Ty Hoesgen

Do you ever try to explain something in a meeting,
but it doesn’t come out as clearly as you want it to?

You over-explain.
You're not concise. 
Or you leave the meeting overthinking:

“I should have said that better.”

Most people assume they just need "more practice"
That’s rarely the problem.

It's actually about a lack of structure.
And how your brain responds to pressure. 

That's why I work with professionals who want 
to be seen as more clear, confident, and credible.

(especially in high-stakes situations)

So far, I’ve coached 330+ professionals with a 99% success rate. 

Many are managers, directors, executives, and founders. 
People in positions where clarity matters. 

Our work focuses on 3 things:

1.) Clear, concise speaking on the spot

2.) Confidence and composure under pressure

3.) Executive presence in important situations

Everything is customized and built around 
the real-life meetings, presentations, and 
conversations you'd like to speak better in. 

If crystal clear speaking would be helpful 
for you and your professional life,

DM me “CLEAR" to learn more.

Founder & CEO / Communication Coach

🧠 Advanced Growth Institute is dedicated to helping individuals and organizations from around the world master their communication and people skills. 

🏆 1.) Elite Private Coaching — for individuals who want to gain a positively unfair advantage in their life and career. 

💬 Our Elite Communication Accelerator is a private coaching program for growth-minded individuals who want to:

✅ Advance their career
✅ Become strong, influential leaders
✅ ​Get more respect
✅ Earn what they deserve
✅ ​Elevate their social life
✅ Form deeper relationships
✅ ​Live a less stressful life 

📈 AGI works closely with clients on their communication and people skills, helping them overcome unique challenges and accomplish their personal and professional goals. 

⭐ 2.) Custom Corporate Trainings — for organizations who care deeply about their team members and clients, and want to maximize their success in every interaction. 

🎤 Attendees are taught practical, science-backed communication strategies to boost sales, form deeper relationships, build trust and influence, listen with intention, and connect better with clients, co-workers, and customers.

✍️ Our captivating presentations have attendees smiling, laughing, rapidly taking notes, and leaving with a ton of actionable takeaways. 

📖 3.) Other Resources — best-selling books, courses, guides, video trainings

Mark Zuckerberg is a highly skilled speaker. 

If I had to pick one CEO to learn communication from, it would be him. 

(Smiling to myself while writing this) 

Okay, I’m obviously kidding. 

He has improved over the years. 

But then you see clips like this…

And you’re reminded he still has a long way to go 😂

Agree?

Speak clearly and confidently under pressure in 90 days (guaranteed) / World Class Certified Speaking Coach / 3x Bestselling Author / TEDx Speaker / 330+ clients coached

You are not Elon. You are not Zuck. 
The same rules don't apply to you. 

Someone in my DMs the other day said: 

"Idk, not everyone needs to be good speaker. 
Look at Elon, Zuck, and many of those guys. 

They don't speak that well. Look at where they are."

And this is true. 

But they didn't get this far 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 of their communication. 

They got this far 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 their communication. 

How? 

Because they're literal geniuses. 

And even then, they've both put a ton of work 
into their communication skills over the years. 

Now if you already have everything you want 
from your career or business,

Or you're just a chill person and 
are content with where you're at, 

Don't worry about speaking. 

Keep doing your thing. You've won. 

But if you want to grow,
(especially professionally) 

Improving your speaking has a high ROI. 
No matter what role or industry you're in. 

Finally, let's be realistic with 
who we compare ourselves to. 

Agree?

The fastest way to RUIN your speech or presentation…

Is to realize you’re short on time.

Because most people get this wrong. 

Let me explain:

Early on in my career, whenever I realized I was short on time… 

Whether it was a presentation, speech, or even a meeting…

I’d speed up. 
Stop pausing.
Try to get through all the content I had planned. 

But every time… it was terrible.

People’s eyes would glaze over.

They were clearly struggling to follow along.

And it made me look disorganized.

Here’s what I learned: 

When you rush to get through everything, the audience doesn’t think:

“Wow, he is so efficient! 
He wants me to get the most out of this!”

They actually think: 

“He clearly didn’t manage his time well. 
Now he’s rushing to compensate.”

The best speakers do the opposite.

When they realize time is tight, they continue to keep their pace under control. 

But they edit on the spot. 

They cut anything that isn’t crucial.

They only say what’s most important.

If you do this right, your listeners should have no idea what’s happening. 

So if you’re running out of time, don’t rush your words. 

Edit them. 
Finish calm. 
Finish under control. 

You got this.

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Helping leaders & teams communicate with clarity & confidence 🏆 World Class Certified Speaking Coach / 3x Bestselling Author / TEDx Speaker / Trusted by leaders at Amazon, Microsoft, & More

Welcome, I appreciate you being here. Quick question - can you relate to any of these?

