Merck

I spearhead the strategic evolution of Merck's talent landscape, focusing on the creation of an enterprise-wide skilling and talent intelligence strategy, including the development of a global skills ontology. My efforts are central to transitioning Merck towards a dynamic, skills-powered organization, leveraging AI and innovative technologies to map out the future of talent intelligence. A critical project under my leadership is the co-launch of the Career Hub, Merck's first global internal talent marketplace, designed to facilitate dynamic career paths, learning and enhance internal mobility. This initiative underscores our commitment to fostering a culture of continuous learning and development, aligning talent capabilities with our forward-looking business objectives.

Executive • Global Director, Future of Work and Skills Based Organization (SBO) Strategy

LinkedIn

🌟 LinkedIn Top Voice: Future of Work & Talent Strategy 🌟

Honored to be recognized as a LinkedIn Top Voice in the Future of Work & Talent Strategy sphere, a prestigious designation celebrating thought leaders shaping the way we work and lead. 

Join me as we explore innovative strategies, insights, and trends driving workplace transformation. Together, let’s empower professionals, foster engagement, and catalyze positive change in the ever-evolving landscape of work. 

#LinkedInTopVoice #FutureOfWork #TalentStrategy #LifeWorkDesign #CareerGrowth

Linkedin Top Voice

Mindora

As an Advisor and Angel Investor at Mindora, I am driven to reshape the HR tech industry by elevating employee well-being through innovative well-being intelligence. 

Leveraging deep expertise in talent development and a commitment to a human-centered approach, I guide Mindora's strategic growth and innovation using artificial intelligence. My focus is on harmonizing technological advancements with core human values, aiming to enhance both individual and organizational success.

HR Industry Advisor • Angel Investor

Kason Morris & Co.

Founder • Principal • Fractional Executive Advisory, Consulting and Coaching

Designing Your New Work Life

Learn how to create your desired job without necessarily leaving your current role. In today's ever-changing work landscape, workers have the power to define their happiness and success.

Designing Your Work-Life methods empower individuals at any career stage to design and create positive changes. Whether you want to find meaning in your current job or explore new opportunities, I can guide you in visualizing and building a productive, engaged, satisfying, and enjoyable work-life.

Areas of Expertise:

Career Development | Skill Development | Lifestyle Design | Career Design | Best Practice & Continuous Improvement | Coaching | Design Thinking

Certified Life and Work Design Coach • Speaker • Consultant

Corporate Learning Network

As an Advisory Board Member at the Corporate Learning Network, I contribute to helping learning executives provide the necessary knowledge to drive continuous productivity improvement and purposeful innovation—the two key drivers of corporate wealth.

Areas of Expertise:

Thought Leadership | Skill Development | Learning Development | Talent Development | Strategy | Learning Technology | Executive Leadership | Executive Coaching | Chief Learning Officer | Future of Work

Advisory Board Member  •  Thought-Leader  •  Speaker

Allstate

Join me at Allstate as we build a future-focused talent development strategy, empowering employees to grow and succeed. Leading skills, talent marketplace, and mobility initiatives, I helped to drive a global culture of inclusivity and innovation through talent intelligence while supporting talent acquisition, development, and retention. With expertise in talent management, learning, learning technologies, and organizational development, I was helping to build the future forward talent development strategy to unlock employee potential and create a better world of work while driving business performance.

My Charter:

• Designed and developed a robust internal talent marketplace strategy with dynamic future-ready global skills taxonomy and governance for business success.

• Enhanced career development and internal mobility practices, fostering continuous growth, progression, and retention of an employee population of 55,000+

• Provided global strategic process planning for AI-powered learning and skill technology implementations to align talent and skills development with organizational objectives.

Executive • Head of Global Internal Talent Marketplace, Skills and Mobility

Salesforce

At Salesforce, I ensured the highest quality and impact of Learning Experience Design (LXD). As the Head of Learning Experience Design, I provided practice leadership in learning design, collaborating with an amazing team of 50+ Learning Consultants and colleagues to create and deliver inspiring and effective learning experiences that drive employee performance.

