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9 contributions to the Strategy Code
Strategy isn’t sexy. Until it works.
Everyone loves the idea of momentum. More leads. More clarity. More results. But most people? They’re just duct-taping tactics and hoping something sticks. That’s not us. Right now, we’re heads-down building a real strategy engine—Not just for us… but for you. Here’s what’s in motion behind the curtain: 🔹 New PDF Drops – straight-up frameworks, not fluff. Stuff you’ll reference more than once. 🔹 Mini-Courses – short, sharp, and built for action, not information hoarding. 🔹 Strategy Coaching Offer – yep, we’re opening doors for 1:1 and group strategy work. No hype. Just clarity and compounding results. Why? Because we’ve seen too many smart people stay stuck from overthinking or overdoing. The solution isn't more noise. It’s sharper thinking. Strategy is the multiplier that makes the difference between adding more bricks and building a house that stands.
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Strategy isn’t sexy. Until it works.
You know what’s funny?
People spend months building their business… but when someone asks, “So what’s it all about?” — they stumble. Long, messy explanations. Zero clarity. That’s why a pitch deck matters. It’s not just for raising money. It’s for YOU. To sit down and figure out: — What am I building? — Who cares? — Why does this even matter? If you can’t lay it out clearly on a few slides, you’re not ready. And that’s the truth. So, do you have yours yet? Or are you still winging it? I've attached mine from Forty-Second Street. Cheers! MC
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People think a logo is just some fancy font and a little icon.
They couldn’t be more wrong. Back in 2021, I was this close to shutting down one of my businesses. Brand looked weak. Logo was forgettable. Website? Felt like it was built by a bored intern on their lunch break. We had all the talent. All the solutions. But none of the market’s attention. I remember sitting there with my wife at the kitchen counter… “Why isn’t this catching on? We’re better than these guys crushing it out there.” She looks at me dead serious: “Because they look better.” That hit me like a truck. So I made a decision that night: 📌 Rebuild the brand. 📌 Go all in on the visual presence. 📌 Create a logo that didn’t just “look good” — it made people feel something. We weren’t just building a logo…We were building a flag people could rally behind. And that changed EVERYTHING. New logo. Clean brand identity. Suddenly, we’re not just another option in the market. We’re the obvious choice. Clients started saying, “I don’t know what it is about you guys… but it just feels right.” Yeah, it feels right because we engineered that feeling. That’s what great branding does. • It creates instant trust. • It shortcuts decision-making. • It makes people feel before they even think. So if you’re out there grinding, wondering why people aren’t buying, ask yourself this: Are you running a business… or flying a flag? Because movements don’t start with products. They start with beliefs. And a great logo? It’s not just a mark. It’s a declaration. Get that part right… and watch what happens next.
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People think a logo is just some fancy font and a little icon.
I Almost Threw It All Away in 2021…
When people hear I’ve built multiple million-dollar businesses, they think it’s always been up and to the right. Steady growth.Big wins.The “dream life.” But the truth? In 2021, everything came crashing down. My dad passed away & I came down with Afib and was in Heart Failure for over 6 months, pumping at 29%. And in that moment… all the success, the money, the businesses—it felt pointless. I remember sitting alone one night, staring at my laptop. Bank accounts are full. Clients waiting. And me? I was this close to walking away from all of it. Shut it down. Burn it to the ground. Because how do you keep building when the man who taught you everything about hard work and character… is just gone? I was angry. Exhausted. Empty. I told myself: "One more quarter. I’ll give it three more months… then I’m out." And here’s the crazy part… Just two weeks later, something shifted. A message came through from someone who had followed my journey silently for years. He told me, "Man… you have no idea how much your story has kept me going. I was ready to give up, but seeing how you handle adversity gave me hope." And in that moment, I realized… This wasn’t just about business. This was about legacy. I wasn’t building for myself anymore. I was building for my dad’s legacy. For every underdog out there who feels like the walls are closing in. So I went all in. Not just on the spreadsheets and strategies…But on ME. My story. My truth. I stopped trying to look like the perfect “CEO.” I started showing the messy stuff. The hard conversations. The breakdowns AND the breakthroughs. And guess what happened? People showed up. Opportunities I’d never imagined started opening up. And the businesses? They didn’t just survive—they exploded. All because I flipped the script. I stopped building businesses. And I started building a movement. So if you’re stuck… if you’re sitting there wondering if it’s time to burn it all down… Don’t. Give yourself three more months. Tell your story, brand something that’s bigger than you.
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Let’s Talk About ZAG for a Minute...
I picked up ZAG by Marty Neumeier a few years ago, and let me just say… it’s one of those books that smacks you right in the face with how obvious—but—overlooked its message is. Here’s the big idea:👉 When everyone else is zigging… You ZAG. Sounds simple, right? But think about how rare it is. Most businesses are out here copying each other’s strategies, competing in the same tired categories, and wondering why they’re constantly stuck fighting for attention. Neumeier flips that on its head. He says if you can’t be number one in a category, the smartest thing you can do is create a new category where you ARE number one. That’s your ZAG. Your bold, undeniable difference. And honestly, it hit me hard. How often are we playing it safe? Trying to “do it better” instead of doing it completely differently? He also introduces something called the Onliness Statement:"Our brand is the ONLY ___ that ___." If you can’t fill that in clearly, you’re probably blending in more than you think. Anyway, if you’re building a brand—or even thinking about starting one—ZAG is a must-read. It’ll challenge you to stop chasing trends and start creating your own lane. And trust me, the view’s way better when you’re not stuck in traffic with everyone else. Have you read it? I’d love to hear your biggest takeaway if you have. And if not… add it to your list. You’ll thank me later. 🙌 Check out the book - https://www.amazon.com/Zag-Number-Strategy-High-Performance-Brands/dp/0321426770
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Mike Carleton
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4points to level up
@mike-carleton-6075
My name is Mike Carleton and I’ve owned a Design & Marketing business for over 20 years. I love long walks on the beach, a hot sauna, and my family!

Active 198d ago
Joined May 12, 2025
Tampa, FL
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