Shoaib Ahmed

In 2023 I'm banning myself from saying these things:

“No worries at all“ - whenever I am worried.
“Does that make sense?“ - when I know it does.
“I think that...“ - when I'm confident in my idea.
“Sorry to bother you“ - when I'm doing my job.
“Yep, sure I can“ - when I know I can't.

Conviction and confidence in how you communicate make a massive difference in how you are perceived by others.

Don't undermine yourself.

My best friend is my co-founder.

And it's unhinged how unfiltered we are.

Actual things we've WhatsApped:

"Stfu and listen to me."
"Oiiii, reply to me now"
"This is a dumb idea"
"you're such a c***"
"can u not spell???"
"cba today, u do it"
"go away, I'm in the gym."

I love it.

We're super honest with each other and neither of us hold back in sharing our thoughts.

So we make progress so much faster!!!

No tip-toeing around things.

Now and again, we say nice things too...

"u literally are my idol"
"i love you (but not in that way)"
"we are so fucking good!"
"I'd die without you"
"will you walk me down the aisle?"
"can you vet my date tonight?"
"i'm having withdrawal symptoms"

Tbh, I think more work environments should embrace our approach and cut out all the fluff...

What do you think? 😅

PS. I'll let you decipher who said what...

My mental health is sharp AF right now.

And no, it's not because I meditate on a rock at sunset whilst aligning my chakras.

I'm actually pretty boring.

It's the mundane things I do every day that have had the most positive impact.

Here are 3 of them:


1. I have an evening routine.

Most of us centre our lives around work.

We plan our commute.
We plan our workday.
We plan our dinner.

But how often do you have specific things to do / activities planned during 5-9pm on a weekday?

I'm guessing hardly ever.

If you don’t give your evenings direction, they become a dumping ground for:

→ Couch
→ Netflix
→ Snacks
→ Doomscrolling.
→ Avoidance.

Then 5-9 becomes a blurry void of “I’ll just see how I feel.”

Since I started treating 5pm like a second chapter of the day, I'm achieving so much more.

(And I have more fun each day!)

- Lifting weights 4–5x a week
- House DIY (currently painting room 3 lol)
- Planned dinner experiences with friends
- Concerts, cinema trips, comedy shows

This week's evening project?

Learn how to reupholster a bedframe.

(I've been seriously getting into interior design masters and it's taking over my entire life haha).

When your evenings are intentional, your mind rests because it’s fulfilled.

Not because it crashed.


2. I get 15,000 steps per day.

This isn't about the steps.

It's just an entry point to do another 5 things (that are relatively tiny in isolation but stack up and have a compounding effect).

- Getting your vit D (time in the sun)
- Cutting screen time by getting outdoors
- Social connection (I call friends as I walk)
- Looking at trees n shit (good dopamine)

Just like my steps I track calories, weight, sleep etc. I have a Notion board and log numbers (my Fitbit helps).

You might think:

"Shoaib, that's a bit extreme."

I don't think so.

I'm ADHD and lose interest fast. So seeing the tangible improvements to my health (precise numbers) gives me the incentive to keep on working on it.

If you don't track your goals, you're more likely to lie.

Your memory is biased as hell.

“I walked loads” ... Reality = you did 2k steps all day

Don't give yourself room for excuses.

What gets measured gets improved.



3. I stopped suffocating my brain

Our brains have limited processing power.

The more garbage you feed them, the less they're able to function.

So cut out stuff like:

Celebrity gossip that has no impact on my life
Notifications that yank your attention
Mind-numbing social media videos
Clickbait misleading headlines
Depressing news

We carry all that in our pockets.

It's baggage you can let go of.

Even watching 'productivity videos' can overwhelm you and steal attention from ACTUALLY being productive.

- Speaking to your mates
- Doing that important task
- Indulging in hobbies
- Spending time with a partner

You can be physically present but mentally elsewhere.

(This is a danger zone).

You lose your ability to focus and get important shit done.


P.S. What helps your mental health?

Someone DM’d me last week: “Are you actually happy or is it just for LinkedIn?”

Fair question.

(I admire the audacity).

If you’d asked me 3 years ago,

I would’ve said:

"Hun, I sleep 4-5 hours a night, I live off takeaways, I have 3-4 energy drinks a day, I say yes to every client because I’m terrified they’ll all leave, I want to travel but I'm 'too busy' to, I don't have any hobbies outside of work and each day I get fatter, more anxious and more lonely."

(But hey, I was getting richer lol).

Honestly?

For a while, I liked the chaos.

There’s a strange dopamine hit in building something from scratch - especially when you’re au-ADHD and addicted to momentum.

But happiness?

That came in short bursts.

Then vanished.

But I kept telling myself: “It’ll be worth it one day.”

2025 has been my “One day.”

For years, I’ve been intentionally (re)designing:

My business model
My environment
My social circle
My mindset
My lifestyle
My health
My habits

Not to feel happy 24/7.

(That’s unrealistic).

But to build a life that made it easier to feel happy INSIDE, regardless of what is going on around me.

(Life will always throw you curveballs).

But you CAN enhance your capacity for happiness by defining success on your terms and then doing the deep work you need to get closer to it.

→ You visualise the future you actually want
→ You build a proper system that gets you there
→ You create microhabits that move you forward
→ You identify and remove the things that drain you
→ You work on your skills, confidence and self-trust

I'm happy now because:

• I can pay for the small comforts/conveniences in life and not have to deny myself little joys like a coffee out or a nice hotel. I defeated my limiting beliefs.

