🧙🏽‍♀️ Sabrina Chevannes (EMBA, MCIM)

Hey - I’m Sabrina 👋🏽I’m a proud portfolio entrepreneur. I run multiple businesses, build different revenue streams &amp; wear a lot of hats - by design. I believe breadth is a strength, not a weakness &amp; I actively encourage founders to embrace it properly, with the right systems.Everything I do connects, but here’s some clarity so you know exactly what I do &amp; who I help.I’m known as The No Bullsh*t Entrepreneur because I tell the truth about business. I don’t pretend it’s easy or I’m “always smashing it” &amp; I don’t sell shortcuts. I show the highs &amp; the lows - and I’m usually the one saying what people are already thinking but are too afraid to say.My work consistently challenges the status quo in entrepreneurship. When everyone says “work harder” or “do more marketing”, I’m often saying: we’re solving the wrong problem. I help founders who want small teams but big profits.That’s why I create No Bullsh*t content across multiple platforms:	•	No Bullsh*t Entrepreneurship (YouTube): educational videos	•	Sniffing Out the Bullsh*t (audio podcast): weekly myth-busting with practical alternatives	•	No Bullsh*t Talks (video podcast): REAL conversations with founders without the BSIt’s also why I founded N0BS: a no-bullsh*t members’ club for entrepreneurs. We’re deliberately anti-community in the modern sense: no performative networking, no hype, no fake relationships. N0BS is for ambitious founders who want genuine connections, access to quality people &amp; to grow their businesses sustainably and ethically.I’m also an International Chess Master &amp; former England international. Chess has shaped how I think: position before tactics, long-term strategy over short-term wins. Today, I coach privately, work with kids/adults and run corporate workshops using chess to help businesses solve complex strategic problems.After years of being known as “the Chess Master with an MBA”, I created The Positional Advantage™: a framework for founders who want to win more clients without spending more on marketing. Using principles from chess, I help businesses fix their positioning so growth becomes easier, clearer &amp; more profitable.In practice, I’m brought into companies as a Fractional CMO/COO, but my real work is as a Small Business Diagnostician. I identify what’s actually broken, spot missed opportunities &amp; optimise strategy and operations so businesses can grow without burning out or bleeding cash.At the end of the day, my goal is simple:To help founders build profitable businesses that give them more time, more clarity &amp; a better life - not just more work.

Founder

Complex Creative is known as the No Bullsh*t Agency, as we are fully honest and transparent with our work and we explain things how they are. No more getting ripped off by agencies because your job is "so complicated" and XYZ needs to be done because it's essential to your brand. 

We provide you with no BS answers and explain our processes throughout. 

If you know someone who may be being ripped off by their agency, feel free to get in touch for a second opinion!

🧙🏽‍♀️ Sabrina Chevannes (EMBA, CMktr)

I never thought I’d be ranting about Kylie Jenner on LinkedIn… but here we are.

WHY ON EARTH IS VANITY FAIR ASKING KYLIE JENNER TO DO A “POKER MASTERCLASS”? 🤬🤬🤬

Apparently the idea is that “Hot Girl Poker” will help grow the game.

But why pick her though? There are sooooooo freaking many actual hot girl poker champions out there. 

Women who have:
💪🏽 Won WSOP bracelets
💪🏽 Earned millions in tournament winnings
💪🏽 Spent years mastering one of the most strategic games in the world.

Absolute badasses.

And yet… when a global magazine wants to showcase poker…

They pick a celebrity who learned the rules two years ago and film her explaining them in a bra 🙄🙄

Seriously???

If the goal was to promote poker, why not collaborate with actual champions and celebrate the women who’ve already conquered the game?

New Balance just did this brilliantly when Eberechi Eze played Magnus Carlsen at chess. 👏🏽

Celebrity meets genuine excellence - everyone wins. 

Instead we get Hot Girl Poker 🤦🏾‍♀️

It feels somewhat insulting!!

Women do not need to strip down to be taken seriously in strategic spaces - they already belong there.

Especially disappointing from a brand like Vanity Fair… And during International Women’s Month, no less. 🙂‍↔️

Surely I can’t be the only one who thinks we could have done a lot better than this??

Sabrina Chevannes-Denman

I’m for hire again baby!!! I’m available for speaking gigs. 🥳

And for the next 3 gigs, I’m waiving my fee.

Yup - you heard it. You get me for FREE. I get paid nada. Zilch. Diddly squat! 😱 

No, I’m not feeling generous - there is a caveat. It’s a trade… 

For professional footage for my speaker showreel. 🎥

I’ve been really laxed with filming my keynotes and workshops and now I need to get intentional about it. 

For those who don’t already know me, here’s what I speak on:

💥 Small teams, big profits: how to grow your business without the BS
💥 Chess in business: strategy, analytics and critical thinking
💥 Creating an authentically authentic personal brand

Requirements:
👥 Live audience
🎥 Proper videography
✅ Permission to reuse clips

So, if you’re running an event and you’re wondering how to get an epic speaker within your measly speaker budget - your prayers are now answered!

Get in touch for more info, or if you want testimonials, but I’m sure my audience will vouch for me too 😅

This weekend, I stayed in the Four Seasons in Tower Bridge, even though it’s just 20 mins from my house.

It wasn’t about going far - it was about switching off. 

🥞 Eating great food
🍸 Sipping on fun cocktails
🧖🏾‍♀️ Enjoying the luxury spa
👩🏽‍❤️‍👨🏼 Spending quality time

Plus, Bella came too - she approved 🐶 

I didn’t realise just how rejuvenating that weekend was until I got up this morning at 6am and felt instantly productive. 

And I’m NOT a morning person!

I bashed out so much work on my way to my team day today and suddenly had all this clarity to the things I wasn’t sure about a week ago. 

I always underestimate how much I need a rest. 😴

But I do also think there’s something about surrounding yourself with luxury that has such a positive effect on you. 

