Deloitte Partner | Keynote Speaker & Executive Coach | Guiding leaders out of The Success Trap

I’m Clif Mathews, a Partner at Deloitte with 25 years of experience advising senior executives through major transitions and defining leadership moments. 

Over the years I’ve seen how even the most accomplished leaders can reach a point where their own success starts to feel limiting, when what once worked no longer moves them forward.

I call this The Success Trap:

👉 When the very habits that built your career become the ones that keep you from moving forward.

Leaders find themselves here:

- Delaying big decisions out of fear of being wrong
- Struggling to hold influence in the rooms that matter most
- Achieving more and more, yet feeling less fulfilled

They have done everything right and now wonder, “Is this all there is?”

That is where I focus my work. I help senior executives break free from The Success Trap and move from optimization to integration. The goal is to reconnect achievement with authenticity, values, and well-being.

This is not performance coaching, stress management, or job search prep. It is about helping leaders build clarity, courage, and alignment before they make their next big move.

My clients learn to:

✅ Make courageous calls when the stakes are highest
✅ Rebuild confidence in their judgment and influence
✅ Lead in ways that feel both successful and sustainable

At the heart of my approach are four values:

- Exploration: asking better questions instead of clinging to old answers
- Empowerment: helping leaders back themselves when certainty is not possible
- Authenticity: showing up with integrity, playfulness, and courage
- Prosperity: building growth that feels healthy, aligned, and worth celebrating

Every day, I share ideas and experiences on leadership and how to break free from: The Success Trap. 

♻️ Follow for fresh perspectives, or DM me to explore a collaboration or speaking opportunities.

📧 Sign up for my newsletter: Second Summit Brief — a weekly read for executives who climbed the “right” mountain, only to realize it wasn’t their own. Every week, I share insights on finding YOUR summit. Integration over optimization, alignment over altitude, different terrain instead of higher ground. Subscribe here: https://www.clifmathews.com/newsletter

Your brain craves dopamine.

Feed it the good kind.

Thanks to Felix Bertram for this visual.

There's a version of dopamine that feels good in the moment,
but thirty minutes later, you feel more drained than before.
And you're already searching for the next boost.

Late-night scrolling.
Checking your phone every few minutes.
Another Netflix episode when you're already exhausted.

It's cheap dopamine, and that's why it doesn't last long.

Then there's a kind of dopamine that takes more effort up front, but sticks around longer.
That natural boost is tied to things you care about, not just things that fill time.

Here are a few ways to lean into that more:

Finishing a workout
↳ Even if you didn't want to start it.

Sunlight in the morning
↳ Gives your body the best start to the day.

Time in nature
↳ Naturally relaxes you.

Helping someone
↳ Their happiness increases your own.

Deep conversations
↳ They form deeper bonds than social media updates.

Reading a book
↳ Fiction or non-fiction, it doesn't matter.

Taking a cold shower
↳ My friends think I'm nuts, but I swear by this!

These aren't always easy.

When I start a workout, I may not want to do it.
And every time I finish, I'm glad that I did.

That's the pattern with most of these.

The quick dopamine hit doesn't ask anything of you, and it'll steal energy long-term.

Slower-burn dopamine requires a little discomfort at first.
Your brain will try to resist it.

But as you do more of what matters to you, you'll feel better in the long-run.

What's your go-to method of getting a dopamine boost?

For more posts on building better habits, follow Clif Mathews.

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📨 Every week, 16,000+ execs learn how to define their own success via socials and in my newsletter, Second Summit Brief.
Sign up here so you don't miss out: bit.ly/SecondSummitBrief

🔁 Repost to help your network choose one good dopamine habit this week.

Clif Mathews

Statistically, we'd rather jump out a plane than speak publicly. 

You can overcome that fear with these 9 techniques.

Huge thanks to Chris Donnelly for putting this sheet together.

The difference between leaders who have strong influence and those who don't comes down to how well they communicate.

In key moments like team meetings and board presentations,
being clear about your message is crucial.

If you can't explain your ideas in a way that connects with people,
you lose the chance to create the impact you're after.

Here are nine strategies that'll help you make an impact, no matter who you're speaking to:

1️⃣ The Power Pause
↳ Emphasize a key point, and let it sink in.
→ A few seconds of silence makes the audience sit with that point and its importance.

2️⃣ The Rule of Three
↳ Our brains love patterns. Use that to your advantage.
→ Break down your speech into three ideas, three key beats, or three bullets to capture the crowd.

3️⃣ The 2-Minute Story Rule
↳ Everyone loves a story, but no one wants to feel like their time is wasted.
→ Keep personal anecdotes 2 minutes long to reinforce your point, and then move on.

4️⃣ Punchline First
↳ This stops you from preambling, which most people do when giving speeches.
→ Lead with your conclusion and then explain how you got there.

5️⃣ The Chair Test
↳ Ask yourself if your speech would work while sitting down. Try practicing this too.
→ This is a great indicator of whether you're actually being clear or just energetic.

6️⃣ The Echo Effect
↳ Pick out one key idea you want the audience to take away.
→ Repeat that line so the message stays with them.

7️⃣ The Suspense Setup
↳ When making a point, don't give the answer straight away.
→ Build up tension and delay the reveal. The audience will give you their attention.

8️⃣ The Contrast Trick
↳ Use contrast to highlight your expertise, knowledge, or point of view.
→ It'll turn a boring point into a memorable one.

9️⃣ The 10-Second Hook
↳ People will decide if they want to listen to you within 10 seconds.
→ Use a stat, story, or an uncomfortable truth to get their attention fast.

Of course, the best way to get better is to put these into practice.

