Paul Upton

Want to get to your next Career Level? Or into a role you'll Love? ◆ We help you get there! | Sr. Leads ► Managers ► Directors ► Exec Directors | $150K/$250K/$500K+ Jobs

"With no exaggeration- Paul and the LeaderUP program changed my life!" – James
(See more in recommendations)

👉 Message me on LinkedIn

Why Senior Leads, Managers, Directors & VPs choose to work with me:
▶️ You want to break into your next leadership role, get promoted, or move to a promotional opportunity. Maybe you are seeking to break into your next level or senior leadership.

▶️ You're stuck in your current role, not much company growth, or growth opportunities. Or you do not like your current company/role and want to find a better one and level up your career to the one you deserve!

▶️ You're in a job search, you know you are good, but something is missing, you are not getting interviews, or are not getting offers!

▶️ You're tired of being frustrated & wasting time!

𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐞: I've spent the last 14+ years working at top Fortune 100 companies.
◾️ 10+ jobs over this time and 2 highly competitive leadership programs
◾️ 7 times promoted/found promotional opportunities (often they found me)
◾️ Most recently an executive director at a telecom leading an organization of 150+ people.

𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐈'𝐯𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝:
◾️ What it really takes to stand out in the Top 1% of leaders
◾️ How to be a great leader and more importantly how to develop this in others
◾️ How to hire the best, I've done over 500+ interviews and hired multiple high performing 10X teams

I am one of the few career coaches who has leadership/hiring manager experience and knows what they are looking for!

𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐒𝐔𝐂𝐂𝐄𝐒𝐒!

I have put these learnings together and have created the 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐔𝐏 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐓𝐨𝐩 1% 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 to help leaders and aspiring leaders reach the next level and land their dream jobs/promotions. 

Are you someone who wants...
✅Wants more MONEY, TIME, FLEXIBILITY, and GROWTH?
✅Gets multiple offers and CHOOSES the best one for them?

And would rather...
✅Follow a proven step-by-step process that works!
✅With the 1:1 support, you need along the way!
✅That takes 70% less time & effort and 99% less frustration!
✅And finally, get that dream job that they deserve and are excited to jump out of bed for?

► LeaderUP Job Offer System & Coaching Program -  Reach out to learn more!

👉 Learn more: message me!

Founder, CEO & Chief Career Officer - Career Expert | Career Success Coach | Leadership Coach

👉 Message me on LinkedIn

I am one of the few career coaches who has Fortune 50 leadership & hiring manager experience. This gives me the perspective to know exactly what hiring managers (not just recruiters) are looking for in a Manager, Director, VP+, how to stand out, and what it really takes to be a top 1% Leader & Candidate!

I have partnered with recruiters, HR leaders, hiring managers, and leaders to understand and distill the most important qualities and traits of successful leaders and how to find these in candidates and develop them in leaders. 

Through all this and hundreds of interviews, I have learned what the Top 1% of candidates do and built a system that works to help leaders, aspiring leaders, and high performers learn these skills and get the jobs & opportunities they really deserve!

► I help YOU master YOUR resume + LinkedIn so you STAND OUT and get NOTICED

► I help YOU learn how to ROCK your interviews and build real, memorable connections with hiring managers & GET OFFERS!

► I help YOU learn the skills to negotiate like a PRO to get the best total compensation package possible

► I really care. My sole reason for LeaderUP is to help YOU find success and fulfillment in your career. Success YOU DESERVE and have earned by working harder, learning more, and putting in the effort to SUCCEED!

I have created the LevelUP Leadership Top 1% Candidate Coaching Program to help leaders get promoted and land their dream jobs using Top 1% Applicant Strategies, leveraging the top SECRETS learned from Expert Resume Writers, Recruiters, Hiring Managers, Leaders, and Top Candidates, as well as many failures, successes, and continuous improvement!

► LevelUP Leadership Top 1% Candidate Coaching Program

MESSAGE me on LinkedIn to learn more and how I can help you!
Email me at Leaderup.Program@gmail.com

I don’t believe in dream jobs.
I believe in leaders who build trust, respect, and great workplaces.

A dream job means nothing if the culture breaks you.

Every day, I see workplaces that:

❌ Hurt mental health
❌ Damage relationships
❌ Block real career growth

But I also see how the right leader can change everything.

Bad leadership looks like this:

❌ Keeping secrets
❌ Ignoring feedback
❌ Forgetting to praise
❌ Avoiding tough talks
❌ Letting bullying happen
❌ Not helping people grow
❌ Showing bias and losing trust
❌ Thinking only about their own gain
❌ Making random choices that confuse
❌ Playing favorites and dividing teams
❌ Giving too much work and burning people out

Great leaders do the opposite:

✅ Set clear goals
✅ Act with honesty
✅ Put well-being first
✅ Cheer for new ideas
✅ Listen and show care
✅ Stay open and honest
✅ Accept people as they are
✅ Share feedback that helps
✅ Give real trust and freedom
✅ Make everyone feel included

✅ Work together and lead by example

I have spent years leading teams and hiring top talent.

What I know is simple:

People stay for respect, growth, and peace of mind.

If you are searching for a new role,
Pray for a leader who lifts you up,
Not a title that sounds good on paper.

Everyone deserves a workplace where they can thrive.

♻️ Share this with someone who needs to see what leaders can do.
➕ Follow me for more on leadership and career growth.

No alternative text description for this image

70 interviews. 0 offers.
Next 10 interviews. 7 offers.
Here's what I changed...

Same person.
Different approach.

Here’s what changed:

- I stopped searching for that “right” answer
- I realized every hiring manager wants something different
- I focused on building real conversation, not rehearsed responses

The truth is:

- No one is perfect
- No answer is perfect
- Most people interview well enough to get in the room

But what makes you stand out?

It’s connection.

Hiring managers remember who understands their pain
Who listens
Who asks the right questions
Who shows they care about the work

Here’s how I flipped the script:

→ I listened first
→ I spoke honestly about my experience (no buzzwords)
→ I asked what frustrated them most about the role
→ I shared how I could help solve those headaches

Winning interviews are not about being the “ideal” candidate.

They’re about being real.
Being relatable.
Showing you want to solve real problems.

If you want more job offers—work on building trust, not perfect answers.

How do you approach tough interviews?
Has connection helped you stand out?

Comment "Connect" below if you want to learn how to build relationships that get results.

HR: We're promoting someone else to Director.

Her: I've led this department for 3 years. We hit 147% of target.

HR: You're a strong performer, but we don't think you're ready for leadership.

Her: Who did you select?

HR: Someone from outside. He has "executive presence."

Her: What does that mean?

HR: He interviews well.

---

She trained that external hire for 4 months.

He asked her how she built the systems that made the team successful.

She smiled and said nothing.

4 months later with LeaderUP's help,
So she could "interview well" too.

She accepted a Senior Director role elsewhere.

$65,000 more.
Direct reports: 34.
Scope: National.

Three weeks into her new role, her old company called.

"The new Director didn't work out. Would you consider coming back?"

Her answer: "No thank you."

---

If your company can't see your value, stop trying to convince them.

The right company will compete for you.

Not make you compete for recognition you've already earned.

Would you have waited—or walked?