Taking that moment out to “escape” and just purely enjoy everything, without worrying about work, money, health etc., was somewhat liberating. 🥳

I encourage everyone to take a staycation and just enjoy the finer things in life for a weekend. Enjoy doing NOTHING. 

When was the last time you took a genuine break? Didn’t even look at your phone? If you can’t remember, this is your sign to take one!

Today I’m calling bullsh*t on International Women’s Day! 🤬

I’m SICK AND TIRED of what this day is about now. 

What started as something powerful - rooted in labour movements, protest, and women fighting for basic rights - has slowly turned into corporate propaganda and exploitation.

Every year I’m asked to speak at IWD events to help “empower” other women.
But somehow there’s never a speaker budget. 🙄🙄🙄

Funny how empowerment rarely seems to include actually paying women for their expertise.

Instead, every year, you get men organising token events so they can look like the “good guys”.

🦸🏼‍♂️ Putting women on a stage.
🦸🏼‍♂️ Taking photos.
🦸🏼‍♂️ Posting about how much they “support women”.

And somehow acting like the women should be grateful for the opportunity. 🤦🏽‍♀️

They call that empowerment, but somehow it feels more like free labour wrapped in PR. 

Then there’s the absolute bullsh*t behind the “official” International Women’s Day website. 😤

Most people assume it’s run by the UN - it’s NOT!

The domain is privately owned by a marketing company that has essentially turned the day into a global branding campaign - selling themes, hashtags and corporate partnerships every year. 

Profiting off the vulnerability of women. 🤮

Their defence?
“International Women’s Day belongs to everyone.”

BULLSH*T!!

International Women’s Day didn’t start as a marketing campaign.

It started in the early 1900s labour movement, when women were protesting for basic rights like voting, fair pay and safe working conditions.

The UN only formally adopted it decades later in 1975.

But now?

It’s become a yearly parade of corporate LinkedIn posts, pastel graphics, and panel events where women are asked to speak for “visibility” instead of being paid like professionals. 🥱

And honestly, the irony is almost too perfect.

A day that exists because women were historically exploited… is now being used to exploit women again. 🤦🏽‍♀️

So highlighting this bullsh*t should be a core part of International Women’s Day.

But if you really want to support and respect women… it’s not that difficult:
💪🏽 Pay them for speaking gigs
💪🏽 Treat them the same way you treat men
💪🏽 Pay them equal salaries
💪🏽 Don’t act like they’re just decorations for diversity panels
💪🏽 Don’t treat them like s*xual objects
💪🏽 Don’t take advantage of their vulnerability

Basically, just be decent human beings. 

At least try, FFS.

Are we now in a world where bad behaviour can just be blamed on disability?!

And does a diagnosis give someone blanket immunity to be a d***??

I’ve watched the BAFTAs incident unfold with disbelief. 😢

A racial slur was shouted at Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo while they were on stage - and it was aired on national TV.

Let me be very clear before people jump in:
I fully understand that Tourette’s involves involuntary tics and outbursts. I cannot imagine how difficult that is to live with. And I am not attacking people with Tourette’s.

However, I have never experienced someone with Tourette’s directing that word at me. 🤷🏽‍♀️

And my disgust is aimed far less at the individual involved and far more at BBC, who chose to broadcast it - while apparently having no problem cutting references to Palestine from another speech.

That decision matters.

What’s made this worse is the narrative that’s followed.

It’s quickly turned into “Black people vs people with disabilities” - a false and harmful divide that helps absolutely no one. 🤦🏽‍♀️

Then I scroll social media and see people joking about “claiming Tourette’s” so they can say whatever they like with no consequences. 🤬

Others comparing it to people using ADHD or neurodivergence as an excuse for bad behaviour at work.

That’s what’s truly upsetting.

Because people who genuinely live with these conditions are now being lumped in with those using them as a shield from accountability. 💔

We’re seeing more and more incidents where there are no consequences - and worse, where systems seem to protect harm rather than address impact.

So I’ll ask the uncomfortable question:

Where is the line between compassion and accountability?
And what happens if we keep pretending this isn’t becoming a problem?! 🤔

Two years ago, I was on a billboard for International Women’s Day 🤯

I remember walking around London and suddenly seeing my own face staring back at me as part of a brilliant campaign run by Tobi Oredein and the Black Ballad team, in partnership with Google.

The campaign was about showcasing the future of the workforce.

🙌🏽 Women who excel in their fields.
🙌🏽 Women who are breaking ceilings.
🙌🏽 Women who don’t always look like the stereotypical image of success.

The campaign genuinely moved me. 

To have a giant like Google invest in a campaign that centred women... Black women... and celebrated excellence like that was incredibly powerful.

Not just for us...

But for every little Black girl walking past those billboards thinking:
“Maybe that could be me.” 🥹

Because representation matters.

Seeing someone who looks like you doing the thing you dream of doing can change how big you allow yourself to think.

To me, THIS is what a powerful International Women’s Day campaign looks like!

👎🏽 Not empty posts.
👎🏽 Not token panels.
👎🏽 Not performative LinkedIn captions.

🙌🏽 Real investment.
🙌🏽 Real visibility.
🙌🏽 Real impact.

I was incredibly proud to be part of it.

And massive respect to the people and companies who actually put their money, platform and influence behind initiatives like this.

That’s how you celebrate women 👏🏽

I'm soooo excited to be writing for Entrepreneur Media again!!

I'm going to be investing a lot more time into writing now, while I work on publishing my next book. 

So, I will be producing a fair few articles for Entrepreneur.com

First up of 2026: Why all entrepreneurs should play chess!!

Whenever I've seen chess and business compared, it's the same usual, boring comparisons. 

So I picked 5 completely new ones I've never seen suggested anyway. 

Check out the article here:
https://lnkd.in/gb5XCijh

PSA: Just because someone doesn’t put “ADHD”, “Autistic”, “Neurodivergent”, or “Neurospicy” in their LinkedIn headline… doesn’t mean they don’t live with it.

Just because you’re louder about it, doesn’t mean you suffer more.
Just because you’ve made it your entire identity doesn’t mean you’re entitled to more sympathy, more grace, or more respect.

