NeuroChangeSolutions (NCS)

As a certified NeuroChangeSolutions consultant, Maria Luisa educates businesses on Dr. Joe Dispenza's method of changing organizations 'from the inside out'.

For a change program that teaches how to create sustainable results, contact me and I will be happy to discuss your specific company needs.

Certified NCS Consultant

VisualSparks

𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬
Whether you're a coach, consultant, manager, or marketer, Sketchnotes streamline communication, boost client engagement, and enhance retention of information.

By incorporating Sketchnotes into your presentations, social media, and training sessions, you not only make your content more memorable but also position yourself as an expert in your field.

𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬:

🎓 We educate professionals to create their own sketchnotes and visuals, even if they have no experience, with our online courses.

🏢 We provide corporate trainings on-site or online for internal facilitators and managers to give them visualization tools.

🖌️ We customize sketchnotes and visuals for your business, book projects, newsletters, homepage, or presentations.

Company Owner

HeartMath LLC

I train individuals and organisations a science-based tools to build resilience capacity, improve decision making, communication  and intuition. 

The programs/Modules includes practical tools and helps to build heart coherence to your day-to-day lives.

Certified HeartMath Resilience Trainer and Coach

Maria Luisa Engels Training & Consulting

I offer neuroscience based programs, coaching and consultancy services for organisations, and teams in 3 main areas: 
𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞
𝐏𝐬𝐲𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧, 
𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭
www.marialuisaengels.com

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐬/𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬:
Neuroleadership modules: to understand the body and brain mechanisms and to apply practical strategies 
Topics:
➡️Goal setting, goal pursuing, individual and team goals
➡️Influence and persuasion, 
➡️Leading teams, 
➡️Bias mitigation for diversity, inclusion or decision making, 
➡️Focus, attention and performance, 
➡️Communication, influence and feedback
➡️Change and habit formation, and 
➡️Emotion regulation for leaders and teams under stress.
➡️Teambuilding workshops based on sketchning, drawing or painting(remote or onsite)

In change management I help to reduce the resistance to change through trustful environments and effective visioning. In innovation and creative departments I use creativity to generate more and better ideas for products/services, and to implement innovation in cross functional teams. 

To my clients count global customers and Fortune500 Companies. Contact me for customer references.

I have also supported customers more globally to enhance brand awareness and corporate culture.

Head of Training and Coaching

PowerMinutes

Discover the science-backed secrets and brand-new tools to turn your passion into a successful income stream. 🌟 Master the Art of Turning Your Dreams into Reality! The Power of Neuroscience + Proven Techniques

Hi, we're Maria Luisa Engels and Dr. Alex Steinberg, two corporate leaders and entrepreneurs who turned our dreams into reality using neuroscience-backed techniques and powerful tools. 🚀 Now, we want to share this proven recipe for success with you.

Co-Founder

Opel

Transfer price documentation for Adam Opel /Opel Automobile
Responsible for the building, coordination, consolidation and reporting of the transfer price documentation for Adam Opel with the General Motors allied companies worldwide. Reporting directly to the Head of Tax at Opel and to the german Legal Tax authorities (Finanzamt).
•	European responsible to consolidate the finance results of all european GM units (UK, Spain, Portugal France, Italy, Sweden, Denmark) in compliance with SOX rule. 
•	Support and advice other european companies (Denmark, Sweden, Spain) in tax relevant issues related to compliance with transfer price documentation.
•	Training of other european units (Spain, Portugal, Hungary) to build up a Transfer Price documentation in compliance with the local tax authorities.
•	Coordination with PSA (Paris) transfer price unit to build and align  the german transfer price documentation to the corporate structure of PSA after the merger in 2018 in compliance with the requirements of the french tax authorities.

Senior Finance Specialist-Pricing and Tax

I was in charge of developing the finance reporting (Profit and Loss) for Opel PWT GmbH as a result of the Joint Venture between FIAT and GM in year 2000. Direct reporting to the CEO.
Responsible of regular and prototype pricing of the FIAT&GM Joint products.
I also developed the complete transfer price documentation for Opel PWT Germany, directly reporting to the Head of Tax and Tax authorities.

Senior Financial Specialist

1998-2000  I worked for the project implementation of the GM world wide pricing system in Saragossa (Spain), being responsible for the german plants.
I also was in charge of the monthly finance reporting and budgeting of the material cost of the individual Opel carlines produced in Germany.

Junior Financial Specialist- Project management

Visual thinker I I help you convert your expertise into engaging visuals I Follow for content on business and personal growth I Training & Coaching I Neuroleadership I Psychological Safety I Resilience

Hi! I'm Maria Luisa,
I help leaders, teams, and creators communicate complex ideas with clarity so they can inspire action, build trust, and lead change that lasts.
My work combines visual thinking and neuroscience to turn information overload into understanding and engagement.

Most teams and leaders struggle to communicate clearly, not because they lack ideas, but because they lack the tools to show them. In a world of information overload, clarity is a competitive advantage.

