Cultura Coaching, LLC

Founder and leadership coach helping service-based business owner/operators grow their business with clarity, structure, and purpose—one business at a time. 

Through my initial 90-day Growth & Profit Accelerator ($3,995), I deliver a proven, strategic framework that aligns teams, improves culture, and drives measurable results. 

Clients consistently see 25%+ revenue growth, 3%+ profit increases, and stronger retention through clear SMART goals, actionable steps, and full accountability.

Profitable Growth Coach

Cascadia Global Security

Led regional security operations across Oregon, managing 60+ client accounts, 90+ employees, and $5.2M+ in annual revenue with a consistent 18%+ profit margin. Achieved a 47% gross margin improvement within 3 months by optimizing workforce scheduling and reducing labor inefficiencies. Successfully lowered direct labor costs by 9.8% and overhead by 58% while maintaining 100% client satisfaction through strategic hiring and responsive service delivery.

Regional Operations Manager (Oregon)

Premier Services Group

Directed administrative operations for a $40M+ company servicing 110 Lowe’s stores across 6 states, overseeing 800+ daily activities for 1,500+ weekly customers. Led a 30+ person scheduling team, HR, and training functions, enabling 300% revenue growth by formalizing recruiting, onboarding, and customer support systems. Improved customer satisfaction scores by 11% and eliminated overdue scheduling commitments through strategic process design, data-driven accountability, and scalable operational structures.

Director Of Operations

Dovetail Coffee

Brought in by a potential investment group as a business operations expert to partner with the CEO in scaling a specialty coffee business. Oversaw 3 café managers, 12 staff, and 1 roaster while developing and executing a growth strategy that led to the opening of two new locations. Built and optimized internal processes for recruiting, hiring, and training, resulting in a 100% increase in trained team capacity prior to COVID-19-related closure.

Vice President of Operations

G.W. PAULSON COMPANY

Managed operational projects for a construction services provider, leading a team of 12 installers and overseeing all estimating, ordering, and scheduling functions. Handled 100+ daily requests from project superintendents while streamlining processes to increase home builds by 85% and set a 30-year department revenue record at $1.5M/month. Maintained 100% client retention through consistent, high-level service and execution.

Account/Project Manager

Renewal by Andersen of Oregon

Led and developed a high-performing sales team of 15 for a premium window installation company, generating 90+ quality leads per month and driving 30%+ revenue growth in just 6 months. Recruited and trained 25+ new team members in one year, built client satisfaction tracking systems to improve NPS, and optimized field rep placement to achieve record-breaking monthly sales. Recognized by leadership for strategic execution and sales excellence.

Marketing Manager

First Response Security

Oversaw organizational strategy, vision, and execution of operations, client services, human resources, accounting, and business development processes, people, and systems.  
Primary driver of B2B firm delivering 5K+ weekly guard and security services with team of 4 direct reports and 130+ customer-facing security officers. 
Generated revenue by performing all sales activities. Conceived of and implemented new recruiting structure. 

> Executed organizational goals through business process improvement resulting in 842% growth over 8 years and 2 highest years of revenue and profit in 25 year history.  
> Led, coached, and motivated 8+ critical client-facing operational staff and managers overseeing 130+ employees, providing 3 different services to 500+ clients at 6,000+ accounts exceeding client expectations, resulting in 95% client retention and 10%+ annual growth. 
> Analyzed operating budget of $5M+ annually focusing on P&L opportunities resulting in 10% revenue growth and 1%+ of increased net profit year over year.  
>  Increased revenue from -16% loss during recession (2007 -2011) to 27%+ growth over 5 years through strategic planning and execution
>  Improved customer satisfaction and mitigated business risks through the project management,  strategic planning, budgeting and implementation of a proprietary customer facing software and technology for 50+ accounts

Vice President of Services

Negotiated and sold B2B contracts growing revenue by 842% from $360k annually to $3.25M. Achieved 84% revenue growth in 2 years after 3 years of negative profit. Recruited, trained, and onboarded a staff 
of 4 direct reports and 95 security officers.

Oversaw all branch operations to include administration, operations, human resources, customer services, sales and scheduling. In addition, played a leadership role in the client services approach for the company.

Sr. Director, Client Services | Branch Manager

Customer Service Representative

You didn’t start your business to stay stuck—scrambling to make payroll, buried in the weeds, guessing at your margins, and wondering why your bank account doesn’t reflect your hard work.

Yet here you are.

When it comes to building a profitable business, there are two common paths:

1.  Keep pushing, hoping next month will be different—ignoring your numbers, chasing more sales, and reacting to cash flow chaos.
2.  Get strategic—plug profit leaks, build a financial system that works, and create a scalable growth plan based on data, not gut instinct.

Most business owners fall into the first camp.  Not because they’re lazy—but because no one ever taught them how to manage the financial side of the business like a CFO.

Even if you're brilliant at what you do, the numbers can feel intimidating.

Margins are shrinking. Cash is tight. Expenses creep up. And you’re not even sure where the money goes.

You know how to work hard.

You just don’t have a route—a clear, proven path to take back control.

Now, imagine this instead…

▪️ You know your numbers—and exactly where your profit is leaking
▪️ Your cash flow is steady, predictable, and growing
▪️ Your pricing, margins, and offers are optimized for sustainability
▪️ You have time to think, plan, and lead—not just put out fires
▪️ You finally feel in control of your business—and your future

That’s what I help growth-focused business owners do.

What I Offer: The 90-Day Profitable Growth Route™

Inside this high-touch 1:1 program, I guide you from 'Basecamp' to 'Peak'—through a proven route to gain clarity, confidence, and control over your business finances.

