Flint

Flint has grown into one of Australia's most awarded mortgage broking firms, recognised for our commitment to excellence and innovation.  In FY26, Flint will settle over $2bn in residential mortgages, making it Australia's largest independent brokerage, with offices across Australia, serving clients worldwide.

Our accolades include:
🏆 Best Broker in Australia x 5
🏆 Australian Broker of the Year x 3
🏆 Leading Finance Brokerage - 2024
🏆 Best New Brokerage - 2024 

With a 98%+ loan approval rate and over a decade of experience, Flint continues to empower Australians on their path to homeownership and financial growth.

Managing Director

Australian Property Talk

APT is one of Australia's most downloaded property podcasts, with over 10,000 subscribers and 1million+ yearly downloads.  

We discuss all things Economics, Property & Lending and provide a fresh take on Aussie Real Estate.

Co-hosted:
- Adi Chanda, Founder of Alaya Property 
- Curtis Stewart, CEO of FlintInvest

https://www.youtube.com/@AusPropertyRedom

Youtuber | Australian Property Talk

FlintInvest

Confidence Finance is now FlintInvest! 

I created Confidence Finance in 2015 with the aim of educating Aussies about home lending & delivering outstanding customer experiences. Since then, we have become one of Australia's most awarded mortgage brokering companies.  

We are home loan experts. Understanding how property finance works is our specialty. We partners with professionals to help you save time & money.  Our approach is to educate our clients through the home buying journey.  In short, we partner with you to achieve your financial goals.

Among other awards, we have been recognised as one of Australia's TOP 100 Mortgage Brokers 7 times (2017-2024).

Founder

The Federal Treasury

> international lending policy with the IMF
> domestic tax policy 
> corporate governance reform

Economist

Graduate at Ernst & Young.
Audit & Advisory

Advisor

The Broker for Homebuyers and Property Investors | 🏆 5 x Top 100 Mortgage Broker in Australia

Here's why LinkedIn Professionals choose us for their home lending needs:

🌟 We've been recognised by #MPAMagazine as one of Australia's Top 100 Brokers, 7 years running! Want to work with someone who's been at the top 0.1% for half a decade? Thats us.  

🎯 They leverage our property market experience.  Together, my team have been on the full property journey - starting as first home buyers, purchasing investment properties and growing a real estate portfolio. 

🧠 As Ex-Treasury Economists, we are not sleek sales-people servicing you.  We are highly skilled professionals who've mastered our crart over nearly a decade @ Flint Invest.

📚 We have a team dedicated to constantly reviewing all of clients loans.  No prompts, no requests - we do it all behind the scenes, free of charge.  Did you know banks discount to new customers more than old ones?  We make sure our customers remain on the lowest interest rates possible by regularly conducting loan reviews.  

💸 They don't get charged by us - we get paid by the lender and disclose all commissions upfront.  They have choice of over 50 lenders, and access to hundreds of products in one place.

🏠  Our market leading research saves you time and money.  For example, in October 2021, we advised all our clients that fixed rates were about to rise.  Over the next 6 months, they doubled in price.  This research saved our clients tens of thousands of dollars over the life of their loan.

Book a time to chat with us here --> https://calendly.com/redom/15min

You can learn more about Confidence Finance here --> www.confidencefinance.com.au

Alternatively, I can be contacted on:
•	Phone: 0489943079
•	Email: info@flintgroup.au

Available to connect anytime - please do not hesitate to reach out to me, i'm always open to growing my professional network and connecting with like-minded individuals.

Redom Syed - Mortgage Broker

One week ago today… the most special night, with the most special person.

Moments like this teach me, real success begins at home.

Because of her, I’m sharper. Clearer. Stronger. More focused.

That energy spills into everything we do.

It shapes the culture we’re building. It fuels the 100+ people I have the privilege to lead.

It creates performance loops that start long before the workday begins.

Getting ‘home’ right has been the key to getting work right.

Redom Syed

Co-Founder Flint Group | Building the Future of Mortgages | 2025 FBAA Broker of The Year

I never had the luxury of being normal.

You see, my family got ripped apart financially when I was a teenager.

I made it my mission to fix it.

Now, with Sydney house prices the way they are, you can’t fix something like that quickly unless you do it differently.

Here’s what I did differently 👇

1. Had the courage to quit the beaten path.

At 24, I walked away from my dream job i spent 10 years chasing to start a business.

Most people thought i was an idiot.  

2. Refused to stop until I was near the best at it.

Because being “good” has never been acceptable to me.

3. Shared openly. Always.

People call it generous — it’s not. 

I do it for me. Sharing gets me closer to my mission, so I do it.

4.  Invested early, reinvested big, and went hard when it was boom time.

Tip: we’re about to enter boom time again. Go big when you can.

5. Used pain as fuel.

Most people run from it. 

I live it, breathe it, own it.

Pain and love are the two most powerful emotions I know. 

I do what I do out of love for my family, and the pain of the past keeps me moving when I can’t be bothered.

6. Followed purpose.

Helping others make better money decisions. Always.

You don't get to outlier results by being normal.

You do it by doing what others won't.

Breaking: Commonwealth Bank just sent shockwaves through the investor lending market.

From tomorrow, CBA will only allow new trust lending for active CBA customers, everyone else is cut off.

This move comes less than 24 hours after Australian Prudential Regulation Authority publicly warned that it is “closely monitoring any build-up of domestic vulnerabilities, particularly in the housing market.”

It was only two weeks ago Macquarie Group made a similar move, blocking all trust lending.

