Your success, my mission | 3x founder & CEO | Former CIO $4B company | DEIB ally | Sharing 24 years of hard-earned leadership & self-mastery wisdom

My purpose is to inspire and empower individuals to unleash their potential and create a positive impact in the world.

I believe success is a byproduct of helping others, and the best leaders create other leaders.

When you:
set a clear vision,
lead by example, and
empower your people,
they give you their best
and you all win together.

🔭 Former Corporate Exec | 🌱 Entrepreneur | 💡 Founder | 📚 Lifelong Learner

After 22 years of corporate life and reaching the pinnacle, I stepped off the high-wire to begin a new chapter.

Trading the executive suite of a $4B global powerhouse for the excitement of entrepreneurship, I'm now spreading knowledge, innovation, and transformation.

Through 5 major career transitions, I evolved from a VP of Marketing & Sales to Division President, and ultimately, CIO.

But behind every business transaction, there's a face. I firmly believe that people are the heart and soul of any endeavor. I owe my success to the great teams I've been a part of and the wise mentors who guided me. My advice for aspiring leaders:

Be bold.
Be curious.
Be authentic.
Be respectful.
Be transparent.
Be growth-minded.
And success will follow.

Today, as an entrepreneur, I've swapped corporate structure for startup passion, partnering with my wife as co-owners of a holding company, founding multiple business ventures, crafting 3 new brands, consulting growing companies, and extending my love of mentoring into coaching.

In between, you’ll find me nurturing my four personal passions: learning, writing, traveling, and gardening. They keep me rooted and help me grow. After all, isn't life one big, beautiful garden? Here’s to growing together! 🌱

Justin Wright

9 seconds could change your life.

That's how long it takes to make a choice that
defines your character.

I once worked with someone who taught me this lesson.

Aaron was always the first to help, even when no one
was watching.

He'd stay late to finish a project, refusing to cut corners.

In meetings, he'd give credit to others before himself.

One day, I asked him why he bothered.

His answer stuck with me:

"If you can't be trusted with the small stuff,
how can anyone trust you with the big stuff?"

He was right.

Good character isn't about:
— Grand gestures
— Public recognition
— Doing the right thing when it's easy

It's about:
— Quiet integrity
— Consistent kindness
— Doing the right thing, especially when it's hard

The truth is, we all face character tests daily:
— Do we own up to mistakes?
— Do we gossip about a coworker?
— Do we help without expecting anything?

These small decisions shape who we become.

Remember:

Your character is your real resume.

It's what people say about you when
you're not in the room.

So, next time you're faced with a choice,
take those 9 seconds. Make them count.

Build a character that makes you proud.

Agree? Disagree? I'd love to hear your thoughts below.

♻️ Repost to inspire someone in your network. Thanks!

Your success, my mission | CEO @ Polished Carbon | Former CIO $4B company | DEIB ally | Sharing 25 years of hard-won wisdom on people-first leadership + emotional intelligence + self-mastery

98% of successful people share this 1 thing:


Someone who believed in them before they "made it."

Think about that for a moment.

Behind every success story is someone who:

➟ Saw the spark early
➟ Took a chance
➟ Opened a door
➟ Stood up and said "I believe in them"

These people change lives.

Sometimes it's a manager who gives you that first shot at leadership.

Sometimes it's a mentor who says "You can do this" when you're ready to quit.

They see your potential.

Not your resume.
Not your track record.
Just pure, raw potential.

And here's the beautiful thing:

You can be that person for someone else.

Look around your workplace:

Who needs a chance?
Who shows up every day ready to learn?
Who has the right attitude but lacks experience?

Don't wait for others to discover them.

Be the one who says "I see something in you."
Be the one who takes a chance.
Be the one they remember years from now.

Because success isn't just about what you achieve.
It's about who you help achieve their dreams.

Who believed in you? And more importantly...

Who needs you to believe in them today?

♻️ Repost to inspire someone in your network.

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Most people never realize they're terrible listeners
until it costs them something important.

A promotion they deserved.
A relationship that mattered.
A team that stopped being honest with them.

I've watched leaders lose talented people
not because of strategy or compensation,
but because their team never felt heard.

And I've been that leader.

My wife will tell you I've perfected the art of
nodding while mentally drafting emails.

She's called me out more than once for
asking a question she literally just answered.

"Were you even listening?"

The honest answer? No.

I was performing listening while planning
something else.

Real listening happens in layers.
Most of us get stuck at the surface.

Level 1: Waiting to Talk
You're silent, but your mind is rehearsing your
response. The other person can feel it.

Level 2: Hearing Words
You catch fragments. You nod at the right moments.
But you're mentally somewhere else.

Level 3: Understanding the Message
You're actually focused. You listen to comprehend,
not to counter. This is where most people think
they've arrived. (They haven't.)

Level 4: Recognizing Emotions
You read between the lines. You notice the frustration
behind "I'm fine" or the fear behind "I'm not sure."

Level 5: Hearing What's Unsaid
You're fully present. You catch the hesitation,
the shift in tone, the thing they're struggling
to express.

The leaders who operate at level 5 don't just
hear problems faster. They prevent them entirely.

They build the kind of trust that makes
hard conversations possible.