Some people are just getting on with it.
🧠 Doing the work.
🧠 Building the business.
🧠 Managing the chaos in their brain privately.
🧠 Learning coping mechanisms.
🧠 Trying to improve.

Without broadcasting it.

I have huge respect for neurodivergent creators who educate, advocate and genuinely help people. That work is totally needed and they’ve helped change many a life. 

But the thing is, a diagnosis may explain behaviour, but it doesn’t excuse it.

Being neurodivergent doesn’t give you blanket immunity to:
👎🏽 Talk down to people
👎🏽 Be consistently unreliable without accountability
👎🏽 Be rude
👎🏽 Refuse feedback
👎🏽 Dismiss impact with “this is just how I am”

Invisible disabilities work both ways.

You can’t demand that the world recognise nuance…while assuming that anyone who isn’t loud about it must be “less aware” or “less evolved”.

I totally get that it’s harder for some people, and that’s OK. No one is expecting anyone to be perfect. But people are expecting you to care. To want to try and manage things better. 💕

Look, some people don’t want labels to define them.
Some people are still processing it. 
Some are navigating significant challenges and choosing to handle them privately while working relentlessly on the parts that hurt their relationships or careers. 💔

Advocacy is powerful, yes, but so is personal responsibility. They are not opposites. 

They can (and should) coexist. 💪🏽

And maybe the real flex isn’t announcing your diagnosis…
Maybe it’s doing the work to ensure it doesn’t become your excuse.

Former Dragon from Dragon’s Den agrees that there’s a lot of bullsh*t in entrepreneurship! 😱

And it’s genuinely hurting entrepreneurs - making them lose money, endure unnecessary stress and not preparing them for how difficult running a business really is. 

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Richard Farleigh on his new podcast, The Boardroom, where we talked about how most founders do marketing wrong, and why so many of them choose to bullsh*t. 🐂💩

Richard has invested in over 120 businesses, so he’s seen first hand the most common mistakes founders make in business and what actually makes entrepreneurs successful. 

This was SUCH a great episode, covering so many useful topics for founders, PLUS, how chess can be used to help problem solve in business too! 

Tune into the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/eeW-b35N

Why is there still so much racism in 2026? 
And why do so many people pretend it doesn’t exist? 😢

I’ve been thinking a lot about the latest racism incident involving Vinícius Júnior - and it’s been a little difficult to take. 

For those who don’t follow football:
Vinícius is one of the best players in the world. A Brazilian international playing for Real Madrid - arguably the biggest club on the planet.

Last week, during a Champions League match against Benfica, he reported being racially abused on the pitch. 🙊

The accused player now denies it, and because he covered his mouth, there’s no clear footage. Some players say they heard it, others say they didn’t. 🤷🏽‍♀️

But here’s the bit that really upsets me:

Instead of the conversation being “racism is disgusting”, it quickly became:
“Why does it always happen to him?”
“Maybe he misunderstood.”
“He provokes it.”

Apparently, celebrating a goal now makes racial abuse understandable.
Even José Mourinho weighed in - reinforcing the idea that Vini’s behaviour is the real issue. That he was celebrating the goal too much… as if that somehow justified the racism. 😡

Vini has:
– Had racist effigies made of him
– Seen people jailed for abusing him
– Been targeted repeatedly, across multiple stadiums

And yet… people still say he’s making it up. 🤦🏾‍♀️

I scrolled through Instagram after the incident and all the comments were against Vini and it really got to me. 

It made me think that this is exactly why so many Black people stay quiet.

Because speaking up doesn’t just mean reliving the incident - it means being cross-examined, doubted, and blamed. 💔

I even see it myself here on LinkedIn. The reactions I get on my posts are very different to other posts, even with the same opinion. 

And when you constantly get negativity and even hate, just for speaking your mind - why do you want to keep doing it?

💪🏽 Being outspoken does NOT make racism acceptable.
💪🏽 Confidence is NOT consent for abuse. 
💪🏽 Celebration is NOT provocation.

The “No Room for Racism” campaign means nothing if, the moment it appears, we rush to explain it away.

And to those who say racism doesn’t exist because they haven’t seen it:
Just because something doesn’t happen to you… doesn’t mean it isn’t happening.

This World Book Day, I want to share my TBR for the month. 

And its no coincidence they’re all written by women as that’s what I do every March during International Women’s Month. 

I’ve been needing inspiration lately from hugely powerful women. And when I say powerful, I don’t mean rich. 

I’ve picked: 
- Finding Me by Viola Davis
- The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama
- Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes
- How To Fail by Elizabeth Day
- I am Malala by Malala :) 

Would love to hear thoughts from anyone who’s read these and any other suggestions by incredible women that helped motivate them through a difficult time in life

No alternative text description for this image

A podcast with a former Dragon and a tour around Steven Bartlett's office - this month was incredibly motivating 🙌🏽

February was the month I decided to come out of my shell again. 

I actually met up with people, went on podcasts, attended events etc. 

After dealing with grief, I really struggled to feel comfortable around people. So, I hid away and even pivoted my business so that I ran fewer events and had less contact with people. 😢 

This month, I gradually picked myself up to do some one on ones, and even joined a dance class!

It’s felt amazing to see a glimmer of my old self, and now I’m psyched for what March will be like. 

It’s already picking up that fire horse energy, so I’m feeling really pumped for this Lunar New Year. 🥳

I’m definitely looking to do lots more events, keynotes and collabs this year, so please do get in touch if you fancy doing something together!

What I did in February 

Most business owners make the same mistakes amateur chess players do. 

They play speed chess with their business. 

Now, speed chess (or blitz, as we call it) seems fun - it’s fast, it’s exciting and keeps us on our toes. But the problem is, it’s poor quality chess. 🤦🏾‍♀️

If we want to improve, we should be taking our time and studying classical chess and playing longer games. 

But most people don’t want to do that, as that’s “boring”. 🥱

So they constantly play blitz and wonder why they don’t improve. 