Save this post and come back to it next time you need to deliver a speech.

If you're interested in what I speak about when I'm on stage,
you can head here for more information and complete the inquiry form: bit.ly/Clif_Keynote

Where do you struggle with public speaking?
I'd love to hear your thoughts.

For more posts on building influence in public speeches, follow Clif Mathews.

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📨 Every week, 17,000+ execs learn how to define their own success via socials and in my newsletter, Second Summit Brief.
Sign up here so you don't miss out: bit.ly/SecondSummitBrief

🔁 Repost to help another leader boost their public speaking skills.

I combine M&A finance strategy with executive coaching to help senior finance leaders through high-impact transitions, including integrations, separations, spin-offs, and IPOs. There's always a lot on the line before the deal even closes. And that's where I can help.

I’ve worked with incoming CEOs and CFOs of multi-billion dollar companies as they step into their new roles. In the early days, they’re focused on getting clear, earning trust, and aligning their teams quickly. I help them do that without losing momentum.

I support pre-close planning, operating model design, executive team off-sites, and first-90-day execution. I’m there to bring structure to complexity and help leaders show up with confidence when it counts most.

If you’re heading into a transaction or stepping into a new leadership chapter, I’m here to help you lead with clarity and conviction.

Keynote Speaker & Executive Coach | Guiding leaders out of The Success Trap | Deloitte M&A Partner (24 yrs)

The thing no one warns you about high performers...

The more talented your team, the harder it is to work together.

Individually, they excel at performing.
But as a team, they struggle with alignment, defining clear ownership, and forming unbreakable trust. 

The execs that build high-performing teams often use frameworks to help bridge that gap.

With the right frameworks, you can create a shared language that helps your team understand how to collaborate effectively.

Here are a few that I've found helpful:

1️⃣ The Johari Window
↳ A simple model for feedback and self-awareness.

Open Area → Known to self and others
Blind Spot → Unknown to self, known to others
Hidden Area → Known to self, unknown to others
Unknown Area → Unknown to both

2️⃣ The 70-20-10 Learning Principle
↳ This is the most effective way for people to develop.

70% through hands-on experience
20% through mentoring or coaching
10% through formal training

3️⃣ The RAPID Decision-Making Framework
↳ Identifying clear ownership prevents confusion and delays.

Recommend → Propose a clear plan
Agree → Secure essential buy-in
Perform → Execute the decision
Input → Provide expertise to inform the choice
Decide → Make the final call

4️⃣ The Energy vs. Impact Matrix
↳ Map each person by their engagement and contribution.

High Energy + High Impact → Promote and empower
High Energy + Low Impact → Coach or redirect
Low Energy + High Impact → Reignite motivation
Low Energy + Low Impact → Reassess role or exit

5️⃣ The Five Stages of Team Development
↳ Understanding how high-performing teams are formed removes unnecessary worries.
Nearly every strong team goes through these stages:

Forming → People meet, roles are unclear
Storming → Friction shows up as styles collide
Norming → Shared habits form and collaboration clicks
Performing → The team operates with speed and ownership
Adjourning → The project wraps or shifts into something new

6️⃣ The Trust Triangle
↳ Trust grows when three things are consistently true.

Authenticity → Are you genuine and consistent?
Empathy → Do people feel understood and cared for?
Logic → Do your decisions and reasoning hold up?

You don't need to throw all six at your team at once.

Pick the ones that address your biggest challenges right now.
Use them as a starting point to help your team work better together.

(And save this post to come back to it later!)

For more posts on leadership, follow Clif Mathews.

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📨 Every week, 17,000+ execs learn how to define their own success via socials and in my newsletter, Second Summit Brief.
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🔁 Repost to help another exec build a high-performing team.

You can track all the KPIs in the world.

If your team isn't engaged, it won't matter.

Going through change is a rocky time for everybody on the team.

And often, leaders have to juggle all kinds of metrics to keep things going smoothly.

They've done the analysis, shared the vision, and sent out the roadmap.
Still, there are points when it all falls apart.

Nothing was wrong with the strategy.

But in the process of change, they forgot about the people who have to execute it.

As a leader, it's natural to focus on the traditional KPIs.
However, there are a few KPIs on the human side that actually make change successful.

There've been too many times where leaders:

→ Forget to inform their team.
→ Don't involve others in decision-making.
→ Neglect to keep people excited about what's to come.

Soon enough, team members are quietly disengaged and going through the motions.

If you want to lead people through change (and get it right),
you have to remember to:

Keep People Informed:
↳ Be clear about what's changing, what's not, and what's to be decided.
↳ Don't pretend to have all the answers, and update as things unfold.

Keep People Involved:
↳ Bring them into the conversation on how to make change work.
↳ Ask for their input on execution.

Keep People Interested:
↳ Connect the change to what matters to them.
↳ Show how their impact connects to the company's direction.

Keep People Inspired:
↳ Acknowledge what's hard about the transition.
↳ Remind them why their work matters in the grand scheme of things.

The traditional KPIs still matter,
but if people don't feel like a part of the change, you lose out on progress.

These four KPIs are what turn a directive into a plan people want to execute.

Which one of these KPIs do you think is most important for leaders to remember?

For more posts on leading while keeping your team in mind, follow Clif Mathews.

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📨 Every week, 17,000+ execs learn how to define their own success via socials and in my newsletter, Second Summit Brief.
Sign up here so you don't miss out: bit.ly/SecondSummitBrief

🔁 Repost to remind another leader about what really drives performance.

This is the best way to build influence as a leader:

Be willing to learn after you've "made it."

Gareth Lloyd is to thank for this reminder.