♻️ Repost to help someone stuck in the same situation.

They reality was she was leading the entire department.

Stop waiting for your boss to decide you’re ready. Start acting like the market already has. 

Same talk.
Different year.

“You’re doing great work... but not ready yet.”

Next year:

“Love your impact... need more time in role.”

Year three:

“Keep doing what you’re doing... almost there.”

Meanwhile:

• “Not ready for VP” but you lead VP-level initiatives  
• “Need more experience” after you deliver $2M in results  
• “Work on visibility” while you train executives in every town hall  

You are not “not ready.”

You are not their priority.

The truth is:

• Readiness is subjective  
• Promotions are political  
• Gatekeeping hides behind “development feedback”  

You sit in calibration meetings as a fly on the wall.

They say:

“Let us see one more year.”  
“Who would back this promotion?”  
“Can we afford to lose them if they leave?”  

Those decisions say more about their risk and budget than your talent.

Here is your permission statement:

You do not need their permission to know your worth.  

You do not need one more “stretch assignment” to prove what you already do.  

You do not need to stay stuck in “almost ready” while others leapfrog you.  

The moment I started working with someone outside my company who could look at my skills without politics or history, everything changed.

We mapped my real scope.  
We priced my value to the market.  
We built a story that matched my impact, not my title.

Offers showed up from places that saw me as already ready.

You are not asking for a favor when you level up.

You are correcting an outdated view of your value.

How many years have you been “almost ready”?

Exceeded all goals.
Still got “Meets Expectations.” That’s not feedback, that’s politics.

My performance review made no sense.
Until I realized it was not about performance.

Here is what it said:

- “Exceeded all goals” → Rating: Meets Expectations
- “Strongest quarter in 3 years” → “Room for improvement”
- “Led the most successful launch” → “Needs more visibility”
- “Team retention at 95%” → “Work on leadership presence”

Director title.
Top results.
Blocked promotion.

Every time I asked what to do next, the answer changed.

One quarter it was: “You need more cross functional impact.”
I did that.

Next quarter it was: “You need more executive presence.”
I did that.

Next cycle: “We need to see this level sustained longer.”

When the goalposts keep moving, you are not playing the game.
You are the game.

The truth is: that review was not about my growth.
It was about their needs.

They needed:

- My numbers high
- My team stable
- My cost in the same box

Working with a career strategist was the shift.

They helped me see the pattern:
They needed me performing, not promoted.

Once I saw that, everything changed.

I stopped chasing vague feedback.
I stopped waiting for permission.
I built a plan to get to a place that matched my value.

If your review says “excellent work” but your rating says “stay in your lane,” that is data.
Not about your worth.
About their priorities.

Has your feedback ever contradicted your results?

Imagine training someone for 6 months.

Then hearing they’re your replacement for the VP role you fought for.

That is what happened to a Director before they started coaching with us.

12 years in one company.
Top reviews.
Clear promise of “You’re next for VP.”

Then leadership came with a “development opportunity.”

“Can you mentor our new hire? Great exposure for you. A chance to show your leadership.”

For 6 months, they poured everything into that person:

- Strategy
- Stakeholders
- Politics
- How to run the team when things go bad

Late nights. Extra calls. Deck reviews. Shadowing meetings.

Then the town hall.

“We’ve decided to go in a different direction for the VP role.”

The “direction” was the person they had trained.
Announced as VP.
Public praise.

No warning.
No honest talk.
No path forward.

They smiled, clapped on camera, then went home and broke down.

Here is what changed everything:

Working with a strategic career coach helped them see patterns they had been blind to for years.

- Loyalty did not lead to growth there
- They were already acting like a VP
- The market would pay for that level of impact

We rebuilt their story.
Repositioned their experience.
Targeted true VP roles.

In a few short months, they landed a VP position at a new company that valued their leadership.

40% pay increase.
Real authority.
Real respect.

Same person.
Different employer.

Sometimes the people holding you back are not your competition-they are your employer.

Has this happened to you?

If a reorg already has a deck and you never saw a draft,
you’re not being “aligned.” You’re being moved.

It is never “just a reorg.”
Someone benefits.
Someone loses.

A Senior Director I spoke with led a 15-person team.
High performer. Strong results. Great reviews.

Then one Friday: “Strategic restructure to drive efficiency.”

By Monday:
• Team cut from 15 to 3
• Scope reduced by 60%
• New org chart already in a polished slide deck

They were told: “You are still valued here.”

But here is what changed:
• Their “consolidated” team now sat under a less experienced leader
• Their title stayed the same, but the work got smaller
• They now reported to a former peer
• Key responsibilities were “redistributed” with no discussion
• The announcement went out before they even had a 1:1

The uncomfortable truth:
Reorgs are decided in closed rooms.
If you are surprised, you were not in the room.

When you see these signs, you are not paranoid. You are being messaged.

You are being told:
• “We want your knowledge, not your power.”
• “We want your name on the slide, not your voice in the room.”
• “We want you to exit yourself so we do not have to.”

Strategic leaders see the pattern early,
rebuild their story, and move to roles where their scope grows again.

They stop asking, “Why is this happening to me?”
They start asking, “How do I position myself before the next move hits?”

Have you ever been blindsided by a “strategic restructure”?

Dear Manager-turned-Job-Seeker:
The Applicant Tracking System (ATS) wasn’t built to find talent.
It was built to eliminate humans at scale.

Reality check
• 75% of your résumé never meets human eyes.
• “Must have 10 years of GenAI experience” = recruiter copy-paste, not a real requirement.
• Perfect keyword match? You just joined a digital cattle herd 300 deep.

Want interviews?
⭐ Bypass the bot. Get warm intros.
⭐ Solve a visible problem before you apply.
⭐ Talk to the budget owner—not the HR gatekeeper.
⭐  Position yourself in a compelling way.

Swipe left on the algorithm. Swipe right on real conversations.
Tag someone still obsessing over ATS scorecards.

Leaving after 1–2 years is not “job hopping” anymore.
It is risk management in 2026.

Markets shift fast. Reorgs hit fast. Layoffs hit fast.
You are not “unstable” for:

• Leaving after a Reorg that quietly erased your path to promotion
• Moving when your scope explodes but your title and pay stay flat
• Exiting a “stretch role” that stretches only your stress, not your skills
• Walking away when “next cycle” becomes the answer for the third year in a row
• Choosing a company that values your impact over one that values your silence

The uncomfortable truth:
They have a strategy for their org chart.
You need a strategy for your career.

From what I see with $150K–$500K leaders every week:

Leaders who stay “loyal” to the wrong company get:
• 2–3% bumps and vague promises
• More work, same title
• A slow leak in confidence and energy

Leaders who move with intention get:
• 25–30% pay jumps
• Real Director/VP scope
• Leaders who can state their value in one clear sentence

I lived this in my own path.
Every time I moved with a clear target and story, my career jumped.
Every time I waited “one more year,” growth stalled.

The new loyalty is this:
Loyalty to your future.
Loyalty to your health.
Loyalty to the leader you are becoming.

Companies that deserve you:
Build real paths, pay for impact, and treat you like a grown adult.

Companies that shame “job hoppers”:
Use guilt, low raises, and fear to keep strong people stuck.

