people  together without expecting anything in return. 

Please cheer others on when they win. 

Successful women don’t put others down - they lift people up. 

Because when YOU lift other people, you also lift yourself. 

💜

built a whole business off the back of my personal brand - now, sharing how I did it at ameliasordell.com

When my first business went bust, I remember calling my mum telling her I and my dog, Peanut were moving back home. 

I also remember selling my car because I had no money to live or pay to run it. 

My entire identity had been tied to running this business and when it didn’t work out it felt like a death. I spent the next 3 months wallowing in self pity.

It felt like this event had happened to ME. I was the victim. 

It wasn’t until I realise no one was coming to save me from the mess of my own life did I actually begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel. 

That didn’t come easily. 

That came as a very real slap across the face of; I was broke, living with my parents and if I didn’t get my sh*t together no one else was going to do it for me. 

Life has a funny way of teaching you lessons.

Why am I telling you this? 

Well, I’ve been through some of the toughest things someone can experience over the last 10 years. 

- Failed businesses.
- Divorce.
- Lawsuits - at the same time as the above….

Each thing takes a piece of you. 

But there is NOTHING that can’t be figured out. 

- Dead end job. 
- Unhappy relationships. 
- Toxic environments. 
- Unhealed hearts. 
- Debt. 
- Bad credit scores.  
- Voids you think cannot be filled.

... And holes you think you cannot climb out of. 

No matter what dark cloud you’re moving through right now, don’t forget that EVERYTHING is figureoutable. 

Everything. 

And even on the toughest, most overwhelming days, just remember there is nothing you’re going through right now that someone else hasn’t already gone through and made it out the other side.

And I promise, no matter how tough it feels right now - those people are often a better, happier person for it. 

💜

If we haven't met before, hi - my name's Amelia. I built a $4million revenue business off the back of my personal brand, now I post content about how you can do it, too.

I run a weekly live - The Branded Show - where we go through tools, tactics and strategies small businesses can use to stand out, get more leads and make more money. Save your spot here: https://lnkd.in/eRVP9dh3

JSESSIONID

li_at

If I was a man, starting a business in 2026 - here is what is exactly what I'd do ↓

1. I’d pitch before I was ready.
I wouldn’t wait for the perfect deck or airtight strategy. I’d start talking about the idea, asking for feedback, getting in the room - because clarity comes through action, not perfection.

2. I’d launch a waitlist before I built the product.
I wouldn’t waste months building something no one asked for. I’d write the landing page, collect emails, test messaging - and build based on what people actually want.

3. I’d say my prices with my chest.
Not a nervous shrug. Not “let me know if that works.”
I’d say it, shut up, and let them say yes. Then I’d raise them every year - because I believe in what I deliver.

4. I’d post about my wins.
Big ones, small ones, messy ones. I wouldn’t wait until I had the “perfect result.”
I’d bring people with me on the journey - that’s how trust is built.

5. I’d show up as me.
Not just as “the founder of X.” Not hiding behind a logo or brand voice.
But as a real person people connect with - because that’s what makes you unforgettable.

6. I’d build in public.
I’d share what’s working, what’s failing, what I’m figuring out.
Because transparency builds trust. 

7. I’d network with people doing better than me. 
Because if you only stay in rooms where you feel safe, you’ll never grow beyond your current level. I’d ask the bold questions. I’d follow up. I’d play bigger.

8. I’d ask for help.
Without shame. Without feeling like I need to “prove” myself first.
Because asking for help isn’t weakness - it’s strategy.

9. I’d take up space.
On Zoom calls. In pitches. On panels. Online. I wouldn’t shrink myself to be digestible. I’d speak clearly, confidently - and trust my voice was worth hearing.

10. And I’d do it all without apologising.
No over-explaining. No softening the message. Just full belief that I belong in this space. Even before anyone else believes it.

BTW this isn't actually about men or women, it's about unlearning the conditioning that told us ALL to wait, shrink, or play nice.

So, have the AUDACITY of a confident guy building a business in 2026. 

Because 2026 is the year you stop asking for permission.
And start backing yourself like an average f*cking CEO... 😉

I have 240k followers and 300M+ organic views on LinkedIn. 
If you’re going to spend your money on anything in Black Friday, spend it on these 3 tools ↓

1. Planable. 

Scheduling tool. I schedule all of my content from here - you can set specific times, create custom templates, and drag a drop using their calendar feature to fill gaps. I love this app so much - I have it on my phone and do the big scheduling on their desktop version. 