• I say “yes” when friends plan a spontaneous trip - without checking my bank app or client deadlines or thinking how 'far behind' I am with work.

• I'm building something meaningful without sacrificing sleep, relationships, or my health to do it. And I'm enjoying the process of self-improvement.

___________

That’s what Life By Design is all about - the 5-week live virtual programme we’re running inside cnnctd.

A one-off programme.
Running 13th Nov- 11th Dec.

You won’t just “learn concepts” - you’ll actively BUILD your new reality over 5 weeks.

Alongside me, Karla McNeilage and our community of like-minded founders, creators and dreamers!

This programme will help you:

 - Define what your version of success actually looks like
 - Redesign your biz to fuel your lifestyle (not swallow it)
 - Build systems, habits & accountability to make it real

You can expect:

🎁 Live structured masterclasses
🎁 Step-by-step tutorials to follow
🎁 Practical exercises to complete
🎁 A community for accountability
🎁 A hub of helpful resources & PDFs

If you're tired of hoping next year will be ‘the year things click’ - make sure it ACTUALLY is.

Our Early Bird tickets are SOLD OUT.

But you can still grab 25% off: www.cnnctd.co.uk

Last year, I got invited to join a sketchy scheme by a group of LinkedIn people I really admired.

They offered me access to hundreds of extra likes/comments on my LinkedIn posts and access to exclusive communities (aka engagement pods).

It was a pay-to-play system.

But they offered it to me for free.

Turns out, a bunch of people I really admired and were friends with, are part of it.

Some actually founded it.

I've watched those people grow their following at a record rate, get high engagement on posts and then sell out courses teaching other people to do the same.

(But without being honest about how).

When I declined their offer, those people stopped engaging with me and my content.

Practically overnight.

It was like I'd been blacklisted.

But I'm cool with that.

I don't judge these people for their choices.

But I personally chose not to go down that route.

Because I'm happy with where I am.

I chase growth on my own terms and if I get to the top, it'll be because I do good, honest work.

Writing this to remind people...

Don't compare yourself to others and think:

"I'm not doing enough."
"X person is growing faster than me:"
"What am I doing wrong?"

The fact is, other people might (and probably are) lying about how they went from A to B.

You don't need to compete with others.

Keep on doing you.


P.S. No, I won't be naming and shaming. If you want a recommendation, you can always DM me and ask for one. Happy to forward you to those who are doing great work in this space and upholding high standards. But if you're looking for drama, you won't find it here ❤️

For the last 10 years, I've been annoying all my friends by telling them that my 27th year will be my best yet.

I turn 27 in 4 months.

Here's how I'm levelling up.
(in life, career, finances, health, skills, etc).

1/ I'm auditing my life across 8 key areas - using structured journal prompts to identify gaps in where I am vs where I want to be. (Self-awareness is the first step).

2/ I'm crafting a 2026 vision board themed around my goals (so I can physically see the life I want to create - from the coffee I drink, to the t-shirt I wear, to the stages I will speak on, to the width of my bicep).

3/ I'm designing my daily routine (mindful of my autism and ADHD) so that I have structure and predictability. I know where/how I work best, so I'm building systems to allow me to do that - on repeat.

4/ I'm subtracting my to-do lists to focus on key areas (one at a time) rather than trying to do it all at once. This way I can give 1-2 things all my attention, progress fast and build momentum to tackle the next.

5/ I'm investing big in things that will help. My personal trainer, my therapist, my business, my skillset. I know I can't do this alone, so I'm not afraid of investing in my future self (otherwise you just stay stuck).

6/ I'm building accountability and getting cnnctd. with like-minded people so we can grow together. Daily habit trackers and weekly check-ins help keep me on track too.

7/ I'm scheduling time outside of work and literally putting 'fun' into my diary every week. Bucket list holidays, weekend hikes, dinner with mates, sporting classes (because I want to intentionally enjoy the richness of life).

This is just a snippet.

Currently, I'm in the best place I've ever been.

Mentally, financially, health-wise, etc.

If you want support, strategies, resources, frameworks and live masterclasses to help YOU with all the above...

So you can level tf up too!!!

You'll love what Karla and I have built inside cnnctd.

Life By Design is a live 5-week programme for founders, freelancers and creators who want to have an epic 2026 and beyond!!!

📆 Thurs 13th Nov -11th Dec

You'll unlock all of this:

🎁 5x live one-hour group coaching masterclasses
🎁 Prompts, resources & step-by-step tutorials
🎁 Practical exercises to do between sessions
🎁 LinkedIn personal branding resources
🎁 Private accountability community

+ so much more!

Investment: £749 (currently 25% OFF)

Secure your spot: https://www.cnnctd.co.uk/

This isn’t “new year, new me.”

It’s new year, NEXT FUCKING LEVEL!!!

Who's in? 👀

I was a productivity hack junkie.

Until I sent myself off to rehab and built a non-negotiable daily routine to help me find my "flow state".

I don't mean some wishy-washy crystal-fingering nonsense about unlocking your secret power.

I mean simple, practical habits.

That ANYONE can implement into their daily routine to:

- Prioritise the most urgent, important tasks
- Get crystal clear on their goals / to-do's
- Create systems to cull procrastination
- Build microhabits that conserve energy
- Work with their neurodivergence

After one too many 1am finishes, I scrapped my old routine and turned my life into a lab experiment.


1/ I picked 3 MITs a day.