There's a big difference between leaders who build lasting influence, 
and those who leave less of an impact.

It comes down to whether or not they're willing to keep learning.

Nearly every leader's journey starts off the same way.

Take the training.
Sit through presentations.
Walk away feeling prepared.
(Right?!)

But a lot of key development happens outside of the classroom.

Imagine this:

Two leaders who started at the same time. 

The leader on the left settles in, defaults to the same method, and relies on what always works.
Their work might be effective, but their brain becomes less and less stimulated.
They become known for always taking the "safe" and reliable route.

The leader on the right keeps learning.
They become sharper, more adaptable, and open to feedback.
They're excited to bring in new initiatives and motivate others.

Now think about who leaves a lasting impression...

Learning doesn't always mean going back to school or taking formal courses.

For senior leaders, it looks like:

→ Reading outside your usual industry
→ Asking questions instead of always having the answer
→ Being willing to admit when you don't know something
→ Having real conversations with people who see things differently
→ Trying a new approach to a problem you've solved the same way for years

You don't need to commit to huge amounts of time either.
Spending 20-30 minutes a day exploring new ideas can have a huge impact in the long run.
(Pro tip - add this into your no-device morning routine 🙌)

Great leaders are never done learning.
Remember that, and you'll leave a strong impact.

How do you keep learning new things every day?

For more posts on leadership, follow Clif Mathews.

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📨 Every week, 19,000+ execs learn how to define their own success via socials and in my newsletter, Second Summit Brief.
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🔁 Repost to remind your network to never stop learning.

Building a Healthier Future | Co-Founder @ Truly Nuts & White Lion Foods | Serial Entrepreneur | Sustainability Advocate | Investing in Health, Wealth & Earth 🌍

Your worth isn't determined by how fast you work.

You can slow down and still build a legacy.

I've seen a lot of great people be promoted to a leadership role and instantly think:

"I've got to get up to speed as fast as possible."

Don't get me wrong, it's important to learn quickly.
But many people go too fast to avoid looking incapable.

Building relationships with your team?
↳ Schedule 20 one-on-ones in the first two weeks.

Deliver something by end of day?
↳ It's done by midday.

Understanding the business?
↳ Read every report instead of taking time to talk to people who know it.

The worst mistakes happen when you try to speed up what's meant to be done slowly.

In the short term, you spend a lot of time correcting those mistakes.

And even if that intensive burst does work for you at first,
over time you end up falling into a certain trap.

You reinforce the idea that your success is only determined by speed.

Slowly, the narrative you tell yourself starts changing:

"If I slow down, I'll fall behind."
"I have to get this done fast."
"I can't afford to wait."

Those stories slip into different parts of your life.

You white-knuckle your way through careers, relationships, and health,
all because slowing down feels like disappearing.

If you've been feeling this lately, take a breather and read this:

Building anything solid takes time.
Especially when it's new.

Taking time to go back over what you learn, recharge, 
and settle into the new environment works in your favor in the short and long term.

Great leaders know when it's time for speed,
and when it's time to slow down.

Building that rhythm for yourself starts small:

1️⃣ Define your goals
↳ What legacy do you want to leave behind?
↳ Use that to direct monthly, quarterly, and yearly goals.

2️⃣ Break those down into steps.
↳ What do you need to learn to achieve your goals?
↳ Talk to peers and seniors about what a realistic roadmap looks like.

3️⃣ Build in reflection time.
↳ Block weekly time to review what's working and what's not.
↳ Adjust your pace based on what you're learning, not what you think you should be doing.

Taking your time doesn't mean you don't care about your work.

It's what allows you to build lasting influence in your role without burning out.

I'm exploring this idea in more depth tomorrow in my newsletter, Second Summit Brief. 

It has more tips on how to notice when you're powering through,
and how to pull back and reset.

Sign up here so you don't miss out: bit.ly/SecondSummitBrief

Have you ever had that moment where you realized you could slow down?
How did you improve afterward?

For more posts on building the right mindset for leadership, follow Clif Mathews.

🔁 Repost to remind another leader that slowing down works in their favor.

Human-Focused Keynote Speaker & Executive Coach | Guiding leaders out of The Success Trap | Deloitte M&A Partner (24 yrs)

You don't need to add another habit.

You need to stop holding yourself back.

When we think about "growth", we often think about what we need to add to our routine.

That doesn't always work.

Sometimes, becoming better means removing what isn't serving you.
You can't build new habits until you break the ones holding you back.

I'm not talking about surface-level things like going to bed late or doom-scrolling.
(although that's a great place to start!)

I'm talking about the habits that have real stakes.
The ones that feel like, "this is just who I am."

→ Staying small because stepping up feels scary.
→ The people-pleasing that prevents you from setting boundaries.
→ The overworking that keeps you from asking what you actually want.

These behaviors protected you at one point.

They helped you navigate difficult situations or avoid risk.

But now they're stopping your growth because they keep you from taking the bigger risks that matter.

Changing those habits feels dangerous because you've built your identity around them.

That fear response is the biggest wakeup call you can get.

If you're afraid to break a habit, it's probably the one standing between you and your ideal version of yourself.

It's not easy, but it is possible.

Name what's costing you:
↳ Be specific. "I say yes to everything" is vague.
↳ "I agree to things so I don't disappoint people" is more clear.

Pick one small way to break it:
↳ Don't try to overhaul everything at once.
↳ Write down a specific action you'll take and track it.

Don't let discomfort stop you:
↳ Your brain will tell you change is dangerous.
↳ That feeling doesn't mean you're doing it wrong.

Notice what changes:
↳ Pay attention to how you feel when you break the pattern.
↳ You slowly feel lighter as time goes on.