The templates are actually so helpful. I go back 1x per month over the last 3 months of content and review what has done the best and find patterns. I then create templates from those posts like this, while enables me to double down on hooks and formats that work. 

2. SE Ranking

This shows you what keywords are working for your website (and what aren’t), runs competitor website analysis and helps find keywords that actually drive traffic form search engines and AI search. 

It’s not the “sexy” part of building a brand, if you’re relying on your website to generate leads and you aren’t optimising for getting them via search… 2026 will not be your year babe. 

3. SE Visible 

My current OBSESSION. Monitor your name and your businesses’ name in ChatGPT to tell you whether or not you’re being recommended in searches related to your expertise or services/products. 

Possibly the most slept on branding tool of 2025. 

There are a lot of brand sentiment tools out there - almost all are astronomically expensive (and a total waste of money if you’re a small business owner or someone building your personal brand). 

All three are on sale for Black Friday. 

Which I normally think is a bunch of marketing BS - but these are actually things I have personally spent my money on. 

See how you rank here: https://lnkd.in/evrj4nyf

Give them a go - let me know how you get on!

💜

PS. Is this an ad? Yes. Have I been a paying customer of these tools for over 18 months? Hell yes 🕺

Posting content when you have no followers is embarrassing.
But you know what’s more embarrassing?

Never trying at all.

Embarrassment is the cost of entry to success. 

Pay it. It’s always worth it.

Agree?

💜

If we haven't met - hi my name's Amelia! 6 years ago, I quit my job, started a business, generated $4million in revenue... all off the back of my personal brand on LinkedIn (while juggling 2 kids with no childcare). 

I just launched £79 course teaching you everything I wish I'd known about how to build my personal brand on LinkedIn 6 years ago. Because I didn't have £6k to spend on cohorts and coaches, and probably neither do you. 

So if you've ever thought "how the f*ck do I build a personal brand?" - join us: https://lnkd.in/eBZR2sQS

If a guy can make a career reviewing baked beans on TikTok - you can post on social media.	

If influencers can get paid to fake private jet photos for content - you can post on social media.

If entire couples can monetise their breakups online - you can definitely post on social media.

Because the people winning online aren’t the smartest.
Or the most qualified.
Or the most worthy.

They’re just the ones who actually showed up.
Embarrassing, awkward, cringe. 

So post the thing!
Talk about your business. 
Tell your story. 
Build your brand. 

Because in 2026, visibility will beat perfection. 

Every. Single. Time.

💜 

If we haven't met, hi my name's Amelia! I built a $4mil agency off the back of my personal brand.

I run a weekly live - where we go through brand and marketing tools, tactics and strategies small businesses can use to stand out, get more leads and make more money. Save your spot here: ameliasordell.com/live/

If you think it’s too late to start over… think again.

Trinny Woodall is living proof.

She hosted What Not To Wear with Susannah back in the early 2000's and was a TV star, style icon, and confidence-giver. She made women feel amazing in their own skin.

Then the cameras stopped. And so did her career.

Most people would’ve taken that as a signal to slow down. But not Trinny.
At 52, she started again. 

She built Trinny London, a makeup brand for women the beauty industry ignores: women over 35, spending money, but never in an ad.

- She ignored trends. 
- Ignored rules. 
- Focused on her audience. 

And the results speak for themselves.  

Millions of loyal customers. £70M+ in annual revenue. An army of women calling themselves The Trinny Tribe.

And here’s the thing: it’s not glossy campaigns or perfect tutorials that made it work. 

It’s Trinny being real. 

Smudged mascara. 
Mismatched outfits. 
Tutorials filmed in taxis. 
Every single day, showing up as herself.

Her brand doesn’t sell makeup. It sells confidence. Just like she always did.

So if you’re sitting there thinking: “I’m too old. Too late. Too behind…” STOP.

Timelines don’t exist. Rules are optional. Permission isn’t required.
You don’t need perfect. 

You just need the audacity to begin.

Don't you think? 

💜 

If we haven't met before, hi - my name's Amelia. I built a $4million revenue business off the back of my personal brand, now I post content about how you can do it, too.

I run a weekly live - where we go through brand and marketing tools, tactics and strategies small businesses can use to stand out, get more leads and make more money. Save your spot here: 
https://lnkd.in/eUx5UwhW

If you've ever felt unqualified, just remember that the password for the security cameras at The Louvre Museum was... "Louvre".

A 28 year old woman asked me last week, how she should launch her new business. I told her... "don't". 

All the advice online tells you to “Just quit your job and start your business.
Go all in. 

