Courtney Graham’s Post

(From the vault circa 2018) I'm a hypocrite. Well, at least I was, until this post. I've heard the voices of LIAM, 🏄♂️ Scott, Adam, and Dale. I've known video has potential, I've seen it with Sebastian, Ali, Joe, Gary, and most recently Jeremy. Despite that, I didn't like the new LinkedIn I the pre-MSFT version. I mentioned it to Scott of LI, and I recently mentioned my curmudgeonly perspective to Brian Wallace of NowSourcing a few weeks ago and he, well, he just smiled. Going through my Google photos I found this video of a younger and lighter me. I thought to myself, "This is gonna be good...🙄 I was shocked. It was good. And it had a great lesson that slapped me upside my head. "I'd rather be IMPERFECT than Perfect." Karma is a real B-word. I preach and force my startup, founder, and SMB companies to be agile, to "Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable", embrace new trends, A/B test, learn something new....as my Aunt always taught me, "You just have to taste it. If after tasting it and you don't like it, then you don't have to eat it." The hypocritical lesson that I'm taking from this, and sharing it here, is - I may not like LI (what seems like entire blocks of product engineers to work on video) taking on a taste of Instagram and Tik Tok, but I am smart enough to know that i don't know everything, and there are others that know more than me. I'm still on the fence, but I've taken off the chains.... I'd love to hear what you think. Thanks (again) Brian and all those tagged. Keep pushing me and I'll try to be less stubborn. #Video #Growth #Learning #Inspiration #Sales #Startup

If you need to test a startup idea... this one's for you 💪 "We applied to the Velocity Program because we felt stuck in our business and it was a way to either feel solidified in what we were trying to do or was a wakeup call that it wasn’t viable and wouldn’t work. Every week, with either Katrina’s great guidance or the many expert guest speakers, we were constantly critically analysing our business which, for us, was a wakeup call. It left us feeling re-energised by being surrounded by like-minded people, and the thoughtful and engaging conversations we had. Overall, it was a fantastic experience that really helped us hone in on our business and make great connections as a result" - Elissa Reilly, Co-Founder of Moneystalks and 2023 Velocity alum. Velocity is our 12-week pre-accelerator program designed to give early-stage founders the clarity and guidance to better understand product-solution or product-market fit. The perfect place to test your ideas hard and fast 👇 Apply online now: https://bit.ly/3T2xKgU -- #Velocity #preaccelerator #melbournestartups

My first video, what are your thoughts. #MyStartingPoint ☺️

Episode 48 of Founder's Ascent is out now! BJ Anderson and I got the chance to talk with John Kennelly Jr. about his entrepreneurial journey across many different startups, ultimately leading him to F3 Collective. John was able to share his many successes and failures with us in this episode. I was able to take away a few things from this conversation: 1) Don't rely on one form of revenue stream. 2) Founders that tell the best story will win. 3) Don't trumpet the features of your product. Relate to the customer's needs instead. 4) When looking to hire, find someone in tune with your mission. 5) What's the worst that could happen if your company fails? You can find the episode in its entirety here: https://lnkd.in/g6QKzRGy

Quite the start to the week! Announcing Ashby’s $30M Series C - "Doing More of What We Already Do, Just Faster and Better!" You might be able to tell I've loved the last year or so here at Ashby and it just gets better. I'm so excited for what this funding round will enable us to do for our customers, and it really is a big thank you to all of you who've helped shape the product. Some highlights from the announcement: >6x growth since Series B and now over 1300 customers, a number that is rapidly growing. Benji writes more here:https://hubs.li/Q02zfrtJ0 This quote caught my eye though! "Advancements in AI allow a whole set of new functionality that wasn’t thinkable a couple years ago. You’ve seen early versions of this in the Ashby product but there’s a lot more to come. Beyond AI, we’re still just scratching the surface of what’s possible when bringing all key TA workflows into a single tool that’s built on a single technology platform. In many areas of the product we’re now spending more energy on “polish and delight.” That means we’ll make many of our most powerful features more accessible and ensure that Ashby continues to do more for you." #ats #talentaquisition #recruiting #talentstrategy #recops

