Lara Acosta

Entrepreneur and investor building businesses online | Featured on Forbes, Kajabi + Semrush | Helped 3,000+ people build their personal brand.

Everyone wants to build a personal brand, and I figured out how.

With over 20M+ impressions, 300,000 followers across socials, and multiple 6 figures made, I can show you how you can build one too (without spending years figuring out how)

In 2022: I was unemployed and trying to get into a master's degree - downloaded LinkedIn
In 2023: I became #1 female creator on LinkedIn by building my personal brand and agency
In 2024: I'm building the best education platform to teach people exactly how to do it

Helped, coached and worked with 500+ build contents systems, increase engagement, improve their writing and beyond using proven strategies that worked for me. 

Here's how I can help you:

1. Subscribe to my YouTube (It's free, and better than people's paid courses!)
2. Join 15,100+ amazing people and subscribe to my newsletter. 
3. Join 500+ members inside Literallyacademy.com

And if you're not ready for either! Welcome to my profile anyway, I talk about writing, storytelling,  personal branding and tell a lot of stories.

See you on the feed 💖

Sponsorships + booking : mary@ladigitalmx.com

Founder

pov: you become the first millionaire in your family

i never thought I'd get to write this post.

not long ago i was yet another unemployed student. 

struggled with anxiety and depression.
couldn't land an interview at "my dream" company. 

i'd given up on myself, my dreams and future. 

but my dad never did. not once. 

where i saw struggle, he saw opportunity.

see, my dad grew up poor. picking cotton from the fields in mexico. he worked day and night to get out of it. 

just to be able to give me a life worth living. 

and every day i make sure i do. 

because if i can't do it for me, i'm doing it for him. 

can't complain about my plate being full when the goal was to eat. 

grateful to everyone who's given me a platform to grow.
and proud of whoever is on the same journey.

keep going, i believe in you. 

Repost ♻️ to inspire all other entrepreneurs who are doing it for their parents ❤️

PS: Do we look similar???

I just made my most important Gen-Z hire of my career. 

Without even looking at a CV or an interview.

This hire had something special:

A track record proven by her reputation on LinkedIn. 

I hired her over 100s of other applicants.
Because her LinkedIn proved she could do the job. 

Gen-Z isn’t interested in writing the best CVs.
Gen-Z are building their personal brands instead.

And now many don't need a resume to get a job. 

In days Laiba Javed has:

1. Created systems for the entire business
2. Coordinated with every agency and client I work with.
3. Puts off every fire I start and turns it into gold.

The businesses are on track to hit my 2026 goals.

To be honest, I didn’t have to ask Laiba to prove her “experience” 

She did that a few months ago.
Noticed I needed a right hand woman.

She observed, she studied and came with action.

I hate ideas, I hate "suggestions," and she knew that.

So she let her work speak for itself.
And her reputation to close the deal. 

Anyone can learn anything; that's easy.
But having curiosity and bias for action can't be taught. 

Hiring managers...

Your best hire won't be the person with the shiniest resume.
It'll be the person who's willing to learn.

Give people a chance ❤️

PS: Laiba has been on my watch list for a looong time, so it's MY honour to have her be part of this journey.

Big confession: I'm a big fan of "small accounts".

So today, I'm celebrating my favorite LinkedIn accounts. 

Not the "biggest" ones. Not the most "viral".
But the ones who I think deserve it the most. 

Because community is the backbone of this platform. 

Connecting with people.
Commenting and networking.
Collaborating and supporting.

This is the LinkedIn that built this brand.

Took me 1000s of hours, and now I get to giveback.

So in honour of seeing those following my steps.

And spending hours doing the same....

Here are 10 entrepreneurs in my watchlist. 

Ali Amiri, MD = health advice that can change your life 
Aditi Pilania = mum and on a career growth journey
George Draco = how professionals can use AI today
Mischa Collins = fastest growing personal brand
Guy Massey = proof that any topic works, if you work!
Alan Greenin = making mortaging simple for everyone
Jess Coffman = one of the smartest marketers I've seen
Sophia Spadão = how to build an agency in your 20s
Joseph Tannous = how to get featured in PR and grow
Hayden Swerling = the best HR account right now

I need to keep doing these! So the goal is to do it more.

Look, I know LinkedIn may feel hard.
I know it seems cringe to post sometimes.