I am also one of those ""just f*cking do it" people! 
But for people like me - ambitious people with bills, kids, mortgages - that’s not advice. That’s an enormous gamble gamble.

So before you go all Thelma and Louise, go work in the industry first.

Pick the main player in the space - the best in the business and go and work for them. 

I spent 6 months selling and delivering personal branding workshops - that made my older employer £2500 a pop, without getting paid a single dime for it because I knew I could trial and test my business idea before I launched it for real. 

That 6 months meant that when I did launch, I closed my first 2 clients in the first week of business. 

I'd never have been able to do that if I had gone all in when i first had the idea to start my own personal branding agency. 

If you want to start your own spa;
Go and work on reception for 6 months. 

You want to start your own social media agency;
Go work for a startup in the space. 

Do this for maybe 6, 12, 24 months. 

- Make mistakes. 
- Build connections.
- Understand how the machine actually runs.
- Watch what works - and more importantly, what doesn’t.

While someone else is paying for it.

Then quit - and do it better.

Why rush to build something from scratch, when the fastest way to build your dream business is to learn how someone else built theirs - first.

Amelia 

💜

If we haven't met before, hi - my name's Amelia. I built a $4million revenue business off the back of my personal brand, now I post content about how you can do it, too.

I run a weekly live - The Branded Show - where we go through brand and marketing tools, tactics and strategies small businesses can use to stand out, get more leads and make more money. Save your spot here:  https://lnkd.in/eUx5UwhW

If Elon Musk can blow up 3 rockets in public and still build SpaceX - you can start before you’re ready.

If Sara Blakely can cut the feet off a $12 pair of tights and turn it into a billion-dollar brand- you can start before you’re ready.

If Oprah can get fired from her first TV job for being ‘unfit for television’ and still build one of the most successful media empires on earth- you can start before you’re ready.

If Victoria Beckham can take a fashion line that nearly went bankrupt and turn it into one of the most respected luxury brands in the world - you can start before you’re ready.

Because nobody starts with the perfect plan.
They start with an average idea and a ridiculous amount of conviction.

So start the business.
Post the content.
Launch the product.

Even if it’s messy.

You don’t need permission, credentials, or timing to be successful - you just need the audacity to start.

You will be 99x more successful than anyone else the minute you realise embarrassment isn't a side effect of failure, it's the entry fee to success. 

Agree?

💜

A few years ago I’d spend hours perfecting just one post because I was so scared of other people’s opinions. 

Negative comments or people taking the piss out of my content (this still happens - a lot) would send me into such an anxious place. 

You know, that stomach churning, head spinning tornado that only comes with thinking that everyone hates you?

I had that feeling regularly. 

So I get it - I understand the unwillingness to really stand for what you believe in, particularly online.

Opinions online just feel so... permanent, you know?

But I look back at some of the content that I posted during that time, and if I’m honest, it was so inauthentic. My voice was so far removed from who I really am because I was SO desperate to be liked. 

I’ve come a long way since then. And so has my personal brand. 

Because I’ve realised, there is real power in being disliked. 

- There is confidence. 
- There is self-esteem. 
- There is self worth. 

I guess what I’m trying to say is that the success of YOUR personal brand and probably your life, depends on your willingness to be disliked. 

Because a successful personal brand must come from an authentic place. 

And if you’re doing what’s best for other people, you’re never going to do and say what’s best for YOU. 

And I personally didn’t create the kind of opportunities I’ve had - my business, the inbound revenue, the speaking engagements … life-changing stuff, until I realised I had to create a divide somewhere. 

Because everything is subjective. 

Including your opinions and personality. 

Heck, I could say factually that the sky is blue, and for someone else, it’s raining. 

So please, I implore you - STOP watering yourself down to fit in online and off. 

Be 100% ok with the consequences of being yourself. 

Because if you’re not willing to be hated by the people who don’t matter, you’ll never be loved by the ones that do. 

Don't you think?

💜

If we haven't met, Hi! My name's Amelia. I generated $4million for my business off the back of my personal brand.

I just launched £79 course teaching you everything I wish I'd known about how to build my personal brand on LinkedIn 6 years ago. Because when I first started my business, I didn't have £1000s to spend on cohorts and coaches, and probably neither do you. 

Get access here: https://lnkd.in/eBZR2sQS

How I used to define success:

- A big house. 
- A fancy car. 
- An expensive handbag. 
- Designer clothes. 

