The Productivity Pitfalls of Running a Business (and How to Avoid Them) 

And How to Start Working Smarter, Not Harder 

Have you ever felt like you’re just going through the motions? Like you’re ticking off life’s boxes; career, relationships, responsibilities… but something still feels missing?

It’s a common experience, especially in our fast-paced world where we’re constantly bombarded by demands and expectations. Over time, it’s easy to drift away from who we really are. We become masters of coping, of pushing through, of chasing “shoulds,” often ignoring the quiet inner voice that whispers, There’s more to life than this.

When you’re out of alignment with your soul, life can start to feel strangely hollow. You might notice a dull ache of dissatisfaction, a lack of real joy, or a sense of being perpetually stuck in survival mode.

The good news is that your soul is always calling you to reconnect and align with your true essence and these feelings are all sign posts back home to that place.

What does Soul Alignment look and feel Like?

Soul alignment isn’t about living a flawless life or being endlessly blissful. It’s about feeling connected to who you truly are at the deepest level. It’s a sense of inner congruence, where your choices, values, and desires all flow from the same authentic source.

When you’re aligned, you stop second-guessing so much. There’s less spinning in your mind and more trust in your intuition. Decisions might not always be logical on paper, but they feel right. There’s also a quiet kind of joy, one that doesn’t depend on circumstances being perfect, but instead springs from knowing you’re on your true path.

The core elements of Soul Alignment

Deep Self-Awareness
This is where it all begins. Knowing what genuinely matters to you, beyond the noise of societal or family expectations , is crucial. What energises you? What drains you? What are your deepest longings? Awareness creates the foundation for aligned living.

Inner Calm & Intuitive Guidance
When you slow down and create space for stillness, your intuition gets louder. Instead of being overwhelmed by mental chatter, you start to hear those subtle nudges…a gut feeling, a spark of excitement, a sense of quiet knowing.

Living by Your Soul Values
Your values are like an inner compass. When your life reflects what’s truly important to your soul , whether that’s freedom, creativity, connection, or growth,  you feel more at peace. Sometimes honouring these values means stepping away from paths that look “safe” but don’t actually nourish you.

Purpose and Passions
Your soul carries a blueprint, a unique mix of gifts, interests, and lessons. When you start weaving more of what lights you up into daily life, everything feels more vibrant. For some, tools like Soul Plan readings are incredibly illuminating, helping to uncover the deeper threads that run through your life.

Healing and Expansion
Soul alignment often requires you to release old wounds, outdated beliefs, and patterns that keep you small. This part isn’t always comfortable, but it’s profoundly liberating. As you heal, you create more space to embody your true self.

Signs you might be ‘Out of Alignment’

• You’re constantly tired, even if you’re achieving on the outside
• There’s a vague sense that something important is missing
• You feel anxious, irritable, or emotionally flat more often than not
• Your body sends signals; perhaps through persistent tension or unexplained health dips
• You feel disconnected from others, or even from yourself

These aren’t failures; they’re gentle signals from your soul inviting you to come back into deeper alignment.

My own wake-up call

Years ago, I was living what many would have described as an successful life; a well-paying IT role in London, regular holidays, a packed social calendar. But inside, I was drained and increasingly disconnected from myself.

Then one day, my body forced me to stop. I collapsed at work, head clouded, struggling to articulate simple words. As I lay there waiting for help, I realised with  a clarity: This is not how I want to live.

That moment cracked something open in me. In the weeks that followed, serendipities started to appear; small, almost magical signs guiding me back to myself. One afternoon, a book literally tumbled off a shelf in a shop, landing at my feet. It was about life coaching, and it felt like the universe tapping me on the shoulder, saying, It’s time to remember who you are.

How you can begin to realign

If you’re feeling that quiet nudge, that soul longing to live in a way that’s more true to you,  here are some simple steps to start:

• Create quiet pockets in your day.
  Even ten minutes of stillness, journalling, or being in nature can help you hear your inner wisdom.
• Tune into your intuition.
  Notice those gentle pulls, sparks of excitement, or quiet inner yeses. They’re clues. The more you honour them, the clearer they become.
• Clarify what truly matters.
  Set intentions that come from your heart, not just your head. Ask: What would feel truly aligned for me right now?
• Challenge old beliefs.
  Notice the stories that keep you stuck; like I’m not ready, it’s too late, or I’m not good enough. Meet them with curiosity and compassion.
• Take small soul-led steps.
  Alignment grows through action. Whether it’s saying no to something draining, starting a passion project, or seeking support — each step builds trust in yourself.
• Seek out soulful community.
  Being surrounded by people who encourage your growth makes the journey less lonely and so much richer.