Over the past nine years, I've partnered with organisations including OLX (Prosus), Deutsche Bank, Merck, Oracle, Fresenius Medical Care, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and BioNTech, supporting their teams with programs on visual communication, psychological safety, resilience, and change leadership.

Before teaching, I spent two decades in senior management and finance, experience that showed me how communication can make or break collaboration. Later, I studied Neuroleadership and began designing science-based programs that help leaders and teams turn knowledge into action.

What I've learned is simple:
➡️ Visuals help the brain process ideas faster and remember them longer.
➡️ They connect emotion and logic, helping messages stick and change take root.

As a Neuroleadership Expert and Visual Thinker, I design programs that help teams and leaders:
➡️ Build psychological safety and open communication
➡️ Strengthen resilience in high-change environments
➡️ Lead transformation that lasts, from the inside out

Alongside my corporate work, I draw and teach through a visual-learning community of 48,000+.
My approach combines art, science, and business, always with one goal: to make ideas clear and change possible.

Since 2023, more than 2,900 professionals have joined my visual-thinking programs to make their communication more transparent and engaging.

Want to communicate with more clarity, trust, and impact as a leader or a team?
Let's talk.
👉 calendly.com/marialuisaengels/discovery-call
📩 info@marialuisaengels.de

➤ WHAT CLIENTS SAY:

“In the course with Maria I learnt how to draw from zero! I was able to create my own visuals in just 5 weeks. Today I share my sketchnotes on linkedin and use them in my presentations. Now that I've started, I don't want to stop!" - Erica Omenetto -

"I joined a corporate training with Maria during a major restructuring at our company. The course fundamentally changed how I lead, especially in how I communicate and decide under pressure. It made a lasting difference in how I show up during times of change." - Alessia Orlandi, Fresenius Medical Care -

70% of workplace failures happen because of communication mistakes, not a lack of data or skill.

Think about it. How many talented teams have you seen crumble because of unspoken tension?

Many people roll their eyes when they hear "EQ."
That is because no one has ever shown them what it actually looks like.

Schools train us for technical excellence but leave emotional skills to chance.
Yet for thousands of years, reading emotions was how we survived.

EQ is not about being nice. 
It is about intentional behaviours that help us understand and connect.

EQ shows up in everyday actions such as:
➡️  Noticing tight shoulders or tapping feet
➡️  Keeping a calm tone even when words are firm
➡️  Thanking people for tough feedback

When those cues are missing, our primitive brain takes over:
➡️  Teams splinter into silos
➡️  Innovation freezes because the brain will not create under threat
➡️  Stress spreads like wildfire

Even brilliant teams fail without EQ.
Your star players retreat into self-preservation mode, blocking the collaboration that drives innovation.

So, now what?
Here are 3 common EQ roadblocks and how to fix them:
 1️⃣ Confusing empathy with agreement
 →  Problem: "I understand" is not the same as "I agree."
 →  Fix: Label emotions first, judge ideas second. Start with "Help me understand..."

2️⃣  Using empathy to manipulate
→   Problem: Reading emotions to win instead of to connect.
→   Fix: Do a quick intention check before any conversation. 
      Ask yourself, "Am I building bridges or scoring points?"

3️⃣  The Emotional Blind Spot
 →  Problem: We often cannot see our own impact.
 →  Fix: Ask for honest feedback before assuming motives.

AI can crunch numbers.
But only humans can create the emotional safety that drives real innovation.

Save this post for your next team retro. It is your quick EQ checklist.

Which one of the behaviors on the right side would you try first? Share in the comments.

I share visuals like this with my community every week.

👉 Join 8,000+ professionals learning through visuals:
https://lnkd.in/eZ9jUrKk
Repost this to help more teams lead with emotional intelligence.
👉And follow Maria for visuals that teach and emotional intelligence.

Maria Luisa Engels

Most people focus on consuming information.
But nothing's changing in their results.
Because information without action is just a distraction.

Here are 6 ways to speed your learning up (without burning out):
These are simple but powerful ideas that changed the way I approach 
learning:

1) Learning is faster with someone who's been there.
   ➡️ Mentors don't just give advice. They help you avoid mistakes you can't 
    even see yet.
   ➡️ Don't be afraid to ask for guidance because it saves years of trial 
   and error.

2) Knowledge alone isn't enough.
   ➡️ What matters is how you apply it.
   ➡️ Turning knowledge into action is what creates real change. 
   You embody knowledge, and that is wisdom.

3) Small wins build fundamental skills.
   ➡️ Mastery looks impressive, but it starts with clumsy first tries.
   ➡️Celebrate every messy beginning.

4) Think beyond today.
   ➡️It's tempting to chase fast results.
   ➡️But learning that lasts comes from planting seeds you'll harvest later.

5) Reading about it is not the same as doing it.
   ➡️You can't just read your way to expertise.
   ➡️Learning starts with action and mistakes. 
   You have to try, fall, get back up and learn by doing.