Our mission was to enhance long-term skill development for 20,000+ global salespeople, contributing to over $20 billion in annual revenue.

Areas of Expertise:

Organizational Development | Strategy Implementation | Best Practice & Continuous Improvement | Learning Experience Design | Course Design | Coaching | Learning Technology | Onboarding | Leadership Development | Future of Work | Capability Academies | Talent Mobility | Upskilling | Inclusive Design

Executive • Head of Learning Experience Design

Command AF

Your personal brand is the gateway to your true work. Life is too short. Don't you want to do what matters? You know you are here for a purpose...to do something meaningful, to make a difference in the market or help someone.

Areas of Expertise:

Personal Branding | Market Differentiation | Purpose-driven Work | Impactful Marketing | Entrepreneurship

Founding Member

KNOWS Network Ltd

KNOWS Network Ltd. is a millennial and minority-owned professional services consortium with a proven track record of serving companies across the US, Africa, and Asia (Hong Kong, SG, SEA, China). With over 10 years of global expertise, we specialize in:

Management consulting
Leadership and professional skills development
Organizational learning and performance improvement (LPI)
Digital strategy
Digital transformation
Business incubation
Entrepreneurial enablement

Areas of Expertise:

Consulting | Training | Performance Improvement | Organizational Development | Strategy Implementation | Pipeline Development | Best Practice & Continuous Improvement | Proposal Development | Learning Facilitation | Learning Solutions Management & Delivery | Coaching | Learning Technology | Customized Skills Training

L&D Business Partner • Consultant 

Life-Work Design Architect | Transforming Workplaces & Careers | Leading Future of Work & Skills Strategy at Merck | AI Investor | Speaker | Advocate | GirlDad 🖤

𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲! 𝗜'𝗺 𝗞𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘀, 𝗮 𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸. 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀, 𝗜'𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.

🚀 𝗔𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗿, I leverage my expertise to forecast and navigate the evolving dynamics of the workforce. I'm passionate about promoting skill-powered, tech-driven talent development preparing organizations for unparalleled success.

🌟𝗠𝘆 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀. Through Life-Work Design, I fuse science-backed methods, like design and systems thinking, to facilitate transformative personal growth and skill development experiences. My coaching provides the essential tools for anyone ready to carve out fulfilling life and career pathways.

🌐 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆, I support projects, partnerships, and ventures that resonate with my vision of a skilled, equitable, and thriving future. My investment strategy reflects a commitment to human innovation and lasting impact.

👨🏾‍👧🏾‍👧🏾👩🏾‍🦱🧒🏾 𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝘀, 𝗺𝘆 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝗚𝗶𝗿𝗹 𝗗𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲. I integrate the lessons from my fatherhood journey with my professional understanding, guiding the design of the most crucial project: my best life.

✨ 𝗟𝗲𝘁'𝘀 𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲-𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲. I'm here to equip you with the mindsets, tools, and skill sets necessary for living your best life and achieving your best work. Whether seeking transformation in your career, leadership development or creating more meaningful work-life integration, I offer the insight and support you need to excel.

𝗜 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲-𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 𝗧𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿, 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘂𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲.🔮

Kason Morris, M.A.⚡ Design For Life

FREE LinkedIn Mini-Course (Link Below) | Showing You How To Generate High-Quality Leads On LinkedIn The Right Way Without Being Spammy Or Paying For Ads | LinkedIn Trainer

🤦‍♂️ Are you struggling to cut through the spammy noise on LinkedIn?



😔 Are cold DMs being ignored, even though you know you could help the right people?



❓ Do you feel like “posting more content” isn’t actually turning into real conversations or clients?



I totally understand your frustration! And it’s not even your fault. 



You’re not doing anything wrong.



LinkedIn has trained people to sell too early, automate too much, and treat relationships like transactions. As a result, inboxes are flooded, trust is low, and even great offers get ignored.



That’s frustrating... especially when you know your work delivers real value.



This is exactly why we do what we do.  I’ve been in online marketing for 20+ years and focused on LinkedIn lead generation for the last 8 years.



