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 woke up on january 1st and decided to change

this photo is a daily reminder of what is possible.

look, today at any point, you can change who you are.

you can become more productive.
you can change your appearance.
you can become sucessful.

who you are is not set in stone.

i lost 20kg, built a $2M business and found my purpose.

all because i decided to rewire my brain and grow faster.

you don't need a vision board.
you need to break old habits and patterns.

you're not broken.
you just need to change how you think. 

believe in yourself enough, i believe in you.

this 2026 give yourself the chance to go all in. 

you'd be surprised how much you can change in 1 year.

ps: drop your goals in the comments, i'll tell you how to actually achieve them

repost ♻️ this to motivate others!

Last year, I made the most revenue in my life. 

But the biggest payout wasn't money. 
It was the connections I built along the way.

I went from zoom calls from my small room in Mexico
To standing on stage next fo top 1% entrepreneurs.

And every week I see at least one of them in London.

Oh and I still do small zoom calls even after having 300k!

Last year alone, I met:

Iman Gadhzi
Shan Hanif
Simon Squibb
Dan Priestley

People who had changed my life online, I got to thank them offline and even get to be part of their world.

Your network IS your net worth.

And you can build both, on LinkedIn. (I did).

They say “Your network is your net worth”. 100% true.

(Repost this if you’d like to meet me in 2026)

PS: Who is 1 person you want to meet in 2026? (Don't say Jasmin Alic please! I KNOW).

Btw, I'm hosting a free LIVE LinkedIn Class on the 22nd! (for free!) Join here: https://lnkd.in/eC5sm4cP

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

This is a very special moment for me.

To my female and immigrant followers, this is for you too.

I just spoke at one of the biggest events in the UK.
Next to legendary and legacy names, everyone knows.

And for some reason, I made it into the list too.

Even with a stutter and an accent.
Even with crazy imposter syndrome.
Even without being a Forbes 30u30...

When I started this journey, I felt like all odds were stacked against me. 

I got rejected 100s of times because of my grades.
I didn't get taken seriously enough because I was a girl.
I had to work twice as hard to get seen and heard too.

But I never let that stop me. I ignored it instead.

This moment right here is proof that ANYONE can win. 

All you need to do is to stop waiting to be chosen.

Choose yourself. The right people will choose you too.

And open doors you never thought you'd get to open.

Repost ♻️ this to inspire others so we can win together!

Catch the LIVE replay here: https://lnkd.in/eGBM3Puw

PS: This was all because I built a personal brand, and I just put together the exact blueprint I followed.

Grab it for free here: https://lnkd.in/eKqAcXZB

I spent the last 90 days testing every LinkedIn hack. 

Here's what actually works in 2026 (for any niche):

Everyone is talking about the "new" LinkedIn algorithm.
But I just see it as more of the same, but 10x more specific.

I've grown brands from 0-100,000 followers here.
Grown my own to 300,000+ in the same time.

Mastered every format here, and helped others too.

And there are 3 core elements you need to implement:

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

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

Jake Ward mastered this for "boring" SEO.
Built kleo.so to $60kmrr  as a result of exactly that 

Alex Vacca mastered this for GTM.
Scaled his business to $6M ARR too

Their content is hyper-specific but simple.

Clients want to work with them because they get it.
Users want to engage with them because they simplify it.

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.

PS: Who is your favorite "expert-led" creator right now? I want to follow more people! Tag them below! 

PPS: Jan 22nd, I'm walking you through the best way to master these 3 elements in 2026!

join us for free LIVE on the 22nd of January here: https://lnkd.in/eC5sm4cP

We're already at 4,000 sign ups! Come join us! 

See you thursday, love - Lara x

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

In November, my small business hit 200k/mo. 
If I had to start all over again from 0, here's what I'd do:

For content I'd focus on:

1. Educational content that is highly applicable 
2. Storytelling content that is highly relatable 

Too many people here just do one, but it isn't enough. 