Why choose Soul Alignment?

Because staying misaligned is exhausting. It keeps you chasing external validation, while the real nourishment your soul craves goes unmet. But when you start honouring your inner truth, life shifts. There’s more flow, more ease, more genuine fulfilment. Challenges still come, of course but you meet them from a centred, grounded place.

If you feel called to explore this journey more deeply, my S.A.C.R.E.D. Re-Energise programme was created for exactly this. It’s a gentle yet powerful process to help you reconnect with your soul’s blueprint, heal old wounds, and start living from a place of inner clarity and alignment.

Because you truly deserve a life that feels vibrant, meaningful, and yours.

Anita D Marshall is a Soul Alignment Life & Business Coach,  Soul Transformation Therapist and Soul Plan Teacher empowering soul-aligned lives & businesses with clarity and purpose at www.anitadmarshall.com

*Photo Credit: Inspired Stock Shop

You don’t need a better funnel.
You need to leverage what’s already working — your network.

Here’s the brutal truth: most high-performing leaders have a goldmine of opportunity sitting quietly in their inbox, their LinkedIn connections, or the “we should catch up” list they’ve ignored for months.

If you’re serious about landing flagship clients, high-stakes contracts, or stepping into the next tier of visibility — then it’s time to stop focusing on strangers and start activating the people who already know you’re brilliant.

1. Your Network Isn’t Cold. You’ve Just Gone Quiet.

It's time to leverage your network for business growth.

You’ve done the work. You’ve delivered the results. You’ve built relationships over years — and then let them gather dust while chasing new leads. (Guilty as charged?)

Here’s what I see again and again:
Someone tells me their pipeline’s flat, and when we dig in? They haven’t posted in three months. Haven’t reached out to a past client in six. Haven’t actually said what they’re looking for. Sometimes LinkedIn or Networking isn't about finding the actual clients, it's about finding the person who can connect you.

I asked Andy, a turn around expert, "Who did you love working with?" When he told me, I said "And who connected you to that contract? When did you last speak to them?" 

By reaching out to old contacts who loved what he achieved for organisations that they worked with, he signed new contracts with so much more ease than attending 4 networking meetings that were doing absolutely nothing for his monthly sales.

This isn’t about selling. It’s about reminding people you exist — and making it crystal clear what you do now.

2. If You’re Not Top of Mind, You’re Not in the Room

What is your business visibility strategy and is it converting clients?

You know how many great businesses get passed over because their competitor was visible?

And I get it. You’re running a business. You’ve got a team, a pipeline, a million priorities. But here’s the uncomfortable truth:

Your next-level opportunities — the seven-figure contracts, the strategic partnerships, the keynote invites — don’t land because you’re excellent.
They land because the right people know you’re excellent.

Visibility isn’t about performance. Or posting b-roll videos with trending audio!
It means aligning your voice with the level of work you’re already doing.

So:

• Stop posting for “engagement.” Post with intent.

• Say what you actually do. Make it obvious.

• Speak to your client's objections and demonstrate why your business is the best.

Your Relationship Capital Is More Valuable Than Your Content Calendar

Are you getting your relationship marketing strategy right?

You don’t need to “go viral.”
You need your name in the room when budgets get signed off.

And that doesn’t happen because you posted a trending audio or showed up in someone’s Reels.
It happens because someone in your network remembers your name, your clarity, your credibility — and thinks, “She’s perfect for this.”

So:
Show up consistently (otherwise you'll be forgotten)
Say something of value.
Reconnect with intention.

I reached out to contacts from my advertising days, just saying hi, asking how people that I had worked with were doing. It lead to a contract as a digital content consultant, the work that I did for that organisation lead to being engaged by Social Entrepreneur's Ireland and then that work followed on to another contract with Sprout & Co. 

Don't underestimate your network, even if you have completely pivoted. They are still your champions. 

Don’t Let Silence Cost You Growth

Don't underestimate your network when it comes to strategic business growth.