Over time, we watched response rates drop, trust erode, and “best practices” become spam.



So we stopped pitching.



Instead, we built a relationship-driven LinkedIn lead generation approach centred around what we now call the LinkedIn Reverse Podcast Strategy.



Most coaches, consultants, and service providers are dealing with:

❌ Prospects who ignore cold outreach

❌ Conversations that never move past small talk

❌ A LinkedIn feed full of content, but very few real opportunities



Our approach helps you:

✅ Start meaningful conversations without pitching or pressure

✅ Build instant trust by positioning prospects as the expert

✅ Turn LinkedIn connections into warm, natural discovery calls

✅ All without bad automation, spam, or awkward sales scripts.



This is how:

- We've booked 26 leads and sales calls in 10 days

- Booked 44 podcasts in one month for one of our clients, resulting in a massive pipeline of business for him

- We helped another client generate $100K+ from speaking with his ideal prospects he interviewed on his podcast



If you’d like to explore whether this approach could work for you...



Click on the 'Visit my website' button near the top of my profile to watch a short 7-minute trainer video that shows the power of how this can change your entire lead generation on LinkedIn!

Jason Osborn

You Have 5,000 LinkedIn Connections. Less Than 50 Even Know Who You Are.

That's Not a Network. That's a Vanity Metric.

Most people obsess over connection count.

They hit 500+. Then 1,000. Then 5,000.
They feel successful. Like they've built something.
Then they need a client. And realize nobody actually knows them.

Here's the truth:

Connection count doesn't equal relationships.

5,000 connections means nothing if:
→ They don't remember connecting with you
→ They wouldn't recognize your name in an email
→ They wouldn't respond if you reached out
→ They have no idea what you actually do

That's not a network. That's a database of strangers.

Most people confuse access with relationship.
Having someone's contact info doesn't mean you have a relationship.

You can message them. They can ignore you.
You're in their network. They don't know who you are.

That's the gap between connections and relationships.
Connections are passive. Relationships are active.

A real network knows you. Remembers you. Responds to you.
→ They've had actual conversations with you
→ They've seen you add value somewhere
→ They trust you enough to engage
→ They'd take your call or respond to your message

That takes work. Not just clicking "connect."

Here's the test:
How many of your 5,000 connections could you message right now and get a response?
Not a "who is this?" response. An actual conversation.

If the number is under 50, you don't have a network.
You have a contact list full of people who forgot you exist.

Quality beats quantity. Every single time.

50 real relationships beat 5,000 weak connections.
→ 50 people who know you, trust you, and respond = revenue
→ 5,000 people who vaguely remember accepting your request = nothing

Most people optimize for the wrong metric.
They celebrate hitting 1,000 connections.

Then wonder why their outreach gets ignored.
Because connection count doesn't build trust. Conversation does.

Stop collecting connections. Start building relationships.

What that actually looks like:
→ Comment on their posts thoughtfully
→ Send value without asking for anything
→ Show up consistently in conversations
→ Engage before you ever pitch

Do that with 50 people and you'll close more business than 5,000 passive connections ever will.

Your network isn't the number of people you're connected to.
It's the number of people who would respond if you reached out.

How many is that for you?

♻️ Repost this if someone is collecting connections, not relationships.
👉 Follow Jason Osborn for more on business growth and LinkedIn strategy.

Relationship Driven LinkedIn Lead Generation Through ‘Reverse Podcasts’ - Helping Coaches, Consultants, and Service Providers Build Clients Through Strategic Conversations | FREE Training click ‘Visit my website’ button

Why Relationship-First Selling Closes 67% (vs 8% Cold Outreach). Even more so on LinkedIn.

The Numbers Don't Lie. But Most Salespeople Ignore Them.

Most salespeople chase volume.

100 cold pitches. 200 connection requests. 500 emails.
Then they wonder why close rates stay at 8%.