Here’s what we build together:

▪️ A clear financial map—so you know what to track, fix, and measure
▪️ A 25%+ increase in profit by plugging leaks and optimizing your pricing
▪️ A cash flow system that ensures you're never surprised by your bank balance
▪️ Operational clarity so you stop spinning and start scaling
▪️ A repeatable, scalable 90-day growth framework to stay on track year-round

Backed by Two Guarantees:

1.  Confidence: If after 2 sessions, you don’t feel confident in the value I bring—I refund you in full.
2.  Completion: If by Day 90 you don’t have a complete plan and time to execute it—I work with you up to 2 additional sessions, at no extra cost.

You Deserve a Business That Pays You Well—Not One That Drains You

If you’re ready to fix your financial foundation and start building toward real, sustainable growth—I invite you to shoot me a DM or schedule your 20-minute clarity call.  

Start your profitable growth journey today!

Damien Foglio

82% of businesses fail due to lack of cash. 
One big reason? They run their business backwards...

Revenue comes in → 
costs and expenses get paid → 
whatever is left is called “profit.”

Which usually means... there isn’t any.

No cash reserves left in the bank and no money to absorb slow months. 

The smarter way? Flip the order.

Decide the profit you want first.
Build your budget around it.

Then run the business with what’s left.

When you plan this way, profit isn’t an afterthought.
It’s built into the system.

👉 Do you treat profit as what’s left over—or as the first line in your plan?

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Talks about #business, #coaching, #leadership, #management, and #productivity

Driving Profitable Growth for Service-based Owner-operators ($500K–$5M) by Hands-on Goal setting, Growing revenue by +25%, Increasing profit by +25% — Without working more hours — in just 8 weeks.

Last night, my wife Larissa Gates and I did something we do every month. 
We got Chipotle and caught up with Matthew Magee and Melissa (Chapman) Magee, PMP. 

It is in our calendar as a recurring event and all we have to do is show up.
It takes time, intentionality, and energy. But it is worth it. 

Truth is, it can be tough to be a friend of mine. 
And to be honest, not many make the cut. 

Not just because I am picky on who I invest my time in (I am), but also what I expect from my friends. 

The people I chose to surround myself need to have some goals. They need to know their purpose. And I expect them to lean into both of these. 

And, perhaps why there are only a select few that make the cut. 

But in the end, when I am on my death bed, to me, nothing will matter more than my relationships. And surface level relationships are not valuable to me. 

Just like a 401k does not hit $1M at 65 without starting your investment at 21, 
Your friends won’t be there then if you don't invest in them now. 

That is what it is like having a friend who is a coach: 
Specific questions
Clarifying questions
Notes for future reference
Healthy accountability 

I know my friends have goals. And I want them to achieve them. 
And I know that speaking them out, specifically, discussing them with others, will help them achieve them. 

Rather than having hundreds say I was a “good guy”, 
I am choosing to have tens say “he made me a better me”. 

That's it. 

Who are some people, individuals or couples, you can invest in starting next week? 

I encourage you to reach out to them and schedule something. 
Take it a step further and schedule something recurring for 2026.

Product Line Manager | Strategic Planning & Lifecycle Ownership

Revenue Operations & Optimization that Scales 10x | GTM Architect & Ops Director | I help businesses run faster, smoother, and smarter - with fewer moving parts | Strategic Problem Solver | Process & Data Nerd

Bilingual Project & Portfolio Manager | PURE PM & PM Accelerator Instructor | Prosci Change Management Practitioner | I help career changers pivot into Project Management

The biggest marriage hack? It's simple: solve 90% of money issues before they even start.

My wife and I have been married for a year and a half. 
Not long, but enough to see the power of a good system. 
We've never argued over money, and that’s not by coincidence.

We set aside a weekend each year to align on our goals. 

We talk about what we want to accomplish, what we want more of, and what we want less of.

Then, we prioritize. 
Not everything can happen in a year, so we pick what matters most. 

From there, we build our monthly budget, one line item at a time, around those goals.

Almost two years in, we’re already hitting our three-year targets. 

Sure, we wish we traveled more. 
We’d love two cars under 70k miles. 
And yes, sometimes our card declines because we’re running a tight budget.

But those sacrifices are short-term. 
They’re investments in the future we want.

Our biggest goal? Being prepared for the unknown. 

You never know when tragedy might strike or opportunity might come knocking.

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲: 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆, 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱.

That’s how you build a future where money stops causing conflicts and starts fueling progress.

What’s your approach to financial planning for your long-term goals?

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Every Monday night between October and May for the last three years, I’ve been attending and co-leading a men's small group at my church. 

Honestly, at first, my goal was to meet more men in the church. 

But what I’ve discovered is something way more valuable: Sharpening. 

I am walking away each Monday night with ideas that I wrestle with throughout the week. 

Iron sharpening iron isn’t just a saying. It’s real.

And here’s the truth: I am challenged—every single week.

Challenged to be better Husband, father, friend, and business coach.
Challenged to listen to all of those around me.
Challenged to lead my wife and girls by example.

Because when you surround yourself with other people committed to growth, it pushes you to grow too.

It’s not always comfortable.
It’s not always easy.

But every time I walk away, I’m more aligned, more prepared, and more ready to face the week.

So a question for you: Where are you being sharpened? 

It could be a specific friend or friend group. 
A community or group. 

No matter what, if you intend to go far, do it with others. 

Don’t wait for the “perfect” moment. 
Build it. Lead it. Grow it.

Because in the end, that’s where real strength comes from.

I make it a priority to have lunch with my dad every other month. 
Last week was our time. 

We meet at the local golf course restaurant for a good meal and to catch up. 

Our past has had some ups, some downs, and we have not always seen eye-to-eye, but that is a-okay with me. 

Our relationship is not about agreement or even alignment. 
In fact, it really doesn't have a goal, per se, and that is okay too. 

We get together, catch up on life, talk business, the future, etc. 
Not too much more, but definitely not surface level either. 

The older I get, the more important these types of events play a role in my life. And I welcome them with open arms. 

I recommend this to anyone to who has keep a specific some one at arms length...Life is short. 

Take the first step, Reach out, schedule it, make it happen. 
Trust me, its worth it.