6) If it feels too big, break it down
   ➡️You can't just run a marathon from day 1
   ➡️Improving 1% every day activates the compound effect

❓  Pick your next 1% improvement and share it below.

👉 Follow Maria for visuals that teach and insights on personal growth.

👉 Join the newsletter for weekly creative thinking tips: https://lnkd.in/eirrd8xT

👉 Liked this post? Share it with others.

6 visuals to boost your learning

Think your team feels safe to speak up?
Most leaders are surprised to learn this:

They overestimate the level of psychological safety on their team.
The biggest blind spot? Confusing comfort with safety.
They see their comfort and assume everyone else is fine.

That’s why when I audit teams, I exclude the leader from the survey —
to get unbiased results.

The problem? Many people still think psychological safety means:

➡️ Always agreeing with each other
➡️ Avoiding conflicts at all costs
➡️ Letting the leader handle all the hard stuff

But here’s what I’ve learned about what psychological safety really is:

1️⃣ Turn conflict into progress
Thank those who challenge your ideas
Celebrate “failed” experiments that taught valuable lessons
Respond to bad news with “thank you”

2️⃣ Share the stage
Use “we” for problems, “I” for ownership
Rotate meeting leaders
Give credit for raising red flags early

3️⃣ Make courage easy
Use anonymous polls for sensitive topics
Share agendas 24h ahead
Track talk-time and rebalance if skewed
Clearly define decision owners

Here’s the truth: your team doesn’t need more comfort.
They need clarity, fairness, and structured ways to speak up.

🔗 Want to turn your ideas into clear, visual frameworks?
Join 8,000+ creators who get mine each week 👇
https://lnkd.in/eZ9jUrKk

Which of these habits do you see most often missing in teams today?
Share your choice in the comments!

👉 Follow Maria Luisa for visuals that teach and spark psychological safety.

6 visuals that flipped how I think about teamwork and what really makes it work
I've worked with teams that inspired me and others that drained me.

 These six visuals changed how I understand what really makes teamwork work.

1️⃣ Team excellence is never solo glory
 Every “solo” win hides a web of people who made it possible.
 → Start your next win post by naming the people behind it.

2️⃣ Teamwork is different than working in a team
 Sharing an org chart isn’t the same as sharing a goal.
 → Ask: Where are we collaborating, and where are we just co-existing?

3️⃣ Skills make things possible, communication makes them excellent
 → Before your next project, align on how you’ll stay in sync, not just what you’ll do.

4️⃣ The best teams don’t just have skills, they have stamina
 Courage to start. Adaptability to change. Loyalty to keep going.
 → Map who brings which strength so you can lean on them when it matters.

5️⃣ Movement isn’t progress unless it’s aligned
 Busy feels productive, but direction turns activity into impact.
 → Revisit your team goals monthly: are we still rowing the same way?

6️⃣ You can go far alone, but you go further together
 Solo is possible, but slower, harder, and less fulfilling.
 → Pick one thing you’re doing solo this week and ask for help.

I see these truths play out in every creative project I join.
Which one shows up in your team this week?

👇 If you want to make your ideas clearer, more visual, and more shareable:
 I share practical frameworks with 8 000+ creators here:
 https://lnkd.in/eZ9jUrKk
👉 Follow Maria Luisa for visuals that teach and spark better teamwork.

6 Visual Truths That Changed How I See Teamwork

Knowledge doesn't pay bills.
Execution does.

For a long time, I thought collecting knowledge was enough. 
Like many of us, I am surrounded by unfinished books, courses, and 
certificates, always preparing, rarely doing. 
But all that collecting was just a sophisticated way to avoid taking real action.

But here's the catch:  Action boosts knowledge.
If you wait until you know everything before you start, you'll never begin. 
Perfection is the killer of experiential learning. 

Real growth happens when you:

✅ Take action before you feel "ready"
✅ Learn through trial and error
✅ Allow yourself to improve instead of waiting to be perfect.

Knowledge alone is like a stack of paper; it has potential but stays flat.
When you shape, fold, and use it, it turns into something that can fly.

The best learning doesn't happen in theory.
It happens through doing.

👉Here are3 gentle ways to start putting knowledge into practice:

1️⃣  The Morning Coffee Method
→  Pick one chapter from that business book you've been reading. 
→  While having your morning coffee, write down one idea you could test in your next meeting
→  small steps, real results.

2️⃣  The Two-Tab Rule
→  Example: You're learning about email marketing. 
→  Keep just two tabs open: one for learning, one for doing, and reading 
     about email marketing
→  Your second tab should be your email draft.

3️⃣  The 15-Minute Implementation
→   Choose any course module you've already watched. 
→  Set a timer for 15 minutes. 
→  Create something tiny but concrete ( even a rough outline counts.) 

The magic happens when you start small:
→  That marketing course becomes your first social post
→  The leadership book transforms into a team experiment
→  Your project management certificate turns into a simple workflow update

The funny thing is that you have done this before. 
Doing beats knowing, every time.