Not 13. Not 30. Just 3 “Most Important Tasks.” If it didn’t drive income, growth, or joy, it didn’t make the cut. I stopped glorifying “busy” and simplified my day.

2/ I used the 30-second rule.

If a task takes less than 30 seconds, I do it right away. Reply. File. Schedule. Move on. No more tiny tasks snowballing into a massive admin-heavy, to-do list.

3/ I used the 80/20 rule + Eisenhower Matrix.

20% of actions = 80% of results. Urgent & important? Do it. Important but not urgent? Schedule it. Urgent but not important? Delegate it. Neither? Delete it.

4/ I time-blocked my day into 90-minute sprints.

Your performance declines after 90 mins. So I work in short sprints with 10 min breaks to grab a coffee, walk, stretch. The “reset” realigns me for the next focus block.

5/ I removed the BS.

Notifications = off. I deleted scrolling apps from my phone (TikTok, IG, YouTube). I updated my email signature to set expectations, so I choose when and how to reply.


Once I rebuilt my workday, my productivity soared (hit goals, made more money, had more free time, etc).

Here’s what my routine looks like:

🌤 5:30–10am: Deep work at a bright, airy café (no phone, no small talk). I have a double espresso, intermittent fast and don't consume any sugar (to avoid energy dips).

🍳 10–11am: Breakfast (acai or granola bowl) + sunlight (get outside for vitamin D) + movement (at least 2-3k steps). Usually down a peppermint tea too.

💻 11–1pm: Coaching/client calls taken at a standing desk. I stack meetings in one block, so I have the rest of my day for deep work (stops scattered brain syndrome).

☕️ 1–3:30pm: Final deep-work block at a new café (or a different area of the house) change of scene brings new energy. I finish up with a round of admin/email replies.

3:30-4pm: Set my MITs for the next day, wrap up loose ends and ensure everything for tomorrow is prepared.

🕓 4pm: Laptop shut. Time for Gym, life, friends!


Being productive is about intentionality.

Your routine is your operating system. If it’s buggy, everything lags - creativity, focus, relationships, business, health, etc.

In cnnctd.'s 5-Week Life By Design Programme, we help you build your optimal routine - on YOUR terms! (With step-by-step support and practical exercises).

Grab an EARLY BIRD SPACE: https://www.cnnctd.co.uk/

I'm 26, ADHD, autistic, currently going through therapy and somehow I'm managing to run two successful businesses, travel each month and love life.

It’s not easy.

Some days, I’m unstoppable. Other days (and like everyone!) I wake up, stare at my laptop and feel paralysed by what to do next.

I’m up against:

→ A brain that makes “simple” things hard
→ Being buried under conflicting advice
→ Access to 24/7 negative news cycles
→ Imposter syndrome sneaking in
→ The guilt of not doing enough

People have asked me: “How do you manage it all?”

And my answer: community.

The people who:

- Bring perspective when your brain can’t find it.
- Are going through what you’re going through.
- Hold you accountable to your big goals.
- Genuinely want to see you win.

I didn't have loads of these people IRL.

So I found them online!

One of those people is my co-founder, Karla McNeilage.

We met twice in 2023.
(At random biz events!)

The third time?

We booked a 4-hour flight and a 7-night Airbnb together - overlooking the Atlantic in sunny Gran Canaria.

Every day, we’d:

☀️ Walk at sunrise and sunset, talking about life, goals and fears. We did a life audit (across 8 categories).

💻 Work on our businesses during the day, building systems, launching offers and securing clients.

📖 Lay on the beach reading self-help books, swapping lessons and life stories with each other.

🧠 Stay up till 1am journalling, goal-setting, and building vision boards for our dream lives.

When we got back to the UK, we kept it going.

Every Sunday: a 1-hour accountability call.

In the first 2 weeks, I’d:

- Hired a PT.
- Started yoga.
- Started investing.
- Got a financial advisor.
- Cut my screen time in half.
- Rebuilt my business systems.
- Slept an hour more each night.

All things that had been on my list for years.

But suddenly… I was doing them.

Why? Someone was holding me accountable and I was excited to do all these things WITH someone else!

We’re not supposed to build alone.

"Monk mode" is great for a while. But stay in it too long and you'll just exist inside your own echo chamber.

So much of entrepreneurship is isolating.

Especially if you:

- Work remotely.
- Live outside big cities.
- Don’t have a “real life” circle that gets it.

I used to think I was just bad at self-discipline or that I never had enough time to do achieve my goals.

That wasn't true.

I just hadn't designed my environment properly.

The people in it.
The way I worked.
The routines I had.
The goals I was setting.
The habits I was developing.

Once I fixed all that.

Everything changed. I literally did a mindset 180°, restructured my entire business and made the life I used to dream about a reality - one intentional step at a time!

Now Karla and I are building something (together) for OTHER PEOPLE to go through this transformation too!

Eeeeek... (it's so damn exciting!!!!)

The cnnctd. 5 Week "Life By Design" Programme goes live in 4 weeks!

Grab your ticket: https://www.cnnctd.co.uk/

The best thing I ever did as a 26-year-old ADHD, autistic, 2nd-gen immigrant who grew up not knowing a single business owner? (Trust me, this works...)

I STOPPED saying:

→ "I'll figure that out myself."

Just because you don't look or feel like people around you, it doesn't mean you have to struggle in isolation.

There's no trophy for doing it alone.