Sometimes you may feel like no one is watching.
But we are, I am. 

Keep going, your work will be noticed.

You're only one post away from changing your life.

As always my kings and queens. I'm rooting for you. 

P.S. Who are the creators that deserve more recognition? I'll be following ALL of them. 

Happy Sunday!

pov: you’re building a business in london 

(surrounded by 8-figure founders because of LinkedIn) 

building a personal brand changed my life, forever.

sure it built my business… 
but it gave me what I needed the most.

high-value friends who won’t let me quit.

timo & chris are 2 of them. 

they gave me a chance when 99% wouldn’t
they clapped so loud i never noticed who didn’t 

they’ve given me their platforms to shine and grow.

all because i didn't let my fear stop me. 
and when it did, my friends stopped it for me.

specially, Timothy. 

and today is my time to celebrate him, loudly.
but you're coming with me.

join me at his book launch january 10th.
i'll be speaking on stage alongside:

Daniel Priestley, Chris Donnelly, Simon Squibb!

we'll be sharing every single lesson on business and marketing we've learnt along the way.

free to attend, 5 hours straight, $10,000 worth in prizes!

this is your time to finally launch your business, get investment or even, build a brand. 

link is here for anyone who wants to sign up:

https://lnkd.in/e_zeuYeV

PS: I'll be giving away thousands in surprises too. 

PPS: tag that 1 person that claps loudly for you! they deserve it! 

repost ♻️ to win a copy of his book (it changed my life)

My 4-step writing framework is unbeatable.

(If you're stuck at low likes and impressions, read this)

Everyone is talking about the algorithm changing.
But small creators are going viral using this hack.

I called it the SLAY Framework:

1. The first 3 lines of your post should be a story.
2. Then on line 4 lead with a lesson for your audience.
3. Add to the post using actionable advice (listicles).
4. Finish with a question that puts the ball in their court.

Storytelling is the ultimate weapon for LinkedIn growth.

Because in a platform oversaturated with information...
Don't focus on facts, focus on emotions.

They'll remember you forever. 
.
Bonus: Think about the lesson 1st, and the story 2nd.

Your main goal is to educate using stories as the vehicle.

♻️ Repost this to make storytelling easy for everyone.

PS: I've seen the SLAY framework used 2x today on viral posts with 1k+ likes! My job here is done 🤝

You don't need algorithm hacks to grow on LinkedIn.

I spent the last 90 days testing every growth hack I could find. Here's what actually works:

(Based on analyzing content in different niches)

1. Hyper-specific content (3x a week)

• Solve one exact problem per post
• Use industry language your clients use
• Speak directly to one person

Adam Robinson has mastered this for B2B. 
Nausheen I. Chen is killing it for B2C. 

Address their problems directly. 

i.e "Stop losing credibility with your body language."

2. Proof-First Content

80% tactical step-by-step frameworks and screenshots.
20% stories on how you're doing it (use stories)

The 80% builds trust, the 20% engages them more. 

Educate and storytell. Always both. 

3. LinkedIn Video (let me explain...)

Video reach might be down right now.
But it's the fastest way to prove authority. 

LinkedIn video is ok.
Linkedin Lives? They're a goldmine.

We had a LinkedIn live with 200 people.
Made $10,000 from it. 

People buy from people they trust. Video accelerates this! 

I'd limit these to 2 a month, though, no pressure. 

I left a checklist for you in the image below for you to script your first Linkedin video too btw.

This is the no-bs blueprint for entrepreneurs. 

It's not about more volume, it's about more insights.

Dominating LinkedIn isn't just about virality right now.
It's about building a brand that earns trust.

Keep your focus on your 1 thing. 

The rest will follow.

I've just recorded a private video on how to dominate "storytelling" on LinkedIn like an expert. 

If you want it ♻️ repost this post and I'll send it to you (20 people max). 

PS: Which step do you struggle with the most? 

--
PS: Got a surprise for you today, get 50% off my programmes until the end of November here: https://lnkd.in/e4RKsGx9

I got rejected from (nearly) every single job I applied to.

5yrs of Industry experience. 2 degrees. But 0 offers.

The consistent rejections made me feel unemployable.

So, I started writing on LinkedIn daily.

If you're not seeing any luck either:

Swap writing Resumes for writing posts on Linkedin
Quit waiting for opportunities and build your own.
Build an undeniable network that lifts you up.