Your career is not a lifetime sentence.
It is a series of strategic moves you make on purpose.

If you’re not being developed, paid, and positioned…
𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝗼.

So choose one today:
A) Secure the internal path (with dates + scope)
B) Start the exit plan (quiet + intentional)

Comment “PLAN” and I’ll share the exact formula I use with $150K–$500+K leaders.

carousel.pdf

He asked to leave early for his kid’s school event. Then he started to give me all the reasons. I told him, “You don’t need to explain. Just go.”  

Work from home? Fine.  
Come in late after a doctor’s visit? Fine.  
Block 2 hours mid-day for therapy, gym, or rest? Fine.  

I don’t need a full story for every calendar change.  
I need clear outcomes and honest communication.  

Here is what I care about as a leader:  
You deliver what you own.  
You keep your word.  
You support the team and the client.  

How you do that in a week will look different for everyone.  
Some move fast in the morning.  
Some hit their stride at night.  
Some need space in the middle to be a present parent or to take care of their health.  

The truth is: top talent does not stay where they feel watched.  
They stay where they feel trusted.  

When leaders obsess over chairs and clock time, they lose:  
Creative energy  
Real loyalty  
Their best people  

When they focus on impact and trust, they gain:  
Better decisions  
Stronger ownership  
Leaders who grow faster  

You are not a time-stamp.  
You are a leader delivering real results in a real life.  

The future of leadership is not “butts in seats.”  
The future is flexible work with clear expectations and real trust.  

How long will you keep treating grown leaders like kids who need a hall pass to live their lives?

HR: We would like to make you an offer of $265,000 plus a 30% annual bonus.

Candidate: Thanks. I'd like to have a deeper discussion. What does work-life look like on this team?

HR: It is a high-visibility role. Leaders here are expected to be “all in.”

Candidate: Can you be specific? What does that mean week to week?

HR: Most leaders are online late. Weekends happen when needed. We look for people who go the extra mile.

Candidate: Are there some clear boundaries around evenings, weekends, and vacations?

HR: At this level, we expect leaders to do what it takes to meet the goals.

Candidate: Then I will have to pass.

-

This is the shift I see every day with strong leaders.

They are not only asking:
“How much does it pay?”

They are asking:
“What will this cost my health?”
“What will this cost my family?”
“What will this cost my future self?”

Money is important.
Scope is important.
Title is important.

But so are:
Sleep.
Time with people you love.
Work you actually believe in.
Leaders who respect your limits.

The truth is:
Your next offer is not just a number.
𝗜𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘆𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁.

You are not only negotiating salary.
You are negotiating 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲.

How long have you been saying yes to roles that cost you more than they pay you?

You prepare for the snow.
But do you prepare to enjoy your life?

Over the last few days, we had a lot of snow.
As the storm came in, we did what most people did.

We prepared.

• Bought salt for the driveway and sidewalk
• Stocked up on food and water
• Picked up a stack of library books in case we lost power

Lists, tasks, "need to do" items.
All important. All smart.

I saw how easy it was to stop there.
To only plan for problems.
To only prepare for what could go wrong.

But life is not only about clearing the driveway.

Life is also about the snowman.

In the middle of everything, we went outside.
We felt the cold air.
We rolled snow into big, heavy balls.
We built a snowman.

Simple joy.
Zero productivity.
High return.

Here is what many high performers forget:

• You prepare for risk, but not for joy
• You plan for work, but not for play
• You protect your time, but not your energy

In careers, it looks like this:

• You update the resume
• You grind for the promotion
• You say yes to more work

But you forget to design a life you enjoy living.

Next time you prepare for the storm, ask yourself:
Where is the snowman in your plan?

What would change in your career if you prepared not only to survive, but to enjoy your life too?

5 things you say in interviews that kill your chances. Stop making these mistakes.

“Thanks, I think we covered everything. I don’t have any questions.”

As a hiring leader, when I hear this, my brain says:

“Pass.”

The truth is: your words in an interview sell you or sink you. Fast.

Here are 5 phrases that quietly kill offers - and what I want to hear instead. ➡️

1) “I don’t have any questions.”

To me this says: low interest, low prep.

Say instead:
• “What are the top goals for this team in the next 6–12 months?”
• “If someone excels here, what do they do differently?”

Curious people win.

2) “I’ll take any job right now.”

I know the market is hard. I get it.

But desperation makes me think you say yes to any offer, any culture, any job.

Say instead:
• “I am focused on roles where I can use my strengths in X and Y.”
• “Here is why this role and company fit what I want next.”

Clear focus beats desperation.

3) “Autonomy is really critical for me.”

As a leader, I need people who can take input and still own strategy and results.

Say instead:
• “I value clear direction at the start, then space to execute.”
• “Helpful feedback from my leader helped me do X and Y.”

Coachability is a MUST at $150K, $250K, $500K+ levels.

4) “I don’t have any weaknesses.”

When I hear this, I hear: low self awareness.

Say instead:
• Name one real gap.
• Show how you work on it.
Example: “I used to avoid hard talks with my team. I worked on it by doing X. Now I do Y.”

Owning your growth is a green flag. ✅

5) “I'm looking for a challenge.  My last company didn’t really challenge me.”

I may agree with you inside, however, it sounds dismissive rather than driven.

Say instead:
• “I’m looking for a role that pushes me to learn faster and take on bigger challenges — your team’s projects sound like the perfect environment for that.”
• “I learned a lot there, but now I’m ready for bigger challenges to stretch my skills.”

If you’re ready to elevate your interview game and position yourself as a top performer — connect or DM me.  Let's get you the offer, not just the interview.

Yesterday, you said “after this reorg.”
Last quarter, you said “after bonus.”
Last year, you said “when the market calms down.”

There is nothing more painful than watching your career stay smaller than your potential.

7 brutal truths about staying stuck in the wrong role:

1. You “research” but never commit  
↳ Reading job posts is not a search. It is scrolling.

2. You update your resume more than your strategy  
↳ Resumes without a clear target are just decoration.

3. You wait for the “right timing”  
↳ Timing does not rescue you. Positioning does.

4. You have “reasons” your company will change  
↳ Hoping your boss wakes up one day is not a plan.

5. You fear a no more than you fear wasting years  
↳ A no is short term. A stalled career is long term.

6. You wait for confidence before you move  
↳ Confidence follows action, not the other way around.

7. You know this role is done for you but you stay  
↳ You do not need more signs. You need a decision.

The market is shifting with or without you.
Reorgs are planned with or without you.
Your title, pay, and peace move only when you do.

How long will you keep paying the hidden tax of waiting for “later” instead of building the role and life you actually want?

Share this with someone who has outgrown their role but is still on the fence about their next move.

The hardest problem is the one you keep avoiding. I used to waste years on easier wins.

In my career and in business, I learned to “optimize” everything.

New projects.
New tools.
New ideas.

But I was avoiding the real work.

The truth is:
Your biggest risk is not one stupid decision.
Your biggest risk is spending years on the second, third, and fourth best moves.

I saw this first as a leader.

We had teams that were “fine.”
Leaders who were “okay.”

But “fine” was the problem.

The real issue was culture and talent.
Fixing that meant hard talks, new standards, and turning people who were not a fit.
Morale dropped before it got better.