How I define success now: 

- Pick my kids up from school. 
- Have time to pursue my hobbies. 
- Take time off to travel. 
- Enjoy my work - and life, every day. 

Most people misunderstand 'success' because our entire lives we've been told that the route to achieving it is through grinding out 80 hour weeks in a job we don't love working for people who don't care. 

As a reformed grinder, trust me it's a fast track ticket to burn-out and depression. 

The happiest and most fulfilled people I know are the people who are people who've build, grown and monetised a business that:

Gives them a consistent income
Allows them to work from anywhere
Gives them the freedom to live a life they love 

THAT is the new definition of success. It's the new 'Rich'. 

I've managed to build a business that generates leads on autopilot, can be delivered from anywhere and allows me to pick my kids up at 3.30pm on a Friday. 

If you want to build a business that gives you an amazing life (not the other way around), access my course on how to build a profitable personal brand on LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/eBZR2sQS 

Because I no longer care about looking successful. 

I care about feeling it. 

Don't you?

💜

If you're wondering why your LinkedIn reach is down..
... it's because LinkedIn now want you to PAY to boost your posts. 

It's a pretty textbook algorithm cash-grab. 

Build free user base. 
Get users to create content. 
Give content lots of reach. 
More users then create content. 
Then reduce reach. 
Everyone cries. 
Charge them to increase it. 

Meta did it. 
TikTok did it. 
Now LinkedIn is doing it. 

Pretty smart actually. 

But this is why you need to stop listening to people telling you to "hack the algorithms" -  and just say stuff you believe in. 

Focus on your customer. 
Give your knowledge away for free. 

And for the love of God, please have dreams bigger than 100k followers. 

If you're a business owner, you should be posting content to find customers. 
Not to find popularity. 

Focus on that, and you'll be 10x more successful than 99% of the "creators" you follow on this platform.

Amelia 

💜

If you want to dip your toe into LinkedIn (and make money from it) I recorded a 52 short videos detailing how you can turn your LinkedIn profile into your biggest marketing tool. Get them here: https://lnkd.in/ek7REgzU

Your employee's personal brand's are an opportunity, not a threat. 

Agree?

💜

If we haven't met before, hi - my name's Amelia. I built a $4million revenue business off the back of my personal brand, now I post content about how you can do it, too.

I've just dropped 52 videos detailing everything I did to get from 0 - 250k followers and $0- $4mil in revenue off LinkedIn alone. You can grab them here: https://lnkd.in/eBZR2sQS

77% of ChatGPT users treat it as a search engine. 
And if your customers can't find you - you don't have a business. 

And social media platforms, like LinkedIn are training the bots that are shaping how people find you online.	
SE Ranking did a study recently and found that social media sites show up in over 33% of Google’s AI search results.

Which basically means, if you as an individual - or your business are not visible on social media, you're invisible in search results, too. 

So how do you fix that?
You AI who HELL you are.

And you do that by surprise surprise, owning your niche. 
Post about your expertise - consistently - until your name is synonymous with the topic.

I know, shocking advice. 

But what you might not know is that there are little hacks you can use like;
- Your captions. 
- Your keywords.
- Titling your files (like this video) with "YOUR NAME - YOUR EXPERTISE" help Google AI and ChatGPT associate you with your topic.

Because that is what Google is indexing.

So when you Google or search for personal branding, my name comes up. 

I've been using Planable and SE Visible - the new tool from SE Ranking for the last few weeks to optimise my content for AI search.

It helps me;
- Track my brand's presence across AI tools like ChatGPT.
- Work out the topics, trends, and questions AIs associate with my brand (and my competitors... 👀)

And also if you're currently staring and your computer screen for the 18th time this month, thinking "what the fck am I going to post?" Planable and the SE Visible dashboard helps you plan content that’s timely, relevant, and discoverable.

Stunning. 

Like I said, 77% of ChatGPT users treat it as a search engine. 

And your social media content impacts how your business and your brand appears in AI results. 

And if you're a founder, freelancer - or social media team not doing anything about it, 2026 is not going to be your year. 

See how you rank (for free) here: https://lnkd.in/eaN5H7Wr 

Was this helpful? 

Amelia 💜

Planable

SE Ranking

An ex-employer once asked me, "why do you want to work?"

I was 24 years old.
Just re-entered the workforce after liquidating my business. 
I had a high profile partner - who he wrongly presumed paid for my lifestyle.

I asked him why he'd asked me that question. 
Listened.
Nodded.
Sipped my drink.

Then I said: “Ok, fair enough.”
And walked away.