In my first year of biz, I DIY-ed everything:

“I’ll build my own website for free.”
“I’ll learn how to be a speaker on TikTok.”
“I’ll watch productivity hacks on YouTube.”
“I don’t need a PT, I can Google workouts.”

(for a while this works).

But do it for too long and it self-sabotages you.

Here's what eventually happened:

Website: f*cked the funnel (missed 100s of leads)
Speaking: ended up speaking for free for 2 years 
Productivity: watched tons of videos, did nothing
Gym: went once a week (had a takeaway after)

People often say:

“But I could just learn all this online for free.”

(I was 'people').

Now when I hear others say this, I reply...

"Go ahead, Cassandra. Knock yourself out."

But let me ask you this:

If information alone was enough, wouldn’t you ALREADY be where you want to be?

Huh? 👀

The biggest improvements (in my life and biz) came AFTER I made an actual investment.

• I paid for a 12-month PT upfront → I actually trained consistently and got stronger (because I had accountability and skin in the game).

• I invested in therapy → I understood my ADHD/autistic brain, stopped shaming myself and started using my hyperfocus traits to optimise output.

• I joined a 12-week speaker programme → within months, I was booked on conference stages (literally putting the pictures below as evidence).

Every time I paid for expert support...

I ACHIEVED much more!

Not because I couldn’t learn it myself.

But because you can’t YouTube:

- Clearing mental clutter
- Taking that first step
- Clarity on direction
- Accountability
- Momentum

The internet gives you content.

But that's not enough.

How often have you said things like:

"I'd love to do that... one day"
"I'll do [insert thing] when I have time."
"For now, I'll figure it out myself."

Did you do it? How long did it take?

(Be honest with yourself).

_____


That’s why Karla McNeilage and I built "Life By Design" - a 5-week live programme for founders, freelancers & creators who are ready to level up.

You'll get:

→ Tools + systems
→ Strategy + frameworks
→ Support + accountability
→ Live structured masterclasses

We’ve turned years of trial & error into a fast-track journey - so you stop watching other people build their dream life and start building your own.

ON YOUR TERMS!

What would change if you committed 5 weeks with full intention, instead of losing another 5 months to indecision?

Our EARLY BIRD OFFER is sold out.

But we're still offering 25% off for people who move fast.

LIMITED SPOTS LEFT.

Secure your spot → www.cnnctd.co.uk

A fun 'day in the life' of a 26 year solopreneur & B2B influencer who flew out (literally last night) to Amsterdam for today's Semrush Spotlight 2025!

Here’s how the morning went 👇

6:00am: alarm goes off. Literally JUMP outta bed.
6:30am: get dressed (fit check ="chic librarian”).
7:00am: demolish a Greek yoghurt granola bowl.
7:30am: sip coffee slowly, savouring every sip
8:00am: walk by the river to zen my ADHD brain
8:30am: arrive + claim my All Access badge

Currently sat in a massive crowd, coffee in hand, waiting for the first keynote to start.

There are SO MANY sessions to pick from.

Like can I pls copy-and-paste myself...
So I can attend them all!? 😂

Here’s what I'm most excited fro:

🎤 9:40am – “Creative Risk to Cultural Resonance”

With Zaria Parvez (ex-Duolingo) - my social media hero. Expecting lots of insight into disruptive brand marketing!

🎤 10:05am - “Boring Products, Fun Ads”

With Shlomo Genchin. AKA: how to make B2B sexy. Been following this guy for ages - fully planning to steal his best ideas for my clients.

🎤 10:40am - “The New era of AI-Powered Marketing"

With Elena Verna. As a solopreneur, I need all the helpful AI strategies I can get (especially now I've just co-founded a 2nd biz). LOTS of marketing to do!!

Also...

I've just found out there’s UNLIMITED COFFEE somewhere in this venue.

So if anyone needs me…

Follow the smell of coffee 👀

A few LinkedIn legends are here too - Oana Leonte, Jo Bird ✨, Beatrice Vladut all your sessions are SOLD OUT 😭 but I will try to sneak in.

And if I miss you, I'll see you at the afterpartayyyy 🥳

If you’re here at Semrush spotlight...

Come say hi! 👋🏾👋🏾

Would love to chinwag, swap ideas, and of course... grab a few obligatory “LinkedIn content” photos!

#SemrushSpotlight #SpotlightConf

Today I’m flying to Amsterdam! 🎤🇳🇱

Can't wait to attend Semrush Spotlight 2025 - a full-day marketing conference with 170+ sessions!

Notebook and pen? Packed.
Coffee? In hand (obviously).
Brain? Fired the hell up.

Also... erm hello???

It'll be my first time in Amsterdam, so I'll need all your best recommendations (where's best for acai???)

After leading the build and scale of 175+ personal brands (for Founders, CEOs and Coaches)...

AND building tons of:

→ Websites
→ Lead magnets
→ Mailing lists
→ Social selling funnels
→ Landing pages

I thought to myself:

“It’s never a bad idea to teach an old dog new tricks.”

(I am the old dog).

Aside from all the workshops, keynotes and mastermind sessions I’ll be fighting for a seat at…

I’m SO excited to meet some of you in person!

This trip was super last-minute.

I got the B2B influencer invite just a few days ago!

Only checked in about 3 minutes ago...

And I'm flying in just a few hours!

No idea who else will be there…

But I know it'll be full of marketing giants.

If you’re attending, let me know!

Particularly intrigued by the launch of Semrush's new AI visibility toolkit (the big reveal is tmmrw!! 👀)

It's crazy because...