1 month of writing on Linkedin → 10x more visibility.

Lesson? Become unemployable to others.

Build your own job instead. 

PS: I'm running a GIVEAWAY to celebrate nearly hitting 50k on YouTube! I'm giving away over $1,000 worth in prizes to the next 100 people who subscribe https://lnkd.in/eyMb42iX

To enter:

1. Subscribe to my YouTube Channel
2. Screenshot that you have and comment the photo

Winners will be announced on the 17th of November!

I built my first business to 6-figures after class. 

The reason? I didn't wait until "I felt ready" and you shouldn't either, because you already are. 

You don't need a logo, your first customers won't care.
You don't need a website, your ideal client wants proof.

You don't even need a shiny degree, you just need skill.

We're taught to wait until everything is perfect.
But perfect never comes, procrastination does, though. 

If you want to launch your new business.
Or promote a new offer you've been perfecting. 

Do this instead: 

1. List the 5 key problems you are solving for someone. 
2. Ask ChatGPT to expand on why this needs solving.
3. Create content on LinkedIn using the pain + solution
4. Use social proof wherever you can (can borrow it too)
5. Post case studies of people who you've helped
6. If you haven't yet, write about how this helped you
7. Take 10 people on this offer for free to get real results
8. Create content around these repeating steps 1-5

One fool-proof way to get clients (free or paid):

1. Search for people who look like you can help on Linky.
2. Send them a loom or gamma doc with your system
3. Tell them step-by-step how you can help immediatley 

Do this 20x a week, I guarantee you'll land a client.

Bonus tip: Implement your offer for them for free, so they can see the value of your work instantly. 

Trust me, after 4 weeks coaching next to 8-figure agency owners, this STILL works. 

This is what I did too, and would do again. 

No website, no crazy credentials, not even a logo.

Literally just a calendly link, a canva pitch and content that made people reach out.

Closed clients with the loom approach.

This isn't about virality, it's about making money. 
Your ideal client might not like the post and make it viral.

But they'll 100% reach out if you follow this strategy. 

I'll be expanding on some of the points in the comments.
Which step do you get stuck on the most? I'll help! 

Repost ♻️ so everyone wins in 2026!

How to build a personal brand in 90 seconds.

(The ultimate LinkedIn Content Crash Course)

Step 1: Skill and value
Step 2: Content themes + consistency
Step 3: Hooks and how to write them
Step 4: Leveraged Networking to grow

These are the main 4 key elements of a winning brand.

Watch the video and get the full tutorial!

PS: My Black Friday deal is ON! Get 50% off my programmes and mentorship. 
Here we go: https://lnkd.in/e4RKsGx9


(Please repost this for your network ♻️ Thank you)

I've coached over 3,000+ entrepreneurs and creators.

Today, I want to review your posts for free.

But there are thousands of you here ( and only 1 me) 

So - I’ve got a special gift for you today: 

I built a GPT that behaves like me. 

It grades your posts on 3 specific checkpoints.

1. Clarity
2. Proof
3. Capture

And tells you what to fix in 60 seconds.

If you're ready to get brutally roasted.
And get the feedback on your hooks and content...

I built an FREE AI tool that does this for you. 
I call it the AI Post Analyzer.

(Deleting in 42hrs)

PS: The algorithm rewards what readers finish.

Write for readers first. Optimize for views after.

Profile optimization is overrated. Honestly. 

Focus on your content first. Comment 50x a day instead..

This is something you'll hear me say a lot. 

Because most people waste endless hours here.
Optimizing everything but have no traffic.

But....

If your content is getting traction.
You're commenting and networking daily.

But you're not seeing an increase in conversions.

Then your profile might be the problem. 

Most people will see your post.
They'll go to your profile looking for proof.
And if they're convinced, they'll book a call with you. 

So your next task after nailing content?

Optimizing your profile.

1. Your profile photo = shows warmth 
2. Your banner = shows instant proof 
3. Your featured section = tells them where to go

I made you a guide so you can implement it today.

Follow it step by step and position yourself as an expert.

PS: What colour did we like more black or white?

Repost ♻️ if you want more breakdowns like this

PS: Got a surprise for you today, get 50% off my programmes until the end of November here: https://lnkd.in/e4RKsGx9

The Ultimate LinkedIn Profile Optimization Guide (1)

This simple LinkedIn funnel made us hit $200k+ 

(In under 2 weeks, without doing outbound).