It’s the same in business. People are going after hacks, delving straight into marketing without any strategy and looking for shortcuts wherever they can. 🙄

This just means they will never learn how to run a business properly. 

Sure, they will find some quick wins and get lucky here and there, but they will never really improve and get the respect of investors and real business moguls. 

I’ve just done a video on my YouTube on how similar blitz chess is to how founders are running businesses these days. 

So, if you want to learn how to play REAL chess with your business, here’s the link to the full video:
https://lnkd.in/eHBt22YQ

When I posted that I made £126k on LinkedIn last year, I had mixed reactions.

Some called BS, some thought it was great and many others claimed that number was pathetic and they were making that in a week. 

I wasn't saying it to brag, but to be transparent. 

I live in Zone 2 in London and live a very social life. I get that £126k doesn't buy you that life. 

So, it's not about the number, but I wanted to show people tangible proof that there is money to be made on LinkedIn if you do things properly. 

That's why I've broken down how I did that on my latest YouTube video, which can be found here:
https://lnkd.in/e7u4DdVG

If you're worried your posts aren't reaching enough people, then this one is definitely for you.

This week's theme of my content has all been around the LinkedIn bullsh*t out there and how to ACTUALLY make money on LinkedIn. 

I'm bringing back my weekly newsletter - No Bullsh*t Entrepreneurship, which summarises the content I put out on a weekly basis, the lessons from them and the discussions from other entrepreneurs. 

If you don't want to miss the content I do, this is a great way to get everything in one place, straight to your inbox. 

Hit subscribe if you don't want to miss an issue.

View newsletter: No Bullsh*t Entrepreneurship

This Week’s Theme: LinkedIn BS Lately, the LinkedIn feed has been filled with complaints about LinkedIn. Very meta. The consensus is that LinkedIn is 

Open article: How to make money from LinkedIn by Sabrina Chevannes-Denman • 2 min read

I think Austin Kleon's Steal Like An Artist is one of the most misunderstood books for entrepreneurs. 

People think it's a free pass for plagiarism! And we wonder why there have been all these silly posts starting with "Steal My...". 

It's actually an incredible book, IF used properly. 

So, I decided to review it on my YouTube channel and explain how this book can genuinely be super useful in entrepreneurship, rather than lead you into a massive legal battle and lose your creativity and credibility along the way. 

Full video here:
https://lnkd.in/e5qmN7mB

𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 80% 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬?

Movies make poker look like constant action:
💥 Huge bluffs.
💥 Big all-ins.
💥 Dramatic showdowns.

But the reality is much quieter.

Most professional players are patiently folding hand after hand… watching, analysing, waiting for the right moment.

Because good poker isn’t about playing every hand - it’s about playing the 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 hands.

Business is exactly the same, yet I see so many founders doing the opposite:
👎🏽 Saying yes to every opportunity.
👎🏽 Every collaboration.
👎🏽 Every meeting.
👎🏽 Every shiny new idea.

That’s the equivalent of playing 𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐫 with your business.

I am constantly seeing more and more parallels between poker and entrepreneurship - and I’ve broken down why folding more hands might be the smartest thing you can do in your business in my latest YouTube video. 

If you feel like you’re busy all the time but not necessarily moving forward… this might explain why.

🎥 Watch here: https://lnkd.in/eJk4jBJD

As a Service-preneur, have you ever heard:

*You have a real talent so you should start a business.
*Do what you love so you will never have to work another day in your life.
*Pull yourself up by your own bootstraps.
*Build it and they will come

But if you have been in the game for any length of time, you learned none of this is true. Now you're stuck: frustrated and hustling. I've been there.

I started a food business with my wife over 13 years ago, and we learned the game and the cheat codes. We won a contest and then grew to 48 employees in that time. Many of our friends' Food Businesses did not make it to the other side of the Flupocalypse, so to honor my friends dreams, I am here to help you grow your business. How? By taking that icky sales thing and making it a simple exercise in common sense.

I am the Soloipreneur consultant that will help you find the lost money in your couch cushions.
Because that is my superpower.

*Integrated Sales & Marketing
*Scale your business to over 7 Figures
*Reclaim free time

If any of this sounds familiar:
*You want off the Revenue roller - coaster
*You know you need to sell but you hate sales people (everybody does, it's okay)
*You don't know where to start
*You are stuck trying to cross to that next $$$$ plateau.
*The sales programs/jargon are not working for you.
*Can't see the forest for the trees?

It's not your fault. You were never taught how to sell the right way! 
The commission breath methods that we all hate don't work anymore.
Let's talk about the new method.

Knowledge is cheap. Chat can give you information. Google can give you facts.
But real insights, from experience can't be found everywhere.

Just sayin'

Craig Cooper

Over the past decade, I've consumed countless books, courses, and frameworks about business growth. 

Here are the 5 ideas that actually changed how I operate:

1. Time is the only currency that matters.

I heard someone say "Time is our only non-renewable natural resource." 
Facts. Now I evaluate every opportunity by what it costs in hours, not just dollars.

2. If it doesn't make money, it doesn't make sense.

Simple but honest. I used to chase "brand building" activities that looked good but generated nothing. Now I ask one question: does this connect to revenue?

3. Retention beats acquisition.

Everyone talks about getting more clients. Few talk about keeping the ones you have happy. It's cheaper to keep 'em than to replace 'em.

4. Most skills can be taught. Attitude can't.

I hired "experienced" people who were nightmares. I promoted hungry people who became stars. Now I look for fire in the belly first, resume second.

5. Don't worry that the horse is blind. Load the wagon.

My dad's saying. Stop waiting for perfect conditions. They don't exist. Start moving with what you have.

TAKEAWAY:

These ideas rewired how I think about business.

If you're reading this today, whatever success you build will come from internalizing principles, not chasing tactics.

Tactics change.

Principles remain.

What's one idea that changed how you run your business?

Entrepreneur Coach | Sales strategist | I help owner operators increase their sales without spending on ads.

Running my catering company, 

focusing on increased inquiries almost sank us...
 and this is what saved us.