Not because he was right to ask such a ridiculous question.
Not because I didn’t have a thousand facts, examples and data to fire back with.

But because he wasn’t worth the energy.

When you feel like you're personally being attacked, the default defensive position we tend to talk is attack back. 

Like staying quiet means losing. 
Especially online. 

I see so many people screen grabbing inappropriate messages, calling people out in the comments. 

I've been in a tonne of these situations in boardrooms, on social media - with groups of friends, but let me tell you something; 

Defending how you personally feel about something, doesn't make the other person feel the same way.

Me replying to this ridiculous question wasn't going to make this guy not a sexist. Or any less stupid. 

And spending your precious energy trying to prove your point, or change theirs - is a waste of your time. 

You don’t owe anyone an explanation.
Not for your opinions.
Not for your ambition.
Not for your right to take up space.

People like saying things for effect. Especially online. 
They want the argument.
They want the reaction.
Because that gives them power.

So don't give it to them.

Sometimes the most powerful move you can make is to look someone dead in the eye and say:

“Okay. Fair enough.”
Then get on with your day. 

You're a smart. 

And smart people don’t waste time trying to win stupid arguments. 

💜

If we haven't met, hi my name's Amelia! I built a $4mil agency off the back of my personal brand.

I just launched a course teaching you how to promote yourself - and your business online (and make money from it). 819 people have already downloaded it, and are changing their lives, join them: https://lnkd.in/eBZR2sQS

If you feel underpaid - and undervalued. Here is how to change it.

Was this helpful?

Amelia x

Very few people are actually honest about the reality of building a business.

They’ll tell you about the freedom.
The moments that make it look easy.
The dopamine hit of being ‘a founder.’

But they rarely mention:

The crippling self-doubt.
The nights you couldn’t sleep because payroll’s due.
The Sundays spent firefighting instead of being with your family.
The mental gymnastics it takes just to stay optimistic enough not to quit and get a regular 9‑5.

Building a business will humble the sh*t out of you. And most people don’t want to talk about that part.

I’ve been there.

When I started my first business, the dream was simple: get paid to do something I love.

I hit that goal in days. Then I wanted more - a million-pound company, to prove to myself that I could do it. 

And I did it in under two years.
But chasing growth came at a cost. 

The goalposts kept moving. Faster. Harder. Longer. More. 

And in 2023, I burned out - emotionally, physically, mentally. I had nothing left to give.

Sitting poolside with my kids, I realised I had lost touch with who I am. 

My identity had become just “founder,” and without that mask, I felt empty. I’d spent years achieving without ever appreciating what I’d done.

But here’s the thing: surviving those moments, facing that chaos, and continuing despite the burnout - that’s what turns you into someone who can handle anything.

Every sleepless night, every impossible problem, every self-doubt-fueled Sunday made me stronger, wiser, and capable of handling challenges I never thought I could.

So yes, building a business will humble you. 

But if you survive it, it will teach you resilience, grit, and the ability to handle anything life throws at you.

Agree?

💜
 
If we haven't met, hi my name's Amelia! I built a $4mil agency off the back of my personal brand.

I run a weekly live - where we go through brand and marketing tools, tactics and strategies small businesses can use to stand out, get more leads and make more money. Save your spot here: ameliasordell.com/live/

Helping 9-5 pros build their Corporate Offramp | Land 1st client in a 1-person business you control

You’ve outgrown your 9–5. 
Now what? 

You’ve built a solid career. Maybe even a great one. But lately… 

The Sunday scaries hit a little harder.
You keep wondering, “Is this really it?”

You don’t hate your job. You’ve just outgrown it. And the money is the only part that serves you. 

You’ve done everything right.
But you still feel boxed in by meetings, org charts, and the constant anxiety of “restructuring.”

You know your skills are worth more – but no one’s shown you how to turn them into something of your own.

You're not trying to blow up your life.
You just want to know it’s possible.

That’s what the ‘Corporate Offramp’ is for.

It’s my step-by-step system to help high-performing professionals:
→ Package their skills into a client-ready offer
→ Build a simple audience of people ready to work with them
→ Land their first client in 120 days—without quitting their job

You’ll start earning outside your 9–5 and finally take control of what’s next.

This isn’t about quitting tomorrow.
It’s about progress. Building something – before you need it. 
And when you’re ready to start having control over your time. 