So let me walk you through exactly what I did for my content strategy.

Watch the 12-minute video for the entire breakdown.

I covered:

1. How do I don't burn my audience while launching offers
2. How to drive traffic to an offer and how to convert it 
3. The secret Linkedin weapon no one is using right now

Now, I rushed to post this because it's black friday.
One of the biggest sales months for businesses.

If you have an offer, and want to monetise it...
This is your perfect chance to launch it. 

This is literally all it takes.

Content to grow, emails to launch and webinars to convert. 

My black friday offer? 50% off everything. 

Get all of my courses in 1 for 50% off today. 

(offer expires in a few days...) 

Grab it here: https://lnkd.in/e4RKsGx9

PS: Is this useful? Should I make more videos like this?

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

You’ve outgrown your 9–5. 
Now what? 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What others are saying:

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

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

Here’s how to get started:

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

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

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

🎟 Save your seat: simplemanguide.com/workshop

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

Brian Gallagher

The real risk isn’t leaving your job.

It’s staying just long enough that the comfort…

Becomes overwhelming.

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

The real danger is slower. Quieter.

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

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

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

But that moment never comes.

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

On paper, everything looked fine.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

No alternative text description for this image

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

On paper? Looked great. But in real life… 

Yikes.

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

But I was constantly stressed. 

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

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

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

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

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

Eventually I caved and said yes to something different. 

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

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

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

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

It broke the cycle.

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

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

Because I’ve experienced both sides: 

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

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

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

Kindness.
Vulnerability.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And I will start today.

I am going through a breakup.

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

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

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

But this experience is giving me something important.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

That breathwork session reminded me of that.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The moment that started it all? He hit publish.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I remember the first time that feeling hit me.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Finding that bridge is a massive turning point. 

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

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

And start being the CEO of it.

She was tired of doubting herself.
So she gave herself a shot.
And now, she’ll head into next year with.. 

New business energy.
Her first client (maybe more by then). 
And the quiet confidence she can do this on her own. 

Marie started with me in August. 

She’s still in her full-time role. Still figuring things out. 

At the time, she was getting clients through an agency – paying a cut to the middleman, and wondering if she could actually do this on her own.

She didn’t need to start from scratch, but needed a better understanding of the value she brought. 

After just a short time together, she was able to clearly articulate… 

• The problem she solves
• The person she solves it for
• The outcome they can expect

Which allowed her to sign her first client (and earn a 3x ROI on her investment in the program). 

All in just a few months. 
Not because she blew up her life – but because she started.

Most people wait for January. For a clean slate. For the “right time.”

But the last quarter? It leaves plenty of time to see results.

If you started now, by January you could:

• Have an offer you’re proud of
• Be building the right audience
• Already see proof this path is real for you

It doesn’t take a massive disruption. Just a methodical approach, with small steps that compound.

If you’ve been feeling that quiet pull to build something of your own… don’t wait for the calendar to give you permission.

I’m hosting a free, live workshop this Tuesday.

It’s designed for mid-career professionals who want to start a one-person business—without quitting their job or guessing their way forward.

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

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

Arrivederci Italian sunshine (for now).. PHL-bound in a few hours :)

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

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

And then the questions start to pile up: 

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

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

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

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

Time.

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

I get it. I was there too. 

At first, there’s doubt.

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

Then comes curiosity.

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

After that, something subtle changes.

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

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

Eventually, confidence replaces doubt.

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

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

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

You just needed a plan.

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

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

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

It made me realize what a job interview really is… 

It’s an audition for your own career. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

You start moving on your own terms again.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So what do I see most people do? 

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

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

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

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

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

Or…

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

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

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

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

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

The question is no longer:

Can you do it alone?

It’s:

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

Here’s how I started my first business.

(Hint: it did not go as planned.)

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

And here’s how it went: 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The confidence came after the action.
Not before.

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

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

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

Join us here:

Open article: Workshop by simplemanguide.com

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

The limbo.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Either way, you’re expending energy.

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

And the longer you wait, the heavier it gets.

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

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

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

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

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

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The Battle

Lara Acosta

Brian Gallagher

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taplio

The Battle

Lara Acosta

Brian Gallagher

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);}Lara Acosta's LinkedIn Performance

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