Just 12 months ago, I was so 'stuck' in my own biz that I wouldn't have time for a last-min trip like this.

But I'm so grateful I get to embrace this now.

The perks of a freedom-based business model 🌍

It's good to get out of your bubble and dip your toe into the wider business world.

I'm readehhhh to be inspired.

It all kicks off tomorrow (ticket link in comments).

P.S. I’ve got my extra legroom booked and colouring book + felt tip pens ready for the flight (ADHD coping kit).

#SemrushSpotlight #SpotlightConf

If I wanted to be my happiest, hottest and most successful self in 2026 - here’s what I’d do:

1/ Audit my life across 8 key areas - using structured prompts to identify gaps in success / progress.

2/ Create a 2026 vision board - themed around my goals so I see my “why” every single day.

3/ Design a daily routine for my ADHD brain, energy and lifestyle - so I know when, where, and how I work best.

4/ Plan my days hour-by-hour using systems to avoid procrastination, streamline tasks and hit targets.

5/ Hone habits that make success automatic - from goal-tracking dashboards to weekly reflection routines.

6/ Integrate freedom into my business - through smarter offer design, clearer boundaries and time-saving.

7/ Optimise my personal brand - refine my positioning, sharpen my messaging and share quality content.

8/ Have accountability partners - a community that checks in to ensure everyone is committed to their goals.

That's what you get inside cnnctd.

Life By Design is a 5-week live virtual programme built for founders, freelancers and creators who want to have an epic 2026 and beyond!!!

(Yup, we do all the above).

📍 Where: Live on Zoom (all sessions recorded)
📆 When: Starts Thursday 13th November
⏰ Time: 10–11am UK time

Investment: £499 (EARLY BIRD OFFER)

Secure your spot: https://www.cnnctd.co.uk/

Okay.... but what do I ACTUALLY get?

🎁 5x live one hour group coaching masterclasses
🎁 Prompts, resources & step-by-step tutorials
🎁 Practical exercises to do between sessions
🎁 LinkedIn personal branding resources
🎁 Private accountability community

You’ll finish this programme with:

- A 2026 action plan that excites you
- Goals & confidence to achieve them
- Systems that save you time/energy
- A mindset (& habits) built for growth
- A stronger personal brand & biz offer
- Accountability that keeps you consistent

This isn’t “new year, new me.”
It’s new year, NEXT LEVEL!!!

Grab your spot: www.cnnctd.co.uk

(50% OFF early bird offer - limited time only!)

Karla McNeilage and I can't wait to welcome you to our epic founding community of BOLD ACTION TAKERS! 💚

Oct 2nd: Registered my new business.
Oct 20th: SELL OUT the early bird offer!!!

18 days.

That's what's possible when:

a) You stop sitting on your ideas
b) You take bold, fast action
c) You are held accountable

My cofounder Karla McNeilage and I took an idea we'd been sitting on for OVER 18 months...

And decided:

"If we don't do it now, we never will."

A snippet of our WhatsApp convo...

Me: "My gut is telling me TO DO THIS."
Karla: "Wait.. are you actually serious?
Me: "Why TF not? It's now or never"
Karla: "Facetime me right now!!!"

Within 24hrs, we had:

- Registered the company
- Mocked a logo & branding
- Set up business bank account

Then that same week..

We wrote LinkedIn posts saying we'd partnered up to LAUNCH something and it was coming soon.

3 days later?

We launched the company publicly.

(An idea we'd had for months).

cnnctd. is an events, community and coaching space for founders, coaches and creators who want to build lifestyle businesses on their own terms!

Our first programme is called Life By Design.
(skip to end for the juicy deets).

In the next 11 days we:

→ Hit 250 mailing list subscribers
→ Published 17 emails building hype
→ Shared 23 LI posts across accounts

It was an aggressive launch and marketing campaign - we worked our absolute freaking socks off.

- Conducting personalised outreach
- Developing customer onboarding
- Tracking data, clicks, open rates
- Enhancing our first programme
- Optimising landing page copy
- Integrating global payments
- Creating email automations

(All whilst running our individual businesses too).

The benefit of Karla being based in Bali and me here in the UK is that we can work almost 24/7.

When she sleeps, I build. (And vice versa)

We're constantly passing the baton of workload back and forth.

Have we worked RIDICULOUS HOURS EVERY DAY?

Yup.

That's sometimes what it takes.

We want our first offer to be PACKED WITH VALUE.

So we've grafted. Hard.

The result in 18 days?

We've SOLD all 10 Early Bird spots for our programme and have limited spots left at our DISCOUNTED rate.

Grab 25% off here: www.cnnctd.co.uk

______

What is LIFE BY DESIGN?

It's a 5-week live, virtual programme (unique blend of mindset, business and personal brand coaching).

📅 13th Nov - 11th Dec

You get:

🎁 5x live one-hour group coaching masterclasses
🎁 Prompts, resources & step-by-step tutorials
🎁 Practical exercises to do between sessions
🎁 LinkedIn personal branding resources
🎁 Private accountability community

We've created 12 PRACTICAL resources (on top of live masterclasses) so you can design your dream life and business - on your terms.

It's for people craving REAL transformation.

•⁠ To help you find clarity… and then execute on it
•⁠ To motivate you to work towards your potential
•⁠ To encourage you to leave your comfort zone
•⁠ To empower you to level up in every area
•⁠ To give you a community & support

We’ve spent 5+ YEARS learning this stuff.

You get it in 5 weeks.