→ You don't always explain your points clearly and concisely.
→ You sometimes feel nervous when speaking or presenting to groups.
→ You don't feel as confident in difficult situations (or around certain people).
→ You find it hard to organize and articulate your thoughts on the spot. 

If so, I totally get it. 

Even the lifetime overachievers and high performers feel this way sometimes. 

But what if you could make these 3 changes?

1) Learn to speak with unshakeable confidence
2) Master charisma to captivate any audience
3) Learn to organize and articulate your thoughts clearly and concisely 

(Especially on the spot or in high pressure situations)

If you do, you could gain:

— The ability to stay calm under pressure
— The power to own the room when speaking
— Increased respect from everyone you meet 
— A strong reputation in your company and industry 
— Open doors to new career/business opportunities

Now you might be thinking, 

"This all SOUNDS good Ty, but how the heck do you actually get there?" 😅

Great question. That's where coaching comes in! 

There are 3 key parts of my coaching program: 

1.) Personalized 1-on-1 coaching sessions tailored to your needs
2.) Step-by-step weekly plans to ensure constant improvement
3.) Messaging access for additional support and questions throughout the week 

Everything in the program is backed by science (and has been done with hundreds of people)

Because I know everything works, there's a 100% money back guarantee.

And if you're curious, here's a bit more about me:

→ Former shy, awkward farm kid who was a TERRIBLE speaker and loved avoiding people 

→ Today, 330+ professionals coached 1-on-1 across tech, sales, healthcare, finance, and more

→ World-Class Certified Speaking Coach
(Trained by Craig Valentine, former #1 ranked public speaker in the world) 

→ 3x best-selling author on communication skills 

→ TEDx speaker (recent talk given April 2025)

With all that said...

If you're ready to elevate your speaking skills and advance your career...

DM me the word “COMMUNICATION” 

Happy to have a quick chat about how everything works.

***Please mention whether you're interested in:

- 1-on-1 coaching programs
- Corporate group trainings

Book Your Free Strategy Session

Speak Like a Confident Leader in 7 Days

Heart of the City Piano Program (HCPP) is a volunteer-driven non-profit organization that provides music lessons to underprivileged youth.

How I answer questions that I DON’T know the answer to:

If you hate saying “I don’t know”

This is for you. 

Step 1: 

Acknowledge that you don’t know everything. 

But in a way that doesn’t make you sound silly. 

“I haven’t looked into that much yet”
“I don’t have all the details on that yet”

Step 2: 

Say whatever you DO know. 

“But what I do know is X”
“But what I can tell you is X”

Together: 

“I haven’t looked into that much yet, but what I do know is X.”

Now you get to answer in a way that sounds polished and smooth.

Doesn’t that sound better?

I used to get talked over in meetings ALL the time. 
Until I learned to do this:

Start my points with conviction. 

Not feelings. 

❌ “I feel like this might work better" 

This creates doubt.

✅ “This is a better option. The reason is...”

This creates respect.

And when people respect you more, 
they talk over you less. 

One of the things I often help clients with is 
explaining their points in a clear, concise way. 

When they improve this, 
everything else feels easier:

- Higher confidence speaking on the spot 
- Mouth and brain on the same page
- More composure in high pressure moments

You can excel in this too. 

Because it's just another learnable skill. 

P.S. Do you ever get talked over?

Know too much about your topic? 
Here are 7 cheat codes for complex ideas:

Because most professionals know 
a LOT about what they do. 

But clarity isn’t about saying more.

It’s about saying it with precision. 

In a way that's easy to follow and understand. 

Having coached 300+ professionals 
to speak more clearly and concisely, 

I return to these 7 cheat codes again and again: 

𝟭.) 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 "𝟭𝟬-𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗸𝗶𝗱" 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲 
 ↳ Could you explain it to a 10-year old?
 ↳ Would they understand what you mean?

𝟮.) 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝟭 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗮 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝘆 
 ↳ Multiple ideas at once is muddy. 
 ↳ What's the one thing you want to get across?

𝟯.) 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 = 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 
 ↳ No structure leads to word salad.
 ↳ DM me for a list of my favorite structures. 

𝟰.) 𝗔𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿 "𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁?"
 ↳ People don’t care unless you make them care.
 ↳ “This is important because…”

𝟱.) 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗣𝗵𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗲 
↳  Have one key sentence to capture your big idea.
↳ Should be easy to say and remember. 

𝟲.) 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝘁 
 ↳ You're probably adding unnecessary details. 
 ↳ Cut them out.

𝟳.) 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗥𝗔𝗥:  𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱 → 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘇𝗲 → 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲
 ↳ Record yourself explaining it on the spot.  
 ↳ Analyze weak spots. Refine until polished

Communication isn’t about 
dumping information on people. 