Here's what the data actually shows:

Cold Outreach Approach:
→ Close rate: 8%
→ Average sales cycle: 3-4 weeks
→ Referral rate: <5%
→ Customer lifetime value: 1.2x
→ Trust level: Low
→ Price resistance: High

You're working hard. Hitting low conversion. Starting over every month.

Relationship-First Approach:
→ Close rate: 67%
→ Average sales cycle: 2-3 days (after 90-day relationship)
→ Referral rate: 40%+
→ Customer lifetime value: 3.8x
→ Trust level: High
→ Price resistance: Low

You're working smarter. Hitting high conversion. Building momentum that compounds.

Why the 67% works:
Decision anxiety already gone.
They've researched you for 90 days. They already know you're legitimate.
By the time you present your offer, they've validated you ten times over.
Reciprocity already established.
You've given value for months. They want to return the favor.

This isn't manipulation. It's human psychology.

Trust already built.
You're not a vendor. You're an advisor they already respect.
The sale doesn't feel transactional. It feels like the natural next step.
Objections already addressed.

Through 90 days of dialogue, you've learned and solved their concerns.
You're not overcoming objections. You already handled them weeks ago.
Sale already made.
By the time you present your offer, they've already decided.
You're not convincing them. You're just confirming what they already want.

The math is simple:

100 cold pitches × 8% close rate = 8 clients
15 relationships × 67% close rate = 10 clients

Relationship selling wins on volume AND conversion.
Fewer conversations. Higher close rate. Better clients.

Here's what most salespeople miss:

Cold outreach feels productive because you're doing a lot.
But activity isn't the same as results.

Sending 100 pitches feels like progress.
Closing 8 deals after burning through 100 leads isn't.

Relationship selling feels slower because you're doing less.
But you're closing more with less effort.
15 conversations over 90 days feels patient.
Closing 10 deals with 40%+ referral rate is exponential.

Stop selling to strangers. Start building relationships that sell themselves.
The 67% close rate isn't luck. It's trust.

Trust takes time. But it converts at 8x the rate of cold outreach.

Which approach are you actually using?

♻️ Repost this if someone needs the data.
👉 Follow Jason Osborn for more on business growth and LinkedIn strategy.

Your LinkedIn Strategy Is Backwards.

You're Trying to Sell Before You're Trusted.

Most LinkedIn strategies fail at the same point.
They skip the trust phase and jump straight to the offer.
Post content. Get some engagement. Send a pitch.
Then wonder why nobody responds.

Here's why it doesn't work:

Content creates awareness. Not trust.
People see your posts. They might even like them.
But that doesn't mean they trust you enough to hire you.

Awareness is the first step. Not the last one.

→ They know you exist ≠ They trust you with money
→ They follow you ≠ They'll take a call
→ They engage with your posts ≠ They're ready to buy

You're asking for the sale before you've built the relationship.
Trust requires conversation. Not content.

Content can't answer their specific question.
Content can't hear their actual problem.
Content can't adapt to their unique situation.

Only conversation does that.

You need to move from visibility to dialogue before you can move to transaction.
Most people reverse this.

They post for visibility. Then they pitch for transaction.
They skip dialogue entirely.

That's why it feels like selling to strangers. Because you are.

The sequence that actually works:

Content → Conversation → Trust → Transaction

Not: Content → Transaction

Content gets you noticed.
Conversation builds trust.
Trust creates the sale.

Skip the middle step and you're cold pitching people who barely know you.

Here's what this looks like in practice:

Someone engages with your post.
Don't pitch them. Start a conversation.
Ask about their situation. Learn their challenge. Offer genuine insight.
No agenda. No ask. Just dialogue.

Do that three times over two weeks and you've built more trust than 100 posts ever could.

Now when you mention your offer, they're ready to hear it.
Because you earned the right to make it.

Stop optimizing for reach. Start optimizing for conversation.

You don't need 10,000 followers.
You need 50 people who trust you enough to take a call.
Content gets you the 50. Conversation turns them into clients.

Most LinkedIn strategies focus on the wrong metric.
They measure followers, impressions, engagement rate.

None of that pays bills.
Conversations do. Trust does. Relationships do.