👉 Join the newsletter for weekly creative thinking tips: https://lnkd.in/eirrd8xT

👉 Follow Maria for visuals that teach and insights on psychological safety.

👉 Liked this post? Share it with others.

When I worked in finance, month-end closings felt like a battlefield.
Five people from the department I had to report to gathered around 
my desk, waiting for updates and watching every move.
Everyone was under pressure, and I remember feeling completely cornered.

🚩  That wasn't the best way to get results.
Because when we're stressed, our brain literally shuts down: creativity, 
problem-solving, and sound judgment disappear.
Your best people start planning their exit.

And this is how the story continues:
Months later, I changed to another department.
I was still in month-end closing and working even longer hours, 
but I had more autonomy, freedom, and joy.

This is what happens when psychological safety dies.
The warning signs are everywhere:

❌ Brilliant ideas never make it past someone's head
❌ Critical problems get buried until they explode
❌ High performers leave for places where their voice matters

Timothy R. Clark's research reveals the devastating cost. 
Organizations without psychological safety fail across four critical stages:

1️⃣ Inclusion Safety 
      →   People feel like outsiders in their own teams

2️⃣ Learner Safety
      →   Admitting "I don't know" becomes career suicide

3️⃣ Contributor Safety
     →    Ideas and insights die in silence

4️⃣ Challenger Safety
     →   The status quo becomes untouchable

When these break down, you don't just lose productivity.
You lose your competitive advantage to organizations where people 
can actually take the necessary risks to innovate.

Here are 3 ways leaders can build psychological safety:
1️⃣  Start with vulnerability first
 →  Say "I made a mistake" or "I'm not sure about this" before asking your 
      team to do the same
2️⃣  Replace answers with questions
 →  Turn "Here's what we should do" into "What are you seeing that I 
      might be missing?"
3️⃣ Reward the courage to fail forward 
→   Celebrate attempts that didn't work but generated learning

The organizations mastering this aren't just keeping good people.
They're becoming magnets for talent too.

❓On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the highest), where would you rate your 
team in terms of Psychological Safety?

👉 Follow Maria for visuals that teach and insights on psychological safety.

👉 Join the newsletter for weekly creative thinking tips: https://lnkd.in/eirrd8xT

👉 Liked this post? Share it with others.

Negative feedback is like medicine.
Give it wrong, and it becomes poison.
Delivered well, it fosters growth.

Yet, many struggle with this balance:

→ 68% of managers feel uncomfortable giving negative feedback
→ Cultural differences add complexity
→ Wrong delivery kills trust and kills growth

That is why choosing the right feedback path is key.

➡️ Direct feedback (The Tunnel):
Use when:
→ Performance impacts business results immediately
→ Deadlines are missed
→ Safety or compliance issues arise
"Your report has three errors that delayed our client meeting.
Let's address these by 5 PM to stay on track."

➡️ Indirect feedback (The Mountain Road):
Use when:
→ Working across cultures that value harmony
→ Building new work relationships
→ Addressing complex performance issues
"I noticed a few areas in the report that could be improved.
How do you feel about the challenges you faced?"

➡️ Cultural Intelligence Matters:
Research by Erin Meyer shows that
different cultures have different preferences:
→ Germans, Dutch, Danish → Value direct feedback
→ Japanese, Indonesian, Thai → Prefer indirect approaches
→ Americans, British → Mix of both

👉 So, how do you know which path to take?
→ Check the context (urgency, culture, relationship)
→ State facts first, judgments last
→ Always end with specific next steps

Remember: Match your path to your purpose.
Direct ≠ harsh
Indirect ≠ unclear

🔗 Want to turn complex leadership ideas into simple, visual lessons?
Join 8,000+ readers who get my weekly visuals & cheat sheets 👇
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Which path do you use most when giving feedback, direct or indirect?
Share your thoughts below!

👉 Follow Maria Luisa for visuals that teach and make leadership easier to apply.

Most entrepreneurs are drowning in comparison. 
I was doing the same thing too!

They scroll through competitors' success posts, copy their strategies, 
and wonder why they're still struggling. 

→ "My competitor just raised $2K, I'm behind"
→ "They have 10x more followers than me"
→ "Everyone's crushing it except me"

Here's what this comparison trap really costs you:

❌ You never discover what YOU could become
❌ You waste energy on others' games instead of building your own
❌ You quit too early because someone else seeI had zero customers. 
Zero followers. Zero credibility.

I  was not ready when I became an enterpreneur but I thought I was.
After 20 years climbing the corporate ladder, I walked away with nothing but an idea about visual thinking and coaching.
I had zero customers. Zero followers. Zero credibility.

My first weeks as an entrepreneur? I spent them studying what successful 
coaches were doing.
Their offer. Their posts. Their prices.

I felt like I was years behind before I even started. 
I thought I needed another course, another certification. 