You need to get attention by storytelling.
You need to get trust via specific breakdowns. 

Two hooks you can steal for each.

"9-Step SEO Content Strategy (Steal my 1M strategy)"
"pov: i just quit my 9-5 tech job to build a business"

For conversion, i'd focus on:

1. Building an email list as fast as possible
2. Sending weekly emails to my readers. 

Having attention is not enough if you don't convert it.

Post 4x a week. 1 lead magnet to move people to email.

This simple strategy is worth $1M. But no one does it.
It's boring, I know... but it works. 

Look, my friends... 

"Giving value" is no longer enough to grow your business or personal brand. 

The millionaires on this platform are shifting to email.
But getting traffic from LinkedIn. 

Build your brand, sell out your business.

Masterclass, over 🫳🏼🎤... wait not really. 

Jan 22nd, we're revealing exactly how you can do it too.

From content to lead magnets to conversion, I'll show you everything I've ever done live so you can use it this year.

join us for free LIVE on the 22nd of January here: https://lnkd.in/eNRvSRR7

the first 1,000 people get 4 playbooks to use for content and business!

pov: you're about to launch a tech startup in London with friends in your 20s (bts of a $1M biz).

there's something so surreal about this business. 

it wouldn't even be a reality without linkedin.

jake and i met on linkedin.
broke into the top 0.1% in less than a year.

we built businesses all through organic content.
made millions of dollars along the way. 

today we're running the same playbook for our startup. 

getting leads without spending a single dollar on ads. 
converting customers through our personal brands.
getting insane opportunities because we do it publicly. 

most people overcomplicate growth - we didn’t.

to build a profitable business you need 3 things:

1. a single platform (linkedin)
2. a skill you're good at
3. writing outstanding content daily (with kleo).

we're revealing exactly how we do it step by step in 2 weeks. 

the entire content to lead gen strategy we've used for our 3 businesses over the last 2 years to hit $1M+.

join us for free LIVE on the 22nd of January here: https://lnkd.in/eNRvSRR7

the first 1,000 people get 4 playbooks to use for content and business!

This is my no.1 tip to fix your low engagement (fast)

I've been using it for 3 years now!

Around 40% of LinkedIn posts fail to gain traction and engagement not because they're bad or poorly written.

They're missing a visual hook. Let me explain:

A text-hook is necessary. 8 words. Specific. Direct.

But a hack for it to work every time? A good visual.

• Your audience doesn't "read" they "scan". 
• Your visual increases the likelihood of them staying.

This is the psychological reason why infographics work.

It has nothing to do with "the algorithm" and everything to do with people and how our brains work today. 

So in reality, this would look like:

1. Hook→ "We just closed our biggest client yet"
2. Visual → A photo of you outside their offices

Instant context = better reach (+ more engagement)

I'll drop some good/bad examples in the comments!

PS: Do you think this visual hook was good? ;) 

Repost ♻️ so everyone posts better content! 

I'm running a small private call on the 31st on exactly this (for free), sign up here: https://lnkd.in/ePwVNTJk

3 lessons you need to hear to win this year.

1. If you never quit, you'll never fail (keep going)
2. Nothing happens, then everything happens 
3. You already have what it takes (so start)

Stop doubting yourself.

Don't spend 2026 doing the same things.

pov: you're in your 20s, building a business people love

(people traveled across the world to tell us this!)

today, Kleo has helped people gain over 1,233,394 views. 

• landed our exec clients 5/6 fig deals through linkedin. 
• helped many get new sponsors for their businesses.
• got them dms filled with speaking opps! 

i've always said that linkedin changed my life.
but it feels 10x better seeing it happen for others. 

this is your reminder that perfection is overrated. 

messy, consistent and public action is better.

and honestly you never know... your next post could change your entire career. it happens every day here. 

we're in the golden era of linkedin.

who's in? 

to celebrate, come to my free live class on the 22nd: https://lnkd.in/eC5sm4cP

we're giving away FREE access to Literally Academy to people who join kleo during launch week too...

