← Back to all posts

Why I started on social media too late and what I'd do differently today

Jan 24, 2026
Connect

Dear reader,

Let me share something personal.

For many years, LinkedIn was not part of my daily routine.
Not because I didn’t believe in visibility — but because I didn’t need it.

I was busy.

Corporate leadership roles. International responsibility.
Meetings, clients, travel.

No posts.
No audience.
No presence at all.

When I returned to Europe after 20 years abroad, I started my own consulting business by using LinkedIn tactically:

first for recruiting as a headhunter,
later to connect with senior executives who could become B&P Partners.

So far I still wasn’t building anything with purpose on LinkedIn. 
To better understand, let's shoot us few years back...


The shift I was slowly recognizing 

Years ago, LinkedIn had a simple purpose:

You showed up as a professional.
You connected with peers and recruiters.
You became visible for your next job.

That was the game.

Today, it’s different.
LinkedIn is no longer a digital CV.
It’s a business platform.

Trust is built before the first conversation.
Expertise is visible before a mandate or a next job opportunity.
Decisions are made long before you speak.
That’s why visibility is no longer optional.


What I underestimated 

Coming from corporate leadership, I expected three things to transfer easy:

  • credibility
  • reputation
  • momentum

They did — just not fast enough.

In entrepreneurship, none of this is granted upfront.
It has to be earned again — visibly.

What I learned in this respect was also here the power of compounding:

  • learning from people who already walked the path
  • applying what actually works today
  • committing to ongoing learning and testing

Two decisions that changed everything

24 months ago, I started posting daily on LinkedIn.

Career development. Leadership. Consulting.
And very clearly: how to start your own consulting business.

Today, people already know:

  • what I stand for
  • what I did before
  • how I think

That’s the power of visibility.
I’m connected with 19,000 people that follow me.

Six months ago, I added another channel I truly enjoy: this newsletter, The Expert Shift.

You are now one of 500 senior executives worldwide who receive it.

It’s a way to stay in touch beyond short posts.
To share deeper insights.
To learn from your feedback — and adjust.

No pressure.
If it stops being relevant, leaving is one click away.
That openness matters to me.

👉 You don’t need to reinvent the wheel — but you do need to run yours earlier and smoother.


If you're still "preparing"

Many senior executives delay visibility.

“I’ll start once things are clearer.”
“I need more time.”
“I’m not ready yet.”

I thought the same.

But the truth simply is:

  • Visibility is not a luxury — it’s part of the business today
  • Learning is not a phase — it’s a system
  • Momentum comes from doing what works

It was never easier to reach your audience worldwide.
And never riskier to stay invisible.

Those who move faster don’t know more.
They learn earlier.


Let's go deeper – together

This is exactly what I’ll share in my upcoming live webinar:

đź“… From Executive to Entrepreneur

We’ll cover this and other key topics:

  • how experienced executives shorten the transition
  • which early actions create momentum fastest
  • why the ideal customer and a clear positioning matters most

No theory.
No hype.
Just what works.

👉 Join the live session if you want to start earlier — and smarter.
Secure your spot here: https://caerus.academy/webinar/

I’m looking forward to seeing you there,

Dieter


PS: If this resonates, forward it to someone who’s still “thinking about starting.”

Responses

Join the conversation
t("newsletters.loading")
Loading...
Everybody wants the new tool and the secret sauce for success.
The AI prompt.The hidden workflow.The customers list ready to buy.The shortcut that turns experience into clients. Let me reflect first on how I use AI today. It's about evaluating faster, structure insights, prep client work, and create assets that would’ve been out of reach 2–3 years ago. Especially as a solopreneur.I am thrilled to use and grow with and thanks to AI. AI will become essential...
Reduced variance. Higher trust. Better clients.
Why many senior executives struggle when they star consulting?Over the years I clearly saw that most senior executives do not struggle in consulting because they lack expertise.  It is also not about missing effort or energy they put in to start their next professional chapter. They usually struggle because they bring too much expertise to the market.That may sound strange at first. After all, ...
AI won't replace you. But it may change your career decisions.
Why more executives should think about entrepreneurship now For a long time, a senior executive career offered something that mattered deeply: predictability. If you performed, delivered results, and kept moving, the system gave you structure, status, and a clear next step. That model is becoming less reliable. Not because experienced leaders have become less valuable. But because AI is acceler...

The Expert Shift by Dieter Brandt

Starting Your Consulting Business at 50+
© 2026 Brandt & Partners
Powered by Kajabi

Join Our Free Trial

Get started today before this once in a lifetime opportunity expires.