October is here, and I'm buzzing with excitement about the diverse Q4 strategies I'm hearing from fellow #fempreneurs and #mompreneurs. Some are launching new ventures, others are preparing for a stellar January, and many are embracing automation to revolutionize 2025. What's your focus for Q4? Are you sticking to your guns or shaking things up? I'd love to hear your thoughts and plans! Let's connect, share insights, and turn those Q4 dreams into reality. Because when you win, we all win! 🌟 #Q4Goals #BusinessStrategy

Ever met someone who’s dumber than a box of rocks, and yet they're still bringing in more sales than you? Yeah, you know the type. It begs the question... If that joker can make it rain, why are you still hustlin' so hard with little to show for it? Here’s the hard truth: The days of slapping up a janky website and watching the dollars roll in are history. You need more than luck to make it in this game. The Real Deal Without a partner who’s got your back, amazing tools, flaming hot products, and a rock-solid plan, you’re just spinning your wheels. That’s just how it goes these days. That's why the Ignite Mastermind™ exists. So, what's Ignite all about? Over the next few days, my intention is to reveal just that. First off, let's get real. The entrepreneurial grind is lonely, stressful, and packed with landmines. Google can only get you so far; you need insider knowledge and a tribe—a crew who’s been in the trenches and lived to tell the tale. Get ready to ignite your business potential and forge powerful connections with like-minded entrepreneurs and business owners on August 7 at 6pm. Click here to RSVP now: https://Go.IgnitePHX.org

So last year... I did something kinda crazy— I walked away from my comfy 9-5 job I worked 4 years in college to get, And jumped straight into the madness of running my own business. I was still thousands of dollars in debt, so safe to say its been a little chaotic. Anyways, here’s what I picked up along the way of surprising myself: ✅ Perfection is a myth: Waiting for that perfect moment or making sure your situation is ideal before you start something you want to do? Forget about it... Launch it now. Warts and all, and just improve as you go. ✅ Get comfy with the awkward: Real growth happens outside your comfort zone. Things feeling a bit rocky? That’s your sign to double down. ✅ Fail and Keep Going: Every mess-up? That’s your gold mine. Dive deep into what went wrong. Get the lessons... and pop back stronger. ✅ Build Genuine Connections: Real relationships aren’t built on transactions. Reach out, listen, and show up for people. Your network isn't just numbers and engagement—it's a support system. It's been a year stuffed with insane personal and professional growth that just wouldn’t have been possible if I’d stayed in my safe old routine. Looking forward to what the next year brings and the lessons yet to come. If you're on the fence about making a big change, take the leap—you might just surprise yourself like I have this past year. ---------------------- 👍 Like the post! 💬 Drop your biggest fear or win in your journey so far in the comments! 🔗 And follow/connect with me if you relate or want more bits on the AI entrepreneurial journey #ai #entrepreneur #myjourney #automation

Life's no walk in the park, and when you decide to be an entrepreneur, you're choosing to embrace the roller coaster ride that comes with it. That's you saying 'yes' to challenges, knowing that every fall and rise shapes you. But I'll be real with you, it can be overwhelming, and sometimes it feels like you're up against a wall. Today, I, Dan, am here to pass you the sledgehammer to break through that wall. I want to empower you with ways to overcome your biggest obstacle – YOU! With 25 years of building bridges, I’ve got a backpack full of tools and maps for this adventure. Here’s a gem – did you know the Public Domain is like a hidden wellspring. It's rich with wisdom that you can turn into a steady stream of income. Imagine creating a better life for yourself and your loved ones by just harnessing the treasures of the past. It's about building your legacy, being the lighthouse that guides the way, and inspiring those around you. Are you ready to grab the reins and change your life? Our training is your launchpad and we’ve got some game changing resources waiting for you: https://lnkd.in/gvD8S6v8 - Dan #selfpublish #amazonkdp #indieauthor