What others are saying:

“What really stands out about Brian is his authenticity. And his responsiveness is in a league of its own. His mix of broad entrepreneurial knowledge, specific expertise in areas like LinkedIn strategy, and straight-talking advice puts him at the top of my list.” 
– Melissa, ex-ed tech exec

“I started building while still in my 9-5, and landed my first client within 3 months (..before being let go by my company!).”
– Cassie, former tech manager

Here’s how to get started:

📥 Grab the Free 5-Day Solo Business Blueprint in my Featured section – and get the exact roadmap to land your first client without quitting your job (or even changing your LinkedIn profile). 

🎯 Want a faster path?
Join me for the Fast Track to Freedom Workshop – where I’ll walk you through:

• What to focus on (hint: not your website)
• Where 90% of your effort should go
• How to build an audience (without posting daily)
• The path to your first paid client – in 120 days

🎟 Save your seat: simplemanguide.com/workshop

Your 9–5 got you started.
Your next move is on your terms.

Brian Gallagher

The real risk isn’t leaving your job.

It’s staying just long enough that the comfort…

Becomes overwhelming.

People frame risk as walking away from stability. But stability’s not real. Just ask the people who thought they were ‘safe’ at Amazon or Microsoft.

The real danger is slower. Quieter.

You start caring a little less. You’re no longer motivated by what you're doing. You move through your days on autopilot.

You get lulled into sleep. Unsure what even makes you feel alive anymore.

You let people steal your time with fake urgency and pointless meetings.
You tell yourself you’ll make a move when things calm down.

But that moment never comes.

I remember when it started happening to me. The pay got better. The hours eased up.

On paper, everything looked fine.

But I didn’t like what the years ahead looked like.

I watched people higher up the ladder still asking permission for the simple things — a doctor’s appointment, a softball game, a random Tuesday.

And I knew if I didn’t draw a line, I might never draw one. I’d wait for the next bonus. Then the next. Then the next.

And 20 years later, I’d be so deep in it that walking away would feel impossible.

That’s how comfort works.
It feels just good enough that you stop questioning it.

Comfort doesn’t just keep you in the job.
It keeps you from becoming the person who’d ever leave it.

It’s a slow slide toward a life you never chose.

In my last role, I was a VP in investment banking.

On paper? Looked great. But in real life… 

Yikes.

I’ll admit – the instant status it gave me when I told people what I did made me feel important. 

But I was constantly stressed. 

If I wasn’t at the office, I was dreading the next email ping from a managing director. 

Why? Because I had no visibility as to how my week would look. 

One minute I had a long weekend train trip planned. And an email ping could mean having to cancel everything. 

Honestly, it was chaos. 
But I kept telling myself it was “worth it.” 

Everyone seemed impressed with my title, so I was on the right path. That’s what I thought. 

Eventually I caved and said yes to something different. 

I started a fitness studio concept with a friend (while still at my job). 

Just a few classes a week. Nothing fancy.
But it was ours. We made the calls.

It didn’t make me rich. And unfortunately, it didn’t become my forever thing. 

But besides being the most fun I’ve ever had ‘working’, it did something else for me: 

It broke the cycle.

And once I got a taste of calling my own shots,
I couldn’t go back.

Now I help other people build something of their own too.

Because I’ve experienced both sides: 

Waking up dreading the work day. 
Waking up excited about what I get to build. 

And know I’m certain on which I’ll keep choosing.

I did a breathwork session last week.
Two words kept repeating.
And they stayed with me all week.

Kindness.
Vulnerability.

Two simple words. But they are the difference between forcing connection and creating real connection.

Kindness reminded me that everyone I talk to is carrying something I cannot see.

Clients. Prospects. Friends. Family members.
People on here scrolling through their day.

When I remember that, I show up better. My coaching is better. My conversations are better. My patience is better.

Vulnerability reminded me that the people I trust most are the ones who let me see the full picture.

Not the “everything is amazing” picture.
The human one.

So I am choosing to bring more of that into how I show up here.

And I will start today.

I am going through a breakup.

It has been difficult, but being around family, and keeping my schedule full, helps.
Movement helps. And so does work.

And during that breathwork session, something small set me off, and I realized how much I had been holding.

And yes, for a bit, I pulled back on some things while I got my footing again (work included).

But this experience is giving me something important.

A deeper appreciation for how much our personal lives shape the way we show up in our work.

A deeper understanding of what my clients feel when they are trying to build something while holding the rest of their life together.

And a deeper commitment to lead with kindness and vulnerability in every part of my life. Not just my business.

I want the people who follow my work to feel that they are seen, not judged.

And I want them to know that building a solo business is not separate from real life. It happens inside real life.