Six months in, it looked worse, not better.
But it was still the right decision.

The same pattern shows up in careers.

You:
• Tweak your resume again
• Take one more “safe” internal role
• Say yes to more work without more pay

All smart moves on paper.
All easy wins.

But you avoid the hardest problem:

• Your company will not grow with you
• Your boss will not promote you
• Your role will never match your potential

Real growth feels heavy.
Real growth feels slow.
Real growth can hurt before it helps.

Here is what I learned:

→ Name the hardest problem
→ Remove every distraction that keeps you from facing it
→ Give your solution time to work, even when it feels worse at first

Many of you have half-built bridges in your career.
You were one hard year away from a new level.
You quit in month one.

How long have you been avoiding the hard move that would finally change your career?

You are not “playing it safe.”
You are paying a secret tax for every 6 months you stay stuck.

You tell yourself you are “thinking about” your next move.
You read job posts, watch the market, update your resume a little.

But you do not have a clear strategy.
You are not moving with a plan.

In this economy, that has a cost.

Here is what 6 more months of “testing the waters” with no strategy often looks like:
• Same title
• Same pay
• Same manager
• Same stress

On the outside, nothing looks wrong.
On the inside, you feel it.

You start to pay a slow tax every 6 months:
• Confidence tax → you start to think you are “not ready yet”
• Energy tax → Sunday night feels heavy every week
• Health tax → your body is at home, your mind stays at work
• Money tax → you push back higher pay and bonuses
• Market tax → the market moves, your skills and story do not

I paid that tax in my own career.

I said: “I will move when the timing feels right.”
“I will wait and see what happens after this quarter.”

I watched postings.
I “thought about” moves.
I stayed passive.

Fast forward one year.
Nothing changed for me.
The market changed around me.

Here is the truth I had to face:
I did not have a career problem.
I had a strategy problem.

In a strong economy, you might get away with passive waiting.
You send a few random applications, take a call or two, and something lands.

Today that does not work.

Hiring managers want:
• Clear story
• Clear value
• Clear direction

If you are not clear, they move on fast.

What changed everything for me was when I stopped “thinking about it” and built a real plan.

Here is what I did:
• I chose the exact roles and levels I wanted
• I got clear on the impact I bring in numbers
• I mapped the leaders and companies I wanted to target
• I aligned their needs to my core strengths
• I set weekly actions for outreach, networking chats, applications, and interviews

Once I had the right strategy, doors moved faster.
Not slower.

Recruiters reached out.
Leaders saw me as a top 1% candidate.
Promotional offers showed up that matched my value.

The uncomfortable truth:
Waiting feels safe.
Passive “thinking” feels safe.

But with no strategy, you are not safe.
You are stuck.

In this economy, safety comes from:
• Clear direction
• Clear story
• Consistent action

Not from staying in place for “one more quarter.”

If you feel stuck in a role you have outgrown, you do not need 6 more months of thinking.
You need 6 months of focused strategy.

How would your career look 6 months from now if you stopped testing the waters and started moving with a real plan?

"We just cannot change the comp band. This is the max for your level."

After 6 years of “exceeds expectations” and extra projects, that is what their manager told them.

No real talk about scope.
No clear path to promotion.
No honest data on their market value.

So they stayed.
They told themselves it was safe.
They told themselves next year would be different.

Inside, something started to break.

Confidence dropped.
Energy dropped.
Self-worth dropped.

They stopped asking “What am I worth in the market?”
They started asking “Maybe this is all I get.”

Then a friend pushed them to get the help they needed and to test the market with a clear story and role target.

Four and a half months later, they had three offers:
• Same scope the company said was “too senior” for them
• $42,000 more than they thought was even possible
• Leaders who could explain their value in one clear sentence

That changed everything.

They did not just resign from a company.
They resigned from a low view of their own value.

Here is the truth I see every week with strong leaders:

• They accept “next cycle” instead of checking their real market value
• They wait for a title instead of acting like the owner of their career
• They tie their worth to one manager’s opinion and one pay band
• They do Director-level work while letting self-doubt grow

Your value does not start with a resignation letter.
Your value starts the day you decide to measure yourself by impact and market, not by one company’s limits.

You take control when you:
• Get clear on the roles and level you really want
• Put numbers to your wins so you see your own impact
• Test your story with real leaders, not just job boards
• Decide that “safe” is not safe if it shrinks who you are

The uncomfortable truth:
If you wait until you are broken to move, you carry that damage into your next role.

If you upgrade your view of yourself first, you upgrade every choice after.

How long have you been letting one company define your value?

The next promotion wave is not about more effort.
It’s about clearer positioning.

Here is what I am seeing with Managers, Directors, VPs right now:

They are not getting stuck because of skill.
They are getting stuck because nobody can clearly see where they fit next.

Emerging pattern:

• High performers keep stacking responsibilities
• Titles stay flat for 3–5 years
• Reviews say not “obvious next-level leader”

The shift in companies:

They used to reward loyalty and effort.
Now they reward leaders who are:

• Easy to “place” in the org chart
• Easy to “sell” to senior leadership
• Easy to “explain” in one sentence

In an AI, automation, and layoff-heavy market, your value must be simple and clear.
“Hard worker” is too vague.

What works now:

• Clear target: “Next 12–18 months I aim for Director of X / Head of Y”
• Clear brand: “I lead enterprise transformations that convert complexity into clarity—and strategy into measurable results.”
• Clear proof: 3–5 business outcomes you repeat everywhere, not a long task list

The uncomfortable truth:
If senior leaders cannot explain you in one sentence, they will not fight for your promotion.

In LeaderUP, when clients tighten their positioning, two things happen:

• More direct outreach from hiring managers
• More “You are exactly what we need” conversations in interviews

Not more hustle.
More clarity.

What would change in your career if everyone in your org could explain your value in one simple sentence?

If you never question your choices, you wake up one day and wonder: how did I get here?

Wrong company.
Wrong boss.
Wrong partner.
Wrong life.

You did not choose it.
You drifted into it.

I see this with leaders all the time.

They work like crazy.
They say yes to every ask.
They accept pressure at work and pressure at home.

Then one day they crack.

The truth is:
You do not end up here by one big decision.
You end up here by a thousand small ones you never question.

You say yes to the role you do not want.
You say yes to a culture that drains you.
You say yes to a life you did not design.

You stop asking:
What do I want?
Does this thing help me get it?

High agency starts there.

High agency is:
- Choosing your career on purpose
- Choosing your partner and friends on purpose
- Choosing your rest on purpose

Low agency is:
- Taking the job because “everyone would kill for it”
- Staying in a company that burns you out
- Letting others decide when you are “allowed” to rest

As a leader, you also shape agency for your team.

Your hard workers watch you.
If you never unplug, they will not unplug.
If you never say “take the day, unplug,” they will not feel safe to stop.

Support at home.
Support at work.
Clear choices about what you want.

That mix is where history gets made in your career.

Not by luck.
By design.

How long have you been living on default instead of design?

You don’t need another certification.
You need a clear target, a message, and a strategy.

A tech leader told me:
“I need more time. I want to prepare, refresh, study. Then I start my search.”