They create environments where people speak up
before small issues become disasters.

Getting to level 5 doesn't require new skills.

Just caring enough to shut up and pay attention.

I'm still working on this.
Some days I nail it.

Other days my wife gives me that look
that says "you did it again."

Next time someone's talking to you,
notice where your mind goes.

Notice if you're crafting your response
while they're mid-sentence.

That self-awareness alone will change
how you lead.

♻️ Repost to help someone become a better listener.

P.S. Want a PDF of my 99 best cheat sheets?
Get them free: brilliancebrief.com

Happy at work? These 8 phrases might be why.

The culture can make your job fulfilling or draining.

In a healthy culture, certain phrases stand out.

They reflect values like:

➟ Trust 
➟ Growth 
➟ Respect 
➟ Recognition

When you hear these phrases, you feel valued.

You feel safe to share ideas and learn from mistakes.

You feel supported to collaborate and succeed.

These phrases create a positive environment.
One where people lift each other up.

A healthy workplace culture is powerful.
It starts with the words leaders choose.

Leaders, choose phrases that:

➟ Build trust
➟ Empower
➟ Inspire
➟ Unite

Words have the power to shape your team's success.

Use them wisely.
Use them often.

And always be sincere.

Be the leader who brings out greatness.

♻️ Agree? Repost to inspire someone in your network.

P.S. What phrase would you add to the list?

I used to think teamwork was just about
getting things done. Boy, was I wrong.

In my first leadership role, I pushed hard.

We hit every deadline.
But the energy was off.

People looked drained.
Disconnected.

Done, but not proud.

That’s when it hit me:

A group of people working together isn’t a team.
It’s just individuals sharing a calendar.

Real teams are built on something deeper:
✅ Trust that has your back
✅ Respect that values your voice
✅ Care that sees you as a person (not just an employee)

So I changed how I showed up.

I started listening more.
Asking questions that weren’t about work.
Showing appreciation without a reason.

The outcome?
More ideas
More smiles
More support

And yes, more results.
 
We weren’t just working together.
We were in it together.

Look...

You can force people to collaborate.
But you can’t force them to care.

That part is earned.
By how you show up.

True teams are built on relationships, not just results.

What’s your #1 tip for building real team trust?

♻️ Enjoy this? Repost to help a leader in your network.

To me, leadership is about believing in people.

It's looking for the best in them, and giving them
opportunities to show it.

Celebrating their wins as if they were your own.

Success comes from lifting others up.

A leader's true impact is seen in their team's growth.

Help others win.
Cheer for them along the way.

It doesn't take away from you.
It adds to you.

A leader's superpower is to bring out
the superpowers in others.

When you lift others, you rise too.

♻️ Agree? Repost to help others be better leaders.

Less than 25% of leaders show authenticity consistently.

A leader's style can be the difference between:
An employee quitting their dream job,
or growing into their true potential.

Most leaders obsess over what they accomplish.
Few pay attention to how they show up.

In my 24 years in business, I've learned:

True leadership isn't about perfection.
It's all about connection.

Own your vulnerability.
Admit when you're wrong.
Ask for help when you need it.

It's okay to be human.

Think about the best leader you ever had.

I bet they made you feel:

➟ Heard
➟ Valued
➟ Capable

That's the power of authentic leadership.

It's not about having all the answers.
It's about being real. Building trust. Inspiring growth.

Maya Angelou was right:

"People will forget what you said,
they'll forget what you did,
but they'll never forget
how you made them feel."

Be the leader who brings out the best in others.

Not by demanding perfection,
but by showing what's possible through authenticity.

The best part?

You already have everything you need.

Just be you.

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Thank you!

The moment fear enters your workplace,
something valuable walks out.

I see it in workplaces everywhere.

⛔ A leader who rules by intimidation.
⛔ A team that's too afraid to innovate.
⛔ Meetings filled with silence instead of ideas.

When you manage by fear:
• People focus on avoiding mistakes
• Energy goes to self-protection
• Growth becomes impossible

This isn't leadership. It's control.

True leaders understand that:
✅ Support produces better results than threats
✅ Kindness builds stronger teams than fear
✅ EQ spots problems before they grow

The numbers back this up.

Teams led with empathy consistently:
• Solve problems more creatively
• Perform better under pressure
• Adapt to change faster
• Stay together longer

Fear might get short-term compliance.
But it kills long-term excellence.

The choice is simple.

Lead with fear, and watch people shrink.
Lead with heart, and watch them soar.

Your team is capable of brilliance.
But only when they're not afraid to shine.

♻️ Repost if this resonates with you.
Thank you!

Trust is a leader's only real job.

Not strategy. Not vision. Not goals.

Trust.

You can have the best plans in the world.
But if your people don't trust you.
They won't follow you.

If they don't trust each other.
They won't collaborate.

And without trust,
even brilliant strategies
produce mediocre results.

I've seen it happen.

A team with all the talent in the world.
Great ideas. Clear direction.
But no trust.

So people held back.

Played it safe.
Watched their own backs.
Nothing moved forward.

Trust is the multiplier.
Without it, everything else falls flat.