It might feel uncomfortable at first.

But those uncomfortable truths can lead you to what you actually want.

If you want a little help getting there, I've created a worksheet that could help.

Before you set your next goal, 
work through this sheet to make sure you're actually following a path that feels right for you.
https://lnkd.in/gtWPrWa9

👉 Have you broken a habit that felt impossible at first? How did you find it?

For more posts about personal growth, follow Clif Mathews.
🔁 Repost to help your network break habits that no longer serve them.

Obsessing over outcomes is a losing game.

Focus on what you can control.

Resilience has been talked about so much that it's almost something you tune out.

Some new executives might think, "It's not a priority, I've got to focus on KPIs and getting a win."
And sure, the external metrics matter.

But somewhere down the line, you'll inevitably face a situation that's mentally challenging.

Perhaps the CEO made a decision you don't agree with, or a key hire doesn't work out.

Without building up your resilience,
you could give in to the pressure of the moment.

Not everything is always going to go to plan.

When things go wrong, you can either acknowledge them and keep moving,
or let it really derail you.

I've had my fair share of challenges.

Some of them ended in the outcome I hoped for, and other times I've had to re-evaluate.

What's helped me get through them is adopting a stoic mindset.
(I have the book in my home office as a reminder.)

Specifically focusing on what is and isn't in your control is something I teach to a lot of execs.

You don't have to go out and read every Stoic text out there.

Whenever you're facing a challenge,
take a moment to write down exactly what you can control.

For example, you can always control:

✅ How you respond when plans change
✅ Your attention
✅ Your boundaries
✅ Your energy
✅ How you recover after setbacks
✅ Your language under pressure
✅ Your standards
✅ Being present in the moment
✅ Your resilience

And you can let go of:

❌ How others react
❌ Whether plans go as expected
❌ The outcome of every effort
❌ How quickly things change
❌ Past decisions
❌ Someone else's priorities

Repeating that process eventually becomes second nature,
and you build up your resilience over time.

The external pressures won't go away,
and things may still go wrong at times.

But you'll focus more on the things you can change instead of what can't.

What helps you stay grounded when things don't go according to plan?

For more posts on leading under pressure, follow Clif Mathews.

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📨 Every week, 16,000+ execs learn how to define their own success via socials and in my newsletter, Second Summit Brief.
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🔁 Repost to help another leader focus on what they can actually control.

I've delivered over 100 keynotes over my career.

And there's one thing the audience always notices.

Preparation.

Thanks to Rohan Sheth for putting this together!

People can tell when you're winging it.

If there's no storytelling arc in your message,
everything feels one-note instead of exciting. 

On the other hand, you can't afford to over-prepare either.

They'll notice when you've memorized a script instead of starting a conversation.

I've made both mistakes.

It took a long time to find the right balance and emotionally resonate with people.

That learning could have been a lot faster if I had known these frameworks:

Before you present:

✅ Research your audience. Who's in the room and what do they care about?
✅ Define your one takeaway. If they remember nothing else, what should it be?
✅ Prepare 3 stories or examples that prove your point.
✅ Rehearse out loud at least 3 times.
✅ Test your tech and have a backup plan.
✅ Arrive early to read the room and connect with attendees.

You'll feel settled in and relaxed way before it's time to speak.

Open with a hook to grab the audience's attention:

There are 5 types...
🪝 Bold statement
🪝 Personal story
🪝 Question
🪝 Stat
🪝 Scenario

Use the STAR Framework for storytelling:

Situation: What was the problem or context?
Task: What needed to be done? What was at stake?
Action: What specific steps did you take to solve it?
Result: What happened? Use numbers, outcomes, or proof.

You can use case studies in a pitch, personal stories in a team address, or just explain your progress in a meeting.

Follow the Rule of Three:
↳ People remember information in groups of three. Structure everything around this.

Client pitches: Problem, solution, outcome.
Public speaking: Opening hook, main teaching point, closing call to action.
Product demos: Current pain point, how it works (simplified), what changes after.

Use the 10-20-30 Rule:

• 10 slides maximum 
• 20 minutes maximum
• 30-point font minimum

This works for shorter meetings or presentations.
If you need more slides or smaller text, your message isn't clear enough.

Close with a clear ask:

1️⃣ Summarize your one point in one sentence
2️⃣ Connect it back to their specific problem
3️⃣ Give them a clear next step

Using these when preparing your presentations allows you to create an emotional journey for your audience.

When you've got that down, every speech you give becomes an opportunity to build influence.

If you'd like more information about bringing my keynote to your audience, 
you can head here and complete the inquiry form: bit.ly/Clif_Keynote 

What's your top tip for giving a great presentation?

For more posts on speaking tips, follow Clif Mathews.

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📨 Every week, 19,000+ execs learn how to define their own success via socials and in my newsletter, Second Summit Brief.
Sign up here so you don't miss out: bit.ly/SecondSummitBrief

🔁 Repost to help another leader deliver great presentations.

Saying “I don’t agree with this” feels honest.

It often does more harm than good.

Not every decision that's made in an organization is going to be popular.

And even as a leader, you might not agree with a choice that's been made.
That puts you in a tough spot.

Some leaders want to tell their team, "Listen, I don't personally agree with this."

It may look like you're understanding and showing you're on their side,
but what it actually does is undermine your credibility.

Your team doesn't hear, "I get it. I'm with you."

What they actually hear is, "Other people are making the decisions, I'm not a leader here."

There's a thin line between authenticity and authority in these situations.

Being careful with your language is how you can get the balance right:

❌ "It’s not ideal, but this will benefit us all in the long run."
✅ "This is disappointing, and I know it impacts you."