Your next level isn’t waiting for you in an ad funnel or a cold DM campaign.
It’s sitting quietly in your network — ready to open doors if you start knocking.

So if you’re serious about big clients, bigger impact, and doing it all as yourself — not as some corporate robot — get strategic.

Reignite your relationships.
Speak like the expert you are.
And position yourself where the real decisions are made.

If you’re ready to be seen, heard, and hired at the level you’re already delivering — let’s talk.

🟡 This is a discovery call — not a sales pitch.
🟡 We’ll uncover where your messaging and visibility are out of sync.
🟡 And map how to re-engage the network that already trusts you.

👉 Book Your Discovery Call
Let’s make sure the right people actually know what you do — and why you’re the one to hire.

Photo Credit: Elaine Walsh McGrath

Let's be honest—winging it with LinkedIn content rarely works for service businesses. According to LinkedIn's own research, companies that post consistently see engagement rates 2x higher than sporadic posters. But consistency without strategy is just noise.

When you don't have a LinkedIn content planning system, you're essentially invisible. And if you're invisible on LinkedIn, you're not generating leads, growing your business, or positioning yourself as the go-to expert in your field.

Why LinkedIn Content Planning Matters for Service Businesses

When you approach LinkedIn without a content plan, you're stuck in reaction mode. You post when inspiration strikes. You scramble for ideas. You feel guilty when you don't post, then overthink when you do. It's an exhausting cycle that delivers minimal results.

Implementing a strategic LinkedIn content planning approach means:

• Purposeful Content: You know exactly what you're posting and why. No more staring at a blank screen wondering what to write.
• Business Alignment: Your content directly supports your business goals. If you want to generate leads, your LinkedIn strategy must create a path for your audience to follow.
• Audience Relevance: People's priorities shift throughout the year. Your LinkedIn visibility strategy must reflect these changes to maintain engagement.
• Time Efficiency: Imagine logging into LinkedIn knowing precisely what value you're sharing that day. That's what strategic planning delivers.

Inside The Let's Get Visible Society, we've developed a LinkedIn content planning process that transforms sporadic posting into strategic visibility.

The Three-Pillar LinkedIn Visibility System

When growing your presence on LinkedIn, random content won't attract the right prospects. Your LinkedIn content calendar needs structure and intention.

Our planning sessions always return to the Three-Pillar LinkedIn Visibility System:

Pillar 1: Inspire Desire

Show your audience you truly understand their challenges. When potential clients encounter your content, they should instantly feel a connection—as if you're speaking directly to their situation. This is where you build the recognition that makes them think, "This person gets exactly what I'm facing."

Pillar 2: Address Buying Motivations

Clarify why your audience should care about your solutions. This isn't about listing services but demonstrating tangible benefits. Your LinkedIn content plan should consistently illustrate the transformation you provide.

Pillar 3: Establish Trust & Authority

People hire experts they trust. Your LinkedIn posting plan must demonstrate your expertise, showcase your methodology, and provide evidence of your results. Case studies, client testimonials, and thought leadership content all support this pillar.

By mapping your LinkedIn content calendar to these three pillars, you eliminate guesswork and ensure every post drives your business forward.

Understanding the Customer Mindset for LinkedIn Content Planning

The most common mistake in LinkedIn content creation is thinking from your perspective rather than your audience's.

In The Let's Get Visible Society, our LinkedIn visibility strategy starts by getting inside the minds of our ideal clients.

We ask critical questions like:

• What challenges are my prospects facing this month?
• What industry pressures are affecting their decisions right now?
• What opportunities are they exploring this quarter?
• What specific problems can my services solve for them today?

For example, if your audience consists of business owners, their mindset shifts throughout the year:

• January: They're establishing annual goals and strategies Content opportunity: Share your goal-setting framework or client success stories
• March: They're deep in implementation and likely feeling overwhelmed Content opportunity: Offer streamlining tips or productivity hacks
• August: They're in holiday mode, making fewer major decisions Content opportunity: Provide lighter, inspirational content that maintains connection
• September: They're re-energized and ready to invest in growth Content opportunity: Present service offerings that capitalise on year-end budgets

When your LinkedIn content planning reflects your audience's current reality, you become magnetic. You transform from just another service provider into a timely, relevant resource delivering solutions exactly when they're needed.