These changes are reflective of a very targeted lending regulator, making a surgical, targeted change...zeroing in on the riskiest pockets of lending.

So why is trust lending viewed as risky?

It's the way they’re used:

Here’s the issue in a nutshell:

→ Under current lending rules, a 3% assessment buffers apply to ANY mortgage debts.  This is designed to protect borrowers and the system, ensuring everyone can afford their mortgages in any rate environment.

 → When utilising trusts, property investors can get creative and find ways to ensure that any existing debts inside that trust often aren’t stressed tested at all.

 → When obtaining a loan in a new trust, the bank checks whether the borrower is meeting repayments today in any 'existing trusts', not whether they can survive a stress-tested environment.

 → Borrowers can thereby 'recycle' trusts here, opening a new one when they are tapped out, and find ways to circumnavigate the 3% mortgage stress test on their existing trust.

 →  The risk here is investor borrowers are not adequately 'stress tested' and can push themselves too far. 

In a market where 40% of all loans are going to investors, and a material chunk of those are running through company/trust structures, you can see why Commonwealth Bank & Macquarie Group moved quickly.

And here’s how it impacts you:

Relying on lending strategies that use trusts to expand your borrowing power?

For the many  investors who rely on trust structures to build multi-property portfolios…your lending playbook just changed overnight.

My life changed when I got better at communicating.

For years, I wasn’t good or clear.

So I studied. 

Spent hours in front of the camera, auditing my own work. Took every course I could find (thanks Vinh Giang!)

Now?

I speak off script. Tell stories. And actually connect.

Here are my 3 biggest lessons to speak better 👇

1. Play. 🎭 

Forget looking & sounding like an old school CEO.  I speak more like the dad I am to my girls, it’s way more entertaining (and real).

2. Slow down. 🐢 

Most of the time, I’m talking about something I know well, but my audience doesn’t. Give them time to catch up.

3. Be vulnerable.❤️

People don’t remember your facts, they remember how you made them feel. I use my emotional range to share how i feel.  It helps connect. 

My lesson?

Get better at communicating.  Going from invisible to being seen can change your life quickly.

You’ve got to be a little crazy to change the game.

Reasonable won't cut it.

This year’s been about building. 

Next year? 

It’s about turning these foundations into results.

My note to my partners this week was simple:

“Be so unreasonable that everyone thinks we're nuts”

So here's what’s coming from me in 2026:
▶️ 250 long-form YouTube videos
▶️ 100 Podcast episodes with Curtis Stewart & Adi Chanda
💥 300+ LinkedIn posts

All while growing Flint to hit some crazy targets.

Because the world doesn’t reward reasonable.

It rewards those crazy enough to think they can do it… and then actually take unreasonable actions to achieve it.

I finally snapped… in the most dad way possible.

When you put yourself out there, you cop all kinds of nonsense.

99.9% of the time I let it go.

But this one? 

Just straight-up unacceptable racism.

So I went full dad-discipline mode: firm voice, eye contact, podcast mic on.

No dessert. No bedtime story. Straight to reflection time.

These 6 content rules will generate me $10mill+ in revenue in 2026.

Copy them 👇

1. I don’t bother selling.
(So you never feel like you’re being sold to)

2. I don’t care what you think.
(Like me. Don’t like me. I’ll still like me… and that’s all that matters here)

3. I absolutely LOVE what I’m talking about.
(I’ve literally turned my podcast into time with my two best mates)

4. I never script.
(Yawn...people want realness, not GPT scripts read out)

5. I always play.
(Because i like to have fun)

6. I study the best
(Every-night i'm watching others who do it well, trying to get a tiny bit better)

Because the second you start creating from love instead of fear, everything changes.

That’s when people actually start listening.

Here are 5 things I love every week (and 1 thing that drives me nuts).

1. Coming in on Mondays and seeing my teams faces.  Instant smile. 

2. My Tuesday night chats with Adi Chanda, we live in different cities and I get an hour with a friend

3. 7-8pm dancing daily with my girls. My rhythm is questionable, but my confidence is elite. 💃

4. The podcast room.  It’s supposed to be serious, but really I’m just hanging with my mates. 

5. Friday nights with my wife.  We’re both building our careers and juggling two little kids. Fridays are for us, we slow down and just talk. 

Oh…

And one thing I hate…cutting my one gray hair that keeps coming back everytime i shoot content 

(If anyone’s cracked the code, please help 🙃)

No alternative text description for this image

Last fortnight, 6 out of my 7 posts hit 10,000+ impressions.

And the secret wasn’t a growth hack or algorithm trick. 

I stopped using GPT…

And I just wrote like me.

(Turns out writing like a weirdo is the secret to breaking the content game)

My biggest business lesson in 10 years

Experiment first.  Then focus all energy on what actually works.

When you find it, go all in.

For me, two years ago, I started a small podcast.

Today, 80% of my new business comes directly from that podcast and YouTube channel.

I've had over 1300 clicks into my sales team diary in the last 9 months alone.

So my next move?

From Monday, the three people sitting next to me won’t be brokers.

They’ll be:
 🎥 a full-time videographer
 ✍️ a full-time copywriter
 📱 a full-time social media manager

Because when you find the thing that moves the needle…

You triple down, not dabble.

Great leaders don’t rely on one style. 

They switch gears fast.

When I first stepped into this gig, the situation called for unity…bringing everyone together and creating one direction.

So i went about sharing stories, presenting visions with the aim of drawing connection with us, and where we are heading. 

Some days, it calls for strength: setting standards, drawing lines, making it clear what’s acceptable and what isn’t.

And sometimes, it’s none of that.