I just spent 5 hours over the last two days building a from-the-ground-up spreadsheet for owner-operators to make 2026 the best year yet. 

As my goal for 2026 is to help 100+ owner operators build better business in less time, ones they love to run versus running then, it starts here. 

As cash flow is the #1 killer to businesses, this is my focus: 
Build a business that creates consistent cash flow ith enough reserves to whether any storm. 

But the truth is, cash flow is a result of many other business decisions: 
Pricing, services, costs, payroll, expenses, owners salary, etc. 

And I address each one of these in the 1-Page PGR Gameplan. 
PGR is my "Profitable Growth Route" model I coach.

As growth without profit just magnifies the mess...
Profitable growth is the sweet spot. 

But the only way to get the 1-page PGR Gameplan is to attend my free webinar this Monday, November 24th, at 7 pm EST. (Signup link is in my featured section). 

This is not 100 pages of PDF’s to read through. 
Not countless hours of content to consume. 

Just 1 actionable plan we work together to build for you and your business. 

Afterwards leaving you with steps you can take tomorrow to get a jump start on 2026. 

No fluff. Just action. 👊

Most prospects I talk to aren’t eager to jump on a 20-minute call just to see if we’re a good fit. 

Nor do they want a 50-minute strategy session that feels like another sales pitch. 

They’ve been burned before. 
They’re tired of wasting time on calls that don’t deliver real value. 

But that’s not how I do it. 
I genuinely want to help. 

My approach is simple: I aim to provide so much value in 50 minutes that it’s ridiculous to not keep exploring what we could accomplish in just six weeks together. 

In my last strategy session, we ran out of time, and the client asked, “So, what’s it cost to start?” 

I wasn’t even thinking about selling. 
I wanted to solve his problems. 

Yes, I’ve been burned before with tire-kickers and free info seekers. 
But I believe in showing real value first. 

Because if I can’t help you see the potential in just one call, what’s the point? 

The truth is, most people just want to know someone who can actually help them — not waste their time. 

That’s what I do. 

And the best part? Once we start, I know you’ll see how much more we can get done — fast. 

No fluff. 
Just real results. 

What’s your take?

Last Monday was a complete failure. 

5-minutes prior to a webinar that I had spent over $300 promoting, I was told that the 22 people that had signed up for it, were not actually people - but bots.  

Not a single one.  

The week prior, I had stayed up every night, building the workbook gameplan, the webinar slides, and prepping my talking points.  

My goal was to over-deliver to those that showed up.  
Providing value they could use in the business the very next day.

I managed to get through the webinar to the few actual people that did show up.  
But it was a far cry from the amount of people I thought I was going to help.  

Within minutes of the webinar concluding I packed up my car with my wife and we left for the week to spend Thanksgiving with my wife’s family.

Instead of spending the week basking in a successful webinar, I was left considering what went wrong and what to do next.  

Was this a Meta issue?  An Ad issue?  Or something else?  

In the end, I am not sure and I am not sure I care.  The result was not achieved.

But just because it failed, does not mean the idea, execution, and plan was not a failure.  
It does not mean that webinars are not a great way to showcase value to potential clients.  

But too often, small business owners try something.  
And if it fails, they give up on it.  Chalk it up to being a bad idea.  

Someone might even spit out, “See, I told you it would not work”.  
Most likely to consider it again a few years later.  

But just because something fails, does not mean it is not a bad idea.  
It means that something within it failed.  

I love the old saying, “No need to throw the baby out with the bath water.”  
Just change the water.  

So that’s what I have decided to do.  
  
Run it back, but with some new boundaries and new parameters.  

Join me and some other real business owners on Tuesday, Dec 16, 2025 at 7 pm for my 1-hour workshop Profitable Growth Gameplan™.  

Cost is $25.  Replays will be available.  

If you are a business owner who wants a plan to make 2026 far better than 2025, then this is for you. 

Link is in the comments...

Isn’t it crazy that there are only 6 more weeks left in 2025?! But more importantly, Q1 of 2026 is just around the corner. It’s time to be prepared to hit the ground running...

During this time of the year, for my own business and those I coach, I like to refer back to Gino Wickman “Traction” as it offers a powerful blueprint for shaping our future. 

Here is my plan to take a step toward achieving my goals in 2026…

🕒 Set aside 2 hours of focused, uninterrupted time. 
Just a notebook and pen. 

Think about the year this year: What do you want more of? What do you want less of? 
Remove the bad. 
Double down on the good. 

Think about what you can do over the next year to bring your 3 year vision to life?
(If you don’t have a 3 year vision - time to build one.)

1️⃣ As this is a one year plan, you have a date: Dec 31, 2026

2️⃣ Define the metrics to improve

Most often they include Revenue and Profit. 
But don’t forget, billable hours, your working hours, and other numbers that move the needle.

Right those numbers out and be specific. 

3️⃣ From those goals, what needs to happen in the next 90 days to make them happen? 

Remember, not everything needs to be done right away!
Decide what your priorities are in Q1. Spread out your other goals into different quarters. 
Keep them SMART (specific, measurable, and attainable)

4️⃣ Define the weekly habits that achieve the 90 day goals. 

This is where the magic happens. 
Break your 90-days goals into 12 weeks. 
Monitor weekly and execute relentlessly. 

I use these exact steps. 
These steps are not just theory. 
These steps are the tools that turn your goals into real life.

Ready to carve out your path to success? 
Share your thoughts in the comments!

Helping entrepreneurs and leaders maximize their freedom, creativity and impact | Entrepreneurial Leap, Rocket Fuel, EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System), The EOS Life, and The 10 Disciplines

Writing LinkedIn posts that truly communicate your message can be harder than it looks. 

You have a story to tell, a point to make, or a lesson to share. 

But the noise is loud, the attention span is short, and standing out feels almost impossible. 

It’s not just about writing; it’s about making people stop, listen, and understand—every single time. 