It’s about getting them to 
understand and resonate with it. 

And most importantly, 
take action on it. 

Agree?

3 Simple Things I Do to Sound
More Confident Under Pressure: 

When I learned these, 
I no longer had to fake confidence. 

1.) Stop filling space with useless words. 

- Uses pauses instead.
- Pauses show you're in control. 

2.) Slow down and show composure. 

- Most people speed up when nervous.
- Confident people take their time. 

3. Speak to a person, not the room. 

- Don’t try to impress the group. 
- Speak as if you’re talking to 1 person. 

(people will feel more connected to you)

The good news is none of 
these take long to master. 

As long as you practice the right way,

You'll improve much quicker than you think.

Which 1 stands out most to you?

I still replay conversations in my head.

I think, “I should have said that differently”

And it bothers me. 

But thankfully, it doesn’t happen much anymore.

In fact, it’s pretty rare now. 

Only because I have tools I can rely on.

Tools to:

— Speak more clearly 
— Stay more composed 
— Articulate with intention 

And most of the time, I say what I mean to say.

But when I don’t….

There are other tools that help me move on quickly. 

(The “toolbox” has grown a lot over the years 🧰) 

Because there’s a big difference between: 

1.) Being annoyed about something for a few MINUTES 

vs.

2.) Being annoyed about something for a few DAYS 

Remember this: 

You don’t need to speak perfectly.

You just need the right tools to speak at your best.

Do you ever replay conversations in your head?

And do you ever think “I should have said this differently”?

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I used to feel overlooked in conversations.
It was my fault. These 5 things fixed that.

No personality change.

Just small communication shifts,
used consistently.

1. I stopped softening my words.

→ I removed maybe, probably, I think.
↳ I spoke in clear decisions.

"Let’s test this out."

2. I cut unnecessary apologies.

→ I stopped saying sorry by default.
↳ I shifted to thank you statements.

"Thanks for giving us an extra day."

3. I ended messages without cushioning.

→ No added details at the end.
↳ No extra convincing.

Precision.
I made my point land harder.

4. I accepted praise without shrinking.

→ I stopped deflecting compliments.
↳ I accepted, then went silent.

"I appreciate that."

5. I asked for what was needed.

→ No begging language.
↳ No drill sergeant orders either.

"Would you mind sending this by EOD Tuesday?"

Respectful. 
But gets the job done.

Do you ever feel overlooked 
in particular meetings? 

Or around certain people?

Are you usually a confident person, 
But don’t always speak at your best under pressure?

This is very common. 

I work with a lot of high-performers who are exceptional at what they do.

But when:

- The pressure’s on 
- They're put on the spot 
- Intimidating ppl are around

Their communication doesn’t always reflect that at the highest level.

They walk out of meetings thinking:

“That didn’t come out the way I wanted it to.”

Here’s the good news.

If you’re already confident most of the time, you don’t need to change much.

For example, one of my clients Kim was in a solid place in her career.

But with high-level stakeholders,

She didn’t always like how she was coming across.

She’d rush through things or second-guess herself after speaking.

And after completing my 1-on-1 program,

She doesn't have to worry about those things anymore.

Why? 

- She knows how to speak with calm authority.
- She gets to the point clearly and quickly.
- She leaves conversations feeling proud of how she spoke.

3 months from now, that could be you as well.

-

If that sounds interesting and you want to learn more...

Message me the word “CLEAR”

-

And no matter where you're at on your communication journey right now…

I'm rooting for you.

You don’t get better at speaking by thinking about speaking.

But you do need 1 thing BEFORE you start practicing. 

Clarity on your flaws. 

We can also say “areas of improvement” if that makes you feel better 😅

Progress starts from awareness. 

Because if you don’t know what you’re doing wrong, 

How are you supposed to fix it?

So pay extra attention the next few days. 

Notice: 

- When you ramble 
- Which filler words you use 
- When the words don’t come out right 
- Which situations feel less comfortable  

No judgment. 

Just see what comes up.

You got this.

"I want to feel totally in control when I speak."

It's one of the first things I heard from a recent client...

So we dived right in: 

Each week, we met for a 1:1 session.
And we focused on one thing.

Helping him build the skills to speak with 
more clarity, confidence, and credibility.

(Even when he’s put on the spot 
and in moments that feel stressful)

We do a full analysis. 

Then we start building his skills. 

How to: 

→ Organize and structure his thoughts
→ Articulate them clearly and concisely 
→ Reduce overthinking and doubt 
→ Stay composed under pressure 
→ Speak with authority and credibility

After each session, he gets a plan with 
specific things to practice that week.

And he sends me updates and recordings 
throughout the week so I can track his progress.