Then something clicked: 
❓  What if I stopped watching them and started watching me?
❓  What if I already had everything needed to start?

✅ So this is what happened for my visual thinking and coaching business:
Day 1:        I posted my first hand-drawn visual note (no digital notes yet). 
                 Shaky lines. Misspelled words. 1 like.
Day 30:     Still terrible drawings, but I kept posting.
Day 60:     Someone commented "This helped me understand the concept!"
Day 220:   First person asked if I taught this.
Day 400:   Run my first free course to 550 people.
Day 500:   Run my first paid course to 12 people.

The magic wasn't in perfection.
✅  It was in getting 1% better everyday.
✅ 18 months later: 1,900 course participants and 47,000+ followers.

Not because I beat the competition.
Because I finally stopped watching them and started building my own thing.

These are 3 big learnings I made (I hope they serve you well)

1️⃣ Pick ONE thing to improve daily
→  Your writing, your skills, your systems
→ Track progress, not perfection

2️⃣ Share before you're ready
→  Imperfect action beats perfect inaction
→  Your messy version might help someone today

3️⃣ Compare wisely
→ Study others to learn, not to judge
→ Then measure progress against your past self
→ Where were you 90 days ago? That's your benchmark

The entrepreneurs who win don't start the best.
They just get better consistently.

❓What’s one small step you’ll take today to improve by 1%? Share below.

👉 Follow Maria for visuals that teach and insights on enterpreneurship.

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Seven years ago, I left the corporate world to start my own business, clueless about running it. Despite starting over three times, I've never regretted it.

Because confidence isn't having it all mapped out.
It's knowing you can navigate as you go.

Carol Dweck's research shows top performers trust their ability to learn, 
not just what they know. 
And Amy Edmondson found that successful teams embrace uncertainty and take action, which builds confidence.

Here are four ways to build genuine confidence:

1️⃣ Create learning moments
↳   Turn every setback into data points
↳   Ask: "What did this teach me?"

2️⃣ Scale your challenges
↳   Start with 1% braver actions
↳   Build momentum through small wins

3️⃣ Share your process, not just results
↳   Talk about your current learning to others
↳   Become familiar with figuring things out.

4️⃣ Build a support system
↳   Surround yourself with growth-minded people
↳   Learn from others who embrace uncertainty

🚩 Remember:
Every expert started as a beginner.
Every solution began as a question.
➡️ You already know how to do this. (This post is just a reminder.)

❓What have you tried already to build confidence? Share below!

👉 Follow Maria for visuals that teach and insights on psychological safety.

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Yoda never said "set resolutions."
He said, "Do. Or do not.” There is no try.

And he was right. 
We spend too much time trying to build habits, only to get frustrated 
when they don't stick. 
But what if building lasting habits could be as simple as making your 
favorite burger? 

I've found a delicious way to think about habit building -I call it the "Habit Burger" (inspired by James Clear's Atomic Habits)!
Just like a great burger needs the right layers in the correct order, 
lasting habits come together when we combine simple elements thoughtfully

Here's how it works:

1️⃣  Your Foundation (Bottom Bun) 
→    Start with something familiar - a daily routine you already have
→    Think of a habit that's already natural for you
→    For example when the alarm clock goes off at 7 am.

2️⃣  Small Challenge (Lettuce Layer) 
→    Link the foundation to a tiny change that feels almost too easy
→    Something quick and super simple (less than 2 minutes)
→    Like drinking water before your morning coffee for detox

3️⃣  Quick Win (Tomato Layer) 
→    Here's where it gets fun: add an immediate treat
→    Something you naturally look forward to (like your morning coffee)
→    This helps your brain link good feelings to the new habit

4️⃣  Main Goal (the Patty) 
→    This is your desired new habit
→    It could be that workout routine or healthier eating
→    The trick is connecting it to the other layers
→    If it feels overwhelming, break it into bite-sized pieces

5️⃣  Major Milestones (Cheese & Top Bun) 
→    Set some meaningful milestones and celebrate your progress 
→    Maybe that spa day or some hobby time?
→    Choose rewards that are doable and make you feel good.

❓ What's one habit you've built that you're proud of?  Share in the comments.

👉 If you found this helpful, follow Maria Luisa Engels for visuals that teach and sustainable personal change.

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Being a specialist used to mean job security.
Now it might mean job fragility.

Here’s what I’ve learned from watching both sides; life as an employee and as a solo entrepreneur.

➡️ Life as an Employee (Focus on your lane)
→ Marketing creates campaigns
→ Sales closes deals
→ Finance handles the money
→ HR manages people
You gain deep expertise but have a narrow impact.

➡️ Life as a Solo Entrepreneur (You are the company)
→ You plan the marketing
→ You drive the sales
→ You watch the numbers
→ You build the team
You need broad skills, but you gain full control.

If you’re thinking about switching paths, here are 3 reality checks first:

✅ Time Management Reality
→   Employee: Master one role in fixed hours
→   Entrepreneur: Balance all roles, always “on”
💡 Time freedom doesn’t mean less work; it means more control.