I charge £750 per hour for personal brand coaching.
But for today - my hourly rate is £150. 🤯

Yep, you read that right.

Where + how?!?

Inside cnnctd.

Our 5-week live programme Life By Design is officially open and Session 3 is a full 60 minutes of personal brand coaching with me and the brill Karla McNeilage.

That’s two experts.
One power session.

Get everything we know about building brands that print opportunities (live on an expert-led training call).

Between us, our 250+ clients have:

- Hit 325M+ organic impressions
- Generated £11M+ in direct LinkedIn revenue
- Built authority in 27 countries, across 40+ industries

We’ve helped founders, execs and creators become LinkedIn Top Voices, land dream clients, and grow audiences they love.

And we’re packing all of it (every framework, every strategy, every insider tip) into that one live masterclass.

But you won’t just get that.

You’ll get:

 💡 5x live masterclasses (business, mindset + brand)
 📘 15+ plug-and-play resources
 🤝 A private accountability community
 🔥 Live Q&A and implementation support

All for £749.

(Which is literally the same as one hour of my private coaching.)

Except now?

You’re getting 5x the value, 2x the brains + a community to support you and keep you accountable.

We’re closing doors early next week.

All the info + deets below.

🎟️ Get your ticket: www.cnnctd.co.uk

3 things EVERY founder, marketer + creator needs to hear (based on what I'm witnessing at the Semrush Spotlight Conference today). My biggest takeaways 👇🏽


1. Fine details = big impact

I've overheard at least 15 people hyping up the tiny details all around the conference.

Take a bow Semrush team 👏🏽👏🏽

The drinks bar is called “Marketing Thirst Trap.” The burger buns have the Semrush logo grilled on. There's a real karaoke jukebox (playlist made by the speakers).

The place screams: made by marketers, for marketers. Everyone is taking pics, uploading them to social media, getting involved (= full SENSORY experience).

Most conferences are dull. This is the opposite. The attention to detail is unreal.

LESSON?

People don't just remember what you tell them. They remember the EXPERIENCE of how it was told, shared, received (and in this case, it's even in the experience of walking around the venue / biting into your burger).

Your competitors will overlook the tiny details.

Make sure you don't.


2/ Your product isn’t your moat. Your brand is.

In 2025, AI can vibecode your app, write your copy and create a rip-off version of you in a few hours.

So what’s left? How you make people feel.

Your TOV, your personality and your energy... that’s your differentiation. You can’t automate emotion.

Think in terms of "brand worlds."

What world are you creating? How is it promising something people can't get anywhere else? How much FOMO are you actually creating?

Zaria Parvez mentioned a keyword:

Sharability.

Is whatever you're selling - an idea, product or concept - something that has the capacity to travel widely?

How are you encouraging customers to be advocates and distribute what you're selling... on your behalf?

LESSON?

If your audience wouldn’t proudly wear your brand on a t-shirt (or in this case, get a temp tattoo of your logo on their skin (yes, Semrush are literally doing this)

Your positioning needs work.


3/ Great marketing = great storytelling.

Whatever you sell, you're selling to a human. (Not a company, organisation or brand). So...

Stop obsessing over features.
Start communicating feelings.

As Shlomo Genchin said today: “Don’t just sell the benefit. Sell the benefit of the benefit.”

The best brands don’t explain what they do, they make you feel what it’s like to have it. They take you on a journey so you can visualise that thing in your life.

LESSON?

Make the transformation irresistible.

Don't just show people where they are. Don't just tell them where they could go. Make them FEEL it. Make it something they cannot say no to.


My fave quote of the day?

“All advertising is unwanted. So if you’re going to crash the party - bring some champagne.”

I'm leaving this conference inspired to:

Provoke conversations.
Colour outside the lines.
Break my own brand rules.

Now, if you’ll excuse me...

I’ve got an afterparty to go to 🕺 🪩

#SemrushSpotlight #SpotlightConf

Want to build an impactful personal brand in 2025?

You need video content 🎬

In a wave of generic LinkedIn posts, poor copywriting and as more content beige floods newfeeds...

Video content helps you:

- Be more memorable
- Elevate your authority
- Keep audiences engaged
- Win trust from customers
- Humanise your messaging
- Strengthen your positioning
- Tell interesting stories visually

But I'll own up...

I've been avoiding it myself!

I have 22 hours of raw video footage (from podcasts and speaking gigs) saved in a desktop folder.

(YEP, 22 HOURS!!!!)

Up until now, I've said things like:

"I'll repurpose it soon."
"I'll get to sharing it at some point."
"I'll focus on video when I have more time."

The blocker?

I'm not a pro editor.

I have the ideas, the stories, the raw footage...

But I lack the time and skills to piece it all together.

That’s why I started using Descript.

It’s the first tool that makes editing enjoyable.

But more importantly? Super quick.

I can edit a full LinkedIn video in under 15 minutes, instead of spending hours pulling my hair out.

Their new AI Co-Editor, Underlord, is wild:

→ Adds captions, b-roll, and brand colours in seconds
→ Resizes for LinkedIn, Reels, or TikTok in one click
→ Auto-transcribes footage - edit video like a doc
→ Cleans up filler words and background noise
→ Finds your best moments automatically

I’m finally turning my raw footage into consistent, on-brand videos that will help elevate my brand.

The best bit?

Descript lets anyone produce polished, branded content without needing a video team or fancy tools.

Try it for yourself: https://lnkd.in/eCSVJuSV

#DescriptPartner

“You are the sum of your 5 closest people."