1 month in, things weren’t perfect. 

But they were feeling a lot smoother.

→ Less overthinking and second guessing
→ Leading meetings with more clarity 
→ Getting more buy-in on ideas 

But it's not magic. 

It’s just a system that’s backed by science
and has been fine tuned with 300+ clients.

And he still had to be intentional and consistent. 

Until I figure out how to put speaking skills 
into a peptide, consistency is required. 

If you’re curious about what 
this would look like for you,

Message me the word “clear"

Happy to walk you through how it works.

It’s 2026. STOP overexplaining yourself. 
(That means no more word zomit)

Have you ever heard someone take 3 mins to explain something that should have taken 30 secs? 

How frustrating is that to listen to? 

If you want to stand out as a clear, concise speaker, try using structure when explaining something. 

Here’s an example of structure: 

1.) Main idea/message 
2.) Why you think it
3.) Example or story to support it 
4.) Restate main idea/message 

In practice: 

1.) “Communication is one of the most valuable skills to learn.”

2.) “It helps you get more respect, build deeper relationships, and advance your career.”

3.) *Example of how improving my communication made me more successful*

(Or an example of how it helped someone else)

4.) “That’s why communication is one of the best skills a person can learn.”

I teach clients how to build the skills to speak with structure like this on the spot. 

So even if you don’t have time to prepare…

(which is most situations)  

You can be confident knowing you have the skills to give a clear, powerful answer. 

If you want to learn the exact process for building your speaking on the spot skills…

Message me the word “CLEAR”

Let’s leave the word vomit in 2025. 

Would you agree?

This is something a lot of people 
don’t think about with communication…

It’s the level of intention they have. 

Most people are on autopilot throughout the day.

And their communication suffers. 

Don’t be one of them. 

My challenge to you is the following: 

Before the next conversation you have…

Set an intention for:
 
- How you want to show up 
- How you want to communicate 

It costs nothing. 

And it takes almost no time. 

I bet you’ll notice a difference. 

Do you accept the challenge?

Why even bother with 
improving your communication?
Who cares?

Well...

– It positions you to grow much faster in your career/biz
– It helps you understand people and their behavior
– It turns ideas into influence and opportunity

And speaking will NOT be replaced by AI. 
(only written communication will be)

Expecting to grow your career 
without strong communication
is like driving with no steering wheel.

You will move...
but you're not in control.

Agree?

Unclear communication doesn't 
just affect your daily work life...
It quietly limits your growth.

It changes how people see you. 

In every meeting, interview, and conversation.

Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve spoken to a handful of people who all shared similar things: 

→ A meeting where they over-explained 
→ A comment they didn't know how to respond to 
→ A thought of "I should have said that better"

These aren’t just speaking issues.

They’re clarity issues.

→ Organizing thoughts on the spot 
→ Articulating them concisely 
→ Getting people to buy-in

What's the mistake most people make next?

Practicing random tips or things they heard online

before they build a real foundation of skills. 

Otherwise it’s the same patterns again.

Different meeting.
Same overthinking. 

The hardest part isn’t learning what to say.

It’s admitting that your skills aren't where they need to be.

Here’s the real reason you overthink important conversations:

It’s not just a lack of certainty or confidence.

It’s also what pressure does to your thinking. 

When Josh and I started working together, high-pressure moments scrambled his thoughts.

Sales calls with big prospects. 
Important internal meetings.

He knew his material. 
And was an intelligent guy. 

But when the pressure kicked in, 

He overthought what to say and how to say it.

So what did we do? 

1.) Trained him to simplify, organize, and clearly articulate his thoughts

2.) Taught him science-backed tools to stay more calm and composed under pressure 

3.) Focused on communicating with control and intention (verbally and nonverbally)

Here’s the part most people miss.

Confidence doesn’t come from forcing yourself to be bold.

It comes from clarity and control when it matters.

Shout out to Josh for being such an awesome client. 

He was hard-working, eager to learn, and followed the plan step-by-step. 

And the good news is this:

These are skills ANYONE can learn.

Do you agree?

You’ve lost your audience’s attention when speaking. 

How do you get it back?

Here are 3 things the best speakers in the world do: 

1.) Add some vocal variety.

— Speed up or slow down your pace 
— Raise or lower your volume 
— Emphasize a word or phrase 

2.) Ask a question.

Example:

"Has this ever happened to you? *pause*

How did that feel?" *pause again*

The pauses give them a chance to answer the question in their minds. 

3.) Get them involved with an exercise.

a.) Have them turn to the person next to them.

And practice what they just learned.

Or if that doesn’t make sense…

b.) Have them trade ideas on something that you just spoke about. 

This should be quite quick.

Around 30 seconds or so. 