✅ Skill Development Reality
→   Employee: Depth in one area
→   Entrepreneur: Growth across all areas
💡 Entrepreneurs trade expertise for adaptability.

✅ Success Measurement Reality
→   Employee: Clear KPIs for your role
→   Entrepreneur: Everything is your KPI
💡 You can’t hide from the numbers, but they’re finally yours.

❌ The “safe job” might be an illusion.
→ Employees: One company holds your future
→ Entrepreneurs: Your future is in your hands

It’s not just about safety;
it’s about control.

❓Do you think everyone should learn to think like an entrepreneur, even inside a company?

🔗 Want to turn complex leadership ideas into simple, visual lessons?
Join 8,000+ readers who get my weekly visuals and cheat sheets 👇
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80% of successful entrepreneurs trust their gut for big decisions. 
We make over 1,000 daily choices, most small and subconscious. 
But when it comes to important decisions, we hesitate between 
analysis and intuition.

❌  Using analysis only doesn't work because:
→   You get stuck gathering more and more information
→   You miss the people side of things
→   Good chances slip away while you're analyzing
→   Simple choices get messy

❌ Going by intuition  alone is risky because:
→  Feelings can trick you
→  You might miss essential facts
→  It's hard to explain your choices to others
→  You can't tell if it will work again

Here's the better way: Use both!
Innovative leaders combine both of these steps: 

1️⃣  Pause - Create mental space before important decisions 
2️⃣  Notice your gut reaction AND gather key data points 
3️⃣  Identify where intuition and analysis align or conflict 
4️⃣  Challenge your assumptions on both sides 
5️⃣  Make informed decisions using both signals 

📌  Fun fact: 
Intuition means "inner teacher" in Latin. It's like having a built-in guide that spots patterns before your mind catches up.

The recipe:
→ Let facts sharpen your gut feel
→ Let your gut tell you which facts matter
→ When both agree, you're ready to move

🔑 Think of it this way: 
Your gut is the compass, data is the map. 
You need both to find your way.
❓ When did your gut feeling save you from making a wrong move? 
Share below!

👉 Follow Maria for visuals that teach and insights on enterpreneurship

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Most companies miss their best people.
They focus on the loud stars, the ones with shiny résumés and obvious wins.

Meanwhile, the real gems sit unnoticed.

💡 The quiet developer who sees patterns others miss.
💡 The teammate whose questions make everyone pause.
💡 The one improving quietly while others plateau.

This blindness costs more than you think.

High-potential people leave because no one recognises what they have,
and you end up hiring again to rebuild what you already lost.

Everyone says Mozart was born gifted.
But Dr. Anders Ericsson’s research on deliberate practice tells a different story.
Mozart’s father began training him intensely at age 3.
By 6, he had already logged thousands of structured hours.

The Polgar sisters show the same truth.
Their father designed a system to develop talent through consistency and focus.
All three became world-class chess players.

👉 Talent is not magic.
It is natural ability plus deliberate practice over time.

So how do you spot and grow the hidden talent already inside your team?

Three signals from talent-development science:
1️⃣ Watch learning velocity, not performance.
• Who adapts fastest to new challenges?
• Who improves most between feedback sessions?

2️⃣ Design deliberate practice.
• Create stretch challenges slightly above current ability.
• Give immediate, specific feedback.
• Focus on weaknesses as much as strengths.

3️⃣ Track effort over time.
• Notice who persists when things get tough.
• See who seeks harder problems on purpose.
• Watch for steady upward progress, not just big wins.

✨ The talent you need might already be sitting three desks away.
Save this if you want to build a stronger and smarter team this year.

🔗 Want to turn your ideas into clear, visual frameworks?
Join 8 000+ creators who get mine each week 👇
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Most founders sell before testing what people want.
Why? Because they fell in love with their product before understanding the problem.

Here's what's really happening: 
while you're perfecting features nobody asked for, your potential customers are struggling with problems they'd gladly pay to solve.

Because people don't buy products. 
They buy solutions to their problems.

And they only buy from people they trust.
And trust is built over time, by consistently showing up that you deliver.

That course creator making 6-figures? They spent a year building their audience before selling anything.

This is where the romantic idea of entrepreneurship crashes into reality. Social media shows you the entrepreneur working from the beach, 6 figure deals between breakfast and lunch. 
Even your LinkedIn feed is full of "overnight successes" (that took in reality years to build.) 

Here's what most people think entrepreneurship looks like:

❌ Have a revolutionary idea
❌ Are always confident
❌ Success happens overnight
❌ Are natural risk-takers

And here's what successful entrepreneurs actually do:

✅ Focus on the solution before they focus on the product
✅ They test and iterate their product or service until it works
✅ They build routines and systems,
✅ Serve before they sell
✅ They calculate risks carefully

The cost of these misconceptions? 
Insecurity, giving up too early success takes longer to appear.

