Billions in Revenue
Last Friday of July. I hope this finds you somewhere warm – ideally horizontal.
A few weeks ago, in an interview, a client said something unexpected:
"I was running billions in revenue. But I'm not sure we should say that."
She had earned that number over decades. And her first instinct was to hide it.
I hear a version of this in almost every interview I run:
"It honestly feels wrong in my spine."
"Talking about myself feels corny."
"I don't need to – I already know who I am."
Most of the time, they are right.
They do know who they are. So does their team. Their board. The clients and partners they've worked with for twenty years.
But the people who already know you are often not the ones deciding your next deal.
The buyer comparing you to two competitors doesn't know who you are.
The candidate weighing your offer doesn't.
The partner googling you before the first call doesn't.
Most of us were taught that the work speaks for itself. Don't stand out. Let the track record talk.
But that number my client hesitated to say? It isn't a brag. It's context. It answers the one question every new reader silently asks:
"Why should I listen to you about this?"
One exercise for the beach:
→ Write down three numbers you take for granted. Years in the industry. People led. Revenue touched. Projects delivered.
→ Then say one of them out loud – in your profile, your next post, your next meeting.
What's the number you've been avoiding saying? Reply and tell me – I read every one.
Wishing you a slow and sunny start to August!
All the best, Johan
K. Johan Ingemarsson
Founder & Owner, Lindhagen Studio
+46 (0)76 254 24 96 · johan@lindhagen.studio