(don't tell my team please)

PS: repost ♻️ this to get a FREE gift from me, with love.

I went on my dream podcast, but nearly canceled it.

Felt like an imposter the entire day; I was nervous.
Self-doubt was loud in my head, and I was scared. 

Almost as though I hadn't built anything ever. 

But going on a podcast with 754k subscribers is something I've never done before. What if I failed?

Imposter syndrome doesn't pick favorites, I guess.
But you can always decide how much it affects you.

And I didn't let it. I showed up (nervous, but showed up).

No matter how many followers I have or businesses I build, sometimes all I see are failures and rejections. 

If you relate, let me leave you with my favorite lesson:

You're not bad at things, just new at them. 

From LinkedIn, to work, to a stage... keep going. 

Watch the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/e_Er4XCq

PS: What podcast would YOU love to be on?

I'm putting together a FREE class showing you exactly how we built an organic content engine that brings us opportunities like these! 

If you're ready to make 2026 your best year ever...

RSVP your spot on January 22nd at 7PM GMT. 

Comment "CLASS" and we'll send you the link. 

or just click here: https://lnkd.in/eC5sm4cP

This is the exact lead gen strategy I'm using in 2026.

It made me over $1M in 2025, so I'm using it again:

Ready? (Like + repost ♻️ to help others)

The 10-Step Strategy (copy me):

 1. Storytelling content to reach new audiences fast
 2. Highly tactical content to nurture them weekly
 3. Using tactical CTA's at the end of EVERY post
 4. Posting 1-2 lead magnets weekly to grow email
 5. Sending 1 weekly email to that same list to nurture
 6. Launching 1 NEW offer every quarter to my audience
 7. Selling it primarily via daily emails for around 10 days
 8. Funnel warm buyers to a webinar to 3x conversions
 9. Build a 10/10 product/offer and overdeliver for them
10. Use steps 1-9 to create new offer and more content

The entire lead generation playbook is right there. 

Want me to implement it with you? Let's do it.

On January 22nd I'll be going LIVE for 2 hours breaking down exactly how you can use this for your business. 

Grab your spot here: https://lnkd.in/eC5sm4cP

I'll be covering every step in excruciating detail. 
My team and I have been working on this for 1 month.

No old stuff, no old tactics, no algo hacks.

Actual real strategies that are proven to work even if your business is "boring". 

PS: Which 1 out the 10 is the HARDEST for you?

I just built my co-founder's LinkedIn Strategy LIVE.

Results so far? 213,833 impressions in 30 days.
392 sign-ups for our software in under 10 days.

This is the copy-paste strategy every founder can use. 

I included 3 key elements no one talks about. 

1. How to stand out from day 1
2. The 4-3-2-1 Content Framework I built
3. How to use AI to write better content, faster 
4. Turning ideas into highly educational content
5. Turning stories into engaging viral pieces 

If you've been looking for a high-level strategy. This is it. 

Most people pay me $2k/hr for this.
Today you get it for FREE. 

Watch the full video here: https://lnkd.in/eTX2Qtrk

But whatever you do, don't share this.
I might get in trouble for giving so much away for free..

Shoutout Cam Trew for locking in so hard... 

PS: I want to do more of these LIVE, if you're a founder/creator in London, comment below and maybe you can be next! Repost ♻️ so we find you faster:)

The best entrepreneurs I know don't believe in work-life balance. This advice is flawed in many ways. 

Most spent YEARS in seasons of imbalance.

Which is what helps them have balance today. 

Personally, I don't have work-life balance. 
It's not that I don't believe in balance. It’s just unrealistic.

What I DO believe in is knowing that it is a privilege to be tired in the pursuit of challenge of your own choosing.

Pressure is a privilege, which I remind myself of daily.

Shoutout to the tired entrepreneurs building right now, I see you and root for you ♥️.