Here's how great leaders build it:

1. Do what you say you'll do.
Always.
Consistent actions speak volumes.

2. Own it when you're wrong.
Your team already knows.
Admitting it builds respect.

3. Share information freely.
Hoarding it creates suspicion.
Transparency creates safety.

4. Have hard conversations early.
Avoiding them erodes trust.
Having them with compassion build it.

5. Back your people publicly.
Defend them when they're not in the room.

6. Give credit generously.
Take blame personally.
This is non-negotiable.

7. Be consistent.
Predictability isn't boring.
It's the foundation of psychological safety.

Your people are always watching.

Not what you say. What you do.

Lead with trust. Everything else follows.

What would you add to this list?
Let's learn from each other.

♻️ Repost to help a leader in your network.
Thanks!

You can't control much in life,
but these 22 things you always can:

1. Your Attitude
Opt for a positive outlook.
 
2. Your Integrity
Stick to your values, even when it's hard.
 
3. Your Courage
Face your fears and grow.
 
4. Your Kindness
A small act can change someone's day.
 
5. Your Influence
Be the leader you'd follow.
 
6. Your Actions
Make decisions you'll be proud of later.
 
7. Your Boundaries
Say no when you need to.
 
8. Your Effort
Push through when it gets tough.

9. Your Circle
Surround yourself with supportive people.
 
10. Your Self-Belief
Believe you can, and you will.
 
11. Your Excuses
Kill them before they kill your dreams.
 
12. Your Goals
Set them high, but achievable.
 
13. Your Focus
Choose where you direct your attention.
 
14. Your Limits
Break them, then set new ones.
 
15. Your Time
Prioritize what matters most to you.
 
16. Your Words
Speak positively to yourself and others.
 
17. Your Self-Care
Make time for yourself every day.
 
18. Your Silence
Speak up, even when it's unpopular.
 
19. Your Inner Critic
Put it in its place.
 
20. Your Mindset
Shift from fixed to growth thinking.
 
21. Your Purpose
Align your actions with your mission.
 
22. Your Gratitude
Count your blessings, no matter how small.

Your power starts and ends with you 💪.

Master these... and your world transforms.

You're not a passenger in life.
You're the driver.

P.S. Which of the 22 is most important to you?
Any I missed that you'd add?

♻️ If this resonates with you, repost for others too.
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Great leaders change lives.

12 things that make them memorable:

1. They Believe in You
↳ They see the potential you may not see in yourself.

2. They Trust You
↳ They give you the freedom to learn and grow.

3. They Lead by Example
↳ They show you the way through their own actions.

4. They Listen With Empathy
↳ They listen to understand, not just to reply.

5. They Respect Your Personal Life
↳ They value your time outside of work.

6. They Offer You Flexibility
↳ They make it easier to manage your responsibilities.

7. They Welcome Your Ideas
↳ They encourage you to share your perspective.

8. They Invest in Your Growth
↳ They support your development and career growth.

9. They Give You Honest Feedback
↳ Their constructive guidance helps you improve.

10. They Challenge You to Be Your Best
↳ They push you to stretch and reach your potential.

11. They Forgive Your Mistakes
↳ They create a safe environment for you and your team.

12. They Admit When They're Wrong
↳ They take responsibility for their mistakes.

Great leaders are human too.

They have bad days and make mistakes.

But you know they genuinely care about you.

They inspire you to be a better version of yourself.

If you've had a leader like this, you know how valuable they are.

They're the ones you remember long after you've moved on.

And if you're a leader now, be one like this for others.

Agree? Repost to share with your network ♻️. Thanks!

P.S. Know a leader like this? Tag them in the comments.

Want PDFs of my 99 best cheat sheets?
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This teacher does something that puts most leaders to shame.

Every morning, she stands at her classroom door.
Each student gets to choose how they're greeted.

A hug.
A bow.
A high-five.
A fist bump.
A silly dance.

17 kids. 17 different preferences. Zero assumptions.

She doesn't greet them the way she wants.
She greets them the way they need.

That's emotional intelligence in action.

It starts with curiosity.

Caring enough to learn what each person needs.
Not treating everyone the same.
Treating each as an individual.

The best leaders I know do this:
They learn each person's "greeting."

They ask:
→ How do you prefer to receive feedback?
→ What does support look like for you?
→ How do you want your wins celebrated?

It takes more effort than a one-size-fits-all approach.

But it builds something you can't fake:
Trust.

When people feel seen as individuals,
(not just workers filling a role)
they show up differently.

They give more.
They stay longer.
They fight for your success.

Emotional intelligence isn't a soft skill.

It's a leadership superpower.

♻️ Repost to help leaders in your network.

(Video credit: Unknown)

Brutal truth: Your customer experience will never
exceed your employee experience.

Most leaders get it backward.

They obsess over customer satisfaction while
their teams burn out in the background.

25 years in business have taught me one thing
more than anything else:

Your customers will never be happier than your people.

Think about it.

Who's answering that support call at 8pm?
Who's staying late to fix that urgent problem?
Who's going above and beyond for your clients?

Your team.

And when they feel

➟ Undervalued
➟ Underpaid
➟ Unheard

That energy shows up in every customer interaction.

I learned this the hard way at a previous company.

We lost 3 top performers in one month.