Six months later:
No offer.
More courses.
Same result.

Here is what I see with many smart leaders.

They say “I am getting ready” but they:
• Fear a no
• Hide behind more learning
• Hope the perfect role appears

Preparation feels safe.
𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗿𝘆.

The truth is:
More skills do not fix a weak story and a random search.

You can add:
• New tools
• New methods
• New cloud certs

If leaders do not see you as a clear solution, you stay a name on a list.

The leaders who land fast think in a different way.

They do not ask “Am I ready?”
They ask “𝗔𝗺 𝗜 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿?”

Here is what they lock in:

1) Clear target

→ One level
→ One main lane
→ One type of company

Not “any senior tech role.”
More “Director of Platform Engineering in B2B SaaS, 200–2000 staff.”

When you get this clear, you know who to speak to.

2) Clear message

Your value story sounds like a business case, not a job title.

Not “I manage teams and projects.”

More:
“I lead engineering teams that cut waste in the stack and unlock new revenue. I turn slow, costly systems into fast, lean platforms that pay for themselves.”

Short. Strong.
Money and impact in one line.

Leaders care about:
• More profit
• Less cost
• Less risk
• Faster delivery

Your message must say:
“I help you win here.”

3) Clear strategy

You stop hiding in job boards.
You start moving toward real people.

You:
• Reach out to hiring leaders
• Build warm links in your lane
• Treat interviews as talks about business, not school tests

You show how you solve their pain today, not how many things you know in theory.

You do not need six more months of “getting ready.”

You need a few focused weeks to choose your lane, sharpen your value story, and move with a real plan.

What would change in your career if your message spoke money and impact as clearly as your skills speak tech?

Sara Simmonds

CEO Impact Innovator | Helping Purpose Driven Entrepreneurs Scale to $1 Million, $50 Million and Beyond | Follow Me For Systems On Sustainable Growth 🌎

With 100K+ followers, 14 years controlling $ Billion buying budgets generating $200M+ for corporates

Plus $10M+ growth for purpose led founder results and $50M+ in positioned expansion - I built the organic growth system for entrepreneurs I wished existed when I needed it most.

My $150K Lesson:

2007: Co-founded Sharkah Chakra, world's first award-winning impact jeans brand. Featured in Vogue, GQ. Winner/ 30 team members.

The insight: As a $Billion Dollar buyer, I saw what made offers succeed at scale. When I built my own brand, I realized most entrepreneurs don't think like buyers - they think like sellers.

The breakthrough: I stopped asking "What expert should I hire?" and started asking "What would make ME approve this budget?"

The answer: ONE Category of One business - fully integrated, perfectly aligned, impossible to ignore.

That shift changed everything

Impact Innovator OS - The Integrated Growth System

I built ONE system that integrates everything a Purpose Led Entrepreneur needs to scale:

Strategy - Your custom path to scale
Offer - Your Category of One Offer
Sales - Your revenue engine
Mindset - Your breakthrough leadership

Everything in-house. Everything you own. Forever.

My System Results:

£0 to £300K in 12 months without agencies
100K+ organic following through owned systems
Multiple 6-figure months, 40-hour weeks
Zero debt, 100% profitable

Founding Member Results Using This System:

Eugenie & Luis: $1M+ additional revenue
Ami: 0- $300K launch
Carol: $200K Sell out launches and scaling to $30MN
Rachel: $500K funding round achieved 
Jo: $2MN -$4MN Sales Increase 
Marie & Jason: Eliminated $144K agency costs
Alexandra: Closed $75K funding deal 
Paula: Scaled and exited in 12 months
Elizabeth: Ideal to Launch and 18 International Awards, plus Amazon Prime Distribution
Simon: High Ticket Offer launched in 90 days and Best Selling Author of his niche


Founding Member Access (Limited):

▸ Foundation: $15K - Build Your Category of One (12 months)
▸ Scale: $30K - Scale Your Growth System (12 months)
▸ Empire: $60K - Full Integration & Implementation (12 months)

(All programs replace $150K+ in agency costs with ONE in-house system you own forever)
(Limited spots)

For purpose-led entrepreneurs ready to scale to $1M, $50M and beyond as a Category Of One:

▸ Next Masterclass: "5 Systems to Build Your Category of One Business"
▸ Newsletter: Weekly buyer intelligence insights
▸ Strategy Session: 45-min Category of One assessment

→ DM 'SYSTEM' for founding member details
→ DM 'MASTERCLASS' for registration link
→ DM 'NEWS' for newsletter

Business Mentor

I Just Got Back From 5 Incredible Weeks In Argentina and Uruguay 

I went from not knowing one single person in the country

To build a Dream 100 network In 30 days

Don't get me wrong, there were moments when I felt super lonely

One of them was arriving on an island at a tiny town 

where hardly anyone spoke English

It was right at that moment, my mum called me (her intuition working big time)

Are you ok? she asked. "Well, maybe I am a bit lonely, but we all get lonely, I said."

The difference is how we choose to handle it

I decided there and then to apply my Dream 100 network building principles

One of the key foundations I teach here at Impact Innovator OS

It's the idea of One to Many

Put yourself in the right environment (I was in Jose Ignacio, Uruguay fabulous place)

Next Step 

Be super focused on who you want to connect with and why

Then allow your own unique power and light to shine

And allow yourself to receive more ...

Here is how this worked in ACTION 

I followed my intuition to a relaxed, beautiful beach bar

And most importantly, did not look myself away when I felt lonely and vulnerable

And wanted to just give up

I kept going, putting myself out there

I sat at the bar - alone and embraced the moment

Got into the vibe, relaxed, and let go

Then heard some fellow English speakers

Stood up, took action, went over, said Hey, I'm Sara great to meet you, I'm here on my own and would love to connect

The rest is history

Amazing people introduced me to amazing people, who invited me to incredible events

And I built not only a new dream 100 network in Uruguay, but also in Buenos Aires.

Connection is all you need, with yourself first and then with those around you

It's time to Shine Your Light

Together, we will transform our world

Love Sara

Founder Impact Innovator OS | The #1 Buyer Intelligence Growth System for Purpose Led Entrepreneurs to Scale to $1M-50M as a Category Of One Leader In Their Niche

Together We Will Transform Our World 

How I overcame My Fear Of Being Out Of Control 

Climbing this glacier I was truly terrified.