Your strategy isn't failing because your content isn't good enough.
It's failing because you're trying to sell before you're trusted.
Fix the sequence. Build trust first. Sell second.

Which step are you skipping?

♻️ Repost this if someone needs to hear it.
👉 Follow Jason Osborn for more on business growth and LinkedIn strategy.

The Relationship Revenue Gap: Why Fast Sellers Stay Broke.

I Watched Two Salespeople Start the Same Week.

One sent 100 cold pitches in week one.

The other started 15 conversations.

Same industry. Same offer. Same market.
Three months later, their businesses looked completely different.

Here's what happened:

The fast seller followed the standard playbook.

Week 1-2: 100 cold pitches sent
Week 3-4: 8 responses, 3 calls booked
By end of Quarter 1: Minimal revenue growth

Every month was the same cycle. Same effort. Same small results.

No referrals. No momentum. High burn rate grinding toward the same output.

The relationship seller took a different approach.

Week 1-2: 15 relationship conversations started
Week 3-4: Trust building, no pitches
Month 2: 3 prospects asked about services
Month 3: Multiple closes at 67% rate vs the 8-12% cold outreach rate
By end of Quarter 1: Revenue multiples higher

Referrals already incoming. Low burn rate. Compounding momentum.

The difference wasn't talent. It was strategy.

Fast seller chased transactions. Each deal was isolated.
Relationship seller built assets. Each deal created three more conversations.

One worked harder and stayed broke.
One worked smarter and built momentum that carried forward.

Here's what the fast seller missed:
Transactions don't compound. Relationships do.

Every cold pitch is a reset. You're starting from zero trust every single time.
8-12% response rates mean 90+ rejections for every conversation.

Every relationship conversation is an investment. Trust builds. Referrals multiply.
67% close rates mean most conversations turn into revenue.

Fast sellers are always hunting. Relationship sellers are always harvesting.
The relationship revenue gap isn't about effort. It's about patience.

Fast sellers want results this week. So they pitch this week. And stay stuck at 8-12% response rates.
Relationship sellers invest in trust first. Results lag by 30-60 days. Then compound at 67% close rates.

Most salespeople can't wait 60 days. So they stay on the transaction treadmill.
The ones who can wait? They build businesses that scale.

Which approach are you actually using right now?

♻️ Repost this if someone is working harder but not growing faster.
👉 Follow Jason Osborn for more on business growth and LinkedIn strategy.

Why LinkedIn Connections Never Turn Into Conversations.

You Send the Request. They Accept. Then... Nothing.

Most LinkedIn connections die within a week.
You send the request. They accept. You feel productive.

Then nothing happens. No conversation. No relationship. Just another name in a list.

Here's why:

The LinkedIn Connection Pattern:

Day 1: Connection request sent
Day 2: Accepted
Day 3: Silence
Day 5: Still nothing
Day 7: You forgot they exist

Sound familiar?

Most connections die right here. Before any real conversation starts.

Mistake 1: No Purpose Beyond the Connection

You connected because:

→ They looked interesting
→ LinkedIn suggested them
→ You're building your network

But you had no plan for what comes next.
Connection without intention = dead contact.

You added them to your list. But you had no reason to actually talk to them.
So you don't. And they don't. And the connection dies.

Mistake 2: The Generic "Thanks for Connecting" Message

"Thanks for connecting! I help [job title] with [service]. Let me know if you ever need [thing]."
Translation: "I connected to pitch you."

Their response: Crickets.

You just told them the connection was transactional.
They know what's coming next. So they ignore you.

Mistake 3: Waiting for Them to Start the Conversation

You think: "They accepted. Ball's in their court."
Reality: They accepted 50 connections today. They don't remember who you are.

Waiting = losing.

You're one of dozens. If you don't start the conversation, nobody will.

What Relationship Sellers Do Instead:

Before connecting:

→ Read their recent posts
→ Identify what they care about
→ Find a genuine reason to engage

You don't connect randomly. You connect intentionally.
You know why you're reaching out before you send the request.