Customer complaints doubled.
Response times tripled.
Revenue took a hit.

So we flipped our priorities:

✓ Team wellbeing before quarterly targets
✓ Investment in people before new tech
✓ Flexibility before rigid policies
✓ Recognition before criticism

The results?
Customer satisfaction hit record highs.
Employee turnover dropped 90%.
Profits followed naturally.

Look... your employees are your first customers.

When you take care of them,
they take care of everything else.

Start there. Always start there.

♻️ Repost to help others build a positive culture.
Thanks!

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9 mindsets I see in every successful person:

They're not born with them.

They develop them through daily habits.

And you can too. Here's how:

1. Embrace curiosity.
↳ Ask questions. Invite new perspectives.
↳ Learning isn't a phase. It's a lifelong pursuit.

2. Focus on solutions.
↳ When problems arise, take a breath.
↳ Then ask: What can I do to fix this?

3. Reframe failure.
↳ Setbacks happen. Success is how you respond.
↳ Persistence beats talent every time.

4. Prioritize ruthlessly.
↳ Set clear goals. Say no to distractions.
↳ Consistency compounds. Small steps = big results.

5. Be resilient.
↳ Challenges will come. Prepare yourself mentally.
↳ When they hit, dig deep. Stay strong.

6. Seek wisdom.

↳ Surround yourself with people who inspire you.
↳ Listen to their stories. Learn from their mistakes.

7. Invest in yourself.
↳ Your health is your greatest asset.
↳ Prioritize sleep, nutrition, and exercise.

8. Keep your commitments.
↳ Long-term success is built on integrity.
↳ Do what you say. Show up on time.

9. Take responsibility. Give gratitude.
↳ Own your life. Your wins. Your losses.
↳ And be thankful for all of it.

Mindset is a choice.

You can't control everything that happens.
But you can always control your response.

Success is the sum of your daily choices.

It's not easy. But it's always worth it.

Agree? Repost to share with others ♻️.

P.S. Which trait do you see as most important?

Want PDFs of my 99 best cheat sheets?
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Your mindset decides your success.

I used to think success was about
skills and strategy.

Then I watched brilliant people fail
while "average" ones soared.

The difference? Their mindset.

6 steps to build a success mindset that works:

1. Know yourself. Really know yourself.
What lights you up?
What drains your energy?
Where are you holding back?

2. Get crystal clear on your non-negotiables.
These aren't just boundaries.
They're your compass for every decision.

Most people stop here. But there's more.

3. Master the 80/20 rule.
Focus on the few things that create real impact.
Cut the busywork that keeps you stuck.

4. Learn to say "no" without guilt.
Every "yes" to something unimportant
is a "no" to something that matters.

5. Choose your circle carefully.
The right people challenge you to grow.
The wrong ones keep you comfortable.

And here's the big one:

6. Show up. Especially when it's hard.
When motivation fades (it will),
let discipline carry you forward.

Small steps on tough days build
the resilience others envy.

Remember:

Your mindset isn't just how you think.
It's how you show up every day.

That's how you build success that lasts.

Make 2026 the year you master your mindset.

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Bad leaders think they wear a crown.
Good leaders wear a hat.
Great leaders?

They wear 10.

Because your team doesn't need just one kind of support.

They need the right kind. At the right time.

That’s what great leaders understand.
They don’t cling to one identity.
They adapt. They serve.

They know when to wear:

1/ The Mentor
➟ Share wisdom without preaching
➟ Guide, don’t control
➟ Help them find their own answers

2/ The Coach
➟ Spot potential before they do
➟ Push when they hesitate
➟ Invest in their growth

3/ The Defender
➟ Shield them from politics
➟ Fight the battles they shouldn’t have to
➟ Protect without hovering

4/ The Translator
➟ Speak their language, not yours
➟ Bridge gaps between levels
➟ Simplify the complex

5/ The Cheerleader
➟ Spot the effort before the result
➟ Recognize in public, correct in private
➟ Make appreciation your daily habit

6/ The Therapist
➟ Hold space for human moments
➟ Listen before solving
➟ Show it's okay not to be okay

7/ The Janitor
➟ Clean up the mess without blame
➟ Fix first, debrief later
➟ Roll up sleeves when needed

8/ The Student
➟ Learn from everyone
➟ Admit when you don't know
➟ Make curiosity contagious

9/ The Mirror
➟ Reflect their best self back
➟ Show potential, not limits
➟ See who they're becoming

10/ The Compass
➟ Point to true north in chaos
➟ Stay steady when others panic
➟ Remind them of the why

Leadership isn't a rank or role.

It's how you treat people.
Your service. Your support.

You don't need a promotion.
You don't need permission.
You don't even need a title.

Just the courage to step up.
And serve.

Because the best leaders aren't wearing a crown.
They're switching hats.

One at a time.
Exactly when their team needs it most.

P.S. What did I miss? Which hat would you add?

♻️ Repost to help a leader in your network.
🔖 Follow Justin Wright for more on servant leadership.

Want PDFs of my 80 best cheat sheets?
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We obsess over numbers.
Revenue. Margins. Forecasts.
But the truth?

Business is 100% about people.