I got over it - by applying my 3 steps to let go of control

As a Purpose Led Founder 

I used to try and control everything  

But that just led to burnout and working 247 getting nowhere fast

5 years ago i started hiking seriously ( turning a once in 10 years to once every two weeks)

Business, Mindset and Energy are all intertwined

And success is systemizing Business, Mindset and Energy

Life is Circular

Winning Systems Are Holistic 

And that is EXACTLY How I overcame my fear of being out of control

Step 1 - Think of Your Energy as a system - only so much mental, physical and emotional energy

Step 2 - Thinking of yourself as Social - your not meant to do things alone 

Step 3 - Set Big Audacious Goal - Focus on the present take one step forward each day


Climbing this glacier i was totally scared - now Im laughing but it was not funny at the time

I had set the goal, and guess what had not worried about it at the time

I prepared

I showed up with the right mindset

And I let myself be social and ask for help

I did not try to do this alone

I did this with experts

I let them hold my hand when I walked up

I let them hold my hand when I walked down

I listened to their expertise - I did not try to take selfies whilst walking on ice that is razor sharp

The Result - I followed a system, managed my energy, allowed myself to be supported

Succeeded - Climbed to the peak of the glacier without falling down

Success happens - one relationship, one system and one step at a time.

linkedin.com

JSESSIONID

LinkedIn Login, Sign in | LinkedIn

li_at

Talks about #impact, #entrepreneurship, #productinnovation, #businessinnovation, and #businessmentorship

MY CFO Sophia, said to me on Saturday (when we met IRL)

Sara, I love your Simple System to Scale 

One roadmap

It works wherever the team is in the world

They can scale without you

We just proved it, after I was away on a remote trekking expedition 

The team was scaling without. me

And I could relax, and let go, feeling fully supported 

Sophia Shared this

These are the 3 elements we as a  team all understand clearly

1. What Our Category of One Positioning IS

( We help Purprose Led Founders Scale to $1-$50MN)

2. What our High Impact offer is

(One In house sustainable growth system that gives our founders category of one results in 30 days)

3. WHO our ICP IS

( Purpose led founders, conscious leaders, and innovators)

And HOW to sell without you

Using One Team Process, everybody understands: One Team Chat, One Team Meeting

The good and bad  problem today is that teams can be remote

At Impact Innovator, our team is from

London
Texas
Miami
Bangalore
Bali 

We are across continents, yet everyone understands that our positioning, offer, and system are simple

Today, I have one word for you

SIMPLIFY

Simplify All you do

To One Roadmap, One System, One Mentor

Simplicity =  Success

If you would like to unlock your One System To Scale

Join Me live next Tuesday in my masterclass, where I will lay out the simple 5 step roadmap to sustainable scale.

This is an intimate cameras on session, where I answer how you can get buyers to buy from you as the ONLY choice 247.

Join us, link below to sign up

https://lnkd.in/dqNVxTFy

Together, we will transform our world

Love Sara

How I Stopped Being Overlooked And Became A Category Of One 

One of my favourite words is "Cringey" or "to Cringe."

Do you use it in the US?

We use it here in London, to Cringe means to look fine on the outside

But to be feeling totally naked, exposed, and seen on the inside for who you really are, or are not, or think you are.

The problem today is trying to be like everything else - we all do it, even if we think we are being our REAL AUTHENTIC SELF, we are not

We are all trying to look and be like other people

But buyers don't want to buy from lookalikes

They want to buy from trailblazers, pioneers, buccaneers, innovators, stars

They want to buy from founders who have become so incredibly comfortable 

With their own quirks, own uniqueness, no matter how out of the box that is, and their own story

Buyers want to buy from founders who LOVE, and OBSESS over the GREATNESS of their own offer

I have a catch phrase I say to our members, "Your Real Power Is YOU."

That catchphrase comes from me having to face myself in the mirror and follow my own category of one roadmap

Because here is the thing

If you "cringe" at ANYTHING about your positioning, offer, story, or packaging, people feel it

If you're "trying too hard" to be the same, or to be different, or to be an innovator, or to be radical 

The game changer for me was following my own formula to strip away anything I was doing that was not authentic

To create my own language, to polish my offer, my packaging, and how I show up in the world

To be uniquely Sara AKA Stara

To let go of fitting in, and to embrace standing out

Your Real Power is YOU

The quicker you embrace being uniquely you, the faster you scale, the faster you make a real impact

To find out my 5 step roadmap to unlock how you can lead as a Category Of One Join me in my Live Masterclass Next Tuesday

Link is here to sign up: https://lnkd.in/dqNVxTFy

Together we will transform our world

Love Sara

BECOME CAT OF ONE IN 30 DAYS

So excited, I just heard one of our members signed a multi billion dollar partnership... 

(90 days ago, they were treading water)

Here is my Billion Dollar Buyers Guide

That empowered them to achieve this goal (after years of trying)

Growing a business with a purpose with a founder who has a heart

Isn't easy ... Let's be real

In my Live masterclass yesterday, someone shared this

"Sara, with so many competitors today, business is hard, but your systems make it easy to stand out and scale."

Being overlooked is a real problem today for founders

And here's the thing, it's no one's fault

Buyers will love you, they just got to understand these 7 things

Sara's Billion Dollar Buyers Guide

1. Your Unique Business Hook

2. How your Offer changed your world first

3. How your Offer changes others' worlds second.

4. Why you are a must have now and forever

5. How to sell you in one sentence 

6. Who your followers are

7. Why are you the number one in what you do

This list is the game changer for 2026, to stand out, get seen, get sell in, and get sell out

Give buyers instant clarity on your unique power and purpose

Let your brilliance shine

If you'd like to know more billion dollar buyer secrets, sign up for my newsletter here:

https://lnkd.in/dsVQABvv

Together we will transform our world

Love Sara

7 BILLION DOLLAR BUYER SECRETS

Yesterday I was talking About The Importance Of Trusting Yourself

You can have the best innovation, the best business, the best purpose

But if you don't trust yourself to cross the river

You never will 

You will stop just at the edge of certainty

How do I know that?

Because that used to be me

I would put in motion a great innovation or a great system

But I would not give it time for the innovation or the great system

To cross the river to success

I would get scared, I would freak out with the uncertainty of it all 

Here is what I learnt 

What I do 

And a key system I teach our members

You want to go SLOW in the foundation you are building

Take your time building your High Impact Offer Foundation

Breathe,

Give yourself the grace to BELIEVE IN Yourself

And Honour Your Innovation that is uniquely yours, without abandoning this or copying others

From fear

And

You want to

Go FAST in Implementing without waiting to be perfect

Because you ONLY become perfect through repetition of your actions and your process

You only become perfect by doing

You don't become perfect by waiting on the sidelines

My message for today: Just Do IT

Whatever you dream of for yourself this year

Commit and Trust Yourself To Make It a Reality

Life IS Short, Make Each Day Count

Together we will transform our world

PS. If you would like more insights on how to lead an impactful life, sign up for my newsletter here:

https://lnkd.in/dsVQABvv

Founder Impact Innovator OS | The #1 Integrated Growth System for Purpose Led Entrepreneurs to Scale to $1M, $50M and Beyond as a Category Of One Business

Cross The River With Me

Last Night I Had Dinner With One Of My Mentors PETER SAGE And Our Awesome Friends

Peter helped me get out of my comfort zone and made me see WHY mentorship is the game changer

For every entrepreneur 

I met Peter 10 years ago

He helped me shift my mindset from being "Comfortable" playing small 

To be "Uncomfortable" with the status quo 

Here are the 5 shifts being uncomfortable changed in my life

1. I started to focus 10X more on the present - what changes I could make each moment

2. I let go of GOOP - One of Peter's favourite phrases, listening to "The Good Opinion Of Other People

3. I stopped listening to "the noise" of the media

4. I started listening to my own heart - and hearing the impact it wanted to make

5. I worked my a**s of to "DO the work" and realise my true path 

Being a top 1% mentor myself ( because I experienced the transformation in my life first)

Having a top 1% mentor changed my trajectory to live a life of meaning, impact and legacy

Because I stopped being afraid and started to show up in my unique brilliance

Imagine what having a top 1% mentor can do for yours?