❌ "Everything is already figured out."
✅ "Here’s what we know, and here’s what we don’t yet."

❌ "I want to reassure everyone."
✅ "I won’t sugarcoat this."

❌ "Let’s stay positive."
✅ "It’s okay to be frustrated by this."

❌ "You don’t need to worry about the details."
✅ "Here’s what we’re changing as a result."

❌ "This wasn’t my decision."
✅ "Here’s when you’ll hear the next update."

❌ "I don’t agree with this, but we have to do it."
✅ "I know this is hard, and I’ll stay close as we work through it."

The situation might not become easier by changing your language,
but you can still have the difficult conversation without accidentally undermining yourself.

What do you find hardest about delivering bad news? 

For more posts on communicating well during tough moments, follow Clif Mathews.

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📨 Every week, 17,000+ execs learn how to define their own success via socials and in my newsletter, Second Summit Brief.
Sign up here so you don't miss out: bit.ly/SecondSummitBrief

🔁 Repost to help another leader become better at this skill.

You can learn a lot about leadership from fictional characters.

Not only from the heroes, but also from the villains.

When I'm coaching execs about their leadership styles, 
sometimes we look at fictional characters to make things more fun.

Looking at someone you admire and seeing exactly what traits they have can influence your own leadership.

And as much as the heroes are important, looking at the villains is important too.

They can be great examples of how not to lead:

King Joffrey Baratheon
❌ No one liked this guy at all. He led through fear and impulse.
🎓 Fear gets surface-level compliance. It doesn't build real trust.

Michael Scott
❌ He was funny, but always needed to be liked, which caused problems.
🎓 Avoiding hard conversations to stay popular weakens the team as a whole.

Lord Farquaad
❌ He shifted all the risk to others and took the rewards.
🎓 Leaders who don't share the burden lose credibility.

Denethor II
❌ His bitterness caused him to reject good advice and never see any solutions.
🎓 Spiraling under pressure stops you from leading effectively.

Peter Pettigrew
❌ Betrayed his friends out of fear and looked out for himself instead.
🎓 Fear-driven leaders can't be trusted when the stakes are high.

Here's what strong leadership looks like:

Aragorn
✅ He humbly led every step of the way and didn't hesitate to jump into danger first.
🎓 Don't ask your team to do something that you wouldn't be willing to do yourself.

Jean-Luc Picard
✅ Always remained calm when making decisions and wasn't afraid to be challenged.
🎓 Be open to feedback. You'll create better decisions and boost your team's confidence.

Kathryn Janeway
✅ Balanced empathy with tough calls and brought in high standards.
🎓 Care about people, and still hold them accountable if things go wrong.

T'Challa
✅ He's noble, courageous, and isn't afraid to blend tradition with new ways of leading.
🎓 Learn the ropes of your organization, and don't be afraid to speak up if something can improve.

Katniss Everdeen
✅ Her actions match her values, and because of that everyone rallies around her.
🎓 Filter decisions through your values, and make them clear to your team.

And most of all, remember that these leaders aren't perfect.

They've made mistakes and they have their flaws, 
but what makes them great leaders is that they're willing to learn and do their best for the greater good.

Who's your favorite hero (or villain)? What do you like about their leadership style?

For more posts on being a great leader, follow Clif Mathews.

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📨 Every week, 17,000+ execs learn how to define their own success via socials and in my newsletter, Second Summit Brief.
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🔁 Repost to share this with your network.

Deloitte M&A Partner (24 yrs) | Keynote Speaker & Executive Coach | Guiding leaders out of The Success Trap

The people in your circle aren't always in your corner.

Don't let their opinions hold you back.

A lot of times, execs surround themselves entirely with people from their current company.

Your colleagues become your default advisors. 

After all, you see them every day, you work closely together,
and you've faced some really tough challenges together.

It's only natural that they become the people you turn to when thinking through big decisions.

And up to a certain point, that works.

But when everyone you interact with is in the same environment, your thinking becomes homogenized.

Everyone has similar assumptions and the same unspoken rules.

And when you bring up that you feel ready for a change,
their responses can make your confidence waver. 

"Are you sure about that?"
"But you're doing so well here."
"I don't want you to regret it."

They're not saying these to be malicious.
More often than not, they're speaking from a place of concern.

But their response comes from their own frame of reference.

The same frame that you're trying to step out of.

That doubt can be enough to second-guess yourself, even when you know you need to change.

Here's what helps:

Have a support system outside of your company. 
You can spend time with them, bounce around ideas, and discuss different possibilities.

They can be people in the same line of work, or on a similar trajectory,
or can offer a perspective that isn't shaped by your current environment.

Just by being around them, you get permission to think differently.

You build the courage to go after what you actually want.

How to build this network:

➡️ Find peer groups or exec forums outside your company
➡️ Work with a coach to clarify your new direction.
➡️ Reach out to people who've made moves you're curious about
➡️ Invest time in relationships that aren't transactional
➡️ Schedule regular check-ins with people outside your bubble

The people you work with matter, but they can't be your only source of perspective.

Because when they are, you risk staying stuck in a version of success that's not fully yours anymore.

If you've been feeling disconnected from your work lately,
or wondering if there's something more aligned out there,
it's worth exploring why that is.

I put together a short quiz to help identify what Success Trap you might be experiencing.

You'll get a personalized guide about where you're stuck.
and what next steps you can take.

👉 https://lnkd.in/eH7PU2ra

For more posts on going after your version of success, follow Clif Mathews.