It’s simply being present. Listening. Showing I care.

Leadership isn’t about being one fixed version of yourself.

It’s knowing which version the moment needs.

My take out?

Intelligence isn’t about knowing things…

(ChatGPT has your back here)

It’s about being adaptable…reading the room and adjusting quickly.

My favourite part of the job?

Playing coach

Getting into the weeds of what it takes to thrive as a broker, sharing everything I know and trying to level others up.

Lately I’ve been flying city to city, working with our team, getting them uncomfortbale in front of the cam.

The lessons:
- tell stories that make people feel
- share who you are, not what you know 
- just do it. Embrace discomfort…confidence will come 

Oddly enough…being ‘cringe’ for years and years is the lesson I’m sharing.

Embrace the cringe…the sound of your own voice…the weirdness of putting yourself out there

(Or in my case, the annoying gray hair that refuses to go away!)

Eventually you go from being the person being laughed at…to the person teaching others how to do it.

Execution > Planning. 99% of the time.

Most of us build mental barriers around the things we want to do.

“I’m too busy.”
“It’s not for me.”
“I’ll start tomorrow.”

What you’re really saying is: “I don’t want to get uncomfortable.”

Last year, I’d spend days preparing, thinking, planning… just to film one YouTube video.

And I still flopped. Over and over.

Embarrassing, low ROI, zero impact.

Now?

I can film three videos in 90 minutes. Minimal prep. 10x the views. And it fills our sales team’s diary for a week.

Thinking about doing what I wanted achieved nothing.

(Just like reading 12 self-help books and taking no action..)

The lesson?

Stop thinking.

Start doing.

APRA acted like the schoolyard bully today.

Shout, scream.  Try to scare.

But actually…

Do nothing.

Today’s announcement is just that.

From Feb 2026, banks can only issue 20% of all new loans where debt is >6× the applicant’s income.

Well…

In the middle of the biggest investment lending boom in nearly a decade

We are at 10%

HALF the cap. 🧢 

My full take 

BREAKING: APRA’s New Lending Cap Targets Property Investors
https://lnkd.in/gQTeEV9v

Open video: BREAKING: APRA’s New Lending Cap Targets Property Investors on youtu.be

BREAKING: APRA’s New Lending Cap Targets Property Investors

The power of brand saved us $50,000 last month

And it happened in the most unexpected way, through our podcast.

Adi Chanda and I did a shout out for staff on our podcast

Within 72 hours, 30+ emails/DMs landed in our inbox.

The quality was insane.

No cookie cutter CVs and boring cover letters.

They knew who we were.

They were well researched, knew property like wizards, and had watched us for months

One guy we hired sent us the best loom I’d ever seen. 

Some were willing to change their whole lives and chase their passion in property

Others just wanted to be around us 

💡 Our marketing efforts isn’t just for clients.  It’s our best recruiter too.

Am I taking enough risk for my business to survive in 5 years time?

This question circled my brain this evening after attending an AI event hosted by Lendi Group, where they shared their journey building with AI.  

Here’s what I learned:

- the pace of change is rapid, but we are still very early on in our change journey 

- take more risk, experiment, and fail very quickly

- ask yourself when building with AI: what can you do today with AI that wasn’t possible yesterday. 

- don’t use AI for AIs sake, there’s plenty of automation and technology pre AI that remains and will remain incredibly valuable.

There’s not many events I leave with more questions than answers…and I think that was exactly the point.

To challenge our beliefs, to inspire new ways of thinking.

Thank you David Hyman for the invitation.

9 months ago, I met a broker who completely changed how I think about leadership

Today, that same broker launching his own office

When I first met Ben Robinson, he was already one of the sharpest operators I’d met.

But what he’s achieved since is next level:
💥 Nearly tripled his monthly lodgements 
📈 Built one of LinkedIn’s most visible mortgage brands
👥 Assembled a high-performing team of brokers, BDMs, analysts, and processors

And he’s done it all with passion, curiosity, and relentless drive.

Now, he’s taking the next big leap, leading FlintNewcastle.

It’s a huge milestone, and one he’s absolutely earned.

👉 If you’re in Newcastle and want to see what real client-first broking looks like, reach out to Ben about growing your career with Flint.

Building Australia’s First $10B+ Brokerage! We’re Looking for Great People to Join the Flint Journey. Be Part of Something Bigger 🚀

Big news today from Newcastle!! 

After more than 12 months of planning, we have officially opened the doors to our brand-new Flint office right in the heart of Newcastle. 

Newcastle is Australia's largest city outside the major capitals and has always been a place full of energy, growth and genuine people who get things done. Now, we get to be part of that - helping locals, business owners, and investors make smarter moves with the right finance behind them.

Our new space is led by Ben Robinson - one of the country’s best brokers and a close friend of mine. He’s joined by an incredible team including Matt Hollinworth, Anthony Toth, Lauren Franzmann and Bree Atkinson - with two more experienced brokers confirmed to join early next year. We have also built out a dedicated internal team of 15 specialists across complex credit, loan processing, post-settlement and compliance to support the new office. 

If you're a hungry broker based in Newcastle or the surrounding area, we are looking to expand to more than 10 brokers in the next few months, with an annual office settlement target of $1B+ by next year. 

💥 #FlintNewcastle - now open!
https://lnkd.in/gSgaYQXX

Open article: Flint opens Newcastle office by brokerdaily.au

CBA’s lending change explained in 10 minutes 

Property investors are now being targeted with surgical precision…the riskiest areas of lending are being picked apart.

Why?