Summary: 

— Vocal variety
— Questions
— Exercises

(Bonus: Tell a story)

Ideally these things would already be planned in advance. 

That way you don't lose your audience's attention to begin with. 

But if it does happen… 

You need to have the right tools on your tool belt. 

-

P.S. Do you have any presentations or speeches coming up this year? 

(Even short ones at work count)

I made 3 BIG mistakes when 
learning to speak better...

1.) Thinking “just speaking more” would help me improve
2.) Memorizing scripts with fancy words 
3.) Copying other people who sounded confident

These seem like they could be helpful. 

But they don’t solve anything. 

Here’s what actually makes a difference:

(Based on over a decade of learning and 300+ clients)

1.) Clarity
Clear and concise = easy for others to understand 

2.) Delivery
Engaging voice = easy for others to keep listening 

3.) State 
Optimized state = easy for you to speak at your best 

If you're lacking in one of these,

Things are harder than they need to be. 

But they're all important to learn. 

Do you agree?

I learned this tip from the former #1 
ranked public speaker in the world:

Don’t just give information. 

Don’t just focus on being heard. 

Create moments of reflection.

Why? 

Because when your audience
thinks about how your message 
applies to them, that’s when it sticks.

And that’s when you really connect.

3 Examples:

1.) “Have you ever lost 
your train of thought in
the middle of a sentence?”

“Me too.” 

2.) “Have you ever worked 
with someone who 
complains constantly?”

“What’s it like to be around 
that type of person?”

3. “Now that you know 
this tool, when could you 
use it in your own life?”

Important: Pause after each question. 

For max impact, listeners 
need time to answer the 
question in their own mind.

Because when they reflect, you connect.

And when you connect, they remember.

I help you sleep at night - I take the legal problems off your plate | Lobby on your Priorities | Speak to your people.

With over two decades of of experience in the field of executive leadership and law, I bring a wealth of knowledge and lived experiments to help executives overcome the challenges of leading teams of talented humans, achieving high retention rates and improving the bottom line.

#LeadershipDevelopment
#ExecutiveCoaching
#TeamTrust
#GrowthMindset
#LeadWithImpact

Cody Hand

Winter Storm Fern is bearing down on half the USA.
I am moving all of my Monday clients to later in the week.
I am doing my Friday Well routine today so that tomorrow I can winter well.
and once again, I have zero wisdom to share with you.

Except this: 
Nothing you do at work (unless you are an ICU or ED provider) is so important you cannot stay home during a storm. So, spare those ICE and ED providers by staying home and off the roads. Encourage the same with your team.

And to all of you who go out into the storm to take care of those of us who stay in - Thank you!
Cody Hand

PS - Today is Kara Daniels Hand's Birthday. Head over to her profile and give her a follow and a Happy Birthday!!!

General Counsel | Advocate | Executive Operations Leader | Author | Speaker shaping your work with trust and authenticity

So many or us are dreaming of the beach.
But it is Thursday.
In January.

That's it for today.
Cody

Give it one more day.
Turn that one last corner.
Never ever ever give up. 

So you failed 99 times. It only take one success.

All of these sayings sound amazing, are very inspirational.

But what do you tell the person who is exhausted from trying.
Exhausted from turning that one last corner to realize there is another corner.
Of wandering when "that day" will finally get here.

ANSWER: you don't TELL them anything.
You walk around that corner with them.
show up with your actions.

TL/DR: It is easy to preach, it is hard to join, but it is in the joining that we change the world.

So today, shut your mouth, lace up your shoes, and start walking around that one last corner with your friends and teams who are weary from the walk.
Cody

Executive Certificate in Hospitality and Tourism Management

Law License

Attended when the school was Texas Wesleyan University School of Law.

I Advocate, Coach, Lobby, and Help You Catch Your Dreams

You dream of leading better,
Your team is hungry for leadership,
I am your advocate. I give you the tools to thrive
As your chief leader, I advocate for your business to be propelled 10x.
As your lobbyist, I advocate for your priorities before state and federal officials.
As your public speaker, I give you the stage to live your dreams.

I am a tradition challenging, family-loving, travel addict.

And I am YOUR advocate!

#management
#legaltips
#leadership
#lobbying
#non-profit
#travel
#lawdad

Cody Hand - Leadership Coach for Executives

Executive Coach and Fractional General Counsel for start ups and small businesses.

Cody Hand Counsel and Strategy

The Speakers Collaborative was created for you. 

In just two months we take you from amateur to professional all while doing something good for your community!

Why sit in the crowd when you have a story to tell?

The Speakers Collaborative

I chaired the committee that liaises with staff and the church community. During my chairmanship, we successfully led the church through 4 key staff transitions and the realignment of the family ministry. As chair, I also served on the Finance Committee, the Executive Committee, and the Church Council.