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📨 Every week, 16,000+ execs learn how to define their own success via socials and in my newsletter, Second Summit Brief.
Sign up here so you don't miss out: bit.ly/SecondSummitBrief

🔁 Repost to remind your network that who they spend time with is important.

Your stage presence determines your leadership impact.

The ultimate guide to public speaking:

Whether you're giving a keynote or leading a team meeting,
how you communicate shapes how much influence you have.

First off, there are 10 things you need to know before your first keynote:

1. Post-lunch needs 50% more energy from you, not the audience.
2. That “natural” gesture you love looks insane when repeated 40 times.
3. That one person on their phone is probably dealing with a crisis, not judging you.
4. Your job is to make the event planner look like a genius for booking you.
5. Ask: “What happened last year that everyone still talks about?”
6. Referencing earlier keynotes makes you look like you belong.
7. Executive audiences want frameworks, not feelings (until they trust you).
8. Ask for photos of the actual room setup — “ballroom” means 20 things.
9. Arrive the night before, even for “easy” flights — weather doesn’t care.
10. Darker shirts hide mic packs better.

If you're not quite ready for the big stage yet,
a few speaking strategies help in any situation:

The Power Pause
➡️ Pause after a key point. It boosts clarity, confidence, and audience processing.

Rule of Three
➡️ The most universal structure trick: 3 points, 3 examples, 3 beats.

3-Part Open (Hook → Story → Promise)
➡️ Start with an attention grabber, a quick human story, then what the audience will learn.

2-Minute Story Rule
➡️ Tell stories in 2 minutes or less. 

Callback Technique
➡️ Reference earlier moments later in your speech. 

A few things to remember when using slides:

✅ Communicate a single idea with each slide.
✅ State the main takeaway instead of introducing the topic.
✅ Make them scannable. Don't use walls of text.
✅ Use specific numbers wherever possible.
✅ If a chart requires explanation, cut it from the deck.

And if you want to learn more about creating a great speech,
I recommend these 5 books:

1️⃣ Talk Like TED by Carmine Gallo
This book analyzed hundreds of popular TED talks and breaks down the 9 components to deliver your own speech.

2️⃣ Made to Stick by Chip Heath & Dan Heath
Gives you a solid framework to deliver speeches that spread ideas.

3️⃣ Steal the Show by Michael Port
Teaches you how to see every high-stakes situation as a "stage" where you can perform at your best.

4️⃣ The Successful Speaker by Grant Baldwin
A practical playbook on how to build a strong speaking career.

5️⃣ One Presentation Away by Colin Boyd
Focuses on making sure your presentations turn into clients and sales through storytelling.

Save this post to have on hand next time you're preparing for a big speech.

If you'd to explore bringing The Success Trap keynote to your audience, you can head here: bit.ly/Clif_Keynote
and complete the inquiry form.

Do you enjoy public speaking? What do you find most exciting about it?

For more posts about speaking tips, follow Clif Mathews.

🔁 Repost to help your network strengthen their public speaking skills.

Barack Obama wasn't always great at giving speeches.

His journey has lessons every leader can use.

A lot of leaders already have the right technical skills.

They can analyze data, come up with strong strategies, and set the vision.

But if you can't communicate them in a way that connects with your team,
you can't build a strong presence. 

You can always build up that skill.

Obama himself once told his speechwriter about a time he froze up when he was a young community organizer.

But he's come a long way since then,
and his skills are something we can all learn from. 

Here are some tips you can use yourself:

1️⃣ Master the pause
↳ Use silence to let key points sink in and create a dramatic effect.

2️⃣ Be authentic & relatable
↳ Share personal stories to connect with the audience on a human level.

3️⃣ Craft clear, compelling messages
↳ Have one powerful theme and ensure your speech supports it.

4️⃣ Paint vivid pictures
↳ Use concrete words and metaphors to help your audience visualize complex ideas.

5️⃣ Vary your voice & body language
↳ Adjust your speed and use gestures to emphasize points.

6️⃣ Tell stories
↳ Weave different narratives to capture people's attention.

7️⃣ Use rhetorical devices
↳ Repetition, metaphors, and structure can simplify complex ideas for the audience to follow.

8️⃣ Confirm audience suspicions (strategically)
↳ Address potential doubts early to build credibility.

9️⃣ Focus on unity & hope
↳ Frame your message around shared values and a vision for a better future.

You don't have to be perfect right away.

Focus on the message you want to deliver first, 
and practice until you feel confident. 

I'm always up for more speaking opportunities. 

If you'd like more information on what I talk about and how I can help your audience,
you can head here and complete the inquiry form: bit.ly/Clif_Keynote

For more posts on speaking tips, follow Clif Mathews.

----

📨 Every week, 16,000+ execs learn how to define their own success via socials and in my newsletter, Second Summit Brief.
Sign up here so you don't miss out: bit.ly/SecondSummitBrief

🔁 Repost to help other leaders communicate with more impact.

Your body language speaks before you do.

And it's costing you authority.

You're not in sixth grade trying to survive a class presentation.
But for most of us, that's where our minds go back to.

We have years of knowledge and experience under our belts, and great ideas to match.

Still, the idea of speaking publicly has us standing stiff as a board with our eyes glued to our notes.

The audience picks up on that more than you realize.
They'll focus on your nerves more than your message.

But having a few techniques in the back of your pocket can solve that problem.

Thinking about your body language can help you relax, feel confident, 
and engage with the people in front of you.

Here are 7 you can practice when preparing for your next speech:

1️⃣ Facial Match
↳ Your face should match your tone - serious, excited, concerned. 
↳ A mismatch makes your message less believable.

2️⃣ Power Posture
↳ Stand tall with relaxed shoulders and feet grounded.
↳ You'll project confidence before you even start speaking.