If I had to build my personal brand from 0 in 2026... 

I'd follow this exact playbook (It's FREE)

This is exclusive content I give my clients only.
So I'm deleting it in 42hrs, forever. 

See, content creation is a non-negotiable right now.

Business owners are making millions because of it. 
And honestly, I'm tired of seeing people sleep on this. 

I filmed a 30min breaking how to create content.

Even if you're a founder or CEO THIS is for you.

I covered:

1. The 3 Strategies you need to position yourself FAST.
2. How to build a brand without having anything to sell
3. How to build a brand while you have a service to sell
4. How to create content that ACTUALLY works in 2026 
5. 3 Examples of content that gets LEADS everytime
6. How to build a cult-like audience not just followers

And honestly, a behind-the-scenes look at how I view content in 2026 (after maintaining growth for 3 years).

So my friend, if you want 2026 to be THE year...

Let's get started, shall we?

Repost ♻️ this so it reaches EVERYONE. 

PPS: What is everyone doing for NYE???!!!

ADHD Career Coach | Founder of Momentum — the 8-week coaching program built to get ADHD brains off the overthinking line and into a rhythm of task execution (even on low-energy days)

If you're like most senior leaders I work with, you're not stuck because you lack experience, but because locking into your next move feels impossibly heavy.

I know that feeling well.

For years, I could lead teams, close deals, and make high-stakes decisions without blinking.

But when it came to my own next step?

– Everything blurred.
– The options multiplied.
– The second-guessing crept in.

And the longer I sat with it, the harder it got to move at all.

You can probably relate:

– You can see multiple lanes.
– You can imagine yourself in all of them.
– You can talk yourself into each one if you're not careful.

But eventually, the weight of all those possibilities starts to work against you.

➝ Your story doesn't point anywhere.
➝ Your positioning feels scattered.
➝ Your confidence nosedives.

And you start asking the real question:

"𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘄?"

Most people assume it's a motivation problem.

It's not.

𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗮 𝗵𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺.

Because when you're keeping too many options open, nothing really lands.

Once you stop hedging and lock into one clear lane, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀:

➝ Your direction locks in. 
➝ Your positioning becomes clear. 
➝ Your visibility grows in the right spaces. 
➝ Your authority increases with the people who matter.

Small wins start stacking again.

Movement feels normal.

Confidence comes back online.

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗜 𝗱𝗼.

Through 𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗺 — my 8-week 1:1 career accelerator — I help leaders in transition stop hedging, lock into one clear path, and build visibility and authority where it actually matters.

Here's what you get:

– A structure for clarity, positioning, visibility, and authority
– The accountability and scaffolding that keep you steady
– 1:1 support to reduce friction instead of adding pressure
– A 2nd brain to guide the work between calls (Persona™)

By the time the conversations start, people already understand who you are, what you bring, and where you fit.

And once you lock in?

Momentum becomes the norm.

📩 𝗗𝗠 𝗺𝗲 "𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗺" 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗵𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱.

David Hannan

I keep coming back to this photo.

I almost didn't take it.

— Last summer
— Olivia's first day of kindergarten
— I was just focused on getting her through the door

I was 48 when I became a dad.

— Older than expected
— Less apologetic than I imagined
— Already more at peace with it than I realized

People didn't say it outright.

They rarely do, but the message was there:

— It's selfish
— You won't keep up
— She'll graduate before you retire

I didn't debate it.
I just carried on.

Last year, at 53, I walked my daughter Olivia into her first day of kindergarten.

— Her hand in mine
— Purple backpack bouncing
— That half-skip kids do when they're excited

That's when it landed: if I'd listened to them, this moment wouldn't exist.

And while that decision was playing out at home, I was watching the same pattern play out at work.

I've spent years watching people edged out after 50.

— Resumes stop getting traction
— "Too experienced" turns into a liability
— "Not a fit" says everything without saying anything

Translation: ageism in disguise.