Yet most leaders still focus on:

KPIs
Metrics
Dashboards
Profit margins
Quarterly results

And they lose sight of the very thing
making those numbers possible:

People.

➟ The ones solving the problems
➟ Delivering those numbers
➟ Building the systems
➟ Closing the deals

Want your business to thrive?
Start with your people.

Show them you care about:

➟ Their growth
➟ Their dreams
➟ Their wellbeing
➟ Their challenges

Because when people feel valued as humans
(not just employees)...

➟ They bring their best work
➟ They go the extra mile
➟ They stay longer
➟ They care more

If you want people to care about your business,
show them first that you care about them as people.

Business is personal.
It always was.
It always will be.
(even with AI)

Lead with heart.
The results will follow.

P.S. Tag a leader who gets this.
♻️ Repost to inspire your network.

Kind leadership isn't soft.

It's the hardest kind there is.

I used to think being a kind boss meant avoiding hard conversations.

Letting things slide.
Keeping the peace.

I was wrong.

That's not kindness.
That's cowardice in disguise.

Real kindness requires courage.

The courage to tell someone the truth they need to hear.

The courage to protect your team's time when everyone wants a piece of it.

The courage to sit with someone in their mess instead of disappearing.

9 Signs of a Kind Leader:

1. They have hard conversations early (before small issues become big problems)

2. They share their own failures (because vulnerability builds trust better than "faking" perfection)

3. They listen to understand, not to respond (put the phone down)

4. They shine the spotlight on others (and stay in the shadows themselves)

5. They cancel the meetings that waste everyone's time (and defend their team's focus)

6. They show up when things fall apart (not just when things go well)

7. They expect excellence AND provide the support to achieve it

8. They know their people as humans first (not just job titles)

9. They grow people who don't need them anymore (that's the goal)

And the hardest part is...

Kind leadership means putting someone else's growth above your own comfort.

Most leaders won't do it.

It's easier to bark orders.
Demand results.
Take credit.

But those "leaders" wonder why their best people leave.

Kind leaders build teams that stay, grow, and thrive.

Choose your legacy wisely.

Because people will forget your title.

They'll never forget how you made them feel.

P.S. Know a kind leader? Tag them in the comments.

♻️ Repost to inspire a leader in your network.

Want a PDF of my Kind Leadership Cheat Sheet?
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Leadership isn't about your title.
It's about how you make people feel.

11 signs you're a leader others (actually) want to follow:

01/ You defend them when they're not in the room.
02/ You give credit in public and coach in private.
03/ You fight battles they don't even know about.
04/ You shut down toxicity before it spreads.
05/ You see their potential before they do.
06/ You make their success your priority.
07/ You stay kind when times get tough.
08/ You apologize when you mess up.
09/ You show up when it matters.
10/ You let them outgrow you.
11/ You keep your promises.

I've known "leaders" with fancy titles
who made me feel invisible.

And others who led by influence 
and changed entire careers.

The difference?

One cared about their position.
The other cared about their people.

Here's what real leaders know:

Your team's success is your success.
Their growth is your legacy.
Their trust is what makes you a leader.

Not your title.

Be the leader who makes people believe
in themselves.

That's the kind of impact that lasts forever.

♻️ Repost to inspire a leader in your network.

Want PDFs of my 99 best cheat sheets?
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The most powerful thing a leader ever said to me
was 5 words.

"I think you'll do great."
That's it.

No long speech. No formal meeting.

Just a quick comment before I walked
into my first big presentation.

I was terrified.
700 pairs of eyes on me.

But my boss saw something different.

He didn't just say "good luck."
He said "I think you'll do great."

And something shifted.

I stood a little taller.
Spoke a little clearer.
Believed a little more.

That presentation changed my career.
Not because I was ready.
Because someone believed I was.

That's the day I learned...

Your belief in someone can unlock
what they can't see in themselves.

You see, belief is contagious.

Behind every confident, successful person
is someone who believed in them first.

When someone believes in you,
you start believing in yourself.

And when you believe in yourself,
you become unstoppable.

Think about who gave you that gift.

A parent. A coach. A boss. A friend.

Someone who saw your potential before you did.

Now think about who needs that from you.

Who's waiting for permission to believe in themselves?

Who needs to hear "I think you'd be great"?

You have that power.
Use it.

Lift someone up today.

Watch what happens when they finally see what you see.

It might just change their life.

Like it changed mine.

P.S. Know a leader like this?
Tag them in the comments.

♻️  Repost to inspire a leader who needs to hear this.
Thank you!

Grow Your Career 1% Daily - I’ll Show You How | Follow for Tips on Learning, Professional Development, and Productivity | Professor | MBA + JD

Is this the part where I talk about brand voice, distribution, and storytelling across the funnel? Or say we “help companies scale content that converts”?

𝗪𝗲 𝗱𝗼 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁.

But what we really do is write content your team doesn’t have to worry about, so you can stay focused on strategy, not sentence structure.

𝗛𝗲𝘆, 𝗜’𝗺 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗻. 👋

And my path here hasn’t exactly followed a playbook:
Banking → Law School → Teaching → L&D → Content

(Yeah… it’s been a ride.)

Today, I run a B2B content agency with my wife. We keep it lean and personal — just the two of us, plus our kids and a couple barky mini schnauzers. 