That’s the real challenge. 

What’s your take on how to cut through the noise?

Yesterday, during a call, a client admitted, "I'm being too reactive in my business." I agreed. 

It’s not that he’s doing anything wrong. 
He has the ability to run his business however he wants. 

But here’s what I see: he’s building his business based on what’s happening to it, instead of shaping it intentionally. 

Let me give you a visual. 

Think of this toy in the picture — a shape sorter. 

When we’re building a business, we’re either: 
1. Building the box with the shapes we already have — reactive 
2. Hiring the right shapes for the box we want — proactive 

Most business owners fall into the first trap. 

They try to fill the business with the people they have access to, not the people they really need. 

The problem? 
That’s a recipe for a messy, poorly-rounded business. 

Here’s my advice: Build the box first. 

Step 1: List all the roles your business needs now and in the future. 
Step 2: Define pay ranges for each role. 
Step 3: Take your current team and see where they fit. 

That’s exactly what we did with my client. 

We mapped out all current positions — and projected the roles he’ll need in 2026 as his business grows. 

Turns out, he needs 8 key roles with clear responsibilities, pay scales, and a plan to hire for each. 

We even identified his very next hire. 

The payoff? 

A business built with intention. 
One that can adapt quickly because you’ve planned ahead. 

And a business owner who makes smarter, more strategic decisions when opportunities or challenges come his way. 

So, here’s my question: How have you proactively built your business? 
And what’s your next shape to add?

The most underrated habit small business owners can adopt? 
Reviewing your Profit & Loss Statement every month.

It’s simple, yet powerful. 

If you have a P&L and aren’t reviewing it regularly, you’re flying blind. 

If you don’t have a P&L yet, you’re leaving profit on the table—and risking your business’s future. 

Here’s what to do today: 

1. Get your most recent P&L statement.
If you don’t have one, make it a priority to create it. 

2. Schedule 30 minutes this week to review it. 
Look at your revenue, expenses, and profit margins. 

3. Identify one area where you’re leaking profit or where margins can improve. 

4. Make a small, specific plan to fix it—whether it’s renegotiating a vendor, cutting unnecessary expenses, or optimizing pricing. 

Reviewing your P&L isn’t just bookkeeping; it’s a strategic tool to control your cash flow and grow profitably. 

Start today, and watch your business become more predictable and profitable. 

What’s your take—how often do you review your numbers?

While meeting with a client earlier this week, he asked me: 
“Should I run ads to the funnel we just built?”

His instinct was to go big—buy traffic, scale fast.

But here’s the truth: 
The materials weren’t tested. 
He hadn’t even run one call yet.

So we paused the ad idea and focused on something more important: 
→ Building a contact list 
→ Testing messages 
→ Validating the offer with real people 

Because boosting a great post after it works? Smart. 

Pouring money into an untested funnel? Waste.

You don’t want to pour gas on a fire that’s not burning yet.

Validation comes first. 
It’s what turns a good idea into a sustainable one.

Have you ever tried to scale something that wasn’t ready? 

Remember: Don’t rush to scale until you know your offer works in the real world. 

Test. 
Validate. 
Then scale confidently. 

That’s the way to grow smarter, not faster.

When I started coaching in June of 2023, I had no idea what I was doing. 

I mean, I had scaled a business +627% in revenue while 5.5x its profit. 
But I had never coached another business owner on how I did it. 

I felt I had the knowledge after going grading business school, 
But I never turned my results into a written and step-by-step gameplan. 

However, now, after coaching 30+ business owners the exact gameplan I built and used, I am ready to start sharing my program with more business owners in a more cost-effective investment. 

In 2026, my goal is to coach 100 business owners to build better businesses in less time. 

A business they run, rather than runs them. 
One with revenue on repeat of +25% annually. 
One that increases profit to at least 10%.
One that pays the owner-operator what it would cost to replace them. 
...All while not adding more hours. 

One client I spoke with yesterday, is determining their new pay rate (from $30k last year to around $100k in 2026) as they made more revenue, more profit last year and didn't work any extra hours. 

If you find yourself overworked and underpaid, I would love to help you. 
Trust me, it's not magic, just a different way of seeing your business. 

Starting December 1st I am running an 8-week pilot group coaching program for 10 owner-operators who want 2026 to be much better/different than 2025. 

If you relate to any of the above, I would love for you to be a part of this. 

My goal is to provide so much value in this first pilot program that the investment is 10x within 6 months. 

Selflessly, 10 business owners will walk into 2026 with more plan, hope, restful nights, and more money in the bank. 

Selfishly, I will build a rock solid program during our 8 weeks together that I can provide to 90+ more business owners with your feedback. 

This pilot program will be 50% of my price for the next time I run it - January 1, 2026. 

And if you don’t love it within the first 7 days, leave it. 
I will buy back the program from you. No harm, no foul. 

Shoot me a DM “Freedom” and I can send you more details. 

If you still might be on the fence, I am running a free 60-minute webinar on Monday, November 24th at 7 pm EST “Cash Flow Gameplan 2026. 

If interested, send me a DM “Webinar” and I will send you the link to sign up.

Let's make 2026 the best year yet.

Be in the 18% of small businesses that continue. 
Not the 82% that will die.

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The two life hacks for entrepreneurs that no one talks about:

1. Eating the same thing every day 
2. Wearing the same outfit every day 

At first glance, these might seem like small, trivial tips. 

But they are powerful tools to free up mental energy and reduce decision fatigue. 

When you're constantly making endless choices—what to eat, what to wear—your brain spends a lot of bandwidth on trivial decisions. 

That’s energy you could be channeling into your core business goals.

By sticking to simple routines, you:

- Save time every morning that can be used for strategic thinking or client work 
- Avoid decision fatigue, so your mental clarity remains sharp for the big stuff 
- Create habits that support focus, discipline, and consistency 

Imagine starting each day with your mental energy fully dedicated to solving problems, closing deals, or developing new strategies—rather than stressing over minor choices. 

