BRAD LEE’s Post

Big Congratulations to BRAD LEE on completing his Scaling Up Certification! Every business leader craves predictable performance, strong returns, and a thriving culture. But when challenges arise—and clarity feels elusive—how do you confidently chart the path ahead? Enter Brad Lee, a former CEO of a $275M private equity-backed company with over 1,000 employees. He’s been in your shoes, balancing the weight of employee, customer, and investor expectations while driving for exceptional performance. That firsthand experience is what inspired him to found Clarus Leadership Partners. Armed with 13 years of CEO experience, Brad knows the twists and turns that come with leading a growing company. Through his executive coaching skill set and the proven Scaling Up™ framework, he’s on a mission to help leaders like you break through constraints and reach new levels of success. Join us in welcoming Brad to the Scaling Up Coaches community, and don’t miss out on his expertise in diagnosing and overcoming the strategic, operational, and personal barriers that hold businesses back. With Brad by your side, you can finally lead with clarity, align your team around a common vision, and scale predictably—no more going it alone! Get your Complimentary Coaching Session: Review your results in a no-charge, 1-hour session where I’ll provide actionable insights you can implement immediately. (https://lnkd.in/gT_muy2C)

I recently had a conversation with the founder of a leadership coaching company. He shared how, over the last six months, he spent thousands of dollars boosting his social media presence. A flood of engagements but not a single client. When I dug deeper, he admitted what he actually wanted: ✅ A strong LinkedIn portfolio ✅ Consistent, high-paying clients ✅ Constantly increasing revenue But he believed that increasing followers and likes would give him clients. The truth? It won’t. By the end of our conversation, he realized that his real goal wasn’t vanity metrics—it was signing high-quality clients. Unfortunately, due to a contract he signed and budget constraints, he said he’d wait until after June to take action. Here’s the kicker: With a simple calculation, I showed him how, in six months, he could easily: 👉 Book 120–150 high-quality calls 👉 Sign 50 new clients 👉 Dramatically grow his revenue All he needed was a clear strategy: Define his Ideal Client Profile (ICP) Build a strong LinkedIn network Reach out to 20 targeted people daily Book 20–25 calls per month consistently It’s simple: If you need clients, you don’t need vanity metrics. You need a system that works. Don’t overcomplicate it. Focus on what truly matters. If this resonates with you, drop a comment or DM me—I’d love to share how this process works in detail!

Thought I'd share some perspective I heard during a business leadership webinar this weekend. Hopefully you'd find some value in it. During the webinar a man was talking about lessons learned from his 40+ years running a multi-million dollar company. He said (and I'm more or less paraphrasing here): “Anyone can build a business when things are going well. The question is, are you mentally tough enough to stick with it when everything’s going wrong.” One of the deeper life lessons I took away from my experience at OCS was that it wasn't challenging because of the hikes, manufactured chaos, or billets. Quite frankly any half-decent college athlete could have smoked half the crowd on some of our runs. What I really took to heart throughout that time was that it's easy to apply yourself and maintain a good attitude...when you're well rested, with a full stomach, and the promise of sleeping in your own bed that night. Much harder to take on an extra shift of firewatch when you're running on 4 hours of sleep. By all means OCS isn't a grueling process compared to other experiences in the military but it did give me a window into why brilliance in the basics is so important. It's not for when things are going well. It's to prepare you for when things aren't. That wisdom he gave wasn't just for business. Funny how success principles tend to crop up in all areas of life. Worth a few hours invested on a Saturday night I'd say. Curious to hear others' experience with chaos in full swing and how they got through it.

Yesterday, someone asked us why the masterclasses in our coaching and leadership programme don’t run during business hours. They said, “I’d have expected them to be in work time.” Our masterclasses run every Tuesday from 7-8pm for 8 weeks from January 28th 2025 Why? Because we designed them with feedback from Operators in mind. We know how unpredictable the day can be. How things can spiral last-minute - fires to fight, meetings to attend, and plates to spin. And it’s fascinating how we expect coaching or leadership programmes to fit neatly into “business hours” … yet we sit on the sofa late at night firing off emails, prepping for presentations, or tackling tasks that couldn’t wait. Be there, done that. (Wish i had a T-shirt for the image below 😊) What we rarely do, though, is plan time for ourselves. To invest in us. It can feel strange - even selfish. But often, it’s not about time at all. 🪴 It’s about self-worth. 🪴 Feeling undeserving. 🪴 And busy-ness becomes the perfect mask. The truth is, personal development is just that: Personal. 💚 And when we lean into growth - when we intentionally show up for ourselves - the ripple effects are huge. - Stronger personal relationships - Deeper self-awareness and self-kindness - Improved professional confidence and performance And yes, better business results. When we choose ourselves - woooo hoooo!!!! Magic really does happen. Curious? Take a look below, and join our free waitlist so you can be the first to know when registration opens. https://lnkd.in/e5uJqEHA ♻️Please share if you think this may resonate with others. Michelle Moreno Sarah Clark