At Damn Smart Marketing, we give marketers writing they can trust and results they can stand behind.

✓ Content that sounds like you (not a template, not bland AI)
✓ Full support from idea to publication
✓ A partner who gets content
✓ Zero fluff, zero hand-holding
✓ More time to focus on what matters

In other words: you get to 🚀 while we handle the ✍️.

𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿? 𝗧𝘄𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸:

1️⃣ 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗲-𝗳𝗼𝗿-𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀.
Blogs, LinkedIn posts, newsletters, case studies. If it’s got words, we’ll write it. You get to run the show without sweating every sentence.

2️⃣ 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱𝗜𝗻 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀.
We’ve built an AI-assisted workflow that makes posting easy, effective, and actually worth reading.

If you're curious, DM me. 

No cold, hard pitch, I promise. Just a real convo about where you’re headed and whether some damn smart content can help.

Stephen 😀

Stephen Mostrom

How my wife and I work together without losing our minds (or our marriage)...

9 years ago, Donna and I started Damn Smart Marketing.
4 years ago, we niched down to B2B content writing. 
24 months ago, I joined full-time. 

It's been a wild ride. 
Full of ups and downs. 

And, when we share our story with others, the same question comes up every time.

"How do you work with your partner 24/7 without killing each other?"

Here's our formula: 

1 - Love your differences (really!)
2 - Create a clear division of duties
3 - Remove pressure whenever possible
4 - Talk about everything
5 - Leave your ego at the door

Interested in learning more about how we make it work?

👉 https://lnkd.in/gtPzBpME

Writer for B2B Tech & Finance ✍️ | Running a content agency with my wife (and yes, still married) | Human words, AI workflows | JD & MBA

I've got one resolution for '26. 
KEEP. IT. REAL. 

Real talk
- Words I’d say out loud, not empty-calorie buzzwords
- Taking a stance, not performative "thought leadership"
- Posting for people, not the algorithm

Real content
- Heart-first drafts, not perfect-first outputs
- A voice with fingerprints, not generic AI fluff
- Photos that feel lived-in, not perfectly staged

Real-ationships
- Showing up first, not keeping score
- Chats that run long, not calendar Tetris
- Conversations with pauses, not pitches

LinkedIn.
The business world.
The internet.
Honestly, the whole globe.

It’s getting more synthetic by the second.

Time to swim against the current. 

Real only. 
No exceptions. 

You in?

LinkedIn friends: Can you help me get the word out?

I’ve got *a lot* of thoughts on writing, creativity, AI (and where to avoid it), and B2B marketing. 

(Also the last season of Stranger Things… but that’s a separate thread)

I’m looking to connect with smart folks who care about these topics and want to have no-fluff conversations around them.

If you know anyone I should meet, I’d appreciate a tag or a DM:

- Podcast hosts
- Conference organizers
- Speaking opportunities
- Or adjacent worlds I should be paying attention to

And if you just want to talk about The Upside Down or how Steve + Dustin are an elite duo, I’m here for that too!

Thanks in advance. 🙏

I assume every LinkedIn post will flop (yes, even after 1M+ impressions). So, I run mine through this 10-point checklist before hitting publish.👇

The result?

10k+ followers
Viral client posts
Countless connections

Here's the checklist: 

1. Did I start with the good stuff?
Weak hook, no go. I’ll tweak it 100x to get it right.

2. Does this post sound like me? (Or like AI?)
Beep boop. No thanks, I’ll stick to Stephen writing. 

3. Did I make it easy to read?
No one’s reading bland blocks of text during their coffee break.

4. Did I paint the picture?
Feelings, stakes, pain. That makes a story real. 

5. Will I remember this tomorrow?
If it’s forgettable to me, it’s forgettable to them.

6. Am I talking to one person, or broadcasting to everyone?
Generic tone = generic results. I write to one reader and one reader only.

7. Did I edit out the filler?
Adverbs, clichés, throat-clearing intros. I cut them with a chainsaw.

8. Did I anchor it in lived experience?
Real stories beat abstract advice every day (twice on Sundays).

9. What’s the one thing I want someone to remember?
If my post has 6 points, it has no point.

10. Did I enjoy writing it?
If it felt like a chore, it’ll probably read like one too.

Your go-to?

Who in their right mind adds 25 pounds to their morning walk?

Umm....

Last year, I started wearing a weighted vest. Unless it's 110° or more, most mornings you'll find me with three dogs walking a mile loop around Chandler. 

Shoulders strained. 
Core (hopefully) engaged. 
CCR probably on repeat. 

It's the funny bit about exercise...

To get stronger, you have to intentionally do hard things. Lift heavy stuff, run when nothing's chasing you, or strap extra weight to your body. 

The reward?
Growth. 

Problem is, when I look at the mental side of work, all I see are shortcuts. AI wasn't the first, but boy is it the loudest. 

"Write 100 LinkedIn posts in 30 seconds!"
"Turn one idea into a week of content!"
"Hit publish without ever breaking a sweat!"

There’s absolutely a time and place for speed, efficiency, and productivity.

But if everything gets easier…
When do we actually get stronger?

This isn't theoretical. 