The truth is, success often comes down to discipline and focus. 

Small routines like these aren’t about being boring; they’re about removing friction from your day so you can concentrate on what truly drives growth.

So next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, consider simplifying your routines. 

Sometimes, less choice means more clarity and energy for your business goals. 

What routines do you have that help you stay focused? 

(Yes, I have 3 black t-shirts and joggers I rotate through, which are the exact same. Funny thing is, I do the same thing for my gym/workout outfits - All black, all day.)

Linda came to me with a really good business, but bad profit. Her business partner and herself wanted something different, but weren’t sure how to get it. 

They had really good revenue. Great demand. A lot of potential. 
They knew they could be improving their business, but where? How? 

So, in our first two meetings, we built a perfect 12-week gameplan to execute to get them where they wanted to be. Or so we thought. 

After the second meeting...we pivoted. Hard. 

Not because we were wrong in our gameplan, but because as we dug deeper into each item, we would find another layer of items to address. 

These needed to be fixed prior to moving forward. 

But that’s how business is sometimes. 
You think you have a great plan and then, you actually need to re-build the foundation. 

For them specifically, we started with their pricing, in an effort to improve their profit, and ultimately their cash flow. 

Once the price was fixed, we focused on the sales process, which required a lot of time, many customer touches, and was a bit clunky. 

We started with a VSL, created a filter for clients, and only met with qualified prospects. 

Once the pricing and sales were in order, we focused on the financial aspect of the business. 

We plugged everything into my 5-minute CEO dashboard and saw exactly where our profit leaks were, rising costs, etc. No wonder cash flow was stalled. 

The wild part: They weren't the issue. Their systems were. 

Once we stabilized their foundation, their numbers took off: 

👉 Revenue increased by 12% (+$10k /mo)
👉 From a 6-month average of .9% (yes, point 9) to now averaging 16%
👉 Rather than using their savings, they doubled it with 3x Operating expenses saved

The crazy part: All of this was really without doing that much more work. 

If you want to see the exact plan we used — step-by-step — I’m teaching it inside Cash Flow Freedom to a limited number of business owners starting Dec 1. 

Prior to that, I am sharing some valuable nuggets in my free workshop: 

👉 Cash Flow Gameplan tonight (Mon, Nov 24) at 7 pm EST

No fluff. Small pitch. Tons of value. 

Link is in the comments.

A few lessons I learned while starting and scaling my coaching business to $100k in its first 10 months. 🚀

1. Nothing is as easy as it looks on the internet. 🌐

There is quite a bit we do not see from the successful" people. Their network, grit/work ethic behind the scenes, funding, etc.

2. Hiring a coach is the shortcut no one tells you about. 🎯

I had not started a coaching business before, so I hired a coach who had. 

I built an offer, a pricing strategy, a website, and started reaching out to my network.

3. I never took my foot off the gas.

Every morning, I woke up and asked myself, "how am I going to get 1 new client today." I was determined. 💪


Within my first 90-days, I had 5 monthly clients and shifted my focus to execution, while maintaining my momentum in client acquisition.

1. I put the customers' goals as my primary priority.

2. I helped them solve the "unsolvable.

3. I took my learning seriously, reading twice as much to help me have a greater reach of context when providing options and recommendations. 📚

I love coaching and honestly feel for the first time I am in my calling. 

Since going all in on coaching, I have more than replaced my W-2 income of my past while working from my home. 🏠

But more importantly, I have helped over 30+ business owners and solopreneurs build better businesses that take far less of their time while scaling. 🌟

Here is what people think hiring a small business coach looks like:

❌ Fast wins and instant money in the bank
❌ A magic system that is a quick fix
❌ No stress — ever again
❌ Perfect team, perfect clients, perfect life
❌ Working 10 hours a week, sipping margaritas by 12 pm every Friday

Here is what it actually looks like:

✔️ Starting with the person in the mirror
✔️ Tracking real metrics weekly instead of trusting your 'gut'
✔️ Firing underperformers fast and hiring systematically
✔️ Fixing offers, pricing strategy, and delivery — again and again
✔️ Admitting your success needs a new direction and plan

In service-based businesses, sustainable growth is rarely glamorous.
Oh, and don’t get frustrated if you realize you’re the bottleneck.

Instead, remember:

1️⃣ Facing the truth is step one
2️⃣ Broken systems can’t scale — fix them before you grow
3️⃣ Long-term profit > short-term ego boosts

What was your biggest reality check on the road to real growth?

Time and money—our two most valuable resources. 
And honestly, we rarely get to keep both at the same time. 

In the beginning, we pour our time into the business, trying to make every dollar stretch. 

We work nights, weekends, and then some, just to keep things afloat. 

Once we’ve worn ourselves out and accumulated some cash, it’s tempting to start buying back our time. 

But here’s the catch: 

If owners do this too soon, they risk becoming too top heavy—spreading themselves thin across every task. 

If they do it too late, they start losing quality because they’re still doing everything themselves. 

And at the end of the day, the business is only as strong as the owner allows it to be. 

You can’t outsource your passion, your vision, or your leadership. 

So, when is the right time? 
It’s when you’ve built a solid system, not just a paycheck. 

That’s when buying back your time becomes an investment, not a gamble. 

Because the real leverage? 
It’s in your ability to focus on what only you can do. 

What’s your take? 
When did you realize it was time to step back?

The Professional Independence Academy by Nathan Pearce

The days of job security through company loyalty are over. In today's economy, your safety doesn't come from being a "good employee"—it comes from building professional independence that no employer can take away.

The Professional Independence Academy teaches ambitious professionals how to break free from corporate dependency and build careers that thrive regardless of market conditions, layoffs, or industry disruption. We don't help you become a better employee; we help you become professionally antifragile.
Our proven methodology transforms high-performing professionals from vulnerable corporate dependents into strategically independent authorities who control their own economic destiny. Through our three-pillar system, you'll build the foundation for a career that gets stronger with every challenge.