As a leader, it’s important to walk the talk—not just when we succeed, but when we’re learning and growing too. Recently, I had the opportunity to attend Presence and Impact training, led by the brilliant Eve Tomlinson, alongside my leadership team colleagues at Oaklin. This is just one example of how Oaklin invests in everyone’s growth—from our analysts and consultants through to us at Associate Partner level. The day challenged me to refine how I communicate and show up. To share my own progress, I’m posting a video (bloopers included!), combining two moments, one from the start of my presentation, and one on my second attempt. Whilst I didn’t land an Oscar-worthy performance, the learnings left me with a guidebook for making my ideas land more impactfully. Here are my 3 key takeaways from the training: 1️⃣ I need to lose the “notes safety blanket” and trust myself more. 2️⃣ My anxious shuffle from side to side? It’s time to ground myself and hold my space. 3️⃣ Focusing on what I want my audience to feel has the biggest impact. Being honest about our own growth and areas for improvement is part of what leadership embodies. Sharing these videos isn’t just about improving my own presence and impact—it’s about setting an example that growth is ongoing, vulnerability is strength, and small improvements add up. I’ve also written an article summarising the brilliant training here- https://lnkd.in/eQWzWdAx . Hopefully, a must-read for anyone looking to refine their communication and presence skills. #Leadership #GrowthMindset #PresenceAndImpact

You’ve made it this far by working hard, saying yes to every challenge, and proving yourself over and over again. But now, you’re stuck. ✔️ You’re spinning your wheels, trying to do more, but it never seems like enough. ✔️ You’re burning out from juggling everything—your team, your boss, your workload—but no one’s noticing the effort you’re putting in. ✔️ And you’re starting to wonder: What am I missing? Here’s the truth: What got you here won’t get you to the next level. Leadership at the next level isn’t about doing more—it’s about: ✔️ Strategizing for impact, not just output. ✔️ Learning how to lead, not just manage. ✔️ Building the confidence to step into the room and own your space. Here’s one tool you can use right now to start shifting how you work: ⭐ Audit your time: Take 15 minutes today to reflect on where you’re spending your energy. Are you focused on high-impact, strategic work? Or are you stuck in the weeds, putting out fires? If your calendar is filled with tasks that don’t align with your big goals, it’s time to re-prioritize. High-level leaders focus on what matters most—not what’s most urgent. This is the kind of clarity we dive into in my 1:1 Private Coaching. Together, we’ll: ⭐ Identify what’s holding you back from stepping into the leader you’re meant to be. ⭐ Build your leadership presence so your voice is heard in every room. ⭐ Develop a personalized plan to take your career to the next level—without burning out or sacrificing who you are. This is your time to lead with clarity, confidence, and purpose. The question is: Are you ready to invest in you? DM me, and let’s start transforming your leadership today.

Ever feel that pit in your stomach when you realize a key leadership hire isn’t working out? Let’s get real. One of the most challenging moments as a business owner is coming to terms with the fact that despite your best coaching, some leaders don’t rise to the occasion. It’s frustrating, exhausting, and, honestly, a bit heartbreaking. But staying stuck in emotions will not fix it. It’s time to step back and look at the facts. Here’s a checklist to help guide your next steps when facing this tough decision: 1️⃣ Customer Experience – How is their leadership affecting the service your customers receive? Are you hearing more complaints or losing loyal customers? 2️⃣ Team Dynamics – Is your team thriving or struggling under their direction? Are they empowering the team or creating roadblocks? 3️⃣ Business Objectives – Are they pushing the business forward or holding you back from reaching your goals? If you’ve looked at these areas and the signs are clear, it might be time for that difficult but necessary conversation. And remember, sometimes the most compassionate thing you can do—for you and them—is to find the right fit, even if it’s not within your company. Stay true to your vision, lead with empathy, but don’t shy away from tough decisions regarding the health of your business. ---------------- We help scaling business owners hire, train, and develop key operators so that they can improve their business acumen and think more like owners. Our next cohorts begin in January 2025; enrollment will start next week!! Now is the time to check out our owner + manager program, which can help you set your 2025 business plan and effectively launch your CEO delegation blueprint to a trained management team. >> Book a free strategy call today (no strings attached) to learn about our process: https://lnkd.in/geg--3gb #smallbusinessleaders #strategicleadership #leadwithpurpose #businessstrategyredefined #empoweredteams

Are you striving to elevate your business but unsure whether you need a coach or a consultant? Dive into my latest blog post, "Guiding Success: Understanding the Differences Between Business Coaches and Consultants," where I break down what each can offer and how they can uniquely contribute to your success. Read Below. 👀 Discover who can help you refine your leadership skills and who can solve specific business challenges. Make the right choice for your business's growth today! #BusinessGrowth #Leadership #BusinessCoach #BusinessConsultant #Entrepreneurship #darlenemziebell

Are you striving to elevate your business but unsure whether you need a coach or a consultant? Dive into my latest blog post, "Guiding Success: Understanding the Differences Between Business Coaches and Consultants," where I break down what each can offer and how they can uniquely contribute to your success. Read Below. 👀 Discover who can help you refine your leadership skills and who can solve specific business challenges. Make the right choice for your business's growth today! #BusinessGrowth #Leadership #BusinessCoach #BusinessConsultant #Entrepreneurship #darlenemziebell

Free Event “Live Coaching-Infused Conversation” – Fridays / 8am and 12pm ET And this week’s topic is “Where is your personal Board of Directors?” Because… You want to be the CEO of YOUR LIFE… But you don’t have a Board of Directors (like a CEO)!!! So, how would you feel if: *You could find some of these Directors already in your network? *You knew what Directors you’re missing? *You knew how / where to find these missing Directors? >>>> What if you could actually START building your very own Board of Directors? >>>> Then register for this Live Coaching-Infused Conversation here: https://lnkd.in/eK4FQ6Qj #PistachioCassis #Leadership #SelfLeadership #Empowerment #SelfEmpowerment #PersonalDevelopment #ProfessionalDevelopment #CEO #BoardofDirectors