Darja Djordjevic (Columbia Univ) on AI: 
“Here is a machine that is always available, endlessly enthusiastic, and seemingly competent in every domain. That creates a powerful feedback loop. You skip the discomfort of starting from scratch and get rewarded in seconds.”

Great for the short-term. 
Hazardous for the long. 

That's why I'm personally putting on weighted vests at work, too. 

Writing the first draft from scratch.
Sitting with the mess before cleaning it up.
Thinking before prompting.

Do I use AI? Of course.
But it’s the spotter, not the lifter.

Because the discomfort *is* the workout.

Maybe I'm not in my right mind. 
Maybe that's okay... as long as I'm growing. 🤷

Last year, I ghostwrote on LinkedIn for a dozen execs. 12M+ impressions, 20k+ followers. Here are 4 post types that delivered (and why): 

1. Scar stories

Easily our top-performer. 

What were the bottom-rung moments in a career (fumbles, toxic peers, etc)? And, most importantly, what did you learn from them?

One six-figure impression post from last year started with, “When I left the boardroom, I thought I was fired.” 

These posts counter the perfect upward path so often embedded in thought leadership content. 

They take courage to post. 
And that’s why they work. 

2. Non-obvious + niche trends

Market trend posts work when you’ve got a one-of-one view. 
And genuine thought leaders do. 

The key is making sure the trends don’t sound like an economics report. 

They need to cut deep for your target audience. 
Show you’re in the trenches. 

Not “5 [industry] trends,” but “5 patterns showing up across every [industry] conversation I’m in.”

3. Have you seen?

This is the small-scale side of the trends conversation. 
Commenting on news happening right now, this minute. 

- Major shakeup in your industry
- Big, bold stance by leadership
- Real-time data that informs decisions

In one move, you bring your readership into the fold (“have you seen?”), then lay out your angle (“here’s how I see it”). 

Timely and opinionated. 

4. I used to think X, now I think Y

Growth is interesting. 

People love to map the trajectory a leader’s taken. They want to see the nitty-gritty thoughts that shape million-dollar (billion-dollar?) leadership. 

One post that caught fire last year…
 
It broke down the people side of a data-heavy business. “I used to think the numbers mattered most, now I think it’s those small hallway conversations.”

Growth. And how it happens. 
Your readers can easily take notes. 




What do these posts have in common?

- Specific to YOU, not just anyone
- Getting real with your struggles and journey
- Putting the “thought” in thought leadership

That’s what separates the leaders people sync with…
From content that gets scrolled past and forgotten.

This might be my favorite January reading stack ever ↓

📚 How fear shaped history, politics, society, and more 
📚 One man's journey to consume the entire encyclopedia britannica
📚 The economist behind "Capital" takes on current events
📚 AI's impact on human writing (hint: it's not good)
📚 A globetrotting journey via classic works of fiction

What are you reading?
(Recommendations, please! I'm building my list for next month)

I'm tired of reading LinkedIn posts stuffed with fluff. 

Too many words. Too little payoff. A waste of everyone's time...

The result:
Writer – Annoyed that their message isn't resonating. 😡 
Reader – Annoyed that their attention isn't respected. 😤 

Who's this working for?
Answer: no one.

Time to get back to an old writing rule I swear by, "Every word not working for you... is working against you." 

Time to ditch words that add nothing. 

↓↓↓
These are the 4 worst offenders I see every single day: 

1. Buzzword Bingo
“Leverage”
“Synergy”
“Thought leadership”
“Game-changing”

2. The Warm-Up Lap
“I’ve been thinking a lot lately…”
“I wanted to share a quick thought…”
“This might resonate with some of you…”
“Just some reflections…”

3. Captain Generic
“Bet on yourself.”
“Show up.”
“Do the work.”
"Success isn't linear."

4. Say It Again, But Louder
“In other words…”
“Put simply…”
“Let me explain…”
“To clarify…”

Instead of fluff, do this...

Get to the point. 
Respect your reader. 
Mic drop and move on. 

Yeah?

Buffer crunched 2M+ data points to answer the question: How often should you post on LinkedIn to maximize reach? ↓

2-5 times per week. 

Doesn’t have to be every day. 
Doesn’t have to destroy your calendar. 

But moving from “whenever I have time” or once a month to this range yields serious results. 

+1,182 more impressions per post
0.23 percentage point lift in engagement rate

Buffer calls it “flipping a switch.”

That’s why, when we work with busy execs and founders at Damn Smart Marketing, we use a simple 3 / 30 approach: 

3 → publish three posts per week (minus holidays)
30 → one 30-minute weekly brainstorm to generate raw ideas

(Huge shoutout to Devin Reed, who runs this process to perfection. His breakdown is worth a look: https://lnkd.in/gcghEk5R)

That’s it. 

The difference between fading into the background and showing up in the feed of the people you want to reach. 

Questions?
Drop them below or DM me.

It's official: most folks DO NOT want to read AI. 

I've suspected as much. Seen loads of spiky posts about it on LinkedIn. But this is 4,484 people casting their vote, and you can see...

Only 16% keep reading, no problem. 
Whoa. 🤯 

My thoughts: 

1 - This topic is emotional quicksand. 4k+ people voting on a LinkedIn poll... that crazy, and a signal that people REALLY care. 

