Your credentials won't close the deal.

I've watched hundreds of senior executives leave corporate with stellar resumes with titles like VP of Sales and Director of Strategy.

I’ve also seen many of them make the same mistake when they try to land their first consulting client.

They list their achievements like bullet points on a resume. What their prospects really need is a story that shows them you understand their world and can help them succeed in it.

Today, I'm going to show you how to turn your experience into a narrative that positions your offer and builds trust with your ideal clients.

Three achievements

Before you write a LinkedIn post or book a sales call, sit down and list three things you did in corporate that you're genuinely proud of.

Break each one down using the STAR framework: Situation, Task, Action, Result.

Ask yourself:

→ What was happening when you walked into the situation?

→ What problem did you need to solve, and which specific steps did you take?

→ What was the outcome?

When answering questions like this, high-level people almost always downplay what they did. They've been doing it for so long that it feels intuitive to them. It’s important to realize just how rare your achievements are.

This is the essence of your expertise, and it’s exactly what your ideal clients need to hear.

Start messy

Once you have your three STAR stories, write them out in a brain dump.

For now, don't edit or overthink, just get it all on the page.

Then take that raw material and run it through AI with the StoryBrand framework to help structure it.

The writing doesn't have to be perfect for now. You just need to organize your thoughts so the story becomes clear. Show how you faced a challenge, figured out a solution, and now help others do the same.

This way, when someone asks, "Why should I work with you?" they will get the full picture.

Your About section on LinkedIn, your positioning on discovery calls, the content you post, and the proof you need will all be informed by this process.

Strategic positioning

Many professionals who leave corporate present their transition like they're running away from something.

They talk about burnout, or mention layoffs and reorganizations. They often lead with fear, but your story should do the opposite.

Frame your transition as a strategic move.

Make it clear how you realized your expertise could create more value outside corporate than it ever could inside. Show that you left because you chose to own your credibility. When you position your story this way, it does two powerful things.

First, it shows your ideal clients that you can help them because you've already achieved the transformation they desire.

Second, it builds trust.

You're someone who solved a real problem, took a calculated risk, and came out the other side with a proven system. That's the bridge between your experience and their transformation.

I work with senior leaders who are ready to turn their expertise into a premium advisory practice.

If you're working on your narrative and want help with your positioning, let's talk.

Melina

Curious? Visit my website here.

Join my next masterclass (it’s free) here.

113 Cherry St. #92768, Seattle, WA 98104
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