Investor lending is flying at 2017 levels…

2017 was also the last time APRA intervened in lending policies targeting investors too. 

https://lnkd.in/gZYy859n

Open video: Breaking: Property Investors Are Being Targeted in Lending Crackdown on youtu.be

Breaking: Property Investors Are Being Targeted in Lending Crackdown

Are you looking for a digital marketing expert who can help you achieve your business goals? Look no further. As a skilled marketer with expertise in social media, Facebook and Google Ads, and video editing, I have a proven track record of delivering results for my clients.

With my social media campaigns, I have increased engagement, followers, and website traffic for numerous clients. My Facebook and Google Ads campaigns have also generated impressive results.

Additionally, my video editing skills have enabled me to create engaging and effective content that resonates with audiences and drives conversions. 

Now, let's talk about how I can help you achieve your digital marketing goals. Whether you're looking to increase brand awareness, drive conversions, or improve your overall digital presence, I am here to help. Let's connect and discuss how we can work together to take your brand to the next level.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to grow your business. Contact me today to schedule a consultation and let's get started.

Sheza Yazdani

The Focus Solutions

As Founder & CEO of The Focus Solutions, 

I help coaches, consultants, and business owners build profitable LinkedIn brands through strategic LinkedIn management, personal branding, and content that converts. 

My approach blends data-driven frameworks with tailored LinkedIn Growth strategies to increase visibility, establish authority, and attract high-ticket clients.

Core Services:
•	LinkedIn Profile Optimization – Transforming profiles into lead-generating assets.
•	Personal Branding Strategy – Positioning clients as trusted industry authorities.
•	Content Strategy & Ghostwriting – High-impact, scroll-stopping content.
•	Lead Generation Campaigns – Proven methods to drive inbound high-ticket leads.
•	Digital Marketing & Brand Consulting – Scalable growth systems.

Key Achievements:
•	Increased client LinkedIn engagement by 5x in 90 days.
•	Designed LinkedIn Growth strategies that improved visibility & search rankings.
•	Launched lead-gen campaigns for Personal Branding delivering a consistent pipeline of high-value inquiries.

Founder & CEO | LinkedIn Growth Strategist & Personal Branding Expert The Focus Solutions 

•	Designed and executed ROI dedicated social media marketing campaigns aligned with business objectives.

•	Specialized in lead generation, audience growth, and brand visibility.

•	Consistently boosted client engagement, Brand awareness, and conversions through data-backed campaigns.

Social Media Marketing Specialist

Jasmine Events

•	Managed paid and organic strategies, expanding reach to 8M+ followers across major platforms.

•	Did Omni channel Marketing, published 35+ weekly posts across multiple channels, increasing brand visibility.

•	Delivered 5K new leads by targeting content to different sales funnel stages.

•	Ran Instagram influencer campaigns with 22% ROI per $1 spent.

Digital Marketing Manager

World Wear

•	Developed and implemented marketing plans that increased brand awareness, traffic, and sales.

•	Tracked and analyzed marketing campaign performance using Google Analytics, LinkedIn Analytics, Meta Business Suite, SEMrush, and other data-driven marketing tools to optimize ROI and engagement.

•	Communicated brand vision to stakeholders, driving consistent market growth.

Marketing Manager

Focus Enterprises LTD

•	Expanded social following from 500 to 30K+ across major platforms.

•	Created a Facebook customer inquiry hub with 1-day response times.

•	Monitored engagement metrics and optimized SEO-friendly content for greater reach.

Assistant Media Planner

Allied Schools

Class Teacher

Habib Metropolitan Bank (Subsidiary of AG Zurich)

Marketing Intern

Helping CEOs and Founders Grow and Monetize Their Personal Brands on LinkedIn | $100K+ Results from intentional LinkedIn Growth Strategies | Personal Branding Strategist | CEO Focus Solutions

If you are here, it means LinkedIn isn’t working for you.

You’re posting, engaging, maybe even trying different hacks but nothing sticks. 

No new leads. 
No relevant engagement. 
No clients.

Maybe you’re a:
•	Business owner who wants to be seen as an industry thought leader.
•	SaaS founder looking for more qualified buyers.
•	Coach craving consistent sign-ups for your program.
•	LinkedIn ghostwriter who can’t seem to crack content that converts.

And it’s exhausting, isn’t it? 

You watch others grow, wondering why your profile isn’t pulling in the opportunities you deserve. 

You’ve tried the tips you’ve watched the gurus yet the needle hasn’t moved.

Here’s the truth:

Your audience is scrolling past you not because you’re not good enough, but because your positioning, messaging, and content aren’t working together to grab the right attention.

What you really want is simple:
•	A profile that commands authority from the first glance.
•	Content that actually speaks to your ideal client.
•	A strategy that generates warm, ready-to-buy leads on autopilot.
•	A personal brand that makes 6 figures a month feel like the baseline, not the dream.

That’s where I come in.

12 months ago, I was exactly where you are overwhelmed, second-guessing, and unsure what actually works on LinkedIn. 

Fast forward to today: I have scaled my following past 10K+, built my own business from scratch, and helped 30+ clients grow, monetize, and dominate LinkedIn.

Here’s how I’ll get you there:
•	Profile audit & revamp that makes people stop scrolling.
•	Laser-focused content strategy built around your audience’s pain points.
•	Outbound & inbound lead frameworks that convert without sounding salesy.
•	Engagement systems that win attention every single time.

The results?
•	Client accounts grown from 0 → 10K followers in <6 months.
•	1M+ organic impressions generated for client brands.
•	Consistent 4+ inbound leads per month without paid ads.