We were landing new accounts left and right. 
Felt good. 
Busy. 
Growing.

But we kept bleeding clients out the back door. 
Small ones. Quiet ones. 
The ones who didn't complain... they just left.

Until I stopped and audited what was actually paying the bills.

Here's what changed everything:

The problem wasn't getting clients. It was KEEPING them.

We were so focused on the next sale that we forgot to serve the people who already trusted us.

What to do:

✅ Tier your clients by revenue
→ Top 20% get weekly attention. Middle gets bi-weekly. Bottom gets monthly.

✅ Check in without selling
→ "What can we do to make your life easier?" That's it. No pitch.

✅ Track retention like you track sales
→ If you're measuring new leads but not client churn, you're flying blind.

Here's what to avoid:

❌ Treating all clients equally
→ They're not. Your time should match their value.

❌ Only calling when you need something
→ They can smell commission breath a mile away.

❌ Assuming happy means loyal
→ Silence isn't satisfaction. Check in before they check out.

Retention isn't luck. It's a system.

Want to stop the feast or famine cycle? Start with who's already paying you.

Just sayin'

Entrepreneur Coach | Sales strategist | I help owner operators transform from self employed to business owners.

"Find more leads."

That's the default advice when revenue wobbles.

More leads. More advertising. More cold messages.

But here's what nobody mentions:

→ A handful of clients probably fund most of your operation
→ Keeping someone costs a fraction of replacing them
→ Referrals flow from relationships, not transactions
→ Pursuing strangers while ignoring fans is upside-down thinking

The owners I watch winning? They're not obsessed with filling funnels.

They're obsessed with serving the people already inside.

Client loyalty is the silent engine of sustainable growth.

Quit the hunt. Cultivate what you have.

Just sayin'

How do you actually become an owner instead of just self-employed?

I get this question constantly. After running a catering company from concept to 40 employees, here's what I learned:

The shift isn't about revenue. It's about how you spend your time.

Here are 5 examples of how owner thinking works:

1. Track where your hours go.

Most owners have no idea. They're "busy" but can't explain it. Track everything for a week. The truth will be uncomfortable and useful.

2. Identify your top 20% of clients.

These people are your business. Your payroll. Your profit. Most owners can't name them. The smart ones check and then prioritize accordingly.

3. Build one system this month.

Not a complicated ERP system. One process. One checklist. One thing that can happen without you touching it. That's the beginning of freedom.

4. Hire for attitude first.

My first executive chef started as a line cook. Skills can be taught. Hunger can't. Stop looking for perfect resumes and start looking for fire.

5. Protect your time like currency.

Because it's worth more than money. You can always make more money. You cannot make more time. Every yes to something low-value is a no to something that matters.

While "working harder" is often the first answer owners reach for, it's usually the wrong one.

The owner's job is to build the machine, not be the machine.

Just sayin'

What's one thing you could stop doing this week that would move you from self-employed to owner?

undefined undefined

Product Launches 101

Sales: Sales Games for Your Teams

Lean Six Sigma Foundations

Sales Management Foundations

Built Here exists to move entrepreneurs to real business growth.

Principal

After spending years defining and stabilizing systems for revenue generation and retention, I found that these methodologies apply to a wide range of emerging to small B2B Business Enterprises. Unfortunately these resources were sorely lacking for entrepreneurs which is why so many were not able to survive the pandemic, or the 5 year start up gestation before that. This enterprise is my attempt to do something to assist my fellows and to correct that.

Founder & CEO

Oversee all aspects of the Culture, Growth, Sales and Marketing activities. Responsibilities include overseeing the planning and development of promotional strategies and marketing plans; overseeing and assisting with the development and implementation of the culture, business development, sales and marketing plans; management of the sales and marketing team and reporting on effectiveness of the plan to entire leadership team. Responsible for integrating Agile and Lean Six Sigma Methodologies into the Catering and Events Operation. Responsible for the negotiation of contracts and establishing vendor relationships including but not limited to purchasing equipment and other capital expenditures.

Chief Waffle Engineer and Food Evangelist(Business Owner) 

Provide integrated pest management and agriculture services (both turf fertilization and weed abatement) to a myriad of industries. Including but not limited to Bio Tech facilities, Hospitals, Hospitality, Restaurants, LEED certified buildings, local municipalities, and educational institutions: providing a single point of contact, inspection, consultation, and recommendation customizing the solution to meet the needs of the client.

Commercial Solutions Manager

Estabilish and Maintain relationships with Hiring Managers in the areas of IT Infrastructure (including but not limited to Network and Systems Operations, Network and Systems Engineering, Security, Database Administration and Development, Enterprise infrastructure Management and Messaging, Storage/SAN Engineering, and Voice Engineering), Applications development (including but not limited to Business Applications, Java, and .Net) as well as SAP family, Architecture, Business Systems Analytics, Help Desk and much, much more...
Proactively Interview and Recruit passive and active candidates for Contract, Contract to Hire and Direct Hire engagements in cutting edge companies throughout the United States. Consistently provide career opportunities worth $100K+ annually.

Senior Executive Recruiter

Provide employment opportunities to passive and active candidates in the fields of Accounting and Finance. Positions including but not limited to VP of Finance, CFO, Director of Finance, Corporate Controller, CPA, Director of Treasury, Manager of FP & A, Finance Manager, Revenue Manager, Accounting Manager, Senior Accountant, Staff Accountant, Audit Manager, and Tax Manager. 

Recruit, Interview and verify qualifications for positions. Match skill sets to job opportunities to maintain stability in clients resumes by presenting career path opportunities that will allow candidates to maintain a solid track record of tenure and accomplishments.

Develop and maintain relationships with Hiring Managers in Private and Public sector that provide my candidates the best opportunity to find a position that best fits their wants.