My mother started a non-profit camp and retreat center for deaf and hard of hearing children and teens in Texas. I have served on the board of directors as we have grown over the past 20+ years.

In order to bring the church into a productive conversation/action on racism, I co-authored and led small group curriculum to apply the principles of Micah 6:8 (He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.) to the church's approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and anti-racism work.

I chair the PTA for our elementary school. During my leadership (coinciding with COVID restrictions) yielded greater member participation, increased fundraising, and more teacher engagement.

Amy Leinen Guldner

Friends, we need to chat.
Once upon a time two years ago
things were going well here. 

Linkedin was a thriving place.
Full of engagement and community.
I posted daily, and interacted more than that.
and it was rewarding.

And then something changed.
Maybe it is me.
Maybe not.

But it seems like the community we built has turned into a platform for non-stop ads, pitches, and conflicting advice.

Oh sure - there are still moments of good engagement.
But, to my 13,000 followers, do you even see my stuff through all the garbage?

Maybe it is me.
Maybe because my law practice doesn't depend on engagement here,
I am part of the noise.

But I don't think so.
Anyway - this is my post for the day.
Tomorrow we will talk about the difference between an LLC and a Corporation.

Yours,
Cody

AI will never fully replace humans.
AI can help with humans
but not replace.

There will always be something missing.
a heartbeat.
a spirit.
a soul.

I cannot imagine the clients I had last month.
All with terminal diagnoses,
working on their estates.
Sitting across from a heartless robot.
explaining, with no heart, the living will.

We aren't replaceable unless we allow it.
Cody Hand

You are going to keep making leadership decisions in the dark
until you tweak this one simple thing:

Stop guessing.

Don't know how your team is responding to your leadership?
- ask them!

Don't know how your customer is feeling about your product/service?
- ask them!

Don't know how your CEO or board are feeling about your performance?
- ask them!

You can change the outcome of your leadership without changing your workload. 

Change your tools.

When I work with executives, the first thing we do is ask those around for their honest opinion. 

and then once you ask - double down on the good stuff and change the changeable. Nobody likes to give feedback that isn't operationalized.

and BONUS: when we lead with our authentic selves, very little of what we need to change doesn't come naturally, which means change can be made and adapted to consistently.

Clarity is the oxygen of leadership. Without it, everyone is gasping.
Cody

Leadership ain't a popularity contest.
When you want to be popular among your team, you will overlook things that, in the end, will make you not only unpopular, but leading a really dysfunctional team.

Instead of going for popular, see to be fair, equitable, just, consistent, and dependable. Those traits are much more sustainable when it comes to building a team.

Thoughts?
Cody

Put yourself in their shoes.
I love me some Jesse Cole,
the founder and creator of banana ball.

He started a new form of baseball because he studied the fan behavior in traditional baseball.

He looked at what Walt Disney did in his parks. He rode the rides with the guests eyes, always looking for improvement in the experience.

In my law practice Cody Hand, LLC, in The Speakers Collaborative, in my travel business, and in my daily life, I always strive to put myself in shoes of my client. 

What is one more thing I can do to make this better?

Never ever ever stop seeing your service in the eye of the customer, and when you cannot see any more improvements, ask the customer.

Because the other guy is always looking to one up you, you should be one upping yourself.

What is one thing you can do today to one up yourself?
Cody

Here's an idea: Instead of making MLK Day a day of service where you post really inspiring quotes and graphics and pat yourself on the back for "doing your part," perhaps you can dedicate to creating a culture where every other day of the year your team is empowered to achieve their dreams and create a better society without fear of being labelled names or made to feel like they can't speak for fear of retribution.

You should lift until failure.
a #failurefriday post.

In the gym, if you are cranking out 4 sets of 10 reps, you aren't lifting heavy.
You're wasting time.
You should have a load heavy enough that you hit failure before then.
and as time goes on, getting to failure requires heavier loads as your body adjusts and the muscle builds.

In business, if you are cranking out the same results and hitting the same goals and growing between 0-2% - you aren't going hard enough.
You should be pushing the envelope and failing faster and more often.
Your team should be measured on how successfully they fail not how safely they meet lower standards.

You can either crank out light weights and never grow,
or you can lift to failure faster and see amazing results.

It's your call.
Cody

PS - I am not a fitness guru, I am a business lawyer and corporate strategist. This is not fitness or medical advice. It is a metaphor I thought about this morning at the gym. If you want fitness advice, hire a trainer. If you want to 10x your business with a badass lawyer and corporate strategist, hire me.

You don’t need a full-time lawyer.

You do need a lawyer who understands your business before something goes wrong.