3️⃣ Open Hands Rule
↳ Keep your hands visible and use open gestures. 
↳ Having hands behind you or in your pockets makes you seem nervous.

4️⃣ Purposeful Movement
↳ Move only when it's important, like making a key point.
↳ Avoid pacing or fidgeting with your hands too much. It can be distracting.

5️⃣ Stillness for Authority
↳ Pause your body when you pause your words. 
↳ Stillness shows control and makes key moments feel more powerful.

6️⃣ Confidence Stance Reset
↳ When you feel nervous, reset: feet planted, arms relaxed, chin level. 
↳ This instantly reduces shaky body language.

7️⃣ Eye Contact Rotation
↳ Hold eye contact with one person for a few seconds, then shift to another. 
↳ It builds trust and keeps the room engaged.

You don't have to be a natural performer to connect with your audience.

Practicing helps you focus more on building connection and delivering a strong message.

Save this post next time you have a speech coming up and give these ideas a try.

If you'd like to explore bringing The Success Trap keynote to your audience, you can head here: bit.ly/Clif_Keynote
and complete the inquiry form.

What's one public speaking tip you use? 
Share some wisdom in the comments!

For more posts on public speaking tips, follow Clif Mathews.

----

📨 Every week, 18,000+ execs learn how to define their own success via socials and in my newsletter, Second Summit Brief.
Sign up here so you don't miss out: bit.ly/SecondSummitBrief

🔁 Repost to help your network nail their next speech.

Thinking you should "know it all" stunts your growth.

Staying curious is how you level up.

Thanks Felix Bertram for this carousel.

There's a huge benefit in reflecting on your career journey.

You remind yourself of how much you've grown.

But what often happens is that we reflect so much on what we've already done,
and forget that there's still room to develop even more.

You can acknowledge your journey and still look toward the future.

Because if you only ever focus on the past,
you risk staying stuck where you are.

📉 You start asking less questions.
📉 You hide mistakes out of embarrassment.
📉 You focus on looking smart and proving what you know.
📉 You get defensive over receiving feedback.
📉 You compare yourself to others.
📉 You surround yourself with comfort.

All of these behaviors stem from that feeling of insecurity.

The idea that you've made it this far, so you "should" be perfect at everything.

But here's an important reminder:

Great leaders don't suddenly stop learning, even if they've "made it."

Their past wins prove that they can continue to grow in the future.
And then they're able to create a path that feels right for them.

That looks like:

📈 Asking more questions out of curiosity.
📈 Embracing mistakes as lessons for the future.
📈 Focusing on learning every day.
📈 Seeking out feedback to improve.
📈 Comparing yourself to who you were before.
📈 Surrounding yourself with challenges.

Staying curious about what you can learn helps you build success that feels like yours.

I've put together a short worksheet that'll get you started.

It helps you understand what's really important to you,
and creates an inner compass to filter your choices through.

👉 bit.ly/before-you-climb

For more posts on defining your own success, follow Clif Mathews.
🔁 Repost to help your network focus on their personal growth.

Redefining what it means to live longer with purpose | Shark Tank investor and Entrepreneur | TEDx speaker | Author

Signs you are growing

If throwing away your success feels like the only option...

You might be craving meaning, not escape.

A quote from Fahrenheit 451 has stuck with me since high school.

"Those who don't build must burn."

For years, I thought it was about ambition.

I focused on achieving great things and flying high in my career.
I was building...right?

➡️ Get the degree.
➡️ Land the big role.
➡️ Climb up the ladder.

But now, I realize that quote isn't really about ambition.

It is referring to the kind of energy each person has.

High achievers have a certain kind of creative energy that needs direction.
So we turn to the next project or problem to solve.

But if that energy doesn't go somewhere useful, it can turn into something else.

It starts to become destructive.

When successful people start to feel restless or directionless,
You might get the urge to burn down their own lives.
That energy needs direction, and destruction can feel an easier route to follow when you're stuck.

Even if it's not what you actually want.

So what can you do with that energy?
Well...you can start with questioning your current direction.

You don't need to throw away everything you've built. 

Instead, think about directing that energy toward something that actually matters to you.

I'm deep diving into this idea in my newsletter tomorrow.

If you've been feeling the urge to walk away from everything, you're not failing.
You might just need a little redirection.

Sign up here so you don't miss out: bit.ly/SecondSummitBrief

For more posts about rethinking success, follow Clif Mathews.

🔁 Repost to help your network direct their energy.

Not everything that falls apart is a loss.

It shows you what path you need to take next.

A lot of times, when something falls apart in your career or in your life,
the first instinct is to focus on what you're losing.

The role that didn't work out.
The plan that fell through.
The version of success that doesn't add up anymore.

It's disorienting and painful.

I've had my fair share of storms over the years.

I always tried to exceed expectations and go above and beyond at work.
And then for a while, I just crashed. 

I struggled to do work I was used to and felt nervous all the time.

When things fall apart, it's usually the fragile stuff that breaks.
You might have thought that they were solid when in reality, they were built on sand.

What's left behind is clarity about what actually matters to you.

The question you ask yourself isn't "What did I lose?"
It's "What's still standing?"

In my case, it took a while for me to figure out that I couldn't optimize harder and hope for the best.
I had to tweak parts of my work so I could be more aligned.

That storm made me realize who I was at my core and what I should do next.

If you're feeling this, you wouldn't be the first.

There are many successful people who've been where you are.
What matters is how you react to that moment.

You can focus only on what's breaking,
or look for opportunities that might be out there.