Work does not happen in a vacuum. Life does not pause while you build something meaningful. 

Who you are matters just as much (if not more) as what you do.

That breathwork session reminded me of that.

And it marked a change how I plan to show up here moving forward.

My brother’s dog, Norman, always helps too :)

There’s a point where learning stops helping — and starts hiding you. Brad was there too…

He’d been reading, thinking, and planning for months, but none of this got him any closer to his goals. 

Until he decided to stop collecting information and start building momentum.

One small shift – a few simple strategies, some accountability, and the courage to share his ideas publicly – changed everything.

The moment that started it all? He hit publish.

From there, things opened up fast.
Conversations he’d never had before.

And new confidence hammered home the realization that he didn’t have to get it perfect to make progress.

That confidence led to real connections, online and in real life.

Soon, Brad was turning his interest in health and leadership into work that actually paid him.

In fact, he’s earned income from three separate and distinct businesses he’s started. 

And now, if a layoff ever came, he wouldn’t panic. He’d have options. And the proof that he can create his own.

You don’t need more ideas. Or more knowledge. You need a first step.

If you’re ready, send me a note and I’ll share what that could look like for you.

The most motivated I’ve ever felt in my work didn’t come after a big win or a big paycheck.

It came on an ordinary morning in New York, with a plan, a coffee, and a blank page.

I remember the first time that feeling hit me.

I’d just gathered feedback on my first product – a simple ebook on slimming down in 30 days. I knew what to fix. The best days were still ahead.

I’d wake up, head to Gregory’s Coffee on 31st and 6th, order a cold brew (jet fuel!), and get creating.

It was the first thing I sold completely on my own. No extra work to deliver.

And when that first email pinged – a stranger had bought my book while I was sitting on my couch reading – I’ll never forget it.

It wasn’t about the size of the sale. It was about the shift it created.

I found the thing that I’d wake up early to build. And I had the plan to do it. 

Finding that bridge is a massive turning point. 

That’s when the work becomes exciting.
That’s when building something of your own becomes the most motivating thing you’ve ever done.

That’s when you stop being an employee in your own career. 

And start being the CEO of it.

At some point, you stop saying you’ll figure it out later – and realize you’ve been circling the same thought for years:

I want to start my own thing, but I don’t know where to begin.

And then the questions start to pile up: 

What would I even do?
How do I start without risking what I’ve built?
What if I fail and regret it?

So, you wait. I see it all the time.

People reach out, we talk about what their next move could look like, and then they disappear. A year later, sometimes more, they come back – same job, same questions, same stuck feeling.

Sure, they saved money by waiting. But they lost something more valuable. 

Time.

Until one day, they look up and realize a decade has gone by in a job they knew stopped fitting years ago.

I get it. I was there too. 

At first, there’s doubt.

You scroll through other people’s posts, quietly wondering if you could ever do what they’re doing. You change jobs, hoping a new title will make it feel different. It doesn’t.

Then comes curiosity.

You start exploring what your skills are really worth. You tinker with ideas. Maybe you even earn a little money on the side. Enough to prove it’s possible.

After that, something subtle changes.

You stop asking if you’re capable and start noticing opportunities everywhere.

People ask for your help. You begin to realize your job isn’t your identity anymore. It’s just your funding.

Eventually, confidence replaces doubt.

Your one-person business starts bringing in real income. You feel in control again.

And one morning, you sit down at your laptop and think, this is my life now.

That’s when you understand: you had it in you all along. 

You just needed a plan.

If you’re somewhere between doubt and confidence, the live workshop starts in a few hours – a free working session to map your first steps toward your off-ramp.

Join us here → https://lnkd.in/dbBue_6h

I had an eye-opening call with someone last week. 

It made me realize what a job interview really is… 

It’s an audition for your own career. 

The person on the call said: 
“I’m done. I never want to go through another interview again.”

They’re tired of pretending and of being told no by people who never really saw them.

The anxiety. The prep. The “hope you get lucky.”

The rounds of interviews where you give your best self, only to get ghosted, rejected, or land in a role nothing like what you were promised.

You’re totally auditioning. And I remember that feeling well.

Always second-guessing and doubting myself. 
Wondering if one wrong answer or one bored hiring manager was going to cost me the life I was hoping for.

That’s why twenty years without a job interview feels like a milestone.

It’s not just freedom from a boss, but freedom from depending on someone else – for them to reply, to notice, to choose you.

You start moving on your own terms again.

Building your own business gives you a different kind of safety. The kind that comes when you stop waiting to be chosen.

