Build a brand. Speak. Write. Monetize. (A four-step strategy)

Find Your Superpower newsletter 078

Read time: 5 minutes

Topics covered: Branding, speaking, writing, monetizing a side hustle

“Let’s talk.”

“Let’s jump on a call.”

“Let’s discuss my needs and how you can help me.”

In 2023, I had just launched a side hustle of LinkedIn coaching, and these were the messages I received via email, LinkedIn DM, and WhatsApp.

For most people running a side hustle or small business, this would be music to their ears.

“YES... I finally have warm leads!”

Except that wasn’t how I felt.

It was exhausting

I still recall taking a deep breath and entering discovery calls lasting an hour—which were basically free consultation calls—only for my prospective coaching clients to write to me later, saying:

“Hi Juliana, thanks for the call. I have reviewed the investment required and decided not to proceed with the 1:1 coaching.”

Frustratingly, I would see that they implemented some of my suggestions later.

My advice.

For free.

Once, I did three discovery calls back to back, and after that I told myself, if this is the life of a coach, consultant, speaker or side hustler, I think I’m better off a full-time CEO of a strategic communications firm with a 20-pax team, where two full-time business development managers take all sales calls and keep me paid.

Besides, after everything was said and done, I only made five digits in revenue from my coaching side hustle.

I was exhausted.

I will no longer do sales calls in 2024

In 2024, I set myself a controversial target, which I have never publicly shared before. I declared that I will not do another sales call for my coaching business. 

I had to find a new business model for my side hustle... none of the “Please book me for 1:1 consulting” I see coaches doing everywhere.

Out of curiosity, I once clicked on one of these “Book me” Calendly links, and I saw that the coach had a completely empty calendar, from the very next day. If this describes your coaching business, then Houston, we have a problem.

Zero sales calls later in 2024, I have 10x-ed my side-hustle income.

... to the point I have stopped 1:1 coaching entirely in 2024. 

Update: I am no longer exhausted.

I am dropping a bombshell today

After four (FOUR!) sold-out six-week LinkedIn bootcamp cohorts and an ever-growing waiting list of close to 1,200 asking me when my next cohort will be, I have a bombshell to drop today.

I am moving on.

Amanda Cua and I still plan on running 1-2 LinkedIn bootcamps in 2025, but we are moving on... to something newer and even more exciting.

In 2024, we trained nine (NINE!) LinkedIn Top Voices, and we feel that many more of them are due to get a blue badge in the months to come.

We are satisfied with the numerous testimonials we have received and real-world outcomes we have helped our clients achieve.

On an average week, our clients are almost always featured in a LinkedIn News editorial summary, sometimes 2-3 of them in one feature.

One thing you need to know about me is that I am a lifelong learner. I want to keep learning and growing.

So what’s cooking in 2025?

In 2025, I am launching a VIP community to explore communication and branding on a much larger scale... not just on LinkedIn!

Yep. I’m ambitious... for you.

I will share with you my four-step strategy to:

• build a brand

• speak better

• write better

• and make money from it 

Am I nuts to do less of a 100% money spinner? Yes.

Am I nuts to do less of something that I can teach with my eyes closed? Yes.

Because that defines who I am as a coach.

I want to keep learning and growing.

I want my loyal community to rise as I rise.

Cruising by year after year is not how I roll.

Hi! This is your rocketship captain speaking! 

Therefore, I would like to reintroduce myself today:

Hi! This is Juliana, your rocketship captain speaking! 👋

I am an MIT-trained scientist turned media entrepreneur, and a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum.

In 2020, I was named an inaugural LinkedIn Top Voice for Singapore, and in 2024, I was appointed an Adjunct Associate Professor in Communications at the National University of Singapore.

Let me share some uncomfortable truths with you: our education system and corporate jobs are designed to keep us as cogs in a wheel, chasing a monthly paycheck and waiting for the occasional raise.

That’s all good until the day the system no longer needs us, and then we come to realize:

• We haven’t built a strong personal brand
• We don’t know how to speak persuasively
• We struggle to write confidently on social media
• We’re unsure how to monetize our skills and knowledge

Imagine a simple subscription that gives you access to world-class experts and mentors who will guide you on how to build a brand, speak & write better, and make money from it.

Here’s some topics I plan on covering in my VIP community subscription:

1. BUILD A BRAND

💡 Discover your unique blue-ocean niche

💡 Create a valuable & monetizable brand

💡 Audit your brand name at clinics with experts

2. LEARN TO SPEAK

🎤 Learn how to speak on stage to many people

🎤 Master your origin story for networking events

🎤 Get coached on PR & media interviews

3. LEARN TO WRITE

✍️ Master the art of writing on LinkedIn

✍️ Learn how to write and publish a book

✍️ Learn how to build a website & launch a newsletter

4. MAKE MONEY FROM IT

💰 Start side hustles and find client leads

💰 Gain mindset & tactical tips to maximize income

💰 Get real-world advice from hyper-successful mentors

That’s exactly what you will find inside my VIP community.

Are you ready to build your brand with me in 2025? 🚀

Please waitlist here.

Thanks for reading issue 078 of my weekly Find Your Superpower newsletter.

For those of you who are new to my newsletter, Find Your Superpower is subscribed to by 44,000+ people, and discusses the following three goals: (1) Making a career transition, (2) Professional branding on LinkedIn, and (3) Reinventing ourselves for the future of work.

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