After connecting:

→ Invite them to be featured (reverse podcast)
→ Give them a platform
→ Build relationship through conversation

Connection becomes relationship.
Not because you pitched. Because you gave them something valuable.
A platform. Recognition. A conversation where they're the expert.

That's how connections turn into relationships.

LinkedIn connections are worthless. LinkedIn relationships are revenue.

5,000 connections that never talk to you = 0 clients
15 connections you actually build relationships with = pipeline

Most people optimize for connection count.
Then wonder why nobody responds when they reach out.
Because connections aren't relationships.

They're just potential relationships. Until you do the work to build them.
Stop collecting connections. Start building relationships.
Connect with intention. Engage with value. Build conversation before you ask for anything.

That's how connections turn into clients.

Which mistake are you making right now?

♻️ Repost this if connections aren't turning into conversations.
👉 Follow Jason Osborn for more on business growth and LinkedIn strategy.

Why LinkedIn Connections Don't Turn Into Conversations

3 Decisions That Destroy B2B Relationships Before They Start.

You Think You're Building Rapport. You're Actually Building Resistance.

Most B2B salespeople make the same three mistakes.

They don't realize it until the prospect ghosts.
Here's what's killing your relationships before they start:

1. Leading with Your Offer

What you say: "Let me tell you what we do..."
What they hear: "I care about my commission, not your challenges."

The damage: Trust never forms. They're instantly defensive.

Relationship dies before conversation one.

You skipped the foundation and went straight to the sale.
They're not ready. They don't trust you. They're looking for the exit.

2. Asking for Their Time Before Giving Value

What you say: "Can I get 15 minutes to pick your brain?"
What they hear: "Give me something. I'll probably pitch you."

The damage: You positioned yourself as a taker.

Relationships require givers first.

You asked before you gave. Now they see you as just another salesperson extracting value.
Not someone who adds it.

3. Pitching Too Soon

What you say: "So, have you thought about working together?"

What they hear: "That whole relationship thing was fake. Here's the real agenda."

The damage: All that trust building obliterated in one question.
They ghost. You burned a potential champion.

You were building momentum toward a 67% close rate.

Instead, you rushed it and got nothing.

All three mistakes share one flaw:

You prioritized YOUR timeline over THEIR trust.
Fast results destroy long-term relationships.
Patience builds assets. Urgency burns bridges.

You wanted a client now. So you pushed too soon.
Now you have nothing. And they'll never trust you again.

B2B relationships compound when you:

→ Give first (no strings attached)
→ Wait until trust is built (not until you're impatient)
→ Listen more than you pitch
→ Care about their success (not your commission)

Give value without asking for anything. 
Show up in their comments. Share useful resources. Solve small problems.

No pitch. No ask. Just value.
When trust is built, reciprocity is established.

Now when you mention your offer, they're ready.
Because you earned the right to ask.

The truth:

Relationships die when you ask too soon.
They thrive when you earn the right to ask.

Stop destroying trust with urgency.

Give first. Wait longer. Build trust before you ask for business.
That's how you turn prospects into clients at 67% close rates.

Which mistake are you making right now?

♻️ Repost this if someone is rushing relationships.
👉 Follow Jason Osborn for more on business growth and LinkedIn strategy.

3 Decisions That Destroy B2B Relationships

Why LinkedIn Content Alone Rarely Creates Clients (What's Missing).

Audience ≠ Clients. Followers ≠ Revenue. Attention ≠ Contracts.

Most LinkedIn creators obsess over content.
More posts. Better engagement. Higher reach.

Then they wonder why their bank account doesn't match their follower count.

Here's why:

Content builds awareness, attention, and authority.
But it doesn't build clients.

What content actually does:

They know you exist. Your name gets recognized. You appear in their feed.
They follow your work. They engage with your posts. They save your insights.
They respect your expertise. They see you as credible. They view you as an expert.
That's valuable. But it's not revenue.

What conversations do that content can't:

You learn their real needs. You discover their challenges. You identify specific problems.
They believe you can help. They open up about struggles. They see you as a partner.
They ask about your services. They take next steps. They become clients.
Content creates interest. Conversations create commitment.