This isn't a shoulder shrug.  
It's a raging fire we need to pay attention to. 

2 - How do you know something was written by AI? Short answer: you don't. Instead, we're all judging in seconds. 

Is it flat, lifeless? Could anyone have written it? 
Does it have an em dash or too many rule of threes?

There's no rulebook. 
Just people making assumptions. 

As writers, marketers, and content folks...
We have to know this. Understand it. Adapt to it. 

3 - Content is about making bets. Bets that something you create will resonate and lead to a conversation, trust-building, etc. 

Idk about you...

But I don't want to bet on 16% odds. The chance folks MIGHT ignore the AI of it all and keep reading anyway... even if ChatGPT can generate 1M words in 3 seconds.

The smarter bet? 
Write for people. Write what resonates. 

And at least according to this (pretty big) poll, that isn't AI. 



Ok, enough of my ramblings...
What do you think? 

P.S. Shoutout to Mel Barfield for doing the work.

This LinkedIn post should have been a snoozefest. ↓

Instead, it's one of the best examples of writing voice I've ever seen. 


We've all seen the new furry friend angle.
Usually it's “I got a pup! 🐶” and 5 likes.

But not Lauren. 

Check it…

1 - She pulls you right into the storyworld

“middle of the workday” → busy CEO
“puppy with bad eyes” → awwww
“definitely don’t need another dog” → tension
“skin of our gahdayum teeth” → relatability
“ohmygaaaahhhh” → human emotion
“drive four hours” → commitment

And then there’s her backstory:
“lost… one year ago this week”
😭😭😭

2 - She uses (gasp) humor

Pile of laundry?
Mitch McConnell? 

I won’t explain the funny here cause that ruins it. 
But c’mon. This is standup level. 

3 - She sounds so human

Running around at 1 million miles per hour. 
Making heartfelt decisions. 
Talking pup names with her husband. 
Reflecting on the past and looking to the future. 

All in 115 words. 



I’ve never met Lauren. 
Never seen her content on LinkedIn before. 
But you can bet I smashed that “like” button fast. 

And last I checked, 1000+ others had too. 

Wow. Great writing. 
Who knew?

“Have AI write the first draft, then edit.” 

I know smart folks who write this way. It works for them. Real talk, though, it's not how I do my best writing.

Here's why: 

1 - The 1000-pound anchor. 

Once words are on the screen, they’re hard to ignore. You start reacting to what’s there instead of imagining what could be.

That usually means less human judgment. Less original thinking.

You either have to edit hard and fast and often. 
Or you quietly settle.

2 - It’s painfully predictable.

AI leans on the same phrases, rhythms, and structures. Even when you tell it to mix things up.

So I’m left with two bad options:
- Everything I write starts to sound the same
- I spend time hacking and rearranging instead of thinking

Both feel like fighting the work instead of doing it.

3 - I want my creative muscles strong.

I plan to write tomorrow. And the day after that. And the day after that.

When I'm on a client call, I want ideas flowing straight from my brain (not from a prompt I used last week). 

That only happens with reps.

Staring down the blank page like it's a roaring dragon spitting flames. And coming out the other side untouched. 

---

My process instead: 

- I write the first draft, messy and human. 
- I get feedback from trusted peers and my co-founder. 
- I use AI for grammar, polish, and the occasional word swap.

That balance works for me. 
It protects originality without sacrificing speed or quality.

Curious how others do it.

AI-written first drafts?
Or human-first?

When execs and founders ask me how to win on LinkedIn, I give the same advice every time: Hook your reader. Here are 5 hook-writing tips👇

1. Know the fundamentals

Your hook = what shows before “see more.”
You’ve got about 200 characters to earn the click.
Make it count.

2. Use specific, emotionally charged words

Generic is boring. Stats are boring. I’ve seen enough posts start with a bland sentence + stat to fill a stadium.

Don’t aim for the head. Aim for the heart.

And use the words that speak to them...

Think:
– Burnout, not low engagement
– Ghosted, not no response
– Nightmare spreadsheet, not manual process

3. Inject your POV

There’s way too much “you should” on here. Try “I did” instead.

Personal stories beat generic advice every day of the week.

Simple formula:
Do interesting things. Talk about them.

4. Signal value early

If you’re sharing 5 tips, say that up front. Please don’t make people guess what they’re getting.

Clarity builds trust... fast.

5. Benefits, benefits, benefits

Assumption is a dangerous game on LinkedIn. The audience is too wide, too diverse.

So spell it out:
- Why should someone care? (benefit)
- What’s it going to help them do? (benefit)
- What’s the end result? (benefit)

If the value’s not obvious, they’ll scroll. Every time.


---
Your turn: What's your go-to tip for writing a standout hook?

Donna Mostrom calls our LLM “Cathy.”

Because we use ChatGPT.

Chatty Cathy.
Well played. 🫡

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The Battle

Justin Wright

Stephen Mostrom

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Performance ScoreJustin Wright's LinkedIn Performance

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taplio

The Battle

Justin Wright

Stephen Mostrom

Followers

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Engagements

Likes

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

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Performance ScoreJustin Wright's LinkedIn Performance