Here's the part that's stayed with me since.

That same stretch of life is often when things click.

That was true for me.

In my early 50s, I was diagnosed with ADHD.

— A clearer view of my patterns
— A new way of working with my brain
— A reframing of everything that came before

It forced me to strip away the noise.

— Better systems
— Cleaner decision-making
— Fewer obligations I never agreed to

I grew more in my early 50s than I had in decades before.

We're sold a neat timeline:

— Career first
— Family on schedule
— Progress in orderly stages

Real life doesn't follow that script.

Some of the most important things arrive once you stop racing the clock.

I turn 54 next month.

I don't feel late.
I feel settled.

And when someone quietly decides I've missed my window, I don't feel the need to correct them.

I know what opened once I stopped believing in that clock.

P.S. A lot of people already have a "late" moment behind them.
They just haven't given it credit yet.

Helping high-performing leaders get clear on their next move and show up with confidence | Founder of Momentum | Former $4M full-desk recruiter

My client, a Head of Marketing in EdTech, recently received a $265K offer because of this:

We'd been working 1:1 to get clear on her next step after feeling stuck for months—riddled with overwhelm and imposter syndrome.

Before then, she had no clarity on what role she wanted next.

Her resume and LinkedIn profile told two different stories.

Every rejection felt personal, feeding her imposter syndrome and making it hard to keep going.

Networking felt overwhelming and random (which is fine, but not effective).

So what changed?

4 things:

1. Clearer, more specific career direction
2. Cohesive resume and LinkedIn branding
3. Targeted engagement/networking strategy

But #4 has been the wildest unlock of them all ↓

4. Consistently posting authority-building content

Once her approach changed, she not only landed conversations with key decision-makers…

But she built real momentum and started drawing the right roles without overthinking every step.

Before, her job search efforts looked like this:

— Applying to roles without tailoring outreach
— Sending connection requests with no purpose
— Hesitating to engage out of fear of being judged
— Never sharing her insights or perspective publicly

Now, her strategy looks like this:

— Clear direction on the role she wanted
— Cohesive resume and LinkedIn throughline
— An engagement strategy that built real visibility
— Posting original content weekly to build authority

See the difference?

❌ Less guesswork
✅ More intentionality

But that's not all.

We got crazy specific about her LinkedIn content:

— The exact topics she wanted to align with
— The companies that should be paying attention
— The decision-makers she wanted reading her posts
— The exact message she wanted to communicate
— The clear value her expertise demonstrated

This works because your content shapes who pays attention and what happens next.

It's like a magnet.

Attract the right people and the right conversations, and it's just a matter of time before you get that offer.

Get it wrong though?

You're left wheel-spinning.

P.S. If you're feeling stuck and:

➝ struggle with focus challenges or overthinking
➝ have zero clarity on what you want to do next
➝ have a confusing resume and LinkedIn profile
➝ want a strategy that plays to your strengths

I'm opening up 4 more spots to work 1:1 with US-based senior leaders to help them do just that.

DM "Momentum" if you want to see how this works.

2025 David: What I got wrong (and what actually worked):

1. Every tough year means something is broken.
↳ Last year stretched me.
- It also sharpened the business.
- Some things worked. Others needed rebuilding.
- Both were true at the same time.

2. Growth required grinding harder each year.
↳ That belief aged poorly.
- Revenue stabilized when systems replaced urgency.
- Fewer calls, better containers, clearer expectations.
- Momentum came from consistency, not exhaustion.

3. More availability meant better service.
↳ Wrong math.
- Being always on blurred boundaries fast.
- The work improved when I protected my time.
- Clients got a calmer version of me. Family did too.

4. Recruiting expertise alone would be enough.
↳ Half true. Half naïve.
- I knew hiring systems inside out. 
- I underestimated the impact of identity loss.
- Execution followed once people felt steady again.