That moment when you realize you’re done interviewing is quiet, but it changes everything.

If you’re there now, I’ve put something together that might help:

Free workshop tomorrow → https://lnkd.in/dbBue_6h

And just maybe – you’ve already had your last job interview.

“It’s been four months and I still feel stuck.”
Someone told me this the other day.
Here’s what many underestimate when starting out: 

Just how easy it is to waste time trying to figure everything out on your own. 

And when building while still employed, it’s not helpful to see 15 different paths. All promising places to start, but unsure as to which is most viable. Which leads to revenue fastest. Which has the least speed bumps. 

So what do I see most people do? 

Dabble. Start researching. Build a website. 
Try one thing, then second-guess themselves and switch. 

And four months go by. Then six. Then a year. 

And somewhere quietly in the background, they’re thinking:
“I thought I’d be further along by now.”

Time spent stuck doesn’t just slow you down.
It starts to convince you maybe you weren’t meant for this.

You can figure it out alone. Lots of people do. 
But it usually takes them 18–24 months of guessing, circling, rebuilding, and trying to reverse-engineer the right sequence.

Or…

You get help. You get a map. You talk to someone who’s already walked the road.
And you collapse that timeline down to a fraction of what it would’ve been.

Some of my clients have signed their first client in less time than most people spend thinking about how to start.

Most people don’t fail.
They just run out of time and energy they didn’t know they were burning.

So if you’re four months in and still stuck, nothing’s wrong with you.

You’re most likely trying to navigate a process in the dark that someone could’ve lit up in a single conversation.

The question is no longer:

Can you do it alone?

It’s:

How much is the extra 12–18 months worth to you?

Here’s how I started my first business.

(Hint: it did not go as planned.)

• Spent 6 months writing a business plan
• Paid $6,000 for a logo and brand kit
• Built a full website
• Lined up investors
• Took meetings with anyone who would give advice

And here’s how it went: 

Our branding was off. 
The main part of our class wasn’t engaging. 
We were guessing the entire time.

We didn’t learn this through planning. 
We learned it the moment we actually taught the class.

Direction came from doing the work.
Not preparing to do it.

After making every early mistake, here’s how I get clients started now:

1/ They get clear on their Big 3
The person, the problem, the outcome. 

2/ They clean up their online presence
Simple and easy to understand. 

3/ They grow an audience of relevant people
Not big. Relevant.

4/ They start real conversations
No pitching. Just being human.

Here’s what happens when you start like this:
• Anton had inbound conversations within two weeks.
• Marie signed her first client in under three months.
• Brad generated income from three different offers he created himself.

The confidence came after the action.
Not before.

It’s not that you can’t do it. It’s that it’s unclear what to do first.

Once you know the right sequence, the whole thing gets simpler.

We’ll walk through that sequence together in my live workshop on Tuesday. 

Join us here:

Open article: Workshop by simplemanguide.com

The hard part isn’t choosing.
It’s what happens before that: 

The limbo.

You go back and forth, trying to anticipate what you’ll lose with each option. You imagine every scenario, weigh every angle, and start thinking in circles.

Eventually, the pressure of not deciding becomes heavier than the decision itself.

And in the middle of all that, it’s easy to lose sight of what you might gain – not just from the path you choose, but from the clear vision and calm that comes after you choose it.

Once the decision is made, things get lighter. You can focus again. You’re no longer trying to live in two futures at once. You can stop running through pros and cons and finally begin shaping a plan around the direction you picked.

Starting a business is like this for a lot of people.

They think about it for months. Sometimes years. They wait for perfect timing, or a sign. They watch others do it but tell themselves they’re not quite ready.

What could be a season of momentum turns into a season of idleness. Moving – but not really going anywhere. 

Either way, you’re expending energy.

One way, you’re using it to your advantage.
The other – it just drains you. While nothing changes in your life.

And the longer you wait, the heavier it gets.

If you’ve been struggling to figure out the right next steps, and feel like you’ve just been swirling around in uncertainty… 

I’m hosting a free, live workshop this Tuesday to help lay out the roadmap for you. 

It’s for the ones who feel the pull to build something real – but also value the stability they’ve worked hard for.

We’ll cover:
• How to craft your elevator pitch
• Who to help, and how to reach them
• What to do first to land your first client

Join us here: https://lnkd.in/dbBue_6h

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The Battle

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Brian Gallagher

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taplio

The Battle

Amelia Sordell 🔥

Brian Gallagher

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Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Amelia Sordell 🔥's LinkedIn Performance

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