This is what happened to me in my fisrt business until I understaood that I needed to talk to my audience and understand their problmes first.

The entrepreneurial mindset isn't about having the perfect idea.
It's about seeing problems as opportunities.

If you are thinking about b ecoming an entrepreneur here are 3 stept how you can start thinking like one:

1️⃣ Problem Hunt
→ Ask 5 potential customers about what frustrations they experience
→ Ask yourself how you can help them solving that frustrations.

2️⃣ Test Before You Invest
→ Talk to 10 people about your idea
→ Create a beta version and get feedback before building anything big

3️⃣ Start Small, Start Now
→ Focus on one small problem you can solve
→ Launch imperfect, get testimonials and improve as you go

Most successful businesses started as side projects solving boring problems.
The magic isn't in the idea. It's in the execution.

Identify one problem your audience has. How could you help them solve that problem?

👉 Follow Maria for visuals that teach and insights on enterpreneurship.

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For months, Victoria kept seeing sketchnotes on LinkedIn and thought, "One day I'll try that."
She never expected that "one day" would change how she works and creates.

Take a look at the image for her before and after results.

Victoria Roessel, a former pharma professional who now helps women build their 
personal brands and path to independence, had always loved drawing and 
painting, but never used that creativity in her professional life.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗲?
❌  She wanted to make her ideas more transparent and more engaging 
through visuals
❌  She didn't know where to start or how to turn creativity into a valuable 
skill
❌  She kept waiting for "the right time" to begin
 
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀?
✅ She now creates complete sketchnotes from idea to result
✅ She plans to use them in her LinkedIn posts and newsletter to make 
Her content stands out

❓ 𝗦𝗼, 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗱?
➡️ Victoria joined my free 3-day workshop, which sparked her motivation 
to start. And enrolled in my course "Drawing Made Easy" and she:
➡️ followed a clear 6-week structure from basics to full sketchnotes
➡️ built confidence through feedback and supportive live sessions
➡️ learned to trust her creativity and enjoy the process again

In her own words:
"The course gave me a warm and encouraging space that helped me believe in my creativity and use it with confidence."

❓Want the same results?
Start with the free sketchnote guide here: https://lnkd.in/e-BEfb3V.

👉 Join the newsletter for weekly creative thinking tips: https://lnkd.in/eirrd8xT

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From "I can't draw" 5 weeks ago,
to today: posting her hand-made visuals on LinkedIn

Just look at the image for Erika´s results.
Erika is a Behavioral Corporate Strategist who has long wanted to design 
visuals. 

➡️  The real struggle?
       ❌  She did not believe she could do it.
       ❌ Was unhappy with stock and A. I. generated images that
             everybody had.
       ❌  She tried on her own, got stuck, and stopped.
       ❌  No visuals. No confidence. 
       ❌  Unengaged customers and boring presentations.

➡️  5 weeks later: the results
      ✅  She shares her hand-drawn visuals on LinkedIn
      ✅  She uses them in her presentations
      ✅  Her visuals spark engaged conversations 
      ✅  She knows she can draw anything
      ✅  And they look like her (not like A.I. generic images)

❓ So, what changed?
     👉 She joined my proven, step-by-step system, "Drawing Made Easy."
     👉 I coached her to convert her own content into visuals.
     👉 She developed her own style and visual brand.
     👉 She practiced from day one and received feedback.
     👉 And she applied it to her real work; really fast.

❓Want the same results?
PM me or book a free discovery call here: https://lnkd.in/eFg3HCVZ

I spent 20 years in corporate life.
At least three of those years were spent knowing I wanted out.

When the time finally came to leave, I expected to feel free.
Instead, I froze.
My upper back locked up for weeks from the stress.

In German, we say:

"Die Angst stand mir im Nacken."
(Fear was breathing down my neck.)

I took the first step anyway.
Not because I felt ready or brave,
But because regret had already started knocking.

That was seven years ago.
I've never looked back,
But I do wish I had done it sooner.

If you're caught in the loop of thinking, planning, and waiting,
You don't need more time.
You need to decide.

These three shifts helped me move from "someday" to "now":

1️⃣ Detach from clarity.
→   You will never have complete certainty until you start moving.

2️⃣ Begin with what you love.
→   For me, visual thinking became the thread I followed, and it grew into a business.

3️⃣ Expect to adapt.
→   You won't have everything figured out, but you'll learn as you go, and it gets easier.

I now work longer hours than I ever did before,
But I feel different.
Every project matters.
Every client feels aligned.
And for the first time, fulfilment and income finally move in the same direction.

Freedom isn't just working for yourself.
It's doing work that feels like you and being paid accordingly.

What's the step you've been delaying that your future self will thank you for?

🔗 Want to turn your ideas into clear, visual frameworks?
Join more than 8,000 creators who get mine each week 👇
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An illustration of a hand-lettered quote on a wall: ‘Future regret has the highest interest rate. Don’t wait too long to start.’ Next to the quote is a cracked flowerpot with bright pink flowers, casting a long shadow in the sun. The visual suggests beauty in imperfection and the cost of waiting.