Here's what most creators miss:

Content is the bridge. Not the destination.
It gets you noticed. It builds credibility. It creates warm leads.

But it doesn't close deals.

You still need to start the conversation.
Most creators stop after the content.

They post. They get likes. They feel productive.
But they're not in anyone's inbox. They're not having real conversations.

They're visible but unavailable.
Top sellers use content differently.

Content is the invitation. Conversations are where business happens.

They post to attract attention. Then they DM to start dialogue.
They comment to build rapport. Then they move to calls.

Content opens the door. Conversations walk through it.
The gap isn't visibility. It's dialogue.

You don't need more followers. You need more conversations with the right people.

→ 10,000 followers who never talk to you = $0
→ 100 followers who become conversations = revenue

Stop measuring success by engagement. Start measuring it by conversations started.
Content gets you noticed. Conversations get you hired.
Most creators stop at content. Top sellers start conversations.

Which one are you?

♻️ Repost this if someone is building an audience but not building revenue.
👉 Follow Jason Osborn for more on business growth and LinkedIn strategy.

How Podcast Interviews Eliminate Sales Resistance 

(The Psychology).

Same Brain. Different Triggers.

Most salespeople wonder why prospects shut down the moment they reach out.
It's not the offer. It's the frame.

Here's what's happening in their brain:

Traditional Sales Psychology:

You send: "Can we hop on a quick call?"

Their brain responds: "Sales threat detected"

What activates:
→ Skepticism engaged
→ Trust barriers raised
→ Exit strategies planned
→ Critical analysis mode

They're looking for the pitch. Preparing their defense. Finding reasons to say no.

Outcome: 8% close rate

Podcast Interview Psychology:

You send: "Would you be interested in being featured on our podcast?"

Their brain responds: "Status opportunity detected"

What activates:
→ Expert identity affirmed
→ Platform desire triggered
→ Reciprocity instinct engaged
→ Open dialogue mode

They're thinking about how this makes them look. How it helps their brand. How good it feels to be asked.

Outcome: 67% close rate

Same person. Same day. Different response.

Why this works:
Sales calls trigger threat response.
The moment someone hears "sales call," their brain prepares for combat.

Defenses go up. Trust goes down. They're analyzing everything you say for manipulation.

Podcast invites trigger reward response.
Being asked to share your expertise feels good.
It affirms status. It validates knowledge. It creates a dopamine hit.

Their brain associates you with positive emotion, not sales tension.

What happens during the interview:

When you spotlight someone's expertise, you:
→ Affirm their status (they feel valued)
→ Create reciprocity obligation (they feel indebted)
→ Learn everything about their needs (while they enjoy talking)
→ Build genuine rapport (no sales tension)

They talk. You listen. You ask good questions.
They leave feeling heard, valued, and impressed.

By the time you present your offer weeks or months later, their brain associates you with positive emotions.
Not sales resistance. Not skepticism. Just trust.

You're not manipulating. You're aligning with how humans actually build trust.

People don't trust salespeople who want something from them.
People trust advisors who give them a platform.

One frame activates defenses. One frame eliminates them.

Which frame are you using?

♻️ Repost this to help someone with their outreach.
👉 Follow Jason Osborn for more on business growth and LinkedIn strategy.

Your LinkedIn SSI Is High. Your Revenue Is Low.

LinkedIn Says You're Killing It. Your Bank Account Disagrees.

Most LinkedIn users obsess over their Social Selling Index.

They check it weekly. Celebrate when it hits 75+. Feel accomplished.
Then they look at their revenue and realize the score means nothing.

Your LinkedIn SSI Dashboard:

Social Selling Index: 78/100
✓ Establish professional brand: 21/25
✓ Find the right people: 19/25
✓ Engage with insights: 20/25
✓ Build relationships: 18/25

LinkedIn says you're killing it.

Your Revenue Dashboard:
Clients from LinkedIn this quarter: 0
Pipeline conversations: 2
Revenue generated: $0
Your bank account disagrees.