Together we will transform our world

Love and Gratitude Sara

Hey, Sara Simmonds here. Welcome to the Impact Innovator Community.

Here is a story about Carol, one ofthe  members

Carol is an awesome ex-Harvard, Cartier Award winner, and brilliant innovator. 

Despite her credentials and working harder than anyone I know, her sales were inconsistent. 

Some months are great, others scaling felt impossible.

Sound familiar?

Using my $Billion Dollar Buyer System

In 30 days, we helped Carol close $200K in a sell-out launch. 

No massive following. 

No chasing attention.

No "Send me an email."

 Just a complete change in how we helped Carol package and optimise her offer.

How? 

I spent years as a billion-dollar buyer controlling $100M+ budgets. 

My success secret?

I chose less than 1% of what I saw. The other 99%? Filtered out. Invisible.

The formula the1% have? 

These Five things:

One: They were Category-of-One. Competition became irrelevant.

Two: One clear offer. Not five confusing ones.

Three: A movement, not just customers.

Four: Mindset mastery. Success is 90% psychology.

Five: They owned their system. No agency dependency.

Here's the truth: knowing these secrets is step one. 

Understanding HOW to implement them is step two.

That's what I break down in my free live masterclass. 

I keep it intimate, just 25 founders, so I can address your specific challenges.

If you're tired of being overlooked while others get all the attention, click below and reserve your spot.

https://lnkd.in/dqNVxTFy

See you there.

There IS A SECRET Formula To Sell Out

Today I'm sharing this formula with you LIVE

But this is not for everyone

It is ONLY for you if you're a purpose led founder

With a mission to make an IMPACT

And you are tired of waiting for a breakthrough

You are ready for a proven system to 

Get noticed by buyers

As the ONE 

Get instant buy in and instant sell out

We have had over 150 sign ups, and my team told me

We have just 3 spots left to join us LIVE today

The link is below to sign up:

https://lnkd.in/dqNVxTFy

Drop a READY below, and I will look forward to answering your questions live

How to transform your purpose, to sales, and to legacy

Together we will transform our world

Love Sara

TODAY UNLOCK THE 5 SECRETS TO BUILD YOUR LEGACY

My category of one purpose connects with people faster than AI ever will 

(If you want to scale faster in 2026 ready my 5 secrets below)

I realised in my temple last week with my community

People don't deeply connect with you through words

I mean deep like wanting to build a friendship, relationship, or sale with you

They don't connect with you through numbers

(Although great numbers are impressive)

And

They don't actually connect with you through status

(status sounds good, but it either attracts fake friendships or followers, or rubs people up the wrong way)

The Truth: In HOW people ACTUALLY connect with you

It's through the FEELING you give them when they meet you

That feeling is an inner feeling

They want to be part of your tribe

I always say to our members here at Impact Innovator OS

The fastest way to gain new business

Is to OBSESS over your Ideal Client

That's the first step

The Gold is the second step that builds the REAL connection is 

To become a Category Of One 

I have built and refined the Category Of One formula over the last decade 

The formula applies to you as a person, you as a founder, you as a brand ...

And your brand itself

People connect to people who are a Category Of One

They become drawn to you and your business and your brand

Like a magnet

So if you want to skyrocket your sustainable growth in EVERY area of your life this 2026

Across ALL your relationships, do this:-

Sara's  5 Step Category Of One Formula 

1. Unlock your unique power and embrace the real you

2. Stop burying your unique power, hiding it, or pretending it does not exist

3. Shine your unique light from your heart in all that you do

4. Show Up In Your Unique Power Consistently

5. Stop chasing and allow yourself the space and time to connect to people who truly value what you do

It's time to unleash your unique brand magnetism on the world

If you would like to find out HOW DM light below to join us

Or sign up for my live masterclass next Tuesday, where I will share the 5 secrets to stop chasing and start leading as a Category of One Founder, Brand, and Business.

https://lnkd.in/dqNVxTFy

Together, we will transform our world

Love Sara

5 STEPS TO BECOME A CAT OF ONE

So I'm about to jump on the Closers.IO podcast, and honestly? I'm a bit nervous.

Not because I don't know my zone of genius - how to scale your unique purpose!

But because I'm walking into a room of professional salespeople... and I didn't grow up in sales.

I grew up in buying - and learning $Billion Dollar Buying Intelligence

Which is precisely why Closers.IO invited me on as their expert today

Because here's what I DO know: 

If you want to sell and scale in the world of endless competitors today

You've got to know how to become a category of one.

Here's what most people miss: Category of one isn't ONE thing you do.

It's EVERYTHING you do -

SIMPLE. Systemised and aligned into one roadmap.

That's how I close $15K to $150K deals at a 40% conversion rate.

Not through tactics. Through absolute clarity.

When you own your category, you don't compete. You convert.

The moment you become a category of one, price becomes irrelevant 

If you want the inside track on what that roadmap is, join me in my live masterclass next Tuesday. 

Link below to sign up 👇

https://lnkd.in/dqNVxTFy

Together we will transform our world

Love Sara

Why I Never Talk About Business On Saturdays

One Reason:

We need space each day and each week to zoom out

Think about it

How much of your time do you spend zoomed in?

Hyper focused on the nitty gritty of your day?

Hyper focused on getting that result?

Here is what I learned

Results do not come from

Hyperfocusing on the goal
Obsessing over the goal
Worrying about the goal

Results come from

Hyperfocusing on your process
Obsessing over your system
Joyously expecting the realisation of your goal

Learning to Zoom out resets your mind

Taking time every day and each weekend to zoom out and get lost in nature

It's a great way to do this

Remember this

Balance is the way to win

Together we will transform our world

Love Sara

Most founders believe they need a louder brand, a better-looking website, or a “more unique” offer.

That’s exactly why they stay overlooked -
while less capable competitors get picked.

I’ve spent years inside billion-dollar buyer rooms, watching how real decisions actually get made.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth:

Buyers don’t choose the “best” offer.
They choose the one that aligns with five specific decision criteria most founders never see.

On January 20th at 1:00 PM EST,
I’m hosting a private masterclass where we break down all five.

No surface-level tactics.
No marketing tricks.

Just the real buyer levers that make decision-makers see you as the only obvious choice, and confidently say yes.

Here’s a preview:

Why “trying to be different” often works against you, and what top buyers actually use to decide who wins.

How purpose-led founders sell out $200K launches in 24 hours, without ads or agencies.

The two hidden mechanisms that turn unpredictable growth into sustainable momentum you own.

This is the same framework I used to approve and greenlight over $100M in buying decisions.

Founders have applied it to scale from $1M to $50M+:
→ Without bloated agencies
→ Without stacked systems, they don’t control
→ And without burning out

Seats are limited, and this won’t be made public.

Register now to unlock the private pre-training before we go live.

🔗 Save your seat: https://lnkd.in/dqNVxTFy

Ten years ago, I made myself a promise.

One day, I would walk the trails of El Chaltén, Patagonia - not as an escape, but as a reminder of why I chose this path.

Last year, I did.