Your phone consumes 4 hours of your time every single day on average.
And meeting time? exploded 192% since 2020.

Yet I am discussing the wrong issue.
It's not about managing time.
It's about managing attention.

I used to think I had a time management problem.
Color-coded calendars, productivity apps, time-blocking systems.
But I was still scattered, reactive, and constantly behind.
The real issue? My attention was fragmented across a dozen different 
priorities.

Here are the five reasons we procrastinate:

1️⃣ Perfectionism
→ We delay starting because it won't be "perfect"
→ Your brain prefers the safety of planning over the risk of doing

2️⃣ Overwhelm 
→ Too many options create decision paralysis
→ The brain literally shuts down when facing complex choices

3️⃣ Fear of Judgment
→ We avoid tasks that might expose our weaknesses  
→ Social anxiety triggers our primitive fight-or-flight response

4️⃣ Instant Gratification
→ Social media delivers immediate dopamine hits
→ Important work offers delayed (but much bigger) rewards

5️⃣ Energy Mismatch
→ Tackling challenging tasks when we're mentally drained
→ Fighting against our natural energy rhythms

How your brain sabotages you:

When we avoid important tasks, stress hormones flood our system. 
We instinctively seek comfort activities (hello, endless scrolling). 
The more we avoid, the more anxious we become. 
It's a self-feeding cycle.

What actually moved the needle for me:

→ Energy mapping: 
    I tracked focus vs. drain patterns for 2 weeks
→ 2-minute rule: 
    Under 2 minutes? Do it immediately, no exceptions
→ Phone in kitchen drawer: 
    Physical distance beats willpower 100% of the time
→ Single-task commitment: 
    One priority on my desk, everything else hidden

Professional techniques that deliver results:
→ Pomodoro Technique: 
    25 minutes focused work + 5-minute break
→ Time Blocking: 
    Treat your priorities like non-negotiable client meetings  
→ Eisenhower Matrix: 
    Sort every task by urgent vs. important
→ Energy-first scheduling: 
    Match your most challenging work to your peak energy hours

The shift from time management to attention management 
changed everything.
Time is finite. Attention is trainable.

❓What's your biggest attention thief during work hours? Share in the 
comments.

👉 Join the newsletter for weekly creative thinking tips: https://lnkd.in/eirrd8xT

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She thought she already knew everything about sketchnotes and flipcharts.
But one creative experiment changed how she works and how her humor and personality come to life on paper.

Annika is a coach and trainer who wanted to bring more creativity and professionalism into her work.
She was already using sketchnotes but felt they looked too basic and didn’t reflect the quality of her content.

👉 The problem?
❌ Her visuals looked simple and lacked a professional touch
❌ She wanted to use creativity more strategically in her business
❌ She wasn’t sure how to combine digital tools, AI, and personal branding

👉 The results?
✅ Creates polished visuals that reflect her expertise and humor
✅ Uses sketchnotes to strengthen her brand and engage clients
✅ Gained confidence in Procreate and digital drawing
✅ Expanded her creativity by integrating AI tools

👉 So, what changed?
🚩 She learned to combine creativity, visibility, and confidence in her work
🚩 Weekly inspiration and structured feedback supported her growth
🚩 Practical AI input sparked new ideas and helped her refine her style
🚩 Her visuals now show both her expertise and her humor

In her own words:

“I’m so inspired now and practicing every day.”

Do you want the same results?
👉 Get the free 20-page Sketchnote Starter Guide (it gives you everything you need to get started as a beginner):
https://lnkd.in/e-BEfb3V

Many leaders think feedback is a one-way conversation.
They deliver. Employees pasively receive.

The problem? 
This approach kills trust faster than it builds performance.
Real feedback isn't a performance review.
It's a bridge between where someone is and where they could be.

The best leaders know this secret:
Feedback flows both ways. Always.

Here are 3 ways to turn feedback from fear into fuel:

✅ Create safety before you create change
→ "I'm here to help you grow, not judge you"
→ Start with what's working before what's not
→ Make it clear: mistakes are stepping stones, not roadblocks

✅ Ask questions before you give answers
→ "What's your take on how that went?"
→ "Where do you see room for improvement?"
→ "What support would make the biggest difference?"

✅ Focus on actions, not identities
→ Instead of: "You're disorganized"
→ Try: "The report missed three key deadlines"
→ Be specific. Be kind. Be actionable.

The magic happens in the space between speaking and listening.
When feedback becomes conversation.
When employees feel heard, not just corrected.
Your team doesn't need perfect leaders.
They need leaders brave enough to have honest conversations.

❓ What feedback strategy has worked well for you? Share below!

👉 Follow Maria for visuals that teach and insights on leadership

👉 Join the newsletter for weekly creative thinking tips: https://lnkd.in/eirrd8xT

👉 Found this helpful? Share it with other leaders.

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