▶︎ Pillar 1: Professional Authority
Establish industry recognition and thought leadership that exists beyond any employer. Build a reputation, network, and expertise that belong to you—not your company. When opportunities arise, they come to you first.

▶︎ Pillar 2: Financial Independence
Create multiple income streams that reduce dependency on any single employer. Develop 3-5 revenue sources providing 30-50% of your current income, giving you the economic foundation to make career decisions from abundance rather than desperation.

▶︎ Pillar 3: Strategic Independence
Gain the freedom to make career decisions based on your goals and values rather than circumstances. With authority and financial security established, you control your professional trajectory—choosing roles strategically, taking calculated risks, and designing your future rather than reacting to it.

Stop being at the mercy of corporate decisions. Build professional independence that lasts.

Founder

Aviatrix

Responsible for the GTM strategy for the Aviatrix Cloud Firewall offering:
* Messaging
* Pricing
* Sales Enablement

Product Marketing

Prosimo.io

Research, create, and execute brand and product marketing strategy.
* built prospect/customer enablement program
* built and delivered Prosimo Labs (certification program)
* planned and executed marketing campaigns w/ Creative Director

Director of Product Marketing

HashiCorp

Global Subject Matter Expert Lead for HashiCorp’s Networking products. 
* Create Sales Plays and run Field Enablement sessions
* Support Regional Sales Teams major opportunities
* Aggregate Field Requirements and prioritize with Product Management

Emerging Products GTM Specialist

REDtalks.live

Host

Balanced Blends

In the age of the digital economy, customer engagement is the intersection of marketing and software engineering. At Balanced Blends we strive to delight our customers with a focus on transparency in our communications supported with the delivery of customer-centric, software-based services.

Head of Customer Engagement

F5 Networks

Working with customers on developer experience working with F5 product and solution. Focussed on 'systems thinking' and building sustainable integrations. Collaborate with me on prototype solutions!

Developer Advocate, Office of the CTO

Customer interfacing workflow validation, inter-departmental liaison, and AR/PR spokesperson.

Product Development, Solutions Architect - Orchestration

Public speaking, blogging, writing, organising.

Sr Technical Marketing Manager

Responsible for influencing product development strategy as it relates to the EMEA market and for evangelising F5's product roadmap & vision. Involves working with Press, Investors, speaking at conferences and interviewing customers.

Product Manager - EMEA

UK Subject Matter Expert on Next Generation Datacenter agility & virtualisation technologies.

Next Generation Datacenter Expert

Technical design support for named major account list.

Technical Account Manager

ApplianSys

Responsible for the Web Acceleration business unit covering sales, technical development strategy and marketing.

Business Manager

Microbits

Network design, implementation and support.

Network Engineer

Minter Ellison Lawyers

Systems Administrator

Helping you build your personal brand. Multiple Startups and IPOs. Entrepreneur, angel investor, Fractional COO, dad.

I help people build Professional Independence: the ability to thrive professionally regardless of corporate decisions, market conditions, or industry disruption.

After witnessing countless talented professionals devastated by layoffs despite their dedication and performance, I realized the problem isn't individual failure—it's systemic dependency on employers for income, recognition, and career progression.

Traditional career advice tells you to be a better employee. I teach you to become professionally antifragile through three core pillars:

▶︎ Professional Authority: Build industry recognition and thought leadership that exists beyond any employer. Your reputation, network, and expertise belong to you—not your company.

▶︎ Financial Independence: Create multiple income streams that reduce dependency on your salary. Develop 3-5 revenue sources providing economic foundation to make career decisions from abundance.

▶︎ Strategic Independence: Gain freedom to make career decisions based on your goals, not desperation. Control your professional trajectory rather than reacting to external circumstances.

Through The Professional Independence Academy and Layoff Recovery Accelerator, I've helped hundreds of professionals break free from corporate dependency and build careers that strengthen with every challenge.

Your professional future shouldn't be at the mercy of someone else's decisions. Let's build something that belongs to you.


Entrepreneur.
Angel Investor.
Fractional COO
Founder of The Professional Independence Academy: https://professionalindependence.com

Nathan Pearce

I've been thinking about Owen Cole lately.

Zero agenda. Nothing to gain from this post.

Just pure gratitude for someone who saw potential where others might have seen risk.

Here's what happened:
Owen gave me my first Sales Engineer role on his team (15-ish years ago). I had the Unix/Linux nerd skills down cold, but engaging global enterprise customers? That was completely new territory.

He didn't just hand me the role and hope for the best. He backed me. Developed me. Gave me the space to grow into it.

That single decision changed the trajectory of my career.

▶︎ He didn't hire the safe bet: he saw potential and took a chance. 
▶︎ He didn't just manage: he genuinely developed people. 
▶︎ He didn't build teams through churn: he built loyalty (year-on-year growth without attrition speaks volumes).

The opportunities that followed? The career I've built? It all traces back to Owen taking that risk.

Looking back at the recommendations from people who worked with him, there's a consistent theme: technical excellence, yes... but more than that, someone who knew how to apply the right people to the right problems. Someone who showed up with passion. Someone who earned respect globally, not through authority, but through integrity.

That's rare.

If you've had someone take a chance on you when others might not have, you know how much that matters. Owen was that person for me.

No hidden motive. No ask. Just genuine gratitude for someone who changed my life by believing in what I could become.

Who's someone who saw potential in you before you'd fully proven it? Drop their name below. Let's celebrate the people who take those risks on others.

Who was your Owen Cole:
https://lnkd.in/gcNWVskK

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Founder | Follow for posts on building Professional Independence, Personal Brand Growth, Marketing & AI | Entrepreneur, angel investor, Fractional COO, dad.