How to Create Your LinkedIn Content Plan in 5 Steps

Turning strategic thinking into an actionable LinkedIn content calendar doesn't have to be complicated. Here's our proven process from The Let's Get Visible Society:

1. Map Your Quarter: Identify key business events, launches, and industry trends for the next 3 months.
2. Define Monthly Themes: Assign a primary focus to each month that aligns with your business goals.
3. Build Your Idea Vault: Collect 15-20 content ideas based on client questions, success stories, and industry insights.
4. Schedule Your Calendar: Distribute content types (educational, inspirational, promotional) across your LinkedIn content calendar.
5. Create Batch Templates: Develop reusable formats for consistency and time savings.

We maintain an "Idea Vault" filled with proven prompts that eliminate the blank page syndrome. This resource includes everything from audience desire statements to frequently asked questions to varied content formats (polls, videos, carousels). With this system, you'll never start from scratch again.

The Measurable Impact of LinkedIn Content Planning

After our recent quarterly planning session, members left with their complete LinkedIn content calendar populated for the next three months.

They're not guessing. They're not stressing. They're not hoping LinkedIn will magically bring them opportunities.

They have a systematic LinkedIn visibility strategy. They have a repeatable process. And they're showing up in a way that actually grows their service businesses.

Transform Your LinkedIn Visibility Today

If you're still caught in the cycle of "I should really post something" but never achieving consistent visibility, it's time for a change.

The truth is simple: visibility leads to opportunity. Opportunity leads to client relationships. Client relationships lead to business growth. But none of this happens if you're not showing up strategically.

Ready to implement a proven LinkedIn content planning system that generates visibility and leads for your service business? The Let's Get Visible Society is where service providers, consultants, and experts come to transform their LinkedIn presence.

Download our free Create Content With Ease Workbook to start organising your visibility strategy today.

Want the complete system? Join The Let's Get Visible Society and get access to our full LinkedIn visibility framework, templates, coaching, and supportive community.

Let's make your expertise visible.

Photo Credit: Elaine Walsh McGrath

You’re doing all the things.

You’ve got content. You’ve updated your profile. You’re showing up with real intention.

But it still feels like you’re talking to the wrong people. The content is good—but it’s not converting.

If that sounds familiar, the problem might not be your content. It might be your connections.

LinkedIn isn’t just a place to post. It’s a place to build relationships.

In Build Connections on LinkedIn with Confidence, I show you how to:

• Connect with people who actually need what you do

• Build trust through natural conversation

• Grow your network with purpose, not pressure
  

This isn’t about cold pitching or chasing. It’s about creating an ecosystem of aligned, intentional relationships.

Here’s the mistake I see all the time:

You post. You share. You show up consistently. But no one bites.

You might be surrounded by followers who:

• Aren’t your target clients

• Don’t really understand what you do

• Aren’t in the right headspace to invest
  

And that’s not your fault. You’ve just outgrown your network.

When I made this shift myself—when I started strategically growing my network—it was like flipping a switch.

Suddenly, the people I wanted to work with were actually seeing my posts. Engaging. Reaching out. Booking calls.

Quality connections change the game

Real business growth on LinkedIn doesn’t come from the number of people who like your post. It comes from the depth of the relationships you build.

Build Connections on LinkedIn with Confidence walks you through how to:

• Identify your ideal connection criteria

• Find allies, referrers, and prospective clients

• Reach out without sounding weird or pushy

Think: low-pressure, high-impact

I’m not going to tell you to message 50 people a week. I’m going to show you how to:

• Build relationships like you would at an in-person networking event

• Follow up without awkwardness

• Stay consistent without burning out

And yes, you’ll learn how to create content that supports this strategy too.

Plus: You get extra support with my course. How?

To give you even more support and encouragement as you go, you’ll be able to ask the questions that you need answered below the course and also in my private Facebook support group. You’ll have the chance to ask questions, celebrate wins, and get guidance directly from me and your peers.

• Take action alongside others

• Get feedback and motivation

• Build connection-building habits that stick
  

We move together in our community, with as much accountability as you want and encouragement at the heart of everything.

Final Thought:

If your LinkedIn content isn’t leading to clients, it’s time to stop shouting into the void and start building a network that’s ready to listen—and ready to buy.

Let’s build those connections with confidence. It starts here.

Photo Credit: Elaine Walsh McGrath