5. Transparency would land the same for everyone.
↳ That was projection.
- My ADHD diagnosis reshaped how I work and talk.
- I assumed everyone shared the same openness.
- Meeting people where they are built trust.

6. One unified workspace would solve everything.
↳ Spoiler: it didn’t.
- Persona worked for strategy and layered thinking.
- Content suffered when context got too crowded.
- Custom GPTs restored clients' voices fast.

7. More structure always equals more progress.
↳ I learned this one the uncomfortable way.
- Granular milestones worked for me.
- Clients experienced the same system as overload.
- Fewer steps created more follow-through.

Here’s what I know for sure:

☑ Clarity compounds faster than effort.
☑ Systems fail quietly before people do.
☑ Protecting your energy is part of the work.

Grateful for the clients who trusted me through the experiments and the resets.

2026 gets a cleaner version of everything.

P.S. What’s one shift from last year that stuck?

——
Hi, I’m David. I help high-performing leaders get clear on their next move and show up with confidence.

If time off didn’t shift the direction question, it probably wasn’t ever about energy.

I keep noticing this in the first week back. 

People get a bit of distance over the holidays. 

Quieter mornings. Fewer meetings. 

Just enough space to breathe and think that once the noise drops, things will probably feel clearer.

And then you make it to Friday.

You’ve been back in it long enough to tell what actually changed and what didn’t. 

The same career question’s still there. 
The same next role that isn’t quite defined. 
The same sense that the story still isn’t clear.

Even though you really hoped it might be by now.

Nothing really shifted. 

It’s not heavier, but it’s not lighter either.

From the hiring side, this is usually the part people don’t clock straight away.

It’s rarely about motivation, or effort, or a reset.

What lingers tends to be quieter than that. 

It’s the part where what’s next still feels fuzzy, where every option can still be justified. 

Where the story sounds fine in your head but wouldn’t quite land in a real conversation yet.

That’s the stuff a few days off doesn’t touch.

I don’t think that moment gets talked about much. 

That realization in the first week, when the calendar’s filling back up but the direction still hasn’t locked.

You’re left sitting with the same unanswered question you parked a couple of weeks ago.

It tends to just sit there for a bit, whether you’re ready to deal with it or not.

Some questions just take longer than a break.

The hardest roles to leave are the ones you're stuck explaining why you stayed.

I was sixteen years into a recruiting career. 

It wasn't bad, it just wasn't right anymore.

I remember this one Friday night, dinner done, sitting on the sofa half-watching Dexter, phone in my hand.

And there it was again, that question, the one I'd been carrying around for months but kept putting off because there was never a good time to deal with it.

I wasn't stressed or spinning, and to be honest, my week had been fine, which was the weird part.

When things are bad, you have a reason to move.

But when deals are closing, and big commission checks are rolling in, you start wondering why you're still thinking about leaving at all.

I sat there for a bit, finished my tea, and went to bed.

Woke up the next morning, same commute, same desk, same pipeline to work, and that question was right there with me like it had been the whole time.

I didn't do anything about it that week. 

Or the week after.

But it didn't go anywhere either.

P.S. Ever had one of those moments?

——
Hi, I'm David. I help high-performing leaders get clear on their next move and show up with confidence.

You don't need a perfect story to start a job search.

But most senior leaders act like they do.

That usually means:

- Waiting until the story feels "tight"
- Believing every chat has to go somewhere
- Pressure to sound confident before you feel clear

At senior levels, you're carrying identity, reputation, and expectations into every single conversation. 

That's a lot of weight. 

No wonder it feels exhausting.

Here's the reframe most leaders need:

A search is a private, low-pressure exploration phase.

The goal is just to gather information:

- What energizes you now
- What you don't want anymore
- What trade-offs you're willing to make

Clarity doesn't come 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 you start.

It comes 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 you start.

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The Battle

Lara Acosta

David Hannan

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taplio

The Battle

Lara Acosta

David Hannan

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Engagements

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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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Performance ScoreLara Acosta's LinkedIn Performance