Open article: Owen Cole - West Hythe, England, United Kingdom | Professional Profile | LinkedIn by uk.linkedin.com

Owen Cole - West Hythe, England, United Kingdom | Professional Profile | LinkedIn

The worst career advice I ever followed: "Be indispensable to your employer."

I watched it backfire spectacularly.

The better I got at my job, the more trapped I became. My expertise was company-specific. My network was internal. My reputation existed only within those walls.

When restructuring came, being "indispensable" meant nothing.

Here's what traditional career advice gets wrong:

▶︎ "Be a better employee" - This deepens your dependency instead of reducing it. You become more valuable to one company while becoming less marketable everywhere else.

▶︎ "Build an emergency fund" - Financial cushions help you survive job loss. They don't prevent the cycle from repeating. You're still one decision away from starting over.

▶︎ "Network more" - Most professionals network only when they need something. It feels transactional and desperate because it is.

▶︎ "Update your resume" - When everyone's using the same strategy, standing out becomes nearly impossible. Your resume gets lost in ATS systems with thousands of others.

These aren't solutions. They're band-aids on a broken system.

The real problem? Single-point-of-failure career design.

Your income, reputation, and opportunities all depend on one employer's decisions. That's not security. That's vulnerability.

Professional independence means building what they can't take away:

Authority that exists outside company walls. Income streams that don't disappear with your job. Strategic options that let you move from strength, not desperation.

Stop optimizing for one employer. Start building what you actually own.


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40% of companies posted fake job listings last year.

30% have ghost jobs posted right now.

If you're job hunting, there's a good chance you've applied to positions that were never real.

Here's what's happening:

A Resume Builder survey of 650 hiring managers found that ghost jobs are everywhere. 72% of fake listings appear on company websites. 70% are on LinkedIn.

Why do companies do this?

66% admit they post fake jobs to create the impression of growth. They want to look like they're expanding when they're not.

It's frustrating. You spend hours tailoring your resume and writing a thoughtful cover letter, only to hear nothing back.

Because the job was never real.

So what do you do?

1️⃣ Don't get your hopes up with every application. Treat each one as a numbers game, not a guaranteed opportunity, but...

2️⃣ ...and this is a BIG BUT, don't let this reality lower your standards. Keep writing those cover letters. Keep tailoring your resume. The real jobs are out there, and quality applications still win.

3️⃣ Prepare for the worst, hope for the best. The market is tough. Ghost jobs make it tougher. But giving up or cutting corners won't help you land the roles that actually exist.

Stay sharp. Stay consistent. Keep going.

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Before considering a new job, always ask yourself: "Am I running toward something, or from something?"

This question changed how I think about career moves.

Running from something looks like:
🔴 Leaving because you're burned out (but not addressing why)
🔴 Escaping a toxic manager (without examining your boundaries)
🔴 Chasing higher pay (while ignoring what drained you)

Running toward something looks like:
🟢 Moving for growth you've clearly defined
🟢 Seeking alignment with values you've identified
🟢 Building on skills you want to develop further

Here's what I've learned: If you don't understand what you're running from, you'll recreate the same problems in your next role.

The manager changes. The company changes. But your patterns with boundaries, workload, and saying no? Those follow you.

The most valuable career moves happen when you're clear about both.

What are you leaving behind, and why did it become a problem? What are you moving toward, and why does it matter?

That clarity doesn't just help you choose better opportunities. It helps you show up differently when you get there.

Your next job won't fix what you haven't examined in this one.

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Most professionals think career security means being really good at landing jobs.

They're wrong.

I learned this the hard way through multiple layoffs. Each time, I got better at the job search process. Better resume. Better networking. Better interviews.

But I was solving the wrong problem.

Getting good at finding your next job is like getting good at putting out fires. You're still dependent on the fire not starting in the first place.

The real problem is professional fragility.

Your career security depends entirely on:
- Your current employer staying stable
- Your role not being eliminated
- Your industry not being disrupted
- Your company valuing you enough to keep you

One external shock and you're scrambling. Updating resumes at midnight. Frantically applying to hundreds of jobs. Accepting lower offers because you have no leverage.

You're starting from zero every single time.

Here's what changed for me: I stopped optimizing for my next job and started building Professional Independence.

Three pillars that transformed everything:

Professional Authority: Industry recognition that exists independent of any employer. When opportunities come to you continuously, you're never starting from zero.

Financial Independence: Multiple income streams providing 30-50% of your salary. Consulting, digital products, strategic investments. You're never financially trapped.

Strategic Independence: True career optionality. You have 3-5 viable paths available at any time. You make moves strategically, not desperately.

The result? Your career becomes antifragile.

Without independence: 
Layoff → Panic → Desperate search → Accept anything → Repeat

With independence: 
Market shift → Calm assessment → Multiple opportunities already in motion → Strategic decision from strength → Career gets stronger

The cycle doesn't have to repeat.

You can build something different.


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The labor market is flashing warning signs most people are missing.

U.S. companies shed an average of 2,500 jobs per week in the four weeks ending November 1st.

That's not a headline number. It's a trend.

October layoffs hit their highest level in 22 years for the month, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas. Meanwhile, 39,006 Americans across 21 states received WARN notices—formal warnings required 60 days before mass layoffs.

This is one of the highest counts since tracking began in 2006.

Major players are cutting deep:
• Target
• Amazon
• UPS

And economists predict this is just the beginning. AI adoption is expected to accelerate layoffs in 2025, even though the technology has had a net positive impact on jobs so far this year.

Here's what makes this moment different: we're flying blind.

The government shutdown delayed two months of federal jobs data. We're making decisions about the economy without seeing the full picture.

The delayed September employment report drops Thursday. Economists expect just 50,000 payroll gains.

If you're employed, now is the time to strengthen your position. Update your skills. Expand your network. Build visibility.

The warning signs are there. The question is whether you're paying attention.


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Paying someone to optimize your LinkedIn profile is a huge waste of money.

Unless you're actually going to use it.