That hike wasn’t just about mountains.
It was about walking the path of innovators who refused to compromise what mattered.

The one who carried me through the hardest years was Yvon Chouinard - founder of Patagonia, the billion-dollar brand that was never meant to be one.

Yvon wasn’t a businessman chasing wealth.
He was a broke mountain climber who wanted better gear.

So he taught himself blacksmithing.
Made tools for his friends.
Sold them from his car for $1.50 each.

He didn’t set out to build a unicorn.
He just refused to betray his values.

When being a purpose-led founder nearly broke me 
when every part of me wanted to quit 

I remembered his words:

“Impossible is the lamest of excuses.”

And I realised something important:

Quitting doesn’t make life easier.
It just postpones the dream.

Because dreams don’t quit.
They wait.
And they come back louder.

What stopped me from walking away was understanding this:

Everything is figurable-outable including sustainable growth.

Just as Yvon built for climbers, I spent the last 10 years building for purpose-led founders.

When there was no roadmap, I created one.
And that work became Impact Innovator OS.

So here’s the question I keep coming back to:

What would change if you realised your purpose isn’t the obstacle, it’s the path?

Most founders think they need a louder brand, a prettier website, or a “more unique” offer.

That’s why they stay invisible...
While weaker competitors get chosen.

I spent years inside billion-dollar buyer rooms watching how real decisions are made.

And here’s the uncomfortable truth:

Buyers don’t choose the “best” offer.

They choose the offer that aligns with 5 specific buyer decision criteria almost no one understands.

On January 20th at 1:00 PM EST,
I’m running a private masterclass.

We’re revealing all 5.

Not surface-level tactics.
Not marketing tricks.

The real buyer levers that make someone see you as the only obvious choice and confidently say yes.

Here’s a taste:

1. Why “being different” actually backfires, and what top buyers use instead to decide who wins the deal.

2. How certain purpose-led founders sell out $200K launches in 24 hours with zero ads or agencies.

3. The 2 hidden mechanisms that turn random growth into sustainable momentum you actually own.

This is the same playbook I used to approve and greenlight over $100M in buying decisions.

Founders have used these frameworks to scale from $1M to $50M+:

→ Without hiring bloated agencies,
→ Without stacking systems they don’t control,
→ And without burning out.

Seats are limited.
This masterclass will not be public.

Register now to unlock the private pre-video series before we go live.

Save your seat: https://lnkd.in/dqNVxTFy

Krystal Lopez, Gabriela Longhi and 31 other attendees

5 Billion-Dollar Buyer Secrets Masterclass | Make Customers Choose YOU!

If you want to learn how to be the only choice in your niche

Join my Live Today in my $Billion Dollar Buyer Secrets Masterclass

If you are a founder with a burning mission inside you

To make a difference in the world, this is for YOU

Here is why

This year, we are sitting at an amazing crossroads

We are in the middle of the biggest wealth transfer in history

It is the generational wealth transfer to millennials and Gen Z 

$87 Trillion Wealth Transfer

And this generation cares about one thing more than anything

That is buying with purpose

They know that what you buy defines who you are, and your legacy

But here is the thing

Buyers are overwhelmed with choice right now

And they don't want more choice

What they want is The ONLY Choice

So if you are a Founder, Coach, or Consultant who

Is tired of being overlooked or undervalued

And want one simple roadmap to become The Only Choice

Join me today, this is not a recording, this is LIVE with me, Sara Simmonds

These secrets are making founders over $7 Figure increases to their business

So if you want this year to be the year you break through and scale

Join me today, click this link: https://lnkd.in/dqNVxTFy

Together we will transform our world

Love Sara

BECOME THE ONLY CHOICE TODAY

Have you started the New Year trying to fix your brand, your website, or your offer, thinking that’s why sales feel slow?

That’s exactly why most founders get overlooked while weaker competitors close faster.

After years inside billion-dollar buyer rooms, here’s the real truth:

Buyers don’t choose the best offer.

They choose the one that activates 5 specific psychological switches.

We’re going live TOMORROW

📅 January 6 at 12 PM CST

We’re excited to have you tomorrow for this private masterclass, where I’ll break down exactly what those switches are and how to use them to make buyers say yes, fast.

No fluff.

No theory.

Just real decision-making levers.

153 founders already registered

Only 7 spots left

Start your year with the skills that actually drive revenue.

Book your seat here: https://lnkd.in/dqNVxTFy

How I Sold A Billionaire a 50K Offer in 7 days (using my buyer intelligence framework) 

I was talking to one of my team members the other day, explaining my buyer intelligence framework

That I teach Founders

Sara's 5 steps in Sustainable scale

1. Transform to a Category Of One
2. Focus on what you deliver that is a High Impact Offer
3, Implement a Social Selling Game Plan
4. Build a "Real Power Is You" Mindset
5. Stemise everything

And we got talking about step 3 Implement a Social Selling Game Plan

The first time I used this method, I built a $300K launch from scratch

The second time, I sold a Billionaire a $50K High Impact Offer in 7 days

The secret sauce of HOW I did that - I will reveal in my LIVE Masterclass Next TUESDAY

If you want to lift the veil on digital marketing, that is so simple that anyone can do this

And on what buyers really want to buy today to close 5, 6, and 7 figure deals

Join me LIVE:

https://lnkd.in/dqNVxTFy

Link Below to Sign UP

If you want to transform your business in the next 24 hrs read this 

The problem today is this

No one needs more or wants more; they want less

They want:-

The Founder that is a category of one

The Coach who has a proven system

The Consultant who is a game changer

And they want to know 

How are you category of one

What your proven system delivers

And how you are a game changer

In less than 5 seconds

If you can't deliver, you're losing out to the founders who can

To find out how you can stop blending in and start leading as a category of one

Join me live tomorrow in my free masterclass. 

The link is here to sign up (Only 25 spots)

https://lnkd.in/dqNVxTFy

Trustpilot Reviews

⏳ Two days to go.

Most founders think they need a louder brand, a better-looking website, or a more “unique” offer.

That belief is why they stay invisible -
while objectively weaker competitors keep getting chosen.

After years inside billion-dollar buying rooms, I can tell you the real reason:

Buyers don’t choose the best offer.
They choose the offer that aligns with a small set of buyer decision criteria most founders never see.

This Sunday at 12:00 PM EST, I’m hosting a private masterclass where I break down all five.

No surface-level tactics.
No marketing hacks.

Just the real buyer levers that make someone see you as the obvious choice and confidently say yes.

What we’ll cover:

Why “being different” often backfires and what top buyers actually use to decide who wins

How purpose-led founders quietly sell out $200K launches in 24 hours without ads or agencies

The two hidden mechanisms that turn random growth into momentum you actually own

This is the same framework I used to approve $100M+ buying decisions.

Founders using it have scaled from $1M to $50M+
without bloated agencies, tool overload, or burnout.

⚠️ Limited to 25 business owners. Not public.

👉 Save your seat before doors close: https://lnkd.in/dqNVxTFy

taplio

The Battle

Paul Upton

Sara Simmonds

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScorePaul Upton's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreSara Simmonds's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Paul Upton

Sara Simmonds

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);}Paul Upton's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreSara Simmonds's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScorePaul Upton's LinkedIn Performance