Executive Recruiter

Develop and maintain relationships with Hiring Managers in all the areas of Accounting and finance. Including but not limited to Staff Accountants, Senior Accountants, Cost Accountants, Project Accountants, Accounting Managers, Assistant Controllers, Controllers -- Divisional as well as Corporate --, CPAs, Finance Managers, Managers of FP & A, Directors of Finance, CFOs, VP of Finance, Internal Auditors, Auditors, Audit Managers, Tax Managers and much more. Partner with Recruitment Specialists to provide our candidates and clients Contract, Contract to Hire as well as Direct Hire solutions.

Business Development Manager

Presently manage relationships with direct clients in specific vertical industry(s) including but not limited to Municipalities, Education, Legal, Non-profit, and Manufacturing; serving the needs specific to each functioning as advisor and consultant as well as a client advocate within GSB.  Acquire, retain and occasionally win back business customers in the Greater Bay Area region.  Manage a customer base of $150,000.00 revenue per month with a projected increase of 10% per quarter by identifying business challenges to collaboratively shape solutions that drive each clients strategic initiatives and keeping them educated and informed in ways that our products can enhance their operations. Consistently achieve 100-150% of company’s attainment goal. Train and mentor other Account Executives on the East Bay sales team. Negotiate contracts with controllers and/or other company financial decision makers.

Sr. Account Executive

«	Proved data consultation and service recommendations.
«	Establish and maintain telephone contact with external customer base extending from San Francisco County to Stanislaus County.
«	Provide customer support which includes bill analysis, and the separation of local, long distance and voice services.
«	Effectively coordinate inter-department communications and resolve customer concerns re-establishing positive customer relations.
«	Establish discount and re-new existing term contracts.
«	Consistently achieve 100-150% of company’s attainment goal.
«	Maintain mew revenue generation range equal to $2k-$5k per month.
«	Trained in Human Resources issues including Sexual Harassment, Federal, State, and company specific regulations.

Network Specialist

Consistently surpassed monthly goals established for office products and printing orders. Successfully utilized prospecting techniques to generate new business. Regularly prepared customized presentations demonstrating company products and/or communicating company expectations. Managed and maintained contact with customers on a weekly basis. Effectively negotiated contract scope and prices.
Consistently met managers’ weekly and monthly goals.
Selected to train new sales representatives.

Outside Sales Representative

«	Human Relations and communication skills greatly enhanced ability to negotiate contract disputes and employee performance improvements minimizing grievances and subsequent disciplinary action leading to unit consistent recognition as most efficient workload balance, load quality, fewest injuries, and best attendance for 3 year period before being assigned to assist all other units to achieve similar successes.
«	Handled difficult problems focusing on customer satisfaction without compromising company policies and regulations.
«	Trained, retrained and certified employees on company policies and safety practices achieving improvement in company’s general safety  profile
«	Coordinated and conducted unit meetings reviewing policies, procedures and changes.
«	Consistently designated to train new supervisors in administrative, personnel and job performance issues.
«	Met strict timelines and quality regulations regarding  parcel handling, sortation, and delivery

Boxline Supervisor

Entrepreneur Coach | Sales strategist | 

I help owner operators increase their sales without spending on ads.

This is a terrible mindset for service business owners:

(It held me back for years)

💀 "I need to be cheaper than the competition"
💀 "If I raise prices, everyone will leave"
💀 "I'm not experienced enough to charge premium"
💀 "Busy means successful"
💀 "I have to do everything myself to maintain quality"
💀 "Chasing new clients is the only way to grow"

In other words:

💀 "My worth is determined by what others will pay, not the value I provide"

Because here's the thing…

In this economy, the race to the bottom kills businesses.

Zoom out:

• Broke folks go to Disneyland every day (price isn't the issue)
• Your top 20% of clients drive 80% of revenue
• People who pay, pay attention
• Retention beats acquisition for profitability
• Systems create freedom, not more work

You're one of one. An endangered species.

Stop competing on price. Start competing on being the ONLY.

What limiting belief are you ready to let go of?

PS:. Asking for a friend....your future self. ICYDK

PSS: MIndset assessment is here.

Everyone claims to be "the best" ... in town.

👉🏾The best photographer.

👉🏾The best caterer.

👉🏾The best contractor.

So here's the thing... the best is chicken. Bland and non-descript.

Commodity thinking puts you in a race to the bottom.

→ You end up competing on price
→ You attract clients who shop around
→ You become interchangeable
→ You lose to whoever discounts harder
→ You work more and make less

The owners who escape this trap? They're not the best.

They're the only.

The only caterer who specializes in tech campus lunches.

The only photographer who shoots legacy portraits for Black families.

The only contractor who handles historic home restoration.

When you're the only, price stops being the conversation.

Don't be chicken. Be better than chicken.

Just sayin'

"We're going to have to pull the account."

That's what they told me after we ran out of food for the fifth time in one week.

Five strikes. C'mon man!

——

This was a $60k/week client.
At the time...this was our biggest account. 

And we were failing in the most basic way possible: running out of food! Rookie move. 

I got cussed out every day that week. And we deserved it.

The kitchen manager I trusted wasn't tracking inventory. 
She wasn't making adjustments. 
The systems I thought we had were just mirages.

I'd been so focused on getting the account that I'd forgotten to build the infrastructure to keep it.

So we made the hardest decision: we replaced the kitchen manager. We liked her well enough.
But for the betterment of the team we needed the right people in the right seats.  

But the business needed systems that worked, not loyalty to broken processes.

——

After the change, we didn't run out of food again.

We still lost the account. 

The lesson?

Revenue exposes everything. Your first big win will show you every weakness you've been ignoring.

If you can do it all yourself, 
your business is too niche. 

Build systems that hold up when you're not watching.

Pressure busts pipes or makes diamonds.

Which one are you building?

Asking for a friend.

Running a business does NOT mean working 80 hours a week. 

"That's just what it takes" is an excuse.

If your business requires you to be ON every waking hour, 
your system is broken. 

Period. Full stop.

Unless you're in the first 90 days of launch... 
it should never own your entire life.

I've built up a catering company from the ground.
Here's what I learned:

Here are the 4 big mistakes that create owner burnout:

1. No systems for repetitive tasks.

Every time you do the same thing manually, you're stealing from your future self. Document it. Delegate it. Automate it.

The fix: Pick ONE thing you do weekly and create a simple process this week.

2. Treating all clients equal.

Your top 20% are not the same as your bottom 20%. 
Stop giving your worst clients your best energy.

The fix: Tier your clients. Touch the top weekly, middle bi-weekly, the rest monthly.

3. Confusing busy with productive.

Running around all day feels like work. But if it doesn't connect to revenue or retention, it's just motion.

The fix: Ask every task "Does this make money or keep clients?"

4. Never working ON the business.

You're so buried IN the work that you never build the machine.

The fix: Block 2 hours weekly. Non-negotiable. No client work. Only systems.

——

Burnout isn't because "business is hard."

Burnout is a sign your business is running you instead of the other way around.

Owners work smart.

Interns respond endlessly.

Which one are you?

Just askin'

This one is kinda controversial...but true anyway.

All your clients are not created equal.

One of my employees was stressed about hitting her $175k revenue goal. 

She had 80 clients on her roster and was running around trying to keep all of them happy. 

A la chicken sans tete. (headless chicken if you don't read the French).

I told her to stop. Let's look at the numbers first.

We audited her client list. Went through every single account.

Here's what we found: $97k of her revenue came from just 16 people.

Most folks guess. The smart ones check.

——

She was treating all 80 clients the same. Equal time. Equal energy. Equal attention.

But the math doesn't lie. Her top 20% was carrying the weight.

Here's what we did next:

1. Tier the clients

We sorted everyone into three buckets:
→ Top 20% (the 16 who mattered most) = weekly touch
→ Middle 60% = bi-weekly check-in
→ The Rest = monthly, if that

2. Reallocate time accordingly

Instead of spreading thin across 80 people, she focused her best energy on the clients who actually moved the needle.

3. Ask better questions

For those top 16, she started asking: "What can I do to make your life easier?"

Not selling. Just serving.

4. Stop chasing strangers

The remaining $78k didn't need to come from new leads. It was sitting in the existing base — waiting for better attention.

——

Result?

She didn't just hit $175k. She got her life back.

The gold isn't in finding new clients.

It's in taking care of the ones who already believe in you.

Retention is the quiet engine of real growth.

Just sayin' 🚀

Let me be direct:

If you have a business but no profit...
that means you're running a charity. 

If you are making money, but not enough to pay yourself...
that means you've got an expensive hobby.

Most owners deflect with "we're reinvesting" or "growth phase" 
or "the payoff is coming."

Meanwhile....
👉🏾 they're logging more hours than any W-2 employee, 
👉🏾 earning less than a high school intern, 
👉🏾 carrying more stress than an ER doctor.

The path forward isn't complex:

Every activity should trace back to revenue — directly or indirectly.

That rebrand you're excited about? Does it bring paying clients?

Those networking happy hours? Are they converting to signed contracts?

That new service you launched? Has anyone actually paid for it yet?

Audit everything. If it doesn't connect to keeping clients, landing clients, or growing what clients pay — question why you're doing it.

Wishing isn't strategy.

Margin is.

Just sayin'

A lesson from my folks to service providors...

You were given a job not a "part" of a job.

For context, I built a catering businesses with my wife.

That thing is now humming. 

We became proficient at events, 
and built a coalition of event partners.
 

All because of the lesson I learned, 
cleaning my childhood kitchen...alone. 

My brother and I were charged with cleaning the kitchen. 
We started. 
He bailed out. 
So with sound kid logic, I finished my 1/2. 

Folks came home. 
We both got in trouble. 

"I gave you a job not 1/2 a job". 
I shudder just  thinking about it. 

The lesson: 
Take ownership of the success not your part in it.  

So when working weddings, corporate shindigs et al.
There are many vendors, but there is one job. 

That thinking gave us different energy. 

We made sure everything went down the way it was supposed to...

Because everyone's name will be on the failure.

Just sayin'

Busines owners. If you already have clients...

the next 60seconds will make you more money. 

5 reasons why you should never prioritize acquisition over retention (explained in 60 seconds):

1. Your top 20% already pays the bills
2. Chasing strangers costs more than keeping friends
3. New clients don't trust you yet, but existing ones do
4. Retention creates referrals; acquisition creates one-time transactions
5. You can't outrun churn with more leads

———

1. Your top 20% already pays the bills

Most businesses I see? 80% of their revenue comes from 20% of their clients. But they spend 80% of their time chasing people who've never bought anything. 
SMH.

2. Chasing strangers costs more than keeping friends

It's cheaper to keep 'em. Every sales study on the planet confirms this. Yet owners keep throwing money at ads instead of picking up the phone to check on their best customers.

3. New clients don't trust you yet, but existing ones do

Trust takes time. Your current clients already crossed that bridge. Why start over from scratch when you have people ready to buy more?

4. Retention creates referrals; acquisition creates one-time transactions

Happy clients talk. They send you business without you asking. Cold leads? They just take and bounce.

5. You can't outrun churn with more leads

If clients keep leaving, more leads won't magically stay. You're just filling a bucket with holes in it.

TAKEAWAY:

Early in my catering days, I was obsessed with getting new accounts. More leads, more pitches, more proposals.

After running numbers on our actual revenue, I realized we were neglecting the clients who kept the lights on.

The ones who paid on time. The ones who covered the payroll.  The ones who referred us.The ones who trusted us.

That's why I'm a retention-first operator at heart.

And I always will be.

Just sayin'

I was afraid to check my real numbers.

In fact, I avoided pulling reports for months because I didn't want to see what I already knew.

Full ostrich.

When I finally audited my client list, 
I discovered the problem wasn't what I thought.

When I dug into who was actually paying me, 
I realized again, the answer was right there.

Whether it's revenue reports or client retention rates, 
feel free to just look.

The embarrassment is in your head.

Almost nobody is watching, and the ones who are don't really care. So they don't really matter. 

That's a good thing.

Let that thought set you free.

Most folks guess. The smart ones check.

And because it's your business, 
you can change what you don't like. 

Just sayin'

"I'm not a salesperson."

A caterer told me this after one of my posts. 
She was frustrated:

"I got into this business because I love cooking, not because I wanted to cold call strangers. Every time I try to 'sell,' I feel gross. Like I'm bothering people."

I get it. I really do.

The "Sales Bro" playbook makes everyone's skin crawl:
 the scripts, 
the pressure, 
the commission breath you can smell through the phone.

But here's the problem with avoiding sales entirely...

If you don't sell, you don't eat. 
And the business you love becomes a money pit of a hobby.

——

This is the nuance most people miss:

Sales shouldn't make your skin crawl. 
If it does, you're doing it wrong. 
or you're talking to the wrong people.

Real sales is simple: diagnosis + leadership. 
You find pain, you offer relief. 
That's it.

So what's the solution?

1. Stop thinking about selling....think about helping
2. Ask questions instead of pitching features
3. Talk to people who already need what you do
4. Remove anyone from your pipeline who isn't a fit

——

Sales is actually just helping.

If you view it as high-pressure manipulation, 
you've learned from the wrong people.

Introverts often make great salespeople because they listen instead of word-vomiting.

Stop selling. Start serving.

Just sayin'.

"I'm not a sales person."

I hear this from service-preneurs constantly.

Here's the thing...

If you recommend a restaurant to a friend, you're selling.
If you convince your kid to eat vegetables, you're selling.
If you share why you love your craft with a stranger, you're selling.

Sales is influence. Influence is human.

The problem isn't that you "don't do sales."

The problem is you have a broken picture of what sales actually is.

→ It's not manipulation
→ It's not pressure
→ It's not commission breath

It's diagnosis. It's helping. It's understanding what someone needs and showing them a path.

If it doesn't make money, it doesn't make sense.

And if you're not willing to help people understand why they should pay you, you don't have a business.

You have a hobby.

Facts...not feelings.

Just sayin' 🎯

I might lose some business saying this, but it needs to be said:

Shortcuts don't exist in business. 
Magic funnels are fiction. 
Secret scripts are marketing.

Straight talk? 
The Tooth Fairy isn't coming to gift you money.

What to do instead:

→ Audit your client roster and identify the vital few
→ Create a tiered system. Contact clients based on actual revenue contribution
→ Reach out to your best clients without a sales agenda
→ Measure client retention as seriously as you measure new leads

Keeping clients beats chasing clients. Every. Single. Time.

Loyalty is cheaper than acquisition.
And it is far more profitable. 

Just sayin'

The secret to growing your revenue?

STOP treating every client the same.

All money is not good money. 
We know that we should love all our children (equally) 
but we can't treat them the same. 
So why aren't we applying this same wisdom to business?

Too many service business owners spread themselves thin across their entire client list, exhausted and underpaid, yet still running around trying to keep everyone equally happy.

You can keep working hard if you want to...
But me, I am all about working smart.

If you're already tracking revenue by client, try this:

→ Sort your list by who actually pays you 
(dollars spent over the last 12 months, from most to least)
→ Identify your top 20% 
(by volume)
→ Build a touch schedule that reflects reality
→ Give your best clients your best energy
(If it makes money it makes sense)

Then protect that top tier:

→ Weekly check-ins (not pitches)
→ Ask what you can do to make their life easier
→ Stop waiting for them to come to you
(who likes the waiter who you have to constantly ask for water?)

The owner who treats their top 16 clients like gold while maintaining the other 64 appropriately will beat the owner treating all 80 the same.

You'll stabilize revenue much faster by focusing on who impacts your bottom line most rather than trying to serve everyone equally.

Try it for the next 30 days and see what happens. 
I dare you. 
I double dog dare you.

Who's your top 20%?

Spending today sharpening the saw. 

I spend gobs o' time on this platform. So I was intrigued when I heard about the Influencer Summit. 

So if I don't get back to you in the next 3 hours...

I'm decreasing my ignorance. 

Sorry, not sorry.

Owners...hear me when I say this....

Revenue stability is not about hustling harder.

Here's what actually works:

→ Your top 20% of clients = 80% of your revenue. Treat them like royalty.

→ Activity beats hope. Track your daily actions. 50 points minimum.

→ Build the roof while the sun shines. Don't stop pipeline work when you get busy.

→ Systems beat heroics. If only you can do it, that's a problem, not a flex.

The owners who escape revenue roller coaster are the ones who keep planting seeds when things are good.

Not just when they're desperate.

Hope is not a plan.

Just sayin'

What system are you building right now?

"I'm too introverted for sales."

A service business owner DM'd me after one of my posts:

"I hate selling. I feel like I have to become someone I'm not. The scripts feel fake. I don't want to be pushy. But I need revenue. What do I do?"

Wow.

I talk to owners like this constantly. 
And I get it. I really do.

Most sales training feels like learning to be a used car salesman.

But here's the thing about introverts...

Introverts listen. Extroverts word vomit.

Introverts diagnose the problem. Extroverts build rapport for rapport's sake.

Introverts are incredibly deep thinkers. They pick up on nuance that extroverts miss entirely.

Sales is actually just helping. It's figuring out what someone needs and offering a solution.

So what's the solution?

1️⃣  Stop using scripts...
 👉🏾 they feel fake because they are fake

2️⃣  Ask questions instead of pitching...
👉🏾 don't assume, find the real pain

3️⃣  Listen more than you talk...
👉🏾 your "weakness" is actually your edge

4️⃣  Let the diagnosis lead to the recommendation...
👉🏾 not the other way around. 

——

Sales shouldn't make your skin crawl.

If it does you're doing it like a "Sales Bro".
If you're offending yourself imagine what you're doing to your prospects.
Take a beat and go wash the commission breath out of your mouth.

Just sayin'.

taplio

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🧙🏽‍♀️ Sabrina Chevannes (EMBA, CMktr)

Craig Cooper

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The Battle

🧙🏽‍♀️ Sabrina Chevannes (EMBA, CMktr)

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