Your move:
A) Keep guessing, posting randomly, and hoping for a break.
B) Hand it over to someone who’s done it repeatedly and get a LinkedIn presence that drives leads while you sleep.

If it’s B, 

DM me “I’m ready” or book a call through my Featured Section. 

Let’s turn your LinkedIn into your most profitable business asset.
 
Talk soon

Most CEOs think personal branding requires volume.

This newsletter digs into a problem most founders never say out loud which is:

The more the world pushes you to “show up,” the less space you have to think.

It connects Josef Pieper’s old warning about the loss of silence to today’s reality, where CEOs are expected to post daily, be vulnerable on cue, narrate every move, and keep up with a content machine that drains more than it delivers.

Instead of telling leaders to do more, it argues for the opposite:

A brand built from clarity, not performance.

Partnering with CEOs Founders and Coaches to Build Industry Thought Leaders through Strategic Narrative Positioning and Content Architecture | CEO at Focus Solutions

View newsletter: The Positioning Playbook

In 1985, philosopher Josef Pieper wrote Leisure: The Basis of Culture, where he warned of a world where work becomes so consuming, it eats the very si

Open article: The founder’s paradox: Everyone sees your business, but no one sees you. by Sheza Yazdani • 3 min read

The founder’s paradox: Everyone sees your business, but no one sees you.

I built a 13K+ audience, closed 10+ high-ticket clients without ads, and built a system that runs without me.

All through strategy, consistency, and a crystal clear personal brand.

But I didn’t start here.

When I first began, I made every mistake:

→ Posted too much value, got zero leads
→ Sounded like everyone else in my niche
→ Thought “consistency” = growth (it doesn’t)
→ Took on misaligned clients because my positioning was off

That’s when I sat down, studied what actually works, and built a system that now runs quietly in the background, generating trust, leads, and revenue.

And now?

I’m putting the entire system in your hands.

My Personal Branding Playbook is LIVE.

Inside, I break down:

✅ The strategy behind content that converts
✅ How to go from “just posting” to pulling in leads
✅ The funnel framework I use to build trust at scale
✅ Exactly how I built my authority without burning out

This isn’t another “post more” guide.

It’s the blueprint I use with CEOs, founders, and experts who want visibility that actually sells.

Comment “BRAND” to get the link + launch-only bonuses.

I’m dropping insights I’ve never shared publicly, this is your edge in 2025.

Let’s make your name the one that gets remembered.

Follow me Sheza Yazdani and repost it to help others win

A LinkedIn post by a personal branding strategist announcing the launch of their “Personal Branding Playbook.” The post begins by sharing results—building a 13K+ audience and closing 10+ high-ticket clients without ads—then contrasts it with early struggles like posting too much value and poor positioning. It transitions to offering a system that generates trust and leads automatically, introducing the Playbook as a detailed guide on strategy, content that converts, and building authority without burnout. The post ends with a call to action inviting readers to comment “BRAND” to get the link and bonuses

Everyone keeps saying “just be clear.”

But clarity is not the reason people remember you.

Clarity is why they understand you.

What makes them remember you is coherence.

A pattern. A worldview. A presence they can feel.

If your content is clear but still invisible, it’s probably not a messaging problem.

It’s a depth problem.

Here’s what to build instead (and why your brain is wired to forget the rest):👇

If your content is clear but still forgettable, this is for you. There’s a moment where every founder realizes that people understand what they do… an

Open article: Clarity is a trap. Here’s what to build instead. by Sheza Yazdani • 2 min read

Clarity is a trap. Here’s what to build instead.

“Visibility doesn’t just attract attention. It earns recognition.”

And today, I’m honored to share something special:

I have been featured in Titanium Magazine’s Top 50 Global Inspirational Women to Look Out for in 2026. 

From building a business while raising three kids.

To help over 80+ CEOs, founders, and experts build personal brands that create demand before the first call.

To lead Focus Solutions as CEO.

This recognition isn’t just about me.

It’s about what happens when women own their story and show up every single day even with all the odds stacked against them.

Over the past 3 years, I’ve:

→ Built systems that convert content into high-value clients
→ Helped 50+ experts turn dead profiles into trusted personal brands
→ Challenged the noise of vanity metrics by building brands that actually drive business ROI

Being recognized alongside change makers like Dianah kamande, Heba Othman, Sally Hammoud, and Dr. Pavani Kadiyala reminds me:

There is power in being intentional.

There is power in building a legacy that leads.

And I’ll keep showing up for the voices that haven’t been heard yet and the leaders ready to rise with clarity and credibility.

P.S. A Special thanks to the The Prodigy and Love Charmaine Uychoco for the recognition.
#TheProdigyOfficial #TitaniumMagazine #Top50 #Trailblazers #WomenOfPurpose #Thailand2026

Professional portrait of a woman smiling confidently, dressed in business attire, standing against a clean background. This image accompanies an announcement celebrating her recognition as one of Titanium Magazine’s Top 50 Global Inspirational Women to Look Out for in 2026.”
(If the image is different, just tell me and I’ll tailor it.)

✅ HIGH-PERFORMANCE HASHTAGS (Authority-based + Discovery + Niche)
I’ve kept them balanced so LinkedIn won’t suppress the post (max 8–12 recommended).
Hashtags:
#WomenInLeadership
#InspirationalWomen
#Top50Women2026
#TitaniumMagazine
#PersonalBrandingExpert
#FounderStory
#WomenWhoLead
#CEOLife
#BrandStrategy
#WomenInBusiness
#LeadershipJourney
#TheProdigyOfficial
Want me to rewrite the post for maximum reach, authority, and depth — or give you an optimised hook + format based on LinkedIn’s 2025 algorithm?