Many have paid for an optimized profile, and I get that, it worked well a few years ago, but today, an optimized profile alone is not going to move any needles.

I know several people who have spent $500+ on profile optimization only to remain invisible.

Here's what we learned: A polished profile without activity is like a beautiful storefront with the lights off.

Nobody's walking in.

You can have the perfect headline, a compelling About section, and a spotless work history. But if you're not posting, commenting, or engaging, you're invisible.

Think about it like this:

Building a website doesn't generate sales. Marketing the website does.

Optimizing your profile doesn't build your brand. Using LinkedIn consistently does.

Here's the red flag: If someone offers to optimize your profile but doesn't have a plan for what comes after, walk away.

Ask them: "Ok, and then what?"

If they can't answer that, they're just selling you a static webpage.

Your profile is the destination. But it's not the activity that makes you visible.

The activity is posting, commenting, engaging, and showing up consistently.

Your personal brand is a business. You're the CEO.

And CEOs don't just set up shop and wait. They market. They show up. They create value.

So if you're thinking about hiring someone to fix your profile, ask yourself first: Am I ready to actually use this platform?

Because the profile is just the foundation. The real work starts after.

Post once a week. Comment on others' content. Share what you're learning. Build relationships.

That's how you turn a profile into a presence.

And a presence into opportunities.

The investment isn't in the profile. It's in showing up consistently after it's built.


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Most job seekers are playing the wrong game entirely.

There are two completely different channels for getting hired. 95% of people are stuck in the one that doesn't work.

Channel 1: The Application Channel

You submit your resume through a company portal. It goes into an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) that scans for keywords and filters based on arbitrary criteria. Maybe it surfaces to a recruiter already looking at 200+ other applications.

The flow:
You → ATS Algorithm → Maybe Recruiter → Maybe Hiring Manager → Interview

At every step, you're being filtered out. The ATS kills qualified candidates based on formatting and thesaurus use. The recruiter spends 6 seconds scanning your resume. The hiring manager stops looking after the first 50 applications.

You have no control here. You're hoping to get chosen.

Channel 2: The Sourcing Channel

Recruiters actively search for candidates using LinkedIn's search tools. They're looking through their network, asking for referrals, paying attention to who's visible in their industry.

The flow:
Recruiter → Search/Discovery → You → Direct Contact → Conversation

You're talking to a human before your resume enters any system. You're not competing with 200 applications. You're being discovered as a potential fit.

You have massive control here. You're being sought out.

The difference? In the application channel, your odds are 1-in-200. In the sourcing channel, they're more like 1-in-15.

Being discoverable isn't about luck. It's about understanding which game actually works.

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Your severance package just started its countdown.

The clock is ticking, but most people waste the most valuable week of their entire job search.

Here's the truth: How you spend your first week unemployed predicts how your entire job search will go.

You can download our FREE "Layoff Recovery: Your First 7 Days" guide here: https://lnkd.in/ed7BUKYD

Most people treat a layoff like a personal crisis. They retreat, they ruminate, they scroll job boards aimlessly while anxiety builds.

But the professionals who bounce back fastest? They treat it like a product manager responding to a competitor's game-changing feature.

Not with panic. With clarity, data, and considered action.

Here's what the first week should look like:

🟢 Day 1-2: Tactical Assessment
→ Update LinkedIn with a professional narrative (not victim story)
→ Export all professional contacts before losing company access (if possible)
→ Document recent wins while they're fresh in your mind

🟢 Day 3-4: Market Intelligence
→ Research who's hiring in your space (and their hiring timelines)
→ Identify 3 people who made similar transitions successfully
→ Review compensation data for your target roles

🟢 Day 5-7: Strategic Positioning
→ Craft 2-3 versions of your story for different audiences
→ Schedule coffee chats with 5 people in your network
→ Create a content calendar to stay visible during your search

The difference between a 3-month search and a 12-month search often comes down to how you spend week one.

Your layoff isn't a crisis. It's a product pivot.

Treat it accordingly.

Get the FREE "Layoff Recovery: Your First 7 Days" guide now: https://lnkd.in/ed7BUKYD


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Most job seekers are competing in a channel with 1-in-200 odds while ignoring the one with 1-in-15 odds.

A recruiter friend admitted something uncomfortable recently: She knows her ATS rejects qualified candidates. She sees it happen to people she knows personally. But with 300+ applications per role, manually reviewing them all is impossible.

The system is broken. Everyone knows it. And yet 95% of job seekers keep playing the same losing game.

Here's what changed everything for me:

Earlier in my career, I spent nine months in application hell. Over 200 applications. Too many browser tabs open. Zero offers.

Then a former colleague reached out. Coffee conversation. Direct introduction to the hiring manager. Offer in two weeks.

Same resume. Completely different channel.

▶︎ The two channels:

① Channel 1 (Application): You → ATS → Maybe Recruiter → Maybe Hiring Manager
• Your odds: 1-in-200
• Your control: Zero
• You're hoping to get chosen

② Channel 2 (Sourcing): Recruiter Search → You → Direct Contact → Conversation
• Your odds: 1-in-15
• Your control: Massive
• You're being sought out


The difference? Professional visibility that exists independent of any job posting.

When recruiters search LinkedIn for your expertise, do they find you? What do they learn in the first 10 seconds?

This is about building Professional Authority - recognition that no employer can take away, opportunity that finds you, and leverage you control.

What's your experience with these two channels?

P.S. This week's newsletter breaks down exactly how to position yourself in the sourcing channel, including a ChatGPT hack for analyzing 200+ job postings instantly. 

Link below (Don't forget to Subscribe) 👇

https://lnkd.in/g4tnTQQ3

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Damien Foglio

Nathan Pearce

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Performance ScoreDamien Foglio's LinkedIn Performance

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taplio

The Battle

Damien Foglio

Nathan Pearce

Followers

Posts

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);}Damien Foglio's LinkedIn Performance

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