Nah, that's so wrong.

These days?

👉🏼 You are the sum of the 50 people you follow, subscribe to and let scream into your eyeballs every day.

👉🏼 You are the sum of the social media algorithms, accounts and content you consume daily.

👉🏼 You are the sum of the 50 different hacks, tips and strategies you just accept as gospel from gurus.

Plus, you're the sum of:

- Your online + offline environment
- Your daily habits
- Your to-do lists
- Your routine
- Your goals

Think about all the things dictating your life.
How you show up, behave, think...

Every single one can do 2 things.

1/ Set you on the right track
2/ Completely derail you

18 months ago, I had an epiphany.

My algorithm sucked.
My to-do list was too long.
My calendar was too packed.
My offers were a bit scattered.
My long-term plan was wishy-washy.

I was throwing sh*t at a wall - in all directions - and seeing what stuck (hoping something would).

That works for a while.

But eventually?

You create a mess.

It was only when I got intentional about my life and how I was living it, that I was able to:

- Cut out the noise of others
- Make faster progress on my goals
- Scale my income and wealth
- Have more time for my family/friends
- Build my confidence and self-trust
- Invest in my health & routine

Basically, I'm happier now than I've ever been on my 26 years of Earth and I have the time, location, financial freedom I used to dream of having.

Because I audited my life.

Because I built bulletproof habits.

Because I invested in my brand.

Because I visualised my future.

Because I got clear on my goals.

Because I had a plan to execute.

Because I built in accountability.

Because I had the right people.

Because I built stronger business sytems.

Because I curated an optimal environment.

Because I redefined success on my terms.

And that's why I started cnnctd.
(with my co-founder, Karla McNeilage)

Find out more: www.cnnctd.co.uk

Our mission?

To ensure you can go on this journey of TOTAL AWESOME transformation too.

"What is Life By Design?"

It's a 5-week LIVE programme to help you design a life that feels happier, richer and more fulfilling.

Date: Every Thursday (Nov 13th-11th Dec)
Time: 10-11am (UK time) - sessions are recorded
Where? Virtually on Zoom (+ private WhatsApp)

Expect a blend of life, mindset, business and personal brand coaching all jam-packed together.

🎁 5x live, 1-hour group masterclasses
🎁 Prompts, resources & step-by-step tutorials
🎁 Practical exercises to do between sessions
🎁 LinkedIn personal branding resources
🎁 Private accountability community

You’ll finish this programme with:

- A 2026 action plan that excites you
- Goals & confidence to achieve them
- Systems that save you time/energy
- A mindset (& habits) built for growth
- A stronger personal brand & biz offer
- Accountability that keeps you consistent

Grab your spot: www.cnnctd.co.uk

P.S. We're CLOSING EARLY BIRD pricing v.soon!

Just hit 60,000 followers on LinkedIn.

Had a record-breaking revenue quarter for my biz.

3 weeks ago, I launched my second business!

Happy dayyyyss 🕺


But...


It still took me 7 months to change a light bulb in my bedroom. (I've been using my phone torch).

I still haven't charged my Fitbit after it ran out of juice 5 weeks ago. (I do think about it every day tho).

I still haven't cleaned my muddy boots from a hike I did nearly 2 years ago. They're still in a (now very soggy) Tesco bag sitting on my balcony.


Welcome to ADHD founder life 🤣


PS. Thanks for the 60k. This community has changed my life and I'll be forever grateful for every one of you ❤️

The best thing I ever did?

Got over the guilt of investing in myself.

For years, every time I spent money on something that wasn’t a “necessity,” I’d feel sick.

Books. Courses. Coaching. Therapy. Gym.
Even upgrading my broken MacBook felt selfish.

Because I grew up thinking investment meant “saving for later.”

But that’s dumb.

Because if you’re not working on:

- Your systems
- Your mindset
- Your health
- Your brand
- Your skills

Your value depreciates every single day.

You stay stuck in the same cycles.
Repeating the same mistakes.
Making the same decisions.

Want to grow?

Well then, do the damn work.

Here’s what that looked like for me:

→ Paid for a 12-month PT package - full workout + nutrition plan. No excuses, no cancelling.

→ Pre-booked 14 therapy sessions - to understand my ADHD, autism and emotional triggers.

→ Joined a 12-week speaker programme - to level up my stage presence and knowledge of the media space.

→ Invested in quarterly video shoots - to elevate my LinkedIn content and communicate with impact.

→ Hired an email copywriter - to free up my time and scale my mailing list so I could focus on other areas.

I also invested in other things: nicer working environments, automation software, good coffee, monthly massages, travel experiences, plenty of books!

The moment I stopped seeing self-investment as a luxury and started treating it as essential...

My results went CRAZY!!!

I now earn more as a solopreneur than I did with a 4-person team and work 50% fewer hours.

I'm happier, healthier and more fulfilled in life.

Growth isn’t a reward for working hard.

You can work like a dog all your life and still not make any progress towards living your dream life.

Growth is the result of building intentionally.

And that’s exactly what Karla McNeilage and I created cnnctd. to help you do.

Life by Design is a 5-week live programme (13 Nov - 11 Dec) to help founders, freelancers and creators redesign their business + lifestyle from the ground up.

You’ll get:

- Five virtual group masterclasses
- Proven systems to build clarity + freedom
- A private WhatsApp group for accountability
- A like-minded community of ambitious builders
- Prompts, resources and tutorials to support you
- Expert personal brand training & PDF checklists

You’ll do the work with us, side-by-side and leave with tools, clarity, structure and strategies that last long after the 5 weeks are over.

