Plot Twist: LinkedIn Sent Me a Clear Yes (Thanks, Papa)

This never happens.

Someone slid into my LinkedIn messages not because of a referral, not because of a cold pitch, and definitely not because I was out there aggressively marketing myself or JAC. They simply messaged me because they liked my vibe. From posts about being an entrepreneurial mom, to my random thoughts about today’s world, and nuances about grant seeking. I guess it all added up to something that felt familiar to them and trustworthy.

So we scheduled a discovery call; my go-to process anytime someone wants to talk about anything grant-related. I don’t do pressure or “sales calls.” I do real conversations about real needs. That’s where we figure out if I can help in any way or if I can point someone in a better direction.

But this one? It was refreshingly straightforward. We talked through their challenges, their goals, and what kind of support they were looking for. The conversation just flowed. And by the end of the call, we had a signed one-year contract with a clear scope. No back-and-forth. No “let me talk to my team.” No disappearing act. Just a solid yes.

Now, I’ve been a consultant long enough to know that is not the norm. Most conversations involve a little dance, including emails, proposals, maybe a few rounds of clarification, and possibly more than a few “just checking in” follow-ups. But this one was different. When someone shows up already aligned, clear, and ready, that’s rare and worth celebrating!

It reminded me that showing up as yourself, consistently and honestly, works. Your people don’t always need a big sales pitch and a long runway to say yes. Sometimes, they just need to feel seen, and when they do, they’re ready to move.

This situation got me thinking about when I first joined LinkedIn. 

It was back in 2013, and the only reason I signed up was because my Papa told me I should. At the time, I thought it was a load of bologna. I wasn’t networking. I didn’t have a title or a fancy job. I didn’t even know what I wanted to be yet! But Papa’s a long-game thinker. He saw what I couldn’t see then: that sometimes, just being visible matters more than you think.

Now here I am, more than a decade later, with over 1,000 followers and nearly 1,000 connections, which is no small feat on a platform like LinkedIn, especially when you’re not trying to “go viral.” I don’t post every day, and I don’t play the algorithm game. I just show up like a real person. Messy, thoughtful, occasionally loud, deeply human.

And it turns out, that’s what builds trust. That’s what draws the right people in.

So if you’re in that limbo space where work feels quiet or your content feels like it’s landing in the void, this is your reminder: someone’s watching. Someone is reading your posts and thinking, “They get it.” And when they’re ready, they’ll reach out.

And maybe, just maybe, they’ll skip the pitch and go straight to, “Let’s do this.”

Thanks, Papa. You were right. <3