Here's how to start:

Pause before reacting
↳ Don't panic or scramble to fix things. Sit with the situation first and evaluate.

Ask what's actually breaking
↳ Are you upset about what's happening or your attachment to what you thought was the plan?

Notice what's still solid
↳ What values, relationships, or parts of yourself are still there?

Focus on what you can control
↳ You can't control what's falling apart, but you can control how you respond.

Not everything that breaks was meant to last.

And what remains often turns out to be more solid than you expected.

I'm going deeper into this idea in tomorrow's newsletter,
and sharing a few more tips on how to navigate these challenges.

If you're not subscribed yet, sign up here: bit.ly/SecondSummitBrief

Have you ever encountered this before? How did you go about it?

For more posts on navigating change, follow Clif Mathews.

----

📨 Every week, 16,000+ execs learn how to define their own success via socials and in my newsletter, Second Summit Brief.
Sign up here so you don't miss out: bit.ly/SecondSummitBrief

🔁 Repost to remind your network to look at situations from different perspectives.

Phillip Spencer

The more your calendar fills up, the more your energy runs out.

And you're acting less like a human and more like a meeting robot.

Leaders need to start breaking the habit of optimizing every second of their day.

When we talk about protecting our time, it's often through the lens of being super productive at work.

But our careers don't exist in a vacuum.

When you protect your time as a whole, you feel more energized for all parts of your life.

Protecting your calendar isn't as big of a task as you might think:

1️⃣ Guard Your Best Hours
↳ Back-to-back meetings leave no space to think clearly or do meaningful work.

→ Schedule deep-work around when you have the most energy.
→ Organize your space so you have no distractions.

2️⃣ Use the Eisenhower Matrix
↳ Urgent requests drown out what actually matters long-term.

→ Evaluate meeting requests based on urgency and importance before accepting.
→ Focus on high-impact work that moves your goals forward.

3️⃣ Set Boundaries & Buffers
↳ Your day is one continuous sprint with no time to breathe.

→ Define clear working hours and communicate them to your team.
→ Build 15-minute buffers between meetings to reset.

4️⃣ Automate the Small Stuff
↳ Admin eats away hours you could spend on work that energizes you.

→ Connect your calendar to booking tools.
→ Set up automatic reminders for recurring tasks.

5️⃣ Color-Code & Label
↳ You can't tell what truly deserves your attention from your calendar.

→ Assign specific colors to different event types.
→ Adjust time allocation based on what matters to your focus.

6️⃣ Review & Refine Weekly
↳ Time-wasting patterns repeat because you never stop to notice them.

→ Block 20 minutes every Friday to audit what did and didn't work.
→ Aim to clear out one thing next week that won't be useful.

7️⃣ Start-up & Shut-Down Rituals
↳ Work bleeds into your life with no clear beginning or end.

→ Use the first and last 10 minutes of your day to prioritize and focus.
→ Close your laptop at a set time and don't reopen until morning.

8️⃣ Gatekeep Meeting Invites
↳ Other people's urgency becomes your entire day.

→ Ask whether each meeting moves goals forward before accepting.
→ Set clear agendas and time limits for meetings you do accept.

Yes, protecting your time gives you space to be more productive.

And it also allows you to manage your energy for different parts of your life.

You think more clearly.
You feel more present in conversations.
And you finish days feeling more fulfilled instead of drained.

How do you protect your time each day? (Or do you just give it away to anyone?)

For more posts on feeling energized in and outside of work, follow Clif Mathews.

----

📨 Every week, 19,000+ execs learn how to define their own success via socials and in my newsletter, Second Summit Brief.
Sign up here so you don't miss out: bit.ly/SecondSummitBrief

🔁 Repost to help another leader reclaim their time during the day.

Your leadership is only as strong as how well you communicate.

Here are 7 key components to know.

There's a difference between leaders who build influence and those who struggle.

Oftentimes, both have great ideas, strong visions, and a plan forward.
The gap comes down to how they communicate.

If you can't communicate in a way your team understands, your ideas will go nowhere.

Building this skill comes down to the 7 Cs:

💡 Clear
↳ Be explicit about the goal and purpose of your message.
→ Ambiguity creates confusion and delays action.

💡 Concise
↳ Keep to the point without unnecessary details or preamble.
→ Brevity respects people's time and keeps attention on what matters.

💡 Concrete
↳ Support your message with specific facts, data, and actionable details.
→ Abstract language leaves room for different interpretations.

💡 Candid
↳ Be honest about what you know and what you don't.
→ Pretending to have all the answers erodes your credibility.

💡 Coherent
↳ Make sure your message flows logically from start to finish.
→ Disjointed communication forces people to work harder to follow you.

💡 Complete
↳ Provide the necessary information for people to take action.
→ Incomplete information leads to delays and misalignment.

💡 Courteous
↳ Be respectful of your audience's perspective and constraints.
→ People respond better when they feel seen and respected.

I've put in some tips on how to strengthen every part of your communication in the image below.
Save it for when you need a reminder!

The best thing about these is that you can use them in any situation.

Whether it's a one-on-one or a presentation, 
focusing on these 7 Cs makes your message clear.

These tips are what I come back to whenever I'm preparing for a keynote.

If you'd like to explore bringing The Success Trap keynote to your audience, you can head here: bit.ly/Clif_Keynote
and complete the inquiry form. 

What do you think is important when communicating?

For more posts on speaking tips for any scenario, follow Clif Mathews.

----

📨 Every week, 19,000+ execs learn how to define their own success via socials and in my newsletter, Second Summit Brief.
Sign up here so you don't miss out: bit.ly/SecondSummitBrief

🔁 Repost to help another leader strengthen their communication skills.

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