Our EARLY BIRD offer is live for 48 hours only.

After that, the price jumps from £499 → £749.

🎟 Save £250 here → www.cnnctd.co.uk

I’ve failed most of the goals I set this year.
And I f*cking LOVE that!!!

On 26th December 2024, I sat down with 3 mates and a big tub of Quality Street and we set our 2025 goals.

I wrote out a huge list:

- Land a £10k speaking deal
- Film Season 3 of my podcast
- Go on a wildlife safari in Kenya
- Start boxing + streetdancing classes
- Book 10 company training gigs

(Just a few things that did NOT happen).

It felt exciting.

Until Feb…

Then it started to feel heavy.

I looked at the list and thought:
"Where will I find the time for all this?

It was weighing me down.

So I grabbed a thick black Sharpie.

And I crossed out half of it.

JUST. LIKE. THAT.

Why?

Because “a bit of energy” spread across 37 things = real progress on NONE of them.

You dilute resources.
You spread your time thinly.
You slow your execution speed.

So I played the subtraction game.

Cleared the list and removed all the "it would be nice to have/do X" things.

And DOUBLED DOWN on what was actually moving:

- My 1:1 LinkedIn Accelerator (waitlist piling up)
- Coaching & ghostwriting (demand hit all-time high)
- Digital products for my email list

My new rule?

Do fewer things, better.

Everything else?

Paused. (Not forever, just for now).

And the result?

SIGNIFICANT progress where it mattered.

Plus open calendar space to LIVE IN THE MOMENT too!

Stuck in that overwhelm stage?

A few tips...

1/ Do a "Stop/Keep/Double" Audit.

List your projects. Stop the 40% with weak ROI. Keep the 40% that maintain ops. Double the top 20% that create outsized results.

2/ Build a One “Win Lane.”

Pick one outcome per quarter (e.g., “fill Accelerator to X seats”). Then make sure your daily actions for that 'sprint' season lead to that.

3/ Write A Kill List.

Write 5 good things you’ll not do this quarter (pod season, new channel, side offer, etc.). Tape it above your desk. Follow the plan. Not the dopamine.

Want to go deeper with this???

Me and Karla have built a 5-week live programme to help you!

Life By Design is for those who are ready to stop running in circles + start building with INTENTION.

Here’s what we’ll do together 👇

Session 1: Get clarity - complete a guided life audit + design your dream business and lifestyle (on your terms). Includes journal prompts, visionboarding, and goal-setting resources.

Session 2: Build momentum - unlock psychology-backed tools to stop procrastinating and work with your neurotype. Learn how to curate an optimal environment, build discipline and hone healthy habits.

Session 3: Create opportunity - strengthen your personal brand to attract clients, leads and tangible revenue. Get PDF checklists and cheatsheets (as well as live content breakdowns).

Session 4: Integrate freedom - learn how to design routines, boundaries, and systems that protect your time + energy.

Session 5: Live Q&A - get accountability, support, and real-time feedback from the cnnctd. community.

We kick off on Nov 13th!!

Want in? → www.cnnctd.co.uk

Raise your hand if you’ve got the audacity.
Go on. Get ‘em ALL the way up. 🙋🏽🙋🏽

Whether you’re a solo founder, a creator or part of a global brand, remember this:

If people can’t see you, they can’t choose you.

I’ve just wrapped up Semrush Spotlight 2025 and my brain is officially fried. In the best freakin’ way!

One full day.
Hundreds of talks.
Thousands of marketers.
BUCKETLOADS of inspiration.

And one message kept slapping me in the face...

Visibility. Is. Everything.

So many people are QUIETLY brilliant.

But they’re invisible.

They don’t post.
They don’t share their ideas.
They think “good work speaks for itself.”

But in 2025?

That's not true.

You have to SPEAK FOR YOURSELF.

The people getting the clients, the PR, the invites, the inbound leads…

They’re the ones showing up consistently.

- Post online.
- Pitch yourself.
- Go to the event.
- Build the relationships.
- Let people see your awesome-ness.

Because hiding doesn’t make you humble.

It makes you forgettable.

SIMPLE AS THAT.

In the last 48 hours, I've met people I’d never have crossed paths with otherwise.

Why? I chose to show up.

Even the invite to Amsterdam (yep, all expenses paid 👀) came from a company that found me through my content.

My brand carried me here.

And it’s meant I’ve had a mini holiday, met some of the brightest minds in marketing, enjoyed steak with new entrepreneurial friends and ended my night sipping mocktails at a skybar overlooking Amsterdam.

How’s that for a reason to post? 😏

One cool highlight?

Seeing Semrush One in action (I got an EXCLUSIVE first look) - their new tool that tracks and optimises your visibility across Google and AI search.

You can literally:

→ See how often your brand appears in AI answers
→ Measure your AI Visibility Score
→ Monitor competitors + track sentiment

The game’s changing fast.

AI isn’t replacing marketers. But it’s rewarding the ones who adapt first.

Already got me thinking about new ways to use AI in my own biz… (stay tuned 👀).

Anyway, laptop’s shut.

Currently mooching around Amsterdam, walking by the river, coffee in hand, soaking in the autumn air 🍁

If you ever get the chance to attend Semrush Spotlight...

Do it.

Because opportunities don’t just show up.

You create them.

#SemrushSpotlight #SpotlightConf