Fractional General Counsels exist for companies that are:
- Growing
- - Hiring
- - - Signing contracts
- - - - Making real decisions

Waiting until there’s a problem is the most expensive way to use legal counsel.

If you never want to say, “I should’ve called you sooner,” this is for you.
DM and let's get started.
Cody

I am a business minded attorney bringing two decades of experience to your business.

#FractionalCounsel
#BusinessOwners
#Leadership
#LegalStrategy
#PeaceOfMind

Estate planning isn’t about dying. 

It’s about:
 - Making things easier for your family
 - - Avoiding confusion during hard moments
 - - - Ensuring your wishes are followed.

A good plan removes uncertainty long before it’s ever needed. 

If this has been on your to-do list for a while, you’re not alone. 
Don't wait though. History is filled with stories of people who never take this off their to-do list, and then they pass suddenly and then it is too late.

If you pass without an estate plan, then the state gets to decide who is in charge of your life's work and where it goes. It can put your business and family in legal limbo for a long time.

If you become incapacitated without an estate plan, then it is up to the courts to decide and the burden often falls with your family to make those tough decisions.

So today - while you are in control - get your estate plan finalized.

it is good for you.
It is great for your family.
It ensures the work you do today lasts long after you are gone.

DM me and let's get started.
If you are in NC, I am your guy. If not, I have a network of professionals who will be glad to help!

Cody Hand

#EstatePlanning
 #PeaceOfMind
 #Leadership
 #TrustedAdvisor
 #FamilyFirst

Estate Planning

The Vitruvian man is dead.
Drawn by DaVinci to illustrate a perfectly proportioned human
He studied anatomy, dissected the dead, and measured the living.
It has, for centuries, been the picture of perfection.

Yet - that man didn't live forever.

Jack LaLanne was a modern fitness guru and nutrition expert.
He died too.

They all died.
We all will die.

So what are you going to do with this information?

Here is my list:
1. Be as healthy as I can be - simply because I want to enjoy and feel good as long as I can (100 years is the goal)
2. Be as kind as I can be - I don't want to waste a second on negativity.
3. Be as present as I can be - I want to be in the moment with those I love as often as possible.
4. Be as prepared as I can be - I have life insurance, disability insurance, and an amazing estate plan. My will is up to date and everyone know where it is and what it says.

What about you?
Cody

PS - the first three you can do starting today. Number 4 is something you need to turn to a pro to do. I Will get your will done in less than 30 days.

AI is not a replacement for a lawyer.
Legalzoom and Rocket lawyer do not protect you from risk.

As a Fractional General Counsel I see this all the time.
Potential client sends over the contract they've been using.

me - "who drafted this for you?"

client - "I had chatgpt do it."

me - "did chatgpt ask you any clarifying questions?"

client - "uhm...no?"

me - "were you aware that this contract is missing a key protection for you?"

client - ".................."

Most growing businesses don’t need a full-time general counsel.
But they do need someone (a human) thinking about legal risk before it becomes urgent.
Ongoing legal leadership that understands the business, the contracts, the people, and the decisions being made every day.

If you have put your life into your business, I help you:
 • Spot risk early
 • Create consistency across contracts and decisions
 • Get legal input before something becomes a problem

If legal questions are starting to touch everything you do, that’s usually the signal not the crisis.

Don't leave your life's work to the whim of an LLM,
Call me,
Cody

#FractionalCounsel
 #LegalStrategy
 #BusinessLeadership
 #CEOAdvice
 #GrowingBusinesses

Most growing businesses and startups don’t need a full-time general counsel.

But they do need someone thinking about legal risk before it becomes urgent.
That’s the space fractional general counsel fills.

Not as a replacement for outside counsel
-> but as ongoing legal leadership that understands the business, 
--> the contracts, 
---> the people, 
----> and the decisions being made every day.

Fractional counsel helps companies:
 • Spot risk early
 • Create consistency across contracts and decisions
 • Get legal input before something becomes a problem
 • Avoid the false choice between “DIY” and “full-time GC”

If legal questions are starting to touch everything you do, that’s usually the signal, not the crisis.

DM and let's get going.
Cody

#FractionalCounsel
 #LegalStrategy
 #BusinessLeadership
 #CEOAdvice
 #GrowingBusinesses

Social Saturday - 
Today I want to tell about a passion of mine, 
and that is ensuring our Military veterans have access to rewarding opportunities after they leave the military.

For so long we have just assumed they would get a civilian job.
But we haven't made it easy.
No degree for some = door closed even though they have hands on experience that is invaluable.
Others have combat experiences that have created health issues we aren't prepared to address.

Whatever "it" is, we have failed at providing resources to the humans who have put their lives on the line for our freedoms.