The Disconnect:

What SSI Measures:
→ Profile completeness
→ How often you post
→ How many people you connect with
→ How much you engage

Activity. Not outcomes.

What SSI Doesn't Measure:
→ Depth of relationships
→ Quality of conversations
→ Trust you've actually built
→ Clients who hired you

Results. Not metrics.

Why This Matters:
You can have a perfect SSI score and zero clients.
SSI tracks visibility (easy to game). Not credibility (impossible to fake).

You've optimized for the score. Not the outcome.
You post consistently. Connect with people. Engage with content.

All the things LinkedIn rewards with a higher SSI.
But none of that builds the trust required to close business.

SSI gamifies the wrong behavior.
It rewards quantity. Business rewards quality.

→ Quantity: More posts, more connections, more engagement
→ Quality: Deeper conversations, real trust, actual relationships

One raises your SSI. One raises your revenue.

The Fix:
Stop optimizing for LinkedIn's score. Start optimizing for actual relationship depth.

High SSI + No relationships = Impressive dashboard, empty pipeline
Lower SSI + Real relationships = Clients who actually pay you

LinkedIn's algorithm doesn't write your checks. Your relationships do.

Focus on conversations that matter. Not metrics that look good.
Your SSI might drop. Your revenue won't.

Which dashboard are you optimizing for?

♻️ Repost to help others.
👉 Follow Jason Osborn for more on business growth and LinkedIn strategy.

The 3-Message Drop-Off: Why LinkedIn Conversations Die.

Most LinkedIn Conversations Follow the Same Pattern. And Die the Same Way.

You send a thoughtful message. They respond. You follow up.
Then silence.

Here's why it happens every time:

Message 1 - The Opener:

Your message: "Hey [Name], saw your post about [topic]. Really resonated with me because [specific reason]. Curious - how did you approach [specific aspect]?"
Their response rate: 60%
They reply. Conversation starts. You're excited. They're engaged.

Message 2 - The Follow-Up:

Your message: "Thanks for sharing that insight! Makes total sense. Have you found [related question]?"
Their response rate: 35%
Some reply. Some don't. Engagement is dropping.

Message 3 - The Drop-Off:

Your message: "That's really interesting. I'd love to hear more about [thing]. Are you open to a quick call sometime?"
Their response rate: 8%
Silence. Conversation dead. Another LinkedIn connection goes cold.

Why This Happens:

Message 1: You gave value (referenced their content, asked thoughtful question)
Message 2: You kept it conversational (still asking, still interested)
Message 3: You revealed your agenda (the ask came too soon)

The pattern: Give → Give → Ask = Ghost
They saw it coming.

What Kills LinkedIn Conversations:

→ Asking for time before trust is built
→ Moving from value to pitch too quickly
→ Making the conversation about YOUR needs
→ Trying to build relationships through endless DM exchanges

The 3-message drop-off isn't random. It's predictable.

The Relationship-First Fix:

Stop trying to build relationships through DMs.
The old "give value in messages" approach has become noise.

Everyone's doing it. It's just another form of spam now.

Instead: Give them something they actually want.
A platform. Spotlight their expertise. Feature them.

This is why the reverse podcast approach changes everything:

→ You're not messaging back and forth trying to build from thin air
→ The podcast conversation IS the relationship
→ Trust builds through real dialogue, not DM drip
→ You can present your offer within days (not months)

Most LinkedIn sellers try to nurture through DMs.
Relationship sellers give them a platform that builds the relationship for them.

One approach ghosts at 92%. One approach converts at 67%.

Stop trying to speed-run trust through messages.
Start building relationships through conversations that matter.

Which approach are you using?

♻️ Repost this if your LinkedIn DMs keep going cold.
👉 Follow Jason Osborn for more on business growth and LinkedIn strategy.

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The Battle

Kason Morris, M.A.⚡ Design For Life

Jason Osborn

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taplio

The Battle

Kason Morris, M.A.⚡ Design For Life

Jason Osborn

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

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

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreJason Osborn's LinkedIn Performance