Thank you New In Asia, for the feature!

I wrote this for founders doing meaningful work but still fighting for attention.

When I started Focus Solutions, I wasn’t sure what would resonate.

I just knew one thing:

Founders deserve messaging that does justice to the value they deliver.

Because it’s frustrating to do exceptional work and still be overlooked.

It’s exhausting to show up with heart and still feel like you’re shouting into the void.

The truth I’ve learned?

Content isn’t about more posts, better visuals, or perfect hacks.

It’s about earning the belief that leads to action. You can read the complete feature here:

To read the complete feature see the link in the comments ⬇️

If people need to pull up your profile to describe what you do, your brand isn’t sticky.

Your positioning should live in their mind, not your headline.

And yet, I see profiles every week with lines like:

“Transformational coach for high performers.”

What does that even mean?

Here’s the test:

Can your dream client explain your value in 3 seconds without looking you up?

If not, your positioning won’t get you clients. Or referrals.

Sticky positioning does 3 things:

It’s emotionally precise (“burned-out founder” > “ambitious professional”)

It’s visually concrete (“build a business that doesn’t burn you out”)

It’s memorable (triggers a mental shortcut like “She’s the one who helps…”)

I help clients craft lines that stick.

So they become the first name their clients think of when a problem hits.

📌 If your positioning isn’t working while you sleep, it’s not working at all.

DM me “STICKY” and let’s fix your positioning today.

Carousel showing a breakdown of what makes brand positioning sticky with short statements highlighting emotional precision visual clarity and memorability. The graphics emphasize how clear positioning helps clients remember you instantly and how vague headlines weaken credibility. The final slide invites readers to refine their positioning so it works even when they are offline.

Everyone’s bragging about their new AI tools. But let’s be honest.

AI didn’t make you sound smarter.

It just exposed that you never had a voice to begin with.

Here’s what I’ve seen after working with 50+ founders and CEOs on their LinkedIn strategy:

AI can write.

But it can’t position.

It can’t pull from your lived experience, your client results, your real tone of voice.

That’s why some posts get 100 likes and zero leads.

Because they’re structured well but say nothing new.

The truth?

→ The most powerful content doesn’t come from a tool.

It comes from knowing what only you can say.

Here’s how I help clients stand out in an AI-cluttered feed:

✅ We don’t start with “write this post.”

We start with: What are you the go-to for?

What stories earned you trust offline?

What proof do your clients rave about?

Then (and only then) do we let AI assist.

As a second brain.

Because content that converts isn't generated.

It’s distilled from your authority.

And if you can’t hear yourself in your own post.

Neither can your next client.

Want to use AI without sounding like ChatGPT?

DM me “VOICE” and I’ll help you build a brand that sounds like you, on your best day.

Bold minimalist text reads: ‘Everyone’s bragging about their new AI tools. But let’s be honest… AI didn’t make you sound smarter. It just exposed that you never had a voice to begin with.’ The visual introduces a thought-leadership post about authentic personal branding in the age of AI. The content argues that AI can write—but it can’t position, interpret lived experience, or build authority. It explains why posts that sound polished often fail to convert, and how founders and CEOs can use AI as a second brain instead of a replacement. The image aligns with topics like voice, positioning, and authority on LinkedIn.”

SEO / Hashtags (add to caption or comments for discoverability):
#PersonalBranding #LinkedInStrategy #AIContent #AuthenticVoice #ThoughtLeadership #ChatGPT #AIWriting #ContentMarketing #FounderBrand #AuthorityBuilding #AIAssist #HumanVsAI #BrandVoice #MarketingStrategy #ContentThatConverts #AIAgency #Positioning #Copywriting #LinkedInGrowth #VoiceOverVolume #ContentStrate

People do not buy talent

They buy certainty that you are right for them

Trust is built through proof not promises

Random testimonials are noise without a system

Real authority comes from repeated visible patterns

Your brand is trusted when your results feel predictable

Read the full article to build your Proof Ecosystem and turn trust into demand

When people don’t buy from you, it’s rarely because you’re not good. It’s because they’re not sure if you’re good for them. That’s the difference betw

Open article: What if people trusted you without needing to be convinced? by Sheza Yazdani • 4 min read

What if people trusted you without needing to be convinced?

The biggest myth in personal branding?

That confidence equals self-promotion.

I have spent the last 12 months helping 50+ CEOs, founders, and coaches who hated the idea of “selling themselves.”
 
Yet, they built authority without a single humble-brag.

They didn’t want to sound salesy.

They didn’t want to boast.

They didn’t want to look desperate.

But here’s what we did instead:

- We positioned them clearly.
- We showcased what made them different, not just better.
- We told real stories of transformation.
- We gave their brilliance the visibility it deserves.

Because leadership today is not just about doing great work.

It’s about making your work undeniably visible without feeling fake.

You don’t need to say “I’m the best.”

You say:
“I help founders scale through storytelling that converts.”
“I guide teams by building cultures that retain talent.”
“I specialize in sales that feel like trust, not pressure.”

That’s not salesy. That’s specific.

And specificity builds trust faster than buzzwords ever could.

LinkedIn’s 2025 algorithm now favors expert led content posts where the voice of experience beats the voice of noise.

That means authority wins over virality.

So no, personal branding isn’t bragging.

It’s making it easy for the right people to say:

“You’re exactly who I’ve been looking for.”

If you want to promote your value without feeling like a walking pitch deck,
comment AUTHENTIC. I’ll share the exact positioning framework we use to make experts magnetic (without selling out).

“A confident professional standing in front of a blurred audience, symbolizing authentic visibility and leadership. Represents the idea of building authority through clarity, credibility, and connection — not self-promotion.”

(Tip: if you use a carousel, the first image alt text should include “personal branding strategy” and “LinkedIn thought leadership” — that improves accessibility and SEO indexing.)

🧠 SEO-Optimized Keywords (for AI & Google relevance)

Add these subtly in your caption or comments to help both Google and AI models associate your post with high-value concepts:

personal branding strategy

LinkedIn authority building

authentic visibility

expert positioning framework

storytelling for leaders

thought leadership on LinkedIn

self-promotion vs authority

🏷️ Hashtags for LinkedIn (balanced for reach + niche authority)

Mix broad + specific + branded tags. Keep it to 5–7 total (LinkedIn’s sweet spot).

Recommended:
#PersonalBranding
#LinkedInStrategy
#ThoughtLeaders

Most personal brands are stuck in what I call the “Timeless Bubble.”

They craft an evergreen pitch.

One message.

One line.

One promise.

But the market doesn’t live in a bubble.

Your buyer’s context changes weekly.

→ The startup founder in June? Wants visibility before their Series A.
→ The same founder in September? Needs to hire. Their content should attract talent.
→ In Q1? They want deal flow. Your message better reflect that shift.

If your positioning doesn’t evolve with your audience’s environment, it becomes noise.

So instead of trying to be “the only,”

Be “the only one who gets it right now.”

That’s what I help my clients do.

→ We map your ICP’s decision cycles
→ Identify seasonal urgency (fundraising, hiring, launching, market fear)
→ And position your voice as the most relevant solution for the moment they’re in

That’s what creates magnetic pull.

Not just clarity.
Not just consistency.
But timing.

Most ghostwriters write posts

I build positioning calendars.

So every single post does two things:

✅ Matches your offer to their mental state
✅ Reflects what your audience is silently Googling at 11 PM

If you feel your message is “clear” but still not converting…

You don’t have a clarity problem.

You have a context problem.

And context is where positioning really lives.

P.S. Want to see how I time my clients’ content to their buyers’ decisions? DM me “CONTEXT”, I’ll send you a sample positioning calendar breakdown.

“Text-based graphic explaining why content without context fails. Highlights how founders’ priorities shift across the year, why positioning must evolve with buyer environments, and how mapping decision cycles creates more relevant, higher-converting content.”

Hashtags:
#Positioning #MarketingStrategy #PersonalBranding #ContextualMarketing #LinkedInStrategy #ICP #BrandPositioning #ContentStrategy #Ghostwriting #B2BMarketing

Big audiences don’t build category leaders. Clear language does.

Most experts compete by saying: “I’m the best at what I do.”

Category designers flip the script.

They say: “I’m the only one who sees it this way.”

That’s the difference between being a “leadership coach” vs. being the creator of “anti-burnout leadership.”

One competes. The other commands.

Want to design your own category?

Here’s how:

1. Find your enemy.

What’s the outdated belief your market still clings to? Name it.

(Ex: “More visibility = more leads” is a belief I challenge.)

2. Reframe the game.

What do your best clients need to believe before they buy from you?

(Ex: “LinkedIn isn’t content. It’s a dealflow engine.”)

3. Name your lens.

Give your POV a name. Make it yours. That’s your intellectual property moat.

(Ex: My Brand DNA Method, because most content misses the source code.)

You don’t need more reach. You need language people repeat.

Comment “CATEGORY” below and I’ll send you my Category Clarity Template.

Minimalist text graphic on category design and clear positioning over generic expertise.
Highlights how naming your enemy belief and unique lens creates authority.

After auditing 100+ brands this year, one pattern stands out.

The smartest brands aren’t just differentiating.

→ They’re de-positioning. 

(Not just standing out. But making the old category feel obsolete.)

Think about it:

Slack didn’t win by saying, “We’re a better email.”

They won by making email look like a slow, outdated way to collaborate.

They didn’t just differentiate.

They de-positioned email as the wrong tool for modern teams.

That’s how they reframed the entire communication category, and that’s the real power of de-positioning.

In personal branding, it’s the same game.

You don’t need to shout louder.

You need to shift the frame of comparison.

Here’s how I help founders and CEOs do it:

✅ We don’t just position your offer.

We de-position what your audience used to settle for.

→ Generic consultants.
→ Influencer-style ghostwriters.
→ Brands built on tips, not systems.

Suddenly, you’re not just “different.”

You’re necessary.

And your competitors?

They start to feel like last year’s model.

That’s when your brand becomes a category of one.

Are you differentiating or de-positioning?

Most executives get this wrong.

Drop “DIFFERENT” in the comments if you want to see what your current brand is really doing.

A bold LinkedIn carousel or text post showing the concept of de-positioning in branding — explaining how modern executives and founders can make old categories obsolete instead of just differentiating. Mentions examples like Slack vs email, and includes a three-step framework for de-positioning: identifying outdated beliefs, exposing frustrations, and reframing the category with a new promise. Written by a personal branding strategist helping CEOs and founders build category-of-one brands in 2025.


Hashtags (High-Intent, Mixed Density)
#DePositioning #BrandStrategy #PersonalBranding #CategoryDesign #MarketingStrategy #Positioning #BrandDifferentiation #LinkedInStrategy #BrandBuilding #BusinessStrategy #FounderBrand #GoToMarket #StrategicMarketing #BrandNarrative #B2BMarketing #Storytelling #MarketingTrends2025 #LinkedInContent #ThoughtLeadership #GrowthStrategy #AIandBranding #ChatGPTMarketing #DigitalPositioning #ContentStrategy


You’re being ignored because you’re not showing up like an expert.
(and it’s wasting your time)

Here’s why it matters.

- You’ve hit the top.
- You’ve got the title.
- You’ve made the money.
- But on LinkedIn? Crickets

Why?

Because 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘵

Experts are defined by the unique value they bring. 

Not by titles, not by accolades, but by the 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 you can offer that no one else can.

It’s a familiar trap:
→ Post your success story
→ Talk about how you “made it”
→ Hope people see your expertise

𝘕𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘴.

Success is a given.

Expertise? 

That’s earned by teaching what others can’t.

Try this:

Stop showcasing what you’ve done
Start showcasing what you’ve learned.Real expertise comes from:
→ The tough lessons,
→ The decisions that didn’t work,
→ The unique insights you’ve gained that no one else has.

I did this for a client last month. 

A CEO with a massive following. 

But on LinkedIn? 

He wasn’t seen as an authority.We changed the game:

→ Focused on depth, not breadth.
→ Shared lessons from real failures
→ Highlighted decisions, not just outcomes

Now he’s seen as a thought leader, not just another CEO with a successful business.

The key:
→ Focus on what only YOU can teach
→ Share the hard truths
→ Go deeper, not wider.

Want to stop blending in and start being the expert you were meant to be? Let’s talk

A minimalist text graphic emphasizing that success and job titles do not equal expertise on LinkedIn. Highlights the shift from showcasing achievements to sharing real lessons failures and unique insights to build true authority and thought leadership.

Seth Godin never says “I’m a marketer.”

But everyone sees him as one anyway.

Why?

Because he didn’t build his positioning through a title.

He built it through decades of behaviour that made the label obvious.

You recognise him as a marketer because:

• He wrote 20+ books about how people make decisions
• He publishes daily essays that dissect attention, trust, and change
• He founded altMBA, a school built around teaching people how to create value
• He popularised concepts like “tribes,” “shipping,” and “permission marketing”
• He shows up with the same worldview every single day, consistently, relentlessly

That’s how positioning works.

Not by declaring an identity…

 …but by repeating a perspective so consistently that people start naming it for you.

This is brand psychology 101:

We assign roles based on patterns, not titles.

It’s how the brain reduces complexity: we create shortcuts.

And that’s exactly what most founders get wrong on LinkedIn.

They put “Coach” or “Strategist” in their headline and expect people to believe it.

But people don’t believe titles.

They believe behaviours.

They believe:
• Your worldview (what you stand by)
• Your transformations (who you’ve helped)
• Your lived experiences (what shaped your perspective)

These repeated patterns form your “mental shortcut”... your real positioning.

If you want people to see you as the go‑to expert in your niche, don’t announce who you are.

Show them, consistently, until the title becomes inevitable.

👇 Save this as your positioning starter pack.

Minimalist quote graphic featuring the line “When your brand earns trust, awards follow” over a clean neutral background, paired with a short branding lesson inspired by Seth Godin about how positioning is built through consistent behavior, worldview, and proof over time rather than titles or self-declared labels.

This year proved one thing:


Your name is leverage.

And most people still treat it like an afterthought.

Build your brand now.

Wishing you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving with love and happiness 💗

My content didn’t start working when I had more time. 

It started working when my third kid was born.

Pressure forces clarity. 
Clarity builds authority. 
Authority drives inbound.

For context my LinkedIn profile tells you I have worked with 50+ CEOs. And helped clients attract leads without chasing them.

But here’s what it doesn’t tell you:

→ I posted for 6 months with zero inbound leads
→ I posted daily for 1 year until I saw one viral post
→ I wasted hours writing “smart” posts no one read
→ My first few clients found me through referrals, not content
→ I had no niche, no clear message, and no offer that converted
→ I almost gave up because I thought I was too late to stand out

I made every mistake in the book:

– I copied what top creators were doing instead of finding my voice
– I confused reach with relevance, and burned out chasing likes
– I built a content system before I had a positioning strategy

Here’s what changed everything:

✅ I stopped writing for the feed and started designing perception.
– Content is not just content; it’s your pitch, your proof, your positioning
– The best content doesn’t just go viral, it gets forwarded to decision-makers

✅ I stopped talking to everyone and started writing for one person.
– One ICP per post
– One problem per message
– One goal: build trust before the DM

✅ I stopped chasing clarity. I engineered it.
– I defined my POV
– Created boundaries for what I do (and don’t do)
– Built systems to scale without sounding like everyone else

None of this happened overnight.

I just kept showing up.

Even when the algorithm was working against me.

Even when I wasn’t sure if anyone was watching.

Even when the leads didn’t come.

If you’re creating and it feels like no one cares.

Keep going.

You don’t need to be perfect.

You only need to be real and consistent enough for the right people to find you.

Join my newsletter https://lnkd.in/dxGpK6AZ and follow me for more posts on personal branding Sheza Yazdani

“Screenshot-style text post about the founder of a personal branding agency sharing the real path behind growing her business: posting for months with no leads, early mistakes in content, lack of niche, and the eventual shift toward positioning, perception design, ICP focus, and message clarity. Encourages creators to stay consistent and authentic so the right clients can find them.”

HASHTAGS (High-signal, low-noise):
#PersonalBranding #LinkedInGrowth #BrandStrategy #ContentMarketing #MarketingAgency #FounderStory #AudienceBuilding #ChatGPT #GoogleSEO #ContentStrategy

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The Battle

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