My buddy Adam Peters is building something amazing. As a combat vet himself, he knows full well that the transition is difficult.
He also knows how to, as he says, un-f*ck the transition.

Head over to Adam's profile, check out his work, and dedicate to hiring a vet for your next openning. 

Happy Saturday!
Cody Hand

Open video: Scott Kelly Breaks His Silence After His Resume Went Viral at a Jonas Brothers Concert on youtube.com

Scott Kelly Breaks His Silence After His Resume Went Viral at a Jonas Brothers Concert

It's #failurefriday again!

One of the most common failures I see in growing companies isn’t a bad product, a bad team, or bad intentions.

It’s assuming legal strategy can wait until there’s a problem.

Founders and CEOs are often told they have two options:
- Handle legal issues as they arise, or
- Hire a full-time general counsel

Most businesses aren’t ready for option two.

 And option one is where things quietly start to break.
 - Contracts get signed without context.
  - -  Employment decisions get made informally.
 - - - Risk gets managed reactively, if at all.

Nothing explodes right away.
 And that’s the problem.

By the time a dispute, termination, audit, or deal goes sideways, the issue isn’t just the event, it’s the lack of legal infrastructure leading up to it.

This is where fractional general counsel exists.
Not as a luxury.
 Not as overhead.
 
But as legal leadership that grows with the business.

Fractional counsel gives CEOs a way to:
 • Think through risk before it’s urgent
 • Create consistency across contracts and decisions
 • Have a legal partner who actually knows the business
 • Avoid the false choice between “DIY” and “full-time GC”

Most of the failures I see weren’t unavoidable.
 They were predictable - and preventable - with earlier involvement.
That’s not hindsight talking.
 That’s pattern recognition.

If you’re running a growing company and feel like legal issues are starting to touch everything, that’s usually the signal—not the problem.

DM and let's talk shop.
Cody

#FailureFriday 
#FractionalCounsel 
#LegalStrategy 
#BusinessLeadership 
#CEOPerspective 
#RiskManagement

It was a pleasure to record this conversation with Ariella Cohen Coleman 🤩. We talked about some pretty deep stuff, things that they don't tell you about when you say "I wanna be a lawyer!"

But here's the deal:
It is time to address flaws in the system.
The machine that takes in young people, promises them riches and honor,
then spits them out after a few years, loaded with mountains of debt that has to be repaid.

Those that don't get spit out end up married to big law and count on their earnings to nurture their loved ones.

It doesn't have to be this way.
We can both zealously represent our clients
while also knowing and honoring our own worth
while also bringing humanity to the practice of law.

It starts with being willing to call out the problem and scrapping the traditions that aren't essential to law but are the drivers of the problems.

Listen.
Even if you aren't a lawyer or have a lawyer in your family, the lessons apply to everyone.
Cody

Proud Jewish Attorney & Entrepreneur Uniting Jews and Allies through CHOSEN ✨ The Wellness Esquire ✨ EDS, etc. ✨ Ariella Law

View Ariella Cohen Coleman 🤩’s profile

I knew immediately that I liked Cody Hand. 

We connected initially because of his vocal support for Israel and his active voice against Jew-hate. 

And then I got to know him more, and learned about his own lawyer well-being journey.

About his experience with self-worth, mental health, and family. 

About the mental load of constantly saying "no" to and limiting his clients and how that experience over many years broke him down, and led him to going out on his own to do things in a way that feels and works better for him and his clients.

And we talked about how everyone has a story, and every story can change someone's life and can even change the world.

Listen to my conversation with Cody on The Wellness Esquire podcast - linked in the comments!

Did you know I was COO of a film company?
Did you know I was COO of an award winning film company?

Part of my practice as a fractional exec, 
in addition to fractional General Counsel,
Is fractional COO,

and when Kerra Bolton recruited me to be the FCOO of her film company Woodbine Productions,
I didn't know just how awesome it would be.

Last year, Kerra won Best Director (Documentary Short) and Best First Documentary at the Puerto Aventuras International Film Festival for her memoir "Return of the Black Madonna" which was shown the first time at The Speakers Collaborative, where Kerra was one of our speakers.

This year, Kerra has created a brilliant thriller: Bloodroot Reserve. I am not going to give away the plot - you will have to watch it. But I am proud of Kerra because she has really captured some amazing film making and Bloodroot Reserve has just been named an Official Selection of this year's film festival.

Kerra has crafted something amazing.
Now as COO I get to find partners to help bring it to the screen.

Do you want in? DM me.
Do you want to talk about my work as a fractional exec? DM me.

Cody Hand

A client once told me:
 “I didn’t realize how much stress this was causing me until it was done.”

That’s estate planning in a nutshell.
-> The work is technical.
--> The benefit is emotional.

